Elevating Your Morning Coffee: Find the Best Coffee Maker to Make Café-Quality Brews at Home

If you want a drip coffee machine that looks good and works perfectly, then look no further than this Smeg maker. It makes ten cups of joe and has a stainless steel heating plate, plus a light or intense aroma setting. The design is totally retro with a '50s-inspired polished chrome base and handles and comes in a handful of color options from neutral cream to moonlight grey. It’s slightly expensive for a drip machine, but if aesthetics is what you’re going for, the elevated price point is worth it.

Want something that just makes a nice cup and won’t break in the next few years? This Haden drip maker from William Sonoma is the answer to your prayers. Like the Smeg machine, Haden also sports a retro design but differs from the former with programmable features and a larger brewing capacity. You get *so* much for your buck with this Haden machine, such as an anti-drip function (to prevent any spillage on your clothes, mugs, or countertops), a dishwasher-safe glass carafe, and a delayed brewing option.

Stanley is more than a water bottle brand. They dabble in coffee machines too and this pour-over set is one of their great inventions. This pick comes with both the pour-over and a 12 oz camper mug. No paper filter is needed, so it’s super easy to clean and the stainless steel interior is insulated to keep your cold and hot liquids at the right temperature.

Need an easy-to-use coffee maker? Say hello to this IKEA French press. Simply add your grounds—fresh is always best—and hot water. Press down the strainer and ta-da! Steamy, flavorful coffee. Throw this bb in the dishwasher once you’re done.

This cold brew maker from Bodum was my go-to before I transitioned to a Nespresso machine. It doubles as a French press and cold brew maker, thanks to its two lids (one with a plunger and the other with a pour-over cap). The carafe has a unique locking system to prevent spillage and is big enough— 1.5 liters—to brew six cups of coffee.

Any iced coffee fan knows it’s hard to make a chilled brew with a traditional drip machine. Which is why you need this Keurig single-serve maker. It brews over ice, but unlike other iced coffee machines, this brew starts off super hot to reach peak flavor before cooling to reduce ice melting. The best part is this bb also brews hot coffee. So if you fancy something warm for those cold winter mornings, this Keurig maker has got you covered.

Nepresso is a social viral brand for a reason. Sure, many like the brand’s sleek design and aesthetic, but the machine’s brewing skills are no joke. Take this CitiZ espresso machine for an example. It’s super compact to fit on the tiniest of counter spaces and heats up quickly (we’re talkin’ seconds people) to get the perfect espresso shot. Energy efficient too, thanks to its automatic shutoff feature that powers down after nine minutes of inactivity. Plus, there’s a guaranteed yearly warranty free of charge.

I could not choose a Keurig machine as the “best pod” coffee maker. I mean, Keurig is the queen of pod coffee machines and this specific one earns top dog for its variety of features. We’re talking five-cup sizes, heat and iced brewing, quick brew time, maintenance reminders, and more.

I haven’t been to my local coffee shop in months because I have this Nespresso machine on my countertop. It’s super easy to use — a quick one-touch button starts the brew. You can make everything with this machine, from single espresso shots to double and a full cup too.

I ranked this Amazon pick as the best because it offers a ton of coffee options for a single serve capacity. There are four types of brew—over iced, hot, classic, or speciality—and ten types of size and carafe capacities. Then, there’s the built-in frother that steams cold milk, so you can transform your average cup into a Starbucks-like cappuccino. You can do so much with this tiny single-serve machine.

Unlike the other coffee machines (and Keurigs) on this list, this machine uses innovative smart technology aka a BrewID to curate a personalized cup. The machine recognizes your pod’s sizes and curates a custom menu of speciality coffees. The machine has speciality modes like barista style to help you make lattes, macchiatos, and café drinks.

The price is steep but if you’re looking for a machine that rivals your local brewer, then this is the one for you. It’s an espresso and drip machine all in one, thanks to its sensor control panel that offers a selection of speciality coffees. It also boasts an integrated grinder, so there’s always fresh ground beans for brew. Double shot espressos, cappuccinos, cafe lattés — options are endless with this bb.

Most carafes are glass and have warming plates to keep the pot fresh. But the best carafes (like this one from Breville) are constructed with stainless steel, which keeps everything insulated. But the thermal carafe isn’t this bb’s main selling point. This maker comes with a control panel for you to select a precise brewing temp and flow. This plus the insulated carafe ensures your coffee is exactly the temp you want it to be.

This mini espresso machine from Smeg is so cute, but don’t let the aesthetic fool you. This espresso machine is just as—if not more—capable of producing cafe quality drinks. The build-in grinder has stainless steel conical burrs, which in non-barista words, means it grounds the beans super finely, so the taste is plenty flavorful. It also has a milk steamer, milk carafe, and both non-pressurized and pressurized filters. It’ll take a couple of tries, but you’ll become a home taught barista with this in your kitchen.