The Best Coffee Makers, Grinders and Beans of 2021

With its mid-century design and an exposed reservoir, you'll want to leave the Moccamaster out on the counter even when it’s not in use. But it doesn't just look great. Indeed, the pricey Moccamaster brews a complex and smooth pot of coffee that ranked highest in our taste test. This machine also fills a full pot quickly—a necessity for the morning rush.

We also like that the Moccamaster’s heating element maintains the coffee between 175ºF and 185ºF, ensuring it won’t burn. The Moccamaster isn't for everyone. Handmade in the Netherlands, it costs around $300—and would never win an award for value. It lacks a programmable timer, and it was also a bit more difficult to set up than the rest of the coffee makers we tested—in fact most were ready to go right out of the box. But a quick look at the instruction diagram should clear up any confusion, and the end result is well worth the effort.

See more of the best drip coffee makers we tested and reviewed.

For people who are indecisive about which coffee gear to get, this coffee maker can solve the problem—it packs a few coffee gadgets into one. It’s an automatic drip coffee maker with flat-bottom and semi-conical baskets and it can easily turn into a cold brew maker with pre-programmed settings enabled. Additionally, you can buy an adapter to use your favorite pour-over dripper if these options don’t satisfy your brewing needs.

Settings-wise, users can choose Fast, Over Ice, and Gold, which is short for Golden Cup Standard, a precision-driven brewing ratio recommended by the Specialty Coffee Association. There’s also an option to customize your brew with which you can set the temperature, bloom time, and flow rate. This specialty feature is particularly helpful for pour-over enthusiasts who prefer to have control over every aspect of the brewing process. Thanks to these features, the coffee came out tasty.

When it comes to ease of use, it’s convenient enough to set it and forget it, but it also gives users the flexibility to control the specifics. In addition, we like the Steep and Release valve that automatically prevents the brew head from dripping coffee when the carafe is removed, which means less cleaning work. It has a warming pad that can keep the coffee warm for hours, even with a glass carafe. From a single cup to a 12-cup pot, this coffee maker can brew for a crowd of any size.

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With the VertuoLine centrifusion brewing method, our coffee came out with foamy crema on top, a truly luxurious experience. The technology behind this dense, rich, and aromatic coffee is simple—a machine head penetrates the capsules in the center and around the edges, allowing water to enter in the center opening and push through the 20 edge holes, maximizing ground coffee interaction and pressure. It also brews espresso capsules so you can make espresso, double espresso, and regular coffee.

Unlike most of the other pod brewers we tested, the Nespresso VertuoPlus by Breville’s compact design makes it easy to keep on your countertop or store where space is limited. It boasts a 40-ounce water tank that can also swivel out easily. The motorized head opens with a light lift, different from traditional Keurig machines that often require a forced push and thus increase the chance of wear and tear.

The machine can also automatically eject the used coffee pods into a hidden container, saving you from burning your fingertips by manually taking out the pods. And the capsules can be dropped off at various collection sites and their boutique retail stores for the manufacturer to recycle them. Oh, and there’s an additional milk frother included in bundles if you’re interested in latte or steamed milk in your coffee.

See more of the best single-serve coffee makers we tested and reviewed.

The Barista Touch is by far the most intuitive, user-friendly, and reliable espresso machine we tested. Pulling a perfect shot of espresso takes practice, patience, and some understanding of science, but the Barista Touch significantly reduces the guesswork. With its advanced digital temperature controller (also known as PID), the Barista Touch was able to produce shot after shot of creamy, smooth, and flavorful espresso of consistent quality. Another key element is its thermojet heating system, which allowed us to get the machine ready in just three seconds.

We were blown away by this semi-automatic machine's touchscreen, a feature that sets the Barista Touch apart from the competition. If you have no knowledge of coffee at all, you’ll be able to pull an espresso shot within minutes. Simply by touching the options on the LCD display, the machine can walk you through the ins-and-outs of making the perfect latte. For advanced drinkers, it gives you the option to save the specifications of your desired drinks.

The package comes with four filter baskets, including a single-walled basket for aficionados who want to hone their espresso skills.

Overall, the Barista Touch was the easiest machine to dial in, as its user-friendly features allowed us to adjust the ground weight and grind size without difficulty.

See more of the best espresso machines we tested and reviewed.

This Nespresso was the only machine we tested that didn’t require reading the manual to get it started. Once plugged in, the smart display screen quickly got our attention and led us through the right steps to get the machine ready. This Creatista Plus model has every aspect of a user-friendly espresso maker that my old-fashioned machine lacks: sleek design, intuitive touch buttons and a countertop-friendly size.

This model offers several brewing options. For espresso, you can choose between espresso and lungo, which means “large” in Italian. For coffee drinks, you can select flat white, cappuccino, and latte. Then the machine asks you to select the temperature of the milk to make sure it froths a perfect cup every time. Every shot we pumped came out with light brown, foamy crema on top, and the milk frother also did wonders.

Additionally, because you make the shot first and then start the milk separately, using the Creatista Plus resembles the process of operating a regular espresso maker, which is great for regular espresso machine users like me. The steam pump also self-cleans after each use, and the wastewater automatically goes into the built-in drain. It features the largest water tank of this roundup at 60 ounces. Every espresso shot contains about 1.6 ounces, so there’s definitely no need to refill the tank too often.

See more of the best single-serve espresso makers we tested and reviewed.

This cold brew coffee maker is so intuitive to use (all you need to do is put grounds in the reusable filter, stick it in the canister, pour water over top and wait), as well as to clean (none of the three elements have any hard to reach nooks or crannies, and can be simply thrown in the dishwasher), it’s the least expensive model we tried. You’d likely spend more purchasing cold brews in a café over a week, than on the maker, which you can keep for years.

While other makers tried to mimic this appealing, no muss no fuss design, small details on the Takeya really make a difference. Like the brand’s water bottles, the cold brew is made from practically indestructible BPA-free plastic.

We also found the Takeya produced some of the tastiest coffee and tea we tested—neither too acidic nor too watered down—and remained equally palatable after sitting in the fridge for a week even though glass is generally preferred to prevent off-odors and flavors. We liked that the tall, thin, cylindrical shape allowed it to unobtrusively fit on the refrigerator door (or be tucked away in a cabinet), and a simple turn of the top opens a pouring spout.

Once you remove the filter of spent grounds, it also transitions seamlessly into a pitcher. It should be noted, the smaller capacity Takeya produces around four servings of ready-to-drink cold brew (not oodles of cold brew concentrate, like many of the heftier machines), but for a small footprint, uncomplicated model, we found it hard to beat.

See more of the best cold brew coffee makers we tested and reviewed.

Receiving top marks across the board during all of our tests, SterlingPro's double walls provide excellent insulation, meaning the coffee stays hot, while the exterior unit remains cool to the touch (neither of which is guaranteed from other materials). The lid can also be spun around to seal off the pouring spot and hold in heat when not in use. The snugly fitting filter is equipped with double screens, preventing grounds from sneaking into your cup, and every part of the press is constructed from rust-free stainless steel, meaning it would take an act of God for this baby to deteriorate or break.

It’s relatively lightweight for a metal model, and easy to operate too; the lid fits snugly, and the plunger pushes down smoothly, without excess effort. It’s a cinch to clean because it’s dishwasher safe, but not a problem to scrub by hand, as the filters can be removed, and the canister doesn’t include any outer casings to fumble with.

It boasts an especially large capacity (holding about six mugs, where the average in this size-class is four), and is multi-use, good for making anything from cold brew to hot chocolate, and produces perfectly frothed milk in seconds. On top of that, it’s available for a great price — while stainless steel presses can flirt with the $100 range, the SterlingPro clocks in at around $30.

See more of the best french press coffee makers we tested and reviewed.

This is one of those rare instances, when our top pick is also the best value. Although, it’s a mere $30, the Instant Milk Frother creates billows of foam regardless of what type of milk you use or whether you want it hot or cold. It froths up to a cup at a time which means you can whip up enough foamy topping for a bunch of cappuccinos or cold brews at once. On average it takes about two minutes, which is definitely on the quick side for these devices.

This device has a lot of nice features for your money, too. On the Instant, there’s a handle and a spout to make it easy to pour and create designs of hearts or leaves in your froth. It has four settings for warm foam, thick warm foam, cold foam, or just warm milk. The inside of the pitcher is coated with a silvery nonstick finish which makes it easy to see the minimum- and maximum-fill markings as well as clean it.

For both frothing and heating it uses the same paddle so there’s no extra little parts to worry about storing and possibly losing. And if you’re wondering who makes it, this appliance comes from the same innovative company that gave us the Instant Pot, so it’s a reliable brand.

See more of the best milk frothers we tested and reviewed.

The Hario V60 Coffee Dripper 02 Ceramic pour-over coffee maker’s design doesn’t appear to be unique. At first glance, it looks exactly like every other over-the-mug model we tested. What sets this model apart (and puts it at the top of most coffee enthusiast’s lists) is the interior spiral ribs and extra-large drip hole. Most of the pour overs we tested had one to three tiny holes in the bottom, which slow down the draining process. With the Hario's large drainage hole, you can brew coffee as fast as you like! Not only that, but those ribs give the grinds more room to expand, increasing the amount of water you can hold in the cone.

Fast isn’t necessarily better, but it does give you more options. You could brew a cup in less than two minutes, or you can slow down the rate at which you pour the water and draw things out to a full four minutes. At the end of the day, both our fast- and slow-pour tests resulted in a delightful cup of coffee with a rich mouthfeel, a robustly fruity backbone, and almost no detectable bitterness.

We also liked that a standard paper filter fit perfectly in the cone, and the ceramic construction retained the water’s heat well enough to create an even brewing process and a hot cup of coffee. And since the Hario also happens to be low-profile enough to store amongst your coffee cups and it was one of the easiest units to clean, it is a great pick for anyone with limited space and a busy schedule. Considering it was priced at $20 during the time of this testing, it’s also an incredible value for the money.

See more of the best coffee percolators we tested and reviewed.

This OXO is the perfect combination of style and substance. It had the fastest boil time of any kettle we tested—clocking in at 4 minutes, 12 seconds—and its stainless steel exterior and small footprint make it quite sleek and attractive. We also appreciated that the lid had a silicone grip so as not to burn your hand if you need to remove it.

When it came to making pour-over coffee, we were able to control the speed smoothly. You can slow the speed to almost a drip, or speed up without fear of spillage. Its medium weight and straight handle makes it a tad heavy if you’re pouring for a long period of time, but the handle does offer a bit of a cushion to help. The built-in timer also helps when pouring, and the 30-minute keep-warm feature makes sure that your water is still hot when you go back for seconds.

See more of the best electric kettles we tested and reviewed.

Counter Culture is a huge name in specialty coffee. Their operation spans from wholesale to retail, allowing them to deliver their freshly-roasted beans in the shortest amount of time possible with responsive customer support. They’re also transparent about their beans, with a label that includes origin (if it’s a blend, they’ll include all the varieties in one bag), altitude, roasting date, and variety. Their offerings change constantly, covering a range of coffee varieties for subscribers who are looking for new beans. That’s why we think they’re the best coffee subscription service for most people.

When it comes to customization, you can choose your blends based on the tasting notes they provide, or you can choose single-origin beans that they switch up every four weeks. The packaging is minimal, but it tells you everything you need to know about each bag you receive. For a reasonable price, we think Counter Culture offers the best way to get fresh, single-origin beans from a coffee subscription.

See more of the best coffee subscription services we tested and reviewed.

The Baratza Encore is a relatively simple but solid machine. This burr grinder offers 40 grind settings, an on-off switch for continuous, hands-free grinding, and a push-button for manual control. That's it. Other grinders include cup selection, timers, strength adjustment sliders, and other doodads that you don’t really need. For a perfect cup of coffee, measure your preferred amount of beans using a scale or a scoop, empty them into the hopper, and grind them fresh.

Like every grinder we tested, this model produces very even coffee grounds, but what makes it stand out is its wide range of settings, from the coarsest that produce large flakes for cold brew to the finest which creates grounds akin to powdered sugar—perfect for Turkish coffee. In between, there are plenty of choices whether you prefer an espresso, plain old American coffee, or a French press.

The machine itself is large, but not as monstrous as some of the other grinders we’ve tested. It also has a heavy base making it very stable so it won't ever rattle all over the counter while grinding. The heavy-duty translucent plastic cup that collects the grounds generates less static cling than the glossy clear plastic cups that come with many other models. Cleaning is simple: Just remove the top burr and use the included wire brush to remove residual grounds.

See more of the best coffee grinders we tested and reviewed.

Although blade grinders get a bad rap, we found these grinders don't overheat the beans or give uneven results. Rather the biggest drawback is that they don’t hold enough coffee for a full-bodied 12-cup pot.

The Krups Fast Touch Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder can only process up to about 12 tablespoons of beans which yields an equivalent amount of ground coffee. If that’s enough for you and you’re not looking to spend a lot, this just might be the perfect choice. The Krups operates by pushing down a button on the lid. The longer you depress it, the finer the grind. It only takes between 5 to 20 seconds to process the beans, so it's important to keep an eye on it and stop the process when the ground coffee is to your liking. After grinding, the oval shape of the grinder makes it easy to pour the ground coffee into a filter.

The Krups produces a ton of static cling, so to prevent coffee grounds from spilling everywhere after opening, you'll have to tap the lid or bang the grinder on the counter. If using the ultra-fine setting, you’ll have to use your finger or a small brush to remove the particles that tend to cake on the bottom of the bowl.

One plus of this grinder is that it doubles as a spice grinder. However, be sure to clean it well before using it for coffee again. And while it's possible to rinse out the lid, the container can only be cleaned by wiping it with a damp towel. If you’re new to grinding your own beans and want to figure out if the payback in taste is worth the effort, this inexpensive grinder might be a good place to start.

See more of the best coffee grinders we tested and reviewed.

This Bonavita scale with a timer can help make pour-over coffee easy—but its abilities aren't limited to brewing. We found it to be one of the most accurate scales we tested, and its relative affordability makes it approachable for people who are new to both coffee and cooking.

Its unique design with “nano-coating” prevents water damage, as spills can happen when measuring liquids. This scale also has an auto-timer and auto-tare function to help streamline the pour-over brewing process. It gives instant readings, which were as accurate as the Acaia Pearl Model S, for a fraction of the price. This scale's biggest limitation is its capacity—it can only weigh up to 2000 grams, which is much less than a standard kitchen scale (5000 grams).

See more of the best digital scales we tested and reviewed.

Except for a transparent top knob (which aids in one of the understood pleasures of percolating—watching the coffee circling), the Maxi-Matic is composed mainly of stainless steel. That speaks to why it brewed one of the most balanced, flavorful cups of the bunch since plastic mechanisms (especially when they contain BPA) can transmit chemicals, and lead to off-tastes and aromas. It has all of our preferred percolator elements such as separate power and ready-to-drink indicator lights, its comfortable-to-hold, heat-resistant handle, and a thin, curved spout that aids in pouring and prevents drips.

Yet the Maxi-Matic also one-ups the other models we tested with a few unique advantages. The pot can be lifted off the heating element completely for seamless, cordless serving, then returned to its base, where it will be kept warm automatically. But it also has a boil dry safety feature, which, even when plugged in, ensures the pot won’t continue to heat once there’s no liquid inside.

See more of the best coffee percolators we tested and reviewed.