“While ‘drip coffee’ and ‘brewed coffee’ are often used synonymously, it is a half-truth,” says Bob Fish, co-founder and co-CEO at Biggby Coffee. “In short, any coffee beverage is ‘brewed coffee,’ but there are many different brewing methods like French press, pour over, and even espresso—but the drip brew method is a standard in most households.” We researched and tested dozens of drip coffee makers to determine the best of the best, evaluating each on design, performance, features, and ease of use. In addition to speaking with Fish, we also consulted Sebastian Ventura, head of education at coffee roaster Devoción, Luigi Di Ruocco, president of Mr. Espresso, and Brian Abernathy, founder and master roaster at Grumpy Goat Coffee. The Oxo Brew 9-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker was our choice of the best drip coffee maker, based on its simple yet stylish design, ease of use, numerous features, and SCA Gold Cup Standard rating. Here’s our full list of the best drip coffee makers. Keep in Mind: After brewing, condensation can form in the water tank unless you leave the lid open for a few minutes. The coffee maker has a rainmaker showerhead to ensure that water is evenly distributed over the coffee grounds and the temperature-controlled brewing is between 197.6–204.8°F. The coffee maker has the SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) gold standard rating. The thermal carafe is designed to keep coffee hotter for longer, and there’s also a silicon mixing tube that attaches to the inside of the carafe’s lid and blends the coffee as it’s brewing. For people who don’t like to wait until the entire pot of coffee has finished brewing, the pause-and-pour feature will automatically pause the brewing cycle for 60 seconds when the carafe is removed, allowing you to pour a cup of coffee and then resume the brewing cycle. The carafe is hand washable, and the other removable parts, like the basket, coffee scoop, showerhead, and silicone mixing tube, are dishwasher safe. The coffee maker will also display a descaling alert every 90 cycles—although you can also descale manually at any time. Price at time of publish: $230 Product Details: Dimensions: 15 x 8.3 x 17.2 inches | Number of cups: 9 | Carafe: Thermal Keep in Mind: The coffee maker is not programmable. The machine is simple and easy to use, making it a good choice for those who want a cup (or pot) of coffee but don’t have the time, patience, or desire for a more complex machine that requires selecting from a list of choices before starting the brewing process. This drip coffee maker features a clear window on either side of the water tank, so you can see how much water you’re adding. This is helpful to ensure that you won’t accidentally overflow the appliance. To use, just fill the water tank and add your desired amount of coffee. Then, close the lid and press the button to start the brew cycle. This model uses a glass carafe, so there’s also a warming plate that can remain active for up to two hours to keep the coffee from getting cold in case you want to come back for seconds or thirds. The lift and clean filter basket design makes it simple to remove, and both the basket and carafe can be cleaned in warm, soapy water. Price at time of publish: $34 Product Details: Dimensions: 12.56 x 11.76 x 8.43 inches | Number of cups: 12 | Carafe: Glass Keep in Mind: It requires a few small additional steps to make a pot of coffee. The Ratio Eight uses either paper filters or a stainless steel filter in the ceramic dripper. There’s also a ceramic catcher to hold the dripper after the brewing cycle. After you press the start button, the machine automatically moves from bloom to brew to ready, and the LED light shows you which phase the coffee maker’s in at all times. When the cycle is over, remove the ceramic catcher and place it on the ceramic dripper before removing the carafe, and then put the heat lid on the thermal carafe. The power cord is removable, which makes it easy to place the coffee maker flush against the wall and makes storage more convenient. Monthly cleanings are recommended to keep the machine clean and functioning properly. The brand suggests using the Ratio Machine Wash, which is a descaler and natural detergent. The coffee maker is available in matte black, bright silver, or white, and with either walnut or parawood trim. Price at time of publish: $845 Product Details: Dimensions: 14 x 13.5 x 9 inches | Number of cups: 18 | Carafe: Thermal Keep in Mind: The water tank lid doesn’t attach, so you need to lift it off and to make space for it on your countertop when filing or cleaning the water tank. There are six presets to choose from: Fast, Gold, Strong, Over Ice, My Brew, and Cold Brew. The Gold setting will brew coffee according to SCA Gold Cup standards. However, the My Brew setting allows you to personalize the brew temperature, bloom time, and flow rate, and then save these settings as a preset to use daily. The Breville can also detect smaller cup sizes and automatically adjust water and contact time accordingly, and it can even be used with pour over drippers. The outer housing can be cleaned with a damp cloth, while the carafe and other parts can be washed in soapy water. There’s also a descaling alert when cleaning is needed. The coffee maker uses a Thermo Coil Heating System and comes with both a flat bottom and a cone filter basket. “A flat bottom generally yields more dried fruits, sweetness, and chocolate—great for medium and dark roasts,” says Sebastian Ventura, head of education at coffee roaster Devoción. “A cone-shaped basket generally yields more citrus and berries, which is great for lighter-bodied coffees.” The coffee maker has a high-end, polished look and doesn’t look bulky on your countertop. The brushed stainless-steel body is accompanied by a matching thermal carafe that’s designed to keep your coffee hot for longer without the use of a hot plate. Price at time of publish: $330 Product Details: Dimensions: 14 x 9 x 16 inches | Number of cups: 12 | Carafe: Thermal Keep in Mind: It doesn’t have an iced setting like some Keurigs. The stainless-steel thermal carafe keeps coffee warm for up to two hours, and there’s also a pause and pour function if you want to get coffee from the carafe while it’s still brewing. In addition, the coffee maker is programmable so you can set a timer up to 24 hours in advance for it to start automatically. There’s also an option to select a stronger brew, and you can use either ground coffee or K-Cup pods. The water reservoir is not only removable—it’s also adjustable, so you can position it on the left side or the right side of the machine, or even position it on the back of the machine, making it convenient for people who are left-handed, right-handed, or short on space. The carafe and water reservoir and lid can be cleaned with a damp soapy cloth and the machine should be descaled every three to six months. Price at time of publish: $250 Product Details: Dimensions: 14.19 x 8.2 x 11.7 inches | Number of cups: 12 | Carafe: Thermal Keep in Mind: It does not have a pause and pour feature. There’s also a built-in milk frother on the side that can be used to make lattes and cappuccinos, and you can fold it away when not in use. The coffee scoop is also conveniently housed on the side so it’s out of the way, but you don’t have to worry about losing it. The machine is programmable, so you can set it to start at a specified time. Since the carafe is made of glass, there is an intelligent warming plate (which comes on automatically with classic or rich brews) to keep the coffee from getting cold. However, you can also press the “warm” button to turn it on at any time, and also adjust the time and temperature on the plate In addition, the capsule storage bin can hold up to 20 used capsules inside of the coffee maker before you have to empty it. The water reservoir is removable, which makes it easy to fill and clean. All of the parts are dishwasher safe, and the machine displays an orange alert when descaling is needed. Price at time of publish: $200 Product Details: Dimensions: 12.21 x 9.84 x 14.96 inches | Number of cups: 12 | Carafe: Glass Keep in Mind: There’s no hot plate to keep coffee warm. The nonporous borosilicate glass doesn’t leach any chemicals or flavors into the coffee, and it has marks to indicate the quantity for a full brewed carafe and half of a carafe. The heat-resistant glass also has a painted wooden collar and rawhide tie, which works as an insulated handle which protects your hands from heat while handling the coffee maker. You can make light, medium, and dark roasts of coffee, as well as iced coffee, cold brew, and even tea in the Chemex, and the manual blooming process filters out bitter taste. The company recommends using Chemex Bonded Coffee Filters. The only downside is there is no warming plate for the carafe. However, the company notes that you can put the coffee maker directly on top of a glass stove top or gas stove on low heat. Avoid placing it directly on an electric coil stove top. After removing the wooden handle, you can hand wash the coffee maker with warm soap and water, although it can be placed in the dishwasher as well. Price at time of publish: $47 Product Details: Dimensions: 9 x 5.25 inches | Number of cups: 8 | Carafe: Glass Keep in Mind: Setting up the app may be tedious if you aren’t tech-savvy. You can brew on demand, or use the auto brew feature to select a preset time to start the brew cycle. With a built-in WiFi communication card, the coffee maker can connect to your smartphone. This allows you to remotely monitor and control the coffee maker and receive notifications. You can also control the coffee maker via Alexa and Google Home. The stylish and modern 10-cup coffee maker comes in one of three finishes: stainless steel, matte black, and matte white—and each includes a matching thermal carafe (although you can also get a glass carafe). The carafe, brew basket, and mesh basket filter can be washed with warm soapy water. The coffee maker also has a descaling notification that flashes when the appliance needs to be descaled. Price at time of publish: $350 Product Details: Dimensions: 14 x 12.5 x 7.3 inches | Number of cups: 10 | Carafe: Thermal Keep in Mind: Neither the carafe nor the hopper should be placed in the dishwasher. And if freshness is a priority, Ventura recommends a machine with a built-in grinder. “This will give you more programming options and grind coffee directly before brewing,” he says. “When it comes to the grind of your coffee, tend toward a medium grind,” he says. “You want to have a fine enough grind so there’s sufficient surface area but not so fine that the water can’t travel through the grinds.” For those times when you don’t want to grind coffee, you can select the pre-ground function, which turns the grinder off. Also, there’s a brew pause function, so you can stop the flow of coffee temporarily and you can grab a cup mid-brew. In addition to the carafe, the body of the coffee maker is made of brushed stainless steel and has a durable, quality build. The LCD display shows your selections (grind settings, grind time, quantity), and the coffee maker can also be programmed to start at a specified time. The bean hopper locking system makes it easy to remove and transfer the coffee beans, and the screen will display the clean coffee chute notification when the burrs and the grinds chute need to be cleaned (with the included brush). The carafe, grinds catcher, and drip tray can be washed in warm soapy water. An alert will scroll across the screen when the coffee maker needs to be descaled. Price at time of publish: $349 Product Details: Dimensions: 12.5 x 8.5 x 16.3 inches | Grinder capacity: 0.375 pounds; Number of cups: 12 | Carafe: Thermal
What to Know About Drip Coffee Makers Before Shopping
Dimensions
When shopping for the best drip coffee maker, the appliance’s dimensions are important to ensure that it will actually fit on your countertop. Consider how much clearance you’ll need to pour water into the tank and whether the dimensions will allow you to use it in place or if you’ll have to pull it out to use and store it when you’re done. You’ll also want to consider if you will just have a coffee maker displayed or if you will want to designate an area as a coffee station.
Number of Cups
If you drink a lot of coffee, or have numerous family members or housemates that also drink coffee, a large capacity coffee maker is important so you won’t have to keep brewing additional pots of coffee. However, if you live alone, a smaller, single-cup coffee maker may be a better fit.
Your Questions, Answered
What’s the difference between drip and brewed coffee?
Drip coffee is a type of brewed coffee. It is more straightforward than other coffee brewing methods, like the French press method and is commonly used in households. “All coffee is brewed, but drip is a way of brewing coffee that involves water flowing over the grounds by force of gravity,” Di Ruocco says. “Water travels through the grounds into a vessel, which may be a cup or a pot and you can make drip coffee with a machine, or you can make it manually by pouring water over coffee grounds.”
Can you use a drip coffee machine to make iced coffee?
Absolutely, according to Ventura. If you want to get the most complex flavor (and avoid a diluted taste), he recommends flash brewing. “Simply add twice the amount of coffee that you would normally use for a pot of hot coffee, and use half the amount of the water,” he says. “Place ice in the coffee pot and brew—and brewing hot coffee over the ice will allow the brew to cool down and lock in all of the flavor compounds.” However, Fish notes that when adding ice to hot coffee, you should think of it as adding water to a recipe. “Ice dilutes the strength of the coffee both in taste and caffeine content volumetrically, so you may want to take that into account when deciding how much ground coffee to use to make the most delicious (and caffeinated) cup.” In addition, don’t confuse iced coffee with cold brew or cold press coffee. “For the cold brew/cold press method, the coffee is steeped in cold water for approximately 24 hours,” Abernathy says. “No heat is introduced to the coffee beans in the cold brew method—and this results in a flavorful, low-acid and refreshing beverage.”
Can you make espresso with a drip coffee machine?
No—unless it’s a combination machine like the Ninja Espresso & Coffee Barista System, which has a drip coffee brewer on one side and an espresso maker on the other side. “One of the main differences between drip and espresso is the amount of pressure needed in order to brew coffee in just 25-30 seconds,” says Ventura. “Espresso machines are specially designed to push small amounts of water through finely ground coffee, resulting in a more concentrated coffee.” “Espresso is a specific grind type, not a type of bean,” Abernathy says. “If you put coffee that is ground for espresso into a drip machine, you’ll either end up with bitter coffee or a big mess on your kitchen counter from overflowing, or both.”
Who We Are
Terri Williams is a freelance journalist and product review writer with bylines at Architectural Digest, Realtor.com, The Daily Beast, CNN, NBC News, USA Today, Popular Science, and more. To find the best drip coffees, she spoke with Bob Fish, co-founder and co-CEO at Biggby Coffee, Sebastian Ventura, head of education at coffee roaster Devoción, Luigi Di Ruocco, president of Mr. Espresso, and Brian Abernathy, founder and master roaster at Grumpy Goat Coffee. Terri has also tested dozens of drip coffee and relied on her experience, in addition to conducting extensive research.
