Ready to buy now? Shop the best:
- Best of the Best: Ninja Programmable XL 14-Cup Coffee Maker PRO
- Best Bang for the Buck: Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker
- All-in-One Machine: Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System
- Unique Design: Hamilton Beach Programmable Drip Coffee Maker
- Trusted Brand: Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker
Coffee makers are must-have appliances in most households. If you want to make the perfect morning pick-me-up or after-dinner drink, finding the best coffee maker for your needs is essential. There are some great coffee brewers out there, but it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of choices.
The right coffee machine for you depends on the type of coffee you like, whether that’s espresso, artisanal or basic drip coffee. You might want a specialty machine to make drinks like lattes and flat whites, or a French press or pour-over dripper for hands-on control. Or you might want the convenience of a single-serve pod coffee machine.
We here at BestReviews have the information you need to help you make your decision. The BestReviews Testing Lab checked out a number of coffee makers to see how well they performed, and to gain greater insight, we interviewed coffee expert Kirkland Gee, cofounder of Perfect Extraction. Out of the dozens of coffee makers we considered, the Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Brewer ultimately took the top spot.
Ninja Programmable Coffee Brewer
Best of the Best
Brew Capacity (cups): 12 | Brew Time (minutes): 8 to 16 | Dimensions (inches): 8” D x 10” W x 14” H | Water Reservoir Size (oz): 60 | Brewing Temperature (°F): 200 to 205 degrees
If you’re searching for a great drip coffee maker that’s built to last, the Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Brewer is tough to beat. It features a durable, easy-to-operate design and makes consistently good coffee that you’ll love waking up to in the morning.
We love that this Ninja coffee maker comes with options for customization. You can brew either a full carafe or a smaller quantity from 1 to 4 cups. It also offers two brew-strength options: classic and rich, the latter of which makes a stronger cup.
You can set the delay-start timer before you go to bed, so your morning cup is ready when you need it. If you want to grab a cup while the coffee is still brewing, this machine will pause mid-brew. And you can go back for seconds later because the warming plate keeps coffee hot for up to four hours.
We appreciate the reusable filter basket that comes with this machine. The 60-ounce water reservoir is removable, so it’s easy to fill. Plus, keeping it clean is simple, thanks to the integrated cleaning cycle.
Black and Decker Digital Coffee Maker
Best Bang for the Buck
Brew Capacity (cups): 12 | Brew Time (minutes): 10 to 20 | Dimensions (inches): 8.25” D x 12.25” W x 11” H | Water Reservoir Size (oz): 60 | Brewing Temperature (°F): 193 degrees
The Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is for anyone who wants a basic drip coffee maker and doesn’t care about design or high-end features. It has a 12-cup carafe, and you can sneak a cup before it’s done brewing. You can also keep your coffee warm with the built-in hotplate.
It takes paper filters, and we appreciate that you can remove the brew basket the filter sits in to clean it more easily. The timer lets you delay brewing for up to 24 hours so you can wake up or come home to fresh coffee.
Although it might not be anything special, this is a solid drip coffee maker at an affordable price. It’s probably not going to last a decade like some high-end models will, but it’s sturdy enough and simple to use.
Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee Maker
Best for Large Households
Brew Capacity (cups): 12 | Brew Time (minutes): 3 to 8 | Dimensions (inches): 9.13” D x 11.39” W x 15.54” H | Water Reservoir Size (oz): 60 | Brewing Temperature (°F): 198 to 205 degrees
If you want a coffee maker that can brew specialty drinks as well as basic drip coffee, the Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee Maker is an excellent choice. This coffee maker can make nine sizes of coffee, the smallest of which is 6 ounces and the largest of which is a full 12-cup carafe. So, whether you need to make just one coffee or several, this machine has you covered.
It also makes four strengths or styles of coffee: “Classic” is a standard cup of drip coffee, “rich” is a stronger brew, “over-ice” is for chilled drinks and “specialty” is concentrated for making cappuccinos, flat whites and so on. You can use ground coffee in a paper filter or K-cups in the pod adapter for single-serve brews.
The steamer arm is perfect for making frothed, milk-based coffee drinks. The independent hot-water system lets you boil water for instant soups or oatmeal as well.
We love how adaptable this machine is and how much choice it gives the user. Sure, its specialty drinks might not rival those made with an espresso machine, but they turn out pretty well.