By 2ndactt/ Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com
For those over 40 years of age, coffee is more than an energizing drink. Researchers have found that the benefits of coffee cover people inside out, from protecting against Alzheimer’s diseases to lowering the risk of some types of cancers. Many of these benefits only start to show after drinking coffee constantly.
You can visit a coffee shop two or three times a day to gain those benefits. Or you can choose to have that money saved and get a well-functioning coffee machine, making the brown beverage the way you want.
The thing is, there are myriads of coffee machines in the market. How are you going to get one?
You will probably start with a massive search over the Internet with keywords like “the best coffee machines” and review them before you finally make the purchase.
But you do not have to do it anymore as we have already done the hard work.
Finding best of the best, and what we don’t recommend
2ndactt located ten renowned media and review websites across the US, Canada, and the UK and picked their best coffee machines. The ten sites, in alphabetical order, are CNET, Consumer Reports, Esquire, Expert Reviews, Forbes, Rank-It.ca, TechRadar, Telegraph, Wirecutter, and the WIRED UK.
These media and review sites ran their tests independently or worked with experts to produce professional results. So they can be helpful guidance in choosing a suitable coffee machine.
After reviewing all “the best” coffee makers picked by all ten coffee machine reviews, we compiled a list of 103 top-rated models. Then we excluded pod- and capsule-only machines. Aluminum used as the packaging of pods and capsules has raised environmental and health concerns. Some people recognized the difficulties of recycling all the aluminum wastes. Others saw a resurfaced connection between aluminum and brain diseases.
Coffee machines that received multiple recommendations
Some models caught our eyes repeatedly. The Oracle Touch, for example, got recommended three times. This model is called Sage Oracle in the UK and Breville Oracle in the US.
1. The Oracle Touch SES990 Bean-To-Cup Espresso Coffee Machine
Picked as >
✓ The best coffee machines (The Telegraph)
✓ Best coffee machine 2021: The finest machines we’ve tested (Expert Reviews)
✓ Best coffee maker for 2021: Top espresso machines and bean-to-cup options (TechRadar)
Why ranked among the best?
- The unit is a touch-screen coffee machine that allows you to swipe and select espresso, long black, latte, cappuccino, etc.., and let the technology do the work.
Main features > Bean-to-cup machine.
- Features an interactive touch screen with an array of coffee option icons.
- Lets you tweak coffee recipes with on-screen settings and save them as preset drinks, so you do not have to do it again the next time.
- Uses separate boilers for milk and coffee so you can steam milk and brew coffee simultaneously.
- Cleans itself.
Pros & Cons >
From reviews on TechRadar, Wired UK, and eBay
Pros:
- Intuitive and easy to use.
- Impressive crema.
- Good variety.
Cons:
- Expensive.
- Takes up some countertop space.
- Perfect for 8oz cups, but it takes a two-step process if you want to make double Americana for larger mugs.
2. Cuisinart DCC-3000 Coffee on Demand 12 Cup Programmable Coffeemaker
Picked as >
✓ Best Coffee Makers of 2021 (Consumer Reports)
Why ranked among the best?
- The unit receives a “Very Good” rating for predicted reliability by Consumer Reports.
Main features > For use with ground coffee.
- Features a removable water tank for easy cleaning.
- Comes with a permanent filter.
- A cleaning indicator tells when the machine needs cleaning.
- Programmable 4 hours in advance.
- Has an adjustable auto-shutoff feature.
Pros & Cons >
From reviews on eBay
Pros:
- Easy to use.
- Offers auto-shutoff function.
- Programmable.
Cons:
- The water tank is hard to read.
- Lacks a built-in grinder.
3. Hamilton Beach 12-cup Programmable 49465R
Picked as >
✓ Best Coffee Makers of 2021 (Consumer Reports)
Why ranked among the best?
- Brews good coffee at a great price.
- Has solid performance and makes a whole pot in 10 minutes.
- Earns a “Very Good” rating for convenience when tested by Consumer Reports.
Main features > For use with ground coffee.
- Programmable up to 24 hours in advance.
- Shuts off automatically after 2 hours.
- The carafe and filter basket are top-rack dishwasher safe.
Pros & Cons >
From reviews on eBay
Pros:
- Simple to operate.
- Easy to clean.
Cons:
- The pour spout on the pot is a bit small.
- The filter does not fit the basket very well.
Picked as >
✓ Best coffee maker for 2021 (TechRadar)
Why ranked among the best?
- Offers great-tasting coffee on the move.
- Lightweight, easy to pump, but twice as powerful as its Minipresso predecessor.
- The coffee taste is on par with that served in a cafe.
Main features > For use with ground coffee.
- The unit is a pocket-sized, hand-pumped coffee machine.
- No battery is needed.
- Has a built-in espresso cup.
Pros & Cons >
From reviews on TechRadar and eBay
Pros:
- Coffee tastes great.
- Good for traveling.
Cons:
- Needs efforts to use the pump.
5. Gaggia Coffee Machine – RI8425/22 – Gran Gaggia Deluxe Espresso Machine
Picked as >
✓ Best coffee maker for 2021 (TechRadar)
Why ranked among the best?
- The model is chic and compact.
- Makes perfect espresso.
Main features > For use with ground coffee.
- The unit is a traditional pump espresso machine, meaning you have to learn to brew espresso the traditional way.
- Comes with a pressurized filter holder.
- Auto shut-off.
- Removable drip tray and water tank.
Pros & Cons >
From reviews on TechRadar
Pros:
- Good for making espressos.
- Compact design.
Cons:
- Feels cheap.
- Limited artisanal coffee.
6. Ninja CM401 Specialty Coffee Maker
Picked as >
✓ Best Coffee Makers of 2021 (Consumer Reports)
Why ranked among the best?
- The model is a terrific all-in-one machine, capable of making a variety of brews from iced coffee to lattes and macchiatos.
- Receives an Excellent rating for brew performance by Consumer Reports.
- Great versatility.
Main features > For use with ground coffee.
- Features an over-ice brew mode for iced coffee.
- Comes with a built-in milk frother.
- Offers brew-strength control.
- Can adjust brew size from mugs to full carafes.
Pros & Cons >
From reviews on Consumer Reports, eBay, and Best Buy
Pros:
- Easy to customize to different taste preferences.
- Great versatility from serving one cup to a carafe.
- You can handle the carafe easily.
- Quiet.
Cons:
- Coffee will not stay warm unless doing a 1/2 pot or whole pot.