10 Best Drip Coffee Makers of 2021

Finding the best drip coffee maker is not always a straightforward affair, and this is despite these being some of the most commonly used coffee maker types in many parts of the world.

Drip coffee makers will come in different shapes, sizes and with different features and capacities. And with one in your home, you can be confident of getting a good brew consistently and fast enough.

Also, with one of these coffee makers, you get a super easy machine to use because making coffee only requires you to load it up with coffee grounds, add water and push a button to start brewing.

However, the immense popularity of these coffee makers also means that there are an enormous variety of models in the market.

But, with this piece to guide you, finding one that suits your needs should be easy as we review 10 top-rated drip coffee makers and also highlight the important things to watch out for when shopping.

10 Best Drip Coffee Makers – Review

• Cup Capacity: 12 cups
• Material: Plastic

The more affordable Hamilton Beach model 49980A drip coffee maker is designed with 2-way brew options, and this means that it can make both a single cup and 12-cup carafe. And you can also brew into a 14-ounce travel mug.

Besides the versatile brew options, this coffee maker will also use both pre-ground coffee and soft pods for increased versatility.

There is also a handy brew strength selector that allows you to choose between regular or bold strength brews and with a user-friendly control panel and display for easy operation.

Also, this coffee maker has a convenient auto pause function that will allow you to pause the brew cycle and get a quick cup of coffee.

This coffee maker is also programmable, and it includes a 2-hour auto shut off function to conserve energy. And there is also a nonstick warming plate to help keep the coffee warm for later consumption.

Although the glass carafe is quite delicate and the quality is a little wanting, it will still serve you well for long enough if you give it some extra care.

• Cup Capacity: 10 cups
• Material: Metal/plastic

Technivorm Moccamaster makes their KBG drip coffee maker model for aficionados and coffee lovers looking for a top-quality handmade coffee maker.

This top-rated drip coffee maker features a highly durable metal and plastic construction designed to ensure that it will give you many years of service and withstand regular use in any environment.

Operating this machine is also made simple by the few and easy to understand controls, and it is also designed to provide a quick and quiet brewing. With this coffee maker, you can make the 10 cups in as little as 4 minutes.

And once your coffee is ready, you do not have to take all of it at once as it has a hot plate for the glass carafe with two temperature settings to allow you to keep the coffee at your preferred temperature for hours.

With the auto drip-stop brew-basket, it is also possible to get a quick cup of coffee without having to wait for the brewing cycle to be completed. This feature makes it possible to pull out the carafe while the machine is still brewing.

When compared to other models on our list, this machine is more expensive, but given its quality, it is worth paying some extra bucks to get it.

• Cup Capacity: 14 cups
• Material: Plastic

For a 14-cup capacity drip coffee maker, the Cuisinart DCC-3200 comes at a great price, but there is more to it than a high capacity and great price tag.

This coffee maker also features brew strength control to allow you to choose whether to make bold or regular flavor coffee. And it is also a fully automatic and 24-hour programmable coffee maker with self-cleaning and automatic shut off function.

Besides having a keep warm hot plate, the coffee maker also takes things a notch higher by allowing you to adjust the temperature of the plate. ‘

Because it uses the permanent gold tone filter, you will not need to buy any paper filters as it is washable and reusable. To make this an even better coffee maker, it also comes with some easy to use controls and a backlit LCD.

The pour spout design can make pouring coffee or refilling the reservoir a little awkward, but this is a small price to pay as it is meant to ensure that your coffee remains hot. And the plastic smell and taste are typical of most coffee makers when new and it will go away after a few pots.

• Cup Capacity: 1-cup
• Material: Stainless steel/plastic

This Ohuhu product is the cheapest item among our drip coffee maker reviews, but its small price tag should not mislead you to thinking that it is low quality as it still makes some rich and full-bodied coffee.

The coffee maker is small, compact and lightweight which makes it your perfect travel companion as you can carry and use it from almost anywhere.

It is also designed to work with both grounds and K-Cups, and this means it will work for most coffee lovers. And you can brew directly into the included mug to ensure you never have to carry cups or mugs with you.

The durable mug also helps to make this one of the best small drip coffee makers. It is made from durable stainless steel and plastic material, and with a leak-proof design to make it perfect for carrying coffee on the go. 

Given its size, it is obvious that this coffee maker has a smaller capacity, and it will also brew relatively slower. But for portable coffee maker meant for use by one person, it is as good as it can get.

​5. Ninja CP307 – Versatility Meets Quality

• Cup Capacity: 10 cups
• Material: Metal/plastic

If you are one of those unique individuals that love both tea and coffee in equal proportions or just live in a home where both have die-hard fans, this SharkNinja machine will be perfect for you.

It is designed with an advanced brewing technology that will offer you a myriad of settings for both tea and coffee, and it can hot and cold brew both beverages.

The machine has a 10-cup thermal carafe that will keep your beverages hot for long, and you can choose from 6 different brew sizes and 5 brewing styles for more custom brews.

With this machine, you can use any brand of coffee or tea, and it will work with both bagged and loose leaf. Better yet, when making tea, you only need to select the type and the system will automatically know the right number of steeps and temperature.

There is also an advanced flavor extraction and Auto-IQ which will ensure that you get some flavorful brews. And you can also use this machine to make milk-based brews as it has fold away frothers for both hot and cold milk.

Although this is the second priciest coffee maker in our list, its versatility and brew quality make up for the extra cost, and you will never regret spending more to buy it.

• Cup Capacity: 10 cups
• Material: Plastic

Zojirushi EC-YTC100XB is one of those coffee makers that will always grab your attention as it comes in an appealing modern look. But it is also a highly functional machine that will be an excellent addition to your kitchen.

There are many things that make this one of the best automatic drip coffee makers out there, but the 200-degree Fahrenheit brewing temperature is what will impress many users as it is high enough to ensure excellent extraction.

This coffee maker has a vacuum-insulated 10-cup carafe that will help keep your coffee hot for several hours, and it is also designed to be easy to pour and clean.

Also, the reservoir is removable and fully washable for easy maintenance, and you will not need to spend any cash on paper filters as this coffee maker uses a removable and washable filter.

With the time saver mode, you can speed up the brewing process, and there is also a 24-hour programmable timer to ensure that your coffee will always be ready when you wake up.

Brewing is still a bit slow when compared to other models, but the fact that you can make up to 50 ounces of coffee in less than 10 minutes means that the machine is still fast enough for most users.

• Cup Capacity: 10 cup
• Material: Plastic

If you prefer making your coffee from whole beans, this Krups model is the best choice for you as it has an efficient built-in burr grinder to allow you to use coffee beans.

The grinder is also designed to allow you to choose from 5 settings, and you can also select the grinds quantity used by choosing the number of cups you want to make.

Besides the grinder, this bean-to-cup coffee maker is also quite feature-rich. Some of its most amazing features include the pause and serve function that allows you to get a quick cup before the cycle is complete.

The coffee maker uses a removable and washable permanent filter to save you on the cost of buying paper filters, and it also has a conveniently programmable auto-start function.

An easy to use and intuitive control panel and LCD display make this machine easy to operate, and you will also get to choose from 3 brew strength options which are strong, medium and mild.

Although the grinder can be quite loud, it is hard to get a machine that does not produce noise when grinding, and so this should not be a significant drawback.

• Cup Capacity: 9 cups
• Material: Stainless steel/plastic

With the OXO 8710100, you will get a better brewing system so that your coffee tastes even better. And it achieves this using a microprocessor-controlled brew cycle and rainmaker shower head to ensure even dispersion of water over the coffee grounds.

Besides being one the best tasting drip coffee makers out there, it is also a well-built machine that combines stainless steel with plastic to ensure you get something sturdy that will offer many years of service.

And this is also a 24-hour programmable drip coffee maker that will ensure that you always get your coffee ready when you wake up in the morning.

The coffee maker will brew relatively more quietly than most others, and it also comes with a highly useful thermal carafe that will keep coffee hot for hours and a backlit and intuitive LED interface.

When compared to other similar capacity and capability models, this coffee maker is larger and bulkier, but it will not take up a lot of counter space and is still convenient to use.

• Cup Capacity: 12 cups
• Material: Plastic

While every item in our drip coffee maker reviews has something special to offer, the Hamilton Beach model 46205 will offer the best quality, features, and value in the under $50 price range.

Convenience and ease of use are at the heart of design, and the coffee maker will come with a removable reservoir design to allow for super easy and fast to refill. And it also has an automatic pause and serve function that is always very convenient.

Hamilton Beach also equips the machine with some programmable features that include a programmable clock, 2-hour auto shut off and 3 brew strength options.

And besides also including a warming plate to keep the coffee hot, the plate also allows for temperature adjustment so that the coffee always remains at your preferred temperature.

The coffee maker does not come with a permanent filter or some start paper ones, but this should not be an issue as they are easy to find and cheap.

• Cup Capacity: 12 cups
• Material: Plastic

The small and space-saving size of this Braun coffee maker combines with its pure flavor brewing system to make this one of the best 12-cup drip coffee makers you can get anywhere. And this is more so given its relatively affordable price tag.

Also, this coffee maker is fully programmable, and it will allow you to set it to switch on and make coffee when you want it, and it also has an automatic off function.

The drip coffee maker comes with an extra large display and some easy to read and intuitive button control for easy operation.

With its handy strength selector feature, you can also choose between regular and bold brews, and it also has an anti-drip system that will allow for pause and serve.

The initial set-up of this 12-cup coffee maker can be a little challenging for some users, but you should be okay if you follow the detailed instructions. Hence this should not be a deal breaker.

How to Buy the Best Drip Coffee Makers

With the hundreds of drip coffee maker models in the market, picking just one can be a tall order even for a true coffee aficionado or even a professional barista.

But, all it takes is having proper information and understanding what makes a good drip coffee maker. And with this in mind, here are some of the most vital factors to watch out for when shopping for these coffee makers.

1. Cup Capacity

Cup capacity should always be one of the first factors to consider when shopping for a coffee maker as it determines how much coffee you can make at a go, and hence how convenient the machine will be for you.

With drip coffee makers, you can get a machine that makes anywhere between 1 and 14 cups at a go. And so the right capacity for you depends on the amount of coffee you take or the number of people that you make coffee for in your house.

But even if you live alone and are not a heavy drinker, it is always a good idea to have a machine with some extra capacity as you will not need to refill it often. The 12-cup models are the most popular ones and they seem to work well for all kinds of users.

2. Hot Plate or Thermal Carafe

You will also need to decide whether you want a drip coffee maker with a built-in hot plate or a model that comes with a thermal carafe. While both are effective in keeping coffee hot for long, they will be ideal for different situations.

Hot Plate

A hot plate is just a hot surface built into the coffee maker meant for keeping the coffee hot before you get to drink it. Machines with hot plates eliminate the need of having a thermal carafe which means a cheap glass carafe is more than enough.

However, hot plates can burn the coffee and make it taste bitter if they get too hot and they will also use more energy.

Thermal Carafe

With a thermal carafe, you do not need a hot plate because the carafe is insulated to help keep the coffee hot for long. These carafes will mostly feature double wall and vacuum-insulated stainless steel construction which is what helps to maintain the coffee temperature.

A thermal carafe will not use up a lot of energy as you do not keep the machine on and will also help the coffee preserve its flavor. However, thermal carafes are more expensive.

3. Built-in Grinder or Not

Drip coffee makers will come in models that have built-in grinders and those that do not have a grinder which means you will need to grind the coffee beans separately.

While both machines still make some amazing coffee, they are ideal for different kinds of users. Those that have a built-in grinder tend to be more expensive, but they are more versatile and convenient as you will not need a separate grinder. And they also save space as you do not need to have two separate machines.

Buying a drip coffee maker with no built-in grinder and buying a separate grinder is often more cost-effective as there are many cheap grinders out there.

Also, having a separate grinder gives you more control over the grind size and quality and hence the flavor of the coffee. However, a separate grinder means more work for you.

4. Size: Big or Small Machine

The size of the machine also matters when it comes to choosing the best drip coffee maker. Whether you go for a small or big machine is all a matter of your personal preferences and situation.

For those who have smaller houses or small kitchens with limited counter space, a small machine is your best bet as it will not take up a  lot of room. But, it is important to note that in most cases the small machines will have a small capacity and will not be very feature-rich.

The larger and bulky machines, on the other hand, take up more space and are more expensive, but they also often have more features and a higher cup capacity.

5. Programming Features

Programmability might not be necessary for a drip coffee maker to make great coffee or to work well, but it can make it more convenient.

With a programmable machine, you can set it to turn on and off at certain times of the day to ensure you will always find freshly brewed coffee in the carafe when you wake up.

But, it is also important to keep in mind that most of these machines are designed to brew fast, and so programmable features are not always necessary.

6. Brew Features

If you are looking to buy the best automatic drip coffee maker, the brew features also matter a lot as they will affect both the performance and convenience of the machine.

Generally, the brew features that the machine has to offer will vary from one model to the other. However, there are certain things like brew pause that are always great to have on your machine.

With a brew pause feature, you can get a quick cup of coffee without having to wait for the entire brew cycle to be completed.

7. Water Filter

For your coffee to have that rich, bold and flavorful taste, it is important to make sure that you have the best water quality.

If you have a water filter on your kitchen sink faucet, then your water should be good enough. However, if you do not have one, it is vital to make sure that your drip coffee maker comes with a built-in water filtration system.

But still, at the water filters, you can get machines with either a permanent gold tone water filter or the disposable paper filters that you need to replace regularly. Both types have merits and demerits, and so the choice is all up to you.

8. Automatic Shut Off

While some machine can be programmed to power up and shut off at certain times of the day, others are designed to automatically shut down when they stay idle for a certain period.

Regardless of how the machine does it, an automatic shut off function is a great feature as it saves on energy and is also important for safety purposes.

With an automatic shut off drip coffee maker, you will have peace of mind even if you forget to switch off your coffee maker.

Conclusion

The modern drip coffee makers will come in different price ranges and with different features, capabilities, and limitations. Hence it is important to choose a model that works best for you.

Choosing the best drip coffee maker from the many options only requires you to consider the few factors highlighted in our buying guide above that include things like capacity, carafe type, and programmability.

With this knowledge in mind and out top 10 reviews for recommendations, finding your perfect drip coffee maker should now be a quick and effortless task.