The 5 best drip coffee makers, tested by a professional barista

Whether your morning doesn't start until you've poured your third cup of coffee or you're good to go on a single serving, the best drip coffee maker should do one thing reliably: brew consistently good coffee day after day. The best models reach precise temperatures, evenly saturate grounds, and offer easy setup and maintenance for stress-free home brewing.

Over the last nine years, we've tested dozens of the drip coffee makers, including budget coffee makers and single-serve brewers. From fast, one-button machines to setups that offer greater control and café-quality results, these are the best coffee makers for every taste and budget.

Our picks for the best coffee makers

Best overall: Café Specialty – See at Amazon

Best budget: Braun BrewSense - See at Amazon

Most versatile: Ninja Dualbrew Pro - See at Amazon

Best programmable: Breville Precision Brewer Thermal - See at Amazon

Best single-serve: Nespresso VertuoPlus - See at Amazon

Best overall

Sleek design with the option for a built-in grinder. The attractive Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker delivers stellar performance, earning our title of best drip coffee maker. It's made primarily of stainless steel with a matte black finish, copper accents, a reusable titanium-plated filter, and a vacuum-sealed thermal carafe. It's worth noting that the original machine does not have an integrated coffee grinder, but the newest version does.

Brews rich, customizable, consistent coffee. Most importantly, this SCA-certified machine (read more about why that designation is important in our FAQs below) produces some of the best tasting coffee I tried in my tests. You can brew at multiple strengths: gold, light, medium, and bold. I made coffee at multiple settings, and all were good, with the "gold" and "bold" having a more well-rounded, full flavor and a slightly heavier body.

Simple, precise, and reliably high-performing. The combination of simplicity and customizability qualifies this machine as one of the best coffee makers. It's also extremely consistent — every cup of coffee brewed at every setting tasted just like it should.

Best budget

An affordable machine with all the key features. When we tested 12 coffee makers under $150, the Braun BrewSense 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker topped our list as the best budget coffee maker. We appreciate the large capacity carafe and small batch brewing option — both were quick to perk (14 minutes for the full carafe). For one of the cheapest and best coffee makers, the BrewSense has all the essential features. There's 24-hour programming and the ability to grab a cup before a brew cycle is finished.

Adjustable keep-warm time and temperature. Though most coffee makers have a keep-warm setting, the Braun allows you to adjust the time and temperature. The default turns off the coffee maker after two hours, but you can set it to stay on for up to five hours. You can also set the temperature at low, medium, or high to prevent spoiling the coffee's flavor, depending on how long it may sit on the warming plate.

Read our full Braun BrewSense review.

Most versatile

A drip machine with pod compatibility. In my tests, the Dualbrew Pro performed very similarly to the Ninja Specialty, but it adds the functionality to brew single-serve coffee with a K-cup (particularly great if the best Keurig isn't right for you).

It's a versatile machine with multiple brew options. This is a low-fuss option for people who want one of the best home coffee makers plus a pod machine. The Ninja has many of the same features as our other top picks: a timed auto-brew function, adjustable coffee strength, an iced coffee setting, and a fold-out milk frother for cappuccinos and macchiatos.

A few minor flaws in the design. The only notable drawback is its lack of a reusable filter basket, though you can purchase one separately. Switching between the pod brewing and standard brewing functions was a little awkward, and regardless of which setting we used, there was either a loose plastic cone or pod brewing attachment that needed to be stored when not in use. For about half the price, the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Trio 2-Way Coffee Maker has a dual design that can brew carafes and K-cups side by side, but it's bulkier and has less robust brew settings.

Read our full Ninja DualBrew Pro review.

Best programmable

A highly customizable programmable coffee maker. The Breville Precision Brewer is a programmable home coffee maker that offers unmatched control over every variable in the brewing process. With a 12-cup capacity, the Breville is perfect for making large batches of coffee, but we found that it performs well at lower volumes too. We prefer the thermal version that keeps coffee warm for hours, but it's also available with a glass carafe and a hot plate. Most of the customization is done using the small, backlit display screen and a single dial. The menus are simple to navigate, but the print is tiny, so we caution those with vision impairments.

Multiple brew presets make it very versatile. When it comes to brewing, the Breville offers multiple preset brewing modes: Fast, Gold (the recommended setting), and Strong. The coffee I made on both the "Gold" and "Strong" presets was fully extracted and full-flavored, with the second cup a bit darker and more robust. It also offers presets for making both iced coffee and cold brew, and you can purchase an attachment to swap out the brew basket with a pour-over device like a Hario V60 or Kalita Wave.

"My Brew" creates your perfect cup. The thing that really sets this brewer apart as one of the best coffee makers is the customization available in the "My Brew" setting. In my tests, I could modify almost every major variable in the brewing process, including the bloom time, water temperature, and water flow rate. The Breville Precision is the best programmable coffee maker we've found.

The water tank is fixed in place. One critique of this machine is that the water tank is not removable, which makes refilling a little more difficult. The next generation of the machine, the Breville Luxe Drip Coffee Maker, is redesigned with a removable water tank and consolidates presets to the SCA Gold Cup standard, cold brew, and My Brew.

Best single-serve

Espresso-quality coffee with the ease of a pod machine. For those who want espresso-like coffee without the financial investment or learning curve, Nespresso machines are a simple alternative. When we compared Nespresso vs. Keurig, we found that Nespresso machines and pods are pricier, but make better coffee. The VertuoPlus stands out as our preferred Nespresso model due to its combination of rapid, consistent brewing performance and user-friendly features. It's one of the best coffee and espresso makers out there.

One-button brewing for fast, foolproof results. The VertuoPlus's biggest selling point is its ease of use and speed of brewing. With just one button, it automatically adjusts brew settings based on barcode-scanned capsules. For coffee aficionados, this means you're entirely removed from the brewing process and, therefore, can't change it to reflect personal tastes.

A swivel water tank adds convenience for small spaces. It's a bit larger than other competing models, but that's due to the worthwhile elements of a spacious used pod container (holds 10) and 40-ounce water tank. You can actually swivel the water tank to accommodate your counter space, which our small kitchen testers really appreciate. All in all, the VertuoPlus offers an excellent balance of convenience and affordability for those looking for the quickest and easiest cup of coffee possible.

Read our full guide to the best single-serve coffee makers.

What to look for in the best coffee maker

Brewing performance and taste: Your coffee maker needs to make consistently good coffee. From a technical standpoint, the ideal brewing temperature is between 195—205°F and the coffee should have an even extraction. Models with shower head or rainfall designs are able to uniformly wet coffee grounds.

Capacity: Consider if you're brewing a single serving or multiple cups. We tested drip coffee machines ranging from 8 to 12 cups of brewing capacity. If you drink more than one cup a day or are serving a larger group, these coffee makers will help satisfy caffeine cravings. However, if you're only making one or two cups a day, you may not want to devote the counter space to a big machine and should consider a Nespresso or French press. A cup of coffee is considered 4 ounces, so a 12-cup coffee maker typically makes up to 48 ounces.

Materials: Consider what the coffee maker is primarily made of (stainless steel, plastic, glass, etc.). You'll find that coffee makers often have either thermal carafes or warming plates to keep coffee warm after it's brewed. In drip coffee makers, Jessica Rodriguez warns, "If a brewer has a heating plate to keep the carafe warm, it is really important that the plate does not raise the temperature of the brew, which can have a negative impact on the flavor."

Programmability: Brew timers to auto-shut off are one component of control to be able to schedule your coffee; dial it even more with temperature control, strength control.

Filter type: Drip coffee makers require filters. Reusable filters saves money and waste, but might let more sediment through. Paper filters offer a cleaner cup with less chance of sediment poking through but is an ongoing cost.

Extra features: Features that add extra convenience include the ability to pause a cycle to sneak a cup, removable water tanks for easier filling and cleaning, wifi connectivity, and built-in grinders

Our top picks compared

Do I need a coffee grinder?

For the best-tasting coffee, yes. After roasting, all of the flavorful oils and sugars start to decay and the gases inside the coffee beans begin to leak out. Pre-grinding your coffee long before brewing dulls the flavor. The best coffee grinder, plus fresh beans, helps avoid that fate.

"The coffee starts to lose volatile aromatic compounds as soon as it is ground," says Gaultieri, founder of Joules and Watts Coffee. Breaking up the beans, releasing more gases, and exposing the organic compounds and oils to the air cause the coffee to spoil even more quickly.

How we tested the best coffee makers

Meet the experts behind this guide

Dylan Ettinger, freelance food tester and writer: With a decade's worth of experience within the specialty coffee industry, I've worked as a barista, helped open a café, and worked behind the scenes in packaging and distribution. For this guide, I tested dozens of drip coffee makers over several rounds, creating bracket-style ranking to produce this buying guide.

For additional expertise, I spoke with Max Gaultieri, barista, roaster, and founder of Joules and Watts Coffee in Malibu California, and Jessica Rodriguez, who heads the Certified Home Brewer program at the SCA.

Testing Methodology

Each drip coffee maker was evaluated across setup, usability, brewing performance, and consistency. When applicable, I followed manufacturer instructions and SCA brewing standards. I used the Peru Eufemio Dominguez Aguilar Cajamarca coffee from Joules and Watts coffee roasters in Malibu, California.

Setup and design: I assessed how intuitive each machine was to set up, including washing components, inserting filters, and programming the clock. We evaluated the clarity of the control panel and display, how easy it was to access and fill the water reservoir, and whether water level markings were clearly visible. Carafe design was also considered, including pour accuracy and heat retention for thermal models. Finally, I noted the machine's countertop footprint, cord management, and whether any components felt flimsy, overly complicated, or easy to misplace.

Ease of use and cleaning: I tested how quickly I could begin brewing from a cold start and how many steps were required to adjust brew strength or batch size. I evaluated whether the brew basket and water tank were easy to remove and clean, and whether routine maintenance, such as descaling, felt straightforward or cumbersome. Machines with dishwasher-safe components scored higher for convenience, while I downgraded models with confusing menus or awkward controls.

Brewing performance: To evaluate brewing quality, I measured brew time for a full carafe and observed whether machines maintained water temperatures within the SCA-recommended range of 195°F to 205°F. I checked for even saturation of the coffee grounds in the filter basket and looked for signs of channeling or dry pockets. Flavor was evaluated for balance, noting whether cups tasted under-extracted (sour or thin) or over-extracted (bitter or harsh). For machines with customizable settings, I tested both manufacturer-recommended presets and bold or strong modes, as well as small batch settings when available.

Consistency: To evaluate consistency, I used each machine brewer to make at least two full batches of the same coffee. I compared flavor stability, strength, and body between brews, as well as the coffee's final temperature. Machines that produced noticeable variation from batch to batch ranked lower.

Versatility: Some of the machines I tested offered additional features, including pod compatibility, bloom settings, adjustable temperature control, and specialty brew modes. I assessed whether those functions improved brewing results or simply added extra steps to the process. Features that enhanced extraction quality or value were considered valuable; those that felt redundant were not.

Coffee maker FAQs

What is drip coffee, and how does it compare to pour over or espresso?

Drip coffee is what most people think of as regular coffee. The brewing process entails dripping hot water slowly over ground coffee, extracting flavor as it passes through a filter and into a carafe. The resulting taste can vary based on the beans used, grind size, and water temperature. It's different from pour-over, which is a more hands-on version of drip brewing, and from espresso, which uses pressure instead of gravity to force hot water through finely ground and packed coffee.

What type of coffee maker should I get?

The best coffee maker for you will depend on your preferences and how much time and effort you want to put into the process. Here's an overview of the major coffee machine types and their best uses:

How do I clean a coffee maker?

For most drip coffee makers, a 1-to-1 mix of white vinegar and water will do the trick. Fill the water reservoir with the mixture and run through one or two brew cycles. Rinse out the reservoir with clean water and run brew cycles until the vinegar smell is gone.

Always be sure to check the manufacturer's instructions before cleaning. Some coffee makers require specific cleaning solutions, have dedicated descaling functions, or are just finicky and need a delicate hand.

Do more expensive coffee makers make better coffee?

Expensive can mean many different things in the world of coffee. The range goes from $20 pour-over drippers to $4,000 espresso setups. More complicated machines require more durable materials and take longer to build, which is why any of the best espresso machines worth buying cost more money.

There's a little more wiggle room with the best drip coffee makers. Our top budget coffee machine, the Braun BrewSense, competes with pricier models. Still, the cheaper you go, the shoddier the construction, and the sooner you'll need a new machine. Brewing a good cup of coffee requires water at a consistent temperature, evenly saturating coffee grounds at a steady rate. To get the best results, you need precise mechanics and that increases the price.

What sets an SCA-certified home brewer apart from other coffee makers?

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has a program that rigorously tests coffee makers and certifies the ones that perform to its standards. Any SCA-certified brewer is proven to produce high-quality, consistent cups of coffee.

As Jessica Rodriguez, Certifications Program Manager at the SCA explains, "Multiple production units are submitted and tested at 1 liter and full capacity for adequate brew basket space to hold the SCA Golden Cup ratio of 55 g/L, that they can reach and maintain a brewing temperature of 92-96°C, the total water contact time falls between 4-8 minutes, the total dissolved solids of each brew falls between 1.15%-1.45% and is consistent from extraction to extraction, and that there is good beverage clarity. Submitted brewers are also subjected to a uniformity-of-extraction test procedure that analyzes the spent coffee bed for the evenness of extraction."

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