Another nippy feature lets you choose your water hardness (there are three levels available) and then tells you the timer function that tells you when to descale the machine. Other than that, the features are pretty standard, letting you set a timer for when to start brewing, choose the number of cups (from 2 to 12), and a keep-warm function that automatically turns off after 30 minutes.
Chemex Ottomatic 2.0
As fans of drip coffee, we had expectations For Chemex Ottomatic 2.0. The Chemex, for many, is synonymous with a refined brewing technique that discerning coffee connoisseurs (ourselves included) prize above most other methods. So it was a little disappointing that this machine didn’t brew coffee to the same standard as the Café, Technivorm, and Ratio machines. The flavor extraction was fairly close to that of a manual pour-over using the same beans and grind, but again, it wasn’t as complicated or flavorful as the winning machines. The Ottomatic 2.0 looks a bit like a miniature outdoor shower, like the kind you might see on a beach, but in a science fiction movie. The showerhead does a great job of saturating the grounds, and the machine even starts and stops during the brewing process, helping to stir the grounds to mimic the pour-over process. Like the Moccamaster, it allows for a blooming period after the initial saturation. This coffee maker has two modes: one that simply brews coffee, and one that brews while keeping the warming plate busy, so the coffee stays sultry. The warming plate was great—as advertised, it kept the coffee sultry but not so sizzling that it would change the flavor over time. It also has an automatic shut-off that turns on after 90 minutes. This coffee maker is compatible with Chemex 3-, 6-, and 8-cup carafes, as well as 3- and 5-cup hand-blown models. If you don’t already have a carafe, Chemex offers several sets in different sizes.
Oxo Barista Brain
Bonavita One-Touch
This Bonavita One-Touch It makes a nice cup of coffee, but there are a few details that make it more inconvenient to apply than other options. Instead of sliding the filter basket into a holder on the machine, you have to balance the filter basket on top of the thermal jug before sliding the stacked pieces under the shower head. Then, once you’re done brewing, you have to remove the filter basket from the jug to screw on the lid. Meanwhile, there’s no place to rest the filter basket on the machine while you pour. None of that is what you want when you’re groggy in the morning or in a rush to get out the door.
Cuisinart Perfectemp
We tested two Cuisinart coffee machines. Perfect time allows you to brew a huge amount of coffee (14 cups) without much fanfare, but if you don’t typically brew that much coffee at once, experts recommend brewing in smaller batches for the best flavor.
Cuisinart Classic Thermal
We found Classic thermal Perfectly adequate — the coffee flavor was weaker and less developed than in our top picks, but the machine is fine if you’re looking for a machine for occasional apply.
Breville precision
This Breville Precision Brewery had the most parts to discuss during unboxing. It has all the extra features you’d expect from a Breville — it also works as a chilly brew coffee maker, for example — but we didn’t like the design — the filter basket is quite huge, and the water tank lid doesn’t connect to the machine. Also, the water tank doesn’t empty all of the water, leaving about a half-ounce of liquid in the tank at the end of the cycle. It’s a diminutive quirk, but not one you’d expect from a $300 machine.
Hamilton Beach Brewing Station
In the budget category we tested Hamilton Beach Brewing Stationwhich brews coffee in an internal reservoir and dispenses it like soda from a fountain. A strange feature and not worth experimenting with, given that the coffee was subpar.
Calphalon 14 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker
The Calphalon coffee maker offers the same features as the Braun, except for the water filter and water hardness settings, and the coffee was also on par with it. For all the reasons we recommend the Braun as a budget choice, we also recommend the Calphalon without reservation. The Braun cost a little less, and we preferred its interface, so it took first place.
Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Espresso Machine
The Ninja was previously the budget winner, and it had some of the nippy features that Braun and Calphalon have, like two different brewing strengths and the ability to make smaller batches of coffee. But the coffee it made, even on the “bold” setting, was simply less flavorful than the competition.
Amazon Basics 12-Cup Digital Coffee Maker
Basic is the right word here. Amazon’s entry into the drip coffee maker market offers exactly what you’d expect from a $50 machine: forgettable, but drinkable coffee. The only feature it offers is a delayed timer, so you can set it to brew your coffee ahead of time. All of our budget choices are only about $30 off, and the results we got from a few others made them better choices.
Mr. Coffee 10-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker
Mr. Coffee machines have a bad reputation, but if you go from the basic models, you can get a proper coffee machine. The coffee from this 10-cup model wasn’t great, as it was a bit watery, but for a practical coffee drinker, it could get the job done. It also included a thermal jug that kept the coffee sultry on the table for a few hours. The final nippy feature of the Mr. Coffee was the detachable water tank, which was much cleaner to fill than the normal “pour water into the back of the machine” method that most budget coffee machines rely on. Ultimately, the coffee was simply better from the Braun and Calphalon machines. It was also the only budget coffee maker we tested that didn’t come with a reusable filter.
Black & Decker 12 Cup Coffee Maker
The Black & Decker coffee maker came with a nice thermal jug, but that wasn’t enough to make up for the fact that the coffee it made tasted filthy—i.e., it tasted like dirt. We’re sure there are people who like their coffee that little bit earthy in the morning, but we didn’t consider it a winner in our tests.
To go
If you are a technology fanatic or just want to have the ultimate convenience at home while enjoying high-quality coffee, Specialty Grind and Brew Cafe is the way to go. If you need something basic and inexpensive, Braun Brewsense will make better coffee than any other product in its price range.
How to Choose Coffee Beans for a Drip Coffee Maker
The coffee maker itself is just one part of the process. And while a drip coffee maker requires a lot less equipment than, say, a percolator—a good set of paper filters is really all you need to get started—fresh beans are still a must. Epi contributor, longtime coffee educator and journalist Ever Meister has a good rundown of what to look for in a bag of coffee beans so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Choose whole coffee beans and a good coffee grinder.
First: Buy whole beans. Grinding your coffee just before brewing is key to a great cup, as is having a good burr grinder. Of course, if you choose Café Grind and Brew, we’ll take care of that.
When possible, buy coffee directly from the roaster.
There is no shortage of coffee in the supermarket, but it is up to you to detect the quality in the slops. Buying directly from the roaster gives you access to well-informed service and tasting options. The coffee is probably fresher. There are companies like Coffee trade who work with various roasters across the country, as well as the quietly growing “source roasting” movement from companies like Quintal, which offers even fresher beans that have never been shipped green or unroasted and left to mature.
Check roast date.
Pay attention to the roast date, which is best listed on the packaging, and buy coffee as close to the date as possible. The flavor flattens out quickly once it’s opened. “A high-quality coffee that’s well-processed and relatively fresh compared to when it was picked should taste really good in the first 30 days after roasting,” said Jesse Kahn, who is responsible for developing the training center Counter-culture coffee he says. The beans from the smoker could have been roasted the same week. At the grocery store, roast dates are more likely to be two or three months earlier.
Pay attention to the degree of roast and country of origin.
Roast level reflects the time and temperature of the beans’ roast. The prevailing theory is that dim roasts mask lower quality coffee. Ultimately, the darker the roast, the smokier the flavor, which may or may not be your cup of, uh, tea. “When you roast, you eliminate moisture and caramelize some of the sugars in the coffee,” Kahn said.
