For many of us, the humble coffee maker is something that we just can’t live without It’s vitally important to choose the perfect model for the type of brew you adore, so here is our rundown of the best coffee makers for the money.
Whether you are on a budget, have some cash to splash, only use coffee pods, or are just looking for a great pour-over, there’s a coffee maker for everyone in this article.
We have selected the 7 best coffee makers for the money for 7 different reasons but if you are in a rush, the best overall coffee maker is the Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central. This awesome coffee maker provides restaurant-quality coffee at a price nearly everyone can afford.
Best overall coffee maker – Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central Coffeemaker
Top of the Ape’s list for the best coffee maker for the money is the best-selling Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central. This hugely popular coffee maker features Cuisinart’s best brewing technology with premium features and a striking retro design.
Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central 12 Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Black/Silver
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
- FULLY AUTOMATIC COFFEE BREWER: 24-hour programmability with 1–4 cup settings, auto-off functionality (0-4 hours)
- TEMPERATURE CONTROL: Variable heater plate for temperature control that is adjustable – low, medium, and high settings
- 12-CUP GLASS CARAFE: Features ergonomic comfort grip black handle, dripless spout, lid, and knuckle guard for added protection
- DURABLE FILTERS: Permanent gold-tone coffee filter included, and built-in charcoal water filter ensures only the freshest coffee flavor flows through – measuring scoop, #4 paper coffee starter kit and instruction book for best practices and tips included
- NORTH AMERICAN ELECTRICAL STANDARDS: This product was built to meet and exceed the NAES standards
The Cuisinart DCC-1200 has a host of functions including a brew-pause setting, programmable shut-off, a heat adjustable warming plate, and a self-cleaning function. It is fitted with a charcoal filter and a permanent gold-tone filter to ensure that only the freshest coffee flavor gets through.
With a brushed metal design, a 12-cup carafe, and an ergonomic handle (for easy, drip-free pouring), the Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central offers the best combination of price and coffee quality.
Best budget coffee maker – VonShef Programmable Digital Coffee Maker
If the purse strings are a little tight this year but you still need to make that perfect “cup of Joe” on a budget, the VonShef Programmable Digital Coffee Maker could be just what you’re looking for.
VonShef Programmable Digital Coffee Maker with Measuring Spoon- 12 Cup Capacity
- Enjoy freshly filtered coffee all day long! Large 1.8L capacity glass jug can produce up to 12 cups of coffee at once
- Easy to programme with clear LED backlit display and timer to create fresh coffee exactly when you want it
- Enjoy freshly filtered coffee all day long! Large 1.8L capacity glass jug can produce up to 12 cups of coffee at once
- Easy to programme with clear LED backlit display and timer to create fresh coffee exactly when you want it
- Removable, washable filter - no need for paper filters
- Hot plate keeps coffee warm for up to 35 minutes before automatically switching off. Water level gauge with markers shows how full the appliance is.
- Perfect for the home, workplace and social events. Includes FREE coffee measuring spoon
The machine has an easy-to-read backlit LCD and a handy programmable timer so you can get your caffeine fix whenever you like.
The VonShef has a removable funnel and filter which saves you from buying expensive paper filters. With a 1.8-liter glass jug, you can make up to 12 cups of delicious coffee, so it’s perfect for the home, office, or even social events.
The VonShef Programmable Digital Coffee Maker comes with a water-gauge marker and for people on a budget, this “cheapy-but-goody” coffee machine is the Ape’s pick for the best budget machine
Best mid-range coffee maker – Ninja Coffee Bar Brewer System
The Ninja Coffee Bar Brewer System will bring out the barista in you! You’ll be able to make coffee just as tasty as any coffeehouse with five different brewing styles; classic, rich, over-ice, specialty, and café forte.
Ninja Coffee Bar Brewer System with Glass Carafe (CF091)
- 10-cup (50-oz.) glass carafe
- Built-In frother to brew, froth and drink—all in your favorite mug
- 20-recipe inspiration guide. Capacity : 60 oz. / 12 Cup,Stainless Steel Mesh Filter,ABS Housing
- Ninja Smart Scoop.After brewing the first cup, the Ninja Coffee Bar is pre-warmed. This enables any following brews to be slightly hotter. For a hotter first cup, after plugging in and powering on your brewer, allow 3 minutes for your brewer to pre-heat
- 10-cup (50-oz.) glass carafe
- Built-In frother to brew, froth and drink—all in your favorite mug
- 20-recipe inspiration guide. Capacity : 60 oz. / 12 Cup,Stainless Steel Mesh Filter,ABS Housing
- Ninja Smart Scoop.After brewing the first cup, the Ninja Coffee Bar is pre-warmed. This enables any following brews to be slightly hotter. For a hotter first cup, after plugging in and powering on your brewer, allow 3 minutes for your brewer to pre-heat
- Permanent reusable filter.This brewer is designed to brew coffee grounds only. Do not insert pods or K-Cups
- Note: Kindly refer page number 19 in user manual provided for troubleshooting steps
This baby is the next generation of coffee makers with a built-in “frother” and a cold frothing capability.
Ninja’s advanced thermal flavor extraction technology brings out the lively and complex flavors of your favorite coffee.
Custom Brew Sizes are Cup, XL Cup, Travel Mug, XL Multi-Serve, Half Carafe, and Full Carafe.
Included with this awesome mid-range coffee maker are a measuring scoop, a built-in frother, and a coffee maker’s recipe handbook.
Best top-end coffee maker – Technivorm Moccamaster 59163
If you have a few more bucks to invest one of the best coffee makers for the money is the Technivorm Moccamaster 59163. Made from the highest quality materials, this coffee maker is reliable, energy-efficient, and makes incredible coffee.
Technivorm Moccamaster 59163 Moccamaster Coffee Maker, Brushed Brass
- Perfect Coffee Every Time: This pump-free coffee maker heats water to the correct temperature for coffee extraction
- Easy to Use: The Moccamaster brews a full 40 oz pot of coffee in 4-6 minutes using one switch
- Perfect Coffee Every Time: This pump-free coffee maker heats water to the correct temperature for coffee extraction
- Easy to Use: The Moccamaster brews a full 40 oz pot of coffee in 4-6 minutes using one switch
- Quiet and Safe: The Moccamaster KBG quietly brews your coffee and automatically turns off after 100 minutes
- Quality Materials: Moccamasters last a lifetime. We use BPA/BPS/BPF and Phthalate free plastics and durable stainless steel and aluminum
- Delicious Coffee and Peace of Mind: Moccamaster coffee brewers have a 5-year warranty
If you grab yourself a Technivorm Moccamaster, it will be the last coffee maker you ever buy! If cleaned and descaled properly, this machine will last you a lifetime.
Moccamaster brewers are handmade in the Netherlands and come with a 5-year warranty. There is also a service center based in the USA.
This model features a glass carafe and a cool automatic “drip-stop” function. This kicks in every time the carafe is removed.
The Technivorm Moccamaster has some awesome features. They include a brewing-pulse action (to extract your coffee perfectly), a cone-shaped auto-drip-stop brew basket (designed for optimal coffee/water time), and a clear reservoir (so you can watch the brewing process.)
Good for 1.25 liters or 10 cups (40 oz.), the Technivorm Moccamaster can be trusted to maintain the quality, integrity, and taste of your favorite coffee.
Best pod coffee maker – NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Genio 2 – Pod Machine
Whether you’re into hot mochas, icy cappuccinos, or steaming mugs of artisanal coffee. The Nescafe Dolce Gusto uses state-of-the-art Nescafe capsules to prepare full-bodied and delicious cups of coffee.
NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Genio 2 Coffee, Espresso and Cappuccino Pod Machine, made...
- Craft – enjoy 20+ different coffeehouse drinks in the comfort of your own home, including premium roast coffees, espressos, macchiato, lattes, Iced drinks and more
- The tech - professional-grade pressure works together with our Smart Pod technology to deliver up to 15-bars of pressure into each capsule, helping you brew incredible, aromatic drinks with a flavorful crema atop—the universal sign of an amazing cup of coffee
- Craft – enjoy 20+ different coffeehouse drinks in the comfort of your own home, including premium roast coffees, espressos, macchiato, lattes, Iced drinks and more
- The tech - professional-grade pressure works together with our Smart Pod technology to deliver up to 15-bars of pressure into each capsule, helping you brew incredible, aromatic drinks with a flavorful crema atop—the universal sign of an amazing cup of coffee
- Customizable – using the new Toggle stick and 8-level LED display, you can control the size (up to 12 ounce ) and intensity of your ideal cup
- Versatility - brew both hot and Iced beverages with a flip of a switch. Use our iced-compatible capsules to make Iced cappuccinos and teas at home
- Water tank size: 45oz (5+ cups of eight-ounce drinks). input power (watt)-1340-1600
This single-serve pod coffee maker uses a 15-bar automatic pressure regulator to produce artisanal coffee with steamed milk.
Features you’re going to love are the “toggle stick/joystick” interface (which allows you to have full control over your beverage strength), an energy-saving automatic shut-off system, and a thermal block heating system (that controls the balance & temperature of the coffee so that it retains that freshly-brewed taste.
Nescafe is committed to improving the lives of its coffee farmers. It has gone to great lengths to train more farmers, create jobs, and maintain sustainability.
With the Nescafe Dolce Gusto, you can enjoy over 20 Roadhouse coffee drinks including; premium roast coffees, espressos, macchiatos, lattes, and iced coffees to name but a few. This coffee machine is the easiest way to enjoy gourmet coffee.
Best single-serve coffee maker – Ninja Coffee Bar Single-Serve System (CF112)
The next-generation Ninja Coffee Bar is a single-serve system with a built-in hot & cold frother and is one of the best single-serve coffee makers for the money.
Ninja Coffee Bar Single-Serve System with Built-In Frother (CF112)
- Pod-free single serve with the Ninja XL hot & cold Multi-Serve tumbler
- Built-in frother to brew, froth and drink-all in your favorite mug
- Custom brews: classic, rich, or over ice; or signature brews: specialty and Cafe forte
- Pod-free single serve with the Ninja XL hot & cold Multi-Serve tumbler
- Built-in frother to brew, froth and drink-all in your favorite mug
- Custom brews: classic, rich, or over ice; or signature brews: specialty and Cafe forte
- Custom brew sizes: cup, XL cup, Travel mug and XL Multi-Serve
- Advanced thermal flavor extraction technology and Auto-iQ one-touch Intelligence
Pod-free single-serve brews give you the choice to use any brand of coffee. You can adjust the number of grounds that you use to make all kinds of different-tasting coffee drinks.
The integrated frother allows you to brew, froth, and drink in your favorite cup or mug. In seconds, you can froth hot or cold milk into foam to add to your coffee.
The Ninja Coffee Bar Single-Serve System uses Auto-IQ-One-Touch intelligence technology. It then draws exactly the right volume of water from the reservoir. This is based on the size and brew type chosen.
Custom brews available with this machine are; classic, rich, over-ice, specialty, and café forte.
The Ninja Coffee Bar Single-Serve System is the Ape’s pick in the very hotly-contested “best single-serve coffee maker.”
Best professional coffee maker – DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Coffee Machine
DeLonghi is a world leader in household appliances and has a presence in more than 123 countries. They are leaders in innovation, design, and product performance, and the DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Coffee Machine is no exception.
DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
- FRESH ESPRESSO FOR EVERY CUP: The professional burr grinder with 13 adjustable settings grinds fresh beans every time to ensure maximum freshness. You can also use pre-ground in the second chamber. Your choice of regular, specialty or decaf.
- YOUR FOAM, YOUR WAY: A manual frother mixes steam and milk to create a rich, creamy froth for evenly textured drinks – just the way you like them.
- CONSISTENT BREWING EVERY TIME: Each cup is automatically brewed to the perfect temperature, richness and density. And you can customize the settings to ensure its always just the way you like it.
- EASY TO CLEAN AND HANDLE: The compact, extractable brew unit is not only easy to clean, it self-adjusts for one or two shots of espresso.
- DELICIOUS CAPPUCCINO AND LATTE: The adjustable manual Cappuccino System mixes steam and milk to create the thickest, longest-lasting foam for your cappuccino. And it’s easy to adjust the levels to prepare a creamy latte, macchiato or flat white.
- CUSTOMIZED ESPRESSO DRINKS: Design your ideal espresso and cappuccino experience by programming in your preferences. The machine “remembers” the details, from the strength of your espresso to your preferred size beverage and much more.
- EASY-TO-USE CONTROL PANEL: Simply adjust the menu settings for temperature, coffee strength and cup size according to your preferences. The machine takes care of the rest.
- COMPACT DESIGN: Each model has the features of a full-size automatic machine but in a streamlined, compact design that fits beautifully on your kitchen countertop.
- NO WAITING BETWEEN CUPS: The Rapid Cappuccino System maintains the optimal temperature so you can brew cup after cup instantly..FRONT-ACCESSIBLE COMPONENTS: Removable water tank and drip tray, as well as used espresso grounds, are front-accessible for easy cleanup. Indicators tell you when it’s time to clean the machine, and all parts are dishwasher safe.
You could spend thousands of dollars on a top-of-the-range commercial machine. For this article, we have chosen the DeLonghi Magnifica as the best professional coffee maker for the money.
Perfect for your home or a small restaurant/café. The Magnifica is super easy to use and comes with manual controls, a cup warmer, and a removable drip tray.
There is no machine easier to use when making cappuccinos! Just fluff up the milk, and select whole beans or ground coffee. Then just sit back while this fabulous coffee maker “does its thing!”
Every cup of coffee is automatically brewed at the perfect temperature, density, and richness. You can also customize the settings, to get your brew just the way you like it!
If coffee doesn’t happen to be your beverage of choice and you are more partial to a beer or two, you might be interested in our article about The best kegerators for your home.
