The 5 Best Drip Coffee Makers for Most Coffee Drinkers

Whether you’re a coffee person or just a person who drinks coffee, you’ve probably had bad drip coffee. I certainly have. But as someone who tests kitchen gear for a living, I want to tell you that drip coffee makers don’t deserve the so-so reputation they’ve gained over the last decade.

Sure, thoughtful and trendy brewing methods, like pour-over and espresso, can make auto-drip coffee seem lackluster. But when batch-brew is done right, it’s not only convenient and reliable: it can produce a darn good cup of coffee. Serious Eats first tested drip coffee makers in 2018, and my colleagues and I have regularly updated our review with new insights. I recently put 10 coffee makers to the test, reevaluating previous winners and some intriguing new contenders. The result? I found five drip coffee makers even the most passionate coffee people will love.

The Winners, at a Glance

The Best Drip Coffee Maker

Ratio Six Coffee Maker

$359 at Amazon View on Ratiocoffee.com

This is the best coffee maker you can buy (arguably also the best-looking). It functions like a pour-over setup, with an automatic bloom phase and a wide, smartly designed showerhead. Its brew bed saturation was outstanding, with no tunneling or dry spots. And it makes delicious coffee—big and small batches, and dark and light roasts alike.

The Best Drip Coffee Maker for Tinkering

Breville Precision Brewer Thermal Coffee Maker

$330 at Amazon $330 at Williams Sonoma $330 at Sur La Table

This coffee maker has all the bells and whistles. There’s a digital display that lets you customize your brew, including a precise bloom time and flow rate. The PID (proportional–integral–derivative) controller—which is more frequently found in high-end espresso machines—lets you really dial in the temperature based on the roast of whatever you’re brewing. It even tests your water pH level before your first brew. All that, and it’s programmable!

The Most Foolproof Drip Coffee Maker

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker

$365 at Amazon $365 at Williams Sonoma $365 at Sur La Table

Fellow makes gear for serious home coffee drinkers (like their Serious Eats favorite gooseneck kettle), but I’ll call it as I see it: This is the machine for beginners or people who just don’t want to mess around with details. Use the machine’s guided brew feature, and a built-in scale tells you how much coffee to add based on how many milliliters or cups you want to drink. Press start and it automatically dispenses the perfect amount of water. Lovely.

The Best Programmable Drip Coffee Maker

OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker

$230 $195 at Amazon $230 at Williams Sonoma $230 at Home Depot

Coffee drinkers who like to set their machine up the night before will appreciate this sleek, stainless steel brewer. It's easy to navigate the OXO’s control panel with its dial, and the bright, digital screen displays the time. I wish it had a slightly larger capacity to further differentiate it from the OXO 8-cup brewer, but for most home brewers, nine cups is enough.

The Best Smaller Drip Coffee Maker

OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker

$193 at Amazon $200 at Williams Sonoma $200 at Target

The OXO 8-Cup made a better-tasting coffee than its larger sibling. But like the nine-cup version, it keeps coffee hot. (You really cannot beat OXO’s thermal carafes.) This brewer features an insert and function for making a single cup of coffee—it’s as efficient as a Keurig but produces much better joe. 

The Tests

• General Use and Care Test: The first order of business was unboxing the coffee makers. I set up each one, noting which were simple to take from box to brew, and which were a headache. Before I gathered any numerical data, I simply used each machine to brew my usual morning coffee. Here, I drilled down into its user experience. Finally, I noted how easy it was to clean the coffee maker’s various components. 
• Timing and Taste Tests: A good coffee maker should be able to make equally good large and small batches of coffee. It should also be able to handle dark and light roasts. For this test, I brewed a large batch following SCA brewing protocols, using 1,000 milliliters of water and 55 grams of freshly ground dark roast coffee. I timed how long it took each coffee maker to finish a batch. Finally, I tasted the coffee, looking for balance. (Was it over- or under-extracted?) I repeated this test with light roast coffee. I then made two smaller batches (500 milliliters of water and 30 grams of grounds) with both light and dark roasts. Weeks later, I think I’m still caffeinated.
• Brewing Temperature Test: No matter how you brew coffee, temperature matters. To become SCA-certified, brewers must be able to hit and maintain the 195 to 205˚F mark. Too cool, and the coffee will taste under-extracted (weak). I used a thermocouple to take the temperature of the water at the showerhead as the coffee brewed.
• Heat Retention Test: How long did the coffee stay hot after brewing? I used an instant-read thermometer to take the temperature of a large batch of coffee (1,000 milliliters of water and 55 grams of coffee) as soon as it brewed. I took the temperature at half-hour intervals for the next two hours, noting which carafes kept the coffee hottest.

What We Learned

What Is Coffee Extraction?

Extraction is the process of releasing compounds—like flavor and aroma—from coffee grounds. This happens when the grounds are introduced to hot water. Many factors affect extraction, and not all of them happen in a coffee maker. Roast, grind size, and water quality all make a difference. But you can stack the deck in your favor by using a coffee maker with good extraction. The water temperature, brew bed size and shape, and showerhead design are all factors here.

I didn’t officially test extraction rates in this review, although if you’re interested in doing that you can use a refractometer to identify the total dissolved solids (TDS) in a batch of coffee. I didn’t do an extraction test because it provides more granular data than the average coffee drinker needs. And you can glean a lot of information about a coffee maker by paying attention to the components that affect extraction.

Showerhead Design Was Crucial

Here’s the reason expertly made pour-over coffee tastes so good: A human has total control over where hot water hits the grounds. Ideally, they’ll pour water evenly over the coffee, so the brew bed gets uniformly wet. If they miss a spot or pour too heavily in one section, they’ll create channels. Channels, or tunnels, make coffee that’s both over-extracted (from the area that got too wet) and under-extracted (from the part that was missed). 

Channeling, tunneling, and overall poor extraction can be more of an issue with drip coffee makers—it all depends on the showerhead. The best showerheads have plenty of holes that get the entire brew bed evenly wet. The OXO 8-Cup and 9-Cup coffee makers and Ratio Six all have outstanding showerheads. On the other hand, very narrow showerheads, like on the Technivorm Moccamaster, only hit a portion of the brew bed and cause channeling. Nate Van Dusen, the founder of Brio Coffeeworks, told me that he used to manually move the Technivorm’s showerhead around the brew bed to achieve a more even saturation, but concedes that such a hack undermines the point of an automatic drip machine. 

The Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker offers a smartly designed showerhead: You can choose one of two settings, depending on how much coffee you’re making. The smaller setting sprays water from fewer holes for a more targeted saturation area.

Thermal Carafes Were the Ultimate Upgrade

Gone are the days of slowly burning your coffee on a hot plate. Many coffee makers now come with thermal carafes. It’s no surprise that many coffee makers with glass carafes, like the Aarke Coffee Maker, tanked my temperature hold test. Hot plates automatically shut off after a period, and then the coffee gets cold. The bigger batch you brew, the longer it will stay hot—no matter what type of carafe it’s in. Inexpensive coffee makers are more likely to have glass carafes, but at the prices I considered in this review ($200 and up), an insulated carafe ought to be included.

I bet I don’t have to tell you that glass breaks more easily than double-walled stainless steel. I’ve shattered too many glass carafes against a sink edge to trust them. But if you’re set on a glass carafe, you can still keep your coffee warm with a temperature control mug. 

All of the winning coffee makers have thermal carafes that keep coffee above a pleasantly drinkable temperature for at least two hours. Research has shown the majority of coffee drinkers find 140˚F (give or take a few degrees) to be the perfect sipping temperature—further proof that a thermal carafe is pretty darn important if you’re paying top dollar for a coffee maker!

Brew Basket Shape and Ideal Batch Size

The best way to get the most out of your coffee maker? Van Dusen says that every automatic drip coffee maker has an optimal water-to-grounds ratio. The only way to discover what that is is to experiment with every batch size possible and taste each one. But let’s be real: I’m not going to do that and you probably aren’t either. So I needed to find a coffee maker that does a pretty good job with all amounts of coffee. 

Flat, wide brew beds performed the best overall, because—when combined with a good showerhead—they were able to achieve even extraction. This was true across the board, with both my small and large batch tests. Some of the coffee makers I tested came with two brew beds (like the Fellow and OXO 8-Cup)—that was smart. The Fellow Aiden has a flat, large brew bed for multiple cups and a mini conical brew bed for small batches. 

Is there any reason you’d want a coffee maker just with a conical brew bed? Possibly. Water takes longer to move through a cone-shaped brew bed and results in higher extraction rates. Lighter roast coffee tends to do better with prolonged extraction, so if you’re passionate about light roasts, you may like the Breville Precision Brewer, which comes with both a large cone and a smaller flat-bottom filter. The Aarke Coffee Maker also has a conical brew basket, but its glass carafe must sit on a hot plate to stay warm, so I don’t recommend it.

A Good User Experience Mattered, But Good Coffee Mattered More

I cannot stress how nice the Fellow Aiden is to use. You truly cannot mess it up, even if you, like me, operate with about half a brain cell until after you’ve had a few sips of coffee. The plug-and-play (and no measuring required) experience set a high bar for the rest of the coffee makers. So it’s not surprising that I found things to complain about when testing the rest.

I disliked the setup experience of both the Technivorm Moccamaster and the Technivorm Moccamaster with a Thermal Carafe: There were lots of parts, and many of them were made of thin plastic. It never felt stable on my counter. The Aarke Coffee Maker is made from stainless steel, which meant every time I touched it, it accumulated fingerprints. And I knew it would be only a matter of time before I accidentally knocked the glass carafe against the sink and shattered it. 

The Ratio Six was an outlier, though. With multiple parts, it is mildly annoying to set up and use. (You have to disassemble the whole setup after brewing to screw on the lid.) The water reservoir has a narrow opening and is not fun to fill. And yet…I forgive its issues every time. My colleague and associate editorial director Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm feels the same way. Its one-button push start is refreshingly simple. And most importantly: It makes fantastic coffee and keeps it hot.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Drip Coffee Maker

The best automatic drip coffee makers have wide showerheads with lots of holes for even, thorough saturation. Look for a coffee maker that has a flat-bottom brew basket (or conical and flat baskets). Your brewer should get hot enough (at least 195˚F) when making coffee, and keep it warm without burning it. And (OF COURSE) it should be pleasant to use and make good coffee.

Our Favorite Drip Coffee Makers

The Best Drip Coffee Maker

Ratio Six Coffee Maker

$359 at Amazon View on Ratiocoffee.com

What we liked: This coffee maker makes excellent coffee. The best coffee of my tests, to be frank. I owned the Fellow Precision brewer before undergoing this test, and while I still like it, I admit that I now use the Ratio Six most mornings. It’s dead simple to use—just add your coffee and water, and press a button. It blooms the coffee. (A bloom cycle is a pre-infusion for the coffee grounds—an initial burst of hot water releases carbon dioxide and enhances extraction.)

The water used for brewing regularly got to over 200˚F. The showerhead is big and it evenly saturates the brew bed. It pours really nicely. It looks good on a counter. It’s been Serious Eats’ winning coffee maker for years and hasn’t been dethroned yet.  

What we didn’t like: I wish Ratio Six would come out with a new model that allows you to brew into the carafe with the lid on. It would also be fantastic if the water reservoir had a wider opening, or was removable for easier filling.

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 40 ounces/8 cups
• Height of brewer: 14.25 inches
• Built-in bloom cycle: Yes
• Type of carafe: Thermal carafe
• Average brew time: 5 minutes, 56 seconds
• Warranty: 5 years
• SCA-Certified Brewer: No

The Best Drip Coffee Maker for Tinkering

Breville Precision Brewer Thermal Coffee Maker

$330 at Amazon $330 at Williams Sonoma $330 at Sur La Table

What we liked: This coffee maker is gloriously customizable. You can control brew elements like bloom time and flow rate and can adjust your water temperature down to the degree. Multiple tests proved the internal thermometer to be highly accurate. The water reservoir is easy to fill and has clearly marked measurements (although I do recommend weighing your water and beans with a coffee scale). The carafe has a big, comfy handle and it keeps coffee at a pleasant temperature for two hours.

What we didn’t like: It’s pretty loud as it brews. The large brew basket is conical, which isn’t ideal for darker roasts. If you don’t plan on using all of the customizable features, you’d be better off with the OXO 8- or 9-cup. 

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 60 ounces/12 cups
• Height of brewer: 15.25 inches
• Built-in bloom cycle: Yes
• Type of carafe: Thermal carafe
• Average brew time: 4 minutes, 56 seconds
• Warranty: 2 years
• SCA-Certified Brewer: Yes

The Most Foolproof Drip Coffee Maker

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker

$365 at Amazon $365 at Williams Sonoma $365 at Sur La Table

What we liked: Like the Ratio, this coffee maker aims to replicate the manual pour-over experience without having to lift a gooseneck kettle. Unlike the Ratio (or any other coffee maker I tested), the Fellow does the hard work of measuring and weighing ingredients for you. You can read more about that process in Serious Eats’ full review of the Fellow here. Fill the water reservoir, choose the amount of water—or cups of coffee—you want, choose your roast level, and Fellow will tell you how much coffee to add. Brilliant. I, for one, hate using a calculator before 9 A.M. The Aiden brews at a sufficiently hot temperature and the water reservoir was removable, which made it so much easier to fill. Its compact square shape tucks away tidily, too.

What we didn’t like: The Fellow didn’t do so great on the temperature hold test—it doesn’t keep coffee nearly as warm as the other insulated carafes. Like the Breville, it might not be worth the buy if you don’t want to dive into all the customizable features. 

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 50 ounces/10 cups
• Height of brewer: 12 inches
• Built-in bloom cycle: Yes
• Type of carafe: Thermal carafe
• Average brew time: 6 minutes, 25 seconds
• Warranty: 2 years (3 years with registration)
• SCA-Certified Brewer: Yes

The Best Programmable Drip Coffee Maker

OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker

$230 $195 at Amazon $230 at Williams Sonoma $230 at Home Depot

What we liked: This is a simple machine that punches above its weight class. Setting up tomorrow’s brew is easy—just turn the dial to adjust the digital display and set the brew time. Its water was a consistent 200˚F-plus at the showerhead. The thermal carafe was outstanding: It kept coffee the hottest during the temperature hold test. While it’s not the flashiest coffee maker I tested, it does have a classic, sleek stainless steel look that will fit in almost any kitchen.

What we didn’t like: The conical brew bed wasn’t as versatile as flat brew beds, but if you primarily drink light roast coffee, you’ll be happy with it. I wish it brewed 10 to 12 cups, to put it in a different size class than OXO’s 8-cup coffee maker. 

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 45 ounces/9 cups
• Height of brewer: 17 inches
• Built-in bloom cycle: Yes
• Type of carafe: Thermal carafe
• Average brew time: 6:25
• Warranty: 2 years
• SCA-Certified Brewer: Yes

The Best Small Batch Drip Coffee Maker

OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker

$193 at Amazon $200 at Williams Sonoma $200 at Target

What we liked: Not many coffee makers can handle a big batch and single cup. The OXO 8-Cup is outstanding in both arenas. In fact, you can brew directly into your coffee mug should you choose. While that wasn’t an official test, I can anecdotally report that it’s a convenient feature and the coffee is almost as good as the bigger batches. (This brewer includes a smaller insert to be used for mini batches, which helps with more even extraction.) It’s a no-frills machine that’s well-made and durable.

What we didn’t like: The showerhead is lacking compared to the other winners on my list. It covers a small area, with just four holes. That resulted in channeling and suboptimal extraction (read: coffee that was at times bitter and acidic). But this is a gripe for coffee people only. Most people won’t notice the difference. 

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 40 ounces/8 cups
• Height of brewer: 13.5 inches
• Built-in bloom cycle: Yes
• Type of carafe: Thermal carafe
• Average brew time: 5 minutes, 22 seconds
• Warranty: 2 years
• SCA-Certified Brewer: Yes

The Competition

• Aarke Coffee Maker: Aarke makes a handsome coffee maker. (I own the Aarke seltzer maker and love how it looks on my counter.) It’s SCA-certified as well, but its glass carafe is not for the slippery-fingered among us and it doesn’t keep coffee hot.
• Bonavita 8-Cup Carafe Coffee Brewer: The Bonavita was a solid SCA-certified brewer, but it’s very similar in design to the OXO 8-Cup with less features, and its brewing temperature wasn’t quite as hot. 
• Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select 10-Cup Coffee Maker: The glass carafe/hot plate combination can’t compete with thermal carafes, and I was never satisfied with the narrow showerhead’s performance.
• Moccamaster by Technivorm Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe: The stainless steel carafe was an improvement on the KBGV’s glass one, but I just couldn’t get past the skinny showerhead that caused major channeling. But this is still a solid coffee maker—my colleague Grace Kelly uses it and enjoys it.
• Wilfa Performance Coffee Maker: A glass carafe and narrow showerhead kept this coffee maker from joining the winner’s list. But editorial director Daniel Gritzer owns it and loves the manual, customizable features.

FAQs

What is an SCA-certified coffee maker?

The SCA—Specialty Coffee Association—outlines a set of protocols that commercial and home brewers must meet to be certified. An SCA-certified coffee maker must brew a full batch of coffee in under eight minutes. Brew temperature matters, too: The water must hit 195˚F within the first minute of brewing, and stay between 195 and 205˚F throughout the brewing process.

Does a coffee maker have to be SCA-certified to be good?

Not necessarily. While many of the winning coffee makers on this list are certified by the Specialty Coffee Association, not all are. It costs a lot of money to obtain certification, so some coffee maker companies choose not to pursue it—even if their machines meet the standards.

Can you clean an automatic drip coffee maker with vinegar? 

Please don’t. Vinegar can leave a lingering flavor that impacts future brews. Instead, use a descaling powder. We’ve written a guide to cleaning and descaling coffee makers here. Some of the brewers on the winners list—the Fellow Aiden and Breville Precision—will let you know when it’s time descale. 

How long do automatic drip coffee makers last? 

Take good care of your coffee maker and clean it regularly, and it’ll last for years. The winning coffee maker in this review, the Ratio Six, has an impressive five-year warranty. Most brewers have a two-year warranty.

Are there any automatic drip coffee makers without plastic parts? 

Most of the coffee makers I tested have minimal plastic parts. The water reservoir on most is made from plastic, but stainless steel reigned supreme on the Breville and OXO coffee makers. The notable exception here is the Aarke coffee maker—it’s made almost entirely from stainless steel and glass (the carafe and showerhead have small plastic components).

Why is my coffee maker overflowing? 

You might be adding too much coffee to the brew basket. The SCA recommends 55 to 60 grams of coffee per liter of water. But most coffee drinkers make coffee by measuring water by cups, and coffee grounds by spoonfuls. However, coffee makers measure a “cup” as four to six ounces. Avoid the confusion (and overfilling your coffee maker) by weighing both the beans and the water. Of course, you can skip all of that math-ing with the Fellow Aiden—that’s why I named it the Most Foolproof Coffee Maker.

Why We’re the Experts

• Rochelle Bilow is an editor at Serious Eats. Previously, she was an editor at Cooking Light and Bon Appétit magazines.
• She’s been testing kitchen gear since 2021, and joined the Serious Eats team in 2024. 
• For this review, Rochelle tested 10 coffee makers—evaluating their brewing temperature, showerheads, user experience, and carafe performance.