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The Best Coffee Machines

Updated June 2026·Experts: WIRED, Tom's Guide, seriouseats, Good Housekeeping · Community: JamesHoffmann, BuyItForLife

Best Drip Coffee MakerFellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker

$295-$345
The Fellow Aiden has quickly built a devoted following among coffee enthusiasts. WIRED's reviewer notes it “set a new benchmark upon its release in 2024” and one tester “used to put creamer in his coffee every day but has since stopped” after switching. Community members in coffee forums praise its Guided Brew mode for making the process foolproof, while enthusiasts love diving into the app for custom recipes. A few note the price is steep, but the consensus is that the results justify the cost.

What holds up

  • SCA-certified, brews at exactly 200°F for optimal extraction
  • Guided Brew mode makes excellent coffee with zero effort
  • Innovative cold brew mode produces aromatic results in 90 minutes
  • Phone app allows full recipe customization including elevation and bloom duration
  • Thermal carafe keeps coffee hot without a warming plate

What to know

  • Expensive for a drip machine
  • Backing out of deep menu dives is cumbersome
  • Heavy use of plastic in construction
  • Cold brew arrives at room temperature, requires additional chilling
Expert verdict
Even amid a recent flood of drip machine innovation, the Aiden set a new benchmark upon its release in 2024, bullseyeing that delicate intersection between a truly great cup of coffee and an easy cup of coffee.
WIREDView source
Expert verdict
Those who just want to press a button and get mind-bendingly good coffee will be able to do so. Just select Guided Brew on the LED menu, choose anywhere from 5 to 50 ounces of coffee, pop in a color-coded basket that takes standard paper filters, and add the amount of coffee the Aiden asks for.
WIREDView source
From the community
Community members consistently recommend the Fellow Aiden for café-quality coffee at home, praising its precision brewing and ease of use.
r/JamesHoffmannView source
Bottom line ★

The Fellow Aiden is the rare machine that satisfies both the button-press crowd and the obsessive tinkerer, and it makes drip coffee so good that longtime creamer users have quit cold turkey.

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Best Espresso Machine for Most People

Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine

$450-$500
The Breville Bambino Plus has been a community staple for years. Serious Eats has recommended it for five years “and we've yet to have a serious complaint.” WIRED consistently points beginners toward it as “among the lowest-cost machines with PID-controlled temperature.” Real owners love that it heats up in three seconds and produces microfoam “silky enough for latte art.” The main gripe is that the volume buttons are inconsistent, so most experienced users stop shots manually, a small workaround for an otherwise excellent machine.

What holds up

  • ThermoJet heating system reaches brewing temperature in just 3 seconds
  • PID controller maintains exact 200°F for consistent extraction
  • Automatic steam wand with three temperature and foam options for latte art
  • Pre-infusion saturates the puck evenly for better shot quality
  • Compact footprint fits most kitchen counters

What to know

  • Volume buttons inconsistent, manual shot stopping recommended
  • 54mm portafilter is non-standard, limiting third-party accessory options
  • No built-in grinder, requires separate purchase
  • At $500, not the cheapest entry into espresso
Expert verdict
It's quick to heat up, comes in a compact package, pulls great espresso shots, and has an automatic steam wand with three temperature and foam options that create microfoam silky enough for latte art.
Serious EatsView source
Expert verdict
Instead of a traditional boiler, the Bambino Plus uses a ThermoJet heating system that reaches brewing temperatures in just three seconds. It also has a PID, ensuring it operates at exactly 200ºF every time.
Serious EatsView source
From the community
Community members frequently recommend the Breville Bambino Plus as the go-to espresso machine for beginners and intermediate users who want quality without complexity.
r/JamesHoffmannView source
Bottom line ★

Five consecutive years as Serious Eats' top espresso pick, endorsed by WIRED and the community alike, the Bambino Plus is the espresso machine that most people should buy first and may never need to replace.

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Best for Beginners with Built-in GrinderBreville Barista Express Impress

Breville Barista Express Impress

$650-$800
The Breville Barista Express has been a community staple for years, and the Impress version has only strengthened its reputation. WIRED notes that one of their own editors “has been using his machine happily for seven years.” Serious Eats calls it the best pick for beginners, with the smiley face dosing indicator earning particular praise, “I can easily and confidently dose” writes one editor who previously found espresso machines intimidating. The community consensus is clear: if you want an all-in-one machine that removes the guesswork, this is the one.

What holds up

  • Built-in grinder with intelligent dosing system auto-corrects grind amount
  • Integrated tamping arm with visual feedback (smiley face indicator) for beginners
  • PID temperature control and flash-heating system for consistent shots
  • Steam wand ready in seconds after pulling a shot
  • All-in-one footprint eliminates need for separate grinder

What to know

  • Only 25 grind settings, fewer than standalone grinders
  • Same inconsistent volume button issue as the Bambino Plus
  • Heavy at 24 pounds
  • More expensive than the Bambino Plus at $650-$800
Expert verdict
The most amazing feature of the Breville Barista Express Impress is its intelligent dosing system, which will especially appeal to beginners. By adding a built-in tamper, the machine can adjust the amount of coffee it dispenses to the ideal 18-gram dose.
Serious EatsView source
Expert verdict
I can easily and confidently dose, refer to the smiley face to help me with tamping, and, when all's said and done, produce a fabulous latte at home.
Serious Eats editor Grace KellyView source
Bottom line ★

Seven years of daily use from a WIRED editor, plus Serious Eats' top beginner pick, the Barista Express Impress is the all-in-one espresso machine that grows with you from first shot to seasoned home barista.

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Best Programmable Drip Coffee MakerOXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker

OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker

$130-$150
The OXO Brew 9-Cup has earned a reputation as the reliable workhorse of drip coffee. Serious Eats found it kept coffee hotter longer than any other machine in testing, and praised how “easy it was to use, even without reading the instruction manual.” Working parents in community forums love the programmable timer, set it up the night before and wake up to fresh coffee. The SCA certification gives coffee-conscious buyers confidence that every pot is brewed at the right temperature and ratio, without any fuss.

What holds up

  • SCA Gold Cup certified for optimal brewing temperature (195-205°F)
  • Programmable timer lets you wake up to fresh coffee
  • Thermal carafe keeps coffee hottest longest in Serious Eats testing
  • Built-in bloom cycle for better extraction
  • Intuitive dial interface requires no manual reading

What to know

  • Conical brew bed favors light roasts over dark roasts
  • Larger footprint at 8.3 x 15 x 17.2 inches
  • Only 2-year warranty
  • Pricier than basic drip machines at $135
Expert verdict
This drip coffee maker checks all the boxes: sufficiently hot brewing temperature, good showerhead, thermal carafe. It's also programmable, so you can set it up the night before and wake up to the scent of freshly brewed coffee.
Serious EatsView source
Expert verdict
When I tested it, I particularly liked how easy it was to use, even without reading the instruction manual. Load it up with water and grounds, then scroll through the dial to set your brew time.
Serious EatsView source
From the community
Community members frequently cite OXO Brew machines for their reliability and consistent brew quality over years of daily use.
r/BuyItForLifeView source
Bottom line ★

The OXO Brew 9-Cup kept coffee hotter longer than any other machine in Serious Eats' testing, brews at SCA-certified temperatures, and is programmable, it's the complete package for under $150.

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Best Bean-to-Cup Superautomatic

De'Longhi Rivelia EXAM440.55.B

$749-$800
The De'Longhi Rivelia has won over households that want cafe variety without barista training. Good Housekeeping awarded it 95/100, noting it “made consistently good espressos with a nice layer of crema on top” and that “the automatic frother takes all the stress out of making milky drinks.” WIRED calls it their top pick among super-automatics. The dual hopper system is a standout feature for families with different coffee preferences, no more emptying and refilling between roasts. The one honest caveat: latte fans may find the milk texture falls slightly short of a hand-steamed result.

What holds up

  • 16 automatic drink settings including lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos
  • Learns your preferences and creates a personalized menu by time of day
  • Interchangeable bean hoppers let you keep two coffee varieties loaded
  • LatteCrema automatic milk frothing handles dairy and non-dairy milks
  • Clear LCD screen with intuitive navigation, great for beginners

What to know

  • Cannot manually control steam temperature or pressure
  • LCD screen occasionally unresponsive in testing
  • Only 7 grind settings, fewer than manual machines
  • Milk froth texture not ideal for lattes specifically
  • 1.4L water tank is smaller than competitors
Expert verdict
This machine takes note of what drinks you select at different times of the day and then provides a personalised menu to suit your preferences. There are also 16 automatic drink settings to choose from, making it a great pick if you love to switch things up or are catering to a household with varying tastes.
Good HousekeepingView source
Expert verdict
In our testing, it made consistently good espressos with a nice layer of crema on top, and the automatic frother takes all the stress out of making milky drinks.
Good HousekeepingView source
From the community
Community members recommend fully automatic bean-to-cup machines like the De'Longhi Rivelia for households that want variety and convenience without learning manual espresso technique.
r/JamesHoffmannView source
Bottom line ★

Scoring 95/100 with Good Housekeeping and named WIRED's top super-automatic pick, the Rivelia is the machine for households that want 16 cafe-quality drinks on demand without touching a steam wand.

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