Here is a list of the best coffee makers based on a coffee drinker’s means, needs, and wants.
Home use – Easy and economical:
Krups KM1000 Programmable Coffee Maker for about $79
Comments: I know, $79 isn’t exactly cheap, but for the price you get a quality Krups coffee maker that won’t go bad in a couple of months. It has digital controls, water filtration and an automatic shutdown system programmable from 1 to 5 hours. Krups has been making quality coffee machines for years. They’ve slipped a bit lately in the last couple of years, but they’ve gotten back to their quality game, and this is one of their newer models.
Home use: easy and semi-expensive:
Zojirushi Fresh Brew Thermal Coffee Maker for about $99
Comments: Zojirushi is not a common brand, but in the coffee business, they are known for making the best insulated airports and carafes. Thermal is the way to go for fresher tasting coffee, and the Zojirushi features a double-walled thermal carafe that’s larger (52 oz.) than most other models, the best brew temperature for any comparably priced model, and sprays water evenly over the grounds to ensure a good overall extraction.
Home Use – Some Work = Great Coffee:
Chemex Classic 10-cup coffee maker for around $50
Comments: No plug, no buttons, just a glass vase. It was invented by a chemist, but it looks like a work of art. All you have to do is insert a filter, add the coffee grounds and pour very hot water through the grounds. It takes work, but it makes very good coffee because the water and coffee only touches the special Chemex filter paper and glass, so there are no metal or plastic flavors. Most home coffee machines brew at too low a temperature, which makes the coffee weak and slightly sour; that problem is eliminated with this coffee maker.
Home Use – Single Serving:
Krups Dolce Gusto for around $169
Comments: In recent years we have gone from the first to the second generation of single-dose coffee machines. They’ve all been entering the market, and the Dolce Gusto is Krups’ entry. A single-serve machine is only as good as the capsules it uses: Dolce Gusto uses capsules from NestlĂ©, who have years of experience in both coffee and cocoa.
Small Office – Low Price:
Bunn VP17-1 for around $240
Comments: Commercial quality and entry price. A basic heater with lots of stainless steel, and built to make good coffee and last for years. Comes with Bunn’s great 2-year parts and 1-year labor warranty.
Small Office – Excellent Coffee:
Bunn CW15-TC Pourover Garrafer Brewer for around $330
Comments: For a little more money than the VP17, you can brew it in a thermal carafe. The quality of the coffee will more than make up for the extra money spent. Note: Decanters are sold separately and range from $30 to $70.
Commercial or office use – Waterline connection:
Bunn SmartWAVE APS Brewer for around $480
Comments: SmartWave coffee makers offer an excellent thermal coffee maker that can be brewed in carafes or airports at a lower price than most automatic coffee makers (attached to the waterline). Lots of digital controls.
Cafeteria quality coffee:
Bunn ICB Coffee Makers, Curtis ThermoPro Coffee Makers, Fetco Extractor Coffee Makers for $800 and more
Comments: These are not just for coffee shops, they are also used in offices, restaurants, churches, etc. The coffee is great because the technology is there: they infuse the coffee with hot water to extract the most flavor from the beans, they brew it at the right temperature, they moisten the beans evenly, they pour them in for the right amount of time, etc. It’s worth the money if you want the best coffee.
Commercial grinding and preparation:
Grindmaster Grind’n Brew for around $2000
Comments: Half the equation to making great coffee is freshly ground coffee. These machines complete that equation.
Machines that do everything:
Franke Super-Automatics and Bunn Tigers for $5000 and up
Comments: These machines can make a coffee, espresso, latte, or cappuccino in any size you want at the touch of a button. Some of them can even make frozen drinks.