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Our top picks
Short on time? Our top recommendation is the Technivorm Moccamaster KBG Select.
Compare
At a glance
The traits that separate these picks, side by side.
In depth
The 16 best, explained
Why each made the cut, where it falls short, and who should buy it.
Best OverallTechnivorm
SCAA certified, brews at the correct temperature every time
- SCAA certified
- 196 to 205°F
- 10-cup
- Made in Netherlands
✓ Pros
- SCAA certified, brews at the correct temperature every time
- Copper heating element reaches brewing temperature in 6 minutes total brew time for 10 cups
- Dutch manufacturing with a 5-year warranty, the longest in this category
- Spray arm saturates the entire coffee bed evenly, no dry spots
- Available in 20+ colors
✕ Cons
- No programmable timer, manual brew only
- Carafe is glass (thermal available as the Moccamaster KBGT)
Best Mid RangeOXO
SCAA certified with programmable timer, Moccamaster performance with scheduling
- SCAA certified
- 9-cup
- Rainshower head
- Programmable
✓ Pros
- SCAA certified with programmable timer, Moccamaster performance with scheduling
- Rainshower head distributes water evenly across the coffee bed
- Thermal carafe option available
- More approachable price than Moccamaster
✕ Cons
- 9-cup capacity, smaller than standard 12-cup models
- More complex to program than a basic coffee maker
Best Budget QualityBonavita
Thermal carafe keeps coffee at quality temperature without a heating plate
- SCAA certified
- 8-cup
- Thermal carafe
- Under $100
✓ Pros
- Thermal carafe keeps coffee at quality temperature without a heating plate
- One-touch operation, no programming complexity
✕ Cons
- 8-cup capacity, one size below standard 12-cup models
- No programmable timer, requires manual start
Best Large CapacityCuisinart
14-cup, the largest capacity in this list, correct for offices and large households
- 14-cup
- Programmable
- Brew strength control
- Under $80
✓ Pros
- 14-cup, the largest capacity in this list, correct for offices and large households
- Brew strength settings (regular and bold)
- Programmable 24-hour timer
✕ Cons
- Not SCAA certified, brews at approximately 185 to 195°F
- Glass carafe with heating plate
Best Programmable PremiumBreville
SCAA certified with 12-cup thermal carafe and programmable timer, the most complete package
- SCAA certified
- 12-cup thermal
- Programmable
- Gold filter included
✓ Pros
- SCAA certified with 12-cup thermal carafe and programmable timer, the most complete package
- Gold filter included (reusable), saves paper filter cost
- Multiple brewing modes including Gold Cup (SCAA standard), Fast, and Over Ice
- Single Cup attachment for 12oz brewing without filling the full carafe
✕ Cons
- More complex than simpler coffee makers
Best Budget BasicHamilton Beach
For households that need a programmable 12-cup machine at minimum cost and do not prioritize SCAA certification. Its case rests on 12-hour programmable timer and brew strength setting. Keep in mind that not SCAA certified, brewing temperature below optimal.
- 12-cup
- Programmable
- Under $30
- Brew strength
✓ Pros
- 12-hour programmable timer
- Brew strength setting
✕ Cons
- Not SCAA certified, brewing temperature below optimal
- Glass carafe heating plate degrades coffee quickly
Best EntryMr. Coffee
Mr. Coffee's 12-cup programmable maker is a simple, inexpensive drip brewer with a delay-start timer.
- 12-cup
- Programmable
- Under $25
- Simple
✓ Pros
- Very affordable
- Programmable delay start for morning coffee
- 12-cup glass carafe for households
- Simple controls with pause-and-serve
✕ Cons
- Glass carafe on a hot plate can make coffee taste stewed over time
- Brews cooler than specialty-certified brewers
- Plastic build
Best NinjaNinja
Correct for households that want brew style options at a mid-range price. Its case rests on brew style selection (classic, rich, over ice).
- 12-cup
- Programmable
- Brew style
- Under $60
✓ Pros
- Brew style selection (classic, rich, over ice)
Best Cuisinart ThermalCuisinart
Best Cuisinart thermal. Its case rests on thermal carafe, no heating plate, coffee holds quality longer and cuisinart reliability. Keep in mind that not SCAA certified at this price tier.
- 12-cup
- Thermal carafe
- Programmable
- Cuisinart
✓ Pros
- Thermal carafe, no heating plate, coffee holds quality longer
- Cuisinart reliability
✕ Cons
- Not SCAA certified at this price tier
Best Fast BrewBUNN
Best fast-brew coffee maker. Its case rests on brews 10 cups in approximately 3 minutes, the fastest drip coffee maker and commercial-grade build quality. Keep in mind that always-on water tank consumes power continuously.
- 10-cup
- 3-minute brew
- Commercial grade
- BUNN
✓ Pros
- Brews 10 cups in approximately 3 minutes, the fastest drip coffee maker
- Commercial-grade build quality
- Consistent hot water temperature (BUNN keeps tank pre-heated)
✕ Cons
- Always-on water tank consumes power continuously
- No programmable timer
Best Technivorm ThermalTechnivorm
For households that want the best quality and will use the machine daily: the Moccamaster KBGT is the definitive purchase. Its case rests on moccamaster quality with thermal carafe (no heating plate) and sCAA certified at optimal brewing temperature.
- SCAA certified
- 10-cup thermal
- Dutch made
- 5-year warranty
✓ Pros
- Moccamaster quality with thermal carafe (no heating plate)
- SCAA certified at optimal brewing temperature
- Coffee holds quality for 1 to 2 hours in the thermal carafe
Best Premium DesignBehmor
Best premium design coffee maker. Its case rests on sCAA certified at optimal temperature and oversized shower head with pulse-brew turbulence for full saturation, a distinctive brewing method. Keep in mind that premium pricing among drip coffee makers.
- SCAA certified
- 8-cup
- Pulse brew technology
- Made in USA
✓ Pros
- SCAA certified at optimal temperature
- Oversized shower head with pulse-brew turbulence for full saturation, a distinctive brewing method
- Adjustable temperature and brew strength controls
✕ Cons
- Premium pricing among drip coffee makers
- 8-cup capacity limits household use for 4+ person households
Best Certified ValueBraun
Braun's BrewSense KF7150 is a programmable 12-cup drip maker that earned Specialty Coffee Association certification.
- SCAA certified
- 12-cup
- PureFlavor technology
- $60 to $80
✓ Pros
- SCA-certified brewing performance
- Programmable timer and brew-strength control
- Charcoal water filter
- Good value for a certified brewer
✕ Cons
- Glass carafe with hot plate
- Plastic housing
- Not as fast as some brewers
Best Dual BrewHamilton Beach
Hamilton Beach's 2-Way Brewer combines a 12-cup carafe side with a single-serve side using ground coffee.
- Drip + single serve
- 12-cup + pod
- Hamilton Beach
- Under $60
✓ Pros
- Brews a full pot or a single cup
- Uses ground coffee, not pods
- Programmable carafe side
- Good value for households with mixed needs
✕ Cons
- Large footprint
- Two brewing systems to clean
- Glass carafe on a hot plate
Keurig
A two-in-one brewer that makes single K-Cup cups or a full carafe from ground coffee, with an iced setting and a shared 72 oz reservoir.
✓ Pros
- Pods and ground-coffee carafe in one machine
- Iced coffee setting
- Large 72 oz shared reservoir
- MultiStream brewing for even extraction
✕ Cons
- Takes more counter space than single-serve models
- Carafe side is basic compared with dedicated drip machines
- Two brewing systems to clean
BLACK+DECKER
An inexpensive 12-cup drip machine using a showerhead-style Vortex design to wet grounds evenly.
✓ Pros
- Very low price for 12 cups
- Vortex showerhead saturates grounds evenly
- Pause-and-serve for a mid-brew cup
- Easy to use
✕ Cons
- Glass carafe on a hot plate can scorch coffee over time
- Plastic build
- Basic controls
How we chose these picks
Every pick below earned its place through documented strengths, verified specifications, consistent praise in reputable reviews, and owner-feedback patterns. We don't sell placements, and we don't invent test scores.
Mistakes buyers often make
- Buying on brand name alone instead of matching features to your actual use case.
- Overpaying for headline specs you'll never use, define must-haves first.
- Ignoring size — compatibility, and ongoing costs (filters, accessories, refills).
- Trusting star ratings without reading what owners compla in about after 6 months.
How to choose: the factors that matter
- Capacity and sizing — Measure your space and your actual use before falling for bigger-is-better. The right size is the one that fits your routine, not the spec sheet's maximum.
- Build quality and materials — Heavier-gauge materials, tight tolerances, and solid joints outlast thin, rattly construction. In reviews, look for longevity comments over first-impression praise.
- Ease of use and setup — Clear instructions, intuitive controls, and minimal assembly separate daily drivers from garage ornaments.
- Maintenance and cleaning — Whatever you buy will need cleaning. Removable, dishwasher-safe, or wipe-clean parts get maintained; fiddly ones get neglected.
- Warranty and support — A multi-year warranty signals the manufacturer expects it to last. Check what's actually covered, motors and frames matter more than accessories.
The bottom line
There's no single 'best' here, only the best match for your situation. Start from your must-have features, then choose the least expensive pick that covers them.
FAQ
Common questions
What are the best drip coffee makers right now?
Our top pick is the Technivorm Moccamaster KBG Select (best overall), because sCAA certified, brews at the correct temperature every time. The runner-up is the OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker (best mid range), followed by the Bonavita 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker.
What is the best budget option among drip coffee makers?
Our best-value pick is the Bonavita 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker: thermal carafe keeps coffee at quality temperature without a heating plate. Check the current price on Amazon, since deals change often.
Which of the drip coffee makers should I buy?
It depends on what matters most to you. For overall, choose the Technivorm Moccamaster KBG Select. For mid range, choose the OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker. For budget quality, choose the Bonavita 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker. For large capacity, choose the Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp 14-Cup.
Is the Technivorm Moccamaster KBG Select worth it?
For most buyers, yes. It ranks #1 in our drip coffee makers research, though no programmable timer, manual brew only.
What temperature should a drip coffee maker brew at?
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) standard is 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit (90 to 96 Celsius). Most budget drip coffee makers brew at 165 to 185 degrees, too low for full extraction, producing thin, sour, or under-developed coffee. SCAA-certified coffee makers areand verified to reach and mainta in the correct brewing temperature.
What is the difference between a glass carafe and a thermal carafe?
Glass carafes sit on a heated plate that keeps coffee warm but continues to cook the coffee, coffee on a heated plate degrades in flavor quality with in 20 to 30 minutes. Thermal carafes use insulation (no heat source) to mainta in temperature, coffee in a thermal carafe holds quality for 1 to 2 hours. For coffee quality over time: thermal carafe. For lower cost: glass carafe.
What is a bloom or pre-infusion cycle in a drip coffee maker?
A bloom (or pre-infusion) is a short initial wetting of the coffee grounds, typically 10 to 15 seconds, with a small amount of hot water before the ma in brew cycle begins. Carbon dioxide trapped in freshly roasted coffee grounds repels water during extraction, reducing contact time between water and coffee. The bloom allows CO2 to off-gas first, which improves subsequent extraction uniformity. Premium drip makers (Breville Precision Brewer, OXO Brew) include an automatic bloom cycle. It produces a more even, fuller extraction from the same coffee. Most budget makers do not bloom, they beg in continuous water flow immediately.
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