10 Best Drip Coffee Makers – Top-Rated Coffee Maker

Is coffee the first thing you need to start in the morning? So investing in a coffee maker is the right choice.

If you make your own coffee, you can adjust the strength, flavor, amount of milk, cream and sweetness according to your preferences.

When buying a coffee maker, you have to consider a few factors, as mentioned below …

Type: There are four types of coffee makers including French Press, Single Serve, Espresso, and Drip.

Drip: perfect for preparing high quality coffees at the same time.
French Press: It is the perfect solution for people who have less space in the kitchen or need a cup of coffee while traveling, in the office or on vacation.
Serve Unique: it is specially designed to prepare only one drink at a time and precisely according to it.
Espresso: This type provides a stronger and more aromatic cup of coffee. And you can make different variations of coffee like mocha, latte, macchiatos with this coffee maker.
Capacity: It depends on the amount of coffee that you or your family need on average. One-cup coffee makers are perfect for singles or travelers. For medium and large families, it is better to buy a coffee maker with a capacity of 10 to 12 cups at a time.

In addition, you should also consider the preparation time, strength, water temperature and others. You can read these factors clearly in our “SHOPPING GUIDE”.

We offer a list of the best coffee makers in India after extensive research, testing and analysis. In addition, we also selected a list of the top ten coffee makers in India after extensive research and analysis.

Our Top Pick

10 Best Coffee Makers Review

Which Coffee Maker is the Best – Buying Guide

When it comes to coffee machines, the market has many brands and models. With an increase in smart technology, coffee makers have also evolved in terms of smartness. Choosing a wrong coffee maker can probably ruin your coffee and morning mood as well.

For purchasing the coffee maker, it is important to consider your requirements first. Once you analyze which type of brewing you are looking for, type of machine and other factors, it becomes a bit easy to narrow down the options. Later you can check out other factors like capacity and others to pick the right one for you. First, let’s have a look at types of coffee makers and brewing methods.

Different Types of Coffee Makers

Indian market is filled with several varieties of coffee makers that include drip, single-serve, French press, percolators, espresso and cappuccino. We have provided a detailed information about each type to help you choose the right one as per your requirements.

a. Drip Coffee Makers

This is the most commonly used coffee making machine in Indian households because they are very simple to use than others. Some modern drip coffee makers also come with several options, features and adjustment – which lets you brew coffee the way you like it (light, strong, plain, flavored, decaf or your favorite blend).

Automatic drip machines contain a tank chamber (for water) and filter basket (to load coffee grounds). Once you switch on the appliance, hot water will run through the coffee grounds and into the pot (carafe). This process can usually take 5 – 10 minutes based on the water quantity.

They are perfect for larger servings – some even have the capacity of brewing 12 cups at once. The maintenance costs (filter change) are cost effective as well. And each filter lasts for a very long time.

Suitable For: People who like to make quick and bold coffee. And also for people who like to have coffee first thing in the morning.

Benefits	Drawbacks
Very easy to operate	Makes only basic coffee style, people who like espresso kind of coffee may not like it
Cost effective to purchase	Makes coffee in large quantities – which can be a benefit for some. While others may end up wasting the brewed coffee
Maintenance costs are low even if used on daily basis
Several models, shapes, sizes and brands to choose from
You can customize the brew (light or strong) as per your requirement

b. Single-Serve Pod Coffee Makers

These are newly introduced coffee makers in the Indian market. Sometimes, they are also called as pod coffee makers as they use pods to make coffee. They are available in several flavors or can be tailored according to your personal taste.

For preparation – all you have to do is add the coffee pod into the machine and a cup of coffee is prepared instantly (some take less a minute). As these appliances are very compact, you can easily store them even in smaller kitchen types with minimum counter space.

Price of single serve coffee maker depends on its features and brand. Though the initial investment is affordable, overall maintenance costs are high. Because the coffee pods are mostly available online and expensive as well.

Some of these modern appliances have the option of adding ground coffee instead of pods – but it can be messy and require daily cleaning.

Suitable For: People who love to experiment new flavors and for those who hate cleaning up after making coffee.

Benefits	Drawbacks
Affordably price range	Cost of coffee pods is expensive
Coffee pods are available in different flavors	Not environmental friendly as constant use of disposable cups can lead to a lot of plastic trash
Less wastage, if you want to drink 1 cup coffee at a time
Suitable for offices, as employees can brew coffee according to their taste.
Can be used to make tea if tea pods are used
Easy to clean and operate

c. Fresh Press Coffee Maker

This is a traditional type of coffee making machine. Though it is low-tech, still very simple to operate and use. You have to add coffee grounds and boiling water into the appliance and press the lid to suppress the coffee grounds to bottom.

French press coffee makers are very cheap in comparison to others. And moreover maintenance costs are also low – because they don’t require filter replacements and don’t use any electricity. Coffee made using French press may not be perfect every time – especially if it isn’t brewed for a longer time. Sometimes, you can find loose grounds floating in the coffee.

Some people may don’t have any issues with coffee quality but for some it may not be the best option.

Suitable For: Bachelors and people who want coffee wherever they go – like travelling, office use and stay-overs.

Benefits	Drawbacks
Most affordable option	Sometimes, you may observe ground floating on coffee
Low maintenance costs	Timing is important to get right flavor and not all us can spend so much time in just coffee making
Very simple to use
Doesn’t require electricity or filters

d. Cappuccino and Espresso Machines

If you love strong coffee, then espresso is perhaps your favorite flavor. Espresso coffee machines are mostly seen in barista or café. It is the most expensive and heavy duty coffee maker in India. Though, this appliance provides smaller amounts at a time, but coffee will be more strong and flavorful.

However, a single expresso coffee machine lets you make several varieties of coffee drinks including macchiattos, lattes, cappuccinos and others. Most of the expresso coffee machines present in India provide only 1 shot of espresso at a time but some of new models come with two shots at once as well.

An espresso coffee maker contains several features like coffee pod availability, pressure pump, automatic settings, temperature, water boiler and a porta filter. When it comes to price, they always fall under higher range. But for people who love having strong cup of coffee daily, it is absolutely worth the investment.

Suitable For:

Benefits	Drawbacks
They provide the best, strong and highest quality coffee	Most expensive coffee maker in Indian market
You can make café like coffees like macchitos, mochas, cappuccinos and lattes at home	Makes coffee in small qualities (a shot) compared to cup or pot
Stylish looking than other coffee makers
Very easy to use and operate

e. Percolators

This coffee maker is similar to electric coffee pots – in which coffee is brewed in a small chamber near the heat source. They usually come in different ranges from 4 cups to 30 cups. They either run on electricity or can be used on stovetop.

Different Types of Coffee Brewing Methods

Different country has different style of brewing coffee that include cappuccino, espresso and others. Let’s have a clear idea on these brewing techniques.

a. Espresso

This is the most popular brewing method to get café like experience. It is actually base for most of the coffee drinks you get at Barista, Starbucks and others. Coffee machines that use espresso provide control over the coffee flavor profile. Though espresso brewing is a bit daunting task, once you get the shot out, it is totally worthy enough. Usually, an espresso shot is prepared by passing 18 grams of coffee powder through hot water within 25 – 30 seconds duration.

b. French Press

This is a classic kind of coffee brewing method. It provides a consistent heavy boiled black coffee in no time. This process is much easier and affordable as well.

c. Channi Coffee

This brewing process is perfect for people who don’t have any brewing equipment, but however want café like experience at home. Usually this coffee feels a bit watery but it can be compensated by adding more coffee powder. You require coarse coffee grounds for perfect channi coffee.

d. Moka Pot

This one is perfect for people who love a strong coffee brew. They are also called as stove pot brewing equipment. It is actually most inexpensive and compact method to get concentrated dose of coffee. The only disadvantage is that – you can never get same taste consistently. Sometimes, it can get too bitter as well.

e. Aero Press

These are the famous brewing gadgets available now-a-days. You can use it to make mean espresso as well by using it one. And you can invert it to get a smooth filter coffee.

f. Pourover

This brewing method is actually the go-to method for many coffee fans and enthusiasts. You can get a perfect and great cup of coffee with this method as you can control all the four elements – dose, grind, temperature and time.

g. Cold Brew

For people who love a smooth and less acidic coffee, this brewing method is perfect for them. All you have to do is add some coffee into a jar along with water required. Leave it overnight for steeping. In the morning, strain the liquid and you will have an amazing cup of cold brew coffee.

What Factors Should We Look in a Coffee Maker?

There are several types of coffee making machines, brewing types and other factors – which makes the whole selection process a bit frustrating. To solve this problem, we have provided the below buying guide for coffee maker – containing all the information required to analyze a product.

1. Brew Capacity

You have to select a coffee maker that fulfills the brewing capacity required for your family. Coffee makers present in the market come in different brewing sizes – from single cup to a family sized carafe.

Single cup brewing capacity is suitable for people who live alone or for a family where each person has a different flavor preference. It is also suitable for families where everyone has a different waking time.

Coffee makers with large brewing capacities are perfect for large families or people who love to drink a lot of coffee. Maximum brewing capacity ranges from 10 to 12 cups.

2. Timing or Frequency Brewing

Capacity of a coffee machine is not limited to quantity it prepares in a single time. Some people love to drink coffee at regular intervals throughout the day. So, a coffee maker should have the capacity of brewing multiple times in a day. And if it brews large quality at a time, then it has to at least maintain the temperature of coffee for few hours. 

If your family loves having coffee often throughout the day, then it is better to choose coffee maker with thermal carafe – as it will keep the coffee hot or warm for certain time period. For people who just drink a cup of coffee in the morning, a glass brewer with a warming plate is more than enough.

For people who don’t have time in the morning can get a quick cup of coffee using pod machine. With this coffee maker, you will not have to worry about leaving the machine on for long time.

3. Flavor and Strength

Some family members may have different flavor preferences, then choosing a coffee machine that lets you change the brewing strengths accordingly – like a stronger cup or lighter cup. Some coffee makers even have the capacity of brewing other than standard coffee like whipping hot chocolate, tea, mocha or fancy cappuccino.

4. Brewing Time

Flavor of coffee depends on how much time the water is in contact with the coffee grounds. In drip coffee makers, the contact time is less than 5 minutes. But in French press, the contact should be 2 – 4 minutes. While espresso has only a brief amount of brewing time – 20 to 30 seconds. For cold brew, the brewing time is about 12 hours. You can let it brew overnight for a cup of cold coffee in the morning. You can check the product manual for more information on estimated brew time as per your flavor preferences.

Even after following the instructions, if you are not happy with the taste of final product, then you may be either…

• Over-extracting – Too long brewing time
• Under-extracting – Too short brewing time

If so, then try to experiment with the brewing time (a bit shorter or longer than recommended) to get the right flavor balance.

5. Heating Plate

Most of the coffee makers come with heating plates – on which a carafe sits. But if you love to sip coffee over the course of few hours, then letting it sit on the hot place for so long can lead to a bitter and burnt taste. To avoid that, look out for options which let you control the temperature settings of carafe or purchase a coffee maker that comes with insulated stainless steel carafe.

6. Customized Brewing Options

Basic coffee makers don’t have any smart features aside from adding coffee grounds and water. Some modern and advanced coffee makers come with several options like brew strength, water temperature, and brew style. But simple coffee machines actually cost much less than high-end coffee making machines.

7. Carafe

When it comes to carafe, there is no more than just looks. Most of the carafes comes in either thermal, stainless steel or glass. Glass carafe lets you see the amount of the coffee brewed and keeps it warm for about 20 minutes. Stainless steel and thermal carafes maintain the coffee temperature for about an hour. For cleaning purposes, glass carafe can be put in a dishwasher but others have to be hand washed.

8. Size of Coffee Machine

This factor doesn’t have any effect on the coffee flavor. However, if the coffee machine you purchase doesn’t fit into your kitchen space correctly then it can be an issue.

Make sure you measure everything correctly – like where you are going to place it, does it have top open mode and others. Single serve machines can happily fit your mugs instead of carafe. However, if the mug is large than standard size then it may not.

9. Water Temperature Settings

A perfect served coffee has optimal temperature between 195°- 205°F. Some coffee machines can brew coffee either too high or too low sometimes – this can result in bitterness or loss of flavor. Cold water can result in under-extraction and flat coffee taste while too hot water can leave a bitter note to the coffee flavor.

Some coffee makers allow you to control the water temperature so that it doesn’t lead to over-extraction. If you are opting for single-serve or espresso coffee makers, then choose a slightly lower temperature than the recommend one.

Coffee making machines like percolator and French press lack such smart features. So, you have to manually control the water temperature so that it doesn’t boil. We recommend to leave the boiling water for few minutes before adding over the ground coffee. 140 degrees Fahrenheit is actually ideal temperature for such instances.

10. Convenience

Do you like brewing coffee experience every day? Or do you like hands-free coffee making? Or do you want the coffee waiting for you in the morning as you wake up? Programmable electric coffee makers can make your coffee ready before you wake up.

Less automatic coffee makers require a little attention but still you can press some buttons and enjoy the coffee. But if you really like the whole process of making coffee then French press and gas stove espresso pots are perfect.

11. Ease of Maintenance

Maintaining your coffee maker is important because coffee splatter and calcium buildup can decrease the longevity and affect the coffee quality. Check for removable, dishwasher safe parts in a coffee maker. If the manufacturer mentions that some parts have to hand washed, then check out the reviews of customers who are already using it. They may tell you whether it is messy to clean them or simple.

Descale feature is present in most of the coffee machines in India. This feature de-scales the calcium deposits on carafe and inner walls of the machine. If you are too busy or don’t like the cleaning process, then this feature can come handy.

If you don’t have time to clean the mess every time you make coffee, then it’s better to choose pod/single serve coffee makers – as they don’t make any mess because you just have to trash the old pod and add a new one to brew.

Important Note: To get perfect coffee, every coffee machine has to be de-scaled once in a week.

12. Ease of Use

Some coffee makers have lids that open vertically. If the space between the kitchen counter and cabinets is less, then it placing this type of coffee makers can be an issue – as you may not open them completely. So, make sure the coffee making machine you choose fits into the kitchen space correctly. If you do not like hand washing utensils, then choose a coffee machine that has dishwasher compatible parts.

13. Additional Features

Some coffee makers have options beyond basic features like brewing for specific amount of time, auto-shut off, keep warm, or thermal carafe to maintain the coffee temperature.

Some advanced coffee machines also come with audible alerts which indicate completion of coffee brewing and others. High-end machines have smart features like bean grinding, milk frothing and others.

We have mentioned a detail list of different smart features present in modern day coffee making machines…

• Built-in Coffee Grinder: This option is perfect for people who like freshly ground beans as they produce better flavor. Of course, you can purchase coffee grinding machines separately but having in-built will decrease the mess and save your time.
• Auto-Shut Off: During the early morning office rush, it is common for us to forget some things that include switching off the coffee maker. With this smart feature, you can ensure the coffee pot is turned off, saving some electricity bills.
• Water Filter: Some of them even have built-in water filtration system which is perfect if you stay in areas with low water quality.
• Pause and Serve: Some machines let you pull away the carafe and lets you fill the mug without spilling the coffee. Also be sure that if you dip in after just a cup of two has brewed, then you will get an unpleasant strong flavor.
• Self-Serve: These models store the brewed coffee inside them without dispending into mug or carafe. You can fill the cup right from the machine which maintains the coffee hot for a longer time.

What are Different Coffee Beans and Coffee Roasts Available?

Actually, most of the coffee beans available in the market are Arabica, Robusta or a blend of these two ingredients. There are other coffee bean varieties as well, but generally they are rare. In order to improve the taste and texture, sometimes, chicory is added. Now, let’s have a look at different types of coffee roasts.

Type Of Coffee Roast	Their Specialty
Light Roast	Light brown in color. Roasted slightly and have an acidic flavor
Medium Roast	This is the regular and common roast. Roasted until before second crack. High caffeine content than dark roast.
Medium – Dark Roast	Lower in caffeine content. Darker in color and more oil over its surface.
Dark Roast	Color similar to chocolate. Lowest caffeine content of all types. Have a smoky bitter taste.

Which Coffee Makes It Right for Me?

Before investing in any appliance, it is always important to consider what you are expecting from it. Below are some points that let you decide which suits you perfectly…

a. No Time to Brew Coffee

Most of the people love to have one or two cups of coffee in the morning, afternoon and after dinner. And not all of us have the time privilege to brew coffee manually every single time. For them, Single serve pod coffee machine is perfect as it requires no maintenance.

This appliance makes coffee within a minute and uses pod/capsule/K-cups. You may have to de-scale it once in a while to maintain it from inside. Single serve coffee machines make a variety as per your preference.

b. Like to Brew Coffee But Hate to Grind

If you love perfect coffee, then it is important to add freshly grounded coffee beans every single time. But that’s something not everyone of us like to do and time is another constraint as well. In such case, choose a coffee maker with in-built grinder. With it, you can just press a button to drink freshly brewed coffee. Some of the options in this type of coffee maker are Espresso and Drip.

Important Note: Coffee machines with such features are a bit expensive to purchase but the maintenance costs are low and don’t require manual work which is something like one-time investment.

c. Love Perfectly Brewed Coffee and Can Spare the Time as Well

If you love brewing and have time to spare as well, then you have several options. Even if you have tight budget, you don’t have to settle for quick coffee makers like pod coffee. You can buy automatic drip or espresso coffee machines. You can purchase separate coffee grinder for a perfect cup of coffee. Though these machines take some time to brew, they always deliver great coffee.

d. If Coffee is Not Just a Drink but Medicine for You

Caffeine present in coffee helps in improving body metabolism which in turn makes us more active. Dark coffee contains more caffeine which can be brewed using French press coffee makers and percolators. Because coffee brewed in such coffee makers let the water stay in contact with grounded coffee beans for more time. This results in high caffeine content in the brew.

Important Note: These manual machines require manual work and take time to brew.

Do I Need to Upgrade a New Coffee Maker?

If you are confused whether to replace your existing coffee maker or not – then the below are few signs you should consider.

• Stops brewing fresh coffee – This is the most common sign that indicates the coffee maker is beyond repair. There can be many reasons that can lead to this situation that include broken pump, tank damage, leak and others. It’s difficult to manage the repair unless it is under warranty. It is better to invest in a new coffee maker than spending time in diagnosing and managing the repair.
• Faulty water temperature – If water temperature is not up to the mark, then it can change the flavor drastically. This can be caused when the heating element is worn out. If the coffee tastes sour or stale, then it is time to purchase a new coffee making machine.
• Expensive coffee pods – Some coffee makes are only compatible with coffee pods which are very expensive to purchase and don’t come in much varieties. If you think maintenance costs are over the board, then it is better to invest in a coffee maker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Following are some of the frequently asked questions that’ll help you find the best coffee machine:

1. Which coffee makers make the hottest coffee?

All the coffee makers are efficient and make hot coffee as they use electricity which brews the coffee and therefore all you get is a hot glass of coffee that freshens you for the day’s work. All single cup coffee makers, drip coffee makers, and espresso machines are efficient machines.

2. Which is the best coffee machine to buy?

We have listed on this page the best coffee makers to be purchased in India depending on the taste we prefer usually however before purchasing any coffee maker make sure what kind of coffee you desire the most as even for similar coffee makers the taste differs.

This is because every coffee maker uses different caffeine levels and what differs is the brewing that is how the coffee is brewed as some might have automatic brewers.

3. Can you make espresso with ninja coffee bar?

The Ninja Coffee bar cannot make espresso however if a part of water is mixed with the ground coffee the brew is light and perfect like latte or cappuccino. The taste is also quite similar however if you are good in identifying the taste of coffee you might not be satisfied with the result.

4. What is the best espresso machine?

Morphy Richards Fresco 800-Watt 4-Cups Espresso Coffee Maker is the best espresso machine available in India and you can find this appliance is most of the coffee parlors. 

It is capable of making perfect espresso without spoiling the taste or essence of coffee.

Quick Buying Tips for Choosing A Coffee Maker

1. Budget Friendly

Budget is an important factor before you purchase any home appliance as it’s not necessary that the cost price of the appliance matches your budget.

You should make a rough estimate of your requirements and then chose the appliance that is efficient as well as budget friendly. In this manner, you might find out that two different appliances with the same efficiency costs different hence a little research help you to save money.

2. Easy to Use

The coffee maker is very easy to use and there is no challenging procedure involved in the making of coffee. The appliance needs certain steps to be followed and the rest is done automatically.

Some machines are automatic with a timer and it lets you know when the coffee is ready by the beep noise all you need to do is fill the machine with beans or coffee sugar etc beforehand.

3. Quantity

This is a very important factor and you should be clear whether you need:

1. Single Cup Coffee Maker- This coffee maker is capable of providing one single cup at a time and is just perfect for fewer requirements or requirement at different times by different people.
2. Multi Cup Coffee Maker- This coffee maker is capable of preparing about 3-4 cups of coffee at a time and is for those who need to prepare three to four cups at a time.

4. Category

In India usually we prefer a latte, cappuccino, and espresso coffee and this is the important criteria as there are many professional coffee makers which are efficient and capable of preparing this professional coffee.

Now coffee makers can prepare your favorite cafe quality latte at home.

5. Safety

Any appliance that runs in electricity should be shock proof as safety is the one thing that should not be compromised. In case of overload, the circuit breaks and the appliance stops working.

This factor should never be underestimated as in case of an overload there might be chances of shock.

6. Easy to Clean

Usually, coffee makers have the coffee jar which can be detached and can be cleaned regularly and the filter inside the coffee maker can be removed after some time of usage.

Coffee Makers Technology – How Does it Work???

The Coffee maker technology is an easy and efficient procedure and the only thing that one needs to do is follow the simple steps so as to not get confused.

The following procedure demonstrates the coffee making procedure and also explains the type of coffee that can be used individually. You can get a rough idea about the brewing procedure involved in the process.

A coffee maker is a utility appliance for you if you are a coffee addict and can’t imagine your day without coffee.

I hope you found this article helpful in finding the best coffee maker of your choice. Happy brewing!