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Nov 07, 2024

The Best Coffee Makers of 2024 to Keep You Going | Architectural Digest

All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Owning one of

All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Owning one of the best coffee makers on the market can significantly upgrade your groggy morning routine to a true rise and shine moment. Why not skip the obligatory slog and give yourself something to look forward to right away? But with hundreds of coffee makers on the market all promising the same thing, we’ve tested what works and what doesn’t for every kind of coffee preference—drip, combination coffee/espresso machines, pour-overs, and French presses—to find out which ones truly deserve the distinction when making a perfect cup of coffee. Lots of the machines highlighted on this list boast extra special features, like a thermal carafe that keeps coffee warm without a hot plate, built-in milk frothers, or smart features that allow you to program your coffee maker from your phone. Prefer a built-in coffee grinder? Maybe you like the ritual of scooping grounds into a filter basket? Or you want a model that lets you do both—we’ve got you covered for every approach to great coffee.

Ahead, read our thorough reviews to find out which coffee maker is right for you.

Amazon

OXO

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If you don’t like punching a bunch of buttons and dials, you’ll love this drip coffee maker because it has a single button for setting the time, programming the timer, starting the coffee maker, and selecting the quantity. The digital display shows the time and the brew status, and a freshness timer will keep you aware of how long since the last pot’s been brewed. The double-wall stainless-steel thermal carafe ensures hot coffee for pouring throughout the day. For those of us who can’t wait on a full pot of coffee to brew, there’s a clever pause and pour feature at hand: When you remove the carafe before the brew time, the cycle will automatically pause for 60 seconds so you can pour a cup and place the carafe back in place for it to continue brewing. Perhaps its best trick? A rainmaker showerhead that evenly disperses water over the coffee grounds, leading to better flavor extraction. The OXO Brew 9-Cup is the perfect drip coffee maker and consistently provides a delicious cup of joe without a lot of fuss.

OXO

Amazon

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And while we love the OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker for its simplicity, we love the newer OXO-12 Cup Coffee Maker because it’s anything but simple. OXO packed as many features into this model as possible—and we’re certainly not complaining. For starters, as a stainless-steel 12-cup brewer, it has the largest brewing capacity of any of the OXO coffee makers on the market. And since the single-serve option is podless (instead using ground coffee), it cuts down on waste. The SCA-certified coffee maker also uses a rainmaker showerhead to evenly distribute water over the grounds and provide an integrated bloom cycle for, like the 9-cup, the best flavor extraction. In addition, it keeps water at the perfect brew temperature. When brewing large batches of coffee, the thermal carafe keeps the coffee warm (actually hot) without the need for a hot plate.

Amazon

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For those of us that love the flavor of the French press method, the most frustrating drawback is how quickly you have to consume the coffee before it gets cold (particularly irritating for those of us who refuse to microwave our brews). The MuellerLiving French Press has abandoned the need for immediate consumption thanks to its stainless steel and insulated design to keep your coffee hot throughout your morning. It can also make up to eight cups, a rare quality for a French press which aren’t usually the most suitable for entertaining. Its filtration method makes for a strong, balanced, and piping hot cup of coffee.

Williams & Sonoma

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This is the at-home espresso maker of all at-home espresso makers. It has full barista-grade capabilities so you can create the illusion of an $7 latte without having to get yourself to a trendy coffeeshop. Though it might look complicated, it’s not so much harder to operate than a regular drip coffee maker, in our experience. The intelligent dosing feature automatically calculates and adjusts the amount of ground coffee based on your last grind and tamp, and the precision measurement feature autocorrects your next setup, so you don’t have to do the guesswork of manually measuring your grounds.

Amazon

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Amazon’s #1 best-seller in pour-overs, this Bodum is a favorite for its ability to create a balanced taste with a low-waste approach. Its stainless steel filter makes for a rich and unimpeded flavor, and its high-heat borosilicate glass carafe keeps those flavors intact.

Amazon

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Your trusty razor brand also makes…a coffee maker? And a good one! AD readers have been loving this handsome 12-cup drip coffee maker with all the necessities—programmable brewing, dishwasher safe parts, brew strength customization, a self-cleaning feature, and even a charcoal filter for purifying brewing water to give you a morning cup without any traces of fluoride.

Amazon

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Although very manual, the Aeropress takes the cake when it comes to brewing a robust and well-balanced single cup of coffee. It’s highly portable, easy to clean, cheap to use and maintain (it only requires that you purchase its custom filters, but 600 are only $8), and otherwise gives your forearms a welcome light workout. Out of all our listed options, this one is the most fool-proof—simply boil water, place filter, pour grounds, pour boiled water on top, and wait a few. It’s also a great camping accessory, if you’re looking for a hot cup in the chilly outdoors.

Amazon

Moccamaster

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If you don’t like complex coffee makers, the Technivorm Moccamaster KBGT Coffee Maker is as simple as it gets. There’s only one on/off button—and when you switch it on, coffee starts brewing. The Technivorm is also one of only a handful of SCA-certified coffee brewers.

The Technivorm can brew cup sizes from 10 ounces to 40 ounces (however, the company recommends a minimum brew volume of 16 ounces for best results). It provides two coffee lids—the regular, brew-thru lid is used when making coffee but if you want to take the carafe with you, the travel lid can be used to prevent spills. It’s also important to note that the automatic drip-stop pauses the brew cycle if the carafe is removed.

All of the KBGT models have a stainless-steel thermal carafe, which eliminates the need for a warming plate, and keeps coffee warmer for a long time. However, the body of the coffee maker is available in four colors: polished silver, black, stone grey, and off-white.

While the rest of the machines on this list don’t necessarily warrant a best of label, they’ve still got our stamp of approval. In fact, we think serious coffee connoisseurs will love the Ratio Eight Coffee Maker, which can mimic the rich flavor of handmade pour-over coffee. And if your kitchen has a retro design scheme, our pick from Illy will easily fit your vibe. Shop those picks and more of the best coffee makers you can buy below:

Amazon

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The Keurig K-Duo Plus Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker is versatile for a single-serve coffee maker. It has a multiposition removable water tank that can be placed on the right, left, or back of the machine and it’s programmable, so the auto brew can be set up to 24 hours in advance. It also has the capability to pull a single brew or a whole carafe depending on your company.

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Wayfair

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If you want to hone your barista skills, impress your friends and family members, and spend less time at the coffee shop, consider the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Coffee and Espresso Machine. Not only does it brew delicious coffee, but the high-quality machine can also make espresso, cappuccinos, macchiatos, lattes, and any of that over ice. The LatteCrema System technology uses a manual froth maker to create textured art, and the frother can be used with regular milk and alternative milks.

In addition, the coffee and espresso maker has a conical burr grinder with 13 settings, but it can be bypassed to use ground coffee instead to make a pot or cup of coffee. Even though the programmable coffee and espresso machine has a lot of functions, using it is a breeze, thanks to the color touch icons on the top of the coffee brewer.

Bloomingdale's

Terra Kaffe

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Our list includes espresso machines that can also make coffee. However, this is a coffee maker that can also make espresso drinks. In fact, it can make drip coffee, espresso, red eye, iced coffee, iced latte, and café au lait—and that’s just a partial list of the many drinks the Terra Kaffe TK-02 Connected Super Automatic Espresso Machine can whip up. The machine has an integrated bean grinder, but also accepts pre-ground coffee as well. The grinder has five settings, which is fewer than many other coffee makers with grinders, but nevertheless, provides some degree of adjustability. The grinder also automatically adjusts the grind depending on the type of drink and the bean’s weight.

Ratio

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It’s not just cool-looking, this coffee maker is also designed to function like a drip coffee maker that mimics the depth of flavor of handmade pour-over coffee, and it does so quite well (giving your favorite coffee shop some serious competition).

Made with hand-assembled premium materials, the Ratio Eight coffee maker consists of precision-machine aluminum, a handblown borosilicate glass carafe and supply lines, hardwood, and a stainless steel showerhead. You can also get the model with the thermal carafe (although it’s almost $200 more). The power cord is detachable, which makes it easy to store on your countertop, and, though it looks complex, it’s really easy to operate. Touch one button to turn it on, and that’s all you’ll need to do until the coffee is ready. The coffee maker goes through a sequence of phases: bloom, brew, and ready.ts me see and smell the brewing process without having to manually brew the coffee.

Williams Sonoma

Illy

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The Illy X1 Anniversary ESE & Ground Espresso Machine has a semi-retro, semi-futuristic design, which makes it look like it could blend in on the set of a ’70s sitcom. This fun little machine also has old-fashioned knobs for adjusting the machine’s temperature, programming volumes, etc., and the display shows the temperature as a dial, along with various other icons.

The stainless-steel coffee maker can use both ground coffee and compostable ESE (easy serving espresso) pods. It has a single filter, double filter, and filter holder, plus it can be used with espresso cups and coffee mugs as well. Other features, like the ergonomic handle and water level indicator on the front, add to the retro design and ease of use. The steam wand can be used to froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes, and is also able to dispense hot water for tea, soup, and hot chocolate. The machine heats up fast and produces a rich, smooth, and balanced cup.

Amazon

Williams Sonoma

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The Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima can brew a variety of sizes, including espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, mug, XL (12 ounces) and an 18-ounce carafe. In addition to one-touch coffee and espresso brewing, the user-friendly machine has three different one-touch buttons for making cappuccino, latte macchiato, and hot foam. Regarding the Vertuo Lattissima’s capacity, it has a 54-ounce water tank, 15-ounce milk jug, and the used capsule compartment can hold 10 small capsules or six large ones.

Luckily, for having such generous containers, the machine doesn’t take up much space, and the matte black and glossy design looks stylish on any countertop (though it’s also available in white). The machine only uses Nespresso Vertuo capsules, but this line of capsules is extensive and includes such blends as roasted hazelnut, sweet vanilla, golden caramel, and rich chocolate.

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Wayfair

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The Wolf Gourmet Coffee Maker has a carafe made of thermal stainless steel to keep your coffee warm, and with a basket that loads from the front, there’s no issue with bumping into the upper cabinets.

It also has two knobs that ensure the most pristine coffee-making experience: the top knob allows for you to select from a series of brew mode, but we especially love the Accu-Brew mode, which ensures perfects grounds to water ratios. The bottom knob is used to set the clock, program the coffee cycle, and choose the cup quantity. In addition to displaying the time, the panel shows the coffee scale, brewing status, and time since brew (up to an hour), and it also reminds you to change the water filter. The water reservoir is detachable for easy filling and cleaning, and there’s a detachable water filter (in case your tap water is less than desirable). Wolf does a perfect job of extracting just the right amount of flavor for a quality coffee-drinking experience.

Amazon

Wayfair

For just under $100, The Mr. Coffee 10 Cup Thermal Programmable Coffee Maker provides an excellent product that’s designed to compete with higher-end models. The stainless-steel carafewas another nice feature usually reserved for more expensive machines (they can keep coffee hot for hours without the need for a hot plate). The water reservoir can be removed, which makes it easier to fill and clean.

It’s also programmable and can be set to start anytime within a 24-hour time frame. There’s also an auto pause feature, which is great for anyone who wants to grab a cup of coffee before the brew cycle is complete. The strong brew feature can even make more intense coffee if desired, and the freshness timer keeps track of how much time has passed since the coffee was brewed.

Amazon

Target

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A coffee maker with a built-in grinder? Yes, please! The Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker has an integrated grinder with stainless steel burrs that can hold up to half a pound of coffee beans. The six adjustable settings let you choose the right strength depending on the coffee bean, and you can look at the screen to view grind time and grind settings. However, you can turn the grinder off when you want to brew ground coffee.

The Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker uses a 12-cup thermal carafe, but it also accommodates various other sizes as well. For example, you can brew directly into a coffee cup or a travel mug using the intuitive controls, and the latter is quite convenient when I’m about to leave the home—not to mention that it eliminates the need to wash the carafe. The coffee maker has a soft-opening swing-out door that houses the coffee basket and filter. This makes it easy to fill and clean the basket. There’s also a brew pause feature (20 seconds) for pouring a cup of coffee in the middle of the brew cycle.

Williams Sonoma

Cuisinart

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Cuisinart makes a variety of coffee makers, and the Cuisinart Grind & Brew Coffee Maker is a more budget-conscious option that’s still packed with features.This model has a half-pound bean hopper with a sealed lid, which keeps the coffee beans fresh. There’s also an auto-rinse feature when cleaning, which prevents any coffee grounds from entering the brew basket. When you want to use ground coffee, you can turn the coffee grinder feature off.

The machine uses a showerhead to evenly distribute water over the coffee, and it has three flavor strengths: bold, extra bold, and regular. It also has a brew pause feature for interrupting the brew cycle for 20 seconds to grab a cup of coffee. In addition, the convenient “Empty” warning will flash on the LCD screen if the filter basket has not been emptied since the last brew cycle.

Amazon

Wayfair

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If you have the money and the countertop space, the De’Longhi Dinamica Plus Coffee and Espresso Machine is a gloriously advanced appliance that takes coffee making to another level. The bean hopper has a 10.5-ounce capacity, and the integrated burr grinder has 13 settings–although I also have the option to use pre-ground coffee. There’s also a large 3.5-inch touch screen color display that includes both icons and text.

You can select from 16 one-touch coffee drinks, including regular coffee, iced coffee, lattes, espresso, cappuccino, and flat white. Almost everything can be adjusted, including the volume and strength, and these preferences can also be saved. The LatteCrema System textures the milk to delectably creamy consistency—and there’s an auto self-cleaning function that makes it easy to keep the milk from clogging.

Amazon

Sometimes a cup of coffee tastes off for the simple reason that your coffeemaker hasn’t been cleaned in…well, too long. This descaler removes mineral buildup and the acquired residue and oils that come from using your coffee machine every day, so you can enjoy a fresh, clean cup every time.

Amazon

This descaling solution is made specifically for a Keurig, and gives you a nice time-stamp for how often you should be performing routine maintenance on your coffee machine.

Amazon

For the slow drinkers, the microwave-less, or those who don’t want to walk all the way to the work kitchen for late morning small talk, this accessory is going to light up your life. The Ember “smart” mug rests on its own hot plate to keep your cup warm all morning. You can also control the exact temperature from your smartphone. It also makes a great gift!

Amazon

Maybe before you invest in an espresso machine, you invest in this $6 milk frother to see how often you actually use frothed milk. This is a great one for our matcha lovers as well—certainly less traditional than a bamboo whisk, but saves a little time when you’re running out the door.

Do more expensive coffee makers make better coffee?

Like anything, research makes for better quality than simply price point. We love coffee’s tried and true brands, like OXO, Breville and Bodum, and are willing to shell out for the knowledge that these brands know their stuff. But we’re also always making room for new and innovative designs, like the Aeropress, which creates a rich and non-acidic cup at a $40 price point. What you should really be looking for is non-toxic materials, specifically those that don’t alter the taste of the grounds—stainless steel and glass are great indicators of thoughtful design. We also love coffee makers with built in water-filters that create a purer taste, and those often come at a higher price point.

How many years should a coffee maker last?

Unfortunately there’s no simple answer to this one and the measure of years depends on a variety of factors. When purchasing a coffee maker, a reliable brand will usually offer a warranty with purchase as well as a generous return policy. Another benefit of a higher-cost machine is its durability—where something in the $50-100 price point might only last 3-5 years due to the quality of its materials and construction, a more expensive machine might last over a decade, or have a better warranty or return policy. As with any big ticket purchase, we highly recommend doing your research before you add to cart.

We’ve got a bevy of beverage stories. Whether you’re looking for the best gifts for java aficionados or trying to figure out how to create the perfect at-home coffee setup, we’ve got you covered.