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8 Best And 3 Worst Coffee Makers, According To Customer Reviews

For some, sipping on a cup of coffee while reading the newspaper, checking out social media, or enjoying some fluffy scrambled eggs is the perfect way to start the day. For others, being able to start the day without that cup of coffee (or, let's be honest, two or three cups of coffee), just isn't going to happen. A home coffee maker allows you to brew a hot cup of joe whenever you want it, saving you both time and money compared to heading to an expensive coffee shop.

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However, while coffee is a seemingly basic drink to prepare, we all know that the wrong tools can prevent it from turning out right. You might already have many of the top gadgets to make home-brewed coffee, but do you have the best coffee maker to go along with them? We consulted customer reviews to help us identify the best — and the worst — coffee makers that are currently on the market. In addition to considering the overall star rating, we also noted the total number of reviews, as well as how many customers gave each coffee maker a 4- or 5-star rating. You'll find more information about our methodology at the end of this article. But, for now, keep reading so you can choose the best coffee maker to match your home-brewing needs.

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Best: Keurig K-Classic Single Serve Pod Coffee Maker

With more than 100,000 reviews and a 4.6-star average at the time of writing, it is safe to say that the majority of customers who have purchased the Keurig K-Classic Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker are pleased with its performance. This machine is compatible with 6-, 8-, and 10-ounce and features easy-to-use, push-button controls. The 48-cup reservoir holds enough water to make up to six cups of coffee and is removable for easy refilling when necessary. If you want to fill a taller mug or travel cup, you can even remove the lower drip tray to accommodate the additional height.

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A full 90% of reviewers gave this coffee maker a 4- or 5-star rating. 79% awarded it a 5-star rating, with an additional 11% giving it a 4-star rating. Many reviewers praise its ease of use, speed, and coffee quality in their write-ups. Here is what one customer shared: "I don't know what took me so long to order this item. I have to say this is the best investment I've made all year. It is wonderful to be able to quickly have a fresh cup of coffee any time of the day. It was easy to set up and easy to operate."

Best: BUNN GRB Velocity Coffee Brewer

The BUNN GRB Velocity Coffee Brewer boasts a high, 4.6-star rating, which is based on nearly 16,000 reviews. The coffee maker has a 10-cup capacity and comes with a drip-free carafe to eliminate those annoying coffee spills on the counter every time you pour yourself a cup. One of the standout features of this model is the 70-ounce stainless steel hot water tank. The stainless steel construction ensures that the water in the tank stays hot and ready, enabling it to quickly brew a full pot of coffee in just four minutes.

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At the time of writing, 82% of reviewers gave this coffee brewer a 5-star rating, and an additional 8% gave it a 4-tar rating. Some of the features that were highlighted across several reviews including the brewing speed, taste, and overall ease of use. "Best purchase!! We finally upgraded to a BUNN & I will never buy another brand again. Brew time is so quick, Coffee quality is just as good, if not better than the coffee house chains. Don't hesitate to buy!!," wrote one satisfied user.

Best: Hamilton Beach 2-Way Programmable Drip Coffee Maker & Single Serve Machine

If you're looking for a more versatile coffee maker, consider the Hamilton Beach 2-Way Programmable Drip Coffee Maker & Single Serve Machine. Its design makes it possible to brew a full pot of coffee when you'll be home all day or are looking to share with others in the house, or a single cup when you're running out the door or only need a quick afternoon pick-me-up. More than 50,000 customers have reviewed this model, giving it an average rating of 4.5 stars. Beyond the two brew size options, this product allows you to customize the brew strength and program is up to 24 hours in advance to have a cup of coffee ready and waiting for you whenever you want it.

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More than ¾ (76%) of reviewers gave this coffee maker a 5 stars, with an additional 13% giving it 4 stars. The cup capacity, design, and value for the money were three of the features that were mentioned across several reviews. One individual who tried the coffee maker said, "I absolutely love my new Hamilton Beach coffee maker. It has the capability to make a whole pot of coffee (12 cups) or a single serve cup that doesn't require a coffee pod. The single serve has its own water reservoir & filter. Also like the design of it. I highly recommend this coffee maker!!"

Best: Cuisinart Coffee Maker

This coffee maker from Cuisinart has a 4.5-star rating, which is based on feedback from nearly 40,000 users. Its 14-cup capacity makes it a top choice for those looking to brew a large pot of coffee to share with a partner or guests. The glass carafe also offers a stylish, modern look, allowing you to feel good about leaving it out on the counter or the table when entertaining. To help each user customer their cup of joe to their exact liking, this model offers both regular and brewed settings. If you are only making coffee for yourself, and don't want to make a full pot, you can choose the 1-4 cup setting to avoid leaving so much leftover coffee. A few other notable features of this model include its 24-hour programmability, optional tone to alert you when the coffee has finished brewing, and the auto-off feature, which you can set between zero and four hours.

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Most customers who have tried this coffee maker are impressed with how it works. Currently, 75% of reviewers gave it a 5-star rating, with 12% more giving it a 4-star rating. Many mentioned the coffee quality and temperature, overall design, and ease of use of the machine in their reviews. "This is a very easy to use coffee maker. It's touch screen and has a 'bold setting so you can have nice strong coffee that's hot and stays hot for as long as you program it to. Very happy with my choice!," wrote one person who reviewed this model.

Best: Ninja Programmable Coffee Maker

This 12-cup programmable coffee maker from Ninja is another top-rated option that you might want to consider. It holds a 4.5-star rating, which is based on nearly 25,000 reviews. The coffee maker allows you to make a 12-cup carafe of coffee, but also offers a small batch function, so you can brew just one to four cups when desired. With its adjustable warming plate, it can help keep each pot hot and ready to enjoy for up to four hours. A few other notable features of this model include the classic and rich brew style options, the removable water reservoir for easy and spill-free filling, and the delay brew setting.

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Currently, 86% of reviewers gave this model a 4- or 5-star rating — 76% deemed it worthy of a 5-star rating, and 10% more gave it a 4-star rating. Many mentioned the coffee quality, temperature, and taste as some of the reasons they like this model. One reviewer shared, "My new Ninja 12-cup programmable coffee maker is the best! It is convenient, well-designed, and performs extremely well. I especially like that the carafe is separate from the water supply. The water tank is easy to fill with clear demarcations. Never any mess with this brewer. A+"

Best: Ninja Po & Grounds Specialty Single-Serve Coffee Maker

With 4.4 stars from more than 3,000 reviews, this Ninja Pod & Grounds Speciality Single-Serve Coffee Maker also deserves a spot in our lineup. It is compatible with K-cups or grounds, helping you customize the taste — and convenience — of each cup. Choose from classic, rich, over ice, or specialty brew methods, ensure that your coffee is the right grind for your preferred method, choose your cup size, and let the machine make the perfect cup of joe for you to enjoy. It even features an integrated, fold-away milk frother. With all of these features you can make your own gourmet drinks at home, including cappuccinos, macchiatos, and lattes — even complete with latte art if you're up for the challenge.

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At the time of writing, 77% of reviewers gave this coffee maker 5 stars and 9% gave it 4 stars. In their reviews, several people shared their satisfaction with the compactness and looks of the small appliance, as well as the taste and temperature of the coffee it makes. Here is what one user wrote: "I'm really happy with this coffee maker so far. It looks great & has a lot of features. I love that you can do pods or ground coffee & the storage for both is seamless so you don't have extra parts to keep track of laying around. It doesn't take up a lot of space at all & isn't too over complicated. It also brews fast!"

Best: BLACK DECKER Programmable Coffee Maker

If you're looking for a standard coffee maker that comes highly recommended by real users, then you should take a look at the BLACK+DECKER Programmable Coffee Maker. It offers a generous 12-cup carafe, complete with marking to help you measure and fill the reservoir. Those who want to get that first cup of coffee as soon as possible, will appreciate the Sneak-a-Cup feature. Even if the coffee maker is still in the middle of brewing, you can remove the carafe to pour a cup — it will automatically pause the process until you return the carafe to its place. A few other features of this model include the simple display screen with large, easy to use buttons, the 24-hour auto-brew feature, and the two-hour auto shutoff.

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The majority of individuals who have purchased this coffee maker are happy with its performance — 70% of reviewers gave it 5 stars and 14% gave it 4 stars. Some commonly highlighted features include the ease of cleaning, value for the money, and coffee quality. "Great coffee maker for the price! The display is simple and easy to read. The carafe does not spill over the sides when pouring so it is a great design. Grounds do not overflow. Would choose this coffee maker every time over the more expensive brands," shared one reviewer.

Best: Keurig K-Mini Single Serve Pod Coffee Maker

More than 100,000 customers have reviewed the Keurig K-Mini Single Serve Pod Coffee Maker, giving it an average rating of 4.4 stars. Its compact size is ideal for small kitchens, the office, RVs, or anywhere else that you have limited room. The single-serve coffee maker is designed to be used with Keurig K-cup pods and allows you to brew between 6 and 12 ounces of coffee at a time. It can even accommodate travel mucus up to 7 inches, helping you get out the door — coffee in hand — even faster. Also, 90 seconds after finishing each brew, the unit will shut off to conserve energy.

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Three-quarters (75%) of reviewers gave this coffee maker a 5-star rating, and 11% more gave it 4 stars. Many praised its design and compact size, along with the taste of the coffee it makes in their reviews. One individual shared, "This Keurig works great. The size is perfectly compact, looks great on my counter. We wanted an option to use K cups & this is just the thing. I like how the reservoir holds enough for one drink, but not so much that it is holding standing water. Very happy with this purchase!"

Worst: Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Trio 2-Way Coffee Maker

The Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Trio 2-Way Coffee Maker sounds great on paper. It is designed to offer three different brewing methods — a 12-cup pot of coffee using coffee grounds, a single cup using a pod, or a single cup using coffee grounds. Hamilton Beach made the carafe out of stainless steel to help keep each pot hot until you're ready to enjoy. The brand also designed the 56-ounce water reservoir to be removable, to help you fill it up more easily without spilling water over the edges. So, with this resume, why does this coffee maker fall into our "Worst" category? Well, despite how great it may sound, customer reviews tell a different story.

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With over 800 reviews, the coffee maker holds a rather dismal 3.3-star rating. Moreover, barely half (52%) of reviewers gave it a 4- or 5-star rating. That means that 48% of reviewers thought poorly enough of it to only give it a 1-, 2-, or 3-star rating. Several questioned its value for the money and complained about leaks in their reviews. One wrote, "I would NOT recommend this product to anyone!! The single K-cup is constantly clogging and needs to be taken apart to fix. The stainless carafe leaks every time you pour coffee and does not stay hot for any decent length of time. I spent the most money EVER on this coffee maker and it is by far the worst!"

Worst: De'Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine

The De'Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine is another model that looks much better on paper than it seems to perform in reality. The manufacturer designed it with a dual heating system, making it possible to brew both coffee and espresso at the same time. It features a steam want with both micro-foam and cappuccino setting, a 24-hour programmable timer, digital touchscreen, and spill-proof carafe. The machine is also designed to allow each user to personalize this cup of coffee or espresso by adjusting its flavor.

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However, before you start thinking about grind size for making at-home espresso with this machine, you might want to take note of its poor ratings from customers. Only 62% of users gave it a 4- or 5-star rating. Nearly ¼ (24%) gave it a poor, 1-star rating, with an additional 15% giving it only a 2- or 3-star rating. Several complained about the coffee temperature and quality, with others citing leakage as an issue. "Espresso part of the coffee maker stopped working after about 10 uses and the steamer didn't even make it to 10 uses. So now I have a really expensive coffee maker that only makes a smaller pot of coffee. This was A very disappointing purchase. Also, prepare to do a lot of maintenance for very little results. I would not recommend this product," is what one individual had to say about this model.

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Worst: Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker

If you're on the hunt for the best coffee maker, then the Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker is probably not an option you'll want to consider. Its low, 3.6-star rating, which is based on more than 1,600 customer reviews, doesn't line up with how the manufacturer describes it. The coffee maker is marketed as a smart, Wi-Fi enabled option, allowing you to control it remotely using the app or even voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Home. It has a 10-cup capacity, features four brewing modes (gold, light, medium, and bold), and includes a built-in filter to remove chlorine and other contaminants from your water before brewing each pot.

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When you take a deeper look at the ratings and reviews left by customers, the 3.6-star average seems even more troublesome. Only half of users rated this as a 5-star coffee maker, with nearly 40% giving it only a 1-, 2-, or 3-star rating (22% gave it a 1-star rating, 9% gave it a 2-star rating, and 8% gave it a 3-star rating). Several negative reviews showed frustration with its functionality, water leakage, and overall value for the money. One reviewer shared, "Grounds go everywhere. Overflow filter every time. Grounds in brewed coffee. Poor taste. But if you don't care about taste or mess, you could enjoy the nice design and smart features."

Methodology

We used customer reviews to help us put together this list of the best and worst coffee makers — paying close attention to the overall product review, the number of reviews, and the percent of 4- and 5-star reviews. All of our picks for the "best" coffee makers have an average rating of at least 4.4 stars based on reviews from 3,000 or more customers. Moreover, at least 84% of reviews gave each of these coffee makers a 4- or 5-star review.

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On the other hand, our selections for the "worst" coffee maker all have an average rating of 3.6 or lower, based on a minimum of 800 reviews. Fewer than 55% of reviewers gave these models a 4- or 5- star rating.

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