Imagine the fragrance of a freshly made delicious cup of coffee that travels through your kitchen to the rest of the house; the feeling you get when a scrumptious coffee dips down your throat and diffuses into your veins.
If you are a genuine coffee lover, brewing a fresh pot of coffee is more than just a daily chore. It is your hobby. It is your everyday ritual. Just throwing out some instant coffee in an old, overused coffee maker can never come any closer to the delicate and vibrant flavor that you get from a drip coffee maker. So, if you are passionate about brewing amazing tasting coffee every day, it is a brilliant idea to have your own drip coffee maker.
Whether you are in the process of picking out the best home drip coffee maker or still pondering on what to look into when buying your new device, this guide will help you to make a confident and bold decision.
Best Home Drip Coffee Maker Buying Guide
With hundreds of drip coffee makers in the market, finding the best one is a real deal. You need to choose your best which means the one that matches your lifestyle and preferences. So, here are the top ingredients that you might want to add to your wishlist before walking out to bring your machine home.
Speed
Think about your morning schedule and figure out how much you can commit to spending on your cup of coffee. Some drip coffee machines take a fairly long time to brew. So, it would be annoying if you are the kind of hasty person who hates waiting.
If you are looking for a drip coffee machine to grab a quick cup of coffee, check out the speed of the drip coffee maker. Some machines also have a feature to pause mid-brew so that you can pour your cup before it is finished.
Capacity
How many cups of coffee do you need at a time? Is it just a single cup for you or multiple cups for the entire family? If you are not clear with your requirements, you might end up in added work with having to brew multiple times.
So make sure to check the carafe capacity of the machine which is the capacity of the pot or the container into which the coffee drips down. Normally, these drip coffee makers come in either 4, 10, 12, or 14 cup carafes, out of which 12 is the most popular one.
Size
True that size is not a major concern if you are serious about your coffee. But just imagine bringing a monstrous size drip coffee maker home while you hardly have any space in your kitchen to keep your other appliances. So, consider the space available. Then you can compare the dimensions and find the best machine to fit in the available slot. If you think your kitchen is ultra-small, consider picking up a compact-sized drip coffee maker.
Convenience
Even if you have the best drip coffee maker, you will get fed up if the cleaning process is a total mess. Some machines have to be cleaned often to ensure optimum functionality. So, look for features like removable parts that will make your cleaning experience hassle-free and convenient.
Programming Features
Do you want to have a fancy drip coffee machine that does all the work for you? Some drip coffee makers come with programmable features that let you save your coffee preferences for future use. You can program some machines to turn on and off at certain times so that you can preserve the warmth of your drink.
It is worth checking these features out to make your life easy and especially if you are not a morning person and cannot be bothered to brew your coffee.
Water Filters
The best coffee comes out only when the water used is pure and free of chemicals and other impurities. Or else it will taste nothing less than some weird drink with some coffee in it. So make sure that you use some sort of filter. You might already have one in your kitchen sink.
If not, there are so many drip coffee makers out there that have an in-built water filter. But remember that this does come with added costs when replacing the filters.
Coffee Grinder
If you are the type of person who hardly has any time to do manual work like grinding, might well look for a drip coffee maker with an in-built grinder. True that you can easily find pre-ground coffee handy in the market. But, whether you would be able to extract the best flavor and aroma is questionable. Especially if you are a serious coffee lover, you will know this difference and would always prefer the heavenly taste of a cup of coffee made from fresh coffee beans.
Having said that, home drip coffee makers that come with an in-built grinder are generally expensive. So, you have another option of buying a separate coffee grinder that will save you some bucks while doing the job right for you. Since grinders usually come in different sizes, the shelf space wouldn’t be a huge issue.
Glass Carafe versus Thermal Carafe
One of the most underestimated yet most important factors to consider when buying your home drip coffee maker is the type of carafe or the material of the coffee pot embedded in the machine. This is absolutely a choice between energy efficiency and price tag.
Thermal carafes are usually made of double walls of stainless steel to retain the heat to keep your coffee warm. This will not only save you energy but also preserve the flavor and aroma.
How glass carafes work is completely different from this. Glass carafes depend on a hot plate to keep your drink warm. So for this, the hot plate has to be continually turned on which means high wastage of electricity. Also, there is a chance you might even end up with a stale and burnt cup of coffee due to overheating.
While you add the above factors to your list of wants, decide your best budget. Remember that you have other expenses as well like buying coffee beans/pods, scales, and accessories. So while you prepare a fancy list of features and functionalities of the drip coffee makers, consider all the potential costs as well.
Best Home Drip Coffee Maker Review
If you try searching out the best home drip coffee makers, the list will freak you out. So to ease your life we have done all the homework and selected the best brands and models that assure the best value for your money. Here’s a list of the best home drip coffee makers that can turn up the flavor and aroma of your everyday cup of coffee.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 16.14” x 13” x 6.7”
- Weight: 7 pounds
- Materials: Stainless steel
- Capacity: 10 cups
- Carafe: Thermal
If you are looking for a home drip coffee maker to make the best tasting coffee with little know-how, then Technivorm Moccamaster is one of the recommended options for you.
Technivorm Moccamaster comes with a mindblowing design similar to the one you see in a top-notch coffee shop. It has a high-quality copper boiling element to maintain the water at the optimum temperature and an insulated thermal carafe to preserve the warmth of your drink for hours without causing a burnt taste. Combining durability, with a steady flow rate, pre-infusion system, and easily replaceable parts, Technivorm Moccamaster gives you the best of the best drink with the perfect coffee experience.
With the incredible features that it boasts, the price of a Technivorm Moccamaster is on the higher end of the price spectrum.
Pros
- Elegant design, durable, and energy-efficient
- Easy to clean and operate with excellent brewing experience
- Automatic drip-stop feature
- The insulated thermal carafe keeps coffee hot for hours
- Uses pre-infusion technique
- SCA-certified rating
Cons
- Expensive
- Lacks programmability
Specifications
- Dimensions: 8.3” x 15” x 17.2”
- Weight: 11.4 pounds
- Materials: Stainless steel & plastic
- Capacity: 9-cups
- Carafe: Thermal
OXO Brew 9 Cup Coffeemaker is an intelligent drip coffee maker with plenty of programmable features. This comes with a bright LED display that shows the status and a dial-on front that lets you select the number of cups and allows you to set a timer so that you can wake up to the smell of your coffee.
It has a rainmaker showerhead to disperse the heated water evenly on the coffee grounds for the best extraction of flavor and a double-walled thermal carafe to maintain the heat for hours. It brews consistently great coffee by using bloom cycles replicating pour-over coffee-making techniques. So, with an OXO Brew 9 Cup Coffeemaker, you can experience the persistent clarity of your drink which you can hardly get with any other drip machine. It also possesses a pause and pours feature that lets you remove the carafe while brewing and pour your cup without messing things up.
On top of all the modern features, it comes with an elegant, unbeatable design. So, the price is usually on the high end of the line but to be precise, it is not on the extreme.
Pros
- Easy to use with programmable features
- Has a rainmaker showerhead
- The consistent quality of coffee
- The double-walled carafe keeps coffee warm for hours
- Pause and pour feature
- Super stylish design and reliable with SCA-certified rating
Cons
- Pricey
- Slower than most brewers
Specifications
- Dimensions: 7.75” x 9” x 14”
- Weight: 9 pounds
- Materials: Stainless steel & plastic
- Capacity: 12 and 14 cups
- Carafe: Glass
Cuisinart DCC 3200 is an all-around device that comes with handy features to brew a modern cup of coffee. It is fully automatic with 24-hour programmability. You just need to adjust your preferences and Cuisinart DCC 3200 will handle the rest.
The device features robust construction with a number of built-in controls including hot plate temperature control, pause mid-brew option, the self-cleaning feature, auto shut off, alarm setting, a showerhead water dispenser, and a longer extraction option. So, though this has a glass carafe, it is not a deal breaker.
The design of this home drip coffee maker is more functional than fashionable and comes with an easy to operate display with simple buttons. Because of its compact make-up, you can neatly fit it in your kitchen. The best part is Cuisinart DCC 3200 can brew you a super-hot cup of coffee without compromising the taste or quality.
Perhaps this is one of the few drip coffee makers where you get all the features you want in one machine for a decent price. So if you are seeking out the best value for money, go no further than a Cuisinart DCC 3200.
Pros
- Functional design with options for brew-strength control, hot plate temperature control, pause mid-brew, and auto shut off
- Brews super-hot coffee of very high quality
- Fully automatic with programmable features
- Showerhead water dispenser
- Best value for money
Cons
- Hard to clean
- Has a glass carafe
- The lid does not open far enough when filling the water reservoir
Specifications
- Dimensions: 12.4” x 6.8” x 12.2”
- Weight: 6.13 pounds
- Materials: Stainless steel
- Capacity: 8-cups
- Carafe: Thermal
The first thing that you will notice about a Bonavita BV1900TS is its contemporary yet simple design that would look awesome in your kitchen.
Bonavita BV1900TS is one of the best home drip coffee makers with an amazing track record. This comes with a showerhead water dispenser and a pre-soak setting to achieve optimal flavor extraction. This wonderful pot of coffee stays hot for hours and helps preserve the warmth of your coffee for the longest time.
The OneTouch is quiet and super cool to operate, especially for novices who are just embarking on their journey of coffee brewing.
Pros
- Excellent brew with precise heating
- High quality of extraction with pre-soak setting and larger showerhead
- SCA-Certified
- Easy to use and clean
- Modern design with compact size
- Decent price
Cons
- Does not automatically shut off
- No programmability
- No timer
Specifications
- Dimensions: 11.81” x 10.01” x 15”
- Weight: 11.09 pounds
- Materials: Stainless steel
- Capacity: 10 cups
- Carafe: Thermal
Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System is a truly remarkable machine that gives you the most diverse coffee experience. You will be simply amazed by seeing how versatile this drip coffee maker is. From a classic drip, something strong, a latte to cold brews and icy coffee, you can try anything with this multifaceted device.
This incredible coffee maker comes with six brew sizes ranging from standard cups to carafes and five strength settings including classic, rich, over ice, cold brew, and specialty. The Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System is fully automated and you can get the drink you wish in a matter of pressing a few buttons. It brews the coffee at the best temperature and extracts the best flavors that your taste buds will truly be thankful for.
What’s special is that it has two filter baskets one for coffee and the other for tea. So, this coffee machine makes sense for anyone who embraces variety in life. If you are looking for a device that is ready for anything, then Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System is for you.
Pros
- Highly versatile with 6 brew sizes, 5 strength settings, and 2 filter baskets for coffee and tea
- Solidly built with a compact and stylish design
- Makes both hot and cold beverages
- Faster and efficient brewing with high-quality output
- Fully automated with a user-friendly interface
- Easy to clean with a removable water reservoir
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- No manual setting for custom brewing
Wrapping up, if you are an ardent coffee lover seeking a sentimental coffee to maximize the flavor you enjoy in your cup, having a drip coffee maker is a must.
The key to extracting superb drip coffee while leaving mediocre coffee behind lies in selecting the best drip coffee maker to fit your lifestyle and desires. So, get your wishlist done, and invest with confidence.
Upscale your daily coffee experience with the best home drip coffee maker and get your coffee cravings fixed with true flavor.