We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Shopping Food and Kitchen Reviews Small Kitchen Appliance Reviews The 6 Best Automatic Coffee Makers for Brewing the Perfect Cup, According to Our Tests Get your caffeine fix with these top machines. By Nor'Adila Hepburn Nor'Adila Hepburn Nor'Adila Hepburn is a commerce writer who specializes in writing content for 6+ and 7+ figure commerce brands. She's been writing in-depth buying guides for Better Homes & Gardens since 2023. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on November 16, 2023 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews The Bottom Line Our Testing Process Others We Tested What to Know Before Shopping Your Questions, Answered Who We Are Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey While you could easily get your caffeine fix from your favorite coffee shop, nothing beats the aroma of fresh brew when you first wake up in the morning. You can easily achieve this reality with an automatic coffee maker right in your kitchen. “Automatic coffee makers are all about ease of use…They offer exceptional quality coffee with none of the fuss, which is a main reason why they are becoming more and more popular,” says James Pergola, coffee expert at Nespresso. “Shoppers should look for features that fit their specific needs—do they drink coffee? Espresso? Will they need a milk feature for lattes or cappuccinos? These are a few of the important questions to ask yourself when choosing an automatic coffee maker." We tested 21 machines for 24 hours in our lab to determine which are the best automatic coffee makers, evaluating them based on size, type, programmable options, warranty, and other features. In addition to Pergola, we spoke to Cary Wong, director of coffee at Partners Coffee. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Cuisinart Pour-Over Coffee Brewer at Amazon ($170) Jump to Review Best Budget: Black+Decker QuickTouch Programmable Coffeemaker at Amazon ($35) Jump to Review Best Splurge: Breville Precision Coffee Maker at Amazon ($300) Jump to Review Best Smart: Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker at Amazon ($289) Jump to Review Best Large: Cuisinart Programmable Coffee Maker at Amazon ($99) Jump to Review Best Colors: Smeg Drip Coffee Maker at Amazon ($230) Jump to Review Best Overall Cuisinart Pour-Over Coffee Brewer Amazon View On Amazon $170 View On Wayfair $168 View On Home Depot $200 Our Ratings Ease of Use 5/5 Design 5/5 Performance 5/5 Ease of Cleaning 5/5 Why You Should Get It It brews coffee much more quickly than other models we’ve tried, so you can get your caffeine jolt and move on with your morning. Keep in Mind The carafe is difficult to clean thanks to a narrow opening. While slow brewing has its benefits, it is not for everyone—the Cuisinart 8-Cup Coffee Brewer is great for those who want their coffee ready quickly without sacrificing quality. It’s a 24-hour programmable option with auto shut-off and self-cleaning settings. The coffee maker is certified by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), which indicates that it’s the gold standard among home coffee makers. You’re able to control brewing temperature by using the hot and extra-hot settings, though you can’t dial in specific temperatures. There are three extraction options: mild, medium, and bold. Judging by the 8-cup capacity, it’s the best automatic coffee maker to use if you live alone or with one partner or roommate. We conducted taste tests using fresh coffee grinds and mass-produced grounds. The result? Our cup of joe using fresh grounds tasted much better than the mass-produced grounds, which turned out bitter. Time was kind to the results—after letting the coffee sit in the carafe for an hour, we found the fresh ground brew tasted less acidic and more well-balanced. The machine also brewed coffee more quickly than other options. During testing, the stainless steel carafe felt comfortable to hold, and it smoothly poured out the coffee with no mess. However, the carafe is difficult to clean thanks to the narrow opening. The coffee maker comes with a three-year limited warranty. Product Details: Size: 13.75 x 14.5 x 9.5 inches | Brewing Capacity: 8 cups | Coffee Type: Drip Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Best Budget Black+Decker QuickTouch Programmable Coffeemaker Amazon View On Amazon $35 View On Wayfair $38 View On Walmart $35 Our Ratings Ease of Use 4/5 Design 4/5 Performance 4.3/5 Ease of Cleaning 5/5 Why You Should Get It It’s a no-frills option that makes a solid cup of brew out of mass-produced, pre-ground coffee. Keep in Mind The machine is mostly plastic and feels a bit cheap and flimsy. As long as you’re not too fussy about taste, the no-frills Black + Decker 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker offers great value for the money. It has a 12-cup capacity—good for a larger household or those who drink a high volume of coffee. The pre-ground beans produced a very strong, bitter cup with minimal acidity. We preferred the mass-produced results to fresh grounds, which tended to be weak and watery. It’s the best automatic coffee maker for those on a budget who don’t grind coffee at home. The coffee maker automatically pauses brewing once you lift the lid. You have 30 seconds to pour a cup and replace the carafe before it starts brewing again. The control pad is easy to navigate, consisting of five buttons to set the time, turn it on and off, and pre-set brew times. One downside—the appliance is mostly plastic (aside from the glass carafe) and felt flimsy, which makes sense given the low price. But it comes with a two-year limited warranty if you have problems. Product Details: Size: 8.25 x 12.25 x 11 inches | Brewing Capacity: 12 cups | Coffee Type: Drip Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Best Splurge Breville Precision Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon $300 View On Target $80 View On Walmart $330 Our Ratings Ease of Use 5/5 Design 5/5 Performance 5/5 Ease of Cleaning 5/5 Why You Should Get It It produced a consistently good cup of coffee across settings and ground types. Keep in Mind The minimum capacity brew was weak. The Breville Precision Brewer is the best automatic coffee maker option if you want more control over your brew. With the ability to customize brew times and bloom coffee grounds, it results in better flavor than many other options. It features a thermo-coil heating and pump system, which lets you set precise temperatures and bloom times. The lid is also well-designed, allowing you to lock it when it’s time to brew and twist to pour the coffee out. We were easily able to pour coffee without it splashing or dripping out the sides. If you just want one cup of coffee and not the whole pot, you can brew directly into your coffee mugs instead of the carafe. Throughout testing, the coffee we made tasted rich and well-balanced. The results were delicious, sediment-free, and neither over-extracted nor bitter (even when it sat for up to an hour). A stainless steel carafe with double walls keeps the brew hotter for longer than a glass carafe. The coffee machine features six brewing modes, including a quick mode that makes a full pot in under seven minutes and an ice mode that’s specially designed for cold coffee drinks. We found the settings and dials very intuitive and easy to use. Overall, the Breville delivered consistent results throughout the various tests, though the minimum capacity brew was weak compared to the others. Both the freshly ground and pre-ground beans produced a solidly delicious cup of coffee. Product Details: Size: 9 x 14 x 16 inches | Brewing Capacity: 12 cups | Coffee Type: Drip Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Best Smart Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker View On Amazon $289 View On Target $300 View On Home Depot $256 Our Ratings Ease of Use 5/5 Design 5/5 Performance 5/5 Ease of Cleaning 5/5 Why You Should Get It It brews a great cup of freshly-ground coffee that retains distinct flavor notes even after it’s been sitting for up to 60 minutes. Keep in Mind There is no automatic pause function. The SCA-certified Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker allows you to brew coffee from anywhere using Wi-Fi. With the Smart HQ app, you can manage settings like brew strength, pre-set times, temperature, and more from your phone. Additionally, the coffee maker has a variety of programmable settings including auto-brew and a voice-to-brew function that uses Alexa and Google Home to make your cup. You can also adjust brew temperature settings from 187℉ to 205℉. It was the best automatic coffee maker we tried in terms of design. The appliance makes a gorgeous addition to a home coffee station. It comes in three finishes: matte black, matte white, and stainless steel. The carafe is a thermal version made from stainless steel, which kept our coffee tasting great for an hour after it was brewed. Plus it features a wide base, sleek exterior digital controls, and a shiny copper-colored handle. We also appreciated how comprehensive the instruction manual was; it went into detail on how to brew a great cup of coffee, as well as tips to clean and descale the unit. During testing, we found that the coffee retained hints of orange and floral notes even when it sat for up to 60 minutes. We recommend using freshly ground coffee at a medium grind consistency for best results. Bear in mind that it doesn’t have a pause function, and we observed some dripping when we moved it from the heating element. Product Details: Size: 7.3 x 12.5 x 14 inches | Brewing Capacity: 10 cups | Coffee Type: Drip Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Best Large Cuisinart Programmable Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon $99 View On Target $80 View On Wayfair $100 Our Ratings Ease of Use 5/5 Design 5/5 Performance 5/5 Ease of Cleaning 5/5 Heat Up Time 3.5/5 Why You Should Get It We found the taste comparable to pour over coffee when using the grounds-to-water ratio recommended by the SCA. Keep in Mind Despite the high capacity, we felt smaller amounts brewed better coffee. If caffeine is your fuel of choice, then a large-capacity pick like the Cuisinart PerfecTemp Coffee maker is the best automatic coffee maker to have in your home. The 14-cup capacity makes it ideal for a large household. It features 24-hour programming and auto-shut-off functions so you can start brewing any time of day or night. First-time users will find it a breeze to use, as the manual includes detailed operating instructions as well as helpful insights on how to make a good cup of coffee. As with other models, we tested the machine by brewing freshly ground coffee at maximum, minimum, and medium capacity. Surprisingly, the minimum brew resulted in a stronger flavor than the maximum. The medium-capacity brew had the most body. Still, we felt the results were consistently delicious for home-brewed coffee, especially when considering the price tag. With the proper ratio of coffee to water as recommended by the SCA, the taste was comparable to a pour-over. Mass-produced grinds resulted in a bitter flavor, but we felt it would be pretty drinkable with creamer. The machine is well designed; the carafe is easy to pour from, the components are simple to clean, and the programmable function is intuitive and accurate. Overall, we think it’s a complete steal for the quality. It also comes with a three-year limited warranty to protect against damage. Product Details: Size: 7.75 x 9 x 14 inches | Brewing Capacity: 14 cups | Coffee Type: Drip Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Best Colors Smeg Drip Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon $230 View On Wayfair $230 View On Williams-Sonoma $230 Our Ratings Ease of Use 4.8/5 Design 4.8/5 Performance 4.8/5 Ease of Cleaning 4.8/5 Why You Should Get It This adorable coffee maker made an impressive cup out of inexpensive, mass-produced grounds. Keep in Mind When the carafe is full, it’s unwieldy and feels unevenly weighted. The egg-shaped Smeg Drip Coffee Maker goes back to the future with a retro 1950s look and the latest features, including auto-start, a clock, and impressive brew settings. There is also a special function to brew smaller amounts of coffee (1-4 cups). The Smeg has a 10-cup capacity and comes in ten fun colors including pink, red, navy, and sky blue. Made from steel with powder-coated colored enamel and plastic chrome accents, it’s sturdy and well-constructed. Besides the aesthetic, the Smeg makes a delicious cup of coffee. The cups we brewed with fresh grounds were delicious, but the machine transformed the mass-produced grounds into a great cup of coffee. In fact, we found it to be one of the best we had during the entire test. The resulting coffee was tasty, with soft fruity notes and no unpleasant bitterness. The warming plate keeps coffee warm for an hour after the coffee is done brewing. However, we noticed that when the carafe was full of hot coffee, the weight didn’t seem evenly distributed—it was clumsy to hold, and the handle felt like it was going to fall off the pot. The Smeg comes with a two-year warranty. Product Details: Size: 9.75 x 10 x 14 ¼ inches | Brewing Capacity: 10 cups | Coffee Type: Drip Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey The Bottom Line Our top recommendation for the best automatic coffee maker is the Cuisinart 8-Cup Coffee Brewer (CPO-850P1) because it is SCA-certified and produces a reliably tasty cup of coffee. For a much cheaper option, we suggest the BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker (CM1160B) for under $50. Our Testing Process To find the best automatic coffee maker, we tested 21 models at our testing lab in Birmingham, Alabama. We evaluated the machines based on size, features, ease of use, and, of course, the taste of the coffee. To evaluate performance, we brewed freshly ground medium-roast coffee by programming each coffee maker to brew for five minutes, recorded max temperature and brew times, and assessed the coffee’s taste after brewing. We did another taste test after 30 and 60 minutes, making note of changes in the coffee’s acidity, bitterness, and flavor notes, and evaluated whether any grinds ended up in the carafe. With the freshly ground coffee, we evaluated how it performed while brewing at minimum, maximum, and medium capacity. We filled the reservoir with filtered water to the appropriate water line, put our coffee in, and started brewing. When it was ready, we recorded start and stop brewing times, temperature, and total volume of coffee in ounces. For the mid-capacity test, we used a standard ratio of coffee and water per the SCA (Specialty Coffee Association). Finally, we tested how they performed when using pre-ground, medium-roast coffee. In this test, we checked whether or not the coffee makers had a pause brew or sneak-a-cup feature. If it was an automatic setting, we removed the carafe for five seconds to pause brewing. If it was manual, we pressed the pause button and halted brewing for five seconds. We then recorded how much drippage occurred. Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Other Automatic Coffee Makers We Tested Wolf Gourmet Programmable 10-Cup Coffee Maker (WGCM100S): This coffee maker is precise, featuring a built-in scale that weighs coffee grounds and adds a corresponding water ratio for the perfect cup of coffee. It makes a great cup of coffee, but it’s significantly pricier than our splurge model. Nostalgia Retro 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker: This coffee maker is adorable and a decent pick for those looking for a basic option. But the similar-looking Smeg 10-Cup Drip Coffee Maker made a far superior cup of joe. Amazon Basics 12-Cup Digital Coffee Maker: This coffee maker is straightforward. It comes with standard functions that let you program brew times, and a water window to see how much water and coffee grounds are in the filter. But we weren’t that impressed with the coffee—which, let’s face it, is a pretty big deal when it comes to the best automatic coffee makers. Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey What to Know About Automatic Coffee Makers Before Shopping Size Before investing in a new coffee maker, it’s wise to take stock of your counter space and the size of your kitchen. Many options on our list are around 13 to 15 inches tall and come in widths ranging from 7 to 12 inches. While most could fit on countertops (given you have the space), not all coffee makers can fit comfortably in a kitchen cabinet. Brewing Capacity “The best brewing capacity for you will depend on the volume of coffee you are making,” says Pergola. “Are you brewing a single cup a day for yourself? Does the whole household like a cup a day?” The best automatic coffee makers have brewing capacities ranging from 8 cups, which is enough for one or two people, to large-capacity models that can brew up to 14 cups. Coffee Type Before you buy a coffee maker, you need to understand the difference between coffee types. Most machines make drip coffee, but you have the option of making espresso in a machine as well. And while they might seem similar, there is a key difference in how the beans are prepared and the brewing methods. Espresso grounds are much finer than the medium-grind coffee grounds used in drip coffee makers. They need to be brewed in an espresso machines, which uses high pressure to quickly force water through coffee grounds inside the filter, resulting in a rich, intense flavor. On the other hand, drip coffee has a less concentrated flavor, because it relies on gravity to extract flavor from coffee grounds. Programmable Options The best automatic coffee makers often feature programmable settings that streamline your coffee routine. For instance, the coffee makers on our list feature auto-shut-off and 24-hour programming, which allows you to set the exact time when you want your coffee to start brewing. Some premium models, like the Breville Precision Brewer, use precision brewing that lets you dial in the exact temperature you want. You can also find coffee makers that are compatible with Alexa and Google Home, like the Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker. Warranty Most coffee makers come with a two- or three-year limited warranty to cover product defects or failures for a specific period. Cuisinart’s 8-Cup Coffee Brewer and PerfecTemp 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker are two options with a longer warranty. Other Features Most of the best automatic coffee makers come with auto shut off, auto start, and self-cleaning settings to clean and de-scale your machine. You’ll also commonly find modes that allow you to brew stronger or lighter coffee to your taste. More expensive models can often set specific water temperatures. You may see options like a quick mode that can brew an entire pot in minutes or special settings for making cold brew. Other common features include a digital clock and the ability to brew small amounts of coffee or a single cup rather than the entire carafe. Some coffee makers have bloom settings that soak coffee grounds briefly (around 30 to 40 seconds) in hot water, causing the grounds to release carbon dioxide gas and produce a better-tasting brew. Better Homes & Gardens / Will Dickey Your Questions, Answered Where can you buy an automatic coffee maker? You can buy an automatic coffee maker from any big box retailer, such as Amazon, Target, Williams-Sonoma, and Home Depot. “It’s always a great idea to do your own research before purchasing a coffee maker,” Pergola says. “I would recommend going in person too if you can—being able to touch and feel machines can help in your decision-making.” How long do automatic coffee makers last? Although most automatic coffee makers come with limited warranties, with proper maintenance and cleaning, they should be able to last for much longer. “If regularly cleaned and treated well, an automatic coffee maker should last and brew delicious coffee for years,” says Pergola. How much do automatic coffee makers cost? “These days automatic coffee makers range in price from anywhere as low as $35, but they do come with some disadvantages like cheaper internal parts which can result in a subpar cup,” Wong says. If you want a premium model with more features, you’re looking at a price tag of $200 or more. Who We Are Nor'Adila Hepburn is a freelance writer who specializes in writing in-depth buying guides for Better Homes & Gardens. To find the best automatic coffee maker, she evaluated a range of automatic coffee makers from various brands and used research and insights from our lab tests. She also spoke to James Pergola, coffee expert at Nespresso, and Cary Wong, director of coffee at Partners Coffee. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit