Preparing drip coffee is fundamentally a very simple process, but with the right drip coffee maker it's even easier. The best machines will heat water to precisely the right temperature, allow the ground coffee to pre-infuse for the perfect length of time, and ensure it filters through at the right speed for optimum flavor.
I'm TechRadar's resident coffee expert, and I've put together this list of my three favorite drip coffee makers that will make preparing perfect pour-over a breeze. Features I look out for include customizable brew settings, a simple interface, a timer, and either a well-insulated carafe or a hotplate to keep your finished drink at the ideal drinking temperature.
Best all-round
Breville Luxe Brewer Thermal
If I was buying a drip coffee maker for my own kitchen right now, the Breville Luxe Brewer Thermal (sold under the brand name 'Sage' in the UK) would be my number one choice. It's not packed with flashy features and extras – it just brews consistently great coffee with zero effort.
For me this coffee maker's best feature is its insulated carafe. During my tests, it kept my freshly brewed coffee at the ideal drinking temperature for over four hours, even when I hadn't preheated or completely filled it.
The Luxe Brewer Thermal also offers a cold brew mode, which lets your coffee infuse in cold water for a full 12 hours. This brewing mode doesn't make a full pitcher (it's limited by the size of the brew basket) but it's an easy way to prepare old-fashioned cold brew without taking up valuable space in your fridge.
During testing, I also appreciated the ability to lift off the water tank for filling. Many other drop coffee makers require you to fill the carafe and pour it into a fixed tank on the machine, which means a risk of spillage, but there's no such problem here. My only complaint would be that the tank's handle is quite small, which can make it tricky to hold when full and means you have to support it with both hands. A larger, more ergonomic handle like the one on the carafe would have been preferable.
In all other ways though, this drip coffee maker is hard to fault. It doesn't over-complicate the fundamentally simple process of brewing drip coffee, but gives you just enough brewing options to make meaningful changes to your finished drink, and keeps it at the ideal temperature for an astonishingly long time. It's dropped in price since launch too, making it a great deal (and you'll find today's best prices from around the web below).
Read our full Breville Luxe Brewer Thermal review
Two-in-one
Ninja Espresso and Coffee Barista System
This two-in-one appliance (called the Ninja Prestige DualBrew System in the UK) is part drip coffee maker, part Nespresso machine – and it's ideal for mornings when you're feeling groggy and want to enjoy a fresh brew as quickly as possible.
The drip coffee maker on the left-hand side offers a choice of brew sizes, three profiles (normal, rich, and over ice), and a timer so you can prepare everything last thing at night. When you wake, the double-walled carafe will be full of fresh coffee, kept at the ideal temperature by a smart hot plate designed to avoid overheating your drink and spoiling its flavor – and it works.
The Nespresso machine on the right-hand side uses Nespresso Original pods (the ones shaped like a little top hat) and again offers a choice of three brew sizes. Once it's reached temperature (both parts of the Barista System use the same water tank), it can brew a very nicely balanced espresso in about a minute.
It's not the most attractive coffee maker I've ever used (especially compared to the stunning Smeg appliance below), but there's not an inch of wasted space. Look around the sides and you'll find a measuring scoop clipped into a recess, a chart showing 'recipes' for different drinks; remove the carafe to find a flip-down drip tray so you can dispense coffee into a cup instead; reach around the back and there's a whisk for foaming milk (although it doesn't heat it).
If you're more of a coffee purist then you'll prefer the Ninja Luxe Café, which is another two-in-one machine, but uses fresh coffee grounds rather than pods. It also has a steam wand rather than a whisk, with both automatic and manual settings.
Read our full Ninja Espresso and Coffee Barista System review
Compact
Smeg Drip Filter Coffee Machine
Smeg has brought its signature 60s-influenced style to this compact drop coffee maker, which comes in an array of pastel colors, and is often available at a discount in certain hues, making it surprisingly affordable.
There are just a few brew modes to choose from, and you can prepare either a full carafe or a four-cup portion. The timer (which, surprisingly, isn't a feature of all the drip coffee makers I've tested) allows you to prepare your brew the night before, and there's a hotplate to maintain the temperature once it's ready. It's worth bearing in mind, however, that this doesn't have the 'smart' temperature control of the Ninja coffee maker above, and it will time out after 40 minutes.
I appreciated the inclusion of a reusable filter, which saves on waste if you don't mind the effort of scraping out the used coffee and washing the mesh between brews, though you can also use a paper filter if you prefer.
If you're looking for a capsule coffee maker that will complement this drip machine, take a look at the Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which makes some of the best espresso I've had from a pod machine, and would work particularly well paired with the Smeg Mini Milk Frother for preparing lattes and cappuccinos.
Overall, this is a well-made and uncomplicated drip coffee maker, which is elevated by a striking design that will make it a real talking point on your kitchen counter.
Read our full Smeg Drip Filter Coffee Machine review
Drip coffee accessories
Picking up a new drip coffee maker? These essentials will help make sure you get the most out of it.
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