Over the years, we’ve tried nearly every method of making coffee, from cold-brew coffee makers and the Chemex to moka pots and Moccamasters. For people who want pour-over-quality coffee as well as the convenience of an automated machine, we recommend the OXO Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker.
Of all the methods we’ve tested, the OXO coffee maker offers the best ratio of flavor to effort. But if you’re looking for an espresso machine, a coffee grinder, pour-over gear, and more, we have other recommendations, too.
Top pick
This stylish brewer makes consistently good coffee and has an effective thermal carafe. And you can program it to brew automatically before you wake up
Find the right coffee maker for your needs
Best drip coffee maker
Top pick
This stylish brewer makes consistently good coffee and has an effective thermal carafe. And you can program it to brew automatically before you wake up
Who this is for: Anyone who wants a solid drip coffee maker to make a pot of great-tasting coffee that stays hot for hours. If you already own a good grinder (the most important part of any coffee setup), and you pay a premium for gourmet beans, this machine will get the most out of them.
Why we like it: The OXO Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker is fast and convenient, with features such as a programmable start time and an automatic pre-infusion cycle, which briefly wets the coffee before brewing for better extraction. In our tests to determine the best drip coffee maker, we found that the coffee was pleasant and much better than what we made with some of the competitors. This coffee maker has a handsome design, with a well-made thermal stainless steel carafe that pours easily and keeps coffee hot for hours.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The OXO model has an unintuitive interface, so if you don’t read the manual, programming the timer can be difficult. But once you get the hang of it, the process is pretty straightforward.
In our years of long-term testing, we’ve also noticed that the lid on the OXO coffee maker’s carafe tends to trap old coffee; even a good rinse isn’t enough to flush everything out.
Another thing to note is that the OXO model is tall, at 17.2 inches, so it may not fit under some cabinets—especially since the lids for the water tank and the grounds basket need an additional 5 inches of clearance to fully open.
And in our taste tests, the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT (our other pick) made more nuanced coffee than the OXO brewer. This is something you should consider if you prioritize flavor over all else (the Moccamaster lacks some convenience features, including a timer).
Finally, if the OXO model’s price seems a bit steep to you, check out our guide to budget coffee makers.
Capacity: 40 ounces
Brew time: less than 7 minutes
Best budget drip coffee maker
Budget pick
This easy-to-use machine consistently brews hot coffee at the right strength.
Who this is for: Someone who wants a decent, low-fuss drip coffee maker for under $100. This machine will brew reliably good coffee whether you use freshly ground or pre-ground beans, so this an especially good choice if you typically buy the latter.
Why we like it: Among the budget drip models we tested, the Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker CE251 made the most balanced and the hottest cup of coffee. It has convenient, simple-to-use features, like different settings for a classic or richer taste, and its removable water tank is easy to read and fill. This model was also intuitive enough to program, so it’s suitable for shared kitchens.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: We had issues with the carafe’s lid: It screws on and off, and it’s not as easy to use as the flip-top lids on some of the other models we tested.
Capacity: 60 ounces
Brew time: about 13 minutes
Best pour-over coffee dripper
Top pick
Out of all the pour-over drippers we’ve tested, the Kalita Wave 185 made the best-tasting coffee most consistently.
Buying Options
Who this is for: People who want a manual, inexpensive method for making great-tasting coffee, and one that doesn’t take up a lot of space.
Why we like it: The pour-over method is simple, and it produces delicious coffee. By having more control over the brewing process, you can hone each variable to get the most flavor out of the beans. Of all the drippers we tested in our guide to the best pour-over coffee makers, our favorite was the Kalita Wave 185, because it produced the most-consistent, even, and flavorful cup of coffee. Its flat bottom promotes more even drainage, which makes it easier for beginners to master.
In addition to the glass model shown here, you can also get a ceramic or stainless steel version of this dripper. All perform about the same.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: In comparison with an automatic drip coffee maker, a multistep, gear-intensive method of making coffee can be a bit complicated, especially if you’re groggy first thing in the morning. But the Kalita Wave 185 is more forgiving and easier to master than many drippers.
Also, the Kalita Wave uses proprietary filters that are more difficult to acquire than standard Melitta filters. They are, however, available on Amazon or in specialty coffee shops.
Best French press
Top pick
This inexpensive French press has an innovative filter that consistently makes cleaner, more-nuanced coffee than the competition.
Buying Options
Who this is for: People who want a super-simple, quick method of making coffee. This is great for coffee drinkers who want something that’s easy to learn and master.
Why we like it: The Espro P3 French press produces consistently clean, bright, flavorful coffee. It has a bucket-shaped double filter, with finer mesh than that found in most French presses. This keeps coffee as close to grit-free as you get with a pour-over (and noticeably more so than coffee made in our runner-up pick, the Bodum Chambord). Once the Espro is plunged, it keeps the grounds away from the coffee, so your java doesn’t take on bitterness from oversteeping. In our tests, the last cup we poured tasted as good as the first—even a full hour later.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Glass presses will never be as sturdy as their stainless steel counterparts. All glass beakers are delicate and will break if you drop them or knock them too hard. In the event that the Espro P3 does break, you can buy replacement parts, including beakers and filters.
The Espro P3 is not as visually appealing as some other French presses, like the Bodum Chambord, with its classic stylings. And the double filter makes it a little tricky to clean. But we didn’t find the Espro to be that much harder to clean than any other French press, and we think the results are worth any of these tradeoffs.
Capacity: 32 ounces
Best cold-brew coffee maker
Top pick
OXO’s cold-brew maker has the best-looking design, plus some clever aspects that make it easier to pour from and to store. The brew it makes was often a favorite of panelists.
Who this is for: For people who want to make better iced coffee. Compared with simply refrigerating hot-brewed coffee, cold-brewing with a slow exposure extracts fewer bitter flavors. So you’ll get a sweeter, milder-tasting coffee.
Why we like it: The OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker is our pick for the best cold-brew coffee maker because it’s well designed and easy to use, and in our tests it produced a more-consistent, flavorful cup of coffee than other models. It made cold coffee with balanced acidity, a stronger aroma, and a cleaner finish.
This brewer makes enough cold brew concentrate to yield about 12 to 14 servings of coffee, which should last all week. But if you’re short on space or prefer to make less at a time, OXO also makes a compact cold brew maker that’s just as easy to use.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Some of our testers thought the Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewer (our runner-up) made a smoother, mellower cup of coffee. But others liked the stronger, bolder flavor of coffee from the OXO. Plus, we found our pick easier to use than the Filtron (which is a bit more cumbersome).
Capacity: 32 ounces (yielding 24 to 28 ounces of cold brew concentrate)
Best beginner espresso setup
Top pick
The Profitec Go can pull deep, flavorful, and consistent shots, combining the capability of higher-priced machines with a basic interface. It’s simple for beginners to learn but has a build and power that will appeal to home espresso pros.
This coffee grinder has the finer, more precise settings that are needed to make the best espresso.
Buying Options
Who this is for: People who like good coffee and want to make quality espresso (or espresso-based drinks like cappuccinos, lattes, and Americanos) at home.
Why we like it: The Profitec Go is a heavy, sleek, and easy-to-learn machine that allows beginners to hone their skills and at-home pros to tinker with their espressos. It heats up quickly after turning on, and pulls consistent, flavorful shots. The portafilter has a good weight to it and locks into the grouphead with little effort. An LED screen on the front of the machine displays your brewing temperature (which is adjustable), and switches to a timer once you start pulling your shot. Though this machine isn’t cheap, we think its quality and build far exceed its price.
When you’re making espresso, a good grinder is just as important as a good espresso machine. Our coffee-grinder picks, though great at grinding beans for drip or pour-over coffee, lack the finer, more-precise settings that are needed to make the best espresso. The Baratza Sette 30 accurately produced fine espresso grinds. In our tests, it performed the best in its price range.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The steam wand on the Profitec Go is not as powerful as that on other machines we tested. But it can be adjusted to a comfortable angle for steaming, and it’s still perfectly capable of producing silky microfoam, with a little practice. You’ll have to buy a steam pitcher, as the machine doesn’t include one. We also found the base of the tamper to be a bit thin, but again, it’s not an issue after some practice.
Water-reservoir capacity: 2.8 liters
Best Nespresso machine
Top pick
The Essenza Mini brews balanced, consistent espressos that are a little more mellow than those from other Nespresso machines we tested. It’s an uncomplicated machine with a small footprint and a chic design.
Who this is for: People who are interested in convenience and speed. A Nespresso is the fastest, most effortless way to make an espresso-like drink—all you have to do is pop a capsule into the machine and press a button.
Why we like it: The Nespresso Essenza Mini is our pick for the best Nespresso machine because it’s small and mighty, and it makes mellow, well-balanced espressos. It lives up to Nespresso’s overarching appeal of ease, speed, and consistency, and it can brew an espresso within a minute of powering on. Nespresso pods are expensive compared with the components for other home-brewing methods, but their results can be pretty tasty—and they’re increasingly available in major grocery stores.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: In exchange for its compact size, the Essenza Mini has only a 20.3-ounce water tank and a reusable tray that can accommodate just six capsules, the smallest of any Nespresso machine. But then again, both are easy to refill and empty. The drip tray also needs to be removed to accommodate large mugs under the spout, so if you prefer to drink from a larger cup, stray drips may land on your counter. But a drop or two of coffee is quickly wiped up.
Also, the Essenza Mini can brew only espresso, not larger coffees. If you want to be able to make both an espresso and something resembling drip coffee, we recommend the Nespresso VertuoPlus.
Water-tank capacity: 20.3 ounces (enough for 10 espressos)
Used-capsule capacity: six
Best coffee grinder
Top pick
This no-frills workhorse coffee grinder produces a super consistent grind.
Who this is for: If you want to take coffee seriously, the most important item in your brewing setup will be a good-quality burr grinder. Unlike blade grinders, which randomly chop coffee beans into smaller and smaller pieces, burr grinders pulverize coffee beans between two sets of burrs and deliver a much more uniform grind, resulting in better-tasting coffee.
Why we like it: The slim and trim Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder is priced lower than most of the competition—about $150, compared with about $200 for anything else in its echelon. In our testing for the best coffee grinders guide, the Encore performed as well as or better than any home grinder we tried. It grinds beans quickly and evenly and is simple to use and adjust. And because it’s easy enough to clean, maintain, and even repair, you’ll use it for years to come. The Encore makes it supremely easy to produce a great cup of coffee.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Encore is a very simple machine. It has an on/off switch only, so it doesn’t allow for a timed grind (whereas the Baratza Virtuoso+, our upgrade pick, does). It can take a long time to grind on a very fine, espresso-like setting. And like all of the machines we tested, the Baratza machines can be messy when grinding coffee, spreading dust and chaff over the counter.
Grind settings: 40
Best electric kettle
Top pick
This 1.7-liter stainless steel kettle quickly brings water to the temperatures needed for optimum flavor from tea or coffee.
Also great
We recommend this gooseneck kettle for anyone preparing pour-over coffee or for tea lovers who will geek out over its spot-on temperature accuracy.
Who this is for: The Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle is for anyone who needs to bring water to a boil to make French press coffee, pour-over coffee, or tea. The Cuisinart GK-1 Digital Gooseneck Kettle is best for people preparing pour-over coffee (the gooseneck spout offers better aim) or for tea lovers who will geek out over its spot-on temperature accuracy.
Why we like it: The Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle topped all of the competition in our tests for the best electric kettle guide (this model has been our pick since 2013). The PerfecTemp offers a winning combination of speed, accuracy, and ease of use. Its handle has buttons with preset temperature settings, which is pretty useful since different coffees and teas require different brewing temps. In addition, if pour-over coffee is your jam, you’ll appreciate the precise aim and smooth pour of the Cuisinart GK-1 Digital Gooseneck Kettle’s gooseneck spout. It had the most accurate temperature controls among all of the models we tested.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Although the Cuisinart CPK-17 had better accuracy than most of the other kettles we tested, we found that it wasn’t as accurate at hitting lower temperatures; when we set it to 160 °F, it measured 8 degrees over. Because this model has a slew of other noteworthy features, we’re willing to forgive its minor temperature variances at the lowest setting.
As with the lids of most gooseneck kettles we tested, the Cuisinart Gooseneck’s lid doesn’t open at the push of a button—you have to pull it off manually, which can be tricky when the kettle is hot. Also, like most gooseneck kettles we tested, the Cuisinart Gooseneck lacks a water-level window.
We’ve received feedback from some readers who said their CPK-17 broke down after about a year, and we heard from others who found the markings wore off the buttons. (The gooseneck kettle is newer, so we haven’t heard as much about its reliability). But many others report this kettle has lasted them for years, and the one we’ve been using in our office looks nearly new after years of use. When we analyzed Amazon reviews of a number of electric kettles, we found they all seemed to have similar rates of failure (small when compared with the number of kettles sold). Cuisinart, at least, covers its kettles with a three-year warranty, whereas most manufacturers cover theirs for just one year.
Cuisinart CPK-17 capacity: 1.7 liters; temperature settings: six preset heat settings
Cuisinart GK-1 capacity: 1 liter; temperature settings: adjustable in five-degree increments, from 140 °F to 212 °F
This article was edited by Anna Shults Held and Marilyn Ong.
More for coffee and tea drinkers
Frequently asked questions
What is the best black coffee maker?
Though getting the most out of your beans is important no matter how you drink your coffee, it’s especially important for those who drink their coffee black. We think pour-over methods make the best black coffee. They’re a simple, consistent way to brew coffee, with flavor dimensionality you might not get from a machine. And the paper filters used with our pour-over picks reduce residue, resulting in a cleaner-tasting cup, compared with coffee made in a French press. That said, our French press pick, the Espro P3, uses a mesh double-basket filter, which makes a cup that’s pretty close to pour over.
How can I make coffee taste better at home?
Buy whole beans in small batches. Coffee beans lose flavor over time. Keeping the beans whole and storing them at room temperature in an airtight container—we like the Rubbermaid Brilliance Pantry Storage Containers—will keep your coffee from turning bitter or absorbing ambient smells. Grinding them just prior to use with a burr grinder will ensure that the coffee is ground evenly, resulting in coffee that is flavorful and balanced.
For the most consistent cup, weigh your beans using a kitchen scale, rather than measuring by volume. Beans and grounds don’t settle the same way in a spoon every time, and the coffee-to-water ratio can make the critical difference between a good and bad brew. The American Weigh Scales LB-3000 Compact Digital Scale is the most accurate 0.1-gram scale we’ve tested.
Are pricier coffee makers worth it?
Arguably, the best ways to make coffee are often the cheapest. You can get a quality pour-over dripper for about $25 and a French press for about $40. However, hand-pour methods can still require other gear, like grinders and kettles. The grinder especially is worth spending a little more money on. Our burr grinder pick, the Baratza Encore, costs nearly $150, compared with a budget blade-style grinder which runs about $25, but ensures a more consistent, flavorful cup.
For automated makers, they’re worth springing for up to a point. We tested espresso machines and learned that many machines under $500 aren’t worth buying—espresso requires durable hardware and precise temperature and pressure control, which are costly. For drip coffee makers, a $100 coffee maker will make better coffee than a $40 coffee maker. After a certain point, though, the price difference comes down to user interface and design, rather than coffee quality.
Further reading
Wirecutter’s Best Picks for Coffee and Tea Lovers
by Wirecutter Staff
Give your caffeine routine a jolt with these Wirecutter-recommended electric kettles, coffee makers, tea steepers, mug warmers, and more.
The Best Drip Coffee Maker
by Marguerite Preston and Kathleen Squires
We’ve been testing coffee makers since 2014, and we think the Bonavita Enthusiast 8-Cup Drip Coffee Brewer offers the best combination of convenient features and delicious coffee.
The Best Cold-Brew Coffee Maker
by Wirecutter Staff
We’ve been testing cold-brew coffee makers since 2016. The OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker makes the tastiest brew and is the easiest to use and clean.
How to Clean Your Coffee Maker
by Joanne Chen
Cleaning your coffee maker regularly and thoroughly will help the machine last longer and make the coffee taste better.
