In testing, my colleagues at Epicurious learned that the Bonavita One-Touch does indeed make some good tasting coffee. But they found the filter basket and carafe setup to be a bit finicky, because users have to balance the filter basket on top of the thermal carafe (instead of sliding the filter basket into a holder on the machine, as with other drip coffee makers). That said, Bonavita released a newer version of the One-Touch, called the Bonavita Connoisseur One-Touch, which features a hanging brewer basket that alleviates a lot of the fuss, at roughly the same price point. Bonus: All the parts are dishwasher-safe.
Capacity: 8 cups | Carafe style: Thermal | Dimensions: 12.40″ Width: 6.80″ Height: 12.20″ | Weight: 6.13 lb. | Warranty: 1 year | Features: Showerhead-style dripper, flat bottom filter basket, hot plate; pre-infusion mode to wet ground coffee and allow degassing before brewing
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The buzziest drip coffee maker: Fellow Aiden
Fellow has told us that this is only available for pre-order until August or September, but based on senior editor Noah Kaufman’s experience with the brand’s first drip coffee maker we fully expect the Aiden to take the top spot after it’s been fully tested. Not only does it have Fellow’s trademark gorgeous minimalist look, it’s engineered to truly mimic the pour-over brewing method, giving bursts of water from the showerhead instead of a constant stream to keep you from drowning your coffee. Importantly, you can also change the water temperature by a single degree across the widest possible range, which means you can create different flavor profiles for different roast levels of beans. You can also adjust the coffee to water ratio for stronger or weaker brews. It is hands down the most customizable drip coffee maker anyone on staff has seen, but it can still work with a simple brew now single button push that will use the SCA gold cup standard settings for anyone who wants good coffee but doesn’t want fussy coffee. It doesn’t have or need a warming plate because the thermal carafe keeps the coffee warm for hours. Finally, it works as a single-serve coffee maker too, adjusting its water output accordingly, and the single cup tasted just good as the full pot.
Oh, and one other thing: It can make a Kyoto-style iced coffee by drip-drip-dripping cooler water over a bed of coffee grounds over the course of several hours. It’s the sort of setting you’d program to start at 3AM so it’s ready for you when you wake up. Noah didn’t get to try that during his initial run through, but is looking forward to what it can produce.
Capacity: 10 cups | Carafe style: Thermal | Dimensions: 8.9” x 8.9” x 12” | Weight: 9.6 lbs | Features: Adjustable brew water ratio; adjustable temperature settings, flavor profile settings, programmable 24 hr timer; Wi-Fi connectivity; cold-brew capable; SCA Golden Cup capabilities
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How we picked the best drip coffee makers
We made pot after pot of coffee in over 20 different drip coffee makers, including a lot of big names like the Breville Precision Brewer, the Oxo Brew Barista Brain, and the Braun Brewsense, judging the coffee based on taste and temperature (some machines make coffee that is way too hot). We also considered how easy the interface was to use and how well any extra features like built-in burr grinders, different brewing modes, or thermal carafes worked. Finally we consulted additional coffee obsessives in our test kitchen and from the professional barista world and included the machines they use in their own lives when they need a cup of coffee quickly.
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