The Best Coffee Maker for Your Needs

Here is a list of the best coffee makers based on a coffee drinker's means, needs and wants.
Home Use - Easy and Cheap: Krups KM1000 Programmable Coffee Maker for approximately $79
Comments: I know, $79 isn't exacxtly cheap, but for the price you get a quality Krups brewer that won't break down in a couple of months. It boasts digital controls, water filtration and a programmable 1-to-5 hour auto shut-off system. Krups has been making quality coffee makers for years. They have slipped a bit lately in the last few years, but they are know back on their quality game, and this is one of their newest models.

Home Use - Easy and Semi-Pricey: Zojirushi Fresh Brew Thermal Coffee Maker for approximately $99
Comments: Zojirushi is not a common brand name, but in the coffee business, they are known for making the best thermal airpots and carafes around. Thermal is the way to go for fresher-tasting coffee, and the Zojirushi features boasts a double-wall thermal carafe that is larger (52 oz.) than most other models, the best brewing temperature of any comparably priced model, and it sprays water evenly over the ground coffee to ensure good over-all extraction.

Home Use - Some Work = Great Coffee: Chemex Classic 10-Cup Coffee Maker for about $50
Comments: No plug, no buttons, just a glass vase. It was invented by a chemist, but looks like a piece of art. All you do is insert a filter, add your coffee grounds and pour very hot water through the grounds. It takes work, but it makes very good coffee because the water and coffee only touch the special Chemex filter paper and glass, so there's no plasticy or metallic tastes. Most home coffee makers brew at too low of a temperature, which makes the coffee weak and slightly sour - that problem is eliminated with this brewer.

Home Use - Single Serve: Krups Dolce Gusto for about $169
Comments: In the last couple of years we have moved from first to second generation single serve brewer. Everyone has been entering the market, and thie Dolce Gusto is Krups entry. A single serve machine is only as good as the capsules that it uses: The Dolce Gusto uses capsules from Nestle, who have years of experience in both coffee and cocoa.

See all of our home coffee makers

Small Office - Low Priced: Bunn VP17-1 for about $240
Comments: Commercial quality and an entry level price. Basic one warmer with lots of stainless steel, and built to make good coffee and last for years. Come with the great Bunn warranty of 2 years parts and 1 year labor.

Small Office - Excellent Coffee: Bunn CW15-TC Pourover Carafe Brewer for about $330
Comments: For a little more money then the VP17, you get to brew into a thermal carafe. The quality of the coffee will more than make up for the extra money spent. Note: carafes are sold separately, and they run between $30 - $70.

Office or Commercial Use - Waterline Hook-Up: Bunn SmartWAVE%u2122 APS Brewer for about $480
Comments: The SmartWave brewers offer a great thermal brewer that can brew into either carafes or airpots at a lower price than most automatic (hook into waterline) brewers. Lots of digital controls.

Coffee Shop-Quality Coffee: Bunn ICB Brewers, Curtis ThermoPro Brewers, Fetco Extractor Brewers for $800 and up
Comments: These are not just for coffee shops - they are also used in offices, restaurants, churches, etc. The coffee is great becuse the technology is there: they infuse the coffee with hot water to extract the most flavor from the beans, they brew at the correct temperature, they wet the beans evenly, they for for the correct amount of time, etc. Worth the money if you want the best coffee.

Commercial Grind-and-Brew: Grindmaster Grind' n Brew for about $2000
Comments: Half of the equation for making great coffee is having the coffee freshly ground. These machines complete that equation.

Machines That Do Everything: Franke Super-Automatics and Bunn Tigers for $5000 and up
Comments: These machines can make a coffee, espresso, latte or cappuccino in the size you want at the touch of a button. Some of them can even make iced drinks.