Coffee Maker Buying Guide

The newest and most innovative coffee makers are all about bringing barista-quality beverages and versatility to your kitchen. It began in 2015 with the Ninja Coffee Bar, which made it easier to brew lattes and iced coffees at home, thanks to its brew-over-ice and specialty coffee modes, as well as its ability to brew into both carafes and mugs. Today, Ninja, Keurig, and other brands offer all-in-one machines with even more features, such as built-in milk frothers, coffee grinders, and even cold-brew modes. (To see the top models from our tests, check out our guide to the best combination coffee makers.)

Speaking of cold brew, the richer, less acidic brew that was once found only in independent cafés is now a staple of major coffee chains. And there are a number of dedicated cold-brew coffee makers on the market, including a handful of automatic models (they plug into an outlet) that speed up the hourslong brewing process, shortening it to as little as 4 minutes. You can find the top models from our tests in our guide to the best cold-brew coffee makers.

Last but not least, today’s coffee makers are upping their style game to match the aesthetic of today’s kitchens. New machines often feature more stainless steel accents and curvier designs that place greater emphasis on the glass or thermal carafe. Many models also come in white or lighter colors to match brighter kitchen color palettes.

Hot or Cold?
Some people prefer iced coffee or cold brew over hot coffee, especially during the summer months. Certain drip and pod models offer “brew over ice” modes and cold-brew modes. You could also consider a cold-brew coffee maker if you’re a fan of the concentrated brew.

Number of Cups?
If one cup is enough to jump-start your day, choose a one- or two-cup drip model or a single-serve machine. Need more? Choose a larger automatic drip machine with a carafe or a self-serve reservoir. Most large models brew 10 to 12 cups, although typically a “cup” is really only 5 to 6 ounces, not 8.

How Often Do You Need a Fix?
If you space your coffee drinking out throughout the day, consider buying a model with an insulated mug or carafe. These keep coffee hot and fresh-tasting for hours. But thermal carafes are not perfect. Our testers say they tend to dribble and can sometimes be difficult to handle.

Can’t See Straight in the Morning?
For some people, filling the coffee machine and turning it on is too much to handle in the morning. If that’s you, consider a unit with programming that can automatically brew each morning. (You set everything up the night before.) For the forgetful who rush out of the house in the morning, an automatic shutoff feature is also important.

Size and Height Considerations
Factor in counter space when choosing your model. All the machines in Consumer Reports’ tests can fit beneath upper cabinets, but you’ll still need to pull out most when it’s time to fill the reservoir.

For drip coffee makers, we conduct a brew-performance test to measure the brew temperature and contact time (how long water stays within the sweet spot of 195° F to 205° F for brewing).

“We also measure the concentration of the brewed coffee to make sure it’s not too weak or too strong,” says Ginny Lui, CR’s test engineer for coffee makers.

For single-serve pod coffee makers, our engineers evaluate temperature consistency and size consistency of individual cups of coffee, as well as the speed of brewing. Then our expert coffee taste-tester weighs in.

For cold-brew coffee makers, our engineers judge ease of cleaning, and our expert taste-tester judges the taste of each brew.

All three types of coffee makers also undergo convenience tests to evaluate how easy it is to set timers, fill the reservoir, and generally use the machine.

For the drip and pod models, the Overall Score also incorporates brand-level data on predicted reliability and owner satisfaction from our annual survey of CR members. You’ll find all this in our coffee maker ratings of more than 150 models.

Once you know the type of coffee maker and features you want, it’s time to start shopping. But don’t run out to the store or start scrolling through online sales just yet. There are hundreds of coffee makers on the market, which can make it daunting to comb through all those model listings.

A better strategy is to start with some manufacturer websites, such as those for Cuisinart and Mr. Coffee, to see whether they have any particular models that meet your needs. If you’re unsure which brands to consider, see our guide to the most and least reliable coffee maker brands, which uses predicted reliability and owner satisfaction data collected from thousands of CR members to show you the brands that last and are well-liked. Another option: Narrow your choices down to the models that offer the best performance and reliability by checking out our in-depth coffee maker ratings of over 150 models.

Once you have a particular model in mind, check its price at a handful of major retailers, such as Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl’s, and Walmart. If the coffee maker is available in a physical store near you, you might want to check it out in person to see whether you like its looks and whether there are special in-store discounts. And if your purchase isn’t urgent, you might want to wait and see whether the coffee maker is discounted even further around holidays and during Amazon Prime Day, which is usually in the summer. Check out our weekly Best Home and Kitchen Deals roundup to see if there are current sales on coffee makers that perform well in our tests.