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The best coffee makers 2017

Updated Mar 8th, 2017 5:43PM EST

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Liquid energy, morning mojo, elixir of the gods. These are the best of the best in coffee makers.

Whether you’re imbibing your morning brew for robust flavor or simply for basic human function, coffee is one of life’s essentials. Although finding high quality beans is an important piece to the caffeinated puzzle, the coffee maker is where the magic happens — and not all coffee makers are created equal.

To find the best in brewing we took everything into account from design, ease of use, price tag, and of course, coffee quality. Although some style and taste preferences may be subjective, we’re confident that we’ve found the very best of the best in coffee makers.

Best overall – Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741


Image source: Sur La Table

If you made a checklist of everything you want out from a coffee maker, we’d wager that the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741 would check all of the boxes.

Netherlands-based company Technivorm is virtually synonymous with quality amongst coffee fanatics. With the elegant and modern Moccamaster KBT 741, Technivorm earns its spot at the top of our list. Let’s dive into everything we love about this premium coffee maker.

From the outset, this machine is gorgeous. Exhibiting a distinctly modern European design, the silver frame and glass accents make it an attention-grabber in the kitchen. The carafe is a tall, uniquely designed thermal container that allows the brewmaster to pour their fresh java from any side of the funneled lip. Beyond just looking good, the thermal carafe can also maintain your coffee at a piping hot temperature for up to 6 hours.

Speaking of temperature regulation, that happens to be part of the secret to the Technivorm Moccamaster’s delicious end product. During the brewing process, the coffee maker maintains the desired 200 degrees (give or take a couple) for the entirety of the brew, giving the pot of coffee a distinctly even and smooth taste, in under 6 minutes to top it all off.

Yes, the taste. Isn’t that the most important part of finding the right coffee maker? While other coffee makers can match this Technivorm in many of its functions, the Moccamaster KBT 741 earns the top spot on our list because it flat out tastes the best, especially when paired with high quality coffee beans.

Of course, all of this comes at a price. Admittedly, $300 is a lot to pay for the casual coffee drinker. The Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741 is definitely set apart for those who enjoy the subtleties of varying coffee beans. It’s also not very compact, so if counter space is an issue for you, you may want to consider a more low profile coffee maker.

The Breakdown:

  • Consistently delicious coffee
  • 10-cup thermal carafe
  • Elegant, modern design
  • Keeps coffee piping hot for 6 hours
  • Precise temperature regulation during brew

While the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741 comes at a pretty penny, you certainly get your money’s worth. Its attractive design, superior carafe, and consistently delicious coffee make it unparalleled on the market. Paired with a high-quality roast, gourmet coffee can be at your fingertips daily with this machine from Technivorm. 

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The runner-up – Bonavita BV1900TS


Image source: Ransom Note
Bonavita’s BV1900TS

was tantalizingly close to being our number one pick, with good reason.

This premium coffee maker comes at a fraction of the cost of the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741 while still offering premium style coffee and many of the same features. From a design perspective, it’s strikingly similar to our top overall pick, although not quite as sharp. The carafe is an 8-cup capacity thermal container that can keep your coffee hot for up to 4 hours.

The brewing process takes around 5 to 6 minutes for a full pot and brews around the optimal temperature of 200 degrees, fluctuating from around 195 to 205. The Bonavita also features a “pre-infuse” options, which helps soaks the coffee grounds and helps round out the acidity before the brewing process even begins. The coffee itself is consistently smooth and delicious, especially when paired with high-quality beans.

As for maintanence, the Bonavita is a breeze to clean and keep. The machine itself is very spartan and practical, making it simple to disassemble and reassemble as needed.

If you’re curious as to why this more affordable premium coffee maker wasn’t our top choice, it simply came down to taste. Coffee made in the Bonavita, although still delicious, doesn’t quite match up to the Technivorm in uniformity of the brew. The brewing process for the Bonavita allows for a 10 degree temperature swing, whereas the Technivorm averages around a 4 degree variance.

In the end, we figured that if you’re willing to spend big on premium coffee, you’d prefer to go for the gusto and get the most consistent brew on the market. Still, if you’re looking for fantastic premium coffee at a shockingly affordable price, we can vehemently recommend the Bonavita BV1900TS.

The Breakdown:

  • Premium drip coffee taste at an affordable price
  • Thermal carafe
  • Coffee ground pre-infusion
  • Quick brewing (just over 5 minutes)
  • Easy to clean and maintain
  • Doesn’t eat up too much counter space

The Bonavita BV1900TS brews up delicious coffee, offers easy cleaning, and boasts a thermal carafe at less than half the price of our frontrunner. The look of the machine, the size of the carafe, and a slight discrepancy are the only things that keep this incredible bargain out of the top spot.

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Best French press – SterlingPro 8-cup French press


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French presses are all the rage; that is, if you have time to boil a pot of water, grind up fresh coffee beans, steep for four minutes, and press to remove all the grounds in the morning. If you’re into that sort of thing, the SterlingPro 8-cup French press is perfect for you.

Like every other French press, this coffee maker puts the onus on the person making the coffee. If you’re coffee tastes bad, there’s no faulty drip maker to put the blame on. Essentially, the SterlingPro is a classic case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but instead delivers exactly what you expect from a French press: simplicity, affordability, and durability.

The SterlingPro became one of the most celebrated French presses because of its incorporation of the “double screens system” to remove all coffee grounds from the finished product. It also includes two replacement screens to make sure your coffee (and your mouth) are free of bitter grounds.

The body is a carafe made of heat resistant borosilicate glass to prevent scolding on the outside of the press. As a whole, the SterlingPro French press is a simple and classy design that would look right at home on any kitchen countertop.

Really, there’s not much else to say about this French press. There’s no frills to delve into and no design choices to analyze; it’s simply a well made French press and an affordable way to enjoy delicious coffee every day.

The Breakdown:

  • Extremely affordable
  • Foolproof delicious coffee brewing, if time permits
  • 8-cup capacity
  • Improved ground removal with double screens
  • Includes bonus double screens

If you’ve got the time to make French press coffee in the morning, there’s no match for the SterlingPro French press. It’s 8-cup capacity, affordable price tag, and timeless design make it a must have for any coffee aficionado.

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Best on a budget – Hamilton Beach 12-Cup digital coffee maker


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If your not comfortable with the price tag of some of our other picks but care about the quality of your coffee, this digital coffee maker from Hamilton Beach is exactly what you’re looking for.

This coffee maker has a lot going for it, even before you consider its low price tag. First and foremost: it brews a tasty pot of coffee. Of course, in a blind test you probably wouldn’t choose its java over a maker like the Technivorm Moccamaster, but the end product is astonishingly close given the price difference.

Beyond its basic function as a coffee maker, the Hamilton Beach 12-cup digital coffee maker boasts some impressive programming options, including a clock and automatic shutdown feature, as well as selectable bold and regular brewing preferences. Aesthetically, it’s not the most elegant looking coffee maker on the market, but it certainly won’t be an eyesore in your kitchen.

On the convenience side, this coffee maker features a removable water reservoir and wheeled base for easy access to the back. Finally, this Hamilton Beach coffee maker includes a 12-cup capacity glass carafe, which isn’t a major selling point, but it’s a nice touch if you’re expecting company.

Of course, nothing is perfect. This Hamilton Beach coffee maker’s shortcomings are all a result to its greatest upside: the price tag. Overall, it doesn’t feel as durable as its more expensive competition and may not last as long. It also takes over 10 minutes to brew a full pot of coffee, which can be a real inconvenience if you struggle with hectic mornings.

The Breakdown:

  • Affordable price tag
  • Easily programmable
  • Simple to clean
  • Tasty coffee, especially for the price
  • 12-cup carafe

It might not be the best in the world, but for the price, this Hamilton Beach coffee maker  is nothing to scoff at. With many of the features of its more expensive competition and delicious coffee to boot, this 12-cup brewer would make a fine addition to any countertop.

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