The One Toxic Kitchen Appliance Experts Warn You to Get Rid of This Spring – And What to Replace It With
It's a simple swap for an instantly healthier morning routine
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A good spring clean and declutter is a must for every kitchen, but you shouldn't stop at your pantry.
One appliance expert is urging you to check for one potentially toxic addition in your kitchen, and replace it with a lower-toxicity item in 2026 – your coffee maker.
Why You Need To Swap Your Toxic Coffee Maker This Spring
When creating a non-toxic home, most of us consider the best non-toxic cookware and the best non-toxic air fryers first, leaving our old, reliable coffee makers out of the picture.
However, according to Amy Chernoff, appliance expert at AJ Madison, plastic-based coffee makers are silent health risks. 'These machines repeatedly heat water through plastic reservoirs and tubing, which can leach microplastics and chemical residues into a drink many people consume daily. Because of this constant exposure, even small amounts can add up over time.'
Studies support this, too. Snekkevik et al. wrote in one 2024 paper that, 'Mechanical, physical, and chemical processes are the predominant factors driving the generation of micro- and nanoplastics from plastic materials during food preparation,' including coffee makers, 'with extended use and wear increasing the likelihood of malformations, cracking, and oxidation of the plastic.'
As such, there has never been a better time to switch out your old appliances and those made with BPA plastics. You can check the composition of your existing appliance by looking up the make and model online.
A stainless steel or glass coffee maker, such as the Aarke Drip Coffee Maker available at Williams Sonoma, pictured, is not only better for your health, but often brews better-tasting coffee, too.
We are not suggesting you ditch the best coffee makers entirely, however. They are, after all, one of the best ways to organize a morning routine for efficiency. Instead, Amy urges, 'In 2026, upgrading to stainless steel or glass-based brewers is one of the simplest ways to reduce everyday kitchen toxicity.'
When picking non-toxic appliances, such as a new coffee maker, you'll want to consider how you like to brew your coffee first. If you like an automatic machine that runs in the background while you get on with other tasks, our pick is the Aarke Drip Coffee Maker, available on Amazon.
While on the more 'investment' side of the price scale, its large capacity makes it ideal for bigger, busier households, while its premium design means it both looks good and is built to last.
If you don't mind a more hands-on approach to your coffee, or you need to keep kitchen counters clear, the Aeropress Premium, from Williams Sonoma, is made of high-quality borosilicate glass, with a stainless steel filter. It makes enough coffee for one each brew, too, making it perfect for smaller households.
What to Shop
We have tried and tested our fair share of glass and stainless steel coffee makers in the past. These six are some of our top favorites to help you enjoy your morning coffee from a non-toxic appliance.
The Aarke coffee maker is one of our favorites, and is one of the most premium appliances you'll ever own. With a 10-cup capacity, this is a sleek machine made of stainless steel and glass. Ideal for serving quality drip coffee for the whole family or guests. It is pricey, but worth the investment if you have the space.
Glass and stainless steel are not your only options when it comes to non-toxic coffee makers. This budget pour-over is around $25, and is made from high-quality porcelain and has no plastics. You're limited to making one cup at a time, but it's easy to use and makes a smooth coffee without plastic.
The Aeropress Premium is made of high-quality borosilicate glass, with a stainless steel filter. It is easy to use and even simpler to clean, but it only makes enough coffee for one person. That being said, it makes a range of coffee styles using just one tool that is small enough to fit into your kitchen drawers after use.
A balance of high-quality coffee, affordability, and non-toxic materials (stainless steel and BPA-free plastic). It's SCA-certified for brewing great-tasting coffee in under six minutes. However, its simple design means it does not have a built-in timer function, meaning you'll need to manually hit start when you enter the kitchen each morning. It's a small price to pay for reliability, in our opinion.
Rated one of our best moka pots, the Bialetti Venus works wonderfully on any stove type, including induction. Crafted from stainless steel (instead of the traditional aluminum), if you love rich, velvety coffee, go for this chic Moka pot.
This fun, retro design is handmade in the Netherlands with stainless steel and high-quality plastics that are free from BPA and PFAS. The modular design incorporates recyclable parts, making it easy to repair rather than replace to be more sustainable at home. It also comes with an impressive five-year warranty.
It isn't just your appliances that need addressing when looking to curate a healthier kitchen. Consider these six simple kitchen switches to banish microplastics targeting your food storage and cleaning supplies, too.
