My life would be a lot easier if there was one unequivocal best coffee maker, but alas, there is no such thing. The best coffee maker for you will depend on a myriad of options, from your budget to your preferred brewing style. My mission, and I think I've done a pretty good job, is to create a guide that offers a tried-and-tested option to every potential shopper, so if you're looking for a new brewer to kickstart your mornings, you'll find the one for you in this guide.
When most people think of a coffee maker, they'll probably think of a drip machine like the Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select which, incidentally, is my #1 pick. It's hard to get a bad brew out of this quality machine. It gets the basics right. If you're not looking for the basics though, a drip coffee maker right not be the best machine for you.
For people who prefer espresso-based drinks, I have two top recommendations. If you're looking for a single-serve, I'd suggest the Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima, which is versatile and easy to use. Alternatively, level-up your coffee with a true espresso machine, such as the Ninja Luxe Café, which is one of the most exciting recent coffee releases and, according to our testing, lives up to the hype.
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About this guide
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Recent updates
I've been reviewing dozens of coffee makers recently, so I've started the year by making some substantial changes to our rankings and the products featured in our guide. Last time I updated this guide I added our reviews of the AeroPress Premium and the Chemex. They're both excellent gadgets, but after a few conversations with our testing team I've decided to take them out because they're not really machines, which is what readers will be looking for. In their place, I've added a bunch of new products we've recently tried. The new De'Longhi La Specialista Opera made a huge splash when we tested it in December. I've rarely had such enthusiastic feedback from our meticulous testing team! I've also been hard at work testing drip coffee makers recently (not to be that guy, but I'm trying not to drink my calories this year, so black drip coffee has been my brew of choice) and both the Aarke and Mr Coffee Perfect Brew have been added to the lineup after some stellar reviews. Enjoy!
I'm Millie, Tom's Guide's Senior Home Editor, and I've been testing the top coffee makers from all the major brands for over five years (and using them in my person life for much, much longer!)
I've recently completed a Specialty Coffee Association foundation-level Barista Skills qualification, meaning I could probably get a job in a coffee shop if testing coffee makers ever gets old, and I'm also pretty good at knowing what's required from a machine to make a good brew.
I'm far from a professional, but I've got an above-average ability and knowledge of what makes a great brew at home. I love great-tasting coffee, but I don't want to have to work too hard for it. That's what the best coffee makers are for — delivering your favorite brew just as you like it, while saving you time and making your life easier.
Compiling this buying guide has required a lot of evaluation and comparison between completely unrelated methods of brewing, as well as machines that span from $50 to well over $2,000. How, you might wonder, can we rank these machines if they're being tested against completely different criteria?
It's true, I'd never tell you to buy a drip coffee maker if you love espresso, and we'd never tell you to buy the most premium Breville machine if you're on a budget, so before you buy, you need to have a rough idea of what kind of coffee you actually want to make at home. In this guide, I've included drip coffee makers, as well as a range of single-serve machines and espresso machines. And when ranking these products, I've considered what's right for most people. I know a lot more about coffee than the majority of buyers, so I had to go back to basics when writing this guide to make it accessible to everyone.
Even within the TG team there is a huge range of coffee preferences. There are some people who would turn their nose up at a cup of pod coffee, and would never consider straying from their carefully evaluated coffee setup. For others, coffee is simply a tool for waking up in the morning and you just want a reliable and space-efficient gadget to fill your cup with something cheaper and better than the stuff you'd get from a chain coffee shop. That's ok too, because you know your budget, and you know what you're looking for. And no matter what it is that you're seeking, I'm confident that I've included it in this guide.
Each and every machine has been hand-selected and tested by myself or one of Tom's Guide's expert testers, so you can click through to read full, detailed reviews before you make your mind up.
The quick list
The Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select offers consistent brewing, looks fantastic, and is designed to last a lifetime. It's a great option for those who want a reliable but high quality drip coffee maker, but there are cheaper options out there if you're on a budget.
The latest addition to our best coffee maker roundup, it's hard to argue with the value for money you'll get with the Ninja Luxe Café. While it specializes in espresso-based drinks, it can also make drip and cold brew coffee, making it a super versatile option.
Simple, capable, and under $70, the Instant Infusion Brew is a top budget choice. It's a newcomer to this guide, but due to its impressive performance in testing, we think it's the new top budget machine on the market.
The Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima can do it all. With a smart and convenient milk dispenser and all the flexibility of a Nespresso Vertuo machine, it's my favorite single-serve coffee maker on the market for those who want the option to make just about any coffee-based drink.
If you want a good old-fashioned drip coffee maker that looks good, works well, and can be relied upon to keep you caffeinated all day long, look no further than the Braun Brew Sense. It's featured in this guide for years, and we still love it.
With superautomatic coffee makers, all of the grinding, tamping, brewing and milk steaming happens automatically, leaving you with a great drink, no effort required. There are many machines that offer this, but the KitchenAid KF8 offers a level of finesse that's hard to find.
Best coffee maker for most people
The Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select is the company's latest model, first released in late 2019 as the Moccamaster KBG Select in Europe. The new release continues the Moccamaster's highly respected name as the highest quality and most widely praised coffee maker in this list. It’s been engineered for optimal brew temperatures and water dispersal, with innovative features that have earned it recognition from the Specialty Coffee Association. What’s more, it does all of this while operating exceedingly quickly, which I found out when we tried it out for myself.
Handmade in the Netherlands, this pricey coffee maker has a unique industrial aesthetic that some people love and others hate. This, however, is one for the enthusiasts, and lacks a few of the convenience features you might find in cheaper models. The water tank is fixed onto the system, and you won't find any auto-brew features baked in here. However, what it lacks in the amenities that are typical of today' at-home brewers, it makes up for in producing smooth, balanced coffee, which is why it's one of the best coffee makers in my opinion.
There’s technical brilliance under the hood, however. This machine can reach industry standard temperatures (196°F – 205°F) in under a minute and stay there. The water then moves up a glass tube and into a 9-hole spray arm, where it's evenly dispersed over ground coffee in a cone-shaped basket. Not only that, but the KBGV Select can do all of this in four to six minutes, depending on brew size. It comes at a steep cost, but the superior performance and build quality make it worth it for coffee enthusiasts.
Read our full Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select review.
Best espresso machine
Released in September 2024, Ninja proved it can hold its own in the espresso machine market with the Ninja Luxe Café. This espresso machine isn't cheap, but for a model of its caliber, it's pretty reasonably priced. For under $600, you'll get the ability to make double espressos (no singles, for some reason), cold espresso, cold brew, drip coffee, and a whole host of assisted milk steaming settings.
This machine does a lot of the hard work for you, including suggesting your grind settings, and steaming the milk for you using a whisk built into the base of its jug. In other words, while it looks like several iconic bean-to-cup coffee makers, its assisted features make it more suited to beginners, and could run the risk of being annoying to those who actually prefer to hand-steam their milk and adjust their bean settings based on taste or pressure. There's no pressure gauge, limiting users from getting too technical, but some people don't want that. What you really want is a great-tasting coffee, and there's no denying that the Ninja can deliver on this front.
Our tester Camryn reported that this is the most user-friendly machine she's ever tried, and she's tried a lot. Her espresso was rich and evenly extracted, milk never burnt (even plant milk, thanks to the pre-set options), and drip coffee fruity and fuss-free. We're continuing to test this one, but suffice to say, we're impressed.
Read our full Ninja Luxe Café review
Best budget drip coffee maker
Looking for a cheap and cheerful drip coffee maker that’s one step up from the French press? The Instant Infusion Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker could check all necessary boxes. Perfect for families and small office spaces, this coffee maker is capable of brewing four to 12 cups in just under 11 minutes. The pricier Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select, on the other hand, brews just 10 cups.
The Infusion Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker’s ease of use is one of its strongest selling points. The coffee maker is extremely easy to clean too. All the parts — except for the reservoir — are dishwasher-safe, and the reusable coffee filter means you won't have to worry about the ongoing cost of filters, like you would with the Moccamaster. There’s also a handy auto-timer, which can be programmed up to 24 hours in advance, so you can wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. And there’s no need to worry about coffee going cold, as the hotplate stays warm for up to four hours, ensuring every cup is just the right temperature. In our testing, the maker brewed delicious coffee with a well-balanced flavor profile, and it highlighted the chocolate notes perfectly.
The Instant may look quite small, but our tester Nikita found that it actually has a larger footprint than the Braun Brew Sense Drip Coffee Maker KF6050. Also, while it’s recommended to use rounded spoonfuls when loading up the ground coffee, we found that it’s better to use level spoons instead, especially if you’re planning on brewing 12 cups. If you want to enter the world of coffee brewing, the Infusion Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker is a great jumping point.
Read our full Instant Infusion Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker review
Best single serve coffee maker
If you want a single-serve coffee maker that can truly do it all, you should look no further than the Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima. Featuring a separate milk dispenser that offers milk-only drinks and two lengths of milk add-ins to any coffee size you opt for, the beauty of this machine is in its simplicity. You can simply store the milk dispenser in the refrigerator when it's not in use, and you'll get the joys of the entirety of Nespresso's six-size Vertuo system if you prefer a long black coffee or an espresso to start the day.
We enjoyed the thoughtful touches such as an adjustable cup holder to work with any beverage size, and the ability to rinse out the milk dispenser after each use. We did wish that there were more than one milk froth levels available, because if you prefer a more firm layer to make an espresso or a softer latte-style steamed milk, you won't be able to adjust this using the Nespresso.
Because this machine is part of the Vertuo line it will automatically brew the optimum drink length for each drink and you can enjoy an ever-evolving list of capsules to mix up your routine. We even tried a cold-brew capsule, which was impressively realistic.
Read our full Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima review
Best for batch brewing
The Braun BrewSense used to sit at the top of this guide, but when we re-evaluated in early 2024, we found that if you're willing to spend a bit more, you'll have a better-tasting brew with the Moccamaster machine we put in first place. It was then bumped further down by the more affordable and equally user-friendly Instant Infusion Brew, whose major downside is that it won't make a good batch brew if you want more than 10 cups.
We still think the Brew Sense KF6050 deserves serious kudos for delivering quality fuss-free coffee without a high price tag. You can enjoy the perks of a programmable timer, brew pause settings, and a mode for smaller brews if you want to make 1-4 cups of coffee at a time. Our biggest issue with this machine was that its water tank cannot be removed, which means you'll have to use a carafe to refill it.
That aside though, this machine does offer a lot of convenience features you won't usually find at this price. That includes a charcoal water filter to keep your machine in good running order, and a permanent gold-tone filter for good measure. Another thing that impressed us with this coffee maker was its hot plate. The Braun Brew Sense had some of the best temperature retention of the drip coffee makers we tested. However, it's a little noisier and a lot slower than its more modern, pricier counterparts.
Read our full Braun Brew Sense review
Best superautomatic coffee maker
Another newcomer to the world of espresso machines, the KitchenAid KF8 lives up to its appliance pedigree. It was tested by ex-barista, current product reviewer Erin, who enjoys getting involved in every element of the brewing process and loved the KF8's baby sister, the KitchenAid Semi Automatic. That's in this guide too, but the KF8 is higher because, in my experience, coffee newcomers really enjoy bean-to-cup machines which grind, tamp and brew with the touch of a button, and even steam milk automatically. And the KF8 does that beautifully.
This machine is far from cheap, but it's really well-made. It's best compared to the likes of the Philips 3200, which used to feature in this guide until the KitchenAid ousted it. This machine simply makes a brilliant coffee with absolutely no room for error. Our espresso was frothy and lively, comparable to the sort of espresso you'd have to really work to get out of an entry-level espresso machine, and it also made brilliant long drinks like Americano.
The milk frother can't be compared to the steam wand market because it creates that heat and texture using a carafe, like 99% of superautomatic machines. You can get really good milk using this method, but you won't be able to experiment with latte art or get that fine level of control you might want if you really like your flat whites and lattes.
Read our full KitchenAid KF8 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine review
Best hot and iced coffee maker
Mr. Coffee isn't best known for making premium coffee makers, but the Mr. Coffee Perfect Brew Coffee Maker is an SCA-approved brewer that attempts to change all that. It can brew up to 8 cups at a time, which is less than the likes of the Moccamaster but still enough to get most families through the morning. It also comes with two re-usable filters, one for tea and one for coffee. You can make both iced tea and iced coffee in this machine too, although it brews hot and is designed to be poured over ice. Our reviewer Camryn found that the iced drinks were more watered-down than the hot coffee she made in this machine.
As far as coffee quality goes, we can see why this machine is SCA-certified. The machine brewed at consistent temperatures and coffee came out rich, full-bodied and packed with juicy flavor.
Read our full Mr. Coffee Perfect Brew review.
Best manual espresso machine
De'Longhi makes brilliant espresso machines, so it was no surprise to me when our resident reviewer (and former barista) Erin became very attached to it after a few weeks of testing. To date, it's her favorite coffee maker that she's tested for Tom's Guide, and she's tested a lot! What this should tell you if that if you have the basics of espresso down and are willing to learn the art of steaming milk and the various skills that go into assessing the right grind size and tamping pressure to make good espresso, you can make some truly excellent coffee in this machine.
Erin didn't have many complaints, but she did note that the steam wand is a little low-lying, so there's not a huge amount of clearance which can take some getting used to. This machine is also far from cheap, but it's the sort of money you should be prepared to spend on a quality manual espresso maker. It comes with the ability to make cold brew, too, which is something you won't find in many leading espresso machines.
Read our full De’Longhi La Specialista Opera review.
Best plastic-free coffee maker
Aarke's new coffee maker (and matching grinder) are a signt to behold, and instantly caught my attention when it launched. For a bit of background on the brand, they make gorgeous kitchenware from carbonizers to water filters, but this is their first attempt at a coffee maker. It's expensive, just like everything else they make, but it's also totally plastic-free, which is a box for some shoppers that very few coffee makers can tick. It aso, understandably, means you're paying for construction over tech here. The controls are very simple, and there's no custom brew or strength settings like you'll find from the likes of Braun or the Mr Coffee Perfect Brew.
We made some good coffee in this machine. It was strong and not bitter, and the hot plate kept it going for 40 minutes, although there's no option to extend this. If you're not fussed about looks or materials, you can definitely find cheaper alternatives, but there's no denying that this is a beautiful option.
Read our full Aarke Coffee Maker review
Best premium espresso machine
I can't deny that I love Breville coffee makers. Looks-wise, these brewers are truly hard to find fault with, and they hit the perfect point between beginner-friendly designs and enthusiast-level quality. In other words, the Breville Oracle Jet is perfect for shoppers like me. I'm on my own journey of learning how to make the best espresso by hand, but I won't say no to a little helping hand.
The automated grinding and tamping on offer with this machine, plus the volumetric grinder that ensures the puck is always evenly compressed, immediately takes the fiddliest parts of manual espresso machines out of your hands, and while there is still the option of hand-steaming your milk, you can also leave your machine to automatically steam your milk using its pre-programmed temperature and foam level settings.
This machine is a delight to use. In comparison to its predecessor, the Breville Barista Touch, its control screen is smartphone-level responsive and so high-tech. You can toggle between light and dark modes and enjoy custom brew settings for different types of milk and drink lengths. However, while there's no denying that the automatic milk steaming is good, it's not quite as good as the Barista Touch. I found that I had to knock out a few bubbles after every use. The grinder, too, left a light scattering of grounds after every puck was tamped. These are hardly deal breakers, but they make the process feel that little bit less premium.
One major step up for this machine is its cold brewing modes. I was able to create bright and fruity cold brew in under 3 minutes, which as someone who loves iced coffee, is a real delight. Cold espresso also comes out light and frothy, with the complexity of a cold brew that's been steeped for hours. The only thing that would stop me from recommending this wholeheartedly is the price, because the likes of the Ninja Luxe can make cold brew and offer assisted grinding at a quarter of the price.
Read our full Breville Oracle Jet review.
