Choosing the best coffee maker is not an easy process! New models are always coming on the market, offering new features and benefits, and this is going to be no different in 2016. You’re going to want to think about whether you want a top coffee pot that just delivers coffee, or one with all the bells and whistles. So how in the world are you going to make the right decision?
Find out more by reading these best coffee maker reviews for 2016!
Fortunately, we’ve done all the hard work, reviewing tons of coffee makers, drinking enough coffee to keep us awake well into 2017, and come up with what we believe are the ten best coffee machines you can buy.
You’ll find high-end, moderate, and low-priced models, as well as machines that can deliver a full pot or just a single cup (and sometimes, even both!) So keep reading. Take a look at the basic information we have to offer about coffee machines in general, and how to choose the right coffee maker, and then read our reviews of specific machines. In no time, you’ll find the coffee maker that is just right for you, and you’ll be relaxing with a perfectly brewed cup of coffee.
Top Rated Coffee Makers – 2016
| Model | Cup Capacity | Strength Function | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT Programmable 12-Cup | 12 | Yes |  |  |
| Kitchenaid KCM0802 Pour Over Coffee Brewer | 8 | Yes |  |  |
| Zojirushi EC-DAC50 Zutto 5-Cup Drip Coffeemaker | 5 | No | |  |
| Keurig K75 Platinum Brewing System | 1 | Yes | | |
| BUNN BXB Velocity | 10 | No | | |
| BUNN My Café MCU | 1 | Yes | | |
| Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer | 12 | Yes | | |
| Cuisinart DCC-2600 | 14 | Yes | | |
| Cuisinart CHW-12 | 12 | Yes | | |
| Bonavita BV1800 | 8 | No | | |
It All Depends on What You Need
Think about buying a coffee maker in the same way you would buying a car. Of course, who wouldn’t love to have a Maserati, or a Mercedes-Benz? But what if what you really need, and can afford, is something more along the lines of a Ford Focus or a Toyota Camry? Not everyone needs, or even wants, a high-end coffee maker. For sure, you will get what you pay for, but if all you want to do is make coffee, the best coffee maker for you may not require timers, programmability, and so on. A less expensive model might suit you perfectly.
Coffee Machine Size
Bigger is not always better. If you have a small kitchen, you will probably want to check out the dimensions of the coffee maker you are thinking about buying. Some machines can be quite large, and often you can’t tell just from looking at a picture how much space it is going to take up on your countertop. If you have the space, though, by all means feal free to go with a big, splashy unit!
Appearance
This is kind of a no-brainer. Much as you might love that gorgeous, red coffee machine, if your kitchen is orange, it is probably not the best idea. You don’t want your coffee maker to clash with your décor, and with all the many options out there to choose from, there is no reason why it should.
Strength Feature
Do you love strong coffee? Some coffee makers come equipped with a feature that will allow you to choose regular strength, or what is known as “bold.” If you like it stronger, all you have to do is crank up the setting.
Maintenance
Even the best coffee makers have to be cleaned regularly, and it’s all too easy to end up with a machine that looks great, and makes a great brew, but is a total nightmare when it comes to taking it apart and cleaning it. We looked at ease of cleaning in our reviews, but if you’re considering machines other than our top ten, we suggest that you head on over to Amazon and look for customer reviews on the model you’re considering.
Durability
The last thing you want is to find a coffee maker that is just perfect for you, and then in a few months find yourself howling “Why does everything I love die?” Most coffee makers are very durable, but again, we suggest reading customer reviews to find out how people like you have fared with their coffee machines.
Capacity
Perhaps you are the only person in your household who drinks coffee. Or maybe you need to brew a couple of pots each morning to keep your family satisfied. If you’re a singleton who just wants one cup, there are all kinds of great coffee makers on the market that will deliver just that. If you entertain, though, you’ll probably want at least a 12-cup unit. One on our list even delivers 14 cups!
Mug Size
If you like to use a travel mug, and you’re using a single-cup coffee maker, make sure that it can accommodate your mug. Most manufacturers will state the maximum size or height that their machine can handle.
Best Coffee Maker Types
Drip Coffee Machine
Most of the top coffee makers on the market today are drip machines. They usually have a capacity of anywhere from ten to twelve cups, although some are larger, and some are smaller. Drip coffee makers work by heating the water in the bottom of the unit, and then spraying it on the coffee beans, which are placed in a basket that lets the water pass through. The hot water passing through the coffee grounds is what delivers your brew.
French Press
The French Press coffee maker doesn’t use electricity or filters. All you do is add ground coffee beans and hot water, hold the lid down, and press until you get your coffee. It’s a bit labor-intensive, but if the power goes out, you can still have your coffee – at least assuming that you have a way of heating the water.
Other
Other types of coffee makers include the capsule coffee machine and the percolator. A percolator is old-school – probably your grandmother had one. It forces steam through the coffee grounds, and delivers the coffee to a separate chamber. Capsule coffee makers, on the other hand, are very high tech. Most coffee drinkers tend to prefer drip machines to the other methods, since they deliver a quality brew quickly and easily.
Top 10 Coffee Maker Reviews – 2016
BUNN My Café MCU
This single-serving coffee maker is flexible and fast. There are many reasons why this BUNN model makes is as a best coffee maker. It features sliding drawers that can hold your pods, teabags, K-cups or grounds, and even an option just for hot water so that you can make instant hot cereal if you like. It’s a high-end machine, but on the low end price-wise for its class, retailing at around $170. For people who want their coffee in practically no time, but also want the flexibility of being able to make it in a variety of ways, you can’t do better than the My Café. Read our full review to learn more.
Zojirushi EC-DAC50 Zutto 5-Cup Drip Coffeemaker
It’s hard to believe that the Zutto EC-DAC50 5-Cup Drip coffeemaker was created first with style in mind – functionality actually came second. But make no mistake, this machine isn’t just eye candy. It’s not strong on bells and whistles, but it will give you a perfect cup of coffee every time. All you need to do is put your coffee in a filter, add water to the reservoir, turn it on and wait about five minutes. The Zutto EC-DAC50 is as reliable as it is stylish, easy to clean, and the five-cup capacity makes it perfect for singletons or couples. Read our full review to learn more.
Keurig K75 Platinum
This top coffee machine is a bit of a step up from the hugely popular Keurig B130. It costs a little bit more, but for our money, it is one of the best single-cup coffee makers on the market today. It delivers just one perfect cup of coffee at a time, and offers different temperature settings and brew size choices. It is easy to disassemble, and all the parts are dishwasher-safe. Read our full review to learn more.
Bonavita BV1800
This isn’t exactly the cheapest coffee maker on the market, but if you have reasonably deep pockets and you want an outstanding brew, then you’ll definitely want to consider the Bonavita BV1800. It is actually one of the few top coffee makers that are certified with the SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America). The brew is perfect every time, and you can expect eight cups in just about five minutes. Obviously, there is a good reason why Bonavita is considered to be one of the nation’s foremost hot beverage experts. Read our full review to learn more.
BUNN BXB Velocity
If you are a hard-core coffee junkie who wants a perfect cuppa Joe, and you want it this minute, then the BXB Velocity from BUNN is the best coffee maker for you. Imagine having ten cups of coffee in about three minutes! It’s a good-looking machine, too, and will fit in nicely in any style of kitchen. It’s a bit pricey, but it delivers like no other machine in its class. You’ll get a perfect brew, and you’ll get it in record time. Can’t do too much better than that, can you? Read our full review to learn more.
Kitchenaid KCM0802 Pour Over Coffee Brewer, Contour Silver
Do you love coffee the way your barista makes it, and wish you could have it the same way at home? You can, with the Kitchenaid KCM0802 Pour Over Coffee Brewer in Contour Silver. It’s easy to use, programmable, and comes with a 1-year warranty. It’s a bit on the large side at 15x8x11, but if perfectly brewed coffee is important to you, we urge you to find the counter space. With pre-infusion blooming and a 12-minute brew time, you can have perfect coffee every time, without having to make the trek to the coffee shop. Read our full review to learn more.
Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker
Mr. Coffee has created a great-looking coffee maker with an array of features that you usually only find in high-end models. The BVMC-SJX33GT is fully programmable and features a 2-hour shut-off, pause and serve, and brew strength selector. You can use it with a glass or thermal carafe, and traditional paper filters or a permanent filter. It even has a special cleaning cycle! If you want a ton of features at a base-model price, this could be the machine for you. Read our full review to learn more. Read our full review to learn more.
Cuisinart CHW-12
This programmable coffee maker is a highly popular offering from Cuisinart, widely considered to be the premier manufacturer of small kitchen appliances and cookware. Cuisinart really has it under control when it comes to making top-notch coffee machines, and we anticipate that this 12-cup brewer will continue to be popular well into 2016 and beyond. It’s even self-cleaning. With a ton of features, you can rightly assume that this isn’t the least expensive machine on our list, but it’s still a great investment. Read our full review to learn more.
Hamilton Beach Two-Way
You really can have it both ways, with this outstanding coffee machine that works as a full 12-cup unit, but will also brew you a single serving with no sacrifice in quality. Amazingly, this coffee maker is packed with features including a timer, a strength function and more, and can use grounds, pods, or beans. BrewerHamilton Beach-49980Z coffee maker. It’s also modestly priced. Does it get much better? No. Read our full review to learn more.
Cuisinart DCC-2600
This mid-priced coffee maker brews a full 14 cups – two to four more than others in its class, and delivers it at a rate of about a cup a minute. Whether you are making a full pot, or not quite as much, you can be assured of outstanding brew quality. It also features two strength settings – regular and bold – so that if you like a more robust brew, you can have it. It’s also programmable, so you can wake up to the aroma of richly brewed coffee every morning. Read our full review to learn more.
Time to Decide!
So, now you know all about the different types of coffee makers that are available. And you have read our best coffee maker reviews and guides. All you need to do now is decide which size and type of coffee machine suits you the best. We wish you happy brewing, and long life from your chosen coffee maker.
Questions?
If you’re still undecided about which coffee machine to buy, we’ll be happy to help. Just let us know if you have a question, and we’ll do our best to answer it. We also welcome feedback on our website, and all manner of discussion, so if you have anything you’d like to say, use the Contact Us link on this site to send us a message. Now, excuse us – it’s coffee break time!