There’s nothing quite like a fresh, steaming pot of drip coffee, particularly first thing in the morning, and I’m here to help you choose the right machine for the job. As TechRadar’s resident coffee expert I’ve tested over a dozen coffee makers this year, so I’m well placed to help you pick the right one for your kitchen.
I’ve picked out the top three drip coffee machines that I’d happily give a place in my own home. Whether you simply want great-quality coffee with no frills, also want the ability to make espresso now and then, or want a premium machine that lets you fine-tine the minutiae of brewing to a professional standard, there’s something for you here.
Best all-round
Breville Luxe Brewer Thermal
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If I were buying a drip coffee maker for my own kitchen right now, the Luxe Brewer Thermal would be my number one choice. It’s sold under the brand name Sage in the UK and Breville in the rest of the world, for slightly complicated reasons, but the machine itself is the same – and it’s excellent.
Brewing a batch of drip coffee is, fundamentally, a very straightforward process – you just pour hot water onto ground coffee and let it drip into a carafe – and the Luxe Brewer Thermal keeps things simple while providing a handful of genuinely useful customization options. In my tests, the default settings worked well, but if you don’t get just the right flavor from your beans you can tweak the bloom time (how long the coffee is pre-infused with hot water), bloom temperature, brew time, and brew temperature to fine-tune the extraction.
The machine can also prepare a batch of cold-brewed coffee. Load it up with ground coffee (the Luxe Brewer Thermal comes with a handy guide to help you measure out the optimal amount), add water to the line on the tank, remove the carafe lid so it doesn’t begin to drip, and press the button to start. Your coffee will be steeped cold for 24 hours, and the machine will beep to alert you when it’s ready.
Other smart features include a delayed start timer (great for mornings), a removable water tank for easy filling (no more pouring pitchers of water into the machine on your counter), and the best insulated carafe I’ve ever seen on a drip coffee maker. Not only does it look smart, it keeps coffee piping hot for even longer than the company claims. After four hours, a half-filled carafe was still above the optimal drinking temperature, and a full batch stays hot for even longer.
Read our full Breville Luxe Brewer Thermal review
Best multi-function
Ninja Prestige DualBrew System
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The Ninja Prestige DualBrew System gives you the best of both worlds: a premium drip coffee maker on the left, and a capsule espresso machine on the right. The model I tested is the version sold in the UK, but the Ninja Espresso & Coffee Maker Barista System sold in the US is practically identical.
It’s a particularly good option for preparing your first coffee of the day. If you want drip coffee, you can fill the water tank and add your freshly ground coffee to the generously-sized basket, adjust the brewing temperature if you like, and set the timer. The DualBrew System has a smart hotplate under the carafe to keep your brewed coffee at the ideal temperature for drinking without stewing it.
Only want a single cup of coffee rather than a whole pitcher? There’s a fold-out drip tray to accommodate a single mug, and you can set the drink volume when adjusting the DualBrew Pro’s settings. It’s an excellent option for travel mugs as well. Who needs expensive take-out coffee?
For mornings when you’d prefer an espresso, just drop a capsule into the pod machine on the right, push down the lid, and select whether you’d like a single or double shot. Nestlé no longer owns the patent on Nespresso Original pods, so there’s a huge choice from big brands, tiny independent roasters, and everything in between. You can adjust the height of the drip tray to suit your cup, too – just unhook it and move it up or down.
Finally, you have an electric milk whisk that folds out from the side of the DualBrew Pro for making cappuccinos and lattes using your freshly-made espresso. The only downside is that it only froths your milk and doesn’t heat it, though the machine has a list of ‘recipes’ on the side showing how long to microwave and whisk it for different coffee drinks. Overall it’s a superb machine that’s spectacular value for money considering how much it offers, and a great addition to your breakfast nook.
Read my full Ninja Prestige DualBrew System review
Best premium
Fellow Aiden Precision Drip Coffee Maker
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If you want to get more technical with your brewing, the futuristic-looking Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker is the drip machine for you. In fact, this is the machine the trainer used during my last SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) course.
The Aiden offers a choice of brewing modes, so you can pick the appropriate one depending on how much time you have to spare. Auto Brew mode works like any basic drip coffee maker, simply heating water and pumping it over your ground coffee. The pump will run until the water tank is empty.
Guided Brewing mode is where things get interesting. It lets you choose how much to brew, then suggests the optimal dosage, bloom time, and temperature based on the type of beans you’ve selected. The machine will also tell you whether to use the cone or flat-bottomed brew basket, and can detect which one you’ve inserted.
The Aiden has a cold-brew mode too, which uses hot water to bloom the coffee, then switches to cold for the remainder of the process. It’s a clever trick that means your drink takes just 1.5-2 hours to prepare compared to 24 for traditional cold brewing. The flavor profile is impressively similar, so hats off to Fellow.
Like the Luxe Brewer Thermal above, the Aiden has a removable water tank that’s easy to fill at the tap. The Aiden’s tank has a larger, more ergonomically designed handle, which makes it easier to carry when full, which is a point in its favor.
However, the Aiden loses points for its carafe, which lets heat escape too easily. Fellow claims it will keep your batch of freshly brewed coffee hot for hours, but during my tests, it cooled noticeably within 45 minutes. It was nowhere near as effective as the Luxe Brewer Thermal.
In short, the Aiden brews exquisite drip coffee, but you’ll need to be ready to enjoy it straight away.
Read my full Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker review
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The best coffee makers you can buy
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