We Test Coffee Makers All Year, and These Are the Best in Every Category

Whether you drink your coffee from a powdered instant packet or obsess over the bloom time in your Chemex, we are equally devoted to our brews. We've tested hundreds of categories over the years, from programmable and drip to do-it-all espresso machines, to discover today's best coffee makers.

After countless days spent testing in our lab and consuming even more cups of coffee, we found the right machine so you can finally upgrade your setup, no matter where you fall on the coffee lover’s spectrum.

The Best Drip Coffee Makers

Who It's For

Those who value convenience and traditional coffee maker styles. The differences start with whether you want something that just brews coffee with no bells and whistles or a machine that does everything for you — from grinding to blooming to brewing. 

What to Consider

Brew type, carafe capacity, machine size, versatility, and ease of cleaning are all essential details. Other added features may include programmability, strength setting, and self-cleaning modes. 

How We Tested Drip Coffee Makers

Drip coffee makers are all about ease for most users, which is why they are in many kitchens. To test how these machines would fare during our day-to-day, we paid attention to the design of the coffee maker, how durable they were, and how easy they were to use. We did the same while putting programmable coffee makers through the paces.  We evaluated the coffee maker's performance with typical functions like brewing a pot of drip coffee and timing it, then taking the temperature of the result in addition to the flavor profile of the final cup. We also looked at other special features like programming, bloom functions, and filtration. Ultimately, the ones on our list were easy to use and made great coffee.

• Best Overall: Cafe Specialty Drip Coffee Maker
• Best Value: Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer
• Best Splurge: Technivorm Moccamaster
• Best with Grinder: Breville Grind Control

The Cafe Specialty Drip Coffee Maker is the perfect machine for those who seek convenience. It has programmable features for everything from brewing time to coffee strength to give you a personalized coffee experience. We love how it is equally beautiful and super functional, and the controls are easy to use and clean. The warming functions also keep the coffee warmer for longer. We also like that you can do anything from a single cup to a whole pot, making it an incredibly flexible coffee maker.

The Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer was our pick for the best value. Its strengths are its brewing capacity and small footprint. Thanks to the wide opening of the reservoir, filling the machine with water is easy. The Ninja is also considerably affordable but doesn't skimp on features. It has easy-to-use controls and programs, although we recommend studying the instruction manual to learn its nuances since every brand has its quirks. The Ninja is easy to clean and won’t break the bank, so we recommend it for anyone looking for value and larger brewing capacity. 

The Technivorm Moccamaster KBT is known for delivering high-quality coffee at an impressive speed of six minutes. It has a larger footprint, which isn't ideal for most compact kitchens, but it is a top contender whenever we test coffee makers due to its consistency and ease of use. It has a copper heating element, which allows the machine to maintain an ideal brewing temperature, which results in better coffee. It also has a showerhead-style spout to evenly saturate the grounds like a pour-over without the manual work. While it is a pricier machine, it's worth every penny and resides on many of our editors’ countertops.

It's hard to beat a freshly ground cup of coffee in the morning, and the Breville grind control is the only machine you will ever buy for drip coffee with a built-in grinder. It has a large capacity and a stainless steel thermal carafe to keep coffee warmer longer. The machine takes some dialing in when you first use it, but coffee enthusiasts who value precision and control will be pleased with how you can tailor the machine to your tastes. You can brew up to 12 cups, but the machine also has various controls to customize the grind and, therefore, the strength. It's also a beautiful machine with an intuitive digital display you control with knobs and push buttons. It just takes a bit of dialing in at first and descaling when prompted to keep it in perfect working order.

The Best Espresso Machines

Who It's For

Espresso lovers span a broad spectrum, and their needs vary according to lifestyle. Some enthusiasts want the results with all the hands-on tamping, grinding, and precision to get the most out of their hard-researched beans. Some just want the shot with an excellent crema that’s done with the push of the button. We have choices for everyone. 

What To Consider

There are three main types of espresso machines available on the market: manual, semi-automatic, and automatic espresso machines. Choose your type depending on the kind of experience you wish to have. Many espresso machines have a larger footprint, so if the size is a consideration, pay attention to ensure it will fit your countertop. (If you need something smaller, consider the Breville Bambino Plus or De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus). In addition, many espresso machines are expensive, so you must give up some features for a budget-minded espresso machine. That being said, you should still be able to find something with adequate pressure: the strength and speed of coffee extraction.

How We Tested Espresso Machines

Since this is such a high-ticket item, we wanted to ensure that each machine was easy to set up while pulling shots and frothing milk for hot coffee drinks. We also wanted to see how easy it was to set up, use, maintain, and clean since many espresso machines involved processes like tamping shots. We also evaluated how effective the machines were in steaming and frothing milk for drinks like cappuccino and lattes.

• Best Semi-Automatic: Breville The Barista Express Espresso Machine
• Best Automatic: Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine
• Best Super-Automatic: SMEG Fully Automatic 

The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine consistently performs well in our espresso machine testing. It is one of the best espresso machines on the market for Cafe quality drinks. It has all the essentials, like a tamper frother and a built-in grinder. Depending on your level of expertise and desire, it offers both automatic and manual operation. Even though it is an expensive machine, it's cheaper than the next Breville on our list. Even with all of its bells and whistles, it's still user-friendly, even for beginner coffee connoisseurs. Like many of Breville's products, especially their coffee makers, this machine is built to last many years.

The Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine is the top-of-the-line for automatic espresso machines. It has a touch screen that enables you to select automatic milk texturing and customizable settings for espresso-based drinks, such as cappuccinos, lattes, flat whites, and more. It heats up incredibly fast, so you don't need to wait, and the burr grinder ensures that each being gets the appropriate amount of extraction during brewing. This is the more expensive Breville model from our testing, but this machine is for an advanced user with a discerning coffee taste. 

The SMEG Medium Fully-Automatic Coffee Machine is a user-friendly machine that excelled in our tests. It consistently produced complex and smooth espresso shots during our tests. It's an excellent, fully automatic coffee machine for all experience levels. The machine boasts user-friendly features by automating the brewing process of grinding, tamping, and steaming so anyone can use it. The machine has a shorter wand than its competitors but still produces a creamy textured foam for afternoon lattes. 

The Best Single-Serve Coffee Makers

Who It's For

Someone who wants a quick cup and doesn't want to deal with the volume (and hassle) of an entire pot. They're also quicker to brew, though they lose some integrity in taste and quality.

What to Consider

Our testing found that single-serve coffee makers come in various sizes and styles with bells and whistles. Most fall into two categories: a fresh coffee-only machine or a pod-based machine such as a Keurig. Some have added features like milk frothers, and some, like our best single-serve winner, brew a full carafe of coffee. 

How We Tested Single-Serve Coffee Makers

Collectively, we've tested hundreds of coffee makers, many of which have single-serve capabilities. While the considerations of a single-serve machine differ from that of a carare-mode, we still evaluate essential qualities like the aroma, taste, and mouthfeel of the brewed coffee, noting any burned taste or aroma, sediment, or other textural inconsistencies. We also note each machine’s noise level, footprint, and overall ease of use and cleaning.

• Best Overall: Ninja DualBrew Pro System Coffee Maker
• Best Nespresso: Nespresso CitiZ Coffee and Espresso Machine by De'Longhi
• Best Keurig: Keurig K-Supreme Plus

The Ninja DualBrew Pro is one of the more versatile single-serve espresso machines we tested. It offers four different brewing styles: classic, rice, ice coffee, and specialty, in addition to its frothing capabilities for lattes and cappuccinos. It also has a dedicated hot water feature, so you can easily make tea or ramen. We liked its dial control, which makes choosing your coffee type easy. We also liked that you can choose from five different cup sizes. It is the pricier size for a single-serve coffee maker, but it is a very flexible machine that exceeds the average features.

There are so many different Nespresso machines on the market that choosing the right one for your household can be overwhelming. In our Nespresso testing, The Nespresso CitiZ Coffee and Espresso Machine by De'Longhi was our favorite machine for many reasons. It is a very quiet machine and brews very quickly. It's a generous-sized machine with a large water tank, built-in pod storage, and single-touch operation. You can choose from two different sizes of coffee and two sizes of espresso, which brew with the touch of a button. No matter what you choose, the results with Nespresso are always consistent and exceptional. Plus, the Breville functionality only adds to the machine's performance. A note: CitiZ Coffee and Espresso Machine by De'Longhi only works with Nespresso Vertuo pods.

The Keurig K-Supreme Single-Serve Coffee Maker is all about functionality and meets simplicity. While we don't usually recommend Keurigs for various reasons, we're including this machine because some still love this format. It has an illuminated control panel, which makes selecting your coffee type easy and breezy. You can have multiple cup sizes up to 12 ounces, depending on how much caffeine you need for the day. It also has the function of brewing iced coffee or single servings. The K Elite is all about convenience with its easy cleaning and enormous 78-ounce water reservoir. You do have to complete a descaling process every few months, but the machine is easy to maintain. It’s an excellent choice for Keurig lovers.

Other Types of Coffee Makers We Love

• Best Pour-Over: Chemex Classic Series Coffeemaker
• Best French Press: Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker
• Best Cold Brew Maker: OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker 

For coffee drinkers who like a more hands-on approach, there’s no better meditation than pour-over coffee brewing. We have many pour-over enthusiasts in our kitchens who find it one of the more special coffees you can make at home. With that said, the Chemex Classic Series coffee maker is a favorite among Food & Wine editors and writers. It was designed in 1941 by a chemist, hence the name. It is made from heat-resistant glass, which is visually striking but incredibly effective beyond the design. When we tested pour-over coffee makers, the results were paramount. During our pour-over coffee maker testing, we tested each model twice to evaluate the intensity of coffee and the design, including assembly and ease of cleaning. The Chemex came out on top every time. While brewing itself is straightforward, users will find more optimal results if they employ the brand's single-sheet filters, which also take some time to master. Even with that learning curve for beginners, it's worth the effort for this superior cup of coffee. 

French Press is another manual style steeped in tradition that we often employ for guests. We tested 21 top-rated French presses before awarding the Bodum Chambord best press. We evaluated each model on taste and design, including features like insulation and ease of use. The Bodum maintained the most consistent brewing temperatures, which is a Hallmark of the brand. Each time we made a batch of French press, it was a satisfying smooth cup with the perfect balance of flavor extraction and acidity. While The French Press has decidedly no frills, there is beauty and simplicity during the coffee brewing ritual. If you are a French press lover or want a dinner party showstopper, this model is for you.

We also love a good cold glass of cold brew in the afternoon to get us through the day. The Oxo Good Grips emerged as a quick favorite when we tested cold brew coffee makers with three baristas. We evaluated the machines on the consistency of body Bruce strength smoothness and whether or not they would serve this to someone they knew. The machine has a user-friendly design that enables you to produce smooth and concentrated cold brews. The machine has a Rainmaker lid, a unique feature that evenly distributes coffee water over the grounds, mimicking rainfall. The method ensures a balanced extraction for less bitter bruises with more consistent flavor. A small paper filter is all you need to prevent coffee grounds from escaping into the carafe. The machine is compact but powerful. It brewed a full carafe between 12 to 24 hours, enough for a small household.

Our Expertise

• Jennifer Zyman is a Commerce Testing Editor for Food & Wine and a recovering restaurant critic with a culinary school degree and over 15 years of food writing experience. Her work has appeared in Travel & Leisure, Simply Recipes, Southern Living, Bon Appetit, and National Geographic. 
• Zyman wrote this story using our testing insights for numerous coffee tests and contributions from Jacqueline Weiss, a professional food writer with over five years of experience and a lifelong lover of working in the kitchen. Her writing has appeared in Eat This Not That, EatingWell, Taste Of Home, Simply Recipes, Allrecipes, and more.