The best coffee makers

The best drip coffee maker

The best affordable coffee maker

The best pour-over coffee maker

The best French press

The best cold brew coffee maker

The best pod-style coffee maker

The best stovetop espresso machine

The best espresso machine

How to choose between coffee makers

For starters, you'll want to decide on the type of coffee maker you want to go for. Here's a quick run-down of the different types, along with links to our specific buying guides for each one if you'd like to learn more.

• Espresso machine: Brewing great espresso is considered by many to be the only acceptable way to create a good coffee, though it's much more popular in Europe than it is in the US. There are a few downsides to espresso machines. They generally take a lot more work to use and clean, and they're often more expensive than the instant coffee makers widely available in the US. As I found out during the testing of all these machines, once you've brewed and experienced great espresso, you may be ruined for all other types of coffee.
• Stovetop espresso machine: Although moka pots don't technically make espresso — because they use lower pressures of 1 to 2 bar and real espresso machines use 9 bar of pressure — the coffee you get is very rich and strong. Some machines will even produce a bit of crema just like high-end espresso machines. If you're using this to make cappuccinos or lattes at home, you'll be more than satisfied, but if you want shots of thick, creamy espresso, you need a real espresso machine.
• Programmable drip machines: Drip coffee makers are perhaps the most common kind of coffee maker, especially in households with multiple coffee drinkers and in offices. There are a few advantages to using them – they're often extremely easy to use, and they brew a whole pot of coffee rather than one drink at a time. They also keep coffee nice and hot over long periods of time. The main disadvantage is that they sometimes take a little longer to brew.
• Pour-over coffee maker: Pour-over coffee makers are typically manual and old-fashioned. You put a reusable cone made of plastic, ceramic, or mesh over your cup, pop a paper filter in, add coffee, and pour the boiling water over your grounds. It filters through to drip right into your mug. 
• French press: French press coffee makers consist of a cylindrical beaker and a lid with a plunger attached. To make coffee, you put the coffee grounds in hot water, wait a few minutes, then use the plunger to push all the coffee grounds to the bottom. French presses work well with coarser coffee grounds than other coffee makers. The disadvantage of using them is that they're often a pain to clean, and the grounds often leak into the coffee and end up in your coffee mug. 
• Instant pod-based coffee maker: These kinds of machines have gained in popularity a lot over the past few years. You put the pod with coffee into the machine, and it automatically makes your drink. Pod-based machines are extremely easy to use, and you can use a different kind of coffee each time you brew if you so choose. They're also relatively affordable, though not as cheap as French presses.
• Cold brew coffee maker: If you want to try the hottest trend in coffee, go for a cold brew machine. Experts say iced coffee tastes better when it's cold brew rather than hot coffee that's been refrigerated. Brewing coffee with cold extracts sweeter flavors, so you get a less bitter and more concentrated coffee that's meant to be iced and topped off with milk.