Last Updated on July 23, 2021 by YourBestCoffeeMachine
Coffee is enjoyed both hot and cold and it is a beverage which knows no language, color or race. Everyone enjoys it and without it, the world would be a very different place. Some people just cannot function fully and effectively without a cuppa in the morning, mid morning, after lunch AND in the afternoon. So choosing to buy one of the best filter coffee machines for home will help fuel your functionality all day.
If you would like to be able to at least prepare a decent cup of coffee at home, you need a good coffee maker or filter coffee machine. There are various brands and models sold today but this does not mean you should just go to the store and purchase the first one you see. There are many things to consider, including your budget, the type of coffee which you wish to prepare, the amount of coffee you wish to prepare, and the features which you want in a machine.
We have considered all of these things to come up with this list of the 3 best filter coffee machines which we think are worth spending your money on (spoiler alert – skip to the end if you want to read about our favorite – the Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System !). If you want to check the latest price of the Ninja now click below.
Over $300 – Technivorm Moccamaster – a filter coffee machine that stays hot all day (or almost)
Technivorm at a Glance
But first, the stats:
- 16.00″H 11.50″W 6.75″D
- 6.25 LBS
- 120V 1400W
- Made from stainless steel and BPA free plastics
- Brew-basket Style: Auto Drip-Stop
- Power Switch: Copper Element is Auto off after brew process, power switch will remain on
- Brew Time: 4-6 Minutes
- 40oz pot of coffee
- 5 year warranty
Technivorm Moccamaster – according to most this is one of the best filter coffee machines for home
The Technivorm Moccamaster is a filter coffee machine on steroids both in terms of what it promises to deliver and its price. At over $300 for a filter coffee machine (when similar functioning models can cost as little as $25), you’d want it to be something special – and it is according to the more than 1200 people who have used and reviewed it!
It is worthy of note that this machine gets the seal of approval from the Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) which only certifies a few coffee machines each year.
Technivorm is hand made in the Netherlands (yes – you read right – made by hand by people!) and uses a unique, copper boiling element which the manufacturer says brews the coffee at the ideal temperature. That type of boiling element is similar to what you’d find in an espresso machine which might explain the similar price point. Although the large double skinned thermal carafe holds up to 10 cups so there will be plenty to last you throughout the day.
When left on the coffee machine, the thermal carafe is said to keep the coffee hot for an hour. But switch the lid to the travel lid and it will stay hot for hours longer.
It allows you to pour a cup before the brew is completed if you wish, although some users found the coffee taken early was sub optimal in terms of taste. Click on the link for a more lengthy review of this filter coffee machine by Homegrounds.
The Downsides to the Technivorm
There are downsides which mean this top end filter coffee machine is not for everyone. First, if you don’t grind your own beans then the coffee output will not be great. Beans ground using a burr grinder have a consistent texture which leads to a better brew (especially with the Technivorm shower head water input).
You can’t brew less than the full capacity (even though you can pour a cup early). If you don’t use the full 40 oz each time, then maybe a smaller machine would be better. Finally, and here’s the elephant in the butter, the price – it is not budget friendly! This is why we’ve included the Bonavita BV1900TS below – it does a similar job, brews great coffee but is a third of the price.
Our Verdict – One of the Best Filter Coffee Machines for Home except for the Price
Although we love the styling, warranty and capacity for the thermal carafe to keep our brew hot for hours (and let us take it with us without using another insulated container), we’re still left struggling with the price. Sure if you have the money, or want to give someone serious about coffee a gift they’ll really appreciate, then splurge and buy it.
But if money is a consideration, for us the Thermivorm Moccamaster is not the best filter coffee machine for home. Head on down to the next review and meet a more middle of the road offering (in terms of price) that still provides a high end filter coffee machine for home.
Bonavita BV1900TS – is this the best filter coffee maker under $150?
Bonavita BV1900TS at a Glance
The stats:
- Length 12. 40″ Width: 6. 80″ Height: 12. 20″
- 6.13 LBS
- 1500W
- Made from stainless steel and BPA free plastics
- Brew-basket Style: Auto Drip-Stop
- Power Switch: Auto off after brew process, but not for carafe which is not separately heated
- Brew Time: 6 Minutes
- 37 oz pot of coffee
- 2 year warranty
Bonavita have made one of the best filter coffee machines for home
Like it’s more expensive counterpart the Technivorm, the Bonavita BV1900TS comes with a shower head water dispenser which ensures even soaking of your ground coffee. It also comes with a thermal stainless steel carafe to better hold the heat in your brew. And yes, it’s even certified by the SCA. And it only takes 6 minutes to brew the full 8 cup carafe.
If you want to drink your coffee later, you need not worry about it being cold. The heat-resistant carafe and thermostatic hotplate will keep your coffee hot.
This is a simple, easy to use filter coffee machine with one touch operation. It has a flat-bottomed filter basket which helps the water spread evenly over the grounds improving brew quality. If you want to read more about it from the manufacturer go to the Bonavita website.
The Downsides to the Bonavita BV1900TS
Where the Bonavita seems to be let down is in durability testing, scoring less than 3 overall for purchasers who reviewed it. However, overall this was only a problem for about 5% of reviewers which might point to a faulty batch rather than a long term design, quality issue. Of greater concern is the number of such reports in 2020 – 2021. With a 2 year warranty but a price around $100 you might be willing to look beyond these reports but keep a close eye on the machine.
Our Verdict – One of the Best Filter Coffee Machines for Home but watch for faulty ones
For around $100, the Bonavita BV1900TS does provide a lot of the same features of the much more expensive Thermivorm. With the vast majority of users not reporting issues with this model, it seems that it is still worth a place in our list of the best filter coffee machines for home.
Our Favorite Overall – The Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System Review
The Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System at a Glance
The stats:
- 11.81 x 10.01 x 15 inches
- 1.00 lbs
- 1500W
- Made from stainless steel, rubber and BPA free plastics
- Brew-basket Style: Automatic Drip-Stop
- Power Switch: Auto off after brew process and after 1 hour of inactivity
- Brew Time: 6 Minutes or 10 – 15 minutes for cold brew
- 50 oz pot (10 cups)
- 1 year warranty
Ninja hot and cold brewed system is one of THE best filter coffee machines for home
We are unashamed lovers of a good gadget – one with many functions, that does them all really well! The Ninja hot and cold brewed system for coffee and tea (both hot and cold) includes a milk frother and a holder for the coffee scoop and as such, is one such gadget that we think is well worth the $200 price tag.
The water tank on this machine is removable unlike many similar models. This makes for much easier filling and draining (if necessary). It is programmable and has intelligent controls that set the temperature and number of steeps for your particular tea selection.
For coffee you can choose from 5 brew styles from classic to rich, over ice / cold brew or a specialty option which brews a small amount of water only producing a rich concentrated coffee perfect as the base for a cappucino or latte. Speaking of which, this nifty machine comes with its own milk frother so you can froth milk to your heart’s content.
Not only that, but it comes with 2 separate baskets – one for coffee and one for tea (to keep the flavors separate) and recognises which one you insert giving you only the options for that beverage. You can use your choice of loose or bagged tea or coffee and the Ninja is compatible with all brands.
But wait, there’s more – you’re not limited to brewing into the thermal carafe that comes with it as it fits 6 different size cups – all the way from a single cup to a travel size mug. Or you could just use the full thermal carafe that comes with the machine that keeps your drink hot for up to 2 hours.
The LED control panel is easy to read and and glows so you can see it even early in the morning or late at night when overhead lights might be just too bright to turn on!
Unlike traditional cold brew methods that need your tea or coffee to sit for up to 15 hours, this machine uses luke warm water to immerse the coffee / tea and then after 15 minutes, slowly drains it into the container below.
We really could go on and on about all of its’ functions – but click on the link if you’d like to read more about its versatility and how to use the Ninja hot and cold brewed system.
The Downsides to the Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System
If you’re really particular about brewing at the “perfect temperature” then the Ninja filter coffee machine may not be for you. Cnet.com found in it’s testing that the this filter coffee maker lost control of its temperature and brewed the carafe at a much hotter than ideal temp.
The cnet.com reporter also suggested that the cold brew output was not anywhere near as good as traditional cold brew in flavor – however given that it only takes 15 minutes to make, we aren’t surprised by this. Contrast this with the reviews of people who purchased the machine, and the jury is still out for us – as usual, it probably comes down to personal taste. One reviewer even went so far as to say “I use the cold brew feature every day and I’m very impressed. Rich and sweet and I’m hooked. “
Our Verdict – One of the Best Filter Coffee Machines for Home but watch for faulty ones
Don’t buy the Ninja for its cold brew feature either, because you’ll be disappointed. That said, the Ninja System strikes a unique balance between serving solid drip, and tasty latte-style drinks. If that’s what you’re after then this countertop machine makes a lot of sense.
Bryan Bennett, for cnet.com
Despite Bryan’s concern about the flavor levels of the cold brew, given the number of people who purchased it and found the flavor to be to their liking, we don’t think that overall this should deter anyone from buying this machine – other than perhaps a true cold brew afficionado.
For our money, the price point of the Ninja hot and cold brewed system and its versatility, make it a space saving, money saving purchase. Our only reservation is the 1 year warranty but on that point, we note that durability scores from more than 4000 users are high suggesting quality is not an issue for this Ninja product.
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