The Best Coffee Maker America’s Test Kitchen 2022
May 20, 2023
Whenever you want to brew a good cup of coffee at home, you need a great coffee maker.
The problem is there are so many machines competing to be on the list of the best coffee makers that making a choice quickly becomes overwhelming. Some are better for a family while others are compact and perfect for single use.
For those that want the perfect cup of coffee without breaking the bank, the Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 DCC-3200 Programmable Coffeemaker is the best coffee maker overall that is also affordable and is the best bang for your buck. It is fully automatic, self-cleaning, and can brew up to 14 cups of coffee at once. With its sleek, modern design and brew strength control you can see why it is our top pick for coffee lovers.
What should you choose?
Fortunately, while choosing a coffee maker is subjective because the best choice for you is not necessarily the best for someone else, some coffee makers stand out of the crowd on account of the quality they offer.
If single serve coffee makers are your thing, check out this article for the best single server coffee makers for 2022.
Below you can see the top 10 best coffee makers for 2022 available right now.
Go through all the features mentioned to choose the machine that will offer the best cup of coffee for you, based on what you like and the features you need.
Best Coffee Makers Consumer Reports 2022
1. Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 DCC-3200 Programmable Coffeemaker
Cuisinart is a highly respected name in the industry and when you look at the Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 PerfecTemp 14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, it is easy to understand why.
The coffee maker features state-of-the-art technology to guarantee hot coffee with great flavor.
The user can easily select brew strength to get a bolder flavor or a regular cup of coffee.
The DCC-3200P1 is fully automatic. It includes 24-hour programmability so you can choose when the machine starts brewing.
Also, all components can be cleaned and the auto-shutoff feature turns off the machine for you if you forget to do it.
With the DCC-3200P1, you can brew just 1 to 4 cups as a minimum setting or fill it up to get 14 cups. This makes the machine perfect for those who need a lot of coffee at the same time.
Also, if you worry about waste, which is common with many coffee makers because of the use of filters, the machine includes a reusable gold-tone filter.
The only drawback of the DCC-3200P1 coffee maker is that the carafe has a small pouring area and you have to slowly pour the coffee from the carafe to avoid dripping and spilling.
What We Like
- Brew strength control
- Fully automatic
- Self-cleaning
- Auto shutoff
- Sleek, modern design
- Easy-to-read backlit LCD
- Brew up to 14 cups at once
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive warranty replacement
- Inadequate carafe design
2. Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System Tea & Coffee Maker
The Ninja Hot And Cold Brewed System can be used to make both coffee and tea.
It includes brewing technology to use to make different types of coffee.
There are 5 brew styles available and you can choose between classic, specialty, cold brew, over ice, and rich, based on your strength preferences.
With this coffee maker, you can choose any tea or coffee brand and the system automatically recognizes the basket to then display the tea or coffee options available.
Use the Ninja Hot And Cold Brewed System to brew drinks of 6 different sizes, ranging from a single cup to full carafe (10 cups).
If you opt for the cold brew option, the temperature is automatically modified and you get your drink in under 15 minutes.
Overall, this is one of the best coffee makers on the market because it allows you to make flavorful coffee or tea just as you like it. However, if you brew hot drinks, they can only stay hot for up to 2 hours because the coffee maker doesn’t come with a warming plate.
What We Like
- Can brew coffee and tea
- Automatic cold brew detection
- Smart basket recognition
- 6 available brew sizes
- 5 available brew styles
- Automatically chooses best tea settings based on tea type selection
- Brew up to 10 cups at once (50 ounces)
What We Don’t Like
- The stream comes from the top of the maker so the machine should not be placed under counters/shelves
- No warming plate
- Brewing time is longer than with other top coffee makers
3. Bonavita 5-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker
The Bonavita 5-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker was designed with convenience in mind; it is aimed to please those who want to quickly brew coffee without worrying about extra settings.
The one-touch feature can be a huge advantage for those who are always in a hurry when making coffee but it can be seen as a con by those who want to control every single brewing aspect.
Bonavita’s showerhead is specifically designed for even distribution of water over the coffee grounds, which ensures uniform flavor extraction and saturation.
With this coffee maker, you can make a carafe of 5 cups in around 6 minutes.
An optimal brewing temperature of 195 to 206 degrees is maintained and the pre-infusion mode can be used to saturate fresh ground coffee.
When it is time to clean it, you can put the showerhead, filter basket and carafe lid inside the dishwasher.
All the plastic used is BPA-free and you get a warranty of 2 years after purchase.
This is a medium-sized made of durable stainless steel thermal carafe that maintains the temperature of the coffee.
What We Like
- One-touch brewing operation
- Auto-off
- Precise brewing temperature
- Durable thermal carafe lined with stainless steel
- Parts that need to be cleaned are dishwasher safe
What We Don’t Like
- Short cord
- No warming plate
- Hard to empty carafe due to design
4. Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker
When you buy the Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker you also receive a 6-pack pod pack, a water filter handle, and a filter to help you brew better coffee.
The machine only works with pods from Keurig (all types) and is designed as a single-serve machine. This means you use the coffee maker to make one cup at a time, each cup being brewed in under one minute.
However, you can purchase an extra K Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filter to use ground coffee.
The water reservoir is large enough to hold water for 8 cups before a refill is needed and the removable drip tray gives you space to use a travel mug with a height of up to 7.2 inches.
Brewing is quiet and the machine can be used to brew coffee, specialty coffees, hot cocoa, tea, and even iced beverages.
As with all Keurig coffee makers, you need to descale the machine to remove calcium deposits from time to time but you are given a reminder when it’s time to do it so you don’t have to worry about forgetting about the descaling process.
What We Like
- Fast brewing – under 1 minute for a cup of coffee
- Removable drip tray
- Quiet brew technology
- Brewer maintenance reminder
- Large water reservoir
What We Don’t Like
- You have to use Keurig pods or buy an extra filter to use ground coffee
- Cannot use distilled water
- Mandatory descaling
5. Cuisinart DGB-900BC Grind-and-Brew Automatic Coffee Maker
This is the second Cuisinart coffee maker that made it onto our list of top 10 best coffee makers.
Just as most Cuisinart coffee makers, the DGB-900BC instantly stands out due to its sleek design so it looks great in most kitchens. However, this is definitely not the only reason to consider buying this machine.
The DGB-900BC is fully automatic and can brew up to 12 cups of coffee.
You choose the strength based on 3 available settings: strong, mild, and medium.
For the coffee brewing, you use your own ground coffee that you place inside a sealable bean hopper of 8 ounces. Half a pound of coffee beans can be stored.
If you are in a hurry and you want a cup of coffee fast but you still want to brew all 12 cups, the Brew Pause feature stops the process after one cup is finished so you can drink it.
Also, since the machine uses a thermal carafe, you can just come back for another cup whenever you want to. It will still be hot, although the carafe is not as efficient as a warming plate and eventually the coffee will get cold.
Coffee bean grinding is done through the integrated burr grinder. It activates before brewing starts so maximum aroma, flavor, and freshness are possible.
However, you will need to clean the grinder every single week if you often use the coffee maker or grime can build up inside the machine.
What We Like
- Bean-to-cup brewing
- Strength selector with 3 settings
- Sealable bean hopper
- Brew Pause functionality
- Integrated burr grinder
- 24-hour Fully automatic
- Water filter included
- Sleek design
What We Don’t Like
- More expensive than similar coffee makers
- Weekly grinder cleaning necessary
- Thermal carafe not offering full thermal storage
- Uses more beans than other coffee makers in the same price range
6. Mr. Coffee 10 Cup Coffee Maker | Optimal Brew Thermal System
Mr. Coffee is a brand that is known for its innovation.
This is clearly visible in this model with different features that make at-home brewing a great overall experience.
Just as the name implies, the coffee maker can make up to 10 cups of coffee in one go and brewing is done faster than with most other coffee makers on the market, at a temperature of up to 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
If in a hurry, use the Pause Serve feature to stop the brewing process after the first cup is ready for quick drinking.
The machine comes with a Gold Tone permanent filter so you do not have to use paper filters. This removes most of the chlorine in water so the coffee ends up tasting better.
You can take advantage of the Delay Brew feature to program the machine to brew coffee just as you wake up and the Freshness Timer feature monitors coffee freshness.
There is no warming plate included but this was a conscious decision by the brand to maintain classic coffee character.
Also, the brewing process is very quiet.
What We Like
- Attractive, modern design
- 20% faster brewing than other tested coffee makers
- Very hot coffee after brewing
- Gold-tone permanent filter
- Removable water reservoir
- Delay Brew feature
What We Don’t Like
- A design flaw that can lead to overflowing
- The carafe can be blocked by coffee beans and, as a result, the machine can overflow
7. Hamilton Beach 49465R 12 Cup Digital Programmable Coffee Maker
The Hamilton Beach 49465R Programmable coffee maker allows you to brew up to 12 cups of flavorful coffee in one go.
You can take full advantage of the Auto Pause & Serve feature that allows you to pour a cup as soon as the brew cycle is over for a single cup. The machine pauses so you can pour the cup and you put back the carafe for the brewing to continue.
The machine uses standard 4 cone-shaped filters and is programmable so that you can wake up to an already brewed cup of coffee when you wake up.
Also, there is an auto-shutoff feature that activates 2 hours after not using the machine.
The coffee maker comes with a non-stick warmer plate that keeps your coffee hot.
This machine brews extremely hot coffee without producing noise. In fact, it is one of the quietest coffee makers on the market.
When it is time to clean it, both the filter basket and carafe are easily removable and dishwasher safe.
What We Like
- Programmable for coffee brewed when you wake up
- Auto shutoff
- Auto pause and serve
- Filter basket and carafe are dishwasher safe
- Quiet operation
- Non-stick warmer plate
- Very hot coffee
What We Don’t Like
- Improper design of the carafe makes it hard to pour the last cup of coffee
- Occasional weird smell at first brewing but it disappears fast
8. Breville BES870BSXL The Barista Express Coffee Machine
The Breville BES870BSXL was designed to make great espresso and is intended for those who are particularly picky with their coffee.
It is an espresso machine that rivals those that you see in restaurants and bars but with a smaller design intended for in-home use.
The machine has a proper dosage for tasty espresso, which is 19 to 22 grams of coffee. Thanks to this but also thanks to the precise temperature control (PID technology), the flavor is always good.
PID technology allows the machine to detect and then minimize temperature fluctuations as extraction happens.
To offer the golden crema espresso shots need, the Barista Express always uses low pressure during pre-infusion to soak and expand all ground coffee in an even manner.
Moreover, the burr grinder guarantees that the coffee you use is always fresh.
Breville’s BES870BSXL comes with a milk frother you can use to make several coffee drinks, such as cappuccinos and lattes.
The main con associated with this espresso machine is that it is pricey. If you just want a simple coffee maker, you might want to look for something else.
This machine was created for those that want espresso grade, high-quality coffee. This means the espresso machine features many parts and can take a long time to clean.
It is also noisier than other machines.
What We Like
- 15 bar Italian pump
- Thermo coil heating system
- Automatically adjust water temperature
- Conical burr grinder – stainless steel
- Removable water tank (67 ounces)
- Controlled coffee dosage for optimum espresso
What We Don’t Like
- Pricey
- Noisy operation
- Difficult to properly clean
9. Smeg Retro Style Coffee Maker Machine
The first thing you notice about the Smeg Retro Style Coffee Maker Machine is its unique design. The design makes it look like an appliance from the fifties but it is modern and includes numerous features that will instantly draw your attention.
This coffee maker includes a Keep Warm function that guarantees your 10 cups of coffee remain at the right temperature for 1 hour after brewing.
There is also an anti-drip system that ensures the machine always stays dry and clean.
When you use the Smeg machine, you have various customizable settings. This includes automatic start mode so you can get coffee brewed just as you wake up and the possibility to choose the intensity of the best coffee makers consumer reports.
In addition, there is a very interesting adjustable water hardness feature included so you get even more control over your coffees taste.
All these are included in a product that features a quality reusable filter so you do not need to use paper filters.
The problem with the Smeg Retro Style Coffee Maker Machine is that you do pay a premium price for the design.
What We Like
- Auto-Start Mode
- Aroma Intensity Function
- Keeps the coffee warm for one hour
- Very easy to use control panel
- Unique retro design
- Descaling alarm light indicator
What We Don’t Like
- Pricey
- Hard to remove water from the machine
- No removable water reservoir
10. Technivorm Moccamaster 59616 KBG Coffee Brewer
Technivorm Moccamaster 59616 KBG Coffee Brewer comes in a variety of different color combinations so you can get something that perfectly matches your kitchen.
Actually, the overall design is very polished and the machine is very easy to use.
You will only have to wait 4 to 6 minutes to brew 40 ounces of coffee, which is faster than with similar models.
An automatic brew-basket is included so the carafe can easily be removed to pour a cup without worrying about dripping.
Also, the machine comes with a 9-hole outlet arm that pulses out water at up to 205 degrees Fahrenheit to offer smooth flavor.
The coffee maker comes with a hot plate that can be turned on and off and the water reservoir holds enough liquid for 10 cups of coffee.
What you might not like is that the water does tend to drain fast. You cannot slow this down so you might not like the resulting coffee when fast water drainage is not your thing.
What We Like
- Modern design with numerous color combinations
- Very simple to use
- Coffee delivered through copper element – no pumps used
- Automatic shutoff feature
- 5-year manufacturer warranty
What We Don’t Like
- Fast water drainage
- The carafe can easily chip or break as it is very thin
- Cannot use the dishwasher to wash removable parts
Conclusion
The top 10 best coffee makers for 2022 we recommended above are the best you can find on the market right now based on what people from all around the world recommend.
As you noticed, there are different types of machines that offer various coffee experiences so you can choose something perfect for you, ranging from espresso makers and specialty coffee machines to single-serve coffee makers.
Remember that it is important to choose a coffee that can satisfy your coffee preferences. Also, always use the owner manuals that come with the coffee makers for extra information you can use to make your coffee brewing experience as wonderful as possible.