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Best drip coffee makers 2023: tested by our experts

If you love coffee as much as I do, the best drip coffee makers will become a fixture in your kitchen. Here are my top picks

One of the best drip coffee makers on the market, an orange Moxxamaster sits on a countertop with a fruit bowl beside it
(Image credit: Moccamaster)

Waking up to a glorious and fragrant pot of coffee, brewed by one of the best drip coffee makers is an easy way to please all of the family. They're quiet, competent, and the 'watering-hole' for every kitchen.

I, along with a number of our qualified baristas and product testers, trialed a wide range of drip coffee makers to ensure that only the best ones made this list, and earned a spot on your kitchen counter. The parameters? Drip coffee makers should be easy to use, so we tested all the functions and settings over a few weeks, examined special features, plus checked how easy each appliance was to clean. 

Of course, the most important part of our testing process included ensuring consistent, dependable flavor and temperature. After all, who doesn't love to want to wake up to a glorious and fragrant cup of coffee?

The best drip coffee makers of 2023, as tested by our team

You can trust Homes & Gardens. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, helping you choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Best overall drip coffee maker

OXO Brew 8 Cup Coffee MakerH&G gold badge

(Image credit: OXO)

1. OXO 8 Cup Coffee Maker

Best overall drip coffee maker

Specifications

Cups: 8
Dimensions: 13.5" x 10.5" x 7"
Warranty: 2 years
RRP: $199.95

Reasons to buy

+
Brew a single cup or a full carafe
+
BetterBrew precision brewing meets SCA Golden Cup Standard requirements
+
Space efficient 

Reasons to avoid

-
The water tank isn't removable
-
Not programmable

Why you should buy it
For award-winning quality coffee

Why we love it
Amazing coffee doesn't have to be fussy, and sometimes, we think it's necessary to skip bells and whistles to get to the good stuff. OXO's 8-Cup Coffee Maker makes a great cup of coffee each time. It's even met the Speciality Coffee Association's Golden Cup Standard for its quality. We love that it can brew everything from a single cup to eight, plus it's reliable and attractive too. 

Good to know
The functions on this coffee maker are basic, there's no programmability or timers. We thought that we would miss this, but if you're keen to grind your own beans, you would want them as fresh as possible, making the programmes redundant anyway. Although we love its slim profile that can tuck into small spaces, the water tank is not removable and does not include a filter. 

Our OXO 8-Cup Coffee Maker has more details.

Best drip coffee maker for coffee perfectionists

Breville Precision thermal brewerH&G gold badge

(Image credit: Breville)
Best drip coffee maker for coffee perfectionists

Specifications

Cups: 12
Dimensions: 12.4” x 6.7” x 15.7”
Warranty: 2 years
RRP: $329.95

Reasons to buy

+
Beautiful design and slim shape
+
6 preset brewing modes
+
2 filter baskets
+
Temperature control
+
3 flow rates
+
LCD screen
+
Stainless steel carafe

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Water tank is not removable

Why you should buy it
For top-quality, tailor made brews

Why we love it
Not many coffee makers offer the level of customization that Breville's various presets and customization features give, and it brews consistently delicious coffee every time. From cold brew and over ice to fast and strong, you have the pick of the selection. Even better, you can customize and save settings for temperature, bloom speed, and flow rate. It’s programmable too, so you can set it to start brewing before you wake up, but if you do sleep through the smell of fresh coffee, the thermal carafe keeps the coffee hot.

Good to know
The coffee maker itself is not cheap, but the price reflects the materials (stainless steel parts), advanced technology (Thermo Coil Heating System), and customization features. We never felt limited by our options.

Our Breville Precision Brewer Thermal Coffee Maker review has more details.

Best drip coffee maker for coffee and espresso too

best coffee maker All-in-One Coffee & Espresso MakerH&G gold badge

(Image credit: DeLonghi)
Best drip coffee maker for coffee, and espresso too

Specifications

Tank size: 32oz.
Pressure: 15 bar
Dimensions: 17.5in x 14in x 12.25in
Warranty: 1-year
RRP: $299.95

Reasons to buy

+
Variety of coffee and espresso options
+
Run both drip coffee and espresso maker at the same time
+
Superb value
+
24-hour programmable timer

Reasons to avoid

-
Wider than a standard coffee machine
-
No built-in grinder, and espresso side is loud

Why you should buy it
If you want to switch between classic and espresso coffee styles

Why we love it
The De'Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker conveniently replaces the need for you to invest in both an espresso maker with an advanced milk frothing steam wand and a drip coffee machine. Our tester Terri says that the features can be summed up in its title. It does everything excellently too. 

It comes with attachments that allow you to brew up to 10 cups of filter coffee, as well as a portafilter for single and double shots of espresso, and can work both sides of the machine at the same time. And it functions with ESE pods. 

Good to know
The espresso side has a 15-bar pressure pump for authentic espressos brewed at the optimal pressure and a steam wand to prepare your favorite lattes. Depending on how familiar you are with the espresso brewing process, it may require a learning curve, but it's so worth it.

Our De'Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker review has more details.

Best luxury drip coffee maker

Moccamaster KBGV Select Rose GoldH&G gold badge

(Image credit: Technivorm)
Best luxury drip coffee maker

Specifications

Filter type: Paper
Water filter: Yes
Warming plate: Yes
Programmable: No
Cups: 10
Dimensions: 6.5 x 12.75 x 14 in.
Warranty: 5 years
RRP: $359- $379

Reasons to buy

+
Tons of color options from metallics to neons 
+
Quiet operation and fast brewing
+
Meets SCA and ECBC qualifications for the perfect cup of coffee
+
Drip coffee maker that resembles the pour-over experience

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive for minimal functions
-
Set up and installing takes a little getting used to

Why you should buy it
If you're looking to invest in some serious coffee brewing

Why we love it
Moccamaster coffee makers are simply built differently. We're enamored with its extremely quiet operation. It can speedily brew a whole 10-cup pot in as little as six minutes. Together, the Moccamaster meets the qualifications set by the Specialty Coffee Association and the European Coffee Brewing Center as the perfect cup of coffee, and it makes a pretty tasty brew. Plus, the fact that they're available in a ton of colors from chromatic neutrals to even neons and bold primary hues is a reason for anyone looking for a machine that goes against the norm.

It most closely resembles the experience you get from the best pour-over coffee makers, with its exclusive 9-hole drip arm that ensures even extraction and a smooth flavorful cup of coffee.  The KBGV Select offers the additional functionality to choose between brewing a half or full carafe to optimize brewing. 

Good to know
The Moccamaster is entirely handcrafted in the Netherlands, including the unique copper heating element that maintains that your coffee always heats between 196 and 206 degrees Fahrenheit, while the separate hot plate will maintain the glass carafe at temperatures between 175 and 185 degrees Fahrenheit for 100 minutes before shutting off. 

Our Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Coffee Maker review has more details.

Best smart drip coffee maker

Café Specialty Drip Coffee MakerH&G gold badge

(Image credit: Café)
Best smart drip coffee maker

Specifications

Tank size: 45 oz.
Dimensions: 14” H x 7.3” W x 12.5” D
Warranty: 1 year
RRP: $329

Reasons to buy

+
Beautiful design
+
Temperature and brew-strength control
+
Wi-Fi enabled
+
Choice of thermal or glass carafe

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive

Why you should buy it
For straightforward, smart technology

Why we love it
Beyond looking absolutely stunning on your counter — it comes in a choice of three colors, finished with a rose gold trim — Café has delivered us a hardworking coffee machine. If the idea of controlling your coffee maker from bed or tinkering with settings down to the single digits appeal to you, this is drip coffee maker gets you one step closer to automating your kitchen into a smart kitchen.Perhaps the most distinctive feature is the ability to control the Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker via Wifi. It works in conjunction with the SmartHQ app, Alexa, and Google Home, meaning you can brew and adjust settings with either your phone or voice. 

The Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker has four core coffee settings: auto brew, precision brew to get coffee to a specific temperature, Gold Brew, which brews according to the SCA's Golden Cub Standard, and custom brew that lets you control your coffee's strength. It can brew up to 10 cups at a time, and is available as a glass or a thermal carafe, according to your preferences.

Good to know
With smart technology comes a hefty price tag. This is a luxury that you don't need, so if you're looking to save, there are better options.

Our full Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker review has more details.

Best looking drip coffee maker

Zwilling Enfinigy Drip Coffee MakerH&G silver badge

(Image credit: Zwilling)
Best looking drip coffee maker

Specifications

Cups: 12
Dimensions: 13.7" x 12.8" x 6.02"
Warranty: 1 year
RRP: $270

Reasons to buy

+
Programmable timer
+
Blooming function
+
Simple to use
+
Stylish design

Reasons to avoid

-
Hotplate only stays on for 30 minutes

Why you should buy it
For standout kitchen style 

Why we love it
Beyond good looks, Zwillings Enfinigy Drip Coffee Maker can make up to 12 cups of coffee, offers a unique Blooming function for increased flavor and aroma, and can be programmed.

What sets it apart from others is its unique ridged water tank and a streamlined backlit display with a single knob that gives it an elevated look. Our discerning reviewer thought the plasticky part of the water tank did deter from what she was expecting but that's also a common feature of most of the machines on the market. Internally, the coffee maker has a corrosion-resistant stainless-steel boiler, plus the wide stainless steel shower head allows for even coffee moistening during blooming.

Good to know
An interesting design choice, the hot plate only stays on for 30 minutes following brewing, so if you want to let your coffee sit for long periods of time, this may not be the machine for you. 

Our full Zwilling Enfinigy Drip Coffee Maker review has more details.

Best classic drip coffee maker