Capacity: 10 cups
Carafe style: Thermal or glass carafe
Dimensions: 12.5” x 14” x 7.3”
Weight: 9.5 lbs
Warranty: 1 year
Features: Adjustable brew strength; programmable 24 hr timer; carbon water filter; Wi-Fi connectivity; hot plate; customizable temperature settings; programmable coffee maker; SCA Golden Cup certification
The Good: A super simple, SCA-certified machine
The Bad: Takes a little extral manual labor to get the best possible coffee
Whenever BA Food Director (and resident coffee connoisseur) Chris Morocco needs to make a big pot of coffee, he turns to the much-loved Technivorm Moccamaster. There are a couple key elements that make this coffee maker so great at its job: First, there’s the copper heating element that keeps the water temperature within the ideal range of 195–205°F. Second, there’s the conical filter basket, which positions the coffee grounds in a way that prevents the water from pooling. What does all of this mean for you, dear reader? Your coffee will never be over or under extracted, rendering a flavor that’s smooth and never bitter. Morocco really appreciates the Technivorm Moccamaster’s speedy brew cycle, which can brew a full pot in six minutes. Compared to the Café Specialty coffee maker, this is a much simpler machine that’s powered by a single on/off switch. While you can’t expect all of the smart features or a zillion customization functions from this coffee machine, you can expect a consistent cup of perfectly brewed coffee. Fun fact: this machine quite literally set the standard for high quality drip coffee, as it was the very first machine to receive the SCA Gold Cup.
Morocco says, “The only fault I would give it is for water distribution, because you need to stir the grounds by hand partway through the cycle to get an even extraction, but that’s a fairly small sacrifice.” He’s had his Technivorm Moccamaster for over 10 years and it still works like new. If your household drinks a lot of coffee, you can see yourself brewing a full carafe often, and you have a lot of countertop space—this is one of the best coffee makers you can buy.
Capacity: 10 cups
Carafe style: Thermal or glass carafe
Dimensions: 6.75″D x 11.5″W x 15.25″H
Weight: 6.5 lbs.
Warranty: 5 years
Features: Manual-adjust drip-stop; copper heating element; hot plate; auto-shut off when water tank is empty; SCA Golden Cup certification
The Good: Fast brew time and compact footprint
The Bad: Setting the filter basket requires a balancing act
If you don’t need a gigantic coffee maker, or you simply want something more compact that won’t take up too much counter space, consider the Bonavita One-Touch 8-cup coffee maker. It’s the coffee maker Areli Barrera de Grodski, co-owner of Little Waves Coffee Roasters and Cocoa Cinnamon coffee shop in Durham, NC, uses at home. Like the Café Specialty and Technivorm Moccamaster, the Bonavita has a fast brew time and it’s SCA certified—and it’s proven to make a cup that’s “well-balanced, slightly sweet, and so good that it doesn’t need milk or sugar,” says Barrera de Grodski. Two key features set this drip coffee maker apart: A showerhead dripper that ensures the water is evenly dispersed onto the bed of coffee, and a flat filter basket that allows for more even extraction.
