The 6 Best Coffee Makers with Thermal Carafes, Guaranteed to Keep Your Coffee Warm

The market for home coffee brewing gear has never been more crowded. When it comes to selecting the best coffee maker for your needs, there are several important factors to consider. One of the most consequential, and also overlooked, is its carafe. Most drip coffee makers come with either a glass carafe kept warm with an electrical heating element, or an insulated thermal carafe. Throughout our years of testing, we’ve tried dozens of coffee makers with thermal carafes. Below, we’ve rounded up the six best ones that brew incredible coffee and are sure to keep it hot for many, many hours.

Things to Consider

What Is a Thermal Coffee Carafe?

If you’ve ever been to a diner and ordered a cup of coffee that tasted acrid and burnt, that’s likely the result of a heating plate. The heating elements in many coffee makers are imprecise, and extended exposure to heat will ruin coffee. If the pot of coffee sits too long, the direct heat applied to the brew causes the dissolved solids and oils to become bitter and astringent. In some cases, the coffee can actually scald and burn in the glass carafe.

While coffee is always best when consumed fresh, thermal carafes provide a better option for keeping coffee warm over an extended period. (Temperature control mugs are another alternative for slow sippers.) The insulated double walls of a thermal carafe help to maintain the temperature of the coffee without applying extra heat. Once brewed, coffee continues to change in flavor and aroma, but a thermal coffee pot is the best way to maintain peak flavor and temperature. A well-made insulated carafe with a perfect seal can keep coffee hot and relatively fresh for one to three hours before the temperature drops significantly and the flavor changes.

Coffee makers with thermal carafes generally cost a bit more. “You should expect to pay more than $150 for a good coffee maker and thermal carafe,” says Elliott Lau, co-founder of Nice Coffee Roasters. That’s because insulated coffee pots are usually made from higher quality materials, like stainless steel and thick, sturdy plastic. They are also often outfitted with gaskets and self-sealing lids to maintain an airtight environment and minimize heat radiation. Essentially, they’re more complex than a standard glass carafe.

Thermal carafes are built similarly across different brands and models, and they operate on the same basic principles of thermodynamics. There are, however, design nuances that affect how easy to use and how effective each carafe actually is. And of course, the rest of the coffee maker is just as important to consider.

Function and Performance 

When shopping for a coffee maker with a thermal carafe, all of the basic considerations that go into selecting the best coffee maker are still crucial. If the machine makes bad coffee, having a thermal carafe isn’t going to matter. Consistent water temperature, water dispersion, and control over brewing parameters are all crucial to making the best possible pot of coffee. “The more holes in a spray head that the water can come through, the better,” Lau explains. “That’s because we want to see even water contact across the entire bed of ground coffee for a more even extraction.” High-end coffee makers also sometimes come with a pre-infusion function, which can make a big difference if you’re brewing freshly roasted coffee.

Materials 

As with any kitchen appliance, the composition of a coffee maker is a major consideration. “Materials matter, but materials also increase the price of things,” Lau explains. “For a coffee maker, we want stainless and glass if we can get it; if not, high-quality plastic is a good alternative.” For the carafe itself, Lau recommends opting for a stainless steel design.

Capacity 

The size of the carafe affects more than just how much coffee it can hold. “Volume matters,” Lau explains. “The more hot coffee that’s in the carafe, the longer it will stay hot. Once you start drinking your coffee, expect the length of time that the remainder stays hot to decrease significantly.” This is, of course, not a problem for single-serve coffee makers, but it matters when dealing with larger-capacity machines that hold coffee for a period before it's consumed.

Design 

When it comes to the design of a thermal carafe, there isn’t a great deal of variation. Most are made of stainless steel with plastic lids and handles. Choosing an ergonomic handle is a consideration, but most carafes have handles that are perfectly adequate in most situations. “Don’t get me wrong, I love to pick nits but I haven’t met a thermal carafe handle that I’ve taken issue with yet,” Lau says. 

The most common points of failure in a thermal carafe are the lids and the gaskets that help seal in the heat, so look for high build quality in those parts. “Some work well, some don’t,” Lau explains. “Sometimes you overtighten the lid, break it, and it’s wonky forever. As for the gaskets in thermal carafes, they’re often obnoxious to replace or fix if one goes off-kilter.” 

SCA Certification

The Specialty Coffee Association tests and vets home coffee makers as part of its Certified Home Brewer Program. To achieve certification, a coffee maker undergoes rigorous testing by a team of experts to ensure that the brewer performs up to SCA’s standards. SCA certification is essentially a stamp of approval that tells consumers that a certified brewer is guaranteed to perform at a high level. We've listed which of our winners are SCA-certified.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Coffee Maker with a Thermal Carafe

The best coffee makers with thermal carafes are made from insulated stainless steel. There's no need for a warming plate, which can scald coffee over time. In addition to double-walled insulation, the lid should seal shut completely—ideally with a tight-fitting gasket. And because there's no point in keeping mediocre coffee warm, you'll want a coffee maker that brews excellent coffee. Look for design features like the option to bloom the grounds, and SCA certification.

Our Favorite Coffee Makers with Thermal Carafes

The Best Coffee Maker with a Thermal Carafe

Ratio Six Coffee Maker

$359 at Amazon View on Ratiocoffee.com

What we liked: The Ratio Six has everything needed in a high-end coffee maker. Its precision temperature control, excellent spray head, bloom cycle, and fast brew times have made it a favorite among the Serious Eats team. It’s a solid piece of equipment that’s built to last. The carafe has a unique, modern design and maintains heat for hours without much dropoff.

What we didn’t like: It’s considerably more expensive than some of our other favorite coffee makers with thermal carafes. It makes delicious coffee, but at nearly twice the price as some of our other choices, the Ratio Six might be too pricey for some.

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 40 ounces/8 cups
• Brewer height: 14.25 inches
• Weight: 8 pounds
• Built-in bloom cycle: Yes
• Average brew time: 4 minutes, 48 seconds
• Warranty: 5-year limited
• SCA-certified brewer: Yes

Another Great Coffee Maker With a Thermal Carafe

Technivorm Moccamaster 79112 KBT Coffee Brewer

$339 $237 at Amazon $238 at Williams Sonoma $238 at Sur La Table

What we liked: The Technivorm Moccamaster is a simple machine that’s built from very high-quality materials. This model, which comes with a large stainless steel thermal carafe, is assembled by hand in the Netherlands and is composed of high-quality plastic and stainless steel. Most impressive, though, is the heating element, which can rapidly heat water to the proper brewing temperature range of 195ºF to 205ºF. Overall, it’s a reliable, no-frills, high-performance coffee maker.

What we didn’t like: Priced over $300, it’s a little lacking in extra features. The spray head is also relatively narrow, which doesn’t quite provide the ideal degree of saturation of the coffee grounds when brewing. 

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 40 ounces/10 cups
• Brewer height: 16 inches
• Weight: 4.5 pounds
• Built-in bloom cycle: No
• Average brew time: 4 minutes, 50 seconds
• Warranty: 5 years
• SCA-certified brewer: Yes

The Best Straight-Forward Coffee Maker with a Thermal Carafe

OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker

$197 at Amazon $200 at Williams Sonoma $200 at Oxo

What we liked: Among all of the coffee makers with thermal carafes we’ve reviewed at Serious Eats, the OXO 8-cup is among the best—especially for its price of around $200. It’s reliable, simple, easy to use, and brews a really solid cup of coffee. The stainless steel carafe has a sturdy and simple design that matches the simplicity and ease of use of this machine.

What we didn’t like: The spray head isn’t as precise as some of our other favorite models. This can occasionally lead to channeling and an uneven extraction, which creates coffee that can at times taste unbalanced.

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 40 ounces/8 cups
• Height of brewer: 13.5 inches
• Weight: 10.3 pounds
• Built-in bloom cycle: Yes
• Average brew time: 5 minutes, 53 seconds
• Warranty: 2 years
• SCA Certified Brewer: Yes
  

The Best Programmable Coffee Maker with a Thermal Carafe

OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker

$225 at Amazon $230 at Williams Sonoma $230 at Home Depot

What we liked: This 9-cup coffee maker from OXO has all of the quality expected from the brand, but with the addition of programmable brew settings. The carafe is larger than the 8-cup model we also recommend, which can help the brewed coffee stay warmer for a longer period. The programmable timer is very convenient for those who want to have a hot pot of coffee ready for them as soon as they wake up.

What we didn’t like: The cone-shaped brew bed doesn’t allow for the most even saturation and extraction. 

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 45 ounces/9 cups
• Brewer height: 17.2 inches
• Weight: 11 pounds
• Built-in bloom cycle: Yes
• Average brew time: 6 minutes, 40.5 seconds
• Warranty: 2 years
• SCA-certified brewer: Yes
  

A Longtime Serious Eats Favorite Coffee Maker with a Thermal Carafe

Bonavita BV1900TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker Featuring Thermal Carafe

$259 at Amazon

What we liked: In our testing, the Bonavita's spray head and brew basket worked in tandem for a precise degree of saturation and it maintained a steady temperature of 195°F throughout the brew cycle. The carafe completely seals, ensuring that the coffee will stay warm for an extended period. We've recommended this particular model for many years.

What we didn’t like: Compared to some of the other thermal carafes in our top picks, the Bonavita was a bit awkward to use. Although the seal does help maintain the temperature in the carafe, to pour the brewed coffee, you need to push a button for the coffee to flow. 

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 40 ounces/8 cups
• Height of brewer: 12.2 inches
• Weight: 16.3 pounds
• Built-in bloom cycle: Yes
• Type of carafe: Thermal carafe
• Average brew time: 6 minutes, 40.5 seconds
• Warranty: 1 year
• SCA Certified Brewer: Yes
  

Editor’s Pick Coffee Maker with a Thermal Carafe

Breville Precision Brewer Thermal Coffee Maker

$330 $300 at Amazon $330 at Williams Sonoma $27 at Walmart

What we liked: This coffee maker from Breville is one of the most full-featured and customizable coffee makers available on the consumer market. It allows you to dial in every potential brewing variable, offering a tailor-made pot of coffee at every turn. This is also a favorite coffee maker of Serious Eats Senior Editor Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm. “I've been using this coffee maker for about four months and I love its digital screen and the comfortable, grippy handle on its thermal carafe,” she explains. “There are so many customizable settings, I've yet to even scratch their surface.”

What we didn’t like: This coffee maker is on the expensive end of the spectrum. The amount of features and degree of customization are great for some, but for many people, this machine might be overly complicated. 

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 60 ounces/12 cups
• Brewer height: 16 inches
• Weight: 11 pounds
• Built-in bloom cycle: Yes
• Warranty: 2 years
• SCA-certified brewer: Yes

FAQs

How do thermal coffee carafes work?

Thermal carafes keep coffee warm by storing it in an insulated pot that allows the coffee to retain its heat and stay hot for a few hours. The carafes are almost always double-walled and can be insulated with a vacuum or foam-like insulation.

How long will a thermal carafe keep coffee hot? 

A good thermal carafe can generally keep coffee warm for two to three hours, but variables like initial temperature and overall volume can affect temperature over time. Preheating the carafe by filling it with hot water before brewing can help extend the time the coffee stays warm in the thermal carafe.

How do you clean a thermal coffee carafe?

When it comes to cleaning any appliance, it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s directions. Generally, to clean a thermal carafe, use warm water and neutral dish soap and gently scrub with a soft brush. Then rinse it thoroughly to remove any soap residue. “If you’re experiencing significant buildup from coffee oils, then grab some Puro-Caff or Cafiza and let that sit in the carafe with hot water,” Lau says. Make sure to thoroughly rinse after using any cleaning products, as coffee is prone to picking up off-flavors.

Why We’re the Experts

• Dylan Ettinger is a Serious Eats contributor who specializes in coffee, spirits, cocktails, and barware. With over a decade of experience in the specialty coffee industry, he has spent the last four years testing and reviewing coffee grinders, espresso machines, pour-over cones, and other home coffee appliances for a variety of publications.
• For this piece, he combined his experience in the coffee industry with that of Elliott Lau, co-founder of Nice Coffee Roasters, to better understand how thermal carafes work and what to look for when shopping for the right coffee maker.