Best coffee makers: I've tested 25+ machines and these are the best

Owning one of the best coffee makers money can buy will help you through any miserable morning without even having to leave your home, that is. But picking the right make and style is a complicated task. 

In our top nine, I have included a wide range of coffee makers from Technivorm, Cuisinart, De’Longhi, Illy, Breville, and Keurig, and there are a variety of models to choose from. 

I've even featured a few of the best small coffee makers for anyone with less countertop space to work with. I've tested these machines and compared them based on their price, features, and capabilities.

The quick list

Haven't got long to read? These are the best coffee makers that you should have your eye on. 

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The best coffee makers

The best drip coffee maker

The Technivorm Moccamaster is the closest you'll find to an automatic pour-over. The latest iteration, the KBGV Select enables you to select between two sizes (half or full carafe) to optimize the brewing cycle.  It's remarkably simple, once you get used to the modularity of each part. It's actually so convenient to be able to take the brew basket from the machine and dump it directly into the trash for minimal mess. Once the water reservoir is full, simply switch the button to "on," and in just a few minutes, you'll have a perfect pot of coffee. It's basically foolproof. 

Everything about the Moccamaster is handcrafted, including the unique copper heating element that maintains that your coffee always heats between 196 and 206 degrees Fahrenheit, while the separate hot plate will maintain the glass carafe at temperatures between 175 and 185 degrees Fahrenheit for 100 minutes before shutting off. The exclusive nine-hole drip arm ensures even extraction and a smooth flavorful cup of coffee. The sheer amount of color options is a true selling point for those who like to express themselves through color or with appliances that match their kitchens.

It's extremely quiet and can brew a whole 10-cup pot in as little as six minutes. Together, the Moccamaster meets the qualifications set by the Specialty Coffee Association and the European Coffee Brewing Center as the perfect cup of coffee. At over $300, the Moccamaster is without a doubt an investment in your morning routine, but it does come with a five-year warranty, giving you peace of mind if anything starts to wear out. If you prefer thermal carafes to glass, the Moccamaster is also available in a thermal carafe, without the hot plate option. 

Read our full review.

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The best pod coffee maker

Six words: Welcome to the future of coffee. If you're into AI and getting your hands on the latest tech, there's no doubt you'll want to add this to your kitchen countertop (and keep it there!) OK, so the tank capacity is a little on the small(er) side, but if you're just making a cup of coffee for you and your boo — this won't take up much counter space. In fact, you'll want to be extra and show it off (outside of the kitchen) because it's a thing of beauty.

This isn't your cookie-cutter pop 'n' go machine. With an award-winning design, "firsts" in specialist coffee-making abilities, and a sleek OLED screen — it doesn't come cheap. I'm afraid to say, that if you're looking to economize on your spending habits, it's going to take a few hundred cups to make it "worth" its cost per use. 

It has a whopping 10 default brew modes to tweak your joe just how you like it, and a built-in TDS meter so you can keep an eye on the mineral content (ideal for city-dwellers who shouldn't have to put up with icky hard water masking the true flavor of your beverage). You won't need any hi-tech spaceship-looking capsules for this as it takes your run-of-the-mill Nespresso OriginalLine pods.

Read our full review.

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The best Keurig coffee maker

This upgraded Keurig offers a fool-proof brew for the coffee novice in need of a caffeine boost. Specifically, the K-Supreme Plus incorporates new MultiStream technology that extracts more flavor and aroma in every brew. Rather than the singular puncture in the center of the K-cup, the MultiStream uses five entrance needles to saturate the grounds more evenly throughout with water. 

With a stainless steel metal wrap and removable reservoir, this coffee maker has a sleek and modern look that will fit into most contemporary kitchen spaces. The black button interface is easy to read and interact with. Your coffee experience gets further upgraded with variable brew strength, temperature, cup-size buttons, and an iced setting for when the mood for iced coffee strikes. The K-Supreme Plus can automatically measure out how much water you select from one of 5 cup sizes, and the roomy water tank can make up to five 12-ounce coffees in one fill. Finally, the K-Supreme Plus alerts you when it is time to descale your coffee maker (after 250 cycles).

The iced coffee is not a cold brew but brews hot coffee over ice. However, selecting the iced coffee button ensures that it will be the right strength and won't be too diluted by the ice cubes. 

Read our full review.

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The best latte coffee maker

Neat, modern, and very sleek, the Nespresso Lattissima One is one of the most versatile Nespresso machines on the market. It has three drink size presets and a milk frothing attachment that works automatically.  While the operation is simple, the Nespresso Lattissima One makes a good selection of drinks. You can choose from espresso, lungo, and a third setting that exists for making milky drinks. To use this, add your pod and some milk to the frothing attachment before pressing the dedicated preset. 

It's rare to find a pod machine that has 19 bars of pressure, so the Nespresso Lattissima One is more capable than most single-serve coffee makers. It comes in a range of finishes and it is one of the most stylish coffee makers I've seen. This coffee machine has a built-in milk frother, and it's great. It only makes one serving size of milk though, with no variation in textures, so you'll have trouble if you like your cappuccinos but find a latte too milky. 

In September 2023, Nespresso brought out a Vertuo pod-compatible machine. Prior to this, older models only accepted OriginalLine capsules.

Read our full review

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The best single serve coffee maker

This is the best coffee maker if you want a quality machine, the ability to make a vast range of coffees (from espressos to flat whites to iced coffees), and a price that is really reasonable. As I mentioned, the biggest selling point is that this coffee maker can do it all. It comes with a glass carafe for brewing a pot of drip coffee. Or, change the brew strength and make a single-serve espresso-style drink.

This is a fun setup that places your mug of choice nearly hovering in the center. It's very much giving quirky "coffee laboratory" vibes. It has a built-in milk frother and iced coffee setting. Before you start worrying about lacking the skills of a barista, it's an easy-to-use machine, in our opinion. It also doesn't take pods, which is nice because you can use whatever coffee you have on hand without having to place a special order.

While you can use the machine to make lattes and cappuccinos, I'd stop short of calling it an espresso maker. The product details call the espresso-style coffee "coffee concentrate," which could certainly be enjoyed on its own but is best used for creating coffee drinks. The whisk-style milk frother excellently froths milk into a fluffy consistency. However, you'll need to warm milk in the microwave, as it has no heated element unless you choose to froth with cold milk. 

Real Homes rated: 4.5 out of 5 stars in our Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker review

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The best coffee maker with grinder

If you're looking for fresh coffee and lots of it, without spending a fortune on a fancy machine, then you'll want the Cuisinart Grind & Brew 12-Cup Automatic Coffee Maker. Why? It does it all — grinds fresh coffee beans and makes great coffee whether you want one cup or 12.

When it comes to coffee, our motto is "the fresher, the better," so I'm drawn to this machine's built-in grinder. That said, there's the option, as with most models of this type, to use pre-ground coffee, too. The 12-cup capacity is another obvious plus. On the downside. This model is large and a little heavy. But if you have the space, who can resist replicating your local coffee shop setup for a (relatively) cheap price? Beware that it may not slide under your kitchen cabinets. Measure twice prior to purchasing to see how much space you have for storage.

I also like that both the grind and brew features can be programmed, so you can have your fresh cup of coffee ready for you as soon as you open your eyes. Rise and grind, indeed. The coffee maker grinds the beans and then automatically uses them for your coffee, so you don't need to transfer the grounds. However, reviewers say the grinder needs to be cleaned out after each use for the best results. 

Read our full  review

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The best dual coffee maker

You can (and I do) drink iced coffee all year round, no matter the weather. However, if counter space and budget are in short supply, you might want a bit more bang for your buck than a dedicated iced coffee maker, which is where this new model from Keurig comes in. 

Not only does it make delicious iced drinks, but it does what other members of the K-Slim family do and boils up tasty coffee in 8, 10, and 12-ounce cup sizes. As a single-serve coffee maker, it is incredibly simple to use and arguably more convenient than some of the other picks on our list. And it doesn't skimp on taste for the sake of ease either. It's by no means offensive, but at the moment, the only color available is gray. If you do want something that looks more upmarket, consider the K-Iced Single Serve Coffee Maker.

By brewing over ice, it retains flavor, so it's going to be some of the best iced coffee you can get, without the hassle. Our reviewer Jaclyn claims that it brews coffee at a hotter temperature to extract the full flavor before gradually cooling down, meaning less ice melt and a vibrant flavor that's not watery. She also liked that you can use Keurig's flavored coffees using the brew-over-ice function for an easy iced drink that rivals the taste of one from your fave coffee house.

It's worth knowing that although the pod coffee maker can make hot coffees up to 12 ounces in size, the iced function only does a 6-ounce measure, which is a downside in our eyes. That being said, it is so quick and easy to use, that thirsty folks could always double up for their desired size.

Read our full review

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The best coffee and espresso maker

OK, this Barista Express is certainly a splurge, but one you'll be starting your day with for years to come. This machine has a lot going for it. It makes delish espresso and ristretto-style coffee, it has a built-in bean grinder, and it fancies up the countertop. It is, however, more expensive than our other picks. The machine starts by grinding the beans of your choice with its near-instantaneous, easy-to-clean grinder with four settings. Plus, it automatically delivers the perfect dose.

While most espresso makers have automatic or manual operations, Breville's Barista Express machine can do it all. If you've had trouble finessing an espresso machine before, you'll be happy to know that this espresso machine is automatic, however, should you want to go the manual route, you can tamp your espresso to your heart's content. Plus the automatic setting offers a simple streamlined experience for the perfect espresso. I'd be remiss if I failed to mention the adjustable PID digital temperature control and a Thermocoil heating system that accurately maintains water temperature.

The machine also has a built-in steam wand that makes barista-quality foam, with adjustable settings so you can make a latte, flat white, or macchiato. This machine is certainly expensive and has a learning curve to it. However, I think it will be worthwhile once you master your morning latte art. Additionally, the Barista Express only makes espresso beverages. 

Read our full review

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The best cheap coffee maker

Like an espresso in the morning to kick things off? Then you'll enjoy a shot of this coffee machine from Illy. If you're eager to start the day then the Illy Y3.3 Iperespresso is on hand to help. All you'll need to do in the morning is remove the pod tray and pop in your Illy iperEspresso capsules, then you’re ready to click the on/off/go button.

This coffee machine is tiny at under 4 inches wide, with a pleasing streamlined design that will work well on a kitchen counter or in your home office space. It could also make the perfect gift for a college student stuck in a tiny dorm room but in need of a lot of caffeine. It's available in four colors, but I'm most partial to the pretty Cape Town blue. The coffee machine features a removable reservoir which makes for easy filling, as well as a convenient auto shut-off feature, and can be programmed to pour coffees up to 7.4 ounces with volume control. It's very uncomplicated.  

It's ideal for espresso lovers looking for simplicity and reliability, but if you want to get creative with your coffee drinks, this might not be the best machine for you. It also takes Illy pods only.

Read our full review

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Compare these coffee makers

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What to consider when buying the best coffee maker

I've looked at bean-to-cup, pod, and ground filter coffee machines. I've also included our top pick of the best small coffee machines. These are all our top picks, but if you need a little jargon-busting first, here's what to consider when buying the best coffee machine:

Single-serve makers (pod coffee makers) are very popular as they are quick and easy to use and are normally pretty good value for money. However, purchasing one of these means you are committed to buying the right pods on a regular basis which could quickly add up if you drink a lot of coffee. 

Bean-to-cup machines tend to work out cheaper in the long run and are much more likely to please the coffee aficionado with their fresh-tasting results. They normally come with a range of settings so you can make anything from an espresso to a cappuccino, and have added features such as a milk frother so that you can have your very own latte or flat white from the comfort of your own home. 

Filter coffee makers are a more classic option, and better when catering to more people than just yourself. If you like your coffee strong and black, then a drip machine will most likely cater to your taste a little better than a single-serve or bean-to-cup machine, although they take a little longer to prepare your drink, so you’ll need to have patience when making filter coffee. 

Milk frothers — are they a must-have or a luxury? Well, it depends on whether you like a coffee with the perfect crema on top or not, and how much effort you're prepared to make. An integrated or automatic milk frother will undoubtedly drive up your coffee machine's price, but it will heat and froth milk for creamy coffees fast. Manual frothers may come with your coffee machine, but you have to do the frothing yourself. It doesn't mean you can't have great crema, but it will mean you have to allow for a bigger budget. 

I’ve picked out the top coffee machines above that cater to all coffee drinkers and picked out ones to suit all different styles of kitchens and budgets. Don't forget to also invest in a good travel coffee mug to make sure your beverage stays hot for longer.

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How we test coffee makers

We try our very best to test every coffee maker we include in our guides, which is why the majority of the coffee makers in this guide come with ratings out of five and a badge to indicate how well we liked it when we tried it hands-on. Some were even reviewed right here on Real Homes, meaning you can click through to see a thorough overview of our experience with the machine. 

Where we don't have hands-on experience with a machine we depend more heavily on other user reviews, and take into account the specs of the machine and the price. We will never give something a rating out of five if we've not tried it ourselves. 

We review the coffee makers in our test kitchen and in our homes.

Meet our coffee maker reviewers:

Christina Chrysostomou

Christina Chrysostomou is our former ecommerce editor and tested the Technivorm Moccamaster. She's also tested the De'Longhi Nespresso Lattisimma One in our test kitchen. She's using the Drink Morning coffee maker in her home office having seen its capabilities firsthand.

Millie Fender

Millie Fender is our head of reviews. She bought the Breville Barista Express with her own money, and used it for well over a year before writing her review.

Jaclyn Turner

Jaclyn Turner is our former ecommerce editor. She has reviewed the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker, the Keurig K-Supreme Plus Single Serve Coffee Maker, and the Keurig K-Slim + ICED at home.

Allison Leweke

Allison Leweke's first job in high school was as a barista at a local coffee shop, at a point in time when she didn’t even drink coffee. She reviewed the Cuisinart Grind & Brew 12-Cup Coffeemaker.

Cynthia Lawrence

Cynthia Lawrence is a freelance writer, and has reviewed three coffee makers on behalf of Real Homes, including the Illy Y3.3 Iperespresso coffee machine.

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FAQs

What is the best coffee maker?

If you're looking for a classic drip coffee machine at a mid-range price point, we recommend the Technivorm Moccamaster. We love the look, the simple design, and SCA and ECBC-qualified construction for perfect coffees. 

And should you have more money to spend, we recommend the Breville Barista Express. This delightful bean-to-cup model offers plenty of flexibility for people who really want to customize their coffee experience.

Is there really a difference between coffee makers?

In short: Yes. Coffee machines can be divided into two categories, espresso or filter. Espresso coffee machines are going to please coffee addicts who like the choice of everything from classic espresso to milky cappuccinos. Their pressurized hot water extracts rich flavor from coffee grounds, but they can really only handle single or double shots at any one time. Pod coffee machines are simplified forms of espresso machines that save you from having to measure coffee or manually control the pressure and water through the grounds.

Filter machines, on the other hand, are crowd-pleasers. The hot water is dripped through the coffee grounds quickly — and while you won't get the choice or the richer taste, you will get quantity, fast. If you like a no-fuss cup (or ten), then a filter machine is for you.

If you live alone or simply want a fresh cup of coffee without any hassle, go for a single-serve coffee maker that works with pods to prevent any messes and keep grounds fresh. Alternatively, a drip filter coffee maker will deliver rich batch brews to keep you and the people you live with happy for hours (kudos if you choose one with a keep-warm function). There are also some top espresso machines that will produce luxurious shots under high pressure when you want a boost of energy. This can be done in under a minute and is perfect for those who prefer a milky drink. That covers all your cappuccino and latte needs.