Drinking coffee daily can quickly become expensive if you keep on buying it from a coffee shop, so you’ve probably tried searching for which drip coffee maker makes the best-tasting coffee. Modern drip coffee makers can make a café-quality brew in your home with just the touch of a button, provided that you use fresh, high-quality beans.
In this article, we’ll tackle what a drip coffee maker is, how it works, and which models out there make the best tasting coffee.
Does Temperature Really Matter?
Here’s the simple answer: yes, coffee temperature does matter.
According to the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), the optimum temperature range of a cup of coffee is between 195⁰-205⁰F or 90⁰-96⁰C.
This means that you’re looking for a coffee maker that can brew your coffee within that specified temperature range. Any lower, and you won’t be able to enjoy the subtle notes of your coffee. Any higher and you’re basically scalding your coffee into a bitter mess.
By heating your coffee to a temperature within this range, you’re dissolving the right amount of flavor compounds in your coffee grounds to bring the optimum amount of taste and aroma to your coffee.
Comparison Chart
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| OXO Brew 9-cup | The OXO Brew brings together quality performance and a large, stylish carafe in one compact package. | ||
| Bonavita Connoisseur 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker | With consistent water flow and pre-saturation features, the Bonavita Connoisseur not only makes great-tasting coffee, but the large and durable carafe also keeps it hot and fresh for hours. | ||
| Breville BDC400 Precision Brewer Coffee Maker | The Breville BDC400 makes a wide range of different brews to suit anyone’s taste and preference for their cup of Joe. | ||
| Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch Coffee Maker | This coffee maker is fully programmable and is perfect for those who want to craft every aspect of their coffee. You can choose your desired strength, brew, and temperature, as well as decide when you want the machine to start brewing. | ||
| Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 DCC-3200 Glass Carafe Handle Programmable Coffeemaker | If you live in a home with a lot of coffee drinkers, the Cuisinart DCC-3200 knocks out a full carafe in a snap! |
Detailed Reviews of the 5 Best Rated Coffee Makers for Making the Hottest Coffee
OXO Brew 9-cup
The OXO Brew brings together quality performance and a large, stylish carafe in one compact package.
Value
The brew made by this machine tastes deep and rich, but the plastic parts make the machine feel cheap.
Functionality
The intuitive LED interface of the OXO Brew makes this machine a dream to use.
The Earl’s Overall Rating
With a great one-two punch of precise coffee heating and a long warranty, the Moccamaster gets our top pick.
PROs
- Large and durable carafe
- Precise brewing temperature
- LED interface allows for easy operation
CONs
- Slow brewing time
- No warranty
- Plastic parts of machine feel cheap and fragile
Bonavita Connoisseur 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker
With consistent water flow and pre-saturation features, the Bonavita Connoisseur not only makes great-tasting coffee, but the large and durable carafe also keeps it hot and fresh for hours.
Value
For its price point, the Connoisseur makes drip coffee that’s better than many coffee shops.
Functionality
The one-touch function makes this machine easy to use but you need to remember to turn it off after brewing because of the lack of an auto shut-off feature.
The Earl’s Overall Rating
If you love a pot of hot, great-tasting coffee that will stay fresh and delicious for hours after brewing, look no further than the Connoisseur.
PROs
- Modern and professional design
- Even and consistent water flow
- Easy to clean
- One-touch brewing
CONs
- Cannot be programmed for auto-brewing
- Brew basket does not catch groundswell
- No automatic shut off after brewing cycle
Breville BDC400 Precision Brewer Coffee Maker
The Breville BDC400 makes a wide range of different brews to suit anyone’s taste and preference for their cup of Joe.
Value
The Breville Precision Brewer is pricey, although it gives a great range of brew options.
Functionality
Easy to use, but the glass carafe feels fragile and is difficult to replace when broken.
The Earl’s Overall Rating
Aside from the glass carafe, the Breville Precision brewer is a durable and reliable machine that makes a great cup of coffee quickly and easily.
PROs
- 6 unique brew settings allow a wide range of brewing options
- Precise and adjustable temperature
- Dual-filter baskets
CONs
- Pricier compared to other models on this list
- Leaky water pump
- Glass carafe is fragile
Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch Coffee Maker
This coffee maker is fully-programmable and is perfect for those who want to craft every aspect of their coffee. You can choose your desired strength, brew, and temperature, as well as decide when you want the machine to start brewing.
Value
This model is cheap and easy to use, but feels flimsy because of the plastic parts.
Functionality
One-touch operation, but lacks programming features.
The Earl’s Overall Rating
While the coffee produced by the Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch is not as rich or flavorful as other models on this list, the price and ease of use make it ideal for those looking for a serviceable drip coffee maker.
PROs
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
- Affordable Price
- Compact design
CONs
- Plastic parts feel cheap
- No pre-programming features
- No warranty
Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 DCC-3200 Glass Carafe Handle Programmable Coffeemaker
If you live in a home with a lot of coffee drinkers, the Cuisinart DCC-3200 knocks out a full carafe in a snap!
Value
While the DCC-3200 is affordable, the glass carafe is flimsy and easily broken.
Functionality
The filter is hard to clean and is not suitable for oily roasts.
The Earl’s Overall Rating
The Cuisinart DCC-3200 is a great all-around coffee maker that’s perfect for making large batches of coffee quickly.
PROs
- Adjustable brew strength
- Adjustable and precise heating
- 24-hour programming available
- Permanent gold tone filter
CONs
- Hard to clean
- Difficult to use
- No warranty
Parting Shots
Now you know our best picks for which drip coffee maker makes the best-tasting coffee! No matter which model you choose, you can be sure that you’ll be getting a quality coffee maker that will make a satisfying cup of coffee on demand. Whether you want the reliable OXO Brew 9-cup or the budget-friendly Mr. Coffee 4-cup Switch, make sure that you get a drip coffee maker that suits your budget and coffee drinking preferences. Find out more about coffee makers.