While pour-over coffee gives us more control over the brewing process – an advantage that even the best-rated drip coffee makers can’t provide you with – drip coffee has its own charm that hardly any caffeine addict can resist.
With this brew style, you will have more convenience and be free-minded for other tasks while the machine is doing its job. On top of that, some drip models also provide customization and settings to some extent, as you will see below. Continue scrolling to find out more.
Best-rated Drip Coffee Makers
Technivorm Moccamaster KBT – Best Premium Choice
Technivorm Moccamaster is never known as an affordable brand for general customers. Built with high-quality materials and admirable craftsmanship, the polished silver look of its products – such as the KBT coffee maker – is a great choice if you want a reliable machine and don’t mind spending a bit more.
The KBT is not a small machine. At 15.5 inches tall, this coffee maker is not going to make the cut if you have a cramped kitchen. However, Technivorm has managed to present an average footprint of 12×7 inches. Like other Moccamaster models, inside this towering body is mainly the complicated brewing mechanism that has earned the name for this Dutch company.
This no-frills design also means you won’t see any smart and modern features many coffee makers these days have to attract customers of the digital era. There is no programmable functionality, no wake-up scheduler, or even a basic LCD display. If you can’t do without those tools, then you will be out of look with the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT.
However, the quality of the brew has always been one of the most consistent selling points of these pricey coffee makers, and the KBT won’t make you disappointed with its performance. The coffee is delectable and sublime in flavor, making it a top choice for any coffee lover.
Verdict: If you are a coffee fanatic, the expensive Technivorm Moccamaster KBT can bring consistently delectable cups of drip coffee from a simple yet classy design.
Pros
- Good-looking metallic design
- Durable and reliable
- Long warranty
- Tasty coffee
Cons
- Expensive
- No programmable features
Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp – Best Programmable Model
If the price tag and the lack of control and smart features of the Technivorm Moccamaster coffee makers have put you off, let’s have a look at the DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp from Cuisinart – a company always known for producing affordable yet versatile smart kitchen appliances.
This drip coffee maker retains all the iconic elements of Cuisinart products: the blue lights around the control buttons, the polished look, the black plastic, and the brushed steel. This look is neither glossy nor striking, but not boring either. Like the Technivorm model above, the DCC-3200P1 is fairly tall at 15 inches tall even though it does have a small footprint. This means while this coffee maker won’t take up much space on your counter, it may fit tightly in a small cabinet.
But as we have mentioned, what sets this coffee maker apart is its programmable functionality, allowing you to schedule beforehand the brewing time and temperature. You can plan this ahead for up to 24 hours, meaning a delicious cup of already brewed coffee will be ready when you wake up in the morning. Cuisinart even allows you to choose to turn off the machine right away or wait a bit more after it’s done with the brewing.
However, if you don’t fancy these smart features, you may find the price tag of Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp higher than basic models, such as the Mr. Coffee product below.
Verdict: The Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp is a perfect mid-range drip coffee maker as it provides a host of programmable features and customization while not costing too much like higher-end models.
Pros
- Useful programmable features
- Cheaper than high-end models
- Reliable performance
Cons
- Not easy to clean
- More expensive than basic coffee makers
Mr. Coffee Simple Brew – Best Basic Model
When all you need is just a basic drip coffee maker that doesn’t require much effort and time to clean and maintain, the Mr. Coffee Simple Brew is definitely a great buy.
Taking a no-frills design approach, the Simple Brew has one of the simplest user interfaces you can find on the market: a single control button, making coffee brewing a lot more friendly if you are not familiar with this process.
The simplicity in design also applies to the cleanup and serving as well. The well-designed carafe will make sure there is no tipping or spilling until the last drop of coffee while it only takes you up to 12 minutes to make 6 cups with this machine, including both preparation and cleaning.
But this convenience does come with a cost. As a basic drip coffee maker, the Mr. Coffee Simple Brew provides no extra custom settings or programmable features, which rules out the ability to schedule a cup of drip coffee for your morning from the night before.
Verdict: The Mr. Coffee Simple Brew is a solid and affordable drip coffee maker when you aren’t in need of any programmable or customizable function.
Pros
- Cheap
- Simple to use and clean
- Decent coffee
Cons
- No customization or programmable features
How To Choose A Drip Coffee Maker
Drip coffee makers share a lot of common things in design and working mechanism with machines of other brewing styles, so it’s not a surprise if you find the factors below familiar.
Functionality
There are coffee enthusiasts who want to take complete control over the brewing process, but there are also busy people who just want a cup of drip coffee every morning without needing to keep an eye on the coffee maker all the time. So the choice is totally upon you.
Many models, like the Mr. Coffee Simple Brew, come with only basic functionality while other machines can provide a wide range of customization and settings, including programmable features. The latter may take you more time to become familiar with them, but they allow you to custom and tweak the brewing process.
Ease of Use
This includes the setup, filling water, adding the coffee grounds, severing, and cleanup. An easy-to-use drip coffee maker should not require much effort and time from you to make a cup of coffee and keep it in the best condition.
Design and Durability
Most models on the markets use glass, plastic, and metal as their materials, each of which has its own strong and weak sides. For example, while a glass carafe is indeed a nice touch in any kitchen, it is also easy to break when you’re not careful with it.
Conclusion
Drip coffee is a popular brewing style, and this translates into a huge variety of various machines from different companies in the market. What makes the best-rated drip coffee makers, such as the above recommendations, stand out among the rest is usually their ease of use, functionality, and brewing performance. Stick with them, and you will be assured of a tasty cup of drip coffee every day.