Brewing Perfection: Our Shoppable Guide to the Best Coffee Makers

Nothing says "Good morning!" quite like a macchiato mastered by your favorite barista. And on days when you can't make it to your corner coffeeshop, that barista may be you! Now that you've grown accustomed to Third Wave coffeehouses, where the locally roasted beans are sourced from socially responsible farmers and drinks like cortados, flat whites, and pour-overs take pride of place, why should you have to settle for a ho-hum cup of Joe when at home? 

But before you invest in a fancy contraption, think about your coffee preferences. Since coffee is personal, you either need a machine that's specifically made for the type of coffee you crave or the situation at hand (say, an efficient device you can take with you on a trip). If you like to switch things up, a multitasker that can foam and steam milk and do all kinds of java tricks might come in handy. And if your coffee preferences really vary, you might be better off investing in one major machine, plus a sidekick or two, like a French press, for those days when you want to try something different. 

With such a staggering number of coffee makers on the market, it can be challenging to select the right one, so we boiled it down to some of our favorite picks for every type of caffeine drinker. From a single-serve coffee maker that makes a colorful statement on your kitchen counter and a nitro cold brew maker with a tapped dispenser to a spare-no-expense espresso and coffeemaker with a touchscreen menu, this list has got you covered!  

A precision powerhouse, this 60 ounce drip coffee maker has six different brewing modes, including strong, cold brew, and "My Brew," which gives you control over the bloom time, brewing temperature, flow rate, and contact time—all factors that add up to a delicious cup of coffee. 

Buy Now: Breville Precision Brewer Thermal Drip Coffee Maker, $299.95, amazon.com.

Espresso yourself with this sleek, programmable machine. With the touch of a button, it froths milk and uses a conical burr grinder to grind beans, then starts to brew your coffee on its own via its Direct-to-Brew system.

Buy Now: DeLonghi Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine, $529.95, amazon.com.

Handmade in the Netherlands, this one-cup coffee brewer adds a pop of pink to your countertop. Instead of pods, it uses a unique brew basket that makes a 10 ounce cup of java in just four minutes, while a removable cup holder lets you switch up the mug size.

Buy Now: Moccamaster Cup-One Pink, $225, us.moccamaster.com.

Stainless steel from top to bottom, this elegant French press, available in medium or large sizes, uses a unique two-filter system resulting in grit-free coffee (a bit of an anomaly for French press). It also makes oil-free coffee with the addition of paper filters between the micro filters.

Buy Now: Espro Stainless-Steel French Press, from $109.95, surlatable.com.

Talk about cool beans! This cold-brew coffee maker has a Nitro pressurization system and a Nitro tap that turbulates for a cascading pour and rich, creamy texture. It also does double duty, storing the java in a dispenser with stainless-steel vacuum insulation that keeps it cold all day.

Buy Now: GrowlerWerks Ukeg Nitro Cold Brew Maker, $199, growlerwerks.com.

Take your pour-overs to the next level with this handsome copper kit for manual brewing. It features a Hario V60 Copper kettle for controlled pouring, a copper dripper that lets you customize your coffee flavor and strength, a heatproof glass pot, and V60 coffee filters. The end result: A full-bodied, complex cup of coffee.

Buy Now: Hario Pour-Over Kit Copper, $149.98 williams-sonoma.

Move over manual. A joy for pour-over lovers, this automatic, one-button coffee maker with stainless-steel accents and a glass carafe features a pour-over showerhead that allows for even saturation and pulse brew for full blooming, plus a precise heater that quickly reaches and maintains the ideal temperature.

Buy Now: Brim 8-Cup Pour-Over Coffee Maker, $164.99, target.com

Sure, it's a splurge, but having this super-deluxe automatic espresso and coffee maker—which is equipped with three brew temperature levels, ten coffee strength levels, and ten milk/milk foam temperature levels—on your kitchen counter means you can make any type of coffee drink your heart desires. And you can do it with the power and speed of a barista-perfect, professional machine. Plus, the touchscreen menu offers 28 preprogrammed drinks, from cappuccino to a latte macchiato, prepares coffee and milk foam at the same time, and identifies every java drinker's preferences. It doesn't get much better than that.

Buy Now: Jura GIGA 6 Fully Automatic Espresso & Coffee Machine, $5,995, williams-sonoma.com.

Small but mighty, this portable coffee maker delivers a rich cup of Joe at home or on the road. Brew an espresso, hot coffee, or cold brew with your cup positioned below. Air pressure uniformly extracts pure coffee flavor right from the grounds.

Buy Now: Aeropress Coffee Maker, $29.95, williams-sonoma.com.

Whether you're a pro with barista-level tamping and grinding skills or a novice looking to ramp up your morning coffee routine, you can't go wrong with this sturdy, 14-pound Italian lever espresso machine with an attached boiler and steamer. Crafted from steel with heavy chrome plating, it's sure to be the centerpiece of your kitchen counter for years to come. 

Buy Now: La Pavoni EPC-8 Europiccola Eight-Cup Lever Style Espresso Machine, Chrome, $899, amazon.com.