If you are looking for a good buy in a filter coffee maker, a good first step is to browse through the reviews. There are hundreds of different models of this type on the market, and well over 10 times as many reviews. You can save time if you know which features you would like in a price range you can afford, since you can purchase a filter coffee maker anywhere from $20 to $300 and up.
Take a Shortcut – Look for the “Top Picks”
Doing a quick check on what some reviewers consider to be top picks for a filter coffee maker in a price range you feel you can afford will save you even more time. Don’t expect to find anything for $20, but there are surprises here and there. Many of “best” units will be found in the $100 – $150 price range. Cuisinart, Hamilton Beach, and Mr. Coffee each have numerous models to choose from, and the same is true of Krups. If you like to grind your own coffee, the Krups KM 7000 is very highly rated, and sells for around $180.
If $180 is a little high, the Cuisinart DGB 550BK, another grind and brew, is also highly regarded, and you can find one for under $100. The Cuisinart DC 1200 sells for even less. Even though the DGB 550BK has had plenty of good reviews, the DC 1200 has received even better reviews and seems to be the better buy of the two.
Mr. Coffee models seldom appear in anyone’s list of “best coffee makers.” Most of their drip or filter models however seem to receive good reviews, and most models are quite affordable. Mr. Coffee is a very good brand if you are looking for a “good” cup of breakfast coffee. If you consider yourself to be a connoisseur of fine coffee, look to Krups, Bonavita, or Technivorm.
Three Excellent Choices
Three models, made by three different manufacturers, really stand out. Customers have raved about the Bonavita BV-1800, a German 8-cup coffee maker that uses Melitta paper filters. Its “shower head’ design is claimed to extract maximum flavor and aroma from the grounds. It is easy to clean, and has been rated as being equal to or better than its Technivorm counterpart. The Bonavita BV-1800 has been top-rated on several reviewers’ “best of the bunch” lists.
Bunn has several models that rate highly, but the overall winner seems to be the Bunn BT Velocity Brew 10-Cup Thermal Brewer. The Velocity product line extracts flavor from the coffee grounds using water turbulence. The BT Velocity model is an Amazon #1 Best Seller for coffee makers of this type, and retails for around $120.
The third standout model is the Zojirushi ECBD-15 8-cup machine. This model, featuring a thermal carafe, currently retails for under $100. It can use either Melitta or Medelco filters. Many users prefer a coffee maker that uses a thermal carafe to one that has a hot plate which, when left on over a period of time, tends to “cook” the coffee, adversely affecting its taste. To get the best performance out of the Zojirushi, the coffee needs to be ground to almost espresso fineness.
In summary, you should be able to get a very reliable filter coffee maker that produces great tasting coffee for slightly over or slightly under $100. The best choice would seem to be either the Bonavita BV-1800 or the Bunn BT Velocity Brew models. Both have extended warranties, and can be expected to last for a number of years. Don’t completely rule out Mr. Coffee however. Many coffee drinkers like the brand, and you might get lucky.
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