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Some of the most basic
coffee makers we've tested
make a good cup of coffee.
To pick the perfect
machine for you,
first consider the type
that suits your needs--
an automatic drip system, grind
and brew, single-serve pod,
or a combination coffee maker.
Let's check them out.
Drip coffee makers
slowly release hot water
over your favorite
grind, dripping the brew
into a carafe.
You can get one that
scores near the top of CR's
ratings for as little as $40.
If you spend more, you
can get a thermal carafe
to keep your coffee
warm without scorching
in a burner, like
a glass one can.
How about programmable
brew strength?
Or a self-cleaning feature?
And look for a pause
and serve feature
so that this doesn't happen.
Or go big, and opt
for a drip machine
that brews up to 14 cups.
It's worth noting that
in the real world,
a cup measures 8 ounces.
But for coffee machines, a cup
is typically 5 to 6 ounces.
In fact, your favorite mug
probably holds 10 to 12 ounces.
The best coffee comes
from water heated
between 195 and 205 degrees.
We test to see if machines
maintain that temperature
for five to six minutes.
We assess whether the
controls are confusing,
or if the carafe is hard
to handle, and include
that in our ratings.
Self-serve models store
the coffee in a heated tank
rather than a carafe.
They hold 5 to 12
cups of coffee,
and cost from $60 to $100.
If only fresh ground
beans will do for you,
you can skip a
standalone grinder
and get a grind
and brew machine.
Pour the beans at the top,
add water, grind, and brew.
Take a look at the
components before you buy.
Some of these machines
have a lot of parts
and can be time
consuming to clean.
We tested grind
and brew machines
priced from $70 to $200.
Single-serve pod coffee
makers are convenient.
You can even brew directly
into your travel mug.
They range from as little
as $30 to as high as $450
if you want some pizzazz and
dozens of flavor options.
Although many pods
are now recyclable,
you could be contributing
to the millions of used pods
sitting in landfills.
So factor that in.
Our tests found some
single-serve pod coffee
makers can take as long as
four minutes to make a hot cup.
Testers also note whether
the same amount of coffee
comes out each time, with a
consistent temperature from cup
to cup.
As a rule, you'll
have to buy the coffee
pods that go with the machine.
But some models
have a little basket
you can use your own
coffee in a reusable pod.
Finally, you might want
a combination machine,
serving up coffee and espresso,
or coffee and hot water
for tea.
This one makes espresso,
cappuccino, or drip coffee.
You can pay from $150 to over
$250 for a combination machine.
For more information and a
full list of our coffee maker
ratings, go to CR.org.
We pay for all the products
we test, we're non-profit,
and we accept no advertising.
Thanks for your support.
