How to choose the right coffee maker for your routine

NBC Selected independently determines what we cover and recommend. When you click on or buy through our links, we earn a commission. Learn more .

For our editors (and many others), there’s nothing better than waking up and enjoying freshly-brewed coffee . Finding the right coffee maker for your routine can be a huge factor in the quality of your day (and making sure your afternoons don’t drag on). But what makes a great coffee machine, and how do you know what style will fit your needs? Is it worth it to spend $450, or can you get a good model for less than $200?

I spoke to experts about the different types of coffee makers available, including single-serve brewers, cold brew coffee makers and programmable coffee makers , and how to shop for them. I included their recommendations and the ones that our coffee-loving staffers have tested and loved.

Selected. Our top picks

How I picked the best coffee makers

Generally, it’s best to choose a coffee maker that fits your routine and won’t end up in a pile collecting dust. The experts I spoke to recommend first consulting the Specialty Coffee Association Certified (SCA) Home Brewer Program , which tests a range of coffee makers based on requirements like brewing temperature and brewing time.

When shopping for a coffee maker, my experts recommend keeping the following factors in mind:

Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.

The best coffee makers of 2026

The following coffee makers all come recommended by experts and/or NBC Select editors. Unless otherwise noted, all of the automatic and programmable brewers are certified by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCA).

Best drip coffee makers

Oxo 12-Cup Coffee Maker

looking for larger capacity brewers. “A consistent 12-cup brew is perfect for larger groups and offices who are looking for a more specialty cup,” she says. It has a double-wall carafe that ensures your coffee stays hot for longer, too, says Jessica Easto, author of “ How to Taste Coffee and “ Craft Coffee: A Manual .” The machine has a single-serve function that doesn’t require a pod, making it a great option if you want to brew coffee for one.

Breville Precision Brewer Coffee Maker

Our NBC Select editors love this Breville machine because it cuts down on the time it takes to brew your coffee in the morning. It has six preset modes, including an option that automatically adjusts water temperature and brew times to meet the standards set by the SCA, according to the brand. The coffee maker’s steep-and-release valve can automatically brew small cups without the carafe in place, according to the brand.

Bonavita Connoisseur One-Touch Coffee Maker

Bonavita’s automatic coffee maker can brew eight cups of coffee in about six minutes. “The Bonavita brewer does a great job retaining a steady temperature during the entire brew cycle, [and] its shower head evenly distributes water on the whole bed of coffee grounds,” says Marco Suarez, co-owner of Methodical Coffee in Greenville, South Carolina. The carafe lid and filter basket are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup, too.

Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select

I tested the Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select for months, and it’s one of the best coffee makers I’ve ever tried. The taste of the coffee is fantastic, and it’s extremely beginner-friendly and easy to use. It has a glass carafe and comes with a hot plate (which automatically switches off after 100 minutes), so it keeps coffee warm for hours. I love the glass carafe specifically because I can see exactly how much coffee I have left, plus it’s easy to clean. The coffee maker brews up to 10 cups of coffee, depending on how much water you put into the tank, and has an automatic drip-stop brew method, meaning the brew basket automatically stops the flow of coffee when you remove the carafe, so it won’t keep dripping onto the hot plate or table (and prevents a mess).

Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker

This smart coffee maker can brew up to 10 cups of coffee and has a water filter feature, which can save you the extra step of using a Brita, for example, says Easto. You can connect the coffee maker to the SmartHQ app, Amazon Alexa and Google Home using Wi-Fi, which allows you to schedule it to brew at your preferred time, adjust the brew strength and more. You can also set the temperature anywhere between 185 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ninja CP307 Hot and Cold Brewed System

Though the Ninja brewer is not SCA-certified, I think it’s worth considering due to its high ratings (it has a 4.4-star average rating from over 8,400 reviews on Amazon) and its customizable features. You can choose from five custom brew styles — classic, rich, over ice, cold brew or specialty — and you can brew both hot coffee and iced coffee. It also comes with a thermal carafe and a fold-away milk frother to heat your milk.

Zwilling Enfinigy Drip Coffee Maker

Another SCA-certified recommendation from Hughes, this drip coffee maker has a stainless steel thermal carafe that maintains the temperature of your brew while the exterior stays cool to the touch, according to the brand. If you’re looking for a larger capacity with a glass carafe instead, the brand also has an SCA-certified 12-cup version .

Best single-serve coffee makers

The Keurig K-Mini

The Keurig K-Mini can brew anywhere between 6 to 12 ounces of coffee. NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin says she bought the K-Mini because of its affordable price point and its compact size. The brewer measures less than 5 inches wide, which is helpful if you have limited counter space. It comes with a removable drip tray, so you can fit travel mugs up to 7 inches tall, according to the brand. The coffee maker also automatically turns off 90 seconds after your last brew, according to Keurig.

Nespresso VertuoPlus

machine, the Nespresso Vertuo Plus is the best option to buy. It can automatically adjust the amount of coffee, temperature, pressure and brewing time after reading the barcode on the inserted Nespresso capsule. I use this machine on mornings when I’m in a hurry because it brews shots of espresso in seconds. It also doesn’t take up too much counter space in my small apartment’s kitchen. It comes with a built-in capsule storage container (where used capsules automatically fall in) and it automatically shuts off after nine minutes of inactivity. It can make either 5- or 8-ounce cups of coffee, and the removable water reservoir can store up to 40 ounces of water at one time.

Instant Dual Pod Pro Coffee Maker

This Instant coffee maker has dual slots for pods: one for K-Cup pods and one for Nespresso capsules, so you have a wide variety of coffee types and flavors to choose from. One of Malin’s favorites, the coffee maker can brew six different sizes and includes a 68-ounce water reservoir. You can also select the “bold” option if you want to brew a stronger cup, according to the brand. Instant’s coffee maker comes with a removable drip tray that allows you to fit travel mugs up to 7 inches tall, and it has a smaller drip tray that flips out to hold espresso or tea cups.

Best manual coffee makers

Melitta Pour-Over Coffee Brewer

This is a good starter set for those who want to try pour-over brewing at home, according to my experts. The home brewing kit comes with a six-cup carafe, a pour-over cylinder, a coffee scoop and five coffee filters. Although you may need to invest in an electric kettle to regulate your water temperature, this is one of the more affordable options on this list for those who are serious about brewing their coffee at home.

Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker

The Chemex has always been a solid choice for brewing pour-over coffee, says Easto. The top of the Chemex is shaped like a cone, which works like a pour-over dripper, which is a device that directly drips coffee into a carafe after you wet the grounds, so you don’t need to purchase a separate one, says Easto. The wood collar and leather tie serve as an insulated handle that you can remove when you put the container in the dishwasher. Chemex suggests pairing the brewer with its branded filters, which are 20-30% thicker than the standard kind, according to the brand.

Hario V60 Drip Coffee Decanter

The Hario V60 is one of Easto’s favorite pour-over coffee brewers because it brews consistent cups at a budget-friendly price point. The silicone band, which you can easily remove for cleaning, wraps around the pot to keep it cool to the touch. The coffee decanter comes with a glass pot, a dripper and a 40-count of filters.

Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker

When it comes to French press models, Easto recommends this option from Bodum. She likes that she can see everything that’s happening as she uses it. “When looking for a French press, I look for one that is made of metal and glass rather than plastic,” she says. “In my experience, metal parts, particularly in the plunger and filter mechanism, are more durable and easier to clean over the long term than plastic.” It comes with a stain- and heat-resistant borosilicate glass carafe and a stainless steel plunger, frame and lid. This French press is dishwasher-safe, too.

Stanley Classic Travel Mug French Press

Stanley is known for its popular reusable water bottles , but the brand also makes this versatile French press mug, which it sent to the NBC Select offices to try. You can use it to prepare your coffee as you would with a traditional French press, but you can also drink directly from it. All you have to do is add ground coffee and hot water. The press on the inside pushes the grounds downward and pushes freshly brewed coffee upward. “This is the all in one package for a coffee lover on the go,” says NBC Select video producer Josh Rios. “All you need is some hot water and ground coffee to make a solid 16 ounces of hot coffee in one container.”

Aeropress Original Coffee and Espresso Maker

Aeropress’ multipurpose coffee and espresso maker brings together three functions — immersion, pressure and aeration — to make a flavorful cup of coffee, according to the brand. Add coffee grounds to the container on top, pour hot water through it and then use the stirrer and plunger (included with the maker) to help press the brewed coffee through the paper micro-filter. The coffee drains through the device and into your coffee mug.

Rios likes how easy it is to make a perfectly portioned cup of coffee. “The Aeropress is a godsend when you don’t want to make just a single cup of coffee whenever you want,” he says. “Oftentimes you need so much equipment to make more coffee than you need.” While the device comes with multiple paper filters, Rios recommends getting the reusable metal filter if you plan on using it consistently.

What are the different types of coffee makers?

Coffee makers come in many shapes and sizes. They also vary widely in price, you can find a basic automatic brewer for less than $20, while smart, programmable ones can go for upwards of $300. Generally, there are four main types of coffee makers: automatic, single-cup, programmable and manual.

Automatic drip coffee makers