Consumer Reports Finds Top Coffeemakers for Java Connoisseurs

The classic coffeemaker has given rise to many new variations that offer consumers more than just a good cup of Joe. However in certain cases, Consumer Reports found that these added perks come at a cost. In its recent tests of 61 coffeemakers, Consumer Reports tested models that brew two different coffees at once, double as a single-serve pod machine and even talk back to consumers, but some had a higher price tag and a poorer performance rating.

All of Consumer Reports' 12 Recommended coffeemaker picks reached temperatures of 195 degrees Fahrenheit to 205 degrees Fahrenheit for about five minutes, the industry standard for optimal brewing, and half of the Recommended models cost $50 or less. The full report on coffeemakers appears in the December issue of Consumer Reports

"Finding a coffeemaker you find easy to use and reasonably priced won't get you that perfect cup no matter how good the beans you're brewing," said Ed Perratore, senior editor at Consumer Reports. "Our Ratings and online buying advice will tell you not only what features our tested models have but, most importantly, what brewed best."

While even the most basic coffeemakers Consumer Reports tested made a good cup of coffee, some features make a machine easier and more convenient to use. Paying more for the Kenmore Elite 06906, $100, buys a freshness timer that tells consumers when the coffee was brewed, but the model lost a few points in overall brewing performance score. Similarly, Hamilton Beach's Stay or Go 45237R, $80, lets consumers brew two different cups of coffee at once and Primula's Speak N' Brew SAB-3001, $80, lets users program the machine by voice, but neither of these appliances made Consumer Reports' winners list.


For coffee connoisseurs who would like to grind their own beans, Better Homes & Gardens' BHG Fully Automatic Thermal 10-cup Grind & Brew, $100, offers consumers a one-step, single brewing and grinding compartment. This is an alternative to more traditional grind and brew coffeemaker models, which usually have two separate compartments. While grind and brew coffeemakers can offer consumers a more customized taste, Consumer Reports advises buyers to be aware that the cleaning and reassembly of these types of appliances can be a major chore.