We love drip coffee makers. First off, the best ones are always reliable and user friendly, a huge bonus for entry-level home baristas and anyone looking for a good-quality cup first thing in the morning.

With the rising popularity of specialty coffee, drip machines and pour-over brewers are starting to offer a fantastic range of customization. If you're feeling inspired, many of the latest automatic drip brewers (yes, automatic!) give you the freedom to experiment with the same number of parameters as manual methods. If not, they're also just as good for whipping up a delicious cup of coffee in minutes.

On the other hand, manual pour-over devices are getting smarter, using physics and intuitive design to guide you towards exceptional results even if it's your first time picking up a gooseneck kettle. Simply put, there are a lot of incredible drip coffee makers out there, which can make the selection process a bit daunting.

As a team of discerning coffee nerds, baristas, and professionals, we've dedicated years to testing the best coffee gear on the market. Naturally, we've come across a lot of noteworthy home brewers and have selected a handful of favourites in the process. If you're looking for a reliable, high-quality coffee maker that fits your routine, this guide is for you.

Every product you'll read about has been vetted by Eight Ounce Coffee's specialists; if it's here, it's officially “barista approved” and is something that we would happily use – and have been using – ourselves.

Jump straight to the Guide.

Jump to the FAQ.

Jump to the Glossary of Terms.

 

Trending Coffee Gear in This Blog

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker

xBloom Studio Coffee Maker

CEADO Hoop Coffee Brewer

Shortcuts to the Guide

• Best Overall: The Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker
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• Best Classic: Chemex Classic® Coffee Maker
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• Best for Dependability: Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select
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• Best Pour Overs for Flavour Control: Hario Switch Immersion Brewer & NextLevel Pulsar
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• Best User-Friendly Pour Over: Ceado Hoop Brewer
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• Best Low-Budget Pour-Over Coffee Maker: Hario V60-02 Dripper
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• Best Portable Coffee Maker: AeroPress Original
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• Best Low-Plastic Electric Brewer: Ratio Eight Coffee Maker
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• Best All-in-One Brewer: xBloom Studio Coffee Maker
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• Best Pod Coffee Maker: MORNING The Morning Machine
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The Home Coffee Maker Guide

Best Overall: Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker ($499.00)

Why we love it:

The Aiden is Fellow's debut coffee brewer that, since its release, has made a big splash within the coffee community. And not just for its strikingly modern and angular design.

First off, the Aiden is one of the most versatile electric brewers on the market. Effortlessly swap between pour-over or batch brews (up to 10 cups), control everything from water temperature to pulse time* using the interactive LED screen, and schedule your next cup of coffee.

We believe that the Fellow Aiden's most exciting feature is the Brew Profiles: ready-to-brew recipes that can be directly uploaded to your coffee maker. You can create your own, get tapped into what the rest of the community is brewing, and visit our Brew Profiles page to download coffee-specific recipes designed by the roaster. 

Who it's for:

The Fellow Aiden is for anyone looking for café-quality pour overs from the comfort of home.

If you're just getting started with home brewing or enjoy automated features, the Aiden has everything you need for an effortless cup without sacrificing taste. But if you're interested in a custom home brewing experience similar to a manual pour-over (without the kettle), it can just as easily let you be in control.

Best Classic Coffee Brewer: Chemex Classic® ($62.50 - $229.00)

Why we love it:

Simple, elegant, and iconic, the Chemex Classic is one of the most visually recognizable coffee brewers in the world. It's even reached celebrity status, being featured in a myriad of movies and T.V. shows like Friends and Mad Men, to name a few.

We can guarantee that the Chemex® Classic is not all flash. It was invented by a so-called “coffee mad scientist” and frenzied collector of patents back in 1941, who came to the conclusion that a coffee maker has only one purpose: to make coffee. So he created the Chemex®, the pinnacle of simple yet effective design, which hasn't been altered in the ~80 years since its release.

No electronics. No frills. Just a borosilicate glass vessel perfectly engineered to brew, decant, and accentuate flavours in drip coffee using physics and aeration. The paper filters are also inventive, 20-30% thicker than standard filters, which help to remove bitterness and sediment.

Who it's for:

The Chemex® is for lovers of pour-over coffee who appreciate an elegant, straightforward design. Because the coffee maker is available in any capacity from 3 cups (Half Moon-size) up to 13 cups, it is perfect for those who want the option to brew larger quantaties at a time.

Like any manual brewing method, it does require some technique and effort, so the Chemex® may not be for those looking for a one-step experience. But once you've got your grind setting, pour technique, and timing determined, this all-in-one coffee maker and decanter guarantees exceptional flavour payoff.

Best for Dependability: Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select ($490.00)

Why we love it:

Since 1968, The Moccamaster coffee machines have been made in the Netherlands to meticulous standards. Including their most colourful automatic brewer, KBGV Select.

Temperature has a massive effect on flavour; too cool, and you'll end up with sour coffee. Too hot, there will be an overwhelming bitterness. To maintain the perfect balance without the guesswork, the Moccamaster KBGV utilizes a copper heating element that keeps temperature between 92-96°C.

Like all Moccamaster Coffee Makers, KGBV has some real heft to it, made with high-quality materials to ensure that it stays brewing for a lifetime. Other useful features include an intelligent hot plate, a switch to alternate between full or half batches, and an auto-stop feature that prevents dripping when the glass jug is removed.

Who it's for:

The home brewer who is looking for a simple, reliable automatic coffee maker that can keep up with the daily ritual. With simple half and full-batch modes, the Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV offers just the right amount of customization. Meanwhile, the important details – like temperature and flavour extraction – are perfected by the machine.

Best Pour Over for Flavour Control: Hario Switch Immersion Brewer ($69.00) and NextLevel PULSAR Brewer ($89.00)

Why we love them:

Love the clean taste of a pour-over coffee but don't want to give up the ease of a French Press? The Hario Switch Immersion Dripper and NextLevel Pulsar give you the best of both brews. They allow you to control coffee's extraction*, essentially steeping the grounds, before triggering the release of coffee.

Both the Hario Switch and NextLevel Pulsar require minimal user intervention once the brewing process is initiated, and both are known for producing well-rounded coffee with optional levels of acidity and body.

Who they're for:

Using a stainless-steel ball stopper, the Hario Switch operates with a simple open-and-closed mechanism. An excellent choice for home brewers seeking flavour control without too much complication.

If you want precise control over extraction and flow rate to get the benefits of immersion and percolation*, the NextLevel is the best choice with its adjustable valve. This no-bypass* brewer is great for maximizing flavour intensity and body.

Best User-Friendly Pour Over: Ceado Hoop Brewer ($49.00)

Why we love it:

The Ceado Hoop is a no-bypass brewer that utilizes radial infusion* to guarantee even extraction of the coffee grounds. Winner of the Best New Product Award, the Hoop gives anyone the freedom to explore different roasts and enjoy full, balanced flavours without the technical training.

Its design includes three components – a Flow Tower, Paper Filter, and Outer Loop – which can be taken apart and reassembled easily for cleaning. The Flow Tower is what sets the Hoop apart from other pour overs: it features evenly spaced holes along the bottom to allow an even, consistent flow of water and balanced flavour extraction. No technique necessary.

Who it's for:

The Hoop coffee brewer is suitable for everyone, a greatly effective tool for home baristas seeking the quality of pour-over coffee without the hands-on requirements. There's no need to worry about rules and no requirements for monitoring your flow rate* or water temperature. Simply pour, wait, and achieve high-quality extraction without the effort.

Best Low-Budget Pour-Over Coffee Maker: Hario V60-02 Dripper ($17.00 - $45.00)

Why we love it:

One of the most popular brewing methods among home baristas and professionals, the pour over allows you to control flavour by making subtle changes in parameters like flow rate, extraction time, and bloom cycle*.

The Hario V60-02 is a popular conical pour-over brewer celebrated for its versatility and classic, minimalist design. It's easy to clean, lightweight and portable, and falls into the rare category of high-end coffee gear priced below $50. For those with a limited budget or counter space, the Hario V60-02 is well worth the investment.

Who it's for:

The Hario V60-02 is ideal for home baristas who value flavour control over 100% convenience. But don't feel intimidated: you don't necessarily need to be a pour-over expert right out of the gate.

While the V60-02 Dripper does come with a slight learning curve, its conical design rewards even entry-level technique with rich, intense flavours balanced with acidity. In short, the Hario V60-02 is the ideal entry point for learning pour-over fundamentals, yet is a versatile tool for experimenting with advanced recipes.

Most Portable Coffee Maker: AeroPress Original ($54.95)

The AeroPress Original Coffee Maker utilizes immersion* and a bit of gentle pressure to create a smooth, full-bodied cup that combines the best qualities of French Press, pour-over, and espresso. It's also one of the few coffee brewers to have spurred a globally recognized coffee competition.

With the AeroPress, you get access to hundreds of possible brew recipes, despite its remarkably simple (and forgiving) design. For those who have struggled with the blight of over-extracted, astringent coffee, the AeroPress keeps brew times around 2 minutes through an optimized 3-in-1 process, delivering the perfect balance of body and acidity without the bitterness.

Who it's for:

Having been used as a coffee maker in competitions and homes around the world, the AeroPress is for coffee enthusiasts of any skill level seeking versatility. However, with a 290ml capacity, it is not optimal for more than one cup at a time.

The AeroPress is also one of the most portable coffee makers in the world, making it an excellent selection for travelling coffee enthusiasts.

Most Luxurious Brewer: Ratio Eight Coffee Maker (Series 2) ($1,150)

Why we love it:

Expanding on Ratio's widely acclaimed automatic coffee brewer, the Ratio Eight Series 2 incorporates thoughtful, high-end upgrades, including a new stainless-steel and glass water path, so hot brewing water never comes into contact with plastic.

Inspired by the art of pour overs, the Ratio Eight Series 2 makes perfectly brewed coffee simple with one-button automation between full or half batch recipes. The flat-bottom filter basket, also made of stainless steel, insulates brewing temperature and optimizes extraction for rich and balanced flavours. No effort required.

The Ratio Eight Series 2 also doubles as an excellent conversation piece, with a modern matte-black finish and elegant walnut trim that emulates “luxury designed to last”.

Who it's for:

The Ratio Eight Series 2 is for the health-conscious home barista who values high-quality materials, durability, and a simple pour-over experience without sacrificing flavour.

Best All-in-One Brewer: xBloom Studio Coffee Maker ($849.00)($764.10)

Why we love it:

The xBloom Studio is an all-in-one grinder, brewer, and precision scale seamlessly integrated into one design. It's the ultimate machine for making specialty coffee possible for everyone, offering tiered levels of automation that all lead to barista-level quality.

With three signature modes, the xBloom Studio lets you deftly move between the convenience of an automatic coffee maker and the freedom of a manual pour-over. Opt for a one-touch experience. Or, control every parameter like water temperature, pouring pattern, bloom time, and more. 

We like to think of the xBloom Studio as a friendly assistant. In fact, we use it to help automate our pour-over menu in the Coffee Club Café, trusting the brewer to take care of remedial tasks (like concentrating on flow rate) so our baristas can connect with customers.

Who it's for

The xBloom Studio is for anyone, regardless of experience, who wants to enjoy barista-level coffee from the comfort of home.

If it's your first foray into brewing your own specialty coffee, rely on the Autopilot mode to get started and, when you feel comfortable, branch into Copilot for slightly more customization. For those who are confident in their pour-over skills, Freesolo makes sure that the only limit is your imagination: explore new origins, roasts, and processing methods with excellent results every time.

Best Pod Coffee Maker: MORNING The Morning Machine ($719.00)

Why we love it:

When the alarm has just gone off at the break of dawn, we've all yearned for the convenience and speed of a capsule coffee machine. But most of the time, that comes with a significant downfall in quality.

MORNING designed a capsule machine to deliver specialty-coffee quality in the convenience of a pod. Compatible with any of the pods on our website, the Morning Machine takes into consideration every brewing parameter, even bloom cycle, to deliver a cup that delivers far more flavour nuance than you'd expect from a pod – even a professionally made coffee.

Although you can opt for the one-button experience, the Morning Machine lets you experiment with parameters like brew ratio and temperature, so you can create and save personalized recipes once you've found your favourite. Or, if you're just looking for a guaranteed exceptional cup of coffee, you can choose from one of 10 pre-programmed recipes by the experts at MORNING.

Who it's for:

The Morning Machine is designed for the home barista who values efficiency, but whose palate is fatigued by the stale taste of grocery store pods.

The Morning is also an excellent brewer for anyone who has wanted to try coffee from specialty roasters without having to invest in whole bags, dial in a grinder, or worry about properly translating the tasting notes. If you do want to branch out and create your own recipe, the machine gives you the flexibility to do it.

FAQs

 

• Are electric coffee setups always more expensive than pour-over setups?

Generally, yes. Only because of the hefty materials and intricate technology involved in a good-quality electric brewer. All of the automated recommendations in this blog are priced higher than their manual counterparts, but that does not mean that you cannot find a great electric brewer on a budget.

The entry-level price point in specialty coffee gear is continuing to trend down, while quality is just getting better. But if an electric coffee maker is not in your budget, manual brewers are becoming increasingly user-friendly. Take the Ceado Hoop, for example, a small, cost-effective dripper that provides the guidance of a machine without the cost.

• Which is the best option for brewing larger quantities of coffee: filter or electric?

Because they are usually equipped with carafes, electric coffee makers typically offer larger brewing quantities over manual or filter methods.

Some, including the machines in this list, have a maximum quantity of up to 10 cups. Plenty to last you and your household all morning. If you are searching for a good, cost-effective manual brewer that can hold more than a single serving of coffee, the Chemex Classic comes in 6, 8, 10, and even 13-cup sizes.

• How does the taste of coffee differ between pour-over and electric brewers?

The flavour of coffee often depends on a multitude of factors – only one being the type of brewer – but generally, the difference between pour-over and electric brewers boils down to control.

Pour-over coffee and other manual methods (i.e., immersion) allow you to choreograph individual variables, like water temperature and pour frequency, that ultimately affect extraction. This often results in nuanced and more pronounced flavours, with a silkier "tea-like" body.

An electric brewer's specialty is consistency and convenience, automating variables like flow rate and temperature so they're the same every time. Generally speaking, they are built to get you from a basket of grounds to a cup of coffee without hands-on technique. Not necessarily for nuance, at least, not until recently.

Electric brewers, including any the recommendations in this guide, have gotten exceptionally precise in mimicking the flavour complexity of pour-over coffee. So choosing the convenience of flipping a switch no longers comes with a caveat.

• Which brewing method is easier for a beginner? Pour-over or automatic drippers?

When choosing between a pour-over or automatic coffee maker, you should consider the type of workflow you want – not what you think you can achieve.

For years, electric brewers have been the most common method to get the job done, and many have a nostalgic connection to the sound of their home brewer churning on first thing in the morning. If flipping the switch and getting a fast, convenient, and satisfying cup is rewarding for you, then we suggest looking into a machine. And with specialty coffee becoming more accessible to home baristas, you no longer have to palate the dull, bitter taste of a generic coffee maker.

However, if you're venturing into home brewing because you want to learn the process of crafting exceptional coffee by hand, the pour over is still one of the most approachable, affordable, and effective ways to get an exceptional cup.

Yes, there is a learning curve. But there are also a lot of resources to help you grow from a fledgling home brewer to advanced enthusiast. Including us, a team of people who are obsessed with coffee and always taking up the opportunity to talk about it. If you're still wondering how to get started, contact us! We'll help you find everything you need.

• Glossary of Terms.

  • Pulse time: The intervals at which an electric coffee machine pours water over the grounds, typically three or four before the brew cycle is complete. A feature of the Aiden, this automates the technique of pour-over coffee where water is added in small amounts at a time.
  • Immersion: A brewing method where coffee grounds are entirely submerged in water, essentially steeping like tea. This results in a full-bodied cup with rich flavour intensity.
  • Extraction: How much, or little, coffee solubles (acids, oils, and aromatic compounds) are pulled from the grounds into the final cup.
    Extraction has a direct influence on the flavour and body of coffee: low extraction yields a sour, weak cup, whereas over extraction typically results in bitter, astringent notes. The key is to stop the brewing process at just the right level for a well-rounded profile with a pleasant balance of acidity and sweetness.
  • Percolation: A technique that involves passing hot water through the coffee grounds, namely using gravity, resulting in bright cups with vibrant flavours.
  • No-bypass: The no-bypass method refers to brewing techniques wherein 100% of brewing water is forced through the coffee grounds.
    The benefits of no-bypass coffee is that it typically results in clean, balanced flavours and a high rate of consistency.
  • Flow rate: The speed at which water passes through the coffee bed. The flow rate is a very influential factor in brewing methods like pour overs, and when controlled effectively, yields high flavour precision.
  • Bloom cycle: The initial wetting of the coffee grounds (lasting around 35-45 seconds) to release carbon dioxide. During the bloom phase, escaped gases leave room for water to penetrate the coffee grounds, so it can extract the best flavour with none of the off-putting "burnt" notes.
  • Radial infusion: Unique to the Ceado Hoop Brewer, radial infusion utilizes evenly spaced holes in the "Flow Tower" to create a controlled, consistent stream of water.
    This yields an incredibly high rate of consistency, high extraction, and nuanced flavours without any agitation required.