Brew The Perfect Coffee Cup With The Best Drip Coffee Maker
Americans are so obsessed with coffee that 52% of coffee drinkers would rather forego their morning showers instead of giving up the morning cuppa.
This is why coffee shops see the most traffic in the morning —many people stop there on the way to work; to buy their daily dosage.
But you know who the real winners are?
People who take the time to brew their own cup and enjoy the process just as much as the result –they are mesmerized by the aroma of freshly-brewed coffee.
If you want to save some money (coffee runs are expensive!) and do the brew at home, we can help.
We suggest investing in a modern drip coffee maker that is efficient, reliable and is packed with brilliant features that give you that unbeatable goodness of coffee anytime you want.
We narrow down to the best drip coffee makers that you can buy online. So read on, get familiar, and be ready to begin your mornings with rich and flavorsome coffee that will get you through the day.
Best Drip Coffee Makers
Our Top Pick — Technivorm Moccamaster 79112 10-Cup Drip Machine With Thermal Carafe
If you are a family of coffee lovers and no family event happens without a generous serving of coffee for everyone, then this is the machine for you.
This unit looks beautiful, brews at the right temperatures, and comes with a travel lid. So you can carry the carafe with you as and when you please. You will have piping hot coffee for hours at a stretch thanks to the thermal carafe.
Bring it to the family picnic if you want!
The Technivorm Moccamaster 79112 has a unique glass tube-like design — where water is heated up to the adequate temperature to infuse the coffee grounds. Once the water reservoir is empty, the machine automatically shuts off.
Furthermore, the brew basket has three settings that may take some time to master, but depending on how you like your coffee, you can manually adjust the settings — from mild to intense, and from watery to flavorsome.
The coffee machine does not have a programmable feature, but that’s not a problem — you can have a 10-cup pot ready in four to six minutes. The brew cycle will be complete before you are done frying the eggs.
And if you love waking up to the rich coffee aroma, you will be welcomed by some fantastic smells each morning.
The Technivorm Moccamaster 79112 10-Cup Drip Machine with Thermal Carafe has a high-quality metal housing. Some glass and BSF/BPA free plastics are also a part of its construction.
Also, cleaning the unit could not be any easier; everything comes apart for easy cleanup.
Pros
- Perfect extraction of flavor
- Sturdy build quality
- Auto-shutoff feature
- Parts come apart for easy cleanup
Cons
- No programmable features
Best Thermal Coffee Maker — Zojirushi Fresh Brew Coffee Maker
If coffee for you is not just a morning delight, but the sole reason why you get up in the first place, consider buying the Zojirushi Fresh Brew Coffee Maker, which is the best thermal coffee maker available these days.
The thermal carafe will keep your coffee fresh for most of the day, no need for a heating plate that often delivers coffee with a burned and bitter taste.
The Zojirushi Fresh Brew Coffee Maker is priced reasonably, making it a viable investment and even a great gift for the coffee lover in your life.
Additionally, it has all the revolutionary features that will enhance your coffee-making experience – a reusable stainless mesh coffee filter, an option to self-clean, and a removable water reservoir for easy filling.
In one cycle, you can brew 10 cups, and each pot is consistent in taste as it is heated at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Apart from steaming hot coffee, this machine also allows you to brew iced coffee.
To ensure mess-free brewing and filling – there is a drip prevention mechanism, so when the carafe isn’t in place, the coffee will not drip.
Pros
- Hot and fresh coffee for hours
- A reusable filter basket
- Auto-cleaning feature along with an indicator light that informs when cleanup is required
- Drip prevention mechanism
Cons
- Takes up a lot of counter space
- You need to pull out the cord after each use
Best All-Rounder Drip Coffee Maker — Bonavita BV1900TS 8 Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Brewer
If you take coffee-making very seriously and enjoy the process as much as the drink itself, we recommend you the Bonavita BV1900TS 8 Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Brewer, which is the best all-rounder drip coffee maker.
This SCAA APPROVED machine brews 8-cups in a cycle and keeps it heated at the right temperature for hours thanks to the built-in thermal carafe. Don’t just take our word for it, do your research, and see how many good reviews it has from satisfied customers.
What makes the Bonavita BV1900TS so amazing are some fantastic features that aren’t usually available with other drip coffee makers. For example, steam separation from the coffee grounds by dispensing it via the filter lid, and an option to select pre-infusion—which blooms the coffee before brewing it. This leads to a flavor-rich pot that smells awesome and is pleasing for all palates.
Furthermore, using the coffee maker is quite smooth despite all the bells and whistles – just add coffee and water, then press a button, and your steamin’ hot cup of Joe will be ready in no time.
The Bonavita BV1900TS has a double-walled stainless steel thermal carafe to keep the coffee hotter and fresher for longer, and it’s built entirely from plastic is BPA-free.
Pros
- A large shower head for optimal extraction
- Dishwasher safe components – pull them apart and put them in your dishwasher or rinse under a tap
- SCAA approved
- Double-walled thermal carafe
Cons
- No programmable options
- No auto-shutoff feature
The Best Hot And Cold Friendly Drip Coffee Maker — Ninja Specialty Fold-Away Frother CM401
If you prefer cold coffee during those hot summer days, look no further than the Ninja Specialty Fold-Away Frother CM401.
Apart from the flavorsome hot beverage that you crave, this machine can also brew coffee over ice, so you can have a delicious cold coffee that is not watered down.
The Ninja Specialty Fold-Away Frother CM401 has six brew settings. So it’s your call, make a pot or just a cup – both only take the push of a button.
This drip coffee maker comes with a fold-away milk frother to put the perfect topping over your hot or cold milk. It also allows you to prepare specialty drinks like cappuccinos, lattes, mochas, and many other beverages that you can only get from coffee shops.
To add to that, the CM401 is an SCA-certified home brewer and it is not dependent on pods to curate a flawless cup or pot.
Pros
- Six brew sizes
- Option to make specialty drinks
- No filters required
- Easy to clean
- User-friendly
- Keep coffee warm for up to four hours
Cons
- Takes up a good amount of counter space
Things To Lookout For
Consider the following factors before selecting a coffee maker that’s right for you:
Size Of The Coffee Maker
This won’t improve upon the taste or the brewing experience, but still, it deserves thought.
After all, what would be the point of getting a machine with remarkable features if it does not fit in the kitchen? You don’t want to take up space meant to house other appliances or have a coffee maker with no place to put it.
Since it would be used daily, it should always be on the right, reachable spot — it’s pointless to stow it away after each use.
Brewing Capacity
The amount of coffee you require from one brew should inform the size of your drip coffee maker.
So, decide if you need a cup or two or a full pot for the whole family or office.
If you live alone — a coffee maker with a cup or two brewing capacity should be a safe bet. On the other hand, if every family member is a coffee lover, choose a drip coffee maker with a significant-sized reservoir that can brew a pot in one cycle.
Different Brew Sizes
Ensure that the selected appliance can accommodate all the different sizes of drinkware in your kitchen since not all mugs, cups, and pots come in the same size.
To ensure that all sizes fit snuggly and that you don’t create a mess on each filling—buy a coffee maker that has adjustable sprouts, drip tray, and nozzle.
Strength Settings Feature
Some people prefer caffeine-rich coffee; others like just a bit of a kick, whereas many others only want decaf.
It is highly likely that people in your family are not in agreement on how strong or mild their cup of Joe should be, so buy a drip coffee maker with a strength setting option. This will allow you to have rich-in-taste coffee every time, regardless of the strength.
Temperature Adjustability
Imagine waking up the perfect cup of Joe, but as you take the first sip, it turns out that it has a burnt taste to it or is not correctly saturated, sounds daunting, right?
This happens because the coffee is not brewed on the right temperature, i.e., between 195-degrees to 205-degrees – this is what is required from a machine for thorough extraction.
So buying a drip coffee maker that allows for temperature adjustability can make all the difference.
Carafe Type
There are two options to choose from – a thermal carafe or a glass carafe. It all depends on what matters most to you — efficiency, price, or uncompromised taste.
A glass carafe comes at a better price point and can keep the coffee warm, thanks to the featured hot plate, but there is a downside to it — the plate heats coffee further, which leads to a burnt and bitter taste.
On the contrary, a thermal carafe keeps the coffee at the recommended temperature, i.e., 200-degrees Fahrenheit +/- five degrees for at least an hour or two. This does not distort the flavor and also conserves energy. However, thermal carafe featured drip coffee makers are slightly expensive.
Cleaning The Coffee Maker
Do it after every few days as cleaning the coffee maker every day is never recommended.
Therefore, buy a unit that has fewer but removable parts —pull them apart to convenient and efficiently clean the coffee maker.
Price & Warranty
A drip coffee maker can cost you as little as $25, which may be able to brew a decent cup, but nothing extravagant in terms of strength or flavor.
But as the features increase and the build material becomes more durable – the price also hikes – fancier models can cost more than $100.
Remember, buying a good drip coffee maker is a fixed cost; you still have to pay for various variable costs for procuring pods, coffee beans, cleaning accessories, etc., so choose wisely.
Also, check the warranty for your coffee maker before you buy it and make sure it’s valid.
Bells & Whistles
Apart from the considerations mentioned above, look for some extra features that can enhance your coffee-making experience and these would also help you in reaching a buying decision.
Here are some of the much advancement seen on modern drip coffee makers:
- Programmable settings — the machine starts on a pre-selected time and gets your beverage ready before you make way for the kitchen
- Bean grinding — if for the perfect taste you prefer using coffee beans instead of coffee grounds, you should choose a machine that features a bean grinder. Save money as well as counter space.
- Auto-Shutoff — forgot to switch off your coffee maker before heading out? Not to worry, if your selected drip coffee makes has an auto-shutoff feature, it switches off if not in use.
- Alerts to notify that cleaning the machine is required
- Audible or light-based alerts to inform that a brewing cycle is complete, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Is The Lifespan Of A Drip Coffee Maker?
A good coffee maker should last for at least a decade, but at the end of the day, it depends on how extraneously you use it. Some high-quality appliances can last for years – whereas others may not even last the warranty period.
Are Drip Coffee Makers Easy To Clean?
Yes, they are — take out the removable components and rinse them thoroughly. But remember, under no circumstances can you put the drip coffee maker underwater.
How To Get That Perfect Taste From Your Coffee?
To ensure the brewed coffee is flavorsome, use fresh ground coffee or grind coffee beans, brew at 200-degree Fahrenheit (give or take five), and always use filtered water.
Which Is Better — The French Press Coffee Maker Or A Drip Coffee Machine?
Both, if used right, can provide outstanding coffee. However, it depends on your routine and how involved you want to be in the coffee-making equation.
The French press coffee maker is a manual unit where you have to put in the hard work to make the perfect cup of Joe, whereas you can let the machine do the work on the drip coffee maker.
How Does A Drip Coffee Machine Work?
The drip coffee maker heats the water and creates steam. This steam is then driven through a tube to a drip area where it is disseminated. The water cycles through coffee grounds, and then leads them into the coffee pot or cup via a filtration channel.
What Are The Steps To Unclogging A Drip Coffee Maker?
Follow these steps:
- Pour vinegar in the water reservoir
- Switch on the coffee machine
- When the sprayer starts spitting the vinegar, switch off the machine
- Let the coffee maker breathe for about half an hour
- If the problem is not fixed, repeat the process