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How you prepare your coffee makes all the difference in how it tastes. Today, we want to share with you some of the best drip coffee makers that are sure to forever change the way you enjoy coffee.

We’re here to help you make the most of your morning routine. After trying one of our reviews, you will never want coffee any other way. The following 10 units are our favorite picks. No matter how you like your coffee, we’re confident we have one just for you.

Don’t Have Time to Read the Whole Article?

When it came down to it, we had to give the best overall to the Ninja Hot & Cold Brew System. Short of making espresso, this machine does it all. Coffee tastes incredibly rich and smooth. And it’s very user-friendly, to boot.

Not to be outdone, Breville’s Precision Brewer came in as a very close runner-up. It boasts a huge carafe, an easy user interface, and makes one delicious cup of coffee.

Top 10 Best Drip Coffee Makers

Now that you’ve had a taste of what’s to come, let’s get to the main reviews section. We’ll dive deeper into the world of drip coffee makers and show you which ones will serve you best. If you’ve never tried coffee this way, your taste buds are in for a treat.


1. Ninja Hot & Cold Brew System Review - Best Overall

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  • Plenty of options
  • Built-in frother
  • Well-made
  • Versatile
  • Doesn’t make espresso
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The Ninja is an excellent drip coffee maker that’s loaded with features. If you’re looking for versatility, Ninja delivers in spades. Not just limited to coffee, the Ninja whips up a wicked cup of tea, as well.

We love everything about this wonderful machine. Maybe you’ve always enjoyed your coffee black. Maybe your coffee maker’s basic capabilities prevented you from expanding your palate. The Ninja changes all that with its many ways of preparing java.

If you’ve never tried specialty coffee, the Ninja makes it possible. It’s even equipped with a frothing whisk so you can enjoy milk in your coffee the way it was intended. Simply add some milk to the Ninja’s carafe and press a button. It’s that easy.

And that’s what makes the Ninja so great. There’s no complicated steps to follow or grueling preparation. It does all the hard work for you. You have enough to concentrate on in the morning. It’s nice to just add the desired amount of coffee and press a button while you get ready for the day ahead.

The Ninja was built for user-friendliness. The face of the unit has buttons that are used to make selections in preparing your drink. LED lights show you what you’ve chosen so you know exactly what’s being made and how.

The Ninja can prepare a full pot of coffee or just a single cup. Or, you can have tea brewed and ready in as little as 10 minutes. It’s quick, easy, and best of all, tasty. We like the clever craftsmanship of the Ninja, too. It automatically recognizes the type of basket you insert to make either coffee or tea.

Keeping your brews hot is no problem here, either. The Ninja comes with a 50-ounce insulated carafe that is made to keep your favorite drink hot for as long as 2 hours. Every part of the Ninja is crafted to perfection.

Nothing feels cheap or like it was an afterthought. It is one sturdy and durable machine that is sure to give you many years of service.

Features

  • 50-ounce insulated carafe
  • 5 different brew styles
  • Weighs 11.09 pounds
  • 11.8 x 10 x 15 inches
  • 6 different brew sizes

Ease of Use

Preparing drinks is quick and easy. Simply add the needed amount of water and coffee or tea and the Ninja handles the rest. The user interface is equally user-friendly. Selections and commands are made with the push of a button.


2. Breville Precision Brewer Review - Best Runner-Up

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  • Nice customization
  • Attractive design
  • Preset modes
  • Large carafe
  • A bit pricey
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The Breville Precision Brewer is loaded with automatic functions and handy features. The presets are where this machine really shines. If you like a specific cup or cups of coffee, you can choose one of the 6 presets to ensure you’re brewed the perfect blend every time.

Select ‘Fast’ to get a quick, no-nonsense cup of coffee. Or if you like your coffee to have some bite to it, give ‘Strong’ a try. You can even drink it chilled by selecting ‘Iced’ or ‘Cold Brew’. One of our favorites is ‘Gold’. This preset adjusts the temperature and brew time to deliver the perfect cup of java.

If you’re a little picky about how your coffee is prepared, Breville included a preset with you in mind. Just press ‘My Brew’ to get full control over things like the flow rate, temperature, and bloom time.

Being able to adjust water temperature is a big deal, especially if you’re in a hurry. We don’t always have time to sit down and savor each sip. By brewing a cup that is readily-drinkable the moment it fills your mug, you can get your caffeine fix just in the nick of time.

The Precision Brewer includes a 60-ounce carafe, giving you plenty of room for your favorite blends. This machine is expertly-crafted and looks great. The brushed stainless steel body complements any setting, whether at home or in the office.

We really appreciate the class Breville put into the Precision Brewer. It’s attractive, yet simplistic. This serves to give the user an enjoyable experience without over-complicating things with a lot of gadgetry.

The interface is one of the easiest we’ve ever used. Two buttons and a dial adorn the front of the unit. A digital display shows you your options and selections, while the dial lets you choose between them. It’s a very easy system to learn and operate.

But more importantly, brews are excellent. Each setting and preset makes a huge difference in the taste of your desired selection.

Features

  • Automatic preset modes
  • Weighs 3.15 pounds
  • Temperature control
  • 12 x 8 x 15.5 inches
  • Adjustable settings
  • 60-ounce carafe

Ease of Use

Breville’s user interface is one of easiest you’ll ever use. A simple dial lets you choose selections. After you’ve made your choice, just press the ‘Start’ button. The presets make it even easier. If you like your coffee a certain way, these ensure you get it just the way you like it.


3. Bonavita Connoisseur Review - Easiest to Use

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  • One-touch operation
  • Great-tasting coffee
  • Compact design
  • Even saturation
  • Fast delivery
  • Rather plain-looking
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The Connoisseur is a well-priced, competent, and fast drip coffee maker. If you’re looking to brew some delicious-tasting coffee on the cheap, this is the machine for you.

It’s not the handsomest of models around; quite ordinary, to tell you the truth. While it won’t win any awards for innovative and exciting craftsmanship, it gets the job done in quick fashion.

If you’d rather avoid the pricey bells and whistles of premium coffee makers, you definitely want to check out the Connoisseur.

Where this little gadget really soars is in its functionality. It’s plain, sure, but that’s what makes it so accessible. It’s equipped with just the right balance of features to make it a solid performer. Most unique is its showerhead drip system.

This ensures that you’re getting evenly saturated coffee every time. And boy, does it ever taste great. Playing a big part in this is the Connoisseur’s pre-infusion brewing. This mode lets the water and coffee grounds bloom properly to give you the perfect taste.

Cleaning the machine is nearly as easy as using it. Since there’s not a lot to the Connoisseur, you won’t be spending much time breaking it down to clean it by hand.

If cutting-edge features aren’t your thing, Bonavita’s drip coffee maker is right up your alley. Best of all, you’ll save a good sum of money in the process.

Features

  • 12.4 x 6.8 x 12.2 inches
  • Weighs 6.13 pounds
  • Showerhead design
  • 6-minute brewing
  • 64-ounce carafe

Ease of Use

Bonavita’s one-touch brewing system doesn’t get much easier. Add water, coffee, and switch it on. There’s little waiting, too. Coffee is delivered in about 6 minutes, making the Connoisseur one of the easiest drip coffee makers around.


4. Technivorm Moccamaster KBT741 Review - Best Value

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  • Brews quickly
  • User-friendly
  • Great coffee
  • Nice design
  • High-priced
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Quite the departure from the last entry, the Moccamaster is a uniquely-designed coffee maker. Its aluminum construction and shape give it a coffee shop feel that is sure to add character to any kitchen.

If you get overwhelmed with high-tech machines, the Moccamaster is pretty easy to use. We really like how quiet it works, too. And not only that, it’s fast. You can start enjoying a freshly-brewed cup of java in about 5 minutes.

It features copper elements that serve to heat up water between temperatures of 196 and 205 degrees. This is to ensure that your favorite blends get the perfect extraction. From aroma to taste, your coffee is brewed to perfection.

And when the process is complete, the Moccamaster automatically powers down. Other handy features include a drip-stop basket and insulated, 40-ounce carafe.

The basket can be manually adjusted, giving you control over how quickly coffee is dripping down into its carafe. Do this in order to get just the right taste you’re looking for.

The carafe will maintain your coffee’s heat for a good, solid hour. We often get busy and forget to tend to our brew, only to find that it’s gotten cold. Moccamaster’s thermal insulated carafe fixes that for good.

Another big benefit of this model is that you’ll use a lot less grounds when brewing. If you prefer the more expensive brands of coffee, this is likely the unit for you. It is a bit more expensive than the previous entries we reviewed. But Technivorm throws in a nice 5-year warranty for good measure.

Features

  • 11.5 x 6.8 x 15.2 inches
  • One-button operation
  • Weighs 6.5 pounds
  • 40-ounce carafe
  • 5-year warranty

Ease of Use

Similar to the previous Connoisseur, just a single button handles brewing. It’s quick, easy, and effective. We were very pleased with how fast we got our coffee. If you’re often in a mad dash to get out the door in the morning, you may want to give the Moccamaster a try.


5. Bunn Speed Brew Elite Review - Fastest Brew

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  • Warming plate
  • Large carafe
  • Easy to use
  • Affordable
  • Very few features
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Are you intimidated by the complex builds found in many drip coffee makers? Would you like a more traditional unit that will save you a few bucks, too? Then Bunn’s Speed Brew Elite is what you want.

Its design is very much in line with ordinary coffee machines. It’s just a square, black, plastic unit. It’s lacking any fancy features and isn’t very exciting. That being said, the Elite serves up a mighty fine cup of mud. And it does so rather quickly.

In less than 4 minutes, you’re guaranteed a steaming cup of excellence. No water is wasted in the process, either. You get back exactly what you poured in. This is thanks to the commercial-grade tank that reduces condensation. It’s made of stainless steel, ensuring that your java is always piping hot.

We like that Bunn used a showerhead drip system in the Elite. This ensures each ground is soaked to bring out the best flavor. Every cup is rich and smooth. And when pouring from the carafe, it is designed with a drip-free spout that reduces mess.

Does the Elite have its limitations? Sure. But if you’re looking for effective simplicity, this is the unit for you. It’s very user-friendly and works like a charm.

Features

  • 12.5 x 7.8 x 14 inches
  • Weighs 8.37 pounds
  • 50-ounce carafe
  • Drip-free carafe
  • 3-year warranty

Ease of Use

Bunn’s Speed Brew Elite is yet another simple unit to operate. Just fill the stainless steel tank with your desired amount of water, add coffee, and press a switch. In just a few minutes, you’ll have wonderful-tasting coffee.


6. Cuisinart DCC-3200 PerfecTemp Review - Best Entry-Level Unit

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  • Adjustable warmer
  • Compact design
  • Timer modes
  • Huge carafe
  • Affordable
  • Leaky spout
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Cuisinart delivers a compact machine that’s both affordable and effective. We really like the design choice here. It’s basic and compact, but has just the right amount of features to make it a worthy entry.

You can select either a standard or bold brew for the perfect cup. We were quite pleased with both; coffee bursts with flavor regardless of which one you choose. And when the PerfecTemp has finished, you can adjust its warmer to keep your brew hot.

We appreciated the programmable timers, too. It’s nice to wake up to the rich aroma of your favorite coffee and have it ready and waiting on you. A word of advice: you’ll want to play around with ratios of coffee and water to ensure you get a decent cup. Once you get it right, it’s near-perfect.

The carafe sports a drip-free spout, but we still had trouble with it. Every time we poured a cup, there was some trickle. Aside from this one issue, the rest of the coffee maker is excellent. Its stainless steel design gives it a commercial-grade look and feel.

We also really liked seeing the built-in filter. It’s nice not to have to worry about running out of paper filters. The PerfecTemp’s huge, 112-ounce carafe is excellent, too.

Features

  • 10.5 x 11 x 16.5 inches
  • Programmable timer
  • Weighs 7.5 pounds
  • 112-ounce carafe
  • Warming plate

Ease of Use

The user interface is the standard affair. You can set brewing modes from here and adjust the timer. We would have liked a bigger display, as there’s only a small LCD screen. It’s certainly adequate, but more detail would have been nice.


7. Brew Express BEC-110BS Review - Most Efficient

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  • Convenient
  • No waiting
  • No filling
  • Efficient
  • It’s a bit pricey
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Now this is handy. The Brew Express hooks directly into your water line. No more filling and no more spilling. Not only do you never have to worry about running low on water, but you no longer have to wait for water to heat up.

Having hot water on tap at all times is a wonderful thing. Want to grab a cup while it’s brewing? No problem there, either. You can set it to brew either a single cup or the entire carafe. An 80-ounce stainless steel carafe comes with the unit, as you can’t use glass with this model.

We really like the build-quality here. It’s wide, but it’s solid. It clocks in at 17 pounds, so it’s pretty heavy compared to other brands we looked at. But this helps add to its aesthetics. It looks and feels like a restaurant-style coffee machine, and we like that.

Water fills to the necessary limits automatically. That’s less work for you so you can focus on other things. Thanks to sensors, once the reservoir is full, filling stops. There’s never any overfilling or spillovers.

The Brew Express is a bit pricey, but the convenience of never having to mess with water is well worth it. Better yet, coffee is fantastic. You’re pretty limited as far as functions and features go, but the flavor delivered is so rich that you won’t care.

The only other real downside to the Brew Express is its inclination to leak. Many owners of the machine have noted as much. After extended use (more than a year), leaks begin to spring up. This isn’t on all units, of course. But you should proceed with caution.

Features

  • 12.5 x 7 x 13 inches
  • Weighs 17 pounds
  • Continuous-brew
  • 80-ounce carafe
  • Auto-fill feature

Ease of Use

We enjoyed the simplicity of the Brew Express. Once installed, just set your mug or carafe in place and select the desired dispensing level. Since there is no waiting for water to heat up, you can enjoy a hot cup of Joe anytime you like.


8. Bonavita One-Touch Review - Best for Beginners

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  • Warming plate
  • Great coffee
  • Easy to use
  • Affordable
  • Limited features
  • Carafe tends to cool quickly
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If you’ve never tried a drip coffee maker but want to get your feet wet, the One-Touch is your best bet. It has a very affordable price and is quite easy to use. There’s no fancy features to speak of, so you definitely won’t feel overwhelmed.

It sports a showerhead drip system that ensures all the coffee is evenly saturated. This is what helps give you smooth and rich-tasting coffee. Plus, the One-Touch’s heating system works to release water at the just the right time. This perfectly emulates the pour-over style of delivery.

Brewing takes only about 6 minutes. An alert sounds when it’s ready, so you can focus on your morning routine while your cup is being prepared. If you want a full pot, Bonavita includes a 64-ounce glass carafe.

Once your brew is finished, a built-in warming plate keeps it hot for you. As a safety precaution, the plate will automatically shut itself off after 40 minutes.

If you’re inexperienced, you’ll find the One-Touch to be an absolute pleasure to operate. As its name implies, a single button works the entire unit. No fiddling with settings or features. All you’ll need to do is add some water and coffee and push a button.

It’s very user-friendly and works flawlessly. Our only gripe is the included carafe doesn’t seem to keep its contents hot for very long, even with the warmer on. If you’re only planning on brewing a mug’s worth, it’s no big deal.

But if you’re entertaining guests or there are a lot of coffee drinkers in your family, this could be an issue.

Features

  • 12.6 x 6.8 x 12.2 inches
  • Built-in warming plate
  • Weighs 5.3 pounds
  • Pre-infusion mode
  • Showerhead drip
  • 64-ounce carafe

Ease of Use

One-touch does it all, just like the name says. It really is an easy machine to use and will serve any beginner well. It’s awfully limited on features, but that’s what makes it so great for the uninitiated.


9. Breville Grind Control Review - Best Design

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  • Innovative design
  • Lots of features
  • Easy to use
  • Compact
  • A bit pricey
  • Delicate components
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This is a really handy coffee maker to have around. There are more steps involved in the brewing process. But if you like a more hands-on experience, this is the unit for you. It grinds the beans in a built-in hopper and has several features and functions included.

You can have your coffee exactly the way you like it. Every time. And thanks to a great user interface, all of this is made easier. An LCD screen shows you what you have selected. It’s also handy for displaying grinding information and water levels.

We really like this because it lets you know how much time it takes to grind up coffee grounds. And since it tells you how long a brew is going to take, you don’t have to stand over the machine while it’s doing its thing.

There are 8 different brewing strengths for you to select from. Don’t want to grind beans? Not a problem. You can use any pre-ground coffee of your choosing. We like that you can simply toss in the grounds and set the timer.

If you so desire, you can have a fresh cup of piping hot coffee waiting for you in the morning. Other great features include temperature control and a drip tray. All in all, it’s a very well-rounded coffee maker that delivers on what it promises.

The only downside is that it has a lot going on with it. Some users have had electronic failures and things of that nature. It’s not the most expensive drip coffee maker out there, but it’s still pretty pricey.

Features

  • 12.5 x 8.5 x 16.3 inches
  • Adjustable strengths
  • Programmable timer
  • Weighs 16 pounds
  • 96-ounce carafe
  • Built-in hopper

Ease of Use

Thanks to the LCD screen and onboard dials, making selections is a breeze. We had no trouble figuring out the menu and using its features. Breville makes it all really user-friendly and easy to understand.


10. Mr. Coffee CJX31 Review - Best on a Budget

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  • Flavorful coffee
  • Warming plate
  • Timer modes
  • Affordable
  • Low build-quality
  • Too few features
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If you’re on a tight budget, Mr. Coffee lets you enjoy delicious drip coffee at an affordable price. This compact little guy lets you select the strength of your brew and even program automatic timers.

An onboard LCD screen displays time and alerts you to when you need to start a fresh pot. The buttons, while a bit small, are easy to navigate. LED lights show you the selections you’ve made for straightforward brewing.

We like that there’s a warming plate with the CJX31. The unit is a combination of stainless steel and plastic. It feels a little on the flimsy side, but that’s understandable given its low price. That being said, it does make a great cup of Joe. And for many, that’s all that matters.

Features

  • 8.5 x 10.5 x 14 inches
  • Programmable timer
  • Weighs 6 pounds
  • 96-ounce carafe
  • Strength-adjust

Ease of Use

The CJX31 isn’t the most intuitive of drip coffee makers, but it gets the job done. The buttons are small and feel awfully cheap, but they work and are easy to understand.


Drip Coffee Maker Buyer’s Guide

Plenty of us can’t start the day without a cup of delicious, hot coffee. Unfortunately, most of us had to settle for the miserable experience of instant coffee.

Fortunately, drip coffee makers are here to help us leave the mediocre coffee experience behind us. But, before you can make a purchase that will leave you satisfied, you need to know a couple of things.

Types of Drip Coffee Makers

All of the drip coffee makers utilize the same brewing technique. Water is held in a reservoir and heated. It then drops through a filter filled with ground coffee, and you end up with a cup of flavorful coffee.

It sounds simple because it is, but before you opt in for a product, you need to know the differences between the three types of drip coffee makers.

  • Drip coffee makers with a thermal carafe: Thermal carafes are insulated. They keep your coffee warm for hours without the need for reheating. They prevent the coffee from burning and allow it to be portable. One problem with thermal carafes is that they are not see-through like glass carafes. So, you won’t be able to easily notice how much coffee you have brewed.
  • Drip coffee makers with a glass carafe: Since a glass carafe is not insulated, it can’t keep your coffee warm for a long time. Don’t keep your glass carafe on a hot plate for a long time, since it will leave you with burnt coffee. Most drip coffee makers with a glass carafe come with a timer that allows you to turn off the hot plate whenever you want. Glass carafes allow you to see inside of them, so you will always know the quantity of brewed coffee.
  • Dual pot drip coffee makers: As the name implies, dual pot drip coffee makers come with two brewing stations and two pots. They are great when you want to brew coffee for friends and family, and they are an awesome fit for any office. You can easily brew differently flavored coffee in them, or go for regular coffee in one pot, and decaf in the other one.

Useful Features to Look For

While most of the products we have chosen for our top 10 list come with the following features, it is important to know about them.

  • Carafe capacity: Think about who will be using the coffee maker. Are you the only person, or will the rest of your family be using it? Be sure to check out the carafe capacity. Most of the time you will notice that most of the carafes offer four, ten, twelve, or fourteen cups of coffee. Think about which one suits your needs, and your choice will be much easier.
  • Pause mid-brew: Having the ability to pause the brewer mid-brew is useful to people who are in a hurry. Sometimes you simply don’t have enough time to wait for the coffee to finish brewing, and that’s where the ability to pause mid-brew comes in handy. So, if you live in a hurry, then you might find this feature useful.
  • Programmable: There is nothing better than waking up to a smell of coffee. Some drip coffee makers allow you to set a timer that turns them on or off. Other models allow you to program the time the plate remains hot and more. If you want your coffee maker to provide you with convenience, then look for a model that allows you to program it.
  • Water filter: We have noticed the quality of water in the USA degrading over time in some parts of the country. If you are fortunate enough to have clean tap water, then you don’t need a water filter in your drip coffee maker. On the other hand, if your drinking water is less than safe, then find a drip coffee maker that comes with a built-in water filter.
  • Brew-strength control: This is an awesome feature for all of you who love a strong brew. Drip coffee makers with brew-strength control allow you to slow down the flow of water, which results in a strong brew. If you can’t start your day without a strong coffee, then you might want to consider this feature.
  • Self-serve: Plenty of coffee makers out there dispense coffee into a carafe or a mug, But, units with the self-serve option hold the coffee inside. This option keeps the coffee hot and allows you to serve it as you see fit.

Is a Thermal Carafe Better Than a Hot Plate?

Which one of the two is better boils down to personal preferences. Thermal carafes give you more flexibility, and they are easier to use. While the glass carafes that get heated on hot plates come at an affordable price, the problem is that the hot plates heat up coffee more than they should.

Hot plates have to be turned on to stay hot, and reheating coffee on them is not something to write home about. With thermal carafes, there is no need to reheat coffee because they keep coffee hot for a long time. But, thermal carafes come with one simple caveat – they are more expensive.

In the end, you have to decide which of the two options fits your budget and lifestyle.

Do I Need A Coffee Grinder?

Some of the drip coffee makers come with a grinder, but most of the users are not excited about that future. Coffee connoisseurs will always tell you that having a separate grinder is the best idea, and we agree with them.

Drip coffee makers with a built-in grinder tend to be more expensive than the units without the grinder. But, you might spend less money on a coffee maker with a built-in grinder than you would on buying a separate grinder. Another problem with having two machines instead of one is space. If you have a smaller kitchen, then you might want to consider a coffee maker with a built-in grinder. On the other hand, if free space is not a problem, and you want the best coffee experience, then go for a separate coffee grinder.