The best drip coffee makers, tested and reviewed, for a quick cup of joe
We tried top home brewers from Oxo, Cuisinart, Ninja, Fellow and more to find the best options for every budget.
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The straightforward design of a drip coffee maker makes it easy to love, even if it isn't as flashy as an espresso machine . Really, what coffee lover wouldn't want to wake up to a fresh pot of joe? The best drip coffee makers produce as good a brew as what you'd get from a pour-over system , and many boast helpful features like a built-in grinder, clutch for busy mornings or those of us with limited counter space.
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The thing that's most confusing about drip coffee machines is the sheer number of options on the market. For this guide, I focused on brewers mostly in the $40 to $250 range (most experts agree that the ultra-cheap gadgets you see at drugstores, for example, don't make quality coffee). I also limited my testing pool to drip coffee makers that use a showerhead system — which looks just like you would imagine — to wet the grinds during the brewing process, which results in better-tasting java. I've been testing models for two years, and while my top picks landed on the pricier side, they're serious appliances that make a mean cuppa.
Best drip coffee makers for 2026
Capacity:9 cups | Size:15"W x 8.3"D x 17.2"H | Warranty:2 years
I'm a fan of Oxo products — the company has a knack for user-friendly designs that solve problems you didn't even know you had. And this drip coffee maker is incredibly simple to use, with a single dial that lets you control everything. Both my 75-year-old dad and I tested the machine, and we agreed that you could be half-asleep and still easily operate it. It costs $250 (before sales), which is pricey, but I found it comparable to, if not better than, similar coffee makers that are more expensive.
How it works:The instructions are straightforward — you turn the dial to select your brew size and get access to the menu, which lets you change the time, program the wake-up timer and more. You have to learn a few icons to understand the display, but they are intuitive (water drops for brewing, a steaming mug when your coffee is ready and so on).
Why we love it:Despite the simple design, the machine packs in thoughtful features like a countdown clock that starts once your coffee is done, so you know how long it's been sitting. It will also pause for up to 60 seconds if you want to pour yourself a cup mid-brew. All the other coffee makers I tested do this, but some only pause for 20 seconds, so you have to act fast. I appreciated the extra time with this one.
The 9 Cup is also quiet and quick — it took about eight-and-a-half minutes to make a full pot. It looks high-tech with a two-part design made of stainless steel and black plastic. The industrial appearance gave me all the fun vibes of playing around in chemistry labs (without the flashbacks to those awful pop quizzes).
Minor criticisms:All of the removable parts are dishwasher-safe, with the exception of the carafe. It can be quite tricky to clean the carafe's mouth without a bottle brush. This drip coffee maker isn't the most compact either, so if you have a smaller kitchen, it may not be the easiest to store.
How it's held up:While our long-term tester appreciates the single-button interface, she felt there were a lot of hoops to jump through when programming the time. Her power also goes out frequently, and she observed that the machine defaults to a 24-hour clock each time.
- Exceptionally easy to use
- Looks cool and modern
- Makes flavorful coffee
- Alerts you when it's time to descale
- Certified by the Specialty Coffee Association, which means it meets specific requirements for quality
- On the pricey side (though cheaper than similar models)
- Takes up a lot of counterspace
Capacity:14 cups | Size:9"W x 7.75"D x 14"H | Warranty:3 years
At its regular retail price of $120, this machine isn't dirt cheap, but it costs significantly less than our other top picks (especially when on sale) and is still rich in features. Because it has so many functions, I had to play around with the control panel for a while, but it's easy to understand.
How it works:This machine has a nine-button control panel and an LCD screen. You can set this coffee maker and forget it, or you can get a little nerdy with it like I did and experiment with all the different options, like brew strength (bold or regular) and the temperature of the warming plate (low, medium or high). You can also make a smaller amount of coffee (one to four cups) and set an audible alert so you know when your brew is ready to drink.
Why we love it:Following the theme of "more is more," the Cuisinart comes with lots of extras, including a coffee scoop, charcoal water filter, paper #4 cone filters and a reusable gold-tone filter. (FYI: Gold tone does refer to the color of the filter, but that's not why people like it. A gold-tone filter, which you would use instead of a paper filter, allows oils from the coffee to get into your cup, making for a richer taste. But it can also lead to sediment, which some coffee drinkers don't enjoy. I thought the reusable filter worked well, and I like that it helps reduce waste.)
One thing I loved about this machine is that it has a 60-second protection, so if the unit becomes unplugged or a breaker trips, it will remember any programmed info, including the time. It's a thoughtful touch that the pricier machines don't offer.
I'll admit that the coffee quality was not as good as Oxo's. This is a classically designed machine that looks like a modern version of any standard drip coffee maker. It did not reach the ideal water temps for brewing recommended by the National Coffee Association. If you want a more flavorful cup, choose the bold option. I'd also use more grounds than Cuisinart recommends — the provided scoop is on the small side.
Minor criticisms:As with the Oxo, my complaint about this machine has to do with the carafe. The lid isn't hinged, which may seem like a small thing, but it makes it more prone to spillage, especially if you use the carafe to fill the water tank. To clean the carafe, you must pop off the lid and snap it back on when you're done. At least it's marked on both sides with measurements.
- Control panel lets you adjust many features
- Warming plate keeps coffee hot without scorching it
- Slim, modern profile
- Quiet
- Carafe and filter basket are dishwasher-safe
- The regular-strength brew tastes a bit watery
- Glass carafe isn't as good as thermal
- Carafe lid can drip
Capacity:6, 8, 10, 12 oz. (single serve); up to 12 cups (carafe) | Size:11.1" W x 12.9" D x 12.7" H | Warranty:1 year
Fans of Keurig machines , as well as homes with multiple coffee drinkers, will benefit from the K-Duo. It satisfies hot and cold cravings while looking sleek, thanks to brushed stainless accents and rounded corners. Large families will also appreciate its quiet operation, which won't wake late risers.
How it works:Like other programmable drip machines, you'll have to set the time on the display. The instructions and interface are easy to understand (with the small note that the carafe button on the machine is referred to as the "cups button" and the single-serve button is referred to as "ounces" in the instruction manual, which is a bit confusing). But once you get that straightened out, you can select options for strong, X-hot or over ice.
Why we love it:The K-Duo stood out for its wide range of surprisingly tasty options that were easy to toggle between. In addition to making full pots of coffee, it brews single servings using K-Cups, which were among the tastiest I've had from a Keurig machine.
When it came time to switch gears and make a carafe, I found the programming to be excellent. I set the time I wanted the pot to start brewing, and even though I accidentally lifted the single-serve handle, it automatically switched back to carafe mode when the time came.
Minor criticisms:This Keurig checked a lot of boxes for me — except for its ease of maneuverability. As you can imagine, this two-in-one coffee maker is heavy and difficult to lift. The bottom is also grippy, which is great for stability while brewing, but makes it even harder to pick up the machine if you want to move it.
- Very quiet operation
- Large water tank capacity
- "Over ice" option for less-watery iced coffee
- "Strong" coffee tastes noticeably different from regular option
- Extremely heavy
- Rubberized bottom makes it difficult to move
Capacity:12 cups | Size:11.39"W x 9.13"D x 15.54"H | Warranty:1 year
While you can brew a smaller pot of coffee if you're the only one in need of caffeine, some busy mornings don't allow enough time to go through the motions. An easy solution? Single-serve coffee , and the Ninja DualBrew lets you have the best of both worlds in one machine.
How it works:The easy-to-understand touchscreen lets you choose from four carafe sizes (¼, ½, ¾, and full), as well as different cup amounts for single-serve coffee, using either grounds or K-cups. There is a progress indicator to show how far along you are in brewing, and an automatic warming plate for the carafe.
Why we love it:Not only does this coffee maker boast an impressive range of brew options, but the results were smooth and free of sediment. Drip machines can often take up a lot of real estate on your counter, so I appreciate that the water tank can be moved from the side to the back to best suit your space. While the built-in milk frother dripped milk onto the counter during testing, it produced light, fluffy foam and folds away for easy storage. The machine's sleek black design and cool display screen make it look like a gadget out of The Jetsons !
Minor criticisms:There is no denying that the DualBrew Pro has a lot of parts and somewhat of a clunky design. While its footprint can be reduced thanks to the fold-away frother and movable water tank, it's a lot to look at when fully set up on your counter.
How it's held up:"It reminds me of an old ice cream soda machine — but if it got a very modern makeover," says our long-term tester, Yahoo Commerce Editor Janelle Randazza . She adds that the DualBrew has been "basically flawless," and the only issue she has run into involves cleaning the water reservoir. "There is a tiny area that is really challenging to get to with a regular bottle-cleaning brush," she explains. Instead, she uses a baby bottle brush that she can wedge into the tight space.
- Easy to operate
- Makes smooth coffee with grounds and K-cups
- All of its parts tuck away nicely for easy storage
- Can make a full carafe or single servings
- Emits a high-pitched beep after brewing
- Built-in frother can get messy
Capacity:10 cups | Size:9"L x 9"W x 12"H | Warranty:2 years
Can someone who prefers a drip coffee maker also be a coffee snob? Absolutely, if they own this boxy machine. Fellow is known for sleek, high-end equipment (including our favorite gooseneck electric kettle ). The Aiden Precision Coffee Maker is an absolute splurge, but your at-home barista station will rival that of your local café.
How it works:Programming the Aiden is a breeze, and while there are endless customizable brewing options, the actual process is quite simple. By using the control knob, you can customize your water-to-coffee ratio, water temperature, bloom time (when hot water first hits your ground coffee, releasing the natural gases that accumulate during roasting) and the number and length of “pulses” (how the machine releases water through its shower head, similar to how you would pour water from a kettle when making pour-over coffee).
If this sounds overwhelming, don't worry. You can also choose from pre-loaded guided brews, where you select from light, medium or dark roast or cold brew, and the machine tells you how much water to add. Make things even simpler with the instant brew setting, where you add your desired amount of coffee and water, and the machine does the rest.
Why we love it:I'm a fan of any coffee maker that can produce more than one drink, and the Aiden fits that (pricey!) bill perfectly.It gives single-serve coffee makers a run for their money since you can brew everything from a 10-cup carafe down to just one cup — you can even adjust the size in half-cup increments, so you’re making only as much coffee as you want. What's more, it produced cold brew that came the closest to the real thing than most other drip machines I’ve tried.
Even though taste is subjective, I'd be remiss if I didn’t mention how good this coffee was. I always test with the same medium-roast whole beans ( Peet’s Big Bang ), which I freshly grind. With some machines, they can taste bitter; in the Aiden, they tasted smooth and strong. The coffee had a rich brown color, and I didn’t see any grit or sediment in any of the cups or pots I brewed.
Minor criticisms:Besides the price tag, I have a few qualms with the Aiden. First, it doesn't have a warming plate. While Fellow doesn't offer this feature because it says a warming plate can scorch coffee, the insulated carafe did not retain heat as well as I’d expect for a machine this expensive. Second, the coffee maker is made of mostly plastic and looks like a cube. I don't mind the modern design, but some might.
- Very easy to program and use
- Matte finish and simple shape, ideal for minimalists
- Produces flavorful coffee
- Also makes single servings and cold brew
- Extremely expensive
- Machine is mostly made of plastic
Factors to consider when choosing a drip coffee maker
Of course, you want your machine to brew good coffee, fast. But you should also consider the following:
✓ Capacity:How much coffee do you want to make? Are you serving multiple people, or do you only need enough joe for yourself? How much coffee do you drink? Do you need a caffeine intervention? I'm just kidding about the last question, but it does help to take a good look at your habits before committing to a machine. If you just need enough coffee for yourself, you may want a machine that can brew smaller quantities without sacrificing quality. Keep in mind that most manufacturers usually consider a cup to be only 4 or 5 ounces, much less than what a mug can hold. A 10-cup coffee maker won't actually make 10 cups of coffee; it'll probably be closer to four or five.
✓ Carafe type:Drip coffee makers come with either a glass or thermal carafe. Generally, the latter is better because thermal carafes are often made with stainless steel, which is more durable than glass; they also keep the coffee uniformly hot without relying on a warming plate, which can scorch your brew. Check that the carafe's handle is comfortable to hold and that the lid is easy to remove for cleaning.
✓ Certifications:Several of the machines I tested are certified by the Specialty Coffee Association , meaning they meet stringent requirements when it comes to brewing time, brewing temperature, quality of extraction and more. Currently, only 23 at-home brewers are certified, but companies have to pay a licensing fee to use the certification. So while it's a helpful indicator of quality, there are many perfectly good drip coffee makers that aren't certified.
✓ Ease of use:You should be able to start brewing with most machines right out of the box after doing one water-only cycle. Look for buttons and control panels that you can understand even if you're bleary-eyed.
✓ Maintenance:Check if the parts are dishwasher-safe (many brands offer this) and know that if you use a permanent filter, you'll need to clean it after every brew. Also, check whether the machine alerts you when it's time to descale (aka deep-clean) — some don't, which means you may need to keep track of this on your own to avoid mineral build-up.
✓ Programmability:If you're someone who loves to wake up to a freshly brewed pot, you need a machine that has a timer that enables it to automatically turn on in the morning. Not all machines offer this, and some make the programming quite complicated, so make sure you like the way your machine works before committing.
✓ Time to brew:Less than 10 minutes is a good guideline, depending on the machine's capacity. No one wants to wait ages for their morning jolt!
How we tested drip coffee makers
I made pot after pot of coffee (I was very jittery), but before I even got to the brewing part of the test, I spent hours poring over instruction manuals and reviews. I assessed each machine from the moment I opened the box, looking for ease of setup and smart design.
Many higher-end coffee makers feature this two-part design. But the Zwilling machine, left, has a glass carafe whereas the Breville has a thermal one.
Then came the fun part: I tried each machine at least three times, using the same medium-roast coffee beans (I freshly ground them with my handy Oxo burr grinder ) and generic paper basket or #4 cone filters . If the machine came with a reusable filter and/or a built-in grinder, I used that. For each brew, I followed the coffee-to-water ratio recommended by the machine's manual. I noted the time it took to brew a full pot, the machine's noise level, the temperature of the brew bed throughout the brewing process and the coffee's flavor and strength. I also tested how easy the machine was to program and how well the brew-pause feature (which lets you remove the pot mid-brew to pour yourself a cup) worked.
All the machines I tried had either a thermal carafe or glass carafe with a warming plate, so I tested its heat retention over time by taking the temperature of the brew (what remained after pouring a full mug) after an hour.
Other drip coffee makers we tested
Black + Decker 12-Cup Digital Coffee Maker :The second-best-selling drip coffee maker on Amazon, this under-$50 machine does everything you need it to. Making a pot of coffee is easy thanks to the big, user-friendly buttons, but I found setup a bit confusing thanks to the instruction manual, which had me pouring water into the tank to a "max" line that didn't exist. I also found a small amount of grittiness at the bottom of the pot after brewing, as if some coffee grounds had escaped from the brew basket.
Capresso 10-Cup Coffee Maker with Conical Burr Grinder :If you buy whole beans and are on a budget, consider the Capresso, which retails for $100 less than our pick for the best coffee maker with grinder. I found the interface fairly straightforward: Choose from two modes (brew or grind and brew) and adjust the coffee "aroma" via another button. If using the built-in grinder, you can customize the coarseness and grind volume. I noticed fingerprints and water spots easily smudged the brushed stainless steel parts, but my main gripe with this machine was how loud it was while grinding beans.
Café Specialty Grind and Brew Coffee Maker : Our previous pick for the best drip coffee maker with a grinder, the Specialty Grind and Brew makes preparing a good pot of joe practically foolproof by telling you exactly what to do on the display screen. You can customize the grind size and water temperature, and you'll be happy to know it produced a full pot (10 cups) in about eight-and-a-half minutes. While it's a fun machine that makes great coffee, our long-term tester, Senior Tech Writer Rick Broida , had some issues. It can be a pain to clean, and he reports needing to refill the hopper and water tank about every other day. The main problem, and reason I removed it from the best list, is that the carafe has not held up well. "The paint started chipping along the outside, and the handle started to almost decompose! And we never did anything more than hand-wash it with hot water," shares Broida.
Braun BrewSense :This modern, quiet coffee maker is similar to the Cuisinart in looks and features, but I found the control panel less intuitive. I had to check the instruction manual several times just to program the machine. That said, the carafe is great, with a hinged lid that opens wide for filling and cleaning.
Here's a closer peek at the showerheads on different machines. Just like in an actual shower, they rain water over the coffee grounds, which means better, more even saturation.
Krups Simply Brew 5-Cup Coffee Maker: For small kitchens without a ton of counter space, you can't get more compact than this under-$50 five-cup model (it also comes in a 10-cup size). It looks like a stainless steel cube in the best way possible. But don't expect any bells or whistles with this machine. You can't even program it!
Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer :I liked this under-$100 machine, but because I had to get so nitpicky, it didn't make it to the top spot. The water tank is removable, so you can bring it right to the sink, and the buttons on the control panel are self-explanatory. The brew-stop function also worked the best of any machine I tried. Now for my (minor) gripes: The instructions on the box differed slightly from what was in the manual, which confused me during the initial setup. And this machine was slow — it took more than 12 minutes to brew a full pot.
Zwilling Enfinigy Drip Coffee Maker :This machine gets only so-so reviews on Amazon, so I had my doubts. I was pleasantly surprised — it feels as sophisticated as the Oxo, but is smaller by several inches and costs around $150. And Zwilling is the only maker of the models I tested to offer a lifetime warranty. As with the Oxo, you control everything using a single dial, but I found the menu options more confusing. Also, the warming plate did not keep the coffee hot enough.
Playing around with the Oxo brewer. You dial in your desired amount, then press the button and your caffeine fix is on the way.
Other drip coffee makers we plan to test
Moccamaster KBGV : This retro-looking machine is a thing of beauty. The Moccamaster is SCA-certified, hand-made in the Netherlands and available in a rainbow of colors. Jenn Mudge, director of electrics merchandising at Sur La Table , uses this drip coffee maker at home: "It brews hot and fast in a way most home machines just don't match," she says. It comes with a steep price tag, though, so I'm curious to see if it's worth it.
How to make the best drip coffee at home
Brewing drip coffee at home is meant to be fairly straightforward, but certain steps can upgrade your morning cup . Start by grinding whole beansjust before brewing, says Mudge. "Pre-ground coffee loses its aromatics quickly, and this single step makes more of a difference than most people expect," she explains. Aim for a medium grind,"roughly the texture of coarse sand." Mudge likes the Breville Smart Grinder Pro because it has a generous hopper and can dial the right grind size for almost any coffee drink. If your machine doesn't have a built-in grinder, check out our guide to more top-tested coffee grinders .
While you can consult the manufacturer's instructions for the coffee-to-water ratio, Mudge says two tablespoons of fresh coffee grounds per six ounces of wateris a good starting point. "Use filtered waterif you can — chlorinated tap water genuinely affects the flavor," she notes; she also recommends filling the water tank with a pitcher or containerrather than with the carafe. "Coffee oils left behind in the carafe can work their way into your machine's components over time," she explains. From there, "The machine handles the rest, but for the best cup, drink it shortly after brewingwhile it's at its freshest," says Mudge.
Drip coffee maker FAQs
What's the difference between a drip coffee maker and pour-over?
A good drip coffee maker approximates pour-over coffee by saturating the grounds with water in a similar way. But the process is automated, so it's much simpler. Pour over, on the other hand, is manual — you pour the water over the grinds, which lets you control the temperature, bloom time, brew time and more. If you like the idea of being able to customize every aspect of your drink, it's worth trying.
How long should a drip coffee maker last?
Some sources say to expect a lifespan of four to five years, but that can really vary depending on how often you use your drip coffee maker and how well you take care of it. Most of the machines I tested have a two-year warranty, with the notable exception of the Zwilling Enfinigy Drip Coffee Maker , which has a lifetime warranty.
Best drip coffee makers spec comparison chart
| Oxo Brew 9-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker |
Cuisinart 14-Cup Coffee Maker |
Keurig K-Duo Hot & Iced Coffee Maker |
Ninja DualBrew Pro |
Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity |
9 cups |
14 cups |
6, 8, 10, 12 oz. (pods); 12 cups (carafe) |
6, 8, 10 and 12 oz. (pods); small, XL cup, travel mug and XL travel mug (single serve with grounds); 12 cups (carafe) |
10 cups |
| Size |
15"W x 8.3"D x 17.2"H |
9"W x 7.75"D x 14"H |
11.1" W x 12.9" D x 12.7" H |
11.39"W x 9.13"D x 15.54"H |
9"L x 9"W x 12"H |
| Warranty |
2 years |
3 years |
1 year |
1 year |
2 years |
Meet our expert
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Jenn Mudge, director of electrics merchandising, Sur La Table
Update, June 4, 2026: We checked all product prices and availability. Our No. 1 drip coffee maker remains unchanged, but we added the results of new testing and moved the Café Specialty Grind and Brew Coffee Maker to "others we tested" after considering long-term testing feedback.
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.
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