What to Buy The Best Programmable Coffee Makers for 2024, According to Our Tests Get up, the coffee’s ready. By Ariane Resnick Ariane Resnick Ariane Resnick, CNC is a leader in the realm of nutrition and special diets, helping to make healthy eating affordable and easy for all. She has cooked professionally, intermittently, for well over twenty years, and has nearly a decade of professional writing experience. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines and 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 Updated on January 2, 2024 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Our Favorite Programmable Coffee Maker Factors to Consider FAQ How We Tested Others We Tested 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 / Will Dickey Whether you don't have time to make coffee before work or simply want a pot ready to pour as soon as you wake up, a programmable coffee maker is for you. It allows you to remove one step from your morning routine, and, honestly, what better way to start your day than knowing you have a fresh brew waiting for you after your alarm goes off? In addition to convenience, many programmable machines offer customizable settings to make your coffee exactly how you want it. After hours of hands-on testing, we’ve determined the best models on the market based on their size, versatility, features, and overall value. Read on to find the right programmable coffee maker for your needs. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker at Amazon ($229) Jump to Review Best Overall, Runner-Up: Zojirushi Fresh Brew Plus Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker at Amazon ($182) Jump to Review Best Value: Ninja CE251 12-Cup Coffee Brewer at Amazon ($70) Jump to Review Best Splurge: Breville Precision Coffee Maker at Amazon ($330) Jump to Review Best Small: Cuisinart Pour-Over Coffee Brewer at Amazon ($170) Jump to Review Best Large: Cuisinart Programmable Coffee Maker at Amazon ($75) Jump to Review Best for Iced Coffee: Braun MultiServe KF9170SI Coffee Maker at Amazon ($155) Jump to Review Best Retro: Nostalgia Retro 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker at Amazon ($80) Jump to Review Best Single Serve: Ninja DualBrew Pro System Coffee Maker at Amazon ($180) Jump to Review Best with Grinder: Breville The Grind Control Coffee Maker at Amazon ($350) Jump to Review Best Overall Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon $229 View On Williams-Sonoma $230 View On Sur La Table $229 Pros It’s as beautiful as it is functional, and you can control it from your phone. Cons The water canister isn’t removable, so it can be tricky to fill. Certified by the SCA, this machine is qualified to brew the most delicious cup of coffee possible — and you can operate it via WiFi. We found it surprisingly easy to control every aspect of the coffee-making experience, from brew strength to temperature, and we appreciated that the Cafe Specialty drip coffee machine lets you make anywhere from a single cup to a full 10-cup pot with consistent results. It even lets you save your personalized settings so you can prepare your coffee the same way time after time. "It keeps coffee warm better than regular glass and stainless steel carafes," says Associate Editorial Director, Megan Soll, who has been testing and enjoying this coffee maker for a few months. "The controls are easy to use, and the grounds basket is easy to clean." In addition to the thermal carafe that keeps your coffee hot for two hours, the machine features a carbon odor and taste water filter for better-tasting brews and a digital clock to keep you on schedule. Along with its functionality, it has a lovely appearance and cord storage to keep it clutter-free on your countertop. Capacity: 10 cups | Power: 1250 watts | Dimensions: 7.3 x 12.5 x 14 inches | Warranty: 1 year Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Best Overall, Runner-Up Zojirushi Fresh Brew Plus Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon $182 View On Walmart $182 View On Bed Bath & Beyond Pros Sleek-looking and simple to program. Cons The instruction manual isn’t the easiest to follow. We appreciate the simplicity of the Zojirushi 10-cup coffee maker. Despite a chaotic instruction manual, the machine itself is intuitive and only has a few buttons, making it easy to program. The Zojirushi brews great-tasting coffee that is well-balanced and consistent across batches — no doubt in part due to the machine’s basket-shaped filter which allows for even saturation to fully extract flavors and aromas. And the thermal carafe helps keep that tasty brew hotter for longer. This is a great coffee maker if you’re looking for an upgrade and want to stay in the sub-$200 price range. It’s simple, effective, and looks pretty cool to boot. Capacity: 10 cups | Power: 1200 watts | Dimensions: 8 x 10.63 x 15.88 inches | Warranty: 1 year Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Best Value Ninja CE251 12-Cup Coffee Brewer Amazon View On Amazon $70 View On Target $80 View On Walmart $68 Pros Large-capacity brewing in a relatively compact (and affordable) package. Cons The branding is a little in-your-face. Ninja’s 12-cup coffee maker manages to squeeze a generous 12 cups into a compact footprint at a reasonable price. We like how easy it is to fill the water reservoir and appreciate the user-friendly control panel — though we do recommend taking a read through the instruction manual to learn how to utilize all of the machine’s features. The Ninja’s programmable functions work well, and it brews a lovely cup of coffee — flavorful and aromatic, and nuanced enough that we could tell the difference when we stepped up to a nicer coffee. The carafe’s wide opening also makes it easy to clean, which is always a plus. We don’t love the vivid branding on the front of the machine, but that’s personal preference rather than a performance complaint. Capacity: 12 cups | Power: 1100 watts | Dimensions: 8 x 10 x 14 inches | Warranty: 1 year Best Splurge Breville Precision Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon $330 View On Target $100 View On Williams-Sonoma $330 Pros Choose from six brewing modes and even adjust both the temperature and flow rate. Cons Initial setup can take some time. No thought is left behind with this coffee maker, from its two types of filters that ensure every cup of coffee tastes perfect to its ability to brew 12 cups in just seven minutes. There are six brewing modes, including Gold, Fast, Strong, Over Ice, Cold Brew, and My Brew, which allow you to prepare both hot and iced coffee as well as extra bold brews from one machine. We highly recommend the Gold Cup setting, as it automatically adjusts to the ideal water temperature and brewing time certified by the Specialty Coffee Association for top-notch results. You can trust the machine to make a great pot of coffee for you, or you can apply the My Brew setting to customize the entire process yourself, such as controlling the bloom time and flow rate. The initial setup to discern how hard your water is may take a moment, but it will be worth it for the sake of the coffee yet to be brewed. Capacity: 12 cups | Power: 1650 watts | Dimensions: 9 x 14 x 16 inches | Warranty: 2 years Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Best Small Cuisinart Pour-Over Coffee Brewer Amazon View On Amazon $170 View On Williams-Sonoma $180 View On Wayfair $170 Pros This machine brews fast and keeps coffee hot. Cons The carafe is difficult to clean. Cuisinart makes a good product, and this 8-cup coffee maker is no exception. We love the sleek, stainless steel finish, and the fact that it’s SCA-approved doesn’t hurt either. This little machine brews a great cup of coffee which stays hot thanks to the thermal carafe — and an extra-hot temperature control setting if you really want to crank up the heat. The Cuisinart is easy to program and can be counted on to have a fresh pot of coffee waiting on you when you get up in the morning, and while the carafe itself is best cleaned with a long brush, the rest of the machine is easy to keep tidy. Capacity: 8 cups | Power: 1100 watts | Dimensions: 14.5 x 13.75 x 9.5 inches | Warranty: 3 years Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey The 7 Best Pour-Over Coffee Makers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed Best Large Cuisinart Programmable Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon $75 View On Target $100 View On Williams-Sonoma $100 Pros A built-in charcoal water filter makes for better-tasting coffee. Cons The extra-hot water setting might be unnecessary for some. Choose from regular or bold coffee settings on this extra-large machine, which allows you to program it up to 24 hours ahead of time. The filter system includes a gold-tone feature for the purest bean flavor and a charcoal filter to remove any water impurities. Despite preparing a larger quantity than most models, it can just as easily brew a small 1- to 4-cup amount, too. A self-cleaning feature saves you time on regular cleaning, and it’s a surprisingly compact coffee maker, given how much coffee it can hold. Capacity: 14 cups | Power: 1100 watts | Dimensions: 7.75 x 9 x 14 inches | Warranty: 3 years Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Best for Iced Coffee Braun MultiServe KF9170SI Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon $155 View On Williams-Sonoma $180 View On Wayfair $152 Pros Multiple programming options make this the most versatile coffee machine on our list. Cons The neon green accents may not be to everyone’s taste. The Braun MultiServe is one cool machine — and we’re not just saying that because there’s an iced coffee function. Braun’s ExactBrew System calculates water temperature, flow, and brewing speed for just about any coffee preference. No matter which setting we tried, we found the resulting coffee to be well-rounded and flavorful. This machine is also easy to set up and program, and a quick flip through the instruction manual will ensure you know how to make the most of the Braun MultiServe’s many features. Iced coffee enthusiasts will definitely appreciate the iced setting, which ensures your coffee won’t ever taste watered down. Capacity: 10 cups | Power: 1600 watts | Dimensions: 7.1 x 13 x 15 inches | Warranty: 3 years Best Retro Nostalgia Retro 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon $80 View On Wayfair $80 View On Home Depot $80 Pros A simple-to-use, cool-looking coffee maker that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Cons It doesn’t brew coffee as nuanced as some other choices. If you dig the retro look but don’t have a ton of cash to shell out, Nostalgia’s retro 12-cup coffee maker delivers good looks and a generous capacity comfortably under $100. We found the machine both easy to use and clean, and while you won’t taste professional-grade flavors from the basic brewing mechanism, the Nostalgia produces a perfectly serviceable cup of coffee. The programming feature works well, so you can reliably arrange a pot of hot coffee whenever you’d like, and there’s an automatic shutoff after two hours so you won’t have to worry about scorching the carafe. Capacity: 12 cups | Power: 1000 watts | Dimensions: 7.75 x 10.25 x 14.25 inches | Warranty: 1 year Best Single Serve Ninja DualBrew Pro System Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon $180 View On Target $180 View On Walmart $169 Pros The dial control makes for easy size selection, and the milk frother is a nice touch. Cons It’s pricey. When it comes to single-serve coffee makers, Nespresso tends to have the market cornered. But Ninja’s DualBrew Pro is a slick machine that lets you brew in four styles — classic, rich, over ice, and specialty — and features a hot water system and a foldaway milk frother. The machine excels at saturation control, which means your iced coffee won’t be watered down and you can actually tell a difference between brewing modes. Factor in that this machine is easy to use and brews in five sizes and, well, it’s hard not to love the versatility. Capacity: 6 to 14 cups | Power: 1550 watts | Dimensions: 9.13 x 11.39 x 15.54 inches | Warranty: 1 year Best with Grinder Breville The Grind Control Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon $350 View On Williams-Sonoma $350 View On Breville.com Pros A burr grinder gives you exactly the size of grounds you desire, and you can choose the brew strength. Cons The grinder may wear out faster than the coffee maker does. Never again worry about messy coffee grounds or the wrong grind level, thanks to the built-in burr grinder of this Breville machine — the best value pick from our coffee makers with grinders test. The burr grinder has six different settings, and you can tweak it to ensure the strength is precisely what you seek based on the roast of your coffee beans. Our favorite part of the machine is that you can brew three sizes: a 12-cup pot, a tall travel mug, or a coffee mug, depending on your needs. For the freshest coffee, we recommend this programmable coffee maker with a built-in grinder. Capacity: 12 cups | Power: 1100 watts | Dimensions: 9 x 14 x 17 inches | Warranty: 1 year Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Our Favorite Programmable Coffee Maker The Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker is our top pick for its beautiful functionality that consistently produces an excellent cup of coffee. If you want a quality machine for about half the price, you can’t go wrong with the Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker. Factors to Consider Carafe capacity Most standard-sized coffee makers can brew twelve 5-ounce cups of coffee. Extra large ones can brew up to 14 cups, and some also can accommodate single servings. The larger the coffee maker, the more space it will take up on your counter or inside your cabinet, so always factor in where you’ll store it. Versatility Some programmable coffee makers can make cold brews or iced coffee in addition to hot. Others have more customizable settings so that your coffee has the exact strength you enjoy most. Brewing directly into a travel mug is a convenient example of a maker’s versatility. Choose features you know you will use to ensure you get the most out of your machine. Added Features Programmable coffee makers are always able to make coffee ahead of time, but there are also other features to consider. Many models allow for customization of the coffee-making process, such as water temperature, brew ratio, and flow rate; some have built-in grinders, and others let you control the machine from your smartphone. Frequently Asked Questions What is a programmable coffee maker? “A programmable coffee maker is simply an automatic coffee brewer that ideally allows you to adjust for the different variables to consider when brewing coffee,” says Jiyoon Han, co-owner of Bean & Bean Coffee Roasters. These coffee makers often have additional programmable features that allow you to customize how the coffee is brewed. What is the best water for coffee? Noting that entire books have been written on the topic of the perfect water for making coffee, Han says that “soft, filtered water with small amounts of magnesium, calcium, and bicarbonate are ideal for coffee brewing. If your water isn't too hard, filtering tap water through something like a Britta filter will usually do just fine. Otherwise, bottled spring water will work great. You could also use products like Third Wave Water, where you add a pre-mixed packet of minerals to distilled water to create the perfect water for coffee.” What's the difference between cleaning and descaling a coffee maker? When cleaning a coffee maker, you are removing any debris and anything that can lead to bacterial growth. Conversely, descaling is about lime. “Descaling refers to removing the limescale deposits that build up inside of a coffee machine over time as water moves through the tubing and piping,” says Han. “Descaling should be a regular part of maintaining your coffee machine.” How We Tested Programmable Coffee Makers After extensively researching the market, we chose 21 programmable coffee machines to test for ourselves. We put each machine through a series of tests to assess the following: First, we brewed quality using freshly ground medium roast coffee with the timed brewing function (if available). We recorded how much each machine took to brew to capacity, took the temperature, and performed a taste test. We then repeated this test with the machine’s minimum capacity, and again with the machine’s mid-range or standard capacity. Throughout testing, we looked at design attributes like the body of the coffee maker, including the materials and whether the construction seems well-made and sturdy, or cheap and flimsy. We also evaluated the carafe, including the lid and the handle, and the coffee maker’s footprint. Is it large and bulky (likely meant to live permanently on a counter) or smaller and more compact (something that can be conveniently taken in and out of a cabinet)? If applicable, we rated how the coffee maker indicates that the brew cycle is complete (such as a light or sound). We also want a coffee maker that is easy to use, so we assessed how helpful the instruction manual and other included materials were, like if they include a recommended coffee grind, a coffee-to-water ratio, directions for descaling, etc. We described how easy it was to program and set up the coffee maker, including adding water to the reservoir, and how easy or difficult the control panel was to navigate and use. As far as performance, we value coffee makers that have a brew time function that works quickly and accurately and that brew batches at maximum, minimum, and middle capacities that are well-balanced. If the coffee maker features a built-in bloom cycle, we looked to see if we could discern a difference in the flavor of the brewed coffee. If the full brew capacity caused any overflowing from the basket (due to the swelling of the coffee grounds during the brew cycle), we noted it. And if any grinds or sediment ended up in the coffee carafe, we noted how much. Finally, we assessed how easy the coffee carafe and brew baskets were to clean, and we smelled to see if the carafes held onto strong coffee odors after washing. If there was any damage that occurred over the course of testing and washing in the dishwasher, we recorded it. Other Programmable Coffee Makers We Tested Strong Contenders Wolf Gourmet Programmable Coffee Maker ($573 at Amazon) This is a well-engineered machine that performed nicely, but we couldn’t quite justify the price. OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker ($226 at Amazon) OXO makes a great product. We won’t scoff at this coffee maker, but we found ourselves wishing for batch size versatility. It’s a little too generalized for the price. Braun BrewSense Drip Coffee Maker ($70 at Amazon) This is an easy-to-use machine that brews a tasty cup. We have nothing against this coffee maker, we just weren’t blown away by it. SMEG 10-Cup Drip Coffee Maker ($230 at Williams Sonoma) Honestly, this coffee maker shined with pre-ground coffee and it looks great on the countertop to boot. It’s worth a closer look if you’re into the aesthetic. Zwilling Drip Coffee Maker ($250 at Amazon) Nice design but ultimately a lackluster performance. We won’t kick it out of the kitchen, but it’s not our first pick. What Didn’t Make the List We tested a few other programmable coffee machines from Calphalon, BLACK+DECKER, Hamilton Beach, and Amazon Basics, but we weren’t wowed by the quality, performance, or — in some cases — both. Our Expertise Contributor Ariane Resnick is a special diet chef, certified nutritionist, bestselling author, and lover of coffee. She originally wrote this piece. Summer Rylander is a food and travel journalist who has written about food, beverage, and cooking products for Food & Wine, Allrecipes, Serious Eats, and The Kitchn. The authors used Food & Wine’s own testing insights to make these recommendations and update this piece. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit