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The Spruce Eats Top Picks

The Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV is engineered to brew some of the finest drip coffee, plain and simple. Factor in the machine's durability and ease of use and it's the best all-around option for a high-end home brewing device. Customers looking for espresso and espresso-based drinks may prefer the Miele CM5300, which also has a built-in grinder for fresh coffee.

For some, making a simple cup of coffee or espresso can be one of the most indulgent experiences of the day. Picking the right beans and measuring the perfect grounds-to-water ratio is paramount to creating the best-tasting cup, and true coffee fanatics take this process seriously. If you're ready to level up your morning brew with a state-of-the-art machine—and don't mind splashing out on a top tier model—we've got you covered with everything from drip coffee to cold brew, with both small- and large-capacity options boasting features like automatic shutoff, warming plates, programmed brewing, and more.

Turn your daily cup of joe into a work of art with the best high-end coffee makers.

Courtesy of Sur La Table

What We Like

• Brews full pot in about five minutes

• SCAA certified

• Adjustable coffee strength

What We Don't Like

• Wide shape

• Only 10-cup capacity

Who else recommends it? Tom's Guide and Epicurious both picked the Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select.

What do buyers say? 90% of 1,100+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.

As far as drip coffee goes, this coffee maker from Technivorm is not only luxe, but also one of just a handful of brewers that meets the Golden Cup Standard, a set of criteria put forth by the Specialty Coffee Association of America. This 10-cup capacity machine uniquely uses a copper core element to keep the brewing temperature within the optimum range of 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit, and it can quickly make an entire carafe in just about five minutes. You can also adjust the strength of your java via the brew basket control, which allows you to manage how long the coffee is steeped.

Once your coffee has finished brewing, the hot plate stays on to keep the carafe warm. Thanks to an automatic shutoff feature, the machine will power down after 40 minutes, too. Other features include a hand washable glass carafe and removable parts for long-term maintenance and replacement. This top-quality coffee maker is handmade in the Netherlands and comes backed by a five-year warranty.

Grounds or Pods: Grounds | Capacity: 10 cups | Dimensions: 12.75 x 6.5 x 14 inches |Wattage: 1475

What Our Editors Say

"I'm obsessed with my Moccamaster. Not only does it look beautiful on my counter, but it also brews the best coffee at warp speed—making it well worth the price, in my opinion." — Taysha Murtaugh, Editorial Director

Amazon

What We Like

• Built-in burr grinder

• Automatic cleaning function

• Versatile

What We Don't Like

• Might be noisy for some

• May require learning curve

Superautomatic espresso makers handle every step of the process for you, from grinding to brewing, with the touch of a button. Featuring nine drink presets, you'll be able to create an assortment of espresso-based drinks from lattes to macchiatos and everything between with the Miele CM5300. If you're in the mood for drip coffee, this brewer can also make an 8-cup carafe in minutes (though you'll have to purchase the carafe separately).

Equipped with a grinder, you can grind beans on demand and even store individual settings for grind, amount of coffee, brewing temperature, and water amount. Maintenance is easy, too, due to an automatic descaling feature and removable parts.

While Miele's countertop coffee systems are all considered high-quality, the CM5300 is the smallest and least expensive of the three available models and does not come equipped with a programmable on/off timer. This is a wonderful option for those who want the performance of a top-of-the-line machine with a minimal footprint.

Grounds or Pods: Grounds |Grinder: Yes |Frother/Steamer: Yes |Dimensions: 18.125 x 9.5 x 14.25 inches |Wattage: 1500

The Spruce Eats/ Vicky Wasik

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like

• Multiple brew strengths and sizes

• Single-serve option

• SCAA certified

What We Don't Like

• Takes up lots of room on countertop

• Carafe is difficult to hand wash

The Braun MultiServe lives up to its name, offering three brew strengths and seven different sizes that you can program in advance. That includes a setting that allows you to brew a single cup of coffee— just like a Nespresso or Keurig machine—but without requiring a special pod. This brewer features a removable tank, making it easier to fill with water than traditional fixed tanks, as well as an iced coffee mode, and will make a full carafe in less than eight minutes.

This SCAA-certified machine is not just versatile, but it's also great to look at. Its sleek lines will complement just about any kitchen decor.

Grounds or Pods: Grounds | Capacity: 10 cups | Dimensions: 12.75 x 6.5 x 14 inches |Wattage: 1600

What Our Experts Say

"This is one of the few coffee makers certified by the Specialty Coffee Association. To achieve that standard, the Braun MultiServe is guaranteed to brew at the optimal temperature and extraction percentage, all under six minutes." — Derek Rose, Coffee and Tea Expert

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like

• Delicious espresso

• Powerful steam wand

• Compact and timeless design

• Removeable water reservoir

What We Don't Like

• No PID controller

The Rancilio Silvia provides the look, feel, and performance of a café-quality espresso machine. It has a sturdy portafilter, which measures 58 millimeters, and a steam wand powerful enough to make rich lattes and cappuccinos. For convenience, the 67-ounce water reservoir is removable and the design is fairly compact for a machine of this caliber.

The Silivia works manually, so prior experience helps and it may take some trial and error to perfect espresso shots, but overall it isn't difficult to use. There are four clearly marked buttons on the stainless steel display for power, brewing, hot water, and steamed milk. Expect it to take at least 20 minutes to properly heat up, and possibly longer, because it's a boiler espresso machine.

This version of the Rancilio Silvia does not come with a PID controller—a feature used to control water temperature and ensure espresso is brewed at an even temperature throughout the process. However, a PID controller can be installed after purchasing. Or there are Rancilio Silvia models out there with PID controllers already built-in; they are just sold at fewer retailers and have a higher price.

Grounds or Pods: Grounds |Grinder: No |Frother/Steamer: Yes |Dimensions: 9.5 x 11 x 13.5 inches |Wattage: 1100

Courtesy of Breville

A collaboration between Nespresso and Breville, this single-serve machine uses Nespresso capsules to create café-style drinks with no espresso pulling experience required. With this model, you can adjust the temperature and volume of your espresso and select from eight different textures and 11 temperature settings for frothing milk (especially fun for those who want to experiment with latte art). According to our reviewer, the machine heats up in just three seconds and is incredibly energy efficient. It will automatically turn off after nine minutes of no use.

The Creatista Plus is an upgraded version of the original Creatista—it has three more texture options and six more temperature options for milk, a faster heating time, and is housed in stainless steel (the original model was a combination of stainless and plastic). All in all, we love the user-friendly interface that guides you through customizing your drinks as well as the alert when it's time to descale your machine. It's ideal for those who want consistent, foolproof espresso at the drop of a hat.

Grounds or Pods: Pods | Milk Frother: Built-in | Tank Capacity: 60 ounces | Dimensions: 15.4 x 12 x 6.7 inches | Wattage: 1600

The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell

What Our Testers Say

"The Nespresso Creatista Plus Espresso Machine is ideal for anyone who wants quick and easy espresso drinks. It does the majority of the work and produces a consistent result every time." — Cheyenne Elwell, Product Tester

Amazon

What We Like

• Beautiful design

• High-quality construction

• Makes delicious coffee

What We Don't Like

• Only operates with dedicated, uninsulated carafe

• Does not have a hot plate

If you want the rich flavor of pour-over coffee but don't have the time or patience to go through the whole brewing process, check out the Ratio Six. It's a startlingly attractive contraption that automates the pour-over process for you. All you have to do is add a filter and your grounds to the brewing chamber, fill the water tank, and press a button to start the brewing process.

The "bloom" mode sends just enough water in to wet your grounds, and then the "brew" mode showers them with hot water to send fully brewed coffee into the carafe. The result is similar to that of the much-lauded Chemex, but without having to perfect the technique by hand.

You can make up to 40 ounces of coffee at once, and the entire process takes about seven minutes from start to finish. Made of stainless steel, it's a well-built machine that delivers extravagant pour-over coffee in minutes and looks fantastic sitting on the countertop.

Grounds or Pods: Grounds | Capacity: 40 ounces | Materials: Stainless steel, glass, and BPA-free polymer | Dimensions: 13.5 x 6.75 x 14.25 inches | Wattage: 1400

Expert Tip

Is your cup of coffee too weak? It may be a sign that the water is flowing through the grounds too quickly to extract properly, so you should try a finer grind, says Desiree Rose, the beverage director at Stouthaus Coffee. If your coffee is too strong, this could be from the grind being too fine. You can fix this by adjusting to a coarser grind.

Courtesy of Wayfair

What We Like

• Double filters remove more grit and sediment

• Sleek design

• Insulated walls keep coffee hot

What We Don't Like

• Finish is prone to spots and smudges

• Heavier than other models

High-end coffee makers aren't limited to high-tech electronic models; this gorgeous and modern French press by Frieling is a wonderful choice for those who prefer analog. Made of double-walled 18/10 stainless steel, it can keep your coffee hot up to four times longer than glass versions. This press features a dual filter system, too. The first filter strains out larger particles, and the second filter removes sediment, guaranteeing a smooth cup of java with plenty of flavor.

Our product tester loved the durability of the stainless steel construction in comparison to glass. While the manufacturer says that this coffee maker is dishwasher safe, like other stainless steel kitchenware, it may show spots after washing, so you might opt to hand wash instead. Thanks to its smart design, cleaning by hand is hassle-free since the unit is easy to take apart and reassemble.

The Spruce Eats

Grounds or Pods: Grounds |Capacity: 8, 17, 23, 36, and 44 ounces |Material: Stainless steel | |Dishwasher Safe: Yes

What Our Testers Say

"The quality of the design, engineering, and resulting sediment-free java give this device an edge over its competitors." — Tracey Minkin, Product Tester

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like

• Delivers high-quality results

• Easy to use and clean

• Visually interesting countertop display

What We Don't Like

• Requires some experimentation

If you want cold brew coffee with style, the Hario Cold Water Coffee Dripper does a fantastic job of extracting color, caffeine, and flavor in nearly a third of the time required of traditional overnight steeping methods.

Like Hario's iconic V60 dripper, this unit is simple in design, but doesn't have the steep learning curve of its pour-over cousin. This beautifully designed brewer feeds cold water drop by drop through finely ground coffee beans, producing a full-flavored concentrate in one to three hours (depending on the volume). Brewing coffee this way lets you preserve flavor and eliminates any bitterness or acids that tend to come through when brewing at hot temperatures. The resulting coffee is smooth and aromatic with no bite.

This brewer is made in Japan and constructed out of acrylic, stainless steel, and glass, giving it a modern look and feel. While it may take some time to figure out the right amount of coffee, grind, and tempo for your water droplets, it's an easy machine to use and can be a wonderful centerpiece for your kitchen.

Grounds or Pods: Grounds | Capacity: 26 ounces | Materials: Acrylic, stainless steel, glass | Dimensions: 18 x 6 x 9.45 inches

What Our Experts Say

"Cold brewing creates a low acidity concentrate that retains a much higher caffeine content, but is still smooth and easy to drink." — Desiree Rose, Beverage Director at Stouthaus Coffee

What We Like

• Fresh, high-quality coffee

• Plenty of customizable settings

• Stylish modern design

What We Don't Like

• Difficult to clean carafe

• Hard to get last bit of coffee out of carafe

Grinding whole beans just before brewing allows you to maximize the freshness, flavor, and aroma of your cup of coffee. This machine by Cuisinart features a built-in burr grinder with a sealable hopper that holds up to a half-pound of coffee beans (that's approximately four full pots). Select mild, medium, or strong to customize your brew strength and set your coffee pot to brew. You can also program it up to 24 hours in advance if you don't want to start making your coffee right away.

Once it gets going, you can use the Brew Pause function to temporarily stop the flow of coffee, so you can help yourself to a cup before the full brew cycle is complete. The double-walled, insulated stainless steel, thermal carafe keeps your coffee warm for hours. This model features almost exactly the same performance specs as its predecessor, the DGB-900BC, but has a slightly smaller capacity carafe and a larger digital display for easier reading.

Grounds or Pods: Grounds | Capacity: 10 cups | Dimensions: 10.75 x 14.25 x 19.25 | Wattage: 1000

Final Verdict

For drip coffee, we highly recommend the Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Brewer. Its high-quality construction and exceptional performance are further emphasized by its SCAA certification. If you want the option of espresso as well as drip coffee, you can easily satisfy every coffee request with the Miele CM5300 Coffee System.

Other Options We Tested

• Breville Dual Boiler Espresso Machine: This workhorse espresso maker didn't quite impress our testers enough to include it on the list. That's not because the Breville Dual Boiler is a poor brewing device—on the contrary, the espresso is tasty and the frother is powerful—but because its performance falls a little short of justifying the exorbitant cost.

What To Look For When Buying a Coffee Maker

Type of Machine

If you are a die-hard espresso fan or drip-only person, the choice is obvious: Pick a dedicated espresso machine or coffee maker that suits your needs. If you're a household that needs options, a combination machine that makes both may be more your style. If you like the convenience of pod machines, these are also a great choice, especially if you tend to like single servings and don't want much of a hands-on experience.

Capacity

Whether you need just a cup or an entire carafe, there's a coffee maker out there for you. Drip coffee makers with a larger capacity (10 to 12 5-ounce cups) are excellent for families or for those who drink a lot of coffee, but if you need just a cup or two, be sure your machine has a setting that allows for smaller brew sizes (one to four 5-ounce cups).

Machine Size

Another consideration when buying a coffee machine is its footprint. Be sure to double check the height, width, and depth of your machine against the available space on your counter before purchasing. You'll want to have ample room to maneuver when filling the water tank, opening any lids, or swinging out a steam wand.

Extra Features

Great features to have include automatic shutoff, a warming plate, programmed brewing (so you can wake up to a fresh pot of coffee), and a thermal carafe (excellent for keeping coffee warm throughout the day). Other options that you might want are a built-in grinder for fresh coffee grounds, a milk frother for creating espresso-based beverages, and some sort of notification for when the machine needs cleaning. Higher-end models, such as those above, will often include one or more of these features.

The Spruce / Cheyenne Elwell

FAQs

How important is the type of coffee that I use?

It really depends on your preferred flavor profile. The two most commonly produced coffee bean types are arabica (Coffee arabica) and robusta (Coffee caniphora). Arabica is the most popular in North America and tends to be sweeter, more flavorful, and less acidic. Robusta is most popular in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and is known for strong, "robust" flavors and high levels of caffeine.

Other factors that will affect your cup of coffee are where the beans are grown and how they are roasted. Like wine, coffee beans can be single-origin with distinct characteristics or a blend that has been crafted to have a specific flavor profile. Regardless of what coffee you choose, the most important thing is that it is pleasant to your palate.

What size grind should I use?

"Grind size is the most important variable when it comes to making a great cup of coffee," says June Haupts of Santa Barbara-based Welcome Coffee Cart. "If your coffee particles aren't the appropriate size for your brewing device, your cup could taste sour or bitter."

Coarse, chunky grinds are best suited for French press and cold brew. Medium-coarse grinds (less chunky) are ideal for pour-over makers, though it may take some experimentation to determine which grind works best for your preferred taste. Medium grinds (comparable to the size of sea salt granules) are great with machine drip coffee. For espresso, you will want a fine grind (similar to the size of table salt).

Can I grind my own coffee?

Of course you can! Owning a coffee mill and grinding your own coffee, particularly if you do it right before brewing, is the best way to ensure you're getting the freshest possible cup. There are two main types of grinders: blade and burr. Blade grinders use a propeller-like blade to chop and pulverize the coffee beans, similar to that of a food processor or blender. This grinder tends to be inexpensive and works quickly, but you run the risk of having an uneven grind. Burr grinders use two revolving burrs to crush beans, similar to that of a pepper grinder. The result tends to be a more consistent grind, but burr grinders are also more expensive and take up more space than blade grinders.

What is espresso?

Espresso is made with finely ground coffee beans tamped into a portafilter. Pressurized hot water is sent through the grounds, producing a concentrated liquid that has a visible separation between the crema (a layer of extracted coffee bean oil and carbon dioxide), the body (soluble coffee solids, soluble gases, and insoluble solids), and the heart (the acidic bottom layer of the shot). The ideal time for pulling a proper espresso is between 25 to 35 seconds—any shorter might mean that your grounds are too coarse, and any longer might mean your grounds are too fine. The ideal temperature is about 200 degrees; hotter temperatures may burn or over-extract your grounds, while lower temperatures may result in a weak, flavorless shot.

The Spruce / Cheyenne Elwell

How is cold brew different from iced coffee?

Traditional iced coffee is made by brewing extra-strength coffee in a drip machine and chilling it to pour and serve over ice. Cold brew coffee is never touched by heat—it is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for hours, often overnight.

"The process of cold brew is much more delicate than drip coffee," says Haupts. "If you're putting heat on coffee, you are bringing out the bitter and astringent tannins." Because of its gentler extraction process, cold brew is smoother, lower in acidity, and has a fresher taste than regular iced coffee.

Can I use my French press for other things besides coffee?

Absolutely. While the French press is designed for coffee, its filter system also lends itself well to making fruit-infused water, iced or hot tea, and cocktails. Yup, you read that correctly: cocktails. Read more about it in this guide on how to make French press cocktails.

How do I steam and froth milk?

Steaming milk is typically done with a steam wand attached to an espresso machine. Fill a heat-proof milk pitcher (or cup) about halfway with milk, leaving plenty of room for the milk to expand. With the steam wand submerged, turn it on, and then aerate the milk by lowering the pitcher and letting the tip of the wand touch the surface of the milk gently, and then submerge it again. Repeat this a few times and you'll start to see microfoam begin to form on the surface while the milk below heats up. Once your milk is hot and you have a nice layer of foam, you can use this to build lattes, cappuccinos, and any other espresso drink that requires steamed milk and foam.

Frothing milk can be done with a handheld, battery-operated device (using preheated milk) or a countertop frother that heats and froths at the same time. Each frother is different, so be sure to consult the manufacturer's manual on how to use an automatic frother. If you're frothing non-dairy milk, Haupts suggests using something with high fat content, like oat milk, to achieve a rich and creamy texture.

What is descaling?

This important process is vital to the longevity of your automatic coffee maker or espresso machine. It is meant to remove any mineral residue that has built up inside your machine, which can affect the way the machine works if not addressed regularly. Some high-tech coffee makers will let you know via a digital display or light that your brewer needs descaling. Check your manufacturer's instructions for their recommendation on how often to descale; if you're not sure, you can probably do it every few months (or every month if you have very hard water).

The Spruce / Jordan Provost

How We Researched & Tested

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ease of use, material, or price—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Thie author of this piece, Bernadette Machard de Gramont, is an LA-based writer who specializes in global food and wine content. After a two-year stint at Williams-Sonoma Headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight. One of her former lives was spent as a barista at Borders Books and Music Cafe, where she learned how to properly pull espresso and foam milk, and subsequently developed a massive coffee habit and an unusually high tolerance for caffeine.

She also interviewed two coffee experts for this article. Desiree Rose is the Beverage Director for Texas-based Stouthaus Coffee and June Haupts is the owner of Welcome Coffee Cart in Santa Barbara, California.

This piece was updated by Derek Rose, the coffee and tea expert for The Spruce Eats. He researches a variety of coffee products, from measuring scoops to commercial espresso machines, and interviews field experts for their insight. He typically uses non-electric coffee makers at home, alternating between the Bialetti Moka Express and the Bodum Brazil French Press.

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Source: https://www.thespruceeats.com/best-high-end-coffee-makers-5185003

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