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Coffee – the most widely consumed drug in the world. And for good reason – our entire staff cannot imagine starting any day without coffee – we know, we asked.
The best coffee maker can make all the difference in the world – between a crumby, sluggish start to your day; or a tasty, mind-blowing morning of productivity. If you’ve ever had a horrible cup of coffee, made in not the world’s best coffee maker – you know exactly what we mean.
And for once – this testing and research didn’t feel the least bit like work. We combed over and tested over 50 models, and aggregated many online reviews, to provide you with our picks for the best coffee maker.
Our Top Pick
Cuisinart DCC-3200
One of the most popular coffee makers in the world, the DCC-3200 has over 5,000 positive customer reviews online. With every feature of most luxury machines, but at a budget price – this is our pick for best coffee maker for most people. While you can certainly spend more and get more features – this is the coffee maker you’d want to buy for yourself, your relatives, or your friends. In a word – unbeatable.
Other Great Picks
OXO On Barista Brain
A step up in quality and price, the ON Barista Brain has over 1,000 positive online customer reviews. Simplicity and minimalism is the style for this model, and our staff found this to be the sleekest, most reliable, and most reasonably priced coffee maker on the market. And did we mention – it makes delicious tasting coffee?
Black + Decker CM1160B
Our favorite budget pick for best coffee maker, you’ve likely come across this model in every hotel room in America. For less than $35, you can have a delicious, easy, and fast cup of coffee every morning. While it definitely lacks any advanced features, it is perfect for no frills, reliable coffee – every single morning.
Nespresso Vertuo
One of our absolute favorite products we’ve ever tested. The Vertuo is a joint coffee and espresso maker. If you’ve encountered a group of writers – there is no higher form of love, than espresso. An absolute must-have, if you want coffee and espresso – but don’t want to break the bank.
Keurig K-Cafe
This excellent entry from Keurig makes coffee, lattes, and cappuccinos. Massively popular all over the world, this Keurig has the standard ability to use any and all K-Cup pods. If you don’t mind spending slightly more for excellent coffee, this makes a great pick for any home or office.
Keurig K-Classic
Possibly the most well-known coffee maker of the last twenty years – the Keurig K-Classic is simplicity and elegance personified. With over 9,000 positive reviews online, and a price point at less than $100 – this is an unbeatable buy. A must-have, for anyone who has not yet tried a Keurig – or if you just want the ultimate simple solution for a great cup of coffee.
Ninja CP307
This is a slightly more high-end solution if you are searching for the best coffee maker – but it’s worth every penny. A great coffee and tea maker – more value is added in, as the Ninja has a cold brew mode, in addition to the standard hot coffee and tea modes. This means it’s as easy as the press of a single button, to have a cold brewed coffee, on a hot summer day. Unbeatable value, and a great purchase for the home.
Jura Giga 6
If you are looking for the Rolls-Royce option – this coffee maker is the way to go. Not only does the Giga 6 learn each consumer’s coffee preferences (via a self-learning algorithm) – it connects wirelessly to your smart phone. This means that this robot-like coffee machine not only learns exactly what you want and prepares for you to enter the room – but it can be controlled from far away. Futuristic, and the Giga 6 also makes one of the best cups of coffee we’ve ever had.
Mr. Coffee Cafe Latte Maker
Mr. Coffee is definitely not known for their lattes – but this machine changes that misconception. With over 2,000 positive online customer reviews, it is our go-to latte maker. As an added bonus – it also easily makes hot chocolate. Hard to beat that kind of value.
Aicok Coffee Maker
This great budget option comes in at less than $50. And when it comes to fast, easy, and portable – this coffee maker is just simply unbeatable. With over 300 positive online customer reviews, it is one of the best budget coffee makers on the market.
What Is A Coffee Maker?
Coffee makers come in many different shapes and sizes, but at their heart they all do the same thing – make a fantastic cup of coffee. Starting with humble coffee grounds, a coffee maker will take these and combine them with water, to make your morning cup of joe.
Machines like the Keurig, offer slightly different methods of brewing – by utilizing specialized “pods”. But no matter what the method is – you’ll have a ready-to-drink cup of coffee in less than 5 minutes.
How To Make Coffee In A Coffee Maker
While each model is slightly different – the basic process for making coffee breaks down into a few easy steps. First, place a coffee filter into your coffee maker.
Next, add the appropriate amounts of coffee grounds to the filter. Next, add the correct amount of water to your coffee maker.
After this step, simply start the brewing process – making sure you have a mug ready to catch the freshly brewed coffee coming out of your machine. And that’s it – using a coffee maker couldn’t be any simpler.
How To Use A French Press Coffee Maker
If you opt for a French press coffee maker, there is a little bit more to do, before you can enjoy your warm cup of caffeine. Start by combining coffee grounds and hot water, and then let this mixture brew for a few minutes.
Next, press the plunger down, and slowly let the coffee come out. That’s it – now just enjoy your freshly brewed cup of coffee!
How To Clean Coffee Maker With Vinegar
Cleaning your coffee maker couldn’t be easier. Simply mix a ratio of 1:1 water and white vinegar into your reservoir.
Next, let the coffee maker brew as normal. After it is done brewing, allow it to sit for a few minutes.
Now rinse your coffee maker twice with water, wipe the outside of the machine, and clean any removable parts with soap and water. That’s it – your coffee maker is now as good as new.
What Is The Best Coffee Maker?
No matter what your needs, we have chosen the best coffee maker for you. However, we can’t guess what your specific needs are, so simply choose one of our picks from this list, to best fit your individual requirements.
How Much Caffeine In A Cup Of Coffee?
On average, there is about 140 mg of caffeine in every 8 ounce cup of coffee. Some varieties of coffee may have as little as 70 mg, while some brands may pack in up to 200 mg per serving.
How To Make Cold Brew Coffee
Making cold brew coffee takes over 24 hours – so you may not be as interested in making your own. You will also need a cold brew coffee maker or mason jar.
Simply mix your coffee grounds with water and stir. Next, allow your coffee to steep in the fridge for at least 15 hours.
Once this is done, strain your coffee. You can then add milk, ice cubes, or whatever else you would like.
How To Make Coffee Without A Coffee Maker
Making coffee without a coffee maker is not something we’d recommend. While you are usually going through the same process of mixing grounds and water, and then filtering out any residue – this process is far messier without a coffee maker.
How To Make Iced Coffee
Making iced coffee is a cinch – simply fill the water reservoir halfway with ice cubes, and also add ice to your finished cup of brew. Voila – you’ve just made yourself some deliciously cold iced coffee.
Is Coffee Bad For You?
Coffee sometimes gets a bad rap – but the truth is – it’s not harmful. Too much coffee can become a problem, but as long as keep your daily intake to 4 cups or less, you should be fine.
Make sure you also drink your last cup of joe no later than midday – as having caffeine after lunch may negatively impact your ability to sleep.
Why Does Coffee Make You Poop?
Though slightly embarrassing, coffee does indeed cause more bowel movements than other beverages. There are a number of reasons for this effect.
Firstly, coffee can activate contractions in your colon, as well as in your intestinal muscles. Coffee can also stimulate the production of stomach acid, which may be another reason for the increased urge to use the bathroom, after a hot cup of your morning joe.
Lastly, coffee also increases levels of gastrin, an important hormone. Gastrin makes your colon more active – so when you combine the impact of all these factors – you are much more likely to need to use the bathroom after your morning cup of coffee.
Does Coffee Dehydrate You?
There are some rumors on the internet that coffee has a dehydrating effect – but is this actually true? Not according to scientific research.
While it is true that coffee is a diuretic, which means that your body will flush out more water and sodium via your kidneys – coffee is not dehydrating. One problem that does arise in those who drink coffee – they forget to drink water as well.
It’s important to drink 1/2 to 1 gallon of water per day – especially if you are a regular gym-goer. But coffee on its own will not dehydrate you.
Is Coffee Good For You?
This is a very contentious topic. On the one hand, there are numerous scientific studies which show associations between health benefits and coffee consumption.
On the other hand, caffeine has many side effects, and too much can be bad news. On top of this, caffeine is truly not essential at all – our bodies have no actual requirement for it.
Like most things in the health and nutrition field – we’d say that in moderation, coffee consumption may be good for you. There appear to be some antioxidant benefits, as well as some neurologically protective benefits, associated with daily coffee consumption.
Drinking too much coffee (more than 4 cups per day) – may actually have a negative impact on your health. Try to limit your consumption to no more than 2 cups of coffee per day – and cut yourself off after midday, so the caffeine does not impact your ability to fall asleep.
How Much Caffeine In Decaf Coffee?
Decaf coffee is not truly completely decaffeinated. Each 8 ounce cup of decaf will still contain about 5 mg of caffeine.
However, in the grand scheme of things – this is an almost undetectable amount of caffeine. Regular, fully-caffeinated coffee contains up to 140 mg of caffeine, in every 8 ounce cup.
If you are trying to give up caffeine, don’t go cold turkey. Instead, slowly downgrade from your normal amount of caffeine, one week at a time.
In just a few weeks, you should be at almost no caffeine intake – without feeling any of the nasty usual side effects of caffeine withdrawal. At this point, you should be able to switch to decaf coffee, and then even wean off of that.
How Do I Choose The Best Coffee Maker For Me?
Choosing the best coffee maker for you involves a few different factors. You’ll first want to determine your own unique needs – do you need to make coffee on a daily basis? Is it just for you, or are you brewing for a family, or an office?
Next – what features do you want? Just the basics, or do you want some special extras? And then there’s budget – how much do you want to spend on the best coffee maker for you?
To some – coffee is a religion. For these people, having a deluxe, top-of-the-line coffee maker is absolutely imperative.
For others – they just need caffeine – they don’t care about the taste of their morning brew. What you decide on, is ultimately up to you.
But one thing is for certain – there is a best coffee maker out there for everyone.
The Best Coffee Maker
There you have it – our picks for the best coffee maker. If you are looking to own the best home products (including best coffee to go with your best coffee maker) – be sure to take a look at our other top picks in the home and kitchen categories.