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People have been brewing roasted coffee since at least the 13th century, yet more than 700 years later, we still seem to be chasing after the perfect cup. There are different techniques that experts swear will help you get the most bang out of your bean and endless small appliances that promise to make a killer cup with zero effort on your part. For such a simple drink, it’s all gotten very complicated. Should you get an inexpensive pod machine that requires no planning, effort or cleanup, or splurge on an expensive espresso machine that crafts specialty sips like a professional barista? Does that cold-brew maker really deliver café quality? And which French presses and pour-overs are really worth your time?
- Best drip coffee maker: Fellow Aiden
- Best espresso maker: Lelit MaraX
- Best single-serve coffee maker: Ratio 4
- Best pour-over coffee maker: Chemex
- Best French press coffee maker: Espro P7
- Best cold-brew coffee maker: Oxo Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker
- Best portable coffee maker: Aeropress XL Clear
If all of this coffee talk has you feeling jittery, relax, we’re here to help. We’ve rounded up some of the best coffee makers that we’ve tested across brewing methods of all types—including drip coffee makers, espresso machines, pour-overs, single-serve coffee makers, French presses, and cold-brew makers—and we’re spilling the tea on what makes each one so great and what could make it better. We’ve also provided an explainer about the different types of coffee makers on the market to help you decide which is best for you. Whether you want a simple shot of espresso or a chilled glass of velvety nitro coffee, we found the best coffee makers to suit your needs and budget.
Types of coffee makers
Drip coffee maker
Drip coffee machines, which typically require little effort, mainly consist of three parts: a water tank, a basket for coffee grounds, and a thermal or glass carafe. Though drip coffee makers come in simple and high-tech versions, their basic functions are the same: The machine heats water, which rains down from a showerhead, saturates the coffee grounds, and drips coffee into a carafe or cup. The best drip coffee makers take into account factors that can extract the best flavor, like water temperature, flow rate, and the bloom time, when carbon dioxide, which can make coffee taste bitter, is released from the grounds.
Espresso machine
Espresso machines come in a wide variety of prices and an even wider variety of models. Semiautomatic machines have the same basic layout—a portafilter basket for pulling a single or double shot, a steam wand for frothing milk, and a hot water dispenser—but differ in the quality of their build, their heating mechanisms, and their pumps.
Superautomatic machines can make espressos, macchiatos, Americanos, and more specialty drinks with the touch of a button. They grind, tamp and brew for you automatically.
Whether you opt for a manual machine or one that does all the work for you, keep in mind that the best espresso machines should always produce a hot flavorful shot topped with a rich layer of crema.
Pour-over coffee maker
Pour-over coffee makers, usually cones that sit atop cups or carafes à la Chemex, utilize a precise pouring technique (ideally from a gooseneck kettle) that blooms the grounds and extracts the best flavors as the coffee drips into the vessel below. Making pour over coffee manually isn’t the fastest, but it is the best if you care about customizing the flavor of your coffee just so.
Single-serve coffee maker
Pod machines are one of the most popular forms of single-serve coffee makers, but more and more drip machines also offer single-serve capabilities. Pod machines typically offer more drink choices than drip machines, letting you make coffee in different strengths and flavors, espresso(ish), iced coffee, cold brew, and even matcha. Whatever beverage you fancy, the best single-serve coffee makers should make it effortless to prepare and full of flavor.
French press
French presses are an easy and economical method for brewing bold, rich coffee. All you need to do is steep coffee grounds in just-under boiling water (usually 195° to 200ºF) for a few minutes, then plunge a filter down from the lid to separate the grounds from the brew. The best French presses are made from durable materials and have reusable stainless-steel mesh filters that allow the bean’s oils and dissolved solids to come through for a more robust flavor.
Cold-brew coffee maker
Cold brew differs from iced coffee in that the latter is simply hot coffee cooled down with ice. Cold brew is prepared with room-temperature water, and extraction can take up to two days to complete. The result is a smooth, more concentrated coffee that can be watered down or mixed with milk. The most common cold-brew coffee makers are immersion brewers that have you dunk a mesh container of coffee in a large water pitcher of some sort. None is especially difficult, but the best cold-brew makers usually take their time to produce a creamy, less acidic chilled cup of coffee.
Best Drip Coffee Makers
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Fully customizable
- Easy to use with default settings
- Removable water tank
- Sleek design
Cons:
- Expensive
Specs
- Dimensions: 8.9" x 8.9" x 12"
- Weight: 9.6 lb.
- Capacity: 10 cups
- Carafe style: Thermal
- Features: Adjustable brew water ratio; adjustable temperature settings, flavor profile settings, programmable 24-hour timer; Wi-Fi connectivity; cold-brew capable; SCA Golden Cup capabilities
- Colors: Matte black, matte white
- Warranty: 3 years
Fellow is known for its beautiful, specialty coffee equipment, and the Aiden Precision Coffee Maker is no exception. The brand’s first automatic drip coffee maker is practically perfect in every way, boasting profiles with different water temperatures and brewing times for light, medium, and dark roasts, and even providing guidance on how much ground coffee to use in both grams and tablespoons for a truly flavorful cup. Best of all, it has a simple interface that makes it easy to create a perfect brew, whether you’re a novice or a coffee connoisseur. It’s as close as you’ll get to pour-over coffee without any effort.
What we love: Though it has a push-to-brew Instant Brew feature and three presets for light, medium, and dark roasts, the Aiden is completely customizable. You can adjust the coffee’s flavor by choosing the water temperature (anywhere between 122℉ and 210℉); the time and number of water pulses (similar to individual water pours when making pour-over coffee); and the bloom cycle, which releases carbon dioxide from the grounds and eliminates sourness. You also have the option to brew anywhere from a single cup (right into a travel mug) up to a 10-cup carafe. And you’re not just limited to hot coffee: The Aiden also makes smooth cold brew by slowly dripping water over the course of several hours.
Yes, there are a lot of options to wade through on this machine, but great coffee from the Aiden is surprisingly easy to make. The sleek machine has just a single dial and button, plus an easy-to-read LCD screen with clear instructions. It also has multiple features that make the brewing process better: The two filter baskets—a cone basket for up to three cups and a flat-bottom basket for more than three cups—have spring-loaded seals to prevent drips when you remove them; the stainless-steel thermal carafe keeps coffee hot for up to two hours; and the water reservoir is removable, so you can fill it at the sink and avoid spills.
What we’d leave: At $400, the Fellow Aiden Precision is definitely expensive and may not be worth the investment for those who aren’t serious coffee drinkers. Swapping out the two brew baskets can also feel like extra work, because you also have to adjust the lid’s showerhead dial according to the basket you’re using.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Under $150
- Coffee is brewed at a drinkable temperature
- Adjustable hot plate
Cons:
- Carafe feels flimsy
Specs
- Dimensions: 7.9" x 7.9" x 14.2"
- Weight: 7.1 lb.
- Capacity: 12 cups
- Carafe style: Glass
- Features: 1-4 cup options; adjustable brew strength; programmable timer; water filter; adjustable hot plate temperature
- Colors: Black, stainless steel/white, stainless steel/silver
- Warranty: 3 years
Cheap machines will never be as exact as the pricey coffee brewers that more precisely regulate water temperature and flow rate, but that doesn’t mean they can’t brew good coffee. In fact, the Braun BrewSense Programmable Coffee Maker did a fantastic job in our tests, which is why we think it’s the best budget coffee maker on the market. We found the coffee to be flavorful and not at all stale or watery. For a machine that retails for $130—and is frequently on sale—it’s a solid wallet-friendly option that’s worthy of a spot on your countertop.
What we love: The BrewSense has an easy-to-use interface with buttons that are specific to its special features. Use the Auto On and Auto Off buttons to program when you want the machine to start and stop brewing; the 1-4 button to prepare smaller amounts of coffee instead of an entire 12-cup carafe (the setting changes how the water pulses out); and the Strength and Temp buttons to adjust the boldness of the coffee and the temperature of the warming plate. The BrewSense comes with a gold-tone permanent filter that allows the coffee’s natural oils to pass through for better flavor, and the machine’s anti-drip system stops the flow of coffee when the carafe is removed. In other words, you can sneak in a cup of coffee before a full pot is finished without making a splash.
What we’d leave: The glass carafe flipped open a little too easily and seemed like it might cause spills. We also would have preferred a thermal carafe, since some other budget coffee makers have them.
Best Espresso Machines
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Very efficient heat exchanger
- Slow pressure buildup
- Effective steam wand
- Looks gorgeous
- Quiet
Cons:
- Slow to heat up
- Can’t set PID to the degree
Specs
- Dimensions: 8.7" x 20" x 14"
- Weight: 41 lb.
- Water reservoir capacity: 84.5 oz.
- Cup clearance: 4.5"
- Features: Three temperature settings; heat exchanger maintains temperature and minimizes downtime; simultaneously brews coffee and steams milk; water filter
- Colors: White, black, brushed stainless steel
- Warranty: 2 years
Lelit is an Italian company that has been crafting premium-grade espresso machines since 1986. The MaraX has been our absolute favorite in testing thanks to its stylish appearance and superior performance. It’s user-friendly, offers three temperature settings for your preferred extraction, and steams milk to a frothy perfection. While it is a bit pricey at $1,700, it’s also less expensive than some of the other professional-quality (a.k.a. prosumer) models we tested.
What we love: For starters, the MaraX is a beauty. Available in black, white, and brushed stainless steel, it has a less-industrial appearance than many other high-end espresso machines thanks to its soft wood accents. It also has plenty of clearance (4.5") to fit your favorite coffee cup under the nozzle—a surprisingly rare feature across the prosumer models we tested.
The MaraX is a heat exchanger machine that can efficiently switch between brewing espresso and steaming milk, and it has two different settings based on whether you’re more likely to make milk drinks or just pull shots. It runs brewing water through a copper tube that heats it to its proper temperature; however, it doesn’t have a digital PID (which is like a super-accurate thermostat) to regulate the temperature, so you’ll have to rely on the machine’s warm (197℉), hot (201℉), or very hot (205℉) settings.
The MaraX’s steam wand is powerful without being unwieldy, and our testers felt in control when texturing both dairy and oat milk. The MaraX did take a little longer to steam than some other espresso makers we tested, but the frothy, full-bodied milk, which is perfect for latte art, made it worth the wait.
What we’d leave: We do wish the MaraX included a digital PID or shot timer, but the espresso was so good that our testers didn’t miss these features. And if you need a shot of caffeine immediately after getting out of bed, be aware that the MaraX takes just under 20 minutes to warm up.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent for beginners
- Great automatic milk steaming
- Tiny footprint for small kitchens
- Ready in under 5 seconds
Cons:
- Not very customizable
- No pressure gauge
- Included tamper isn’t great
Specs
- Dimensions: 7.7" x 12.6" x 12.2"
- Weight: 11 lb.
- Water reservoir capacity: 64 oz.
- Cup clearance: 5"
- Features: Programmable; heats quickly and is ready in seconds; preset single- and double-shot volumes; automatic milk frothing; space-saving design
- Colors: Brushed stainless steel, black truffle, sea salt, damson blue, black stainless steel, nougat, olive tapenade, red velvet cake, aboriginal culinary journey
- Warranty: 2 years
Food director Chris Morocco and contributor Emily Johnson are both fans of the Breville Bambino Plus because it’s perfect for people who are new to making espresso. “It has a few hands-off features that allow even beginners (or, in my case, lazy people) to pull robust, crema-topped shots,” says Johnson. Indeed, making espresso is as easy as loading the portafilter basket with ground coffee and pushing a button. No tinkering or guesswork required.
What we love: “If you’re new to making espresso, the Breville Bambino Plus is the perfect machine for learning the ropes,” says Johnson. For starters, the machine is calibrated to pull a single or double shot at the right pressure and time for you. It also includes a double-walled filter basket, which forces coffee out through a small hole and guarantees a shot with a nice layer of crema on top every time.
But what really sets the Bambino Plus apart is its automatic milk frother. Just fill the included stainless-steel jug with milk, place it under the steam wand, set the level of foam you want, and push the steam button. The machine does all the rest. Breville has rolled out this feature on many of its espresso machines now, but the Bambino Plus is, by leaps and bounds, the most affordable.
Want to take a more hands-on approach? The Bambino Plus, which heats up in about five seconds, lets you adjust the brew temperature between low, medium, and high; set your own brewing time; and switch the milk steaming to manual mode.
What we’d leave: You may want to get another tamper, because the one that comes with the machine isn’t particularly high-quality. Also, while the semiautomatic machine brews consistently, we wish it had a pressure gauge (a.k.a. manometer) to ensure shots are pulled with the right specifications.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Endless drink options
- Completely customizable
- User-friendly touchscreen panel
- Has built-in grinder but also uses pre-ground coffee
- Superior milk frothing system
Cons:
- Requires a bit of a learning curve
- Large and tall in size
- Drip tray gets messy and is tricky to clean
- Must remember to select whole bean or pre-ground before making drinks
- Unexpected cleaning cycles require that you always keep a mug under the nozzle
Specs
- Dimensions: 17.5" x 10.4" x 14.3"
- Weight: 29.5 lb.
- Water reservoir capacity: 75 oz.
- Cup clearance: 5.5"
- Features: Programmable; customizable; integrated burr grinder, brews hot and cold; precision milk dial; Wi-Fi connectivity; self-cleaning; water filter
- Colors: Black, white
- Warranty: 2 years
Terra Kaffe’s TK-02 is the Rolls-Royce of espresso machines, with everything you need to become an at-home barista. It has a built-in coffee grinder, a milk-frothing system, and a touchscreen panel for prepping more than 100,000 custom drinks, including espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, cortados, macchiatos, and flat whites. You can adjust the grind size of your beans, the water volume and temperature for each drink, and the amount of grounds used for each espresso shot. Prefer milk in your coffee? A knob on the side of the machine lets you take it from hot to decadently frothy.
What we love: The TK-02 is a super-versatile machine that preps bold, piping-hot espresso shots—plus more coffee drinks—at the touch of a button. You can customize the espresso shot to your liking, then save it to the machine’s touchscreen menu via app so that you’ll get consistent results every time. The intuitive LCD touchscreen is actually one of the best perks about the machine, since it makes brewing any beverage a breeze. You just need to indicate whether you’re using whole or pre-ground beans, then select your drink choice from the menu. It’s all very low-effort considering how much the TK-02 is capable of.
Clearly, ease-of-use was top of mind when Terra Kaffe designed the TK-02. Both the water tank and the grounds container are located in the front of the machine, making them much easier to fill, clean, and empty.
What we’d leave: The machine is also rather tall and wide, so be sure you have space for it. It’s important to note that you must indicate whether you’re using whole or pre-ground coffee before selecting your drink on the touchscreen. Whole is the default setting, so if you poured pre-ground coffee in the machine’s chute and forgot to press “pre-ground,” it’ll bypass the grounds, dispense a mug of clear water, and spit the unused grounds into the waste container. The machine also initiates cleaning cycles before it goes to sleep and when it wakes up, so you need to keep a mug under it at all times to catch the liquid. Lastly, the drip tray can get surprisingly messy and be challenging to clean.
Best Pour-Over Coffee Makers
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent coffee
- Easy and affordable
- Few parts
- Attractive design
Cons:
- Very hands-on
- Requires some precision
Specs
- Dimensions: 5.3" x 5.3" x 8.5"
- Weight: 1.4 lb.
- Capacity: 30 oz.
- Materials: Borosilicate glass, wood collar, rawhide tie
- Features: Makes 6 cups; heat-resistant glass; wood collar serves as insulated handle
- Warranty: 30 days
The Chemex system was invented in 1941 as a simple and aesthetically pleasing way to make coffee, and it’s become the preferred technique for coffee connoisseurs ever since. The process is relatively simple yet also precise and produces a pure, light-bodied brew. Besides the hourglass-shaped carafe, you’ll need Chemex’s proprietary filters, medium-coarse coffee, and a gooseneck kettle for the best results.
What we love: Making coffee in a Chemex feels almost like a ritual because of how much care is put into it. The process takes some intention, slowly pouring hot water in a spiral to saturate the grounds, letting them bloom for 30 seconds, then continuing the slow spiral pour until the kettle is empty. The entire process takes about four minutes and you end up with a carafe of clean coffee that highlights the flavors and aromas of your beans.
You can also experiment with flavors by mixing up the coffee-to-water ratio, grind size of the beans, and even the pouring technique. The Chemex is also great for making tea, cold brew, and Japanese iced coffee.
What we’d leave: Using a Chemex can feel finicky and time-consuming, so it’s not the best choice for people who don’t want to put much thought or effort into making a cup of coffee.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Doesn’t require paper filters
- Made from borosilicate glass
- Free of PFAS, BPA, phthalates, and heavy metals
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- A lot of small parts make it clunky to store
- The glass is durable but still should be handled with care
Specs
- Dimensions: 5.59" x 4.41" x 9.21"
- Weight: 1.3 lb.
- Capacity: 20 oz.
- Materials: Glass, ceramic
- Features: Makes 1–3 cups; extra-thick glass for excellent heat retention; ergonomic handle; no-spill spout; dishwasher-safe
- Warranty: 1 year
The entire Pure Over system, which includes a carafe, a dripper with a built-in filter, a “showerhead” diffuser lid, and a stir stick, is made from durable borosilicate glass. No paper, nylon mesh, or stainless-steel filters are required. The nontoxic system also includes two ceramic coasters for resting the carafe and dripper.
What we love: Each of the glass pieces feels sturdy and well-made, and the brewing system is simple: Add coffee grounds to the dripper, cap it with the diffuser lid, and place the dripper on the carafe. Slowly pour hot water around the diffuser, let it saturate the grounds for a few seconds, and add the rest of the hot water. Unlike the Chemex it will slowly drip water for you, so you don’t need to pour and re-pour. It takes around five minutes for all of the coffee to drain into the carafe, and the result is a rich, full-bodied brew with no sediment or grit.
Cleaning the Pure Over is also simple: After discarding the spent grounds, the pieces can go in the dishwasher or washed by hand in warm soapy water.
What we’d leave: The Pure Over brewing system has a lot of small, separate parts, so storing it can be a bit clunky.
Best Single-Serve Coffee Maker
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Adorable, compact design
- Automated bloom cycle
- Separate water reservoir
Cons:
- A lot of plastic for the price
Specs
- Dimensions: 11.5" x 7.5" x 10.6"
- Weight: 8 lb.
- Water reservoir capacity: 22 oz.
- Coffee sizes: 1
- Materials: BPA-free plastic, glass
- Features: Makes 1–2 cups; automated bloom cycle; space-saving design; separate 8.75" x 4.6" water canister that can be positioned around the base
- Color: Black
- Warranty: 5 years
When it comes to coffee makers, Ratio consistently knocks it out of the park. We’ve already sung the praises of the Ratio Six and the newer, larger Ratio Eight S2, and now it’s time that the Ratio Four had its due. Like the other models, the brand’s smallest machine produces a nearly flawless pour-over-style brew, but in batches of one to two cups. The space-saving machine also has a removable water canister that can be placed to the left, right, or back of the base to help keep things compact.
What we love: The Ratio Four takes everything we love about the brand’s larger models and packs it into one mini machine. The Four is very basic with no bells and whistles, and it requires just a single button to operate. Press it once if you’re brewing more than 12 ounces of coffee or press and hold it if you’re brewing less. The Ratio Four’s wide showerhead then saturates the grounds and pauses to let them bloom for 30 seconds. More water is then dispensed in small pulses for an even better extraction before switching to a continuous flow to finish the job. It’s almost too easy to make a perfect cup of coffee, and that’s what makes the Ratio Four so great.
What we’d leave: There’s really nothing negative to say about the Ratio Four, except maybe that it’s made with a lot of plastic for the price. We should also note for anyone expecting a Keurig-like experience: This is not a pod machine. You will need to grind your own coffee for this one.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy single-button operation
- Excellent selection of drink styles and sizes
- Available in a wide range of stylish colors
- Great for cold drinks
Cons:
- Recycling the pods is a bit of a hassle
Specs
- Dimensions: 8.6" x 14" x 10.4"
- Weight: 8.1 lb.
- Water reservoir capacity: 25.4 oz.
- Coffee sizes: 5
- Materials: Plastic
- Features: Quick start; single-button operation; brews hot and cold coffee and espresso; Wi-Fi connectivity; removable water tank; space-saving design
- Colors: 15, including spicy red, candy pink, and aqua mint
- Warranty: 2 years
Nespresso makes a number of top-notch pod machines, but the Vertuo Pop+ easily earned our best budget title. This oh-so-simple pod machine quickly brews coffee, espresso, and cold brew that is nuanced and full of flavor. The brand’s smallest machine is also one of its most stylish, available in more than a dozen colors that’ll instantly brighten up your kitchen.
What we love: The Vertuo Pop+ makes it a snap to brew coffee, espresso, and iced drinks in minutes. Insert a capsule, press a button, and marvel as the machine scans the barcode and adjusts its settings to the perfect temperature, brew time, and pressure setting for that drink. The result is a hot cup of coffee or espresso with a beautiful layer of crema on top. We especially love that if you’re making iced drinks, you can double-click the brew button for a more concentrated pour. And yes, the cold brew is really good!
The surprisingly versatile Vertuo Pop+ lets you brew hot or iced coffee in 5-, 8-, and 12-oz. sizes as well as single and double shots of espresso. It has an adjustable drip tray to accommodate cups of different sizes and a removable water reservoir on the side of the machine for easy access when it’s time for a refill.
What we’d leave: We wish there was an easier way to recycle the aluminum pods. They can go in residential recycling bins in New York City and Jersey City, but if you live outside of those areas, you’ll need to drop them off at select Nespresso boutiques or mail them to a Nespresso facility via a prepaid recycling bag.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy-to-use interface
- Coffee is hotter than most other pod machines
- Cold brew uses cold water
- Customizable
- B-Pods are more sustainable than other coffee pods
Cons:
- Emptying the pod catch bin can be messy
- B-Pod selection is limited and expensive
Specs
- Dimensions: 12.6" D x 10.2" W x 11.5" H
- Weight: 13.2 lb.
- Water reservoir capacity: 70 oz.
- Coffee sizes: 8
- Materials: Plastic, stainless-steel drip tray cover; die-cast zinc alloy handle
- Features: Brews 7 different beverages; customizable temperature control and brew strength; Wi-Fi connectivity, B-Pods are more environmentally friendly than other pods
- Colors: Cream & sugar, black
- Warranty: 1 year
The effort involved in recycling Nespresso pods for most of America is real. And Bruvi, with its compostable B-pods, are one solve for that.
It’s not just the pods (which are treated with polypropylene to help them break down more quickly) that created buzz around the Bruvi Single-Serve Coffee System, though. And after testing it, we can assure you that the hype is real. This touchscreen pod machine has a lot to offer, including rich, balanced, coffee; a whopping eight brewing sizes; one-touch presets for low-acid, Americano, iced coffee, and cold brew; plus customizable temperature control and brew strength.
What we love: The Bruvi offers a lot of drink and customization options without being overwhelming. We love that the touchscreen is easy to navigate, and, more importantly, the machine does all the thinking for you. When you insert a B-pod into the unit (it goes in sideways, FYI), the Bruvi scans the pod and automatically adjusts the brew parameters. You do, however, have the option to make adjustments to the cup size, strength, temperature, and even style of coffee (hot, iced, or cold brew). But if you don’t want to have to think about how best to do your brew, the Bruvi has your back.
We found that the Bruvi makes espresso and coffee that is hotter and more flavorful than most other pod machines we tested, and we especially love that the machine uses cold water to make cold brew. The latter takes a little longer, but it’s absolutely worth the wait.
The machine is also quite a beauty, and we can’t deny that its chiming sounds and colorful touchscreen display make it fun to use.
What we’d leave: Emptying out the pod catch bin can sometimes get messy because the drip tray also comes out with it. On more than one occasion, we’ve had dark liquids spill out from the drip tray and catch bin and onto the countertop.
Best French Press
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Best-in-class filtration
- Extraction stops immediately after plunging
- Effective insulation
Cons:
- Expensive
Specs
- Dimensions: 6.7" x 4.6" x 10.1"
- Weight: 2.6 lb.
- Capacity: 32 oz.
- Materials: Stainless steel, polypropylene
- Features: Makes 4 cups; dual micro-filter system; extraction stops immediately after plunge; double-walled stainless-steel body for optimal insulation
- Colors: Aegean blue, brushed stainless steel, cranberry, matte black, matte white, polished stainless steel
- Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty
The Espro P7 is not your average French press. It features a carefully thought out filtration and extraction system that prevents the hot water and coffee grounds from sitting together too long, so you won’t end up with bitter, gritty coffee. The insulated double-walled stainless-steel body helps to keep your brew hot so your second cup is as good as the first.
What we love: Espro’s innovative filtration system boasts two separate layers of fine mesh, plus a double silicone seal around the edge, to keep the brewed coffee and spent grounds separated after the plunger has been pushed down. Since extraction stops immediately, there’s no risk of the coffee turning bitter. That means you can leave the coffee in the insulated stainless-steel French press to keep it hot and also use the vessel for serving.
What we’d leave: Though Espro claims the French press’s body keeps coffee hot for hours, our tester found that it hit room temperature after less than two hours. That’s pretty minor, though. If you can’t finish a single pot of French press in two hours, we don’t know what to tell you.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Affordable
- Produces a classic, strong brew
- Durable
- Compact
Cons:
- Leaves some sediment behind
Specs
- Dimensions: 6.3" x 8.62" x 4.21"
- Weight: 1 lb.
- Capacity: 34 oz.
- Materials: BPA-free plastic, borosilicate glass, stainless steel
- Features: Makes 4 cups; stainless-steel filter keeps grounds from escaping; safety lid prevents spills; dishwasher-safe
- Colors: Black, red
- Warranty: 1 year
Bodum’s Brazil French Press is a classic, and at just $20 for the 34-oz. model, the best budget French press you can buy. It’s simple to use, dependable, and durable, and it makes a strong cup of coffee. With proper care—i.e., do not use a metal spoon to stir the grounds—it will last for years. Our tester has owned his for two decades!
What we love: The Bodum Brazil French Press consists of a glass and plastic carafe and a lid with a steel rod and a three-part mesh stainless-steel filter at the end. That filter allows the natural oils and flavors of the beans to come through, including some tiny particles, creating a bold brew with a rich mouthfeel. If you’re looking for an inexpensive French press that makes premium-quality coffee, take the plunge and get the Bodum Brazil.
What we’d leave: The Bodum Brazil does leave a bit of sediment behind, but that’s normal for most French presses. Other than that, we really can’t find any faults with it.
Best Cold-Brew Coffee Maker
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Parts include measurement indicators to simplify brewing
- Small size is easy to store
- Rainmaker showerhead disperses water evenly
Cons:
- A lot of pieces to keep track of
Specs
- Dimensions: 5.2" x 5.3" x 8.6"
- Capacity: 24 oz.
- Materials: Borosilicate glass carafe, cork and silicone stopper, plastic brewing container and showerhead, stainless-steel mesh filter
- Weight: 1.39 lbs.
- Features: Makes up to 7 cups; measurement indicators on brewing container and carafe to streamline process; spring-loaded valve on brewing container base for easy decanting; space-saving design
- Color: Black
- Warranty: Repair or replacement
Naming the Oxo Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker the best overall winner was a no-brainer. Besides making it ridiculously easy to prep a smooth batch of cold brew, it’s also perfect for small spaces. The main components have measurement indicators so there’s no chance of slipping up, and the parts can all nest inside the large container for easy storage when you’re done drinking your coffee.
What we love: You practically don’t even need an instruction manual to use the Oxo Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker. The brewing container is marked with a coffee bean to indicate the fill line for the coffee grounds, and the glass carafe has a dot for measuring water. To make cold brew, add coarsely ground coffee to the container, place the rainmaker lid on top, then slowly pour 24 oz. of water (that’s two glass carafes) around the rainmaker so that it showers down onto the grounds and saturates them. After the container rests for 12 to 24 hours on the counter or 20 to 24 hours in the fridge (we think room temperature works best), it’s ready to decant. Set the container on top of the carafe and a valve at the base opens to drain out the concentrate.
Besides the fact that it makes a smooth batch of cold brew, we love that the Oxo Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker is such a space-saver, making it a great choice for those with tiny kitchens and limited counter space. It’s also easy to clean and store—all of the parts nest neatly into the brewing container so it won’t eat up room when not in use.
What we’d leave: There are a lot of pieces to keep track of, including lids for the brewing container and carafe as well as the three-part filtration system. We also wish more of the pieces were dishwasher-safe—only the glass carafe is. And speaking of the carafe, it could benefit from a pour spout.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy to operate
- Cold brew is ready in about one minute
- Makes café-quality cold drinks
Cons:
- Expensive
- Limited to using Cumulus pods
- Can’t adjust size of drinks
Specs
- Dimensions: 19" x 6" x 16"
- Weight: 30.6 lb.
- Capacity: 80 oz.
- Materials: Anodized aluminum and ABS plastic
- Features: Makes cold brew, nitro cold brew, and cold espresso; internal cooling chamber keeps water at approximately 34°F; nitro cold brew is produced using oxygen instead of nitro cartridges
- Colors: Carbon, cream
- Warranty: 2 years
Delicious cold brew typically requires you to prep it the night before you want to drink it—unless you have the Cumulus cold coffee maker. This sleek, slim machine utilizes Nespresso-like pods to produce cold brew, nitro cold brew, and iced espresso in roughly 60 seconds. And the drinks come out cold—no ice necessary. Operation is straightforward with a dial on top to select your beverage of choice and a glowing button that sets things in motion when pushed. Best of all, the removable water tank is located in the front for easy access when it’s time to refill.
What we love: The Cumulus machine produces the type of drink you’d pay good money for in a coffee shop. Just pop in your preferred pod of highly concentrated coffee extract, turn the dial to still, nitro, or espresso, and push a button. Water from the internal cooling chamber reconstitutes the extract, and in about a minute, your perfectly chilled beverage is ready. The still cold brew is topped with a thin crema-like cap, the cold espresso is rich and creamy, and the nitro is smooth and thick.
Besides being user-friendly, the Cumulus is slim and compact, so it won’t take up much counter space. The front-loading water tank makes refills easier, and we also love that the machine vacuums out any leftover extract from the aluminum capsules so they can easily be recycled after each use.
What we’d leave: The Cumulus can be a bit noisy during operation, and although there is a decent selection of coffee pods available for the machine, we do wish there was more of a variety. At $700, the machine is expensive, but as tester and senior editor Noah Kaufman noted, “If you are part of the 75% of the Starbucks crowd ordering cold coffee every day, the Cumulus will pay for itself within the first year.”
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Affordable
- Produces a balanced, creamy cold brew
- Consistent results
Cons:
- The concentrate is weaker than what we got from other cold brew makers
Specs
- Dimensions: 9.25" x 6.1" x 4.1"
- Weight: 1.03 lb.
- Capacity: 32 oz.
- Materials: Tritan plastic body, BPA-free plastic lid, silicone handle
- Features: Makes 4 cups; fine-mesh filter prevents grounds from slipping through; airtight lid; nonslip handle
- Colors: Black, stone, white
- Warranty: 1 year
Consisting of a pitcher and a mesh filter, the Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Maker is a great choice for those who are new to making cold brew at home and aren’t fussy about their coffee. Add coffee grounds to the filter, attach it to the lid, and place the lid on top of the water-filled pitcher. After 12–24 hours in the fridge, the full-bodied cold brew is ready to drink with no traces of fatty acids or bitter oils.
What we love: Admittedly, the Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Maker didn’t do a stellar job at making concentrate, but it did consistently produce a balanced and creamy ready-to-drink cold brew. Simply put, this isn’t a cold brew that you’ll want to dilute with water; it’s best enjoyed black or with milk. As one tester noted, “This is probably a good option for someone who doesn’t love cold brew but likes the idea of having iced coffee on hand at home.”
The Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Maker also deserves bonus points for its simple design—it’s just a plastic pitcher and fine-mesh filter insert—and the fact that it closes up tight with a silicone seal to prevent leaks and drips.
What we’d leave: Our testers found that the Takeya’s cold brew was nowhere near as concentrated as the cold brew produced by many other devices. Still, it’s fine for those who prefer a strong black iced coffee or a milky iced coffee with some backbone to it.
Best portable coffee maker: Aeropress XL Clear
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Faster than a traditional French press
- Portable
- Easy to clean
- Durable
Cons:
- It can be tall and awkward when parts are extended
- Does not include a travel case
Specs
- Dimensions: 7.6" x 4.6"
- Weight: 10 oz.
- Capacity: 20 oz.
- Materials: BPA-free Tritan plastic
- Features: Makes 2–4 cups; fast immersion minimizes bitterness; air pressure produces full-bodied flavor; micro-filtration eliminates grit; dishwasher-safe
- Color: Clear
- Warranty: 1 year
The Aeropress has long been a favorite of coffee lovers and baristas because of its compact size and ability to brew a fantastic single cup of coffee. This brand’s newest model, the Aeropress XL Clear, can brew up to four cups in just minutes and boasts the same portability and capabilities of the original: It makes a rich, full-bodied, smooth sip that’s grit-free and not bitter, all in an easy-to-clean package you can toss in a carry-on.
What we love: The portability of the Aeropess XL Clear is just one of the reasons we’re big fans. It’s lightweight, requires only a few parts, and is made from shatterproof Tritan plastic. And, of course, it produces an extraction that’s low in acid and high in flavor, but much more quickly than a traditional French press.
To brew, place a paper filter into the filter cap, twist it onto the brewing chamber, then rest the chamber on the included carafe. Add medium-fine coffee grounds and hot water to the chamber, stir gently, then insert the plunger halfway in to create a vacuum. After waiting 60 seconds, slowly press down on the plunger until all of the coffee is in the carafe.
If you want to mix things up and experiment with your brew, Aeropress has lots of recipes for creating unique hot and cold drinks with the Clear XL.
If the XL seems like more than you need you can always go with the original Aeropress, which makes a single cup of coffee.
What we’d leave: Though it is travel-friendly, the Aeropress Clear XL does not come with a case. You also may want to pack the carafe because not all hotel coffee cups can accommodate an Aeropress (paper cups in particular can crunch when you’re putting your weight into the extraction).
What else do you need to make great coffee?
- The best coffee grinders, a.k.a. the most important piece of your coffee setup
- The best coffee subscriptions, because it all starts with the beans