12 Best Drip Coffee Makers of 2023, Tested by Experts

Coffee enthusiasts will love the Breville Precision Brew for its excellent performance and many brew options. What really makes this machine stand out besides its top-tested performance is its ability to make cold brew and pour over coffee (attachment kit sold separately).

The bloom time and brew temperature can also be adjusted for the most personalized cup. In our test, the coffee was brewed in well under a minute per cup. It took 8 1/2 minutes to brew a full, 12-cup pot, which was impressive compared to most others that took 10-12 minutes.

This coffee maker comes with the option to use a cone or flat-basket filter, ideal for coffee aficionados who know that the two styles can bring out different notes in the same coffee depending on the roast. The brew basket has a large, comfortable handle and pulls out for easy filling, one of our favorite features. This model has a thermal carafe that kept the coffee warm for the full two hours of our test period.

This coffee maker pays for itself in just a few brews when compared with buying from a coffee shop. It scored high marks in our drip coffee maker test for both performance and ease of use. It brewed a hot pot of coffee that stayed warm for the duration of the keep warm cycle. It was also quick: It brewed coffee in about a minute per cup. The results were pleasant with a smooth finish.

It doesn't have any bells and whistles, but it's easy to use with a one-touch start. The buttons are soft, flat and responsive; they're not flush, however, which makes the control panel a little harder to clean than those that are completely smooth. The measurement markings on both the carafe and water reservoir are easy to read, and the carafe is comfortable to hold.

If you're a fan of Wolf appliances you'll immediately recognize this red-knobbed coffee maker. The high-end brand is known for its top-performing ranges, so it’s no surprise its coffee maker earned high marks for brewing temperature and time. Not to mention, it produced a pleasantly steaming cup of coffee and the thermal carafe kept it warm for two hours.

With the brand's Accubrew mode, you can select the coffee strength and the number of cups. This mode also uses a built-in scale to weigh the coffee grounds so you always add the precise amount. Those who like their coffee strong will like this machine as our taste testers found this brewed a strong cup of coffee with a slight bitterness. Keep in mind, if you find the coffee is too strong you can lower the coffee strength.

The water tank is removable making it easy to fill, and the LCD panel displays how long it's been since the coffee was brewed. It has a beautiful stainless steel design, and, if the signature red knobs aren't your preference, there’s also a stainless steel model with black knobs available.

For those who don’t need a 12- or 14-cup coffee maker but still want more than a single-serve, this Capresso Mini serves 5 cups of coffee. It doesn’t have a ton of features like other coffee makers, but that makes it easy to use and it’s still programmable so you can set it to brew ahead of time. It also has a hot plate to keep the coffee pot warm and automatic shut-off. As a bonus, it is also very compact and does not take up a lot of counter space. In our test, it brewed hot coffee (though not as hot as some higher-end models) and tasters said the coffee had a smooth finish.

This stunning coffee maker has a modern design that will stand out on any countertop. In our tests, this coffee machine brewed quickly, making a full pot in just 6 1/2 min, toggling between 200?F and 202?F, which is in accordance with the Specialty Coffee Association's temperature recommendation for a "golden cup." It was among the highest-scoring coffee makers in our taste test, producing a cup that testers thought was full-bodied with a pleasant aroma and lack of bitterness. The thermal carafe kept coffee warm for the majority of the two-hour test period. A glass carafe option is available as well.

It's available in three unique colors: matte black, matte white and brushed stainless steel. In addition to being stylish, it also has smart features which connect to the Smart HQ app. Through the app, you can adjust the brew strength and temperature (in 1-degree increments from 185?F to 205?F for a cup of coffee that's as hot as you'd like) and brew size from 1-10 cups. It's also compatible with Alexa and Google Home and can be programmed in advance. We also found the control panel easy to use with sleek, minimal buttons and a clock that's easy to read but not overbearing.

Breville is a brand that consistently tests well, and The Grind Control was a top performer in our tests this time too. The built-in grinder aced our tests and it was one of the only coffee makers with a built-in grinder that produced fine, medium and coarse grinds that were consistent with what you would get from a top-performing standalone coffee grinder. We also found it produced one of the tastiest cups of coffee that was smooth and not bitter.

The hopper holds a half-pound of beans so you don't need to refill it every time you make coffee. The grinder has six settings so you can change the grind size to your liking to get your tastiest cup of coffee. Our pros loved the easy-to-read digital display which shows the number of cups to be brewed and the strength setting. Unlike other coffee makers where you need to lean over to see the water level, this machine has the water level digitally displayed on the front of the coffee maker.

This Ninja machine brews classic drip coffee in various sizes ranging from single-serve to full carafe. It also makes iced coffee and comes with a milk frother, and you can opt for a stronger brew if you prefer. Our experts were impressed that it also makes concentrated coffee to mimic espresso-based drinks like lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos.

In our test, the control panel was intuitive to use and the detachable water tank's side grips made it easy to hold while filling. One thing to note: The carafe is hand-wash only, unlike some others we tested that were dishwasher-safe.

In our testing, we found that the Cuisinart Perfectemp made hotter coffee compared to other coffee makers we tested, so if you like your morning brew streaming, this is the pick for you. It also performed well, was easy to use and had one of the highest scores in our taste test. It has a feature that allows you to pause it mid-brew — so there's no waiting to pour that first cup — as well as options to brew “bold” coffee or less than a full pot.

The carafe is easy to wash with a wide opening and a removable lid; it's also dishwasher safe. Take note that the lid flips up to access the basket and water and in total measures about 22 inches tall, so if you plan to store it under a cabinet, be sure it fits underneath while fully open.

This machine was a favorite in our Lab tests, making one of the best-tasting and most flavorful cups of coffee. It makes both hot coffee and iced coffee with a brew-over-ice feature. Our testing showed it brewed coffee at the correct temperature for the best flavor and held it that way for our full two-hour testing period.

It also has three keep-warm settings — low, medium and high — as well as a pause-and-pour feature so you can snag a cup while it’s brewing. While overall a great coffee maker, the one downside is it’s nearly 20 inches tall when fully opened, so make sure there’s enough room under your cupboards if you’ll be putting it on the counter.

Why choose between coffee and espresso when you can have both with this machine from DeLonghi? It also has a built-in milk steamer and frother and can use ESE-standard espresso pods. With separate water tanks for each brew type, both coffee and espresso can be made at the same time or separately.

Overall, this machine did well in our testing; it makes both full-bodied coffee and a pleasant-tasting espresso with a thin crema. One thing to note, however, is that the pot did not brew as hot as other coffee makers, but the hot plate did keep the coffee warm over our two-hour test time. Plus, the coffee warm setting can be programmed for up to 11 hours and 59 minutes.

This coffee maker is an excellent choice for someone who's looking for serving-size options. You can make a full pot of drip coffee or convenient single-serve pods without purchasing two separate machines. On the pod side, you can use your own coffee in the included reusable filter or single-use K-cups. The full carafe mode allows you to brew regular or bold drip coffee. Though this didn’t brew piping hot coffee like some of our other picks, the carafe is dishwasher safe, making it a good choice for someone who values easy cleanup.

This Braun drip coffee maker has seven options for brew sizes from a 5-ounce single cup of coffee to a full carafe as well as several sizes in between. While we haven't formally tested this in the Lab, we have tested it at home and love it for making a single cup of coffee — no pod required. It can brew several sizes directly into a cup or travel mug so you don't have to commit to (or wash) the carafe if you just want a single cup.

The best part is: The single cups taste just as good and full-bodied as a full carafe, and it doesn't require any special measuring of water. Just fill the reservoir (which is removable and can be filled right at the sink), set your setting and the machine dispenses the right amount of water automatically. The included measuring spoon makes it extra easy to know how much coffee you should use with recommended amounts listed on the handle. It also has a separate hot water dispenser for tea that can be programmed at different temperatures. One downside is that it's wider than some other drip coffee makers so make sure there's enough room on your counter.