We Brewed 1,000+ Cups of Coffee to Find the 5 Best Drip Coffee Makers

• Black & Decker 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker: Testers praised this coffee for its taste and smooth finish. Previously, this coffee maker was our best-value pick under $40, making it one of the most affordable options. Although our current best-value pick costs more, it offers additional features and remains affordable. However, this Black & Decker coffee maker is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a simple coffee maker under $50. Plus, it requires minimal counter space.
• Capresso 5-Cup Mini Coffee Maker: Those who don't have much counter space may appreciate this compact coffee maker. Testers said it produced good coffee with a smooth finish. It's a great value at $40 and the perfect size for small spaces or households, but it can be limiting when entertaining large groups.
• Cuisinart PerfecTemp Coffee Maker: In our testing, we found this made hotter coffee compared to other coffee makers, so if you like your morning brew steaming, this is the pick for you. It scored well in our tests and tasters rated it highly, but it measures about 22 inches tall with the lid up, so it may not fit under a cabinet on the counter.
• De'Longhi All-in-One Coffee Maker: If you like drip coffee but still want to make espresso, this machine is for you. It's a favorite in our Lab, tested well, and is still used daily by one of our analysts. It makes full-bodied coffee and good espresso, with a perfectly thin layer of crema.
• De'Longhi TrueBrew Drip Coffee Maker: We were very impressed with this drip coffee maker. It has a built-in hopper and grinder and can brew five different-sized single-serve cups with the touch of a few buttons. One version even comes with a thermal carafe so it can brew a full pot. It can even brew a 3-ounce shot of coffee that resembles espresso under a higher pressure level than the single-serve coffee options. The coffee brews quickly and easily and tastes as flavorful as drip coffee, and the "espresso" tastes stronger and even has a little bit of crema. The downside? It's bigger and bulkier than traditional drip coffee makers, and it has a steeper price tag.
  
• Moccamaster Coffee Maker: We've tested several Moccamaster models over the years, including their much-loved classic model and a newer version with a thermal carafe lined with glass. They're great for someone who likes a basic machine that makes tasty coffee. However, it lacks the customizable settings of other drip coffee makers in this price range, and many removable parts are plastic, making the higher price hard to justify.
  
• Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker: This coffee machine can make different types of coffee drinks, including single-serve drip coffee, travel-size, half carafe, or full carafe. Plus, it can brew over ice and make concentrated coffee so that you can make espresso-style drinks like cappuccinos and lattes with its built-in frother. It's a great option for people looking for variety, but the more advanced coffee consumer might want something that can make true espresso. The frother also doesn't heat the milk, so it requires an extra step for hot milk foam.
• OXO Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker With Podless Single-Serve Function: We like the versatility in brewing a full pot or a single cup in a compact design. This coffee maker produces delicious coffee and includes a single-serve attachment. However, it has a few drawbacks: The single-serve function isn't as tasty as brewing a full pot, and the coffee maker uses all the water in the tank, so you need to pour the exact amount you need each time. We also have our eye on the OXO Brew 9-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker and look forward to testing it in the future.

At the Good Housekeeping Kitchen & Cooking Lab, we've tested drip coffee makers for decades. Our team of engineers, food editors, product analysts, and coffee enthusiasts evaluates coffee makers for performance, ease of use, and taste.

When testing drip coffee makers, we assess:

✔️ Cup capacity: Most drip coffee makers can brew about 10 to 14 cups of coffee, with 12 cups being the most common. Smaller, typically less expensive options are available for single-coffee-drinker homes or small spaces.

✔️ Carafe type: The two main types of carafes are glass and thermal. Glass carafes are lightweight and easy to clean since they're usually dishwasher safe. Thermal carafes are a little bulkier, not usually dishwasher-safe, and typically more expensive, but they can keep coffee hot for hours without using a warming plate. Thermal carafes also have a lower capacity than their glass counterparts due to their insulated walls.

✔️ Customizable brew options: Many higher-end drip coffee makers allow you to adjust the strength of your coffee, and a few allow you to adjust the brewing temperature. Our top drip coffee maker even allows you to control the bloom time of your grounds for optimal extraction. If you like your coffee a particular way or want to change the settings when you change coffee beans, invest in a coffee maker with these features.

✔️ Built-in grinders: Grinding your coffee just before brewing allows for the freshest taste. Some coffee makers with built-in coffee grinders are appealing for their convenience, grinding whole coffee beans and brewing with just a few button pushes. They take up less space than a separate grinder but can make the coffee maker a little bulkier (usually on the top). Coffee makers with built-in grinders tend to be more expensive than those without.

Many of the top-performing drip coffee makers fall in the $300 range. Less expensive coffee makers can be hit-or-miss when it comes to brewing great coffee. However, after testing many budget-friendly options, we've found some that deliver excellent results, like our best value pick from Braun, which is under $100.

The best coffee for a drip machine depends on your taste preferences. Coffee comes in light, medium, and dark roasts with a wide range of flavor nuances—such as chocolate, berry, and nutty—depending on the region where the beans were grown and how they were processed.

The most important thing to consider when picking coffee for a drip coffee machine is that it be fresh. You'll likely find a "best by" date on all coffee packages, but a better date to look for is the roast date. The sooner you enjoy coffee after it is roasted, the fresher it will taste.

Many people like to grind their coffee beans right before brewing for the freshest flavor. If you choose to do so, consider our pick from Breville or another coffee maker with a grinder that suits your needs. Buying a separate coffee grinder is also a good option. The coarser the coffee grind, the lighter it will taste; the finer the coffee grind, the stronger it will taste. Just be careful not to make it too fine because it can easily taste muddy or clog the built-in grinders.

Jamie Ueda's first job at the Good Housekeeping Institute was testing a variety of consumer products, including drip coffee makers. Since then, she has tested and written about many kitchen tools and cooking equipment, especially drip coffee and espresso makers and coffee accessories. She has a passion for coffee and has completed rigorous SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) courses in coffee brewing, barista skills, and sensory tasting.

Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, where she oversees all testing relating to cooking and drinking equipment, including drip coffee makers. Over the years, she's tested numerous coffee makers and continues to road-test them daily. She reviewed and provided expert input on this article.