The technological advancement of modern coffee makers has made making coffee as easy as pressing a button, no more faffing around with measurements and brewing methods and painstakingly waiting for your coffee to brew. Many machines have optimised this brewing process to make your morning a little easier.
The result of this is the automatic pour over coffee maker, commonly referred to as the drip coffee maker. Understanding how these machines operate and which machine is better than another can be hard. The last thing you want to do is waste the money that the coffee is helping you earn.
So, we have found some of the best automatic coffee makers and drip coffee machines on the market, so that you can optimise your morning routine to start the day right. Read on to learn more.
What is Pour over Coffee?
Just as pour over machines are now referred to as drip coffee machines, pour over was once more commonly recognised as ‘filter coffee’. The main reason for this is related to the brewing methods of pour over coffee that involve a coffee filter, hence ‘filter coffee’.
A pour over requires some form of conical shape which has an open end for the liquid to run through, within this conical shape a conical coffee filter sits inside.
Within the filter, coarse ground coffee is added to taste and then hot water is poured through. As the coffee filters through the paper your coffee comes through the hole into your mug, hot and ready to drink.
Why Move to Automated Brewing Methods?
A manual pour over brew sounds easy, right? So you may be wondering why people have moved to the automated pour over brewer.
These machines simply require you to put in the coffee and usually with the press of a button your coffee comes out pretty quickly and is brewed perfectly.
Some people really enjoy the morning ritual of grinding beans, weighing coffee, watching it brew, etc. While some people, the most fast paced among us, enjoy the speed of a coffee maker which means they can shoot out the door quickly with no dishes to clean or time to waste.
Moreover, those who are part of the hustle and bustle of the city find their quick caffeine relief from the familiar doors of Starbucks and Costa. While this is a quick way to get coffee brewed to perfection, it can certainly take a toll on your bank account.
We’ve already established that coffee should help us earn money, not siphon our hard earned money. One fix is to get an automated coffee maker that brews similarly professional results that are equally as quick but save you money.
If you added up how much you waste on coffee shops in comparison to how much you would save on a coffee machine purchase and regular coffee purchases, you’d see the benefits of these home automated brewing methods.
So, let’s get into the best models on the market.
OUR TOP PICK
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Technivorm Moccamaster 59462 KBG 10-Cup
EDITORS CHOICE
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Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp 14-Cup
BEST VALUE
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Black and Decker 12-Cup Mill and Brew Coffeemaker
OUR TOP PICK
Technivorm Moccamaster 59462 KBG 10-Cup Coffee Maker
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This automatic pour over machine can brew a perfect cup of coffee in under six minutes, this coffee is brewed on top of a heating element that keeps the pot hot while you drink – we loved this.
A brew basket allows you to pull the carafe away and pour a cup without fear of dripping everywhere. The coffee comes out of a 9-hole outlet arm that pulses water over your coffee to ensure even extraction and maximum flavor.
We love the concern for safety that comes with Technivorm’s Moccamaster. Perfectly, the machine turns off after 100 minutes which means no electrical fire when you forget to turn it off in your morning haze.
Also, there is a power button for the hot plate which means you can turn it on and off as you see fit and hold your coffee at a specific temperature.
What we loved:
- Safety precautions provide an extra peace of mind in the morning
- Perfect coffee every time, as reported by customers.
- Easy access to the water reservoir
What we weren’t keen on:
- Perhaps a little pricey for the lack of features
EDITORS CHOICE
Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp 14-Cup Coffee Maker
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The most impressive thing about Cuisnart’s coffee maker is the full programmable digital display functions.
This allows you to control brew strength, brew start time, automatic turn off, and many more functions with the easy push buttons and digital display.
This means you can have 24-hour programmability which means it will automatically turn on and off when you programme it to which knocks valuable minutes off your brew time.
It’s most impressive feature is the programmable option of waking up to already brewed coffee. A reusable gold tone filter means that you don’t have to waste money on buying coffee filters and can easily clean it too.
What’s more, a charcoal water filter ensures great coffee by filtering your tap water prior to brewing. The design build is perfect for small NYC flats, and doesn’t cause an eye sore in your kitchen thanks to its sleek and minimal design.
What we loved:
- Unassuming build design
- 24-hour programmability
- Reusable coffee filter
What we weren’t keen on:
- Carafe design needs to be easier to pour from
BEST VALUE
Black and Decker 12-Cup Mill and Brew Coffeemaker
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This all in one design from Balck and Decker includes a grinder as well as an automatic brewer. Simply let the coffee machine’s programming decide the burr and grind of the coffee beans and brew your coffee in minutes.
Don’t fancy using coffee beans and grinding them up? Simply turn off this function and use your preferred ground coffee. Programmable strength, volume of coffee and many other features.
This is a 24 hour programmable coffee machine which means it can turn on before you wake up and you can step into a kitchen filled with coffee aroma and freshly brewed joe.
A bronze tone filter means you don’t need to waste paper or money on paper filters. Even though the grinder is included it still is pretty compact, designed to fit into any kitchen.
What we loved:
- Includes an in-built coffee grinder that can also be turned off
- Digital display for 24 hour programmable function
- Compact design takes up little space
What we weren’t keen on:
- Customers report carafe is prone to wear over time.
RUNNER UP
SMEG DCF02 Vintage Drip Coffee Maker
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Let this coffee machine add some class to your kitchen and take the coffee enthusiasts back to the 50s with this cool but efficient machine from the well known brand SMEG.
While the awesome retro style design is really attractive, the machine has all the modern capabilities you would expect. This includes a bunch of digitally programmable functions such as an auto start mode for when you wake up.
Anti slip feet keep the machine safe while anti drip tech helps you clean the machine clean and shiny. The 10 cup glass carafe has that vintage diner look and is paired with an economical reusable filter.
What we loved:
- Awesome retro design that looks great in any kitchen
- 24 hour programmable functionality
- Glass carafe will last a while and reduces plastic
What we weren’t keen on:
- Hot plate doesn’t really keep coffee hot longer than an hour
RUNNER UP
BRIM 8 Cup Pour Over Coffee Maker
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If you prefer to use the Chemex design when making manual pour over coffee, this coffee machine could be you. The unique chemex design has a super safe silicone sleeve that prevents dropping and burning.
The shower head design brews the coffee evenly and prioritises a perfect bloom as the key to a good cup of joe. A permanent and reusable coffee filter is included as well as a useful coffee scoop.
The simple but modern design is stylish and unnoticeable in the kitchen, although the lack of a digital display and programmable features are the only thing missing from the product. Although it can brew eight cups in only five minutes.
What we loved:
- Accessible to chemex users
- Glass carafe won’t wear as easily as other brands
- Focus on brewing efficacy
What we weren’t keen on:
- Lack of programmable features means it loses out to other competition.
RUNNER UP
Keurig K-Duo Single Serve and 12-cup Coffee Brewer
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This machine from Keurig is perhaps the mother of all coffee machines and isn’t that expensive for the functionality you receive.
Perhaps the most impressive feature about this machine is its dual functionality as a single serve brewer and a 12 cup brewer. This means when you’re going solo you don’t have to faff around with the carafe to get one cup, it’s simply a case of plonking your mug under thes spout.
Moreover, while this moves away from the pour over brewing method, for those who regularly use Keurig’s K-cups, these are compatible with the machine also, so you can switch between K-cup and a glitter coffee easily and in the same unit.
A large water reserve and carafe that holds up to 12 cups means that when the family is over you can keep everyone awake and chirpy with the press of a button.
Drip trays are easy to clean draws which is helpful. Our only reservation was the lack of programmable features as well as no reusable filter, these are sacrificed for versatility it seems.
What we loved:
- Lots of variety with this one unit: filter coffee or K-Cup, single serve or 12-cup, all in one unit.
- Quality coffee brew every time
- Design makes unit easy to clean
What we weren’t keen on:
- Lack of programmable features
- No reusable coffee filters; extra paper filters required.
Best Automatic Pour Over Coffee Makers To Buy Buying Guide
So, we think these are some of the best variety and best machines out there on the market right now. We find there are a few things you should look for in your automatic coffee brewer as necessary.
We find that a reusable coffee filter is not only great for the environment but is also a super time saver for cleaning up and for brewing.
Moreover, We loved the programmable features on these machines. We find that the ability to program your machine to start getting to work before you even wake is amazing.
There is nothing better than waking up to fresh coffee that has been brewed safely. This ability has to be the biggest time saver when it comes to brewing coffee fast and making sure that it is still Starbucks quality.
A grinder is also a great addition within the machine’s hardware, if you can find it – this gives the useful option of grinding your fresh beans which guarantees a really quality brew even if it does add a few seconds onto your morning routine.
We found that those who have kids really love coffee machines as its easy to push the button and have guaranteed coffee while you faff around with the kids.