Equipment Review: The Best Coffee Makers (Automatic Drip) 

Lisa is the best. Seriously. I can’t explain it.

I bought a Technivorm MoccaMaster 3 years ago based on your video then ....and use it 1 - 2 times a day and never disappointed.

A great descaling indicator is using your last coffee filter from the box of 100. That's what I've been doing with my Technivorm and it works well to remind me to decale!

Can never get enough of Lisa’s no nonsense pure informational videos. Thank you!

You have no idea how timely this is. More coffee vids please!

Just wanted to thank you so much for putting this together! My wife and I watched this and decided to get an Oxo at our local store so we could conduct our own head-to-head competition between our ol' reliable Keurig - nothing as thorough as ATK of course. We used a whole bean medium roast whole bean from our grocery store - private label (nothing special) and ground at home on a medium setting. Results: Keurig brewed immediately because it started preheating water as soon as we turned it on (before hitting brew) while the Oxo didn't start heating the water/brewing until we told it to start. While we didn't start a timer, there was a definite edge for Keurig brewing faster and honestly a big convenience factor that we have enjoyed for years! The Oxo will brew all the water you put in the chamber. While good to control the amount brewed, it is inconvenient to have to measure out and fill it each time. Aroma of each cup was similar. Taste is where was a CLEAR WINNER: Keurig was bitter while the Oxo had a very smooth taste. We CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH - it was like a COMPLETELY different cup of coffee! Result: While there are some big convenience factors going for Keurig, we are keeping the Oxo purely based on the fact that it tastes SO MUCH BETTER. Now we are going to explore some of the pricier coffees because we are going to be able to taste the difference.

The Zojirushi is a great machine! Great coffee from a simple machine. Fast, no mess, and a workhorse! Going strong after about 8 years.

Good rule of thumb: Descale every time you go through a box of filters

What happened to the Bonavita drip coffee maker? It was your best buy in a previous ranking. Both the winner and the runner up, which I have been and am still using, are missing from this video.

I have the Zojirushi and love it. My spouse doesn't drink coffee, so I only need to make a few cups for myself. Definitely the best small coffee maker out there!

I have been using the OXO 8-cup for about a year and I love it. The only downside I have found is that some coffee (maybe an ounce or two) is left in the carafe and hard to pour out because of the lip at the top. Otherwise it's pretty much perfect for 1-2 people ("8 cups" is more like 4 cups in practice). Edit: 2024 and I still love it. I use it almost every day.

Bought a Mr. Coffee recently for under $20 with a stainless steel basket and could not be any happier!

What do you do with the all the machines/tools that don't pass all your tests??

I’ve been using the zorjirushi for a couple of months now! So excited to see this machine on the review! Coffee comes out great!

I've had my MoccaMaster for 10 years. Never failed to produce a real good cup. Descaler used 2-3 times a year. I have never had a coffee maker last nearly as long. The thermal carafe is the way to go. If it breaks down tomorrow I'll buy the same one.

I love coffee and I love Bunn coffee makers...........tried a few fancier ones over the years and always go back to Bunn!

I so enjoy Americas test kitchen videos! Keep the coming. 😀

I wish Zojirushi would bring some of their smaller Japanese model coffee makers to the US. They're extremely compact, but just what I need without breaking the bank for a Technivorm one cup. I have a V60, but sometimes I just feel lazy.

I've owned and loved my Zojirushi machine for ten years. It works beautifully and makes outstanding coffee that competes with just about any pourover a non-pro is likely to make. The glass carafe is not a problem; my coffee never gets scorched. My only gripe is that the machine can only make about 20oz of coffee at a time, which is enough for me but not enough to serve guests. Still, at a small fraction of the Technivorm price, it's a steal.

Since I drink at most one cup of coffee, I save a lot of money by just using a Melita pour over cone and filter. Coffee tastes great to me, but then I'm not very picky about coffee.

Weigh the grounds? So how many grams/ounces per 6 ounces of water?

$13 french press…key is temp of water, timing and coffee beans…grindzilla coffee beans - special grade fresh roasted

I did some research and thinking on budget last year when i went to buy an SCA-rated brewer and ended up getting the Oxo 8-cup. It’s great to see it made the top choices here! Been loving mine.

Some of these comments.... good god. People are so insecure. They watch a review of coffee makers and they feel like their lives are being judged by the one they have in their kitchen.

We’ve been using THE Zojirushi Zutto 5-cupper daily for about 20 years now! Well designed, compact, easy peasey morning brews! Love it! Fwiw, Some other Zojirushi appliances are clever designs that work well for years, but in midwestern USA, shopping for these clever ideas can be challenging. Happy New Year all!

This is absolutely the best test review I have seen out of the 85 reviews that I went through in the past couple of days. Short and straight to the point and you covered all the gimmicks too! Thank you for the hard work!

The best coffee maker? CLEVER DRIPPER! Look it up-- the best and most consistent cup you're ever going to get.

Thank you for doing all this hard work for us, so we don’t have to 👍👍🙏🙏🙏👌👌

My Zojirushi made the cut! However (don't scream), I *still* prefer percolator coffee 😀

My Black and Decker coffee maker does just fine plus it is cheaper( a lot cheaper) than the overpriced but don't do any better machines.

Lisa and the Equipment Review series represent the best of what ATK/CI/CC has to offer. Seriously, she is what hooked me on ATK!

The moccamaster has been a home staple in Norwegian homes since the 70s. Some of the really old ones are still going in some places, getting some help from the local water being really soft. The Moccamaster is as close you can get to timeless design when it comes to home appliances. The machine has basically looked exactly the same since the 70's, I've grown up seeing these things in so many different kitchens and it has never looked out of place.

Tip: if your maker doesn’t come with a carafe, don’t ditch it for that reason, decant it into a good inexpensive carafe.

We splurged for the Technivorm a few years ago and love it. It’s fast, good, and consistent!

Useless to try and read the whole review. They block unless you buy a subscription. What a crock.

I was surprised to see that your testing didn't include at least one Bunn coffee maker. Many restaurants use Bunn commercial models, but they also offers serval home coffee makers. I would have liked to see how they rated in this test versus the other brands/models.

why isn't Bunn in the running? because it has a holding tank of hot water? i have used all kinds of pots and Bunn by far blows all the pots in this test away and less money. been using Bunn for years they last from 7, 12 to15 years. makes 10 cups in 3 to 4 minutes of great tasting coffee. when you go to a restaurant Donut, Coffee shops Bunn is the standard. i have home Version of the Bunn cant believe i didn't see it in this test. i love your channel and watch it all the time. however you missed the mark on this one.

I have a bunn. When it eventually dies, Ill check out the makers in this list.

Bought the Oxo about a year ago and am very happy with the taste and temp of the coffee. I hesitated on purchasing because it lacked a timer, but then read that the brew cycle was short. It is really fast, about 6-8 min. So start the brew and collect your breakfast or lunch items and come back to a finished pot. I echo the kudos on the pot's ergonomics and ease in cleaning. Esp important is that I can fit my hand inside to scrub the sides and bottom and so the pot does not collect any coffee residue, which also is important to taste. ATK, can you review coffee descalers and their various active ingredients? I'm a devoted fan of Bar Keepers Friend, and when I saw they offered a descaler product, I bought it after reading that my normal vinegar and water was not recommended. It's very pricey ---approx $8 bottle for 2.5 cleanings. It does a good job, but am I overpaying?

We bought a Technovorm a few years ago based on a previous America's Test Kitchen review. It makes great coffee, just as good as the manual Clever Coffee Dripper from Sweet Maria's that we had been using previously but with a lot less effort.

What happened to the Breville Precision?

I just turn the coffee pot off after it has finished brewing then reheat my coffee in the microwave when I need another cup.

Don't use vinegar....? Ok, I've got a brewer thats 20yrs old and still makes the best coffee I've had. What appliance uses corrosive metals in the first place?

Can you please do a test on percolators 😊

No Bonavita? It does a better job at extracting from all the grounds than the Technivorm for 1/2 the cost.

This was spot on. A staple in many Norwegian households for many years is the moccamaster. Still brewing excellent coffee after almost 20 years. Veldig bra!!!!!

Thanks for the review! I put the Bonavita from the previous review on my wedding registry and have used it almost every day since it arrived! If it ever breaks on us, we'll be glad to get the Technivorm instead. Also, do you need any extra engineers running thermocouple data back there? As an R&D food engineer myself, I had to admit that coming up with that statistical test design sounded like a lot of fun. :D

My Amazon Basics makes a great coffee and it was cheap!

Was fine with my cheap one, but now I’m considering upgrading my coffee game. Coffee is an essential part of my daily routine and I love it

I am the only coffee drinker in my home, so I only buy little 4 cup drip machines. I've tried a few, and I use the Cuisinart currently, but what I'd really like is a 4 cup coffeemaker with a thermal carafe. Do you all know of such a thing?

Oh ATK, never stop ATKing. Tell me again how a $300 drip coffee maker is gonna make coffee that is 15x better than a $20 one? You people are out of control. Just rename yourselves America's Snob Kitchen and be done with it.

The timing could not be more perfect. I was looking for a new coffee machine for Christmas!! Thank you Lisa and AmTK

I've had the Zojirushi model for several years now and still give it 2 thumbs up!

I tried the Mocamaster. It kept overflowing unless I stood over it stirring the coffee grounds. I contacted support and they told me not to use store bought pre-ground coffee. This coffee maker was too precious for my low brow coffee. If you like to play with your coffee the mochamastur might be for you.

Thorough as usual. As a coffee roaster I highly recommend the Moccamaster. We have never had a customer return one. In fact we get calls about how impressed they are. I will also say the KBGT with glass carafe and hot plate is still a great choice. The hot plate rolls on and off as not to overheat the coffee. It’s important to me that it maintains great flavor. Great job on the extensive testing. I will be directing people to this video.

Regarding testing methodology, it would have been nice to include details like what kind of grinder was used as well as the type of beans. Even the freshness of the beans can have a massive impact on flavor. When testing, did you make sure to account for all those variables?

My Mr coffee ends up going above the filter sometime ,and puts grounds in my coffee.

FYI as of right NOW, December 10th 2022, the Technivorm KBT is on sale on Amazon 24% off and the Zojirushi is 20% off

Very simple: A French press works and never fails! Big money for a coffee maker....ridiculous! I will spend my money on other items that have real value!

I have a $30.00 Mr Coffee that, after a bit of experimentation, and with good quality coffee makes a cup that has satisfied me for years. $300.00 indeed!!

We've owned our Technivorm for almost 15 years and it performs as well today as the first day we bought it.

I can’t believe Mr. Coffee didn’t make the list 😢

You forgot to mention to never use pre-ground coffee. Only use freshly grounded. I use black n decker machine and had served me well

Does anyone else put a pinch of salt in their coffee (before brewing) for a smoother cup of coffee? My friend showed me when we were teens and so I made some for my parents and their friends that way. They loved it and I got compliments but never told them about the salt!

Soooo…basically, if you want good coffee, you need to be rich. 😂 ok, got it!! 👍🏼🤦🏻‍♀️

I want the Oxo, but no way in hell I'm spending 200 bucks on a coffee maker.

The Moccamaster offers two models, one with a glass carafe and the other with a thermal carafe. Many of the reviews of the thermal carafe model mention that it just doesn't pour well. There's no spout on the carafe to help guide the coffee when it's poured into a cup. For a coffee machine that's priced at 300 plus dollars it just seems a silly oversight by the designers. I opted for the glass carafe model with the auto shutoff heating element. And as it just so happens I have a stand alone thermal carafe that pours great and keeps the coffee nice and warm for hours. Best of both worlds.

Not a coffee drinker.. Love your presentation.. Salutations from California

The best way for me is the 'pour-over' method.

I'm so glad I'm not one of you coffee addicts. They start with a gateway coffee .... coffee ice cream and it's all downhill from there, to the double espresso shots

Have had a technivorm for years. Makes good coffee but if you like hot coffee this is not a good choice. Carafe does not keep the coffee hot. Within a short time, coffee is barely warm. Constantly reheating in microwave

I have owned my Moccamaster for 8 years now. Just keep it clean and it will serve you well forever.

I am so glad you listed the Zojirushi! I bought one last fall at Crate and Barrel, because I have limited countertop space. The salesman highly recommended it, but I was skeptical considering the price. I am pleased to say it consistently brews excellent coffee and it does so quickly. It's also easy to clean. It replaced my Bonavita, which I do not miss one bit.

Honestly, I just want the straightforward telling me the best coffeemaker out there and not to listen to all the talking about the nuances of coffee making etc.

YES! The mocha master is the king! The best: every single part you touch you can replace.

I recently purchased the Technivorm, more as a holdover until my superautomatic machine ships this spring. William Sonoma had this model on sale for 229$. Great purchase! I rarely make a full pot but, I am able to get a great smooth cup consistently in roughly 3 mins. Cleanup is a breeze. This machine is an ace in my book. I use the Breville Precision Grinder and have found that the dosing using the on-screen measurements is slightly off so, dosing 2 grams more usually is the sweet spot for the bean I use most frequently. I have also found that pre-wetting gives me the best extraction when using the paper filter.

Great review. I just bought the Oxo a couple days ago based on reviews and looks like I made a good choice. Thanks!

Save yourself money and electricity. You ever wonder how people enjoyed coffee before "Drip Coffee Machine"? They must've starved for coffee! Or not. All they did was boil it and pour it into a cup. That was the cowboy days. Since then, the best way is using a "French Press". No electricity, inexpensive, and no buying filters. Go to a video that talks about "French Press". It's a simple process. Boil the water, dump it into the grounds in the French Press pot. Wait 5 minutes or more. Push down on the plunger. Now pour your perfect coffee.

The best coffee maker I've ever used is a pre-electricity design called a vacuum maker. Designed about 200 years ago, they were all the rage as wedding gifts back in the 40s and 50s. By the early 2000s, when I discovered them, they were very popular yard sale items. Many unopened boxes, brand new 50 year old items. All glass design means zero chemical interaction with a copper filter basket, loss of oils to a paper filter or any kind of pH change to discrepant metal contact. It works on the stove top and brews the coffee at a consistent 202deg. and makes a really good cup from even cheap grinds. What it does with high quality grinds is simply magic.

She looks like Sara Gilbert

Great, fresh coffe in a french press is all i can afford atm.

01:20 A-ha! ATK's detailed test data for the Cuisinart are consistent with mine from over a decade ago, i.e., max temp of ~160°F, 35° less than the recommended minimum. They replaced three of their premium (not 'cheap') coffee makers under warranty because we could never get a good cup out of them and I traced it back to low water temperature. When I complained, the final customer service person with whom I spoke basically whispered, "Buy a different brand." She said Cuisinart purposely limits the max temperature because so many customers are careless enough to burn themselves and they want to avoid legal liability. AND, most people can't tell the quality difference anyway. Side note for anyone who still associates the name Cuisinart with high quality: fergitaboutit. Conair bought Cuisinart ages ago and clearly has much lower standards than the original company.

I still use a Black & Decker $20 coffee maker that I bought almost 10 years ago... works great.

I use either my Keurig for a quick brew into my travel cup for coffee on the go or if I've got time then I heat water and use my French press.

You guys seem easily overwhelmed by buttons...

I still love my simple Hario pour over ceramic cone. No machines needed. A much better shape than the flat basket shape or the flattened Melita cone. And buying and using a scale is just silly. Once you have the process down and know how you prefer your coffee, eyeing the amount is plenty accurate.

LOVE my Moccamaster! I have one with the glass carafe because I only make enough for one 20 oz cup in the morning. I now rarely get coffee while I am out. I prefer my own (La Colombe Nizza). It is one of my absolute favorite kitchen appliances. Thank you for clearing up my question on coffee filters. I will continue getting their filters.

still using my 1980s Prilosec coffee maker

I have a Technivorm with a glass carafe. The heating plate on that machine does not scorch the coffee. It's nice and hot until it shuts itself off, which is about an 1 hr and 20 minutes from the start of brew time.

At 5:00 into the video "we don't want lids that trap water..." and then it goes on to recommend the Oxo. That Oxo carafe itself traps water and coffee -- you can't empty it without swinging it around in an elaborate orbit. The basket and water delivery traps water as well. I don't see how the Oxo made the best list because of that. Oh, and you can't pour from the carafe without having the lid screwed in -- the water or coffee divides into three streams with most going around the spout trough and dripping everywhere. With the lid on it pours very slowly, and you can't get the last tablespoon of berw out of the carafe.

i have the moccamaster recommended, plus the one-cup version. both are amazing, for the same exact reasons they mention, especially the simplicity. I also love how quickly they heat up the water. Flavor is great, which is obvious. They are both built like tanks with simplicity, with very little things to break, so sure to last a long time.

We have had our Technivorm for just over 10 years and it still makes the best coffee. We love it!

Mr. Coffee, $25.

ATK Coffee Corner, please. We love all the in-depth testing.

Hi I’m a newbie on your page lol. I’m a Starbucks connoisseur of their beverages and sandwiches frequently, I’m also a proclaimed Chicago ‘vlogger’ and I have never been to or never has done any camera footage at The Starbucks Refinery in Chicago which can be an experience for me and it’s only a select few of those type of Starbucks’ because those ones are Not in every city/town smh though but I upload a lot of frivolousness things/objects or something extracted from somebody else’s page lol. I think you’ll agree if I go I’ll probably see some of the items you’re discussing but on a much larger scale, right? Oh and my beverages that I consistently order will probably taste even better instead calling everything nasty then gets it again lol god bless you and I love Jesus…I see why my mother don’t wants to be on my YT camera, she’s been heard stating YT doesn’t pay me lol

I love my $30 Mr. Coffee brewer! Forget the high price recommendations. Thanks anyway.

I've been needing and looking for a new drip coffee maker. I just ordered the OXO 8 Cup. Thanks ATK and Lisa!

Love seeing the coffee pot I bought for my office in one of their "Things we didn't like" montages!

Personally I think the quality of the coffee grounds or beans have way more to do with flavor than the machine. Maxwell House in a $300 coffee maker will still taste like Maxwell House.

I’ve been using the 9-cup Oxo (not tested here, but similar to the runner up) for about seven years. It’s been a reliable machine that still makes great tasting coffee every morning. Oxo support was also very helpful when a part was damaged after a move. My personal ratio is 450ml water to 28g of grounds.