A great way to turn your daily grind into a thing of beauty and joy. (Photo: Amazon)(Amazon)
For a lot of us, a good cup of coffee can make or break the morning — and even the day. So our at-home brewing setup has gotta be solid. While we don’t mind manual methods like the pour-over or the French press, on busy weekday mornings nothing beats an automatic drip for sheer convenience. But finding the right coffeemaker is not necessarily easy. There are so many options out there. That's why we put together this list for you. We've assembled great automatic drip coffeemakers in a range of prices — from $35 to $238 — so you can find your perfect match.
This Oxo model delivers a consistent, and consistently hot, cup of joe. What makes it even better is that there’s a wake-up timer so you can schedule it to automatically brew a carafe to be ready when you get up in the morning.
“It has a unique brewing system and makes a rich, smooth, perfect cup of coffee at the right temperature,” said a reviewer. “It's a well-made product all the way around.… The unit is easy to use, takes five minutes to brew and coffee is never burnt because of the insulated carafe (which keeps it hot for at least an hour).... Coffee is delicious and the product works flawlessly.”
The Specialty can concoct a super-rich coffee concentrate that you can use to replace espresso in mixed drinks. There’s even a built-in milk frother if you're craving a latte or a cappuccino. Its water reservoir is removable so it’s easy to fill and clean. Brew into the carafe or directly into cups of various sizes (even your travel mug!).
“For the first time after using, I could actually taste the flavor at its best!" said one Amazon shopper. "The machine itself is aesthetically pleasing and it does the job of brewing, frothing and creating specialty espresso drinks with such ease and perfection.... I am actually upset I spent so much money on buying other little machines, frothers, capsules, etc. when all along this machine includes everything you need…. I would recommend this 100%.”
With over 14,300 five-star reviews, it’s clear that this guy is pretty popular. You can adjust the brew strength between “classic” or “rich,” and the coffee will stay fresh for up to four hours on the warming plate. It also has a 24-hour programmable delay timer that allows you to prepare your coffee up to a day in advance.
“Wow! I've only had this a few weeks, but I had to chime in,” said a reviewer on Amazon. “This is not your mom's coffeemaker, by any means. It has a separate detachable water tank, keeping you from having to pour water into your machine. It's fast and easy...Plus, in 'rich' mode it pulses, stops and starts, just like pour-over!”
Just add the grounds and water the night before, and when you wake up, tell this Hamilton Beach number to start brewing. Alternatively, tell it to start making your java at a specific time using Alexa routines.
One Amazon shopper loves the Alexa feature: “I love it. Lay in bed in the morning yelling, ‘Alexa, turn on my coffee’ and she listens to me and does as I say. Life doesn't get much better than that. No more waiting for my coffee to brew. Done by the time I get to the kitchen.”
The Easy Measure features a color-coded system that will help you get the right amount of coffee grounds and water every single time. It also uses a two-step water filtration system to make your beverage taste better, and has a four-hour freshness indicator to let you know just how long it’s been since your coffee was brewed. Other features include an automatic clean cycle plus a programmable timer so you can set it to brew your morning cup at a specific time.
“Great coffee pot,” said a reviewer. “Just make it the night before and have a big pot waiting for me in the morning. Keeps it warm for four hours and gives you a countdown in intervals.” “This coffeemaker is perfect for all our needs,” said another. “It’s a quick brew (even with 12 cups), has a programmable start that we use daily, and of course it makes a delicious cup of coffee! I would definitely purchase again.”
This machine has a power indicator light, a dual-water window so you know exactly how much you've poured in and a filter basket that can be lifted out for easy cleanup. You can also grab the carafe mid-way through the cycle and the brew will pause temporarily as you pour yourself a cup.
“We love this coffeemaker,” said an Amazon reviewer. “First of all, it is inexpensive and you don't have to spend a fortune for a nice hot cup of coffee.... It does not turn on or off by itself but, again, I truly don't need help with pushing one simple little button. I see the green light when it is on. Quite simple. We are avid coffee drinkers and the coffee is good, hot and fresh. No risk here.”
The OXO Brew 8-Cup is proof that excellent coffeemakers can come in compact forms. The simple four-button controls are easy to understand (even when you’re bleary-eyed in the morning), and the thermal carafe will keep your drink warm for hours. You can even brew directly into your favorite mug.
“All I want is a coffee machine that makes a great cup of coffee. The Oxo delivers,” said a shopper. Another raved about it as well: “I love everything about this coffeemaker. The coffee is excellent, the carafe is perfectly balanced and easy to clean, the brew-through lid is convenient, and the single-serve option is icing on the cake.
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.