Coffee makers often get a bad rap among coffee fans. but if you love that extra-hot, extra-strong coffee they’re known for, then you know there’s no substitute.
Avoiding the bitter or watery coffee that gives these brewers their bad reputation is simply a matter of buying the right coffeemaker. and for that, we are here to help, since we have investigated.
Reading: Best coffee percolator 2018
This article will tell you which are the best coffee makers to buy, what to avoid, and which features are must-haves.
how to choose the best electric coffee maker
if you came here looking for moka pots, you are in the wrong place. So before we delve into the best electric coffee maker options, we need to clear up a few things. There are two main categories of percolators: pressure, and gravity percolators (1). Pressure coffee makers are commonly known as moka pots or stovetop espresso makers. In this article, we will focus exclusively on gravity-style coffeemakers.
electric or kitchen: where do you prepare?
The first decision you need to make when shopping for a coffeemaker is choosing between a stovetop or an electric coffeemaker. There are pros and cons to each type, so your preference will depend on how you plan to use your coffee maker.
electric percolators plug into a wall socket and use electricity to bring water to the boiling point. the main advantage of this style is how easy it is to use. just add your coffee grounds and water to your percolator, turn it on and let it work its magic.
Alternatively, stovetop coffeemakers are a bit more practical, allowing you more control over the brewing process. it may take a bit of experimentation to figure out exactly how long to let it brew, but once you’ve dialed it in, you can make your coffee exactly as strong as you like. For a quick and easy guide, you can check out our article on how to use a percolator. or watch this video:
The other great advantage of electric stovetop coffee makers is that they will work with any heat source to take them anywhere. this makes them one of the most popular coffee makers for travel, campfire cooking, or any other time you want to brew coffee outdoors.
how many people do you serve?
Electric coffee makers come in a wide range of sizes, from 2-cup mini brewers to 20-cup giants. The size you should buy depends on the number of people you plan to serve, how portable you want your coffee maker to be, the storage and counter space in your kitchen, and how quickly you want your coffee.
If you plan on brewing for a large team, an oversized percolator is worth investing in. coffee pots are one of the easiest ways to make coffee for a large crowd. But if you’re only going to brew a cup or two at a time, a smaller coffee maker will be less expensive, quicker to brew, and more convenient, especially if you plan to use it when traveling or camping.
While it is possible to brew small amounts of coffee in a full-size coffee maker, it is less efficient and many consumers find the quality of the coffee to be not as high.
why is material important?
The most common materials for coffee makers are stainless steel, enamel and aluminum, and each has its advantages.
stainless steel is the highest quality option. it is incredibly durable. it’s nearly impossible to damage, it doesn’t oxidize, and it won’t leach any flavors into your coffee (2). it is easy to clean and maintain and gives a refined and elegant look to your coffee maker. the pros and cons are that stainless steel is often the most expensive option and can be cumbersome when used for a large percolator.
You’ll only find enamel, a fired ceramic, used for stovetop-style coffee pots. its main advantage is that it is less expensive than stainless steel. Ceramics also have lower thermal conductivity, meaning they retain heat well (3), making them a great choice for stovetop coffeemakers that don’t automatically keep coffee hot. it’s a sturdy material, but it can crack or splinter if dropped on a hard surface, so treat it with care.
aluminum coffee makers have a bad reputation, as some consumers are concerned about aluminum metal leaching into their coffee. however, extensive scientific studies have largely debunked this fear, both in terms of the amount of aluminum that ends up in your coffee and its health impacts (4).
Compared to steel and enamel, aluminum has the advantage of being inexpensive, durable, and extremely lightweight. it heats up and cools down very quickly, all of which makes it a great choice for large-capacity percolators (5).
what else?
On rare occasions, you may find a filter coffee maker made of extra strong glass. The best features of a glass coffee pot are its uncluttered aesthetics and the ability to see it come to life in action. Of course, glass coffee pots will be the most fragile, so they’re a better choice for your kitchen than for a camping trip.
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You should also consider the material used for the lid or top knob of your percolator. many will offer a clear glass or resin lid, which allows you to see the coffee being filtered during brewing. this is an especially important feature to consider when buying a stove model. You must observe the frequency of the advantages to adjust the temperature correctly. a clear hood is less crucial on an electric model, though it can be fun to watch it come alive in action.
the 9 best coffee machines of 2022
Although all coffee makers may be the same, the one thing they all have in common is that they all brew a strong cup of rich, hot coffee. beyond that, each one is built with a purpose in mind. Whether you’re looking for a sleek, modern coffee maker for your countertop or a retro look for a cookout over a campfire, read on for our reviews of the best electric coffee makers.
If you’re looking for a reliable and attractive electric coffeemaker at an affordable price, it’s hard to beat our top pick, the Presto 02822. This coffeemaker has clean lines and a timeless, elegant look that says “sophistication” more than “campfire.” With its medium 6-cup capacity, it’s the perfect size for the average household. it’s small enough for quick heating and brewing and large enough to satisfy 2-4 thirsty coffee lovers.
This ensures the longevity of the coffee maker, but avoids the risk of any unwanted plastic taste seeping into the coffee. and makes cleaning the exterior as easy as a quick wipe down.
The Presto 02822 is incredibly easy to use, thanks to a couple of subtle details that make it virtually foolproof. once you add the coffee and water and plug it in, it’s just a matter of waiting for the ready-to-serve indicator light to come on. automatically stops brewing and switches to a keep warm mode, ensuring your second cup is just as toasty as the first. for easy serving, it has a drip-free spout and stay-cool handle, and a detachable cord for easy portability.
Like our top pick, our runner-up, the West Bend 54159, is another highly rated stainless steel coffee maker. the most significant difference between them is capacity. While the Presto coffee maker is well suited to a small household of 2 to 4 coffee drinkers, the West Curve has double the capacity – a full 12 cups. this makes it ideal for larger households, heavy coffee drinkers, or serving a visiting brunch.
This 12-cup coffee maker has a classic look and its stainless steel finish makes it easy to clean. The interior components are also stainless steel, so you can trust this coffee maker to last. An included spreader helps evenly saturate coffee grounds, a key to better extraction (6).
Both the base and handle are heat resistant and the hollow handle has a convenient window to view the liquid level inside. its detachable cord makes it ideal for serving at the table.
preparing is as simple as plugging it in and waiting for the magic to happen. An indicator light will let you know when you’re done, but the West Curve also has a clear glass top knob to see the movement in action. when finished, it automatically switches to keep warm mode. the resulting brew has a bold flavor and invigorating heat, a perfect sample of filtered coffee.
farberware has been making cookware for over 120 years, and their classic series percolators are well-loved. This 8-cup coffee maker is a perfect example of what an essential coffee maker should be: simple design, easy to use and reliable. and it’s the price of a couple of starbucks lattes.
It’s made from high-strength stainless steel polished to a mirror finish, making it as beautiful to look at as it is durable. the non-reactive interior prevents the coffee from absorbing unwanted flavors and all components are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
Despite its low price, it’s clear that this coffee maker is made with precision, making it one of the best coffee makers in our opinion. feels sturdy and the lid fits perfectly. Features a clear glass knob on top, a crucial feature for any stovetop percolator. allows you to monitor the rate of stimulation and adjust the heat source as needed.
Electric coffee makers are all about convenience and consistency, and those two factors are what we love best about the Hamilton Beach 40614. Brewing is as simple as adding coffee and water and plugging it in, and the convenient viewing window of the water level means you don’t even have to measure the water. the 40614 is so quick and easy you can also use it to brew hot water for hot chocolate or tea instead of a kettle.
This 12-cup percolator is handy for serving a crowd or whipping up a big pot to last all day. after brewing, an indicator light lets you know it’s ready to serve, and the brewer automatically switches to keep-warm mode.
one of the distinguishing features of this percolator is that hamilton beach uses a patented “soft” heat maintenance system. this avoids the risk of overheating brewed coffee, which can add bitter and burnt flavors, and is particularly valuable for anyone who likes to brew a full cup to last them all day.
has a detachable cord for easy service. the handle is made of cool-touch material and the spout is designed to be drip-proof. Uniquely, the lid twists into a locked position, so there’s never a risk of spillage. the overall design is sleek and stylish, with a modern feel rather than retro.
Founded 120 years ago, Coleman has long been a trusted name in outdoor gear, so it’s no surprise they’ve created one of the best stovetop electric coffee makers around. Better yet, they underwent a business review in 2016 to improve their packaging and design while maintaining their commitment to high-end, practical products (7).
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As a result, this 12-cup coffee maker will be equally at home on your kitchen stove or over a roaring campfire with its basic yet timeless design. Though lightweight, it’s still incredibly durable thanks to its stainless steel construction, making it resistant to rust and easy to clean and maintain. this is the last coffee maker you’ll ever need to buy, and if you wanted to, you could probably pass it on to your kids too.
but it’s not just a beautiful design; Brew 12 cups of rich, bold coffee using any heat source. A clear glass knob on top makes it easy to watch the brewing action inside and adjust the heat as needed for that perfectly strong cup.
Before modern innovations like the aeropress or handpresso, automatic coffee makers were among the original camping coffee makers. And thanks to their simple design, minimal components, and ease of use, they’re still one of the best tools to have on a camping trip, especially if you plan on making coffee for a crowd.
The GSI 8-Cup Outdoor Percolator is a well-established brand in the outdoor gear space, so much so that all of their products come with a lifetime warranty. you can trust your enamel camping percolator to be perfect for your next backcountry adventure.
It’s made of heavy-gauge dishwasher-safe steel, making it virtually indestructible. The enamel finish is kiln hardened at 1000℉, making it highly resistant to chips and scratches, and the speckled pattern gives it that classic campground aesthetic. but this multi-layer construction is more than just beautiful to look at; provides ideal heat distribution to ensure your coffee tastes as rich and sweet as it should, never bitter.
The transparent resin-based cap makes it easy to control the rate of stimulation and adjust the heat as needed.
If you only need to brew one or two cups of coffee at a time, it makes sense to opt for a small-capacity four-cup coffee maker. these will heat up and prepare much faster, saving you time and electricity, and take up less space on your counter or in your cupboard.
For up to 4 cups of coffee at a time, we love the Farberware Classic FCP240 Stainless Steel Electric Coffee Maker, which brews a bold flavor brew at a speed of 1 cup per minute. As the experts in coffeemakers and cookware of all kinds, Farberware has packed this small coffeemaker with all the premium features of the larger models. he is small in stature, but not in quality.
Exterior and interior components are 100% stainless steel, making the Farberware Classic FCP240 both durable and stylish. after brewing, it switches to an automatic keep-warm mode. the lid knob and handles are made of stay-fresh material so you don’t have to wait for that precious first cup, and the cord detaches for easy serving and storage.
On the other end of the spectrum, if you need to brew coffee for a large crowd, a large-capacity percolator is the way to go. With their simple design and operation, stovetop electric coffee makers are among the most affordable coffee maker styles to scale. While it’s rare to find an espresso machine or pour-over coffee maker that can brew more than 12 or 16 cups of coffee at a time, this 20-cup percolator is perfect for those who like to brew coffee in large batches. Not only is this coffee maker bigger than most coffee machines, it brews a stronger cup so a little coffee can go a long way.
This ultra-large stansport coffee maker is made of corrosion-resistant aluminum, with a high-gloss finish and retro styling that gives it an expensive look at an affordable price. Aluminum construction is a great choice for a large-capacity coffeemaker, keeping it lightweight and allowing it to heat up quickly to brew and cool as soon as you serve. a transparent knob on top makes it easy to watch the animated action inside.
You might think such a large size would make this pot unwieldy, but the top and side handles and easy-pour spout make serving a breeze.
if your favorite thing about brewing with a percolator is looking through the glass top and seeing those merry bubbles inside, this medelco glass percolator is for you. The whole body is made of high quality Schott Duran borosilicate glass from Germany. you can see every detail of the action without being confined to a small viewing window (8).
Not only is it fun to watch, but the better viewing range means you can also control the heat under your percolator more carefully to get the perfect stimulation rate for the sweetest tasting coffee. It has a clever design that mimics a classic diner-style coffee pot. this is both aesthetically pleasing and practical, serving the hot brew as easily as from a pitcher.
medelco is a stovetop percolator, suitable for use on any heat source, from a campfire to an induction burner. For electric stove coils, it comes with a metal trivet that diffuses heat. This 8-cup coffee maker comes in a nice mid-range size that can serve small or large groups.
The extra strong glass is stain resistant and dishwasher safe, so cleanup is a cinch and your coffee maker will look great for years to come.
the verdict
In this modern age of third wave coffee shops and home espresso bars, electric coffee makers are considered a bit retro. but there’s a reason they’ve been around so long. for lovers of its unique style of hot coffee and bold flavor, there is simply no substitute.
If this is how you like your morning coffee, our recommendation is the presto 02822, a stainless steel coffee maker you can count on for years to come.
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