What to Buy Coffee, Tea & Espresso We’ve Tested Over 100 Coffee and Espresso Machines, and These Are the 8 Best Our top performers make it easy to trade in the cafe line for high-quality freshly brewed at home. By Jacqueline Weiss Jacqueline Weiss Jacqueline is a freelance writer and creator, passionate about making healthy eating and cooking accessible to all.She specializes in curating product roundups to give readers the best recommendations, from veggie spiralizers to kitchen towels. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 26, 2023 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Our Favorite The Tests Factors to Consider FAQ Our Expertise We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Food & Wine / Fred Hardy Want to prepare a quality latte, cold brew, or pour-over coffee at home? Having a functional machine enables you to make your favorite caffeinated beverage in your own kitchen, gives you something to look forward to in the mornings, and helps you save money if you tend to buy coffee on the go. With endless options of coffee makers available, doing your research is the best thing to do before making a purchase. Luckily, we have tested over 100 coffee and espresso machines in our test kitchens to ensure you buy one you love. No matter what type of coffee maker you’re looking for, we’ve found the best of the best based on their functionality, capacity, ease of cleaning, and overall value. Below, you can learn more about our top choices and find helpful tips from two coffee brand founders on how they keep your machine clean and working properly year after year. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker at Amazon Jump to Review Best Value: Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Drip Coffee Maker at Amazon Jump to Review Best Splurge: Technivorm Moccamaster Coffee Brewer at Amazon Jump to Review Best Espresso Machine: Breville The Barista Express Espresso Machine at Amazon Jump to Review Best French Press: Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker at Amazon Jump to Review Best Pour-Over: Chemex Classic Series Coffeemaker at Amazon Jump to Review Best Cold Brew: OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker at Amazon Jump to Review Best with Grinder: De'Longhi La Specialista Prestigio Espresso Machine at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Target Pros It has incredible features, such as customizable strength and temperature settings, and 24-hour programmability all at an attractive price. Cons Instead of pressing down on the back to lift the lid, it comes off altogether, which some customers aren’t fans of. Starting strong, we have our favorite drip coffee maker: the Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker. This machine takes the top spot because it has everything you need in a coffee maker at a very reasonable price. Thanks to its user-friendly control panel, you can customize your brew’s strength (regular or bold), choose to prepare 1 to 4 cups of coffee or the full 14-cup capacity, and adjust the carafe temperature to low, medium, or high depending on how hot you prefer your beverage. These settings allow you to make great-tasting coffee for yourself and multiple people from one machine. This coffee maker’s 24-hour programmability is one of its biggest benefits, which lets you set up your machine to brew coffee at a specific time. Those who want to enjoy their coffee the instant they wake up or to take a cup to go as they head to work will especially appreciate this incredible feature. The only caveat we found was with the lid. Instead of a flip-top design, it removes completely, which can be annoying to take on and off when filling the reservoir with water. When it comes to maintenance, it doesn’t get much easier than this machine’s self-cleaning button. As a bonus, the glass carafe is top-rack dishwasher-safe for fuss-free daily care. Price at time of publish: $100 Material: Stainless steel and glassCapacity: 14 cups (70 ounces)Care: Carafe is dishwasher-safe Best Value Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Drip Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon View On Target View On Walmart Pros This basic coffee maker is affordable, compact, and user-friendly, and it allows you to pour a cup of coffee before it's done brewing the full pot. Cons It has minimal features and settings, so you won't be able to customize your coffee as much as others allow you to. This budget-friendly option from Mr. Coffee might not have the bells and whistles of other makers, but it gets the job done. Thanks to its no-fuss, no-frills design, you can simply lift the lid to place your coffee filter with grounds, flip the power switch, and relax while the machine produces your brew. If you need to run out the door before the brewing cycle is complete, the maker has an auto-pause feature that lets you interrupt to pour yourself a cup. When you place the carafe back on the warming plate, it will continue the process. This machine is compact enough for smaller kitchens, whether you leave it on the countertop or stash it in the cabinets when not in use. As a bonus, it has a storage compartment on the back for the cord, so you can tuck it away nicely. Price at time of publish: $35 Material: Plastic and glassCapacity: 12 cups (60 ounces)Care: Hand-wash Best Splurge Technivorm Moccamaster 79112 KBT Coffee Brewer Amazon View On Amazon View On Williams-Sonoma View On Sur La Table Pros It has a fast and simple operation, durable construction, and a unique showerhead-style spout to evenly saturate coffee grounds. Cons It's fairly bulky, so it might not be the best fit for small kitchens. The Technivorm Moccamaster KBT takes the average coffee-making experience and elevates it to an art form that many other coffee makers don't achieve. It has a copper heating element that keeps the water at the ideal brewing temperature from start to finish, plus an innovative spout. Instead of coming out in one stream, which can lead to less saturation and less-flavorful coffee, the Moccamaster's nine-hole showerhead gives your coffee a pour-over taste without the pour-over manual work. The coffee maker prepares a full pot in less than six minutes, comes apart easily for cleaning, and is backed by a five-year warranty. If you're hosting brunch and want to keep the carafe on the table for easy refills, you can pop on the travel lid to minimize heat loss. "I love the Moccamaster, as it brews high-quality coffee consistently," says Tom Saxon, co-founder of Batch Coffee. "Unlike many other coffee filter makers, the temperature is controlled throughout the brew cycle, alongside a controlled drip that creates the optimum cup of coffee. It is the closest you will get to a manual pour-over coffee." Price at time of publish: $359 Material: Stainless steel and plasticCapacity: 8 cups (40 ounces)Care: Hand-wash Best Espresso Machine Breville The Barista Express Espresso Machine Amazon View On Amazon View On Williams-Sonoma View On Breville.com Pros It has customizable settings, a built-in grinder, and a foaming wand, and it's compact enough to fit nicely on countertops. Cons It might take a while to get used to it, but the instructions are fairly easy to follow. As our best overall espresso machine, this model from Breville offers a customizable experience, allowing you to choose your preferred flavor boldness and grind size with the built-in conical burr. Next, it extracts the espresso using optimal water pressure for a result that's perfectly balanced in every way. In addition to the built-in grinder, you can use the 360-degree steam wand to produce frothy milk for your favorite beverages, and it has a water filter that eliminates impurities from the espresso. Despite offering such a precise system, this machine is only 12 inches wide, so it won't take up a lot of counter space yet will remain an eye-catching part of your kitchen design. All of the provided accessories fit within the machine (look out for the hidden storage tray) when not in use, so nothing gets lost. Price at time of publish: $750 Material: Stainless steelCapacity: Single serveCare: Hand-wash How to Grind Coffee At Home, According to Experts Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Best French Press Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon View On Target View On Sur La Table Pros Great for beginners, this classic French press has a straightforward design and consistently produces a quality brew. Cons The only con is that we wish the filter were a double mesh filter. For a stronger, more flavor-forward cup of coffee, many coffee lovers turn to a French press coffee maker over a drip maker. French presses don't use paper filters and are easy to use for a beginner. This option from Bodum is our best overall choice, according to our tests, because of its classic design and consistent brew quality. During the taste test, one of our expert testers described the brew's flavor as "clean, minimally bitter, and not acidic." The stainless steel filter system features a spiral plate and a filter that presses the coffee smoothly down the vessel. The only drawback is that the filter isn't double mesh, but our testers still said it performed well. The outside of the carafe will be piping hot after pouring the boiling water over the grounds, so make sure you only touch the handle when pressing the plunger down. Price at time of publish: $55 Material: Borosilicate glass, stainless steel, and plasticCapacity: 7 cups (34 ounces)Care: Dishwasher-safe Food and Wine / Isaac Nunn Best Pour-Over Chemex Classic Series Coffeemaker Amazon View On Amazon View On Williams-Sonoma View On Sur La Table Pros This coffee maker is affordable, suitable for single and multiple servings, and easy to use and store. Cons The pour-over method can be time-consuming and takes practice to perfect. After testing the best pour-over coffee makers on the market, we landed on the Chemex as our overall favorite because it produced the best-tasting brew of all the other models. The unique design of the Chemex also lends to the functionality: Not only does the wooden neck cuff look good, but it also serves as a handle, and the discreet spout allows for easy pouring. But don't let the design scare you off from getting it sparkling clean — it can go in the dishwasher for easy cleaning. The coffee maker requires the use of Chemex's proprietary filters (sold separately), which are double-bonded to allow the water to flow more slowly, compared to other makers. The slower blooming process filters out bitterness, no matter what your roast of choice is. This Chemex maker is also available in 3-, 6-, 10-, and 13-cup sizes. Price at time of publish: $49 Material: GlassCapacity: 8 cups (40 ounces)Care: Dishwasher-safe Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Best Cold Brew OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon View On Williams-Sonoma View On Food52 Pros It's easy to operate and produces a smooth, balanced brew thanks to its Rainmaker feature. Cons The carafe is on the smaller side, so it's not the best choice for large batches of cold brew. The OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker is our best overall pick because of its outstanding performance during our in-house tests. The key design feature that makes this model stand out from the others is the Rainmaker, which is the top part of the machine that has perforated holes to steep the grounds slowly and evenly. Thanks to this system, our testers said the coffee had a "smooth body." In addition to that hero feature, this coffee maker is extremely easy to use. The only thing to note is that you'll want to let the grounds steep for at least 12 hours to get the best-tasting results. "One of the main things we recommend with cold brew is actually using cold water and having it brew in the fridge overnight," says Kyle Porterfield, owner of Dark Moon Coffee Roasters. "The most important part is making sure all the coffee grounds are saturated before filling the container up, by using a spoon or knife to agitate, making sure all the grounds are wet. There can be dry pockets of coffee grounds after 24 hours if you don't make sure the grounds are all wet before putting it in the fridge." Price at time of publish: $52 Material: Glass and plasticCapacity: 6 cups (32 ounces)Care: Glass carafe is dishwasher-safe; hand-wash other parts Our Best Picks for Equipping Your Coffee Station Like a Pro Best with Grinder De'Longhi La Specialista Prestigio Espresso Machine Amazon View On Amazon View On Williams-Sonoma View On Sur La Table Pros It has a fast and easy setup, operates quietly, and makes a delicious, classic shot of espresso. Cons It's on the pricier side, so it's definitely an investment. After testing 20 different coffee makers with grinders, we named the De'Longhi La Specialista Prestigio Espresso Machine as our winner. It earned an overall score of 4.7/5 based on its performance, design, and ease of cleaning. We evaluated its built-in burr grinder, espresso brew, and milk frother, and it met or exceeded our expectations during each test. Our testers praised the grind consistency, flavor of the espresso, and foamy texture of the milk. There are several ways to customize your beverage with settings for an Americano, espresso, cappuccino, latte, flat white, and coffee, as well as three temperature profiles to choose from, depending on your coffee's roast. Our testers also liked the convenience of the integrated tamper, so you don't have to keep track of one separately, and how easy it was to use and set up. Price at time of publish: $900 Material: Stainless steelCapacity: Single ServeCare: Dishwasher-safe parts Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Our Favorite Our winner is the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT for its easy operation and simple yet thoughtful features. It's recommended by the experts because it "brews high-quality coffee consistently." If you're after an espresso machine, the Breville Barista Express is our favorite because of its built-in grinder, customizable settings, and sleek design. The Tests Between tests in our Birmingham lab and in our own editor’s homes, we’ve evaluated over 100 coffee machines, ranging from pour-over to espresso to French press. Each test is slightly different with the different types of coffee makers, but overall, we’re looking for models that are easy to use, have functional settings, look attractive on countertops, and, most importantly, produce a delicious-tasting brew. To test their performance, we follow the manufacturer’s instructions and rate the ease of the process, flavor notes, and everything in between. We also note the ease of assembly and cleaning and how effective their features are. After considering all these factors, we name our winners — only recommending ones we’d buy ourselves or recommend to a friend. Factors to Consider Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Type People can be very opinionated when it comes to how they take their coffee but also what type of coffee they like. Each machine produces a slightly different cup of coffee, which comes with its own pros and cons. Depending on your preference and needs, you can choose a single-serve, drip, pour-over, French press, espresso, or cold-brew machine. Features Some coffee makers can get brewing at the touch of a button or two. Others lack convenience and have more technical settings for the more advanced at-home baristas. "You need to think about the amount of time you are willing to spend making a coffee in the morning," Saxon says. "If you have a few extra minutes to part within your morning ritual, an espresso machine or a filter coffee maker could be a good one; otherwise, if you're strapped for time in the a.m., then a coffee pod machine may fit your needs a little better." Other features to consider are built-in milk frothers, grinders, multiple cup sizes, customized drink settings, and more. If you prefer lattes, an espresso machine with a milk frother is your best option. For those who like a plain black coffee, a drip coffee maker is the way to go. Price Coffee and espresso machines can range from $20 to $2,000, depending on the style, brand, and features. The more features your coffee maker has, the higher the price tag will be. If you love specialty coffee or are looking for a true investment piece that will last for years to come, prepare to spend a bit more. But if you're okay choosing a simple maker with fewer bells and whistles, no-fuss models are more budget-friendly. Maintenance Keeping up with maintenance and cleaning is essential to your coffee maker lasting for years to come. Some models, like a pour-over, require minimal maintenance, while an espresso machine might need more upkeep with all its different parts. Frequently Asked Questions How long do coffee makers last? The main factors that can play into the lifespan of your coffee maker include proper care, maintenance, and the amount of usage.If you're using your coffee maker once or twice a day, but never properly cleaning it, it will show deeper signs of wear and possibly stop functioning as well or altogether. However, if you're using your coffee maker regularly but making sure it's clear of buildup and using the proper water, it can last much longer.Depending on the brand and retailer, your coffee maker may come with a warranty between 90 days and several years. Some retailers also offer their own protection plan options outside of the manufacturer's warranty. Is it worth buying an expensive coffee maker? Features and flashiness are two reasons that bump a coffee maker up in price, and it's important to weigh what's important to you before making a purchase. Barista-level coffee makers that allow the most precise control over features will cost a lot more than simple options that have a few touch-of-a-button settings."Coffee makers range in price, but I would always advise going for a quality brand and choosing a machine with low functionality if you want to save money," Saxon says. How do you clean coffee makers? Keeping your coffee maker clean is essential, as leftover coffee grounds can leave behind an oily residue that affects the taste of your coffee, and a buildup of mineral deposits can clog up your maker from functioning properly.Porterfield recommends "rinsing/scrubbing the coffee ground section after each use so that there is no buildup. Then, to decalcify the brewer, there are tablets you can buy that go into the water reservoir to be brewed so the 'cleaner' goes through a cycle to maintain the brewer long-term. All the manufacturers will have standard dates for this procedure to be done as it is not an everyday thing.""One tip that I give regardless of the machine is to clean the water tank with white vinegar every month," Saxon says. "Simply add one part vinegar to three parts water to the tank. Run a full cycle so the tank is empty, and then repeat with only water. This descales and flushes out all the nasty buildup in a machine and will keep your coffee tasting delicious." Our Expertise Contributor Jacqueline Weiss is a professional food writer with more than five years of experience and a lifelong lover of working in the kitchen. Her writing has appeared in Eat This Not That, EatingWell, Taste Of Home, Simply Recipes, Allrecipes, and more. To choose the best coffee makers for this article, she analyzed testing insights from our in-house coffee maker and espresso machine tests and spoke with coffee experts. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit