The best coffee maker in 2024

A selection of the best coffee makers we tested
(Image credit: Future / Millie Fender)

What's the best coffee maker? That's a tricky question for me to give a straight answer to. I've tested kitchen appliances for 5 years, but coffee occupies a uniquely tricky position in the market, because while we can all agree that it's imperative we get a good cup of Joe to start the day right, we all drink coffee very differently. So, in testing the machines for this guide, I've instead focussed on helping you decide what the best coffee maker is for you and your preferences. 

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 coffee releases of 2024 and, according to our testing, lives up to the hype. 

The quick list

Best coffee maker for most people

The best drip coffee maker we tested

Specifications

Type: Drip coffee
Size: 14 x 12.5 x 6.5 inches
Milk frother: No
Price bracket: Mid-high

Reasons to buy

+
Straightforward controls
+
Innovative technology
+
Brews coffee quickly
+
5-year warranty and lifetime repairs

Reasons to avoid

-
Very expensive
-
Lacks convenience features
-
Polarizing design
-

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 single serve coffee maker

Best single-serve coffee maker

Specifications

Type: Single-serve
Dimensions: 16"D x 7.5"W x 12.4"H
Milk frother: Yes
Price bracket: Mid-high

Reasons to buy

+
Neat design
+
Easy to use and clean
+
Fantastic milk steaming
+
Adjustable stand for different drinks
+
Makes a huge range of drinks

Reasons to avoid

-
Waste bin fills fast
-
Water tank needs regular refills
-
Quite expensive

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 espresso machine

This newcomer from Ninja lives up to the hype

Specifications

Type: Espresso machine
Dimensions: 12.99 in L x 13.39 in W x 14.57 in H
Milk frother: Yes
Price bracket: Mid-high

Reasons to buy

+
It's not cheap, but you get a lot for your money
+
It's super user-friendly
+
Comes with handy in-built gadget storage
+
Can make everything from drip coffee to cold brew

Reasons to avoid

-
Espresso puritans may not love the assisted design
-
Lacks features such as in-built tamping arm and pressure gauge 

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 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

The best drip coffee maker on a budget

Specifications

Type: Drip coffee
Dimensions: 14.2 x 7.9 x 7.9 inches
Milk frother: No
Price bracket: Low

Reasons to buy

+
Sleek, modern design
+
Makes consistently good coffee
+
Capable of single brews

Reasons to avoid

-
Water tank difficult to access
-
No way to adjust brew strength
-
Operating instructions are vague

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. Regardless though, 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. 

Read our full Braun Brew Sense review.

Best for latte art

Best espresso machine for café-quality latte art

Specifications

Type: Semi Automatic Espresso
Dimensions: 13.1 x 11 x 15.6 inches
Milk frother: Yes
Price bracket: Mid-high

Reasons to buy

+
Steam wand makes velvety milk
+
Preheats quickly
+
Minimal waiting time between pulling shots and steaming milk
+
Pours delicious espresso

Reasons to avoid

-
Grinder dose requires trial and error

When our resident ex-barista product tester Erin put the KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine to the test, she was wowed by how easy it was to use, and the quality of the coffee she was able to extract. In fact, she said it's the closest she's come to a commercial-quality machine since her time working in Starbucks. 

The only real issue Erin encountered was the in-built grinder, which performed wonderfully, but did have some strange dose guidance. Once you've figured out the right amount for the 58 mm portafilter though, you'll be rewarded by luscious velvety espresso with the perfect amount of body to pair with your milk, or enjoy alone. 

Another real plus was that this machine makes it relatively painless (for a machine that's not dual-boiler) to switch between steaming and brewing. This meant Erin was able to enjoy flat whites and lattes (complete with effortless latte art which she assures me is a credit to the machine, as well as her years of practice!) within minutes of turning the machine on. It's not the most affordable option in this guide, but when you look at the espresso machines on the market, its really holds its own at this price point. 

Read our full KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine review.

Best superautomatic espresso machine

A user-friendly superautomatic espresso machine

Specifications

Type: Superautomatic espresso
Dimensions: 9.7 x 14.6 x 17 inches
Milk frother: Yes
Price bracket: High

Reasons to buy

+
Thoughtful design
+
Easy to clean
+
Simple to use

Reasons to avoid

-
Coffee kind of weak
-
Milk foam could be denser

The Philips 3200 is what many call a 'superautomatic' espresso machine. Others may call it a bean-to-cup. What this means is you simply add beans, water and milk to your machine and it will do all the grinding, tamping, brewing and steaming for you. It literally couldn't be easier to get a latte or cappuccino from scratch, making this is a great choice for lovers of milky drinks.

This machine comes with a setting for espresso, hot water, cappuccino, coffee, latte macchiato and americano, and you can customize your settings depending on your strength and size preferences. When we tested it, we thought it tasted a great tasting brew that had balance and wasn't too bitter. It could've been stronger, even when we used the finest grind setting, so if you really care about getting the most out of every single bean you add to your machine, you may miss the ability to be involved in the process.

The milk steaming was much the same, a great convenience setting for those who don't care for hand-steaming, but who want a frothy latte or macchiato without the faff. However, if you enjoy getting hands-on, this machine isn't for you. Cleaning is easy, as is maintenance, so if you love the idea of a one-touch option that can deliver just about any drink, we recommend the Philips 3200. 

Read our full Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine w/ LatteGo review

Best compact espresso machine

Best espresso machine if you don't need a grinder

Specifications

Type: Espresso
Dimensions: 12.6 x 11.8 x 7.7 inches
Milk frother: Yes
Price bracket: Mid-high

Reasons to buy

+
Reliable, consistent shots
+
Automatic milk frothing
+
Customizable pre-infusion
+
Four brew basket options

Reasons to avoid

-
No grinder 
-
Sometimes fiddly

The Breville Bambino Plus is the best espresso machine for anyone who wants both the convenience of an easy-to-use system and the space to experiment and explore on a more sophisticated level. I found excellent consistency between brews here, and a well balanced shot thanks to the customizable pre-infusion techniques. 

Although there are some significant advantages to buying a fully-fledged espresso machine with a grinder included, coffee enthusiasts will often opt for a separate grinder and brewing unit. This allows them to experiment with speciality beans and upgrade your setup over time. Plus, unlike all of the other models mentioned so far, the Breville Bambino Plus comes with a built-in steam wand, which makes it a great choice for milky drinks. Being compact, it is a lightweight design though, which means the portafilter can be fiddly to insert and remove at times. 

It only takes three seconds to warm this machine up, an impressive feat considering it can be minutes before a cheaper device is ready to start brewing. While you're certainly paying a little extra for this model than you would an entry level device, aforementioned features like customizable pre-infusion times and the array of baskets included with the machine mean you're actually getting some top tier specs at a great price here. Although there's no built-in grinder, so you will need one of the best coffee grinders for a fresh brew.

Read our full Breville Bambino Plus review.

Best value single-serve

The best value single-serve coffee maker

Specifications

Type: Single-serve
Size: 11.7 x 15.3 x 12.5 x 11.7 inches
Milk frother: Yes
Price bracket: Mid

Reasons to buy

+
Brews a cup in under two minutes
+
Incredibly easy-to-use frother
+
Strong and shot options offer better K-Cup flavor
+
Large build

Reasons to avoid

-
Lukewarm brew temperatures
-
Easier for right-handed users

The K-Cafe is our number one pick in our guide to the best Keurig coffee makers. It's one of the brand's more expensive options, but delivered the richest flavor of the machines we tested from the iconic coffee brand, and thanks to the "shot" button it can also brew a very authentic-tasting espresso despite its unconventional brewing methods. 

The included milk frother is a big plus for this single-serve coffee maker. Combined with your 2-ounce coffee shot you can make espresso, oat milk latte, even hot chocolates in this hands-free frother. It's an expensive machine, but we do think you get a lot for your money with this multifunctional brewer, which is as close to barista-quality as it gets from a Keurig machine. 

To get specific, the K-Cafe takes 36 seconds to brew a shot, making it one of the faster machines we tried, and the frother takes 1 minute and 35 seconds on average to make fresh steamed milk, meaning you'll be left with a delicious milky coffee in under two minutes. 

Read our full Keurig K-Cafe review.

Best smart drip coffee maker

Best drip coffee maker for customization

Specifications

Type: Drip coffee
Size: 13 x 9 x 16 inches
Milk frother: No
Price bracket: Low-mid

Reasons to buy

+
Brew temperature customization
+
Gold Cup brewing mode 
+
Pour over dripper can be attached 

Reasons to avoid

-
Not as everyday friendly

The Breville Precision Brewer isn't your every day coffee maker. It's a powerful machine capable of brewing your perfect cup of coffee, if you're willing to put the work in and have a tinker with all its impressive controls. I found initial setup to be a little overwhelming during testing, but the easy to follow instructions (and Gold standard presets for everyday use) helped me gather confidence in tweaking individual settings to match the brew flavors I was after. 

While I did find a few issues with the volume of the machine, it was nothing compared to the high quality coffee coming out. You'll be able to experiment with brew times and temperatures, but you'll also have access to the flow rate and bloom time. A pour over dripper is also available for additional controls as well. 

There's a lot of tech packed in here, and while it may take a little while to figure it all out, it was well worth it in the end of my testing. Nevertheless, this really is one for those who view coffee as a science. 

Read our full Breville Precision Brewer review.

Best premium espresso machine

This premium espresso machine has all the bells and whistles

Specifications

Type: Espresso
Dimensions: 14.48"L x 15"W x 17.5"H
Milk frother: Yes
Price bracket: High

Reasons to buy

+
Huge range of brewing options, including cold brews
+
Automatic or manual steaming
+
Attractive design with smart features
+
Quality finish

Reasons to avoid

-
Milk steaming could be more refined
-
A hefty machine that won't fit under every cabinet
-
Grind settings can be fiddly

If you want a high-end semi-automatic coffee maker, the De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro is a brilliant choice. Featuring cold brew technology to make fresh and uplifting cool espresso or long black cold brews in a matter of minutes, this summer-ready machine wowed our homes editor when she put it to the test for a month at home. 

This machine may look manual, but it has a number of automatic features designed to shortcut the brewing process and create as few margins for error as possible. It has a tidy in-built tamping arm that applies even pressure to your puck for a more balanced extraction, and you can choose between an automatic milk disenser or manual steaming with a wand to the right side of the machine. 

We did think this machine could have used some more finesse in testing. For one, the automatic milk dispenser didn't make the smoothest milk we've ever tested, and we found it fiddly to add more grounds to our portafilter if we wanted to create a bit more pressure when brewing. Overall though, it can't be denied that you get a lot of machine for your money with this semi-automatic machine. 

Read our full De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro review

Best portable coffee maker