Not every coffee drinker has the patience to grind their own beans and froth their own milk before they enjoy a morning brew. If you're tight on time and money, you might prefer a simple drip coffee maker, I certainly do.
If you've already done some research into the best drip coffee makers, you'll know that they come in all shapes and sizes. There are simple press-and-go machines as well as more elaborate models that look more like laboratory equipment than coffee makers – and we've seen them all.
Our experts have tested a range of models, to find the ones that brew the most flavorful cup of coffee. We've checked their keep-warm functions, speed, capacity, consistency, and versatility too. Essentially, this list of nine has the nod of approval from all of our experts (including the real coffee snobs).
You won't be surprised to know that the OXO Brew 8-cup coffee maker came out on top. Not only is it incredible value, but it also brews completely faultless coffee. It's not the only model out there though, we've found models with integrated grinders, extra-large capacities, and compact options for small spaces.
The quick list
We'll into the specifics further down. For now, these are the best drip coffee makers at a glance.
The best drip coffee maker overall
This coffee maker can brew anything from a single shot to a whole carafe of coffee. It's easy to use and one of the most affordable models on the market.
Best drip coffee maker for capacity
Equipped with six brew modes and a 12-cup capacity, this machine means business. You can adjust brew temperature, bloom time, and flow rate to customize your cup of coffee.
Best luxury drip coffee maker
This sleek machine comes in a wide variety of colors, from pastel pink to matte black, to complement any kitchen color palette.
Most compact drip coffee maker
Proof that all good things come in small packages, the sleek, modern Zwilling can brew a delicious cup of coffee without demanding a large proportion of your countertop.
Best drip coffee maker with a grinder
The Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker comes with an integrated grinder, so that you can use fresh beans in your filter coffee.
Best for value
Big and beautiful, KitchenAid's drip coffee maker is one of the easiest we've ever tested. It's incredible value for the flavors and capacity of this beautiful brewer.
Load the next 3 products ↴
Best classic drip coffee maker
This classic coffee maker comes with all kinds of modern conveniences, from a digital LED display to an auto-start function, so that you can brew while still in bed.
Most versatile drip coffee maker
Whether you want to brew a quick cup of filter coffee or make your own espresso, you can do it all with this combination coffee maker. It even comes with an integrated milk frother.
Best budget
This affordable coffee maker retails for a fraction of the price of the more premium models on this list. It's not the most specialized machine, but it's easy to use and brews good coffee.
The best drip coffee makers we recommend in 2024
You can trust Homes & Gardens. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, helping you choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
The best drip coffee maker overall
This little machine makes gold-standard coffee. We were impressed on test by the depth of flavor and smooth consistency of each cup. You don't have to take our word for it: the OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee maker is certified by the Specialty Coffee Association for its smooth-sipping brews.
Less than fourteen inches tall, this coffee maker is compact enough to clear low cabinets and fit into narrow nooks. It might look small from the outside, but it's big on the inside, with the capacity to brew everything from a single shot of coffee to eight steaming mugs.
In comparison to some of the other coffee makers on this list, the OXO Brew isn't a smart machine. You can't activate the machine through an app, or by the power of your voice, and you can't schedule your morning brew before you go to bed. However, this drip coffee maker does incorporate BetterBrew precision technology, so that you can control your machine's water temperature and brew cycles.
The OXO Brew is easy to use, but it's much more difficult to clean. The water tank is not removable, so you'll have to reach right down inside the pitcher to give it a good scrub. Since you can't pop out the water tank and fill it up from the faucet, you'll have to collect water in a cup or a kettle and pour it in manually. This sort of inefficient design might not be a dealbreaker, but it does get pretty irritating.
You can find more detail in our OXO 8-Cup Coffee Maker review.
The drip coffee maker with the largest capacity
Most drip coffee makers are basic by design, but the Breville Precision Brewer has many of the bells and whistles of the best coffee makers. For one thing, it's fully programmable: you can save your favorite settings for temperature, bloom speed, and flow rate to make your ideal cup of coffee, every time.
When you select the auto-start function, you can schedule your coffee to start brewing while you're still in bed. That way, you can grab your cup of joe and go. Thanks to the thermal carafe, your coffee shouldn't get cold, even if you spend a few more precious minutes in bed.
The Breville Precision Brewer has a 12-cup capacity, which is larger than many other drip coffee makers on the market. Small from the outside but big on the inside, you could slot this machine into a narrow nook and easily make enough coffee to feed the whole family.
This coffee maker is intuitive to use and easy to clean. Most of the components are removable and safe to wash in warm, soapy water. As for the showerhead, all it should need is a quick wipe with a damp cloth.
While the Breville Precision Brewer is one of the more expensive drip coffee makers, you really do get what you pay for: a smart heating system, customizable features, and stainless steel finishes to complement any kitchen color palette.
You can find more detail in our Breville Precision Brewer Thermal Coffee Maker review.
The most luxurious drip coffee maker
The Technivorm Moccamaster is a real kitchen workhorse. This coffee maker works quickly and quietly to brew a whole 10-cup carafe in as little as six minutes. Our coffee expert was impressed on test, as were the Specialty Coffee Association and the European Coffee Brewing Center: this machine is certified gold by both organizations.
The Technivorm Moccamaster combines the quick convenience of drip coffee with the even extraction and smooth texture you get from the best pour-over coffee makers.
This machine comes in a wide range of shades to complement any kitchen color palette. There are bold primary hues to pop against white walls, as well as chromatic neutrals that should blend into the background.
The Technivorm Moccamaster incorporates a copper heating element that brews your coffee at its optimum temperature, between 196 and 206°F. There's a separate hot plate that keeps your coffee warm at drinking temperature between 175 and 185°F) for 100 minutes before shutting off. That should give you enough time to make a pot, run a few errands, and come back to drink a cup, but it couldn't keep your coffee warm all day.
Word to the wise: this coffee maker is a little high-maintenance. Moccamaster recommends descaling your machine after every 100 cycles, and washing each component by hand.
Our Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Coffee Maker review has more details.
The most compact drip coffee maker
Most drip coffee makers are designed with practicality, rather than prettiness, in mind. That's why the Zwilling Enfinigy Drip Coffee Maker is such a breath of fresh air. It's petite, practical, and very easy on the eye. Featuring a unique ridged water tank and a streamlined backlit display, this could elevate any kitchen.
This coffee maker can brew up to 12 cups of coffee, or a whole carafe, as well as smaller servings. It comes with a corrosion-resistant stainless steel boiler, as well as a wide shower head for even coffee moistening during blooming.
If you're new to brewing, you might not be familiar with the concept of 'blooming'. It's simpler than it sounds. Blooming is what happens when carbon dioxide combines with coffee grounds during the brewing process. When you allow your beans to bloom, you can enhance the flavors and aromas of your cup. The Zwilling Enfinigy Drip Coffee Maker features a blooming function to make fresher coffee.
I'm a big fan of this coffee maker, but I spotted a few design flaws. For one thing, the so-called 'hot plate' only stays warm for 30 minutes after brewing. If you like to sip the same cup all day long, this might not be the machine for you. In the absence of an integrated milk frother, latte lovers would be better off shopping elsewhere.
You can find more detail in our Zwilling Enfinigy Drip Coffee Maker review.
The best drip coffee maker with a grinder
You can take control in the kitchen with the Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker. Featuring eight strength settings and adjustable grind sizes, you can customize your cup of joe to fit your exact specifications.
Just because drip coffee makers are known for their quick convenience doesn't mean they can't brew great coffee. The Breville Grind Control made rich, flavorful, smooth-sipping shots every time. This machine features an integrated grinder, so that you can make your own fresh coffee, which is far superior to the store-bought stuff.
Measuring just over 16 inches tall and 12 inches deep, this coffee maker is tall and broad. It should just about clear your cabinets, but you might struggle to store it in smaller spaces.
As drip coffee makers go, this one is a little high-maintenance. Breville recommends cleaning your filter after every brew and rinsing out your carafe after each use, though that proved pretty difficult, thanks to its wide rim and small opening. Since none of the components are dishwasher-safe, you'll have to wash each piece of this machine by hand.
You can find more detail in our Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker review.
The best value drip coffee maker
Big, bold, and beautiful, KitchenAid’s drip coffee maker has close to universal appeal. The simple controls are easy for any beginner to navigate, and it makes technically perfect filter coffee. If it was twice the price, we would still think that it's worth every dollar. However, in reality, it's incredible value.
In our tests, I didn’t even need the manual to work my way around the machine. Brewing a full carafe took eight minutes, which is on the slightly longer side (the average is about five minutes), but the flavors it delivers are with the wait. One of our experts who doesn’t even like coffee ended up finishing a full cup. If that’s not an advert for this coffee maker, I don’t know what is.
The carafe is nice to pour from and KitchenAid have thought about ergonomics and practicalities. The reservoir has a useful handle and the mesh filter is dishwasher safe. Overall, there’s a lot to love.
Whilst this calls itself a twelve-cup machine, one cup in KitchenAid terms is about 5 oz. I don’t know about you, but in my house, that’s about 3 oz short, so when this is called a twelve-cup machine, I would say it’s closer to ten. That's about the only critique I can offer the KitchenAid. Sure, it doesn’t have app connectivity and WiFi controls either, but I don’t think that’s crucial to making a good cup of filter coffee. When it comes down to it, this is all you need to make a good cup of filter coffee.
There's more detail in our full KitchenAid Drip Coffee Maker review.
The best classic drip coffee maker
From its bright colors to its soft curves, this drip coffee maker oozes retro style. Although it looks bold, it works quickly and quietly to brew a whole pot of coffee in a matter of minutes.
Measuring less than fourteen inches tall, this coffee maker is on the shorter side, so it should slot neatly beneath low cabinets. What it lacks in height, the Smeg Drip Coffee Maker more than makes up for in width. This machine is almost as broad as it is tall, so you might need to clear some counter space if you want to display it.
This coffee maker feels premium, with a weighty glass carafe and a wide shower head to increase aeration for smoother brews. It comes with a reusable filter to cut down on waste, though it's possible to insert your own paper filters, too.
The permanent filter makes this machine super easy to clean. All you need to do is scoop out your coffee grounds and throw them into the food waste or put them to use as garden compost. Give the filter a good scrub in some warm and soapy water and it should look as good as new.
Just bear in mind that, while this machine might look big, it's limited in brew capacity. Most coffee maker manufacturers measure one cup as 275ml of coffee, but Smeg counts 150ml as a single serving. That's how they can claim a 10-cup capacity without offering as much space as some of the eight-cup models on the market.
You can find more detail in our Smeg Drip Coffee Maker review.
The most versatile drip coffee maker
This multifunctional machine can produce a shot of espresso and a whole pot of coffee at the same time. A combination coffee maker would make a great asset to a busy household of coffee drinkers, all of whom want something slightly different from their morning brew.
Unusually for a drip coffee maker, the De'Longhi All-in-One features an integrated milk frothing steam wand, so that you can enjoy café-quality coffee from the comfort of your own kitchen. As for the other side of the machine, this coffee maker features a 15-bar pump to brew authentic espressos at their ideal temperature.
With the De'Longhi All-in-One, you can brew up to 10 cups of filter coffee at the same time, as well as single and double espressos, and even use ESE pods for quick convenience.
As drip coffee makers go, this one is a little high-maintenance. De'Longhi recommends cleaning the milk frother after each use, and rinsing your filters weekly under running water. This process can be a little time-consuming, but it's worth it to brew delicious coffee in the most hygienic manner.
You can find more detail in our De'Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker review.
The best budget drip coffee maker
The best thing about this machine is in the name. You can program your Bodum Coffee Maker to brew a cup of joe at a set time of day, whether that's first thing in the morning or last thing at night. You can reset the timer after each session to account for changes in your daily routine. The taste is bold and flavorful, some of the richest filter coffee I've ever tasted.
For an affordable machine, the Bodum Programmable Coffee Maker looks sleek and smart, featuring stainless steel finishes and durable borosilicate glass. It's designed with an ergonomic handle for easy holding and pouring. That's great if you struggle with Parkinson's, arthritis, or other mobility issues, or if you simply don't wake up until you've had your morning coffee.
The Bodum Programmable Coffee Maker comes with a warming heat plate, but it can only keep your cup warm for three hours. That's not long for a drip coffee maker, but it does mean that your coffee shouldn't end up tasting bitter, burned, or stale.
When it comes to coffee makers, you tend to get what you pay for. The Bodum Programmable Coffee Maker is missing some of the functionality of more premium models, from temperature control to stronger brews. But if you're tight on time and money, you won't find a better drip coffee maker at this price.
You can find more detail in our Bodum Programmable Coffee Maker review.
How we test
We put a lot of thought into how we test drip coffee makers. The process involves a lot more than sipping a cup of joe.
Our team of coffee enthusiasts is always looking for the latest releases on the drip coffee maker market. As soon as we see one that we think you'll like, we call it into our test kitchen, so that we can put it through a series of tests, designed to emulate everyday use.
Once we have a coffee maker in our hands, we start making notes. This begins with unboxing, which might sound small, but it's an important tell of a brand's attention to detail. We'll let you know whether you can recycle the packaging, whether we get any extra accessories, and what our first impressions are of the coffee maker. Here's where we'll talk about the size, style, build quality, and anything else that jumps out at us aesthetically.
Next, we'll get brewing. We make notes on how easy the coffee maker is to set up and start using. Then, we'll time how long the coffee maker takes to brew different quantities of coffee. We'll start at one cup (if the machine can do that) and work up to its maximum capacity. After each brew, we assess the flavor of each cup, the range of the machine, how long it keeps coffee warm for the ease of cleaning, and the all-important price. Where applicable, we experiment with special features, such as integrated grinders and milk frothers.
Once we are happy that we've tested everything that we can, we'll take a step back and think about how the coffee maker compares to other models. We'll read through online reviews to get a sense of what customers are saying and then, bringing all that information together, our team will let you know who we think it suits and whether it's good value for money. As you can see, we leave no stone unturned.
How to choose
There's no such thing as the best drip coffee maker – just the drip coffee maker that best suits your needs. With that said, there are a few key points to consider.
Capacity
A drip coffee maker will typically brew between 10 and 12 cups. One coffee cup is roughly equivalent to four ounces, so the average drip coffee maker has a capacity of around 40 to 50 ounces.
Size
If you're working with a smaller kitchen, you should consider a more compact coffee maker that can clear low cabinets and fit into narrow nooks.
Customizability
Whether you're catering for a whole household of coffee drinkers, or you'd like to switch up your morning brew, it's useful to be able to switch between mild and bolder settings, and calibrate the temperature of your coffee to your exact specifications.
Programmability
Some of the best drip coffee makers incorporate smart technology, so that you can schedule your cup of joe to brew while you're still in bed. They should come with a hot plate, too, to keep your coffee warm until you're ready to grab and go.
Filter basket type
Most coffee makers use disposable paper filters or a permanent gold-tone filter. Paper filters usually brew smoother coffee, while sediment is more likely to flow through the permanent filters. That's not necessarily a bad thing: in fact, it's how a lot of Europeans like to drink their coffee. Paper filters are less sustainable. Permanent filters can be reused, but they'll need to be cleaned after each use.
Single-cup brewing
If you live alone, or you're the only coffee drinker in your household, you might not want to brew a whole carafe every morning. If that sounds like you, you should seek out a single-cup function to reduce waste. When you use a single-cup system, you can usually make between one and four cups, which is about enough to fill a travel mug.
Special features
A growing number of machines feature added extras, such as built-in milk frothers or grinders. They're very convenient, but still not as good as the real thing. You could pair your new drip coffee maker with the best coffee grinder for a fresh taste, as well as the best milk frother to whip up delicious lattes and cappuccinos at home.
Meet the team
Jaclyn uses no fewer than four coffee makers to get her caffeine fix from the comfort of her own kitchen. She's particularly fond of machines that feature integrated milk frothers for creamy, easy lattes.
Terri has tested dozens of coffee makers in the course of her career and can always find time to test more. She drinks a cup of joe with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Terri's product reviews have been featured on sites as diverse as The San Francisco Chronicle and Apartment Therapy.
Best drip coffee makers FAQs
Which drip coffee maker makes the hottest coffee?
We found that the OXO 8 Cup Coffee Maker made the hottest coffee on test. It was consistently around 197-199°F . That's just one of the reasons why it's our top pick for the best drip coffee makers.
Should I use filtered water in by drip coffee maker?
Yes. In fact, our editors are so passionate about this, we've written a whole article explaining why it's important to use filtered water in your coffee. However, if you want the headlines, using filtered water should help your drip coffee maker to work efficiently and stop your coffee tasting strange. A few of the best coffee makers feature integrated water filters, so that you can fill up straight from the faucet.
Do I want a thermal or glass carafe on my drip coffee maker?
It's partly a question of personal preference but more of a matter of taste. Thermal carafes keep coffee hotter for longer, but they can interfere with the taste of your coffee, while glass carafes are more fragile, but easier on the eye, and less likely to corrupt the taste of your cup of joe. You won't know until you try, so it might be a good idea to sample coffee from a friend's carafe, or go to a specialist store and conduct a taste test before you buy.
How do I clean a drip coffee maker?
It's worth learning how to clean a drip coffee maker to get the most out of your machine. Your cleaning routine will vary depending on whether you use paper filters or permanent ones. You can throw paper filters straight in the compost to use old coffee grounds in the garden, while you'll need to wash permanent filters by hand.
You can clean removable parts, such as the brew baskets, in warm, soapy water. As for the body of the machine, you can give it a quick wipe with a damp cloth.
Final thoughts
Although drip coffee makers are designed for caffeine fiends who are tight on time and low on cash, some of the more premium machines can cost several hundred dollars. If you're working within a strict budget, you should consider only the best inexpensive coffee makers to make quality coffee for less.
-
Paul McCartney celebrates an 18th-century British Christmas tradition above his front door – his decor is light-hearted and so easy to replicateThis dressing has roots in the 1st century A.D. but has been synonymous with the festive season since the 1700s – today, it's Beatles-approved
-
David Beckham thinks this portable Ninja blender is the ideal stocking stuffer – and it's on sale for under $50Take a page out of the soccer player's book to gift your loved ones this clever last minute kitchen appliance – it's high quality and the price is right
-
Nespresso vs espresso – tested for taste, cost, and technical differencesA barista offers some perspective on the Nespresso vs espresso debate. She's tested them for taste, and accounted for cost differences too
-
I just tested the best small drip coffee maker – and it's surprisingly stylish tooI've tested a range of filter coffee options and it turns out that the best small drip coffee maker is beautiful, sleek, and smart too
-
Best iced coffee makers 2024 – tested by a baristaThese are the best-iced coffee makers on the market, whether you want a machine that makes hot and cold coffee or a special one for your iced lattes
-
Best nut milk makers 2024: tested by an expert veganThese are the best nut milk makers for almond, oat, coconut milk and more. Our expert vegan barista tested them to see which is best
-
Best moka pots 2024 – easy Italian-style coffee straight from your stovetopOur tried-and-tested pots for brewing delicious coffee at home – the stylish, Italian way
-
6 best coffee makers with grinders: Barista-tested machines for café-quality brews at homeOur resident barista has tested the most luxurious espresso machines and budget-friendly options, to find the best coffee makers with integrated grinders
-
Best Nespresso machines 2024 – for every kind of coffee drinkerHow do you know whether you want the Lattissima or the Creatista, the Vertuo or the Original, and the Essenza or the Pop? We have the answers
-
Best chest freezers 2024: spacious, dependable, and practicalI've researched the best chest freezers on the market. From garage-friendly to enormous capacity, these are my top picks.
