What to Buy Containers & Organization Our Tests Revealed the 6 High-End Coffee Makers Worth Their Price Tag Whether you fancy a casual drip coffee or a frothy cappuccino. By Summer Rylander Summer Rylander Summer is a freelance food and travel writer who began by writing about Swedish cheesemaking traditions in 2018. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on January 30, 2024 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Our Favorite High-End Coffee Maker How We Tested Factors to Consider FAQ Our Expertise We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore If you’re reading this, you most likely have some type of coffee maker in your kitchen. Maybe it’s a drip machine, maybe it’s a Moka pot, perhaps it’s a pour-over — in any case, it probably brews a perfectly adequate cup of coffee. But maybe you’re due for an upgrade? We’re talking about a real upgrade, not just a newer version of the coffee machine you already have. If you’ve considered splashing out on a high-end coffee maker, now could be a good time to do so. High-end coffee machines are an investment, for sure. Whether you’re spending several hundred dollars or tipping over into the thousands, you’ll want to be sure your new caffeine companion is actually worth the cash. We’ve tested some of the industry’s top-rated coffee makers for at-home use; these are the six that really stack up. Our Top Picks Best Drip: Balmuda The Brew at Amazon ($699) Jump to Review Best Drip, Runner Up: Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select Coffee Maker at Amazon ($359) Jump to Review Best Automatic Espresso Machine: Breville Barista Touch Impress at Amazon ($1,500) Jump to Review Best Semi Automatic: Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine at Amazon ($829) Jump to Review Best Manual Espresso Machine: Diletta Mio Espresso Machine at Amazon (See Price) Jump to Review Best Combo Machine: SMEG Medium Fully-Automatic Coffee Machine at Williams-Sonoma ($1,000) Jump to Review Best Drip Balmuda The Brew Williams Sonoma View On Amazon $699 View On Williams-Sonoma $700 View On Nordstrom $699 Pros This is a fuss-free drip brewer that makes a great cup of coffee. Cons It’s not programmable. The sleek, pleasing design of BALMUDA The Brew makes it a great fit in nearly any kitchen — but at this price point, a high-end coffee maker needs to do more than just look good. Fortunately, The Brew is easy to set up and straightforward to use, with mode options for iced, strong, or regular-strength coffee. This coffee maker performs best with medium-ground coffee — properly stored beans that have been freshly ground just before brewing is always ideal — yielding nuanced flavors and aromas through each of the brewing models. We’ve been testing this model at home for a few months now, and we like it the same as the first day we tasted what it can do. What we may love most is the lengths it goes to replicate the art of making a pour-over while taking away the hassle. The BALMUDA doesn’t come cheap, but if you’re looking for an effortless drip coffee machine that does its job extremely well, we’ll happily point you to The Brew.Dimensions: 11.75 x 5.5 x 15 inches | Brew type: Drip | Frother: No | Pressure: N/A Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Best Drip, Runner Up Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon $359 View On Williams-Sonoma $350 View On Nordstrom $359 Pros We love the distinct styling and careful temperature control. Cons There are no extras whatsoever. Something of a cult classic in the coffee world, the Technivorm Moccamaster is popular with good reason. You’ll find no programming frills or special mode selections here, just an on/off switch and the choice between a half or full carafe. But what the Moccamaster lacks in extras, it makes up for in pure coffee brewing quality. This SCA-approved drip coffee maker quickly heats up to an optimal temperature — between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit — and gently showers coffee grounds for four-to-six minutes to extract flavor. This machine is easy to use, it looks great (and comes in loads of different colors), and is the most affordable upscale coffee maker on our list. Dimensions: 6.5 x 12.75 x 14 inches | Brew type: Drip | Frother: No | Pressure: N/A Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Best Automatic Espresso Machine Breville Barista Touch Impress Amazon View On Amazon $1,500 View On Williams-Sonoma $1,500 View On Sur La Table $1,500 Pros This is as close as you can get to having an in-house barista. Cons The steam wand requires some tedious cleaning every once in a while. Breville’s Barista Touch Impress may be the priciest coffee maker on this list, but it is truly a high-end machine. The Touch Impress guides you through the coffee-making process, whether you’re pulling a single shot of espresso or making an oat milk latte. Steam milk to silky smoothness with ease, freshly grind your coffee just before brewing, and control it all via a convenient, user-friendly touchscreen. This is one of those machines that seem intimidating at first, but our tests proved it straightforward to use (and, of equal importance, easy to clean) with only a minimal learning curve as you discover the many features. “The touchscreen made it easy to learn to use and even reminds the user when to clean the wand and water reservoir,” says Associate Editorial Director of Commerce Megan Soll, who has been long-term testing the machine. “Overall, it's a premium home espresso machine, and the only step up would be the industrial tools used in actual coffee shops, which are far more expensive and manual to use.” This one is for the tried and true coffee aficionados. Dimensions: 14.2 x 13.4 x 16.3 inches | Brew type: Espresso | Frother: Yes | Pressure: 9 bar Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Best Semi Automatic Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine Amazon View On Amazon $829 View On Williams-Sonoma $850 View On Breville.com Pros Great versatility at a more affordable price. Cons There’s more of a learning curve with a semi-automatic machine. If the price tag on the Barista Touch Impress makes your eyes water, consider its more affordable cousin, the Breville Barista Pro. This semi-automatic espresso machine allows you to craft the same silky lattes and creamy espresso, giving you two options for shot pulling in addition to manual control. With the Barista Pro, you'll still find a built-in grinder and steam wand — and a very similar aesthetic to the Touch Impress — with an intuitive interface that makes this machine a joy to use. Dimensions: 13.9 x 13.5 x 16 inches | Brew type: Espresso | Frother: Yes | Pressure: 9 bar Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Best Manual Espresso Machine Diletta Mio Espresso Machine Seattle Coffee Gear View On Amazon View On Seattlecoffeegear.com Pros This is about as close as you can get to a professional machine in your home. Cons The steam wand is a little sluggish. This isn’t the high-end coffee machine you’ll see in just anyone’s home — the Italian-made Diletta Mio is for serious coffee enthusiasts who want a hands-on experience each time they make a drink. Our tests showed that the Mio pulled consistent shots with a well-performing (if slightly slow; ours took a minute-and-a-half to heat milk) steam wand. Thanks to the straightforward design, the Diletta Mio is easy to clean and a joy to work with. This is a great pick if you want to feel like a barista (without the grumpy customers). Dimensions: 10.75 x 17 x 15 inches | Brew type: Espresso | Frother: Yes | Pressure: 10 bar Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Best Combo Machine SMEG Medium Fully-Automatic Coffee Machine Williams Sonoma View On Williams-Sonoma $1,000 View On Crate & Barrel Pros A best-of-both-worlds coffee maker with SMEG’s characteristic retro vibe. Cons Espresso crema can be lacking. Design-forward coffee drinkers will appreciate the good looks of SMEG’s fully automatic coffee machine, which provides the option of six beverages — including two strengths of ristretto, two strengths of espresso, two sizes of coffee, and a bonus hot water function with two temperatures. We appreciate the built-in burr grinder and the easy-to-use steam wand. There’s very little to dislike about this user-friendly machine, though do note we have found it to be quite bulky on our counters. If you’re limited on space, this may not be the best machine for you. We recognize that it is an investment, but its good looks will fit in most kitchens and provide a great start to the morning for years to come. Dimensions: 7 x 13.25 x 17 inches | Brew type: Espresso | Frother: Yes | Pressure: 19 bar Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Our Favorite High-End Coffee Maker BALMUDA The Brew takes the cake for its superb drip coffee, while the Breville Barista Touch Impress impresses indeed with its intuitive multi-functions. How We Tested High-End Coffee Makers We performed separate tests for standard drip and espresso machines in order to fully evaluate the qualities of each machine type. When testing drip coffee makers, we performed multiple tests to evaluate the coffee maker's design, ease of use, and performance. We looked at qualities like their footprint, brew cycle time, coffee taste, and ease of cleaning. Each espresso machine was subjected to three tests to evaluate its setup process performance in pulling espresso shots and steaming and frothing milk. The first test assessed the difficulty, time consumption, and beginner-friendliness of setting up the machine. The second test evaluated the machine's consistency and ease of use when pulling espresso shots. We followed the manufacturer's instructions and any best practices for optimizing water temperature/preheating. The third and final test evaluated how well the machines steamed and frothed milk if the machines have that capability. We looked at temperature, the time it took to reach our desired result, and the frothing/steaming consistency. Of course, we tested each round for taste as well. After these initial tests, we moved our favorites into our homes, and we continue to use them regularly in order to test their longevity and durability. Factors to Consider Coffee type When considering a high-end coffee machine, it’s important to take into account the type of coffee you most prefer drinking. If you’re a “drip coffee, black, no sugar” kind of person, there’s probably little need to invest in a machine that can make a foamy cappuccino. Conversely, if you like variety in the way you take your coffee, you may feel limited by a drip-only machine. Level of involvement Do you want to push one button and be done with it, or do you want a hands-on experience, steaming milk and pulling espresso shots yourself? There’s a big difference between manual and automatic machines, so choose accordingly. For a mix of both, opt for a semi-automatic machine like the Breville Barista Pro. Size and capacity Whether you’re brewing coffee for yourself or making lattes for your whole department, it’s helpful if your coffee machine has a suitable capacity. In other words, don’t bother with a single-serve machine if you regularly need to brew 10 cups at a time. In the same vein, machines like super-automatic espresso makers can often take up lots of space due to their built-in grinder, water reservoirs, and drip trays. Be sure to measure your countertop or assess how much counter space you're willing to give up for a machine. Programmability A programmable machine will let you dial in the precise time you’d like a hot brew, but this function isn’t as common as you might expect on high-end coffee makers. If programmability is your top priority, you can save loads of cash by option for a more conventional drip coffee maker. Extra features and capabilities This is all about user preference — some shoppers want bells and whistles when they’re spending lots of money, while others prefer a more streamlined experience. They clock in at similar price points, but the Breville Barista Touch Impress has lots of capabilities, while the Diletta Mio keeps it classic. Frequently Asked Questions Is a high-end coffee maker worth it? “I think the age-old adage applies here: You get what you pay for,” says Heather Calatrello of ShedLight Coffee Roasters. “For many, a high-end coffee maker is worth it for the features that budget coffee makers don’t have. These machines are typically made from higher-quality materials, too — meaning not only will they produce a better-tasting cup of coffee, they’re an investment that will last you years to come when properly maintained.” What are pressure bars when it comes to espresso? Bars measure atmospheric pressure. “One bar is equal to the atmospheric pressure at sea level,” says Calatrello. “In terms of bars of pressure for espresso, a 9-bar espresso machine pushes water through the ground coffee at nine times the natural pressure of the atmosphere. This pressure, combined with the fats and oils in the coffee, creates a layer of rich crema on top of the espresso shot.”She adds that pressure is the secret to true espresso — anything less than nine bars is just rich coffee. How do I froth milk? Your milk-frothing technique will vary depending on your coffee machine’s steam wand (or your separate milk frother), but you’ll generally start with the wand at the surface of the milk and hold it there for about five seconds. “Then submerge the tip of the wand about ¼ of an inch into the milk and hold it against the side of the pitcher; the milk will swirl in a circular motion,” explains Calatrello. “Hold the wand there until the milk reaches 140°F to 150°F.” How often should I clean my coffee maker? Cleaning your coffee maker starts with the daily maintenance of rinsing and drying removable components, but it’s a good idea to give it a deep clean and descaling each month. Always consult the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning techniques and suitable products. Our Expertise This article was written by Summer Rylander, a food and travel journalist who has written about food, beverage, and cooking products for Food & Wine, Allrecipes, Serious Eats, and The Kitchn. She wrote this piece based on our product tests and conversation with a coffee expert. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit