Here at Buy Side, we spend a lot of time thinking about the many different ways to make a cup of coffee. From drip to frosty brew to espresso, we’ve tested dozens of models in a variety of designs to find the ones that are worth your time and money. So whether you’re buying for yourself or looking for a gift for a coffee lover, here are the best options for each type of coffee maker we recommend.
The best drip coffee maker
With the Oxo Brew 9-Cup, you can make the perfect cup of coffee in the morning by pressing just one button to brew it, so you don’t have to engage your caffeine-averse brain.
Chances are, if you regularly brew coffee at home, you’re making customary, scorching brewed coffee—hopefully from beans that you grind just before brewing. If you’re one of those people, Oxo’s Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker is the model to choose from. This Certified by the Specialty Coffee Associationreliable coffee maker makes a perfect cup of coffee every time – the most crucial feature of any coffee maker. It starts brewing with just two button presses and can brew up to 45 ounces at a time.
If you’re looking for great coffee with more control, this Breville model offers conveniences like a single-serve brewing function and the ability to adjust brewing time and temperature.
You wouldn’t buy a coffee maker just for its looks – taste comes first. The Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker ticks both boxes.
If you are a bit more picky and want to be able to control the brewing time and temperature, choose Breville Precision Thermal Brewerwhich allows for more tinkering than Oxo. We also like Café Specialty drip coffee maker for great coffee and attractive design.
The best single cup coffee maker
If you are looking for a device with performance comparable to our favorite drip coffee maker, but with the ability to brew a single cup, we recommend Oxo Brew 8-Cup Coffee MakerIt’s just as simple to exploit as the 9-cup model and adds the ability to dispense a single serving into a cup.
The best coffee maker with a built-in grinder
Coffee shop specialty: grinding and brewing is a complete solution that will improve your morning routine. The SCA-certified coffee machine has an integrated bean container and grinder. This means that all you have to do in the morning is press the brew button – or program your routine in the app – and you will have freshly ground, freshly brewed coffee ready to exploit.
The best frosty brew coffee maker
Making delicious frosty brew doesn’t get much easier than with this Oxo coffee maker. The design is elementary and immaculate, and the parts easily disassemble and nest inside each other for storage.
Whether it’s your summer favorite or your year-round favorite, frosty brew is just as crucial as scorching coffee. And with the right tools, it’s just as simple to make. Our research and testing have shown that Oxo wins in this category, too. Cold brew coffee maker creates the best tasting frosty brew concentrate without any hassle. Simply add ground coffee and water, wait 12 to 24 hours, and flip the lever to extract liquid (black) gold.
This is the best frosty brew if you have constrained space and don’t drink a lot of coffee. Markings on the jug and brewing basket make it simple to measure grounds and water.
The KitchenAid’s built-in spout means you can make frosty brew concentrate, store it in the fridge and pour a batch into a glass – all in the same appliance.
If you have constrained space or don’t need to prepare a vast amount of frosty brew at once, Oxo’s Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker works just as well as his older brother. And KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker has a dual function: it is both a brewer and a convenient dispenser that can be placed in the fridge.
The best espresso coffee machines
The Bambino Plus punches above its weight. It has all the features you need to make the perfect espresso, time after time.
Perhaps you prefer an espresso, latte or cappuccino to perk you up in the morning – or for that afternoon slump. In that case, you need a coffee machine, and your first choice should be Bambino Plus by BrevilleOur reviewer praised it for its consistent temperature, customizable controls, and high-quality accessories.
If you want to master the manual espresso technique, the Gaggia Classic Pro is a good choice for a café setting.
This is the closest solution to an automatic espresso machine, and a beginner should pay less for it.
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