Best Coffee Makers and Grinders for Better Mornings
We rounded up four coffee makers and grinders across every budget to help you find one that actually gets used. Honest picks, no gimmicks.
8/2/20263 min read
The Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable is the one we recommend most for people who just want a reliable pot of coffee without any fuss. Set the clock the night before and wake up to a full carafe, no grinding, no pods, no waiting around. The 12-cup capacity is enough for a full household, and the reusable filter basket means you're not restocking paper filters every week. It's not going to wow anyone with features, but it makes coffee exactly the way it's supposed to, every single morning.
Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable
The Baratza Encore is the upgrade we'd tell you to make the moment you start caring about how your coffee actually tastes. Its conical burr grinder produces a consistent grind size across 40 settings, from fine espresso to coarse French press, which matters more for flavor than almost anything else in your setup. It's simple to use, easy to clean, and parts are replaceable instead of forcing you to buy a whole new grinder when something wears out. It's an investment beyond a basic blade grinder, but once you taste the difference, you won't want to go back.
Baratza Encore
The Breville Barista Express is the machine we'd point you to if you're serious about making café-quality espresso at home. It combines a built-in conical burr grinder, a 15-bar pump, and a steam wand into one machine, so you can go from beans to a latte without needing three separate appliances. The dose control grinding lets you dial in your shot right at the machine, and it heats up fast enough that you're not standing around waiting. It's a bigger investment and takes a bit of practice to get comfortable with, but it consistently produces espresso worth the extra counter space.
Breville Barista Express
The Chemex Classic Series is the one we recommend to anyone who wants a genuinely great cup of coffee without any electronics involved. Its thick filters strip out oils and sediment that regular coffee makers leave behind, producing a cup that's clean, bright, and noticeably smoother. The hourglass glass design isn't just for looks either, it doubles as a serving carafe you can bring straight to the table. It takes a few extra minutes and a little practice with your pour, but for slow mornings, it's worth every second.
Chemex Classic Series
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