Drip Coffeemakers: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

The most frequent questions that I receive via email or messages from Facebook are about drip coffeemaker buying recommendations. It’s not hard to see why. There’s thousands of coffee makers for sale, so it’s easy to understand why it can be confusing and overwhelming to go shopping for a new machine. This guide shows you which machines are worth the investment and which should be avoided at all costs.

Guide To Buying Your Next Coffeemaker

Most coffee makers have two major problems, which is probably why my French Press is my go to device in the morning.

My major complaint against most drip machines is that they don’t heat the water hot enough for optimal brewing conditions. The result is under extracted coffee that tastes okay, but not great because it doesn’t have all of the flavors of characteristics that it should.

My other complaint is that many drip coffee makers are designed poor and built cheaply. The result is machines that will sell well at Walmart, but fall apart in a year or two.

It’s almost enough to make me want to use my French Press every morning, but I can understand the ease and convenience of a drip coffeemaker, especially on those mornings when I’m in a rush to get out the door. That’s why I always recommend, whether you buy one of the coffee makers I suggest or any other, to make sure that it’ll properly heat the water to 195-205 Fahrenheit and that it’ll hold up over time.

The Good

Technivorm Moccamaster Coffee Brewer With Thermo Carafe – Technivorm 9587

This is the Ferrari of coffeemakers and my dream machine. I don’t own one, but I’m saving space on my counter for one. I don’t normally make recommendations for gadgets I don’t own, but this one is a winner. Unlike most machines that are designed to sell, this machine’s primary design is to brew great coffee. The only drawback to this machine is the $299 price tag, it’s not cheap but worth the investment.

Hand made and individually tested in the Netherlands, the Moccamaster coffeemaker brews a perfect cup of coffee in only six minutes. A copper heating element ensures water stays at the perfect temperature from the brew cycle’s beginning to its end.

• Perfectly synchronizing brew time, grind and temperature, this fast, consistent machine quietly produces one of the best cups of coffee in just 5 to 6 minutes.
• Special copper heating element keeps water temperature at 195°–205°F throughout brewing for optimum flavor and less bitterness.
• An innovative 9-hole spray arm disperses the water over the entire grind for a remarkably even soak prior to extraction.
• Copper lining along the spray arm keeps the water temperature consistent throughout the wetting stage.
• To ensure a precise coffee/water contact time, a cone-shaped brew basket funnels the grind to the perfect bed depth.
• Operation is simple – just fill the brew basket, add water and press the power switch.
• An insulated steel carafe keeps coffee hot.
• Includes a travel lid.
• Adjustable brew basket features a manually operated drip-stop which allows you to adjust for brewing a half pot, a full pot, or a full drip-stop for a quick cup before the brew cycle completes.
• Several removable parts for cleaning to avoid oil and residue build up, ensuring a great tasting coffee every time.
• Illuminated power button is easily seen in the dark.
• BPA free.

Zojirushi EC-BD15BAFresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker

By far, this is my favorite coffeemaker that I’ve had the chance to review. This brewing device makes great tasting coffee that’s full of flavor and keeps it warm in the thermal carafe without over heating it. This one is more budget friendly at $98 (on sale at Amazon for $80.99 when this article was published), and I know that’s more than the average price of a coffeemaker at Walmart, but this is a much better machine.

• Stylish automatic coffee brewer with 1.5-liter thermal carafe
• Stainless-steel carafe keeps coffee hot for hours
• 1025 watts; electronic clock/timer with preset function; auto shut-off for safety
• Clever brew-and-serve lid design; easy-to-read water gauge
• Measures 15 by 12 by 9 inches; 1-year warranty

The Bad

Black & Decker 8 Cup Thermal Programmable Coffeemaker

On first glance, there’s a handful of good things about this coffee maker. However, after closer inspection I can’t recommend it. It does have a thermal carafe, but it doesn’t keep the coffee that warm. Plus, it never heats the water hot enough to brew excellent coffee. It comes close, but not close enough.

• Quicktouch programming
• Sneak-a-cup feature
• Automatic brew
• Perfect Pour Carafe
• Removable filter basket

Cuisinart DGB-550BK Grind-and-Brew 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker, Black/Brushed Metal

At first, I loved this machine. It had a built in grinder, that made making coffee in the morning one step easier. However, after trying out other machines, I realized that the grinder wasn’t really a benefit. It was a blade grinder that did a horrible job and made the machine three times harder to clean. There’s part of me that still likes this machine, but I’d much rather use a separate burr grinder.

• 24-hour programmability with 12-Cup glass carafe featuring an ergonomic handle, dripless pour spout and knuckle guard
• Grinds whole beans right before brewing to produce fresh and flavorful coffee. Grind off feature for pre ground coffee
• Brew-pause feature, auto shutoff from 0 to 4 hours, and 1- to 4-Cup feature
• Includes: Charcoal water filter and permanent gold tone filter that ensures only the freshest coffee flavor flows through. Measuring scoop. Instruction book
• Measures approximately 12 by 10 by 17 inches; 3-Year limited warranty

And The Ugly

Kalorik 1000-Watt 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Copper

I liked this machine at first, mainly because it was one of the few drip coffee makers that heats the water to the optimal 195-205 degrees range. However, a few months later the machine just stopped working. Luckily, the manufacture had no problems sending me a replacement. However, a few months after that it broke down again, this time it went in flames. Literally, there was fire! The machine shorted, I saw flames inside the machine and it died a quick death. I didn’t ask for another replacement.

• 1000-watt fully programmable coffeemaker brews up to 12 cups
• Push-button control panel with blue back-lit LCD display; digital clock and timer
• Brew-pause function; nonstick hot plate; 2-hour automatic shut-off
• Transparent water tank with hinged lid; glass carafe included
• Measures 9 by 8-1/2 by 14-1/2 inches; 1-year limited warranty

There’s my list. If you’re going to buy a drip coffeemaker invest in the Technivorm or the Zojirushi. They’re worth the extra money with taste and quality.

What coffee maker to do you recommend buying (or avoiding at all costs)?

—

Fine Print.