Coffeemakers

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What's behind our coffeemaker Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 108 models in coffeemakers to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
Based on brew performance, convenience, and carafe handling. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points.
Brew performance
The ability to reach 195° to 205° F for five or six minutes, the industry standard for optimal brewing.
Convenience
Reflects ease of filling the reservoir, placing the filter, gauging the amount of coffee remaining, and cleaning up. It also reflects how clear we judged the controls.
Carafe handling
Covers handle comfort, tendency to drip while pouring, balance of a full carafe, and how easy it was to empty the last liquid. Models with no score here brew into single-serve cups or are brew-and-dispense models. The latter hold the coffee in a tank; you fill your cup by pressing it against the dispenser lever.

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Recommended coffeemakers

Recommended coffeemakers are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices, weigh features, price, and attributes that matter to you.

Recommended coffeemakers

Coffeemaker buying guide

To find the coffeemaker that is right for you, read our expert advice on which features to consider and how to find the best value.

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Why shop here?

In addition to finding Ratings for the latest models, you can now shop online using an ad-free interface where you can buy coffeemakers in a safe-shopping environment.

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The most basic coffeemakers make at least a decent cup. In fact, our top-rated multicup drip coffeemaker beat out many higher-priced models. But more money buys more features. If you're looking for information about coffeemakers, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports’ coffeemaker reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our coffeemaker buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased Ratings and coffeemaker reviews to help you choose the best coffeemaker for your needs.

Ratings & recommended coffeemakers

Drip coffeemakers (80)

Whether you're making coffee for a crowd or just yourself, you'll find top picks that perform impressively for well under $100. One of our CR Best Buys costs $40; other recommended models, little more. Consider when shopping how much coffee you brew, which features matter, and style. But remember, a good cup of coffee depends on the coffee you use as well as the machine.

The Ratings list models in order of overall quality based on brew performance, convenience, and carafe handling. Our CR Best Buys offer the best match of performance and value.

Espresso makers (5)

Recommended models are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices among models, weigh performance, features, price, and attributes that matter to you, such as color, size, or style.

Pod coffeemakers (23)

Single-serve coffeemakers, also dubbed “pod” machines, accept sealed packets of coffee or other beverages and dispense a cup at a time without the usual fuss. Packets they take differ by machine and are typically either teabag-like pods or hard-shell containers such as Keurig’s K-Cup. We judge them by convenience, speed of first and subsequent cups, consistency of portion size and temperature from cup to cup, and other factors.

Coffeemaker buying guide

You can spend $200 or more for a coffeemaker with interactive displays and the stainless construction you'd find on a pro-style range. But our latest tests of almost 90 models show that a consistently good cup of joe starts at as little as $40.

The most basic coffeemakers make at least a decent cup. But you might want more features than a simple on/off switch. A little more money buys you conveniences such as an automatic timer, a thermal carafe to keep coffee hot longer, and settings that allow you to adjust brew strength.

Our top conventional drip machines reached 195 degrees F to 205 degrees F for about five minutes, the industry standard for optimal brewing. If you're into self-serve, brew-and-dispense models let you fill your cup right from the machine, which keeps the coffee hot. When you're on the go, single-serve models, also known as pod machines, brew a cup at a time from sealed beverage packets--no fuss, no muss.

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