This is undoubtedly a very good coffee maker, and once someone learns how to use it, we think they’ll be pleased with what they get. However, it costs almost the same amount as the Fellow Aiden, but it doesn’t give you quite as much. Bloom volume and flow rate, for example, can only be set to low, medium, and high. And while that might be plenty of optionality for most people in most situations, the point of having all these settings is to offer the ability to tease out exactly the flavor you want from any batch of beans. And we think the Fellow’s more precise capabilities are worth an extra 20 bucks.
The interface of the Breville is also a little confusing. When you turn it on, it’s not immediately clear whether you’re adjusting settings or starting a brew cycle, and many of the customization options are represented by unlabeled icons. In an era of increasingly complex appliances, an intuitive, user-friendly interface is more important than ever, and here is where the Luxe Brewer falls short.
Breville Precision Brewer
This is where the subjective part of our testing is going to show itself. The Breville Precision Brewer is, in many ways, the Fellow Aiden before there was a Fellow Aiden. It offers temperature control to a single degree, customizable bloom time and flow rate, different shaped filter baskets for different flavor profiles, and it even offers cold brew. We just liked the taste of the coffee from the Fellow more.
But this is a terrific machine that can do so many things. If you’re a general fan of Breville the brand or just like their whole stainless steel aesthetic, we recommend this one as a good high-end coffee maker without reservation.
Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV
Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV 10-Cup Coffee Maker
A longtime darling of both online coffee publications and coffee lovers, Technivorm Moccamaster machines were some of the first to stake a claim on good drip coffee. They were actually the first to receive the SCA Golden Cup standard stamp of approval. And indeed the coffee from the Moccamaster is tasty. It’s also simple in the way you’d traditionally expect a drip coffee maker to be. Just an on/off switch and a full pot/half pot switch.
Despite those two very big plusses, there are a few things that land the Moccamaster down here instead of up with our top picks. One is its look. Compared to the Ratio machine, which is just as simple but also offers extras like bloom time in the brewing process and a thermal carafe, the Technivorm takes up more counter space and doesn’t look nearly as sleek. But if you’re into the Technivorm’s diner coffee maker aesthetic (and I totally respect if that’s your thing) it is a high quality, long lasting coffee maker (the test kitchen has had the same one for more than four years).
Zojirushi Dome Classic Coffee Maker
Zojirushi Dome Brew Classic Coffee Maker (Stainless Black)
With more than twice the capacity of the Zojirushi Zutto, the Dome offers a more traditional drip coffee maker experience. Like the Zutto, it produces coffee that punches above its weight for its price point, and the simplicity of a single switch that both brews coffee and turns on the warming plate. The removable showerhead does a nice job of fully saturating the coffee grounds, and a “bold” setting concentrates the water to extract bigger flavors. A standout design detail is its silicone gasket, which seals the top of the carafe during brewing to help keep the coffee at temperature as it drips through. If you’re looking for a straightforward, no-fuss machine that makes great coffee without breaking the bank, the Dome is an excellent pick.
Café Specialty Grind and Brew
Café Specialty Grind and Brew Coffee Maker
The Grind and Brew effectively toes the line between a simple, self-contained coffee maker and a techy, customizable one. The built-in grinder has six grind sizes and, while it’s not so nice or versatile that we’d pick it over a stand alone burr grinder, it gets the job done.
