One of the hardest things about being a coffee lover is choosing the best drip coffee machine for your needs. The best drip coffee maker varies depending on the user and their coffee needs. While most coffee makers can produce a decent cup of joe, very few can produce the best coffee to meet your desired specifications. This is why it is important to take your time to ensure you pick nothing but the best rated automatic drip coffee maker.
Drip coffee maker buying guide
Image | Title | Learn more |
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BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Mill and Brew Coffeemaker, Black, CM5000B | Learn more | |
Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker, Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer, 6 to 10 oz. Brew Sizes, Black | Learn more | |
Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp Coffee Maker, 14 Cup Progammable with Glass Carafe, Stainless Steel | Learn more |
Automatic drip coffee makers are some of the most commonly used coffee makers in American households. With the right quality coffee, you can brew the best coffees from home using these drip machines.
While most coffee snobs look down on drip coffee makers, these machines have evolved with time and come with programmable features that ensure you get the best coffee machine for your needs. One of the best features of automatic drip machines is their brewing speed. Most of them can brew a batch of coffee in minutes.
Here is what to look for in the best rated automatic drip coffee maker
Programmable features
Drip coffee machines have come a long way in terms of their functionality. Today, automatic drip coffee makers come equipped with numerous features to make your coffee-making experience a breeze. Some common features include auto-brew and auto-shutoff timers, an alert indicator that tells you when the brewing cycle is completed, a pause feature, and an LED control panel.
Programmable timers allow you to set the drip coffee maker to brew at a preset time. This way, you can have a fresh cup of coffee waiting for you in the morning.
The size
Size is an important factor to consider when it comes to drip coffee makers. The ideal size for your needs is determined by the number of coffee drinkers in your house. If you live alone, you can go for a low capacity coffee maker that can brew a few cups of coffee at a go. Most of these small machines give you complete control of the brewing process and brew one to four cups of coffee at a go. They are the best choice to minimize wastage and ensure convenience.
The filter designs
Generally, a coffee filter can either be permanent or disposable. If you are looking to save money, you should go for a drip machine with a permanent filter. These are also ideal for the environment as they minimize waste. You only need to ensure you give the filter a good clean every day to enjoy the best-tasting coffee.
Disposable coffee filters are made from nylon material. They are the better option if you need an easy way of discarding used coffee. The best range of disposable filters is the commercial style or gold coffee filters as they provide optimal saturation of the coffee.
When choosing coffee filters, it is best to go for quality variety, which may be more expensive. Even so, they guarantee better-tasting coffee as they promote maximum saturation and extraction.
Glass, thermal or no-carafe
Drip coffee machines can either have a carafe or not. For carafe machines, you have the option between a thermal carafe and a glass one. A glass carafe is an attractive option that allows you to see the coffee level and thus know when you need to brew a fresh batch. For a glass carafe to be effective, it needs to sit on a hot plate to warm the coffee. This overcooks the coffee giving it a bitter and burnt taste. This is the main disadvantage of glass carafes.
Thermal carafes are the best choice for keeping your coffee hot without needing a hot plate, long after the brewing process has ended. They are made with a double insulated wall to ensure minimum heat loss. Even so, they are heavier and more expensive than glass carafe machines.
Some drip coffee makers do not have a carafe but are made with the dispensing mechanism. This allows you to pour the ready coffee into a cup or travel mug.
Water filter
The quality of the water used to brew has a significant impact on the overall taste and quality of the coffee. If you are concerned about water minerals in your coffee, you can choose an automatic coffee maker with a charcoal water filter. This will filter the minerals in the water before passing it on to the heating system to brew your coffee. This is the best choice coffee maker if you live in hard water zones or have chlorinated tap water.
Best rated automatic drip coffee maker reviews
BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Mill and Brew Coffeemaker
- Integrated Grinder/Brew Filter - The innovative design combines the coffee grinder with the brew filter basket for fast, fresh brewing and simple cleanup
- Streamlined Grinding and Brewing - Fresh coffee, fast, the all-in-one design makes it easy to grind whole beans, giving you the full flavor and aroma of your favorite beans every time
- Whole Beans or Grounds - Brew you favorite cup, the grinder quickly prepares whole beans, and it can be turned off for normal brewing with pre-ground coffee
- Custom Brewing - Use the brew strength selector for coffee that fits your taste, options for regular, bold, and strong
- QuickTouch Programming - Easily program the 24-hour auto brew feature so you can wake up to a fresh pot of coffee, plus, the backlit display highlights the time and the program you choose
- Note: Cup equals approximately 5 ounce. (varies by brewing technique)
This coffee maker comes with an integrated Grinder/Brew Filter. The innovative design combines the coffee grinder with the brew filter basket for fast, fresh brewing. The streamlined grinding and brewing ensure you can get fresh coffee fast. The all-in-one design makes it easy to grind whole beans, giving you the full flavor and aroma of your favorite beans every time. The grinder quickly prepares whole beans, and you can turn it off for normal brewing with pre-ground coffee. This machine supports custom Brewing thanks to the brew strength selector for coffee that fits your taste options, be it regular, bold, and strong. This is an easily programable coffee maker with a 24-hour auto brew feature so you can wake up to a fresh pot of coffee, plus, the backlit display highlights the time and the program you choose.
Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker, Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer
This coffee maker brews multiple k-cup pod sizes: (6, 8, 10 ounces), the most popular k-cup pod brew sizes. You can use the 6-ounce brew size to achieve the strongest brew. A large 48-ounce water reservoir allows you to brew 6+ cups before having to refill, saving you time and simplifying your morning routine. The water reservoir is removable, making it easy to refill whenever you need to. The descaling feature is an important part of cleaning your Keurig brewer. This process helps to remove calcium deposits, or scale, that can build up inside a coffee maker over time. The auto-off feature can be easily programmed to turn off your coffee maker after it has been idle for two hours, helping to save energy.
Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp Coffee Maker
- State-of-the-art technology to ensure hotter coffee without sacrificing flavor or quality
- Brew strength control allows you to select regular or bold coffee flavor
- Fully automatic with 24-hour programmability, self-clean, 1-4 cup setting and auto shutoff (0-4 hours)
- Adjustable keep warm temperature control
- Gold tone, commercial style permanent filter.MC Cubic Feet: 2.32
The coffee maker uses state-of-the-art technology to ensure hotter coffee without sacrificing flavor or quality. It has a brew-strength control that allows you to select regular or bold coffee flavor. Other features include the fully automatic with 24-hour programmability, self-clean, 1-4 cup setting and auto-shutoff and the adjustable keep warm temperature control.
With the best rated automatic drip coffee maker, home coffee brewing will never be the same again.