Best Automatic Coffee Maker Reviews 2017

Looking to buy the best automatic coffee maker? We've narrowed the search down to the best 5 in the market. For coffee lovers, there is nothing like that first cup of java in the morning. The smell of a fresh pot brewing is enough to wake up your senses, even before you take a sip. With so many great options available, the choices can be overwhelming. In order to save you that time and frustration, we have compiled a list of some of the best automatic coffee maker brands, featuring a model from each – in a mixture of affordable prices. If you don’t find what you are looking for in the products we have featured, these trustworthy brands have other choices, or you can take a look at our other best coffee maker reviews by specific type!

Watch Our Automatic Coffee Maker Review

Overview

PROS

CONS

SPECS

Capacity

Color(s)

Auto-off

Power

Extras

Our Top Choice

OXO On Barista Brain Coffee Maker

A great coffee machine whose design copies the pour over method of brewing.

Programmable. Showerhead for uniform saturation. Easy controls. SCAA certified. Makes great hot coffee. Freshness indicator.

Leaks when the carafe is removed. Carafe and kettle not dishwasher safe. Slow brewer (takes up to 6 minutes)

Up to 9 cups

Black with silver

Yes

1500W

Microprocessor Brew Cycle

Best Value

Hamilton Beach Brewstation Coffee Maker

With the easiness of pouring coffee and no worries of breaking a glass, this makes for a perfect machine especially for an office set up or a home with younger kids.

Programmable with auto shut off. Versatile brewing choices. No hot plate to scorch coffee. Occupies less space. Some parts are dishwasher safe.

Short cord. Some problems of spilling when filling water tank.

Available in 10 or 12 cup

Black

Yes

1800W

Gentle heater for temp

Cuisinart® PerfecTemp Programmable Coffeemaker

A quality product from one of the industry’s best kitchen brands. Great for an office setting.

Easy to use. Brews up to 14 cups. Doesn’t drip and pours easily. User friendly programmable menu.

Non removable water reservoir. A bit pricey.

Up to 14 cups

White, silver or copper

Yes

3200W

24-hour programmability

Bonavita Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe

Many coffee makers have features people don’t use – Bonavita is a simple machine that makes great coffee.

Easy to use and clean. Great tasting coffee. Compact. Thermal carafe.

Not programmable and not so eye catching.

Up to 8 cups

Black with silver

Yes

1500-watt

Pre-infusion mode option

Mr. Coffee® Advanced Brew Programmable Coffee Maker

Designed for a coffee enthusiast who is after style and functionality – and on a budget

Programmable. Brews hot coffee. 2 hour auto shut off. Easy to access filter basket. Brew strength options. Freshness timer

Plastic taste in coffee in some machines (could be a design flow). Clock is not backlit.

Up to 12 cups

Chrome

Yes

2000W

Removes chlorine

(Updated September 22, 2017)

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How Do I Choose the Best Automatic Coffee Maker?

Let’s face it, in many cultures the day can’t start, or end, without a cup of well brewed hot coffee. You could keep spending your hard earned money at the coffee shop, or you can make a great investment for a good quality coffee machine. For the purpose of this review, we’re going to take a look at some of the very best multi-serve, automatic coffee machines -- in a variety of price ranges that have the features to ensure that you get a delicious mug of coffee every time. While each of these machines can brew small quantities of coffee as well, there are some people who prefer making one cup at a time; for that you would want to take a look at single-serve coffee machines.

When it comes to choosing the right coffee maker, a lot of factors do play a role in the end product you are going to go home with. Even though they may fall under the same category, programmable coffeemakers vary remarkably in terms of size, price and lastly the features they have to offer to the consumer. For example -- the number of cups they can brew in a single session, the time it takes, if it has an option to choose the coffee strength, if it can brew more than just coffee are some of the options you may want to look at to pick the best.

By the way, if you are more of an espresso drinker, check out our review for the top 5 espresso makers. And don’t forget, every great cup of coffee starts with fantastic beans – and the best way to get that is to grind your own.

Price

You can choose to spend $150 or even more to purchase a coffee maker that is stylishly made with a sleek finish and great features that will definitely wow your friends and visitors. However that doesn’t mean if you go for a coffee machine that is priced lower than $50 with minimal features like a single button then you won’t be able to enjoy a delicious cup of piping hot coffee. With a budget of between $35 to $200, you should be to find a programmable coffee machine that brews a great cup of coffee to your desired strength.

Features

One of the main things that every coffee lover looks out for in a coffee machine is the ability to brew a cup of coffee that is awesomely delicious. For some people any cup irrespective of how strong or hot it is, will pass as “good enough.” But for the coffee experts, spending extra dollars to get a coffeemaker that brews coffee to optimal strength and retains the right temperature for a couple of hours is worth it.

A few other features to consider when shopping for a coffeemaker are the number of cups you are able to brew at a time, how many parts need to be cleaned and how often and most importantly if it has a carafe and the materials used to make it (for those who are always breaking glass, avoiding a machine that has a glass kettle pot might save you on doing numerous replacements).

Construction and Design

When shopping for a coffee machine, you need to ask yourself a couple of questions-- How much is it worth to wake up to a freshly brewed delicious cup of coffee? How many cups would you like to brew in one go? How often do you need to go back for a refill?

Within the category of automatic coffee machines, there are two main types – drip and thermal.

Drip Coffee Maker – A drip coffee machine is designed to brew several cups of coffee at once. The brewed coffee “drips” down into a glass carafe that sits atop a hot plate that will keep the coffee warm. Programmable coffee makers let you determine how much coffee to make at a time, which is important for people who don’t like the taste of coffee that has been sitting on “warm” for too long.
Thermal Coffee Maker – Thermal coffee machines are becoming much more common within the every day coffee machines, whereas there was a time when you could only find this feature in high end coffee makers. Rather than the brewed coffee going into a separate carafe, it’s stored in a specially designed thermal container. There are two types of containers – external thermal carafes which can keep a pot of coffee warm for a few hours, or within a container that is built in to the machine. For the latter, coffee is dispensed from the machine as you need it.

In addition to these two types of automatic coffee machines are the ones that are designed to brew one cup of coffee, fresh when you want it.

Performance and Ease of Use

Most coffee makers currently in the market are programmable. This makes it easier for one to choose their preferred model. Brewing options and being programmable are the major factors that affect the quality of your coffee. Some of the machines have an inbuilt strength feature that lets you choose a brew that matches your preferred taste. Other devices also have a timer that allows you to program it in a way that it brews your delicious coffee cup a few minutes before you wake up making your morning a hassle free one.

In addition to the quality of coffee and how user-friendly the machine is to use, another thing that you want to look for is a machine that is easy to clean and maintain. Some of the really high quality machines even include self-cleaning features.

What is the Best Automatic Coffee Maker?

Ok, now we know the important things to look for when choosing an automatic coffee machine, let’s take a look at five different brands that got our vote of approval.

Our Top Choice

The On Barista Brain Coffee Maker by OXO took our top spot because it has so many great features including the ability to regulate brew time, volume and water temperature. Your job is to provide the water and coffee, the does the rest to bring you a perfect cup of java every time. Need more coffee? OXO makes a 12 cup coffee maker too.

OXO On Barista Brain 9-Cup Programmable Coffee Machine with Automatic Shutoff

OXO 8710100 Coffee Maker

Features

With a manufacturer’s price of $199.99, coupled with some awesome features, it is no wonder the On Barista Brain is one of the most sought after coffee machines in the market. Here are just some of the great features you get to enjoy when you purchase this product:

Cone shaped brew basket
Internal mixing tube
Rainmaker showerhead
Intelligent microprocessor
Precise control of water volume and temperature and brew time

Construction and Design

Crafted with a silicone and double walled stainless steel carafe, the On Barista Brain has a brain of its own, making it one of the smartest coffee machines in the market. You select the number of cups and it does the rest. This coffee maker with a “brain” has a special single cup setting, as well as the option to brew from 2 to 9 cups at a time. While some people may see this as a negative, full pot of coffee can take up to 6 minutes to brew, but a great cup of coffee shouldn’t be rushed.

The inbuilt smart microprocessor monitors the water volume, water temperature and brewing time from beginning to end. The shower head ensures even distribution of water giving you a consistent flavor of coffee from the first cup to the last. The OXO On Coffee Maker has been recognized by the Specialty Coffee Association of America as an exemplary home brewer both because of overall quality, and because of how it maintains the proper temperature and brew time.

Its uniqueness doesn’t end there. On Barista Brain boasts of the mixing tube made of silicone that works to ensure the more recent brewed coffee is pushed to the far end which helps to solve the issue of having different coffee tastes depending on if you drink the first or last cup.

Performance and Ease of Use

Though it may appear to be a bit larger than other coffee machines, this sturdy machine is smartly built with simple controls. Depending on the amount of coffee you intend to brew, the brewing time is automatically adjusted.

The tall thermal stainless steel carafe, the big see through water reservoir, a single button that doubles up as a dial and an LED screen gives homemade coffee brewing an easiness that are always associated with the ease of ordering a cup at your favorite local coffee shop

Taking care of and cleaning the OXO On is easy because the parts that you need to clean are both removable and safe for the top rack of your dishwasher. The machine also has an indicator to let you know when it’s descaling time.

Looking to brew some hot tasty coffee? Get the OXO On 9

Best Value

With the Brewstation Summit by Hamilton Beach there’s no carafe so there is no pouring, washing, glass to break and most important, no scorched coffee taste when you get to the bottom of the pot. If you want both a carafe and one cup dispensing, check out on of Hamilton Beach’s 2-Way coffee makers.

Hamilton Beach Brewstation Summit Dispensing 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Machine

Hamilton Beach Brewstation 48464

Features

We chose the Brewstation as our best value product because it offers both a fantastic price and great features, without having to sacrifice on the quality of the coffee it makes. Neither the Brewstation nor the OXO On 9 use a hot plate or a glass carafe, but they keep the coffee warm in two different methods – with the Brewstation being internal, and the OXO model using a stainless steel thermal carafe.

With no worries of breaking glass while preparing your delicious cup of coffee and a programmable timer to ensure your coffee brews when you need it, the Hamilton Beach Brewstation comes many with other great features. To recap, you get:

Water and coffee level guide
One hand dispensing bar
Brews up to 12 cups and dispenses one fresh cup at a time
Versatile brewing, you can choose from bold, regular, iced coffee or small-batch

And to top it off, all of the parts that come in contact with your coffee, water and grinds are BPA fee.

Construction and Design

This programmable coffee maker by Hamilton Beach lets you brew up to 12 cups of coffee, and lets you grab a cup of coffee with one hand, right from the machine into the cup of your choice. The Brewstation Summit belongs to the class of automatic coffee machines that brews the coffee and stores it inside a thermal container within the machine, to be dispensed as you need it. This stylish stainless steel and black coffee machine occupies less space in your kitchen as compared to many similar styles of coffee machines. It measures 15.16 H x 8.19 W x 11.03 D inches and is uniquely designed so that it does not require a carafe or a glass coffee pot.

The Brewstation Summit Dispensing Coffee is designed with a gentle warming heater that can maintain the coffee's temperature for up to 4 hours. When you are ready for your coffee, grab the cup of your choice and experienced the convenience of one-handed dispensing.

With a maximum capacity of 12 cups and an overall power of 950 watts, this machine can brew your coffee in about 5 minutes. It also offers a water and coffee level guide that is counted in cups, which makes it convenient for you to know how many cups of coffee are left to be brewed.

Performance and Ease of Use

With no carafe or glass kettle to worry about, you can say goodbye to breaking glass and missing out on a hot homemade cup of coffee with the Brewstation from Hamilton Beach. Though it is designed to brew large batch of 12 cups, this model lets you adjust and set your desired amount of coffee for less – it even lets you brew just one cup at a time.

The Hamilton Beach Brewstation 48464 has an inbuilt programmable timer and an adjustable automatic shut off that will turn off the machine if you ever forget to do it (you can program this for immediate shut off, up to four hours). With a small counter footprint, the Brewstation lets you enjoy a homemade cup of coffee even when you have limited kitchen space.

This automatic coffee machine gives you for options for brew strength – bold, regular, small-batch and iced coffee. With its insulated inner tank and heater keeps your brewed coffee warm for several hours, you don’t have to worry about having to reheat it or having to brew every time you need a cup.

The filter basket and coffee tank are removable for easy cleaning. As for the inner workings, the Brewstation has an automatic cleaning system and will let you know when it’s time for a cleaning, either every 30 cycles, or when it detects that there is a buildup of residue inside the machine. The outside of the machine can be wiped with a damp cloth.

Need an affordable, carafe-less coffee maker that even brews iced coffee? Pick up the Brewstation!

With Cuisinart’s programmable fully automatic 14 cup coffee maker you simply add the water and the coffee and push a button for a great cup of coffee every time – and you can program it so you don’t even have to do that. Cuisinart also makes smaller capacity coffee makers, including single serve models – and some even include built in grinders.

Cuisinart® 14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker – Hotter Coffee with Expert Coffee-Making Technology, Available 3 Color Choices

Cuisinart DCC-3200W Coffee Maker – White/Stainless Steel

Features

Manufactured by one of the industry’s leaders in kitchen equipment, it’s no wonder the Cuisinart Programmable Coffeemaker is furnished with cutting edge coffee technology. With an inclusion of almost every feature any coffee lover desires in a coffeemaker, this brand is designed to brew you a cup of coffee that is hot without sacrificing on taste. Priced at $99.95, the Cuisinart is worth every penny because it comes with features that you wouldn’t want to miss out on.

Here’s an overview of some of the great features you get to enjoy when you purchase this product:

Hotter coffee without sacrificing quality or flavor
14 cup glass carafe
Brew strength control with an option for bold or regular coffee flavor
24 hour programmable
Automatic shut off after 4 hours, but you can press a button for more time
3 year limited warranty

Construction and Design

The Cuisinart Programmable Coffeemaker is available in black and stainless steel (DCC-3200) or white and stainless steel (DCC-3200W). It measures Height 14 ¼ ‘’ Width : 8’’ Depth : 9’’ and weighs 9.5 lbs. It’s a large capacity automatic coffee maker with a top quantity of 14 cups of steaming hot, fantastic tasting coffee – perfect for small offices, large family gatherings or people who REALLY love coffee. Is that too much coffee for you? You can always choose a smaller cup setting.

Performance and Ease of Use

If you are looking to get the best of both worlds; brew strength options; bold or regular and hotter coffee, then The Cuisinart® 14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker is your best bet. Your worries of missing out on a great cup of coffee are solved by this awesome machine with its ability to set brew time up to 24 hours ahead.

The LCD is backlit for easier reading and its control panel is so simple and user friendly that even a child can brew a cup of coffee without much hassle. There is an easily viewed window to make sure that you fill the reservoir to the right amount. The glass carafe is both BPA free and dishwasher safe.

One thing that makes the Cuisinart DCC-3200W Coffee Maker stand out from the others is its gold tone doffe filter and charcoal water filter that guarantee high quality water filtration, making sure your cup of coffee tastes fantastic.

By the way, if you simply can’t wait until the entire pot is finished, you can use the Brew Pause™ button to grab a cup right away without any drips. Power outage while brewing? This machine will actually remember where it left off.

Brew strength options and hotter coffee – get both with the Cuisinart® 14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker.

If you are looking for an incredible cup of coffee brewed at home, the 8-Cup Coffee Brewer by Bonavita is yet another one of their machines to be recognized by the Specialty Coffee Association of America for coffee brewing excellence. They also make 5 cup and digital versions as well.

Bonavita 8-Cup Coffee Brewer with Stainless Steel Lined Thermal Carafe

Bonavita Coffee Maker BV1900TS

Features

If you are looking for an under $200 coffeemaker that is SCAA certified and brews some amazing coffee then Bonavita Coffee Maker BV1900TS would be a good choice. Though its not as flashy as its competitors in the market, it does have some great features.

Here’s an overview of what you’ll enjoy if you choose this as your coffee maker:

Maintains optimal brewing temperature of 195°-205°F (91°-96°C)
Long lasting stainless steel lined thermal carafe
Flat-bottomed filter basket and larger showerhead
One touch brew operation with auto-off

Construction and Design

With no LED lit buttons or flashy LCD panels, the Bonavita BV1900TS may appear to not be worth the price. However don’t let this discourage you from taking a closer look and even trying it out. Bonavita prides itself in simplicity and they’ve focused on the essentials of brewing great coffee. The Bonavita V1900TS has only one button and an on/off switch.

The precise and powerful 1500 watt heater ensures that the water is heated and maintained at an optimal temperature. To ensure even extraction, the Bonavita has a wide showerhead which is designed to distribute water evenly on the ground coffee. This, coupled with a flat bottomed filter basket, ensures even saturation which results into a delicious cup of coffee that is brewed faster and to your desired strength.

With its plain and simple design, measuring 12.40 inches deep, 6.80 inches wide and 12.20 inches high, this kitchen appliance will fit on even the most cramped up kitchen counter.

Performance and Ease of Use

If your goal is to have a great cup of coffee, without having to sort through a bunch of buttons and programs, then the Bonavita BV1900TS is a perfect choice. Simply add the water and the grinds and push the button, that’s all there is. You do have an optional pre-infusion mode that will pre-wet the grounds to allow degassing before the brewing start. There are not “strength” settings – you set the strength of coffee by the kind you use, and the amount of grounds you put in.

All plastic used in this coffee machines is BPA-free. The showerhead, filter basket and carafe lid are safe for the dishwasher, but the stainless steel thermal carafe needs to be hand washed.

Pick up the Bonavita BV1900TS if you’re looking for a machine that brews quickly and simple to operate.

This 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker by Mr. Coffee® may not be the “best” coffee machine on the market, but it definitely is one of the best in the really affordable category. Featured in review after review, and currently a #1 best selling coffee maker on Amazon, if you’re on a budget this is one you want. Mr. Coffee® also makes a great affordable Espresso, Cappuccino and specialty coffee maker.

Mr. Coffee® Advanced Brew 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker with Black & Chrome Accents

Mr. Coffee® BVMC-SJX33GT Coffee Machine

Features

What review of machines for brewing java would be complete without the name Mr. Coffee®? At under $40, Mr. Coffee® 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is a perfect buy for coffee lovers who are looking to enjoy a great cup of coffee without breaking the bank. Renowned as one of the world’s top coffeemaker brands, and a great price of $34.92 to boot, the Mr. Coffee® BVMC-SJX33GT Coffee Machine not only won’t cost you a lot, but it gives you what you need to enjoy great tasting coffee at home. With a programmable timer that allows to wake up to an already brewed cup of coffee, this affordable coffee machine has many other great features that make it worth checking out

Here’s what you get when you purchase it:

Water Filtration Ready to remove up to 97% of chlorine for better tasting coffee
Freshness timer keeps a tab on coffee freshness from the time it's brewed
Grab-A-Cup Auto Pause stops cycle when you need a cup before brewing is finished
Cleaning Cycle tells you when it's time to clean to keep coffee tasting its best
Lift & Clean Filter Basket for fast and easy clean up

Construction and Design

Measuring only 14.41 inches x 11.06 inches x 9.09 inches, this drip style coffee machine, won’t take up a lot of space on your counter. Not to mention the fact that its stylish and petite design makes it look sharp too. It comes with a glass carafe, however a stainless steel carafe can be purchased separately if that’s your preference. It also features a carbon based water filter that removes up to 97% of chlorine and the reservoir is transparent enough to allow you check on the water levels.

Performance and Ease of Use

Because of its programmability, Mr. Coffee allows the consumer to select his preferred brew strength. It also gives one an option of pause and serve that allows you to serve yourself a cup of coffee mid brew. From the feedback received so far, most consumer appreciate the fact that they are able to choose between using the glass carafe that comes with the machine or a thermal carafe that is sold separately. Consumers have also acknowledged the fact that though the machine is designed with advanced features, it is easy to use.

Taking care of your Mr Coffee machine doesn’t have to be too much hassle. The filter basket can be lifted off for easier cleaning and it also has a clean cycle feature that lets you know when its time to run the internal cleaning cycle so that you can continue enjoying a great coffee, cup after cup.

For a great budget buy, get yourself the Mr. Coffee® 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker

Get the Best Automatic Coffee Maker of 2017!

If you’re looking for an affordable coffee maker, without having to sacrifice on quality, our research and the voice of many satisfied customers shows that any of these would be a great choice.

Our Top Choice

OXO On Barista Brain Coffee Maker

Best Value

Hamilton Beach Brewstation Coffee Maker

Cuisinart® PerfecTemp Programmable Coffeemaker

Bonavita Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe

Mr. Coffee® Advanced Brew Programmable Coffee Maker