Why America's Test Kitchen Calls the Technivorm Moccamaster the Best Automatic Drip Coffee Maker

This hand-built Dutch machine will brew the best-tasting coffee you've ever made at home. No matter how many gallons we brewed using its intuitive design, it produced smooth and full-flavored coffee every time. Certified by the Specialty Coffee Association of America, the updated version of our old favorite meets time and temperature guidelines with utter consistency. As a result, it produces a “smooth,” “velvety” brew. It’s also intuitive to use.

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How did we put automatic drip coffee makers to the test?

BREW FLAVOR

We used the same batch of freshly roasted, freshly ground beans; brewed the beans with spring water; and followed manufacturer directions for a full pot. We held a blind taste test, assessing flavor, acidity, body, and overall appeal.

BREW TIME AND TEMPERATURE

We brewed full pots, measuring brew cycle time, water temperature, and the percentage of the brew time that the water temperature was in the ideal range. Models that brewed coffee in no more than 8 minutes and kept water between 195 and 205 degrees for nearly 90 percent of the cycle—industry standards for optimal flavor—rated best.

DESIGN

We assessed the coffee maker’s and the carafe’s construction and user-friendliness, including how difficult it was to fill the water reservoir and load the coffee and filter; to set up and start the machine and monitor its progress; and to open, close, and pour from the carafe, as well as to remove the used grounds and clean up.

CARAFE TEMPERATURE

All carafes kept the coffee at or above 165 degrees for 1 hour and 150 degrees for 2 hours. Carafes that kept the most heat got more stars, but the score didn’t affect a machine’s ranking.

WATER CAPACITY

We listed the water capacity of each machine in ounces because the definition of a “cup” is not standardized throughout the coffee industry. Coffee-maker “cups” range from 4 to 6 ounces.

America's Test Kitchen is the most-watched cooking show on public television—up to 2 million viewers watch each episode. The show is filmed in the test kitchen of Cook's Illustrated magazine, located just outside Boston.

Each episode features recipes we've carefully developed to make sure they work every time. Christopher Kimball and the test cooks solve everyday cooking problems, test equipment so you never have to waste money on things that don't work, and taste supermarket ingredients to save you time in the store. It's a common-sense, practical approach you won't find on other cooking shows.

[CaliFinest]

My wife gifted me a Moccamaster for Fathers Day (2020) after dropping MANY MANY hints! I've been having great coffee ever since.

[yelokat]

I used to go through Krups drip coffee makers almost every two years. However, I've had my Technivorm for over 16 years. I brew a pot of coffee every morning. I clean it out twice a year with a descaler. It's beginning to see its better days (tank leaks a little and it doesn't brew as hot as it once did), so I'm going to purchase another Technivorm. I've recommended this brand to other coffee lovers.

[αγγελιαφόρος]

I just had a cup of coffee with this machine at my friend's house. Best Damn cup of coffee I've ever had.

[Geno]

I have been drinking coffee for 30 years. This machine makes great coffee. I paid $319 on Amazon and picked up a burr grinder for about $240. I decided to go all in and get a scale to measure the coffee. Bottom line...great cup of coffee. I will enjoy for many years to come.

[theSawyerSolution]

I purchased this based on your recommendation. I've had it almost a year now. Every day, perfect coffee! Thanks for the recommend! I would have never found this.

[peterv]

It's expensive but can last a lifetime. Take that into account. And in the rare case it breaks down, it's easy to repair. You can't get more value for your money. And when it lasts a lifetime, that even makes this coffee machine very eco friendly.

[BoulderCreekSteve]

I took one with me when I worked in Iraq, in 2009. Got it from Boyd’s Coffee in, I think, Seattle. They were great, and helped me get it with the proper voltage configuration. When I returned stateside, Boyd’s got me the parts to convert it to our 110 volt system. I am still using it today, makes it very cost effective when you amortize the cost over 11 and who knows how many more years. I think it can be repaired indefinitely.

[carlroberts]

Love my Moccamaster! - and, after 10 years of daily use, the float switch failed. Moccamaster's excellent (and friendly!) service department quickly repaired and sent my favorite coffee maker back home (hopefully for another 15 years!) Highly recommend this brand.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

Great brewer and company. Thanks for the review!

[santircastillo]

I was absolutely convinced once you showed the sciency stuff you did to measure coffee excellence.

[ShortHandedNow]

I can vouch for the Technivorm. the best cup of drip coffee money can buy.

[ljjackson]

I have had mine (exact model in video) for over 15 years and still love it. I take really good care of it as well as our Baratza burr grinder. Coffee matters much in our home!

[deanevangelista]

We have one of those at our office. It makes good coffee from even inexpensive beans. Keep in mind that those ten cups are European cups. It makes about seven US cups.

[HismerciesareneweveryAM]

I LOVE Moccamaster, definitely makes the best cup of coffee I've ever had! An important note is that the company offers different sizes of coffee makers and I have the One-Cup that is the cheapest because it only makes one 10 oz cup at a time. So if you only drink a few cups in the morning it's a better match for you. Looking into upgrading to a larger machine one day, though, since the quality of the coffee is so high.

[Nubianskin]

I just got one of these for free Monday. Had no clue what it was for or how to use it. And when I googled the price it blew my mind. Can't wait to use it now!

[MikeFLHT]

I have the best! coffee every morning with this very same machine. A purchase I've never regretted.

I bought one many years ago after your recommendation testing best tasting home brewed coffee . I've managed to break it I'm guessing by forgetting to turn it off, over the years it's overflowed, I miss it everyday . I'm sure it's a built in safety device that protected me and my house from the possibility of a house fire . I'm sure it's a easy repair I'm not sure of the cost of sending it to the company for refurbishing . Then if they offered a insulated craft to keep coffee hot while traveling I'd buy it. I will probably buy another one very soon thank you for posting all the great videos on your channel

[hollygab]

I just got one of these! OMG!! It's just so wonderful! It's beautiful and the coffee is wonderful everytime!

[chrisl]

I've done a lot of research over the past several months and the Moccamaster and the Bonavita consistently rate at the top of the home drip pecking order, although there are some challengers to keep an eye on. It seems about half the reviews prefer the Moccamaster and about half think the Moccamaster & Bonavita work equally well. Of those people, about half seem to prefer the Moccamaster and half seem to prefer the Bonavita, as they seem to brew slightly different tasting cups.

What convinced me to pay twice as much for a Technivorm is the consistent complaints about the design of the carafe on the Bonavita (hard to clean, impossible to completely empty, having to change lids to pour coffee) and enough reports of Bonavitas having a limited life-span. I've never seem a complaint about the reliability of the Technivorm.

I am expecting to receive my Technivorm in a couple of days and the the vendor I purchased it from included 100 filters and some good, ground coffee so I can take it for a test run within an hour of opening the box. I can't wait!

[Midaswoogieworld]

I just bought this machine second hand for about 50 dollars with a delonghi coffeegrinder for the same price, when I moved out of my parents house. My parrents had a 500 dollar Saeco coffeemaker. My coffee tastes almost as good. Pretty great if you ask me.