One of the best things about coffee is that it can be brewed in numerous different ways. Each way influences the taste and properties that the beverage has, making it a truly versatile drink. Using an automatic pour over coffee maker makes the most popular brewing method immensely easy.
If you are a coffee lover and do not own an automatic coffeemaker yet, don’t wait and get one now. We have a list of the best automatic pour-over coffee makers for your buying convenience. You will find an extensive buying guide and other sections that will add value to your knowledge of automatic coffee makers.
Difference Between an Automatic Pour Over Coffee Maker and a Drip Coffee Maker?
The drip coffee makers are brewing machines that heat water and filter it through coffee grounds in a jug placed under the main unit of the device. This process is known as percolation. Once it is made successfully, the coffee is then stored in the jug below and is kept hot on the hotplate that the jug is placed on.
The problem with this kind of machine was that the coffee made with this technique was nowhere nearly as good as a professional barista’s handmade coffee. The reason for that was that they could not regulate the temperature and flow direction of the water.
With the new automatic pour over coffee makers, the coffee-making action of baristas is replicated. With better temperature control and soaking methods, the resulting coffee is often much better.
The working mechanism of an automatic pour over coffee maker is similar to that of the drip machine. However, it has a few additions and improvements that set it apart. That is why all automatic pour over coffee makers are drip machines, but the vice-versa is not valid. Given below are the four significant distinctions that set automatic pour over coffee makers apart from drip machines.
- Rather than funneling through a pot, automatic coffee makers distribute water over the coffee grinds in even and wide patterns.
- They allow the process of blooming to take place, which results in better taste. Blooming required the grounds to be soaked for a little while before they are set to brew.
- They allow the coffee-making experience to have a more precise temperature range.
- Good automatic pour over coffee makers allows the users to control the grounds to water ratio in the final product.
What is the Best Way of Using an Automatic Pour Over Coffee Maker?
Before you set your mind to buying and using an automatic pour over coffee maker, there are a few things that you should be aware of. While these things will not change your decision to buy the machine, they will influence how you use it. Think of them as prerequisites for using a coffee making machine.
Quality of Coffee Used
The quality of coffee that you use in an automatic pour over coffee maker dramatically influences the quality of drink that you will receive. Unlike popular belief, coffee has a concise shelf life. Coffee beans lose their aroma and freshness after only two to three weeks of coming out of a roaster.
A crucial thing to note is that if you buy pre-ground coffee, you need to consume it within an hour or so of opening the bag. Within a single day, the coffee will lose most of its taste and freshness as the aromatic oils quickly evaporate.
If you want the best coffee cup at home, you will require freshly ground coffee to be put into the machine. It is the only way to get the most out of your automatic pour over coffee maker.
Coffee to Water Ratio
The perfect cup of coffee is the one that has an ideal coffee to water ratio intact. In general cases, coffee to water ratios between 1:14 and 1:18 is perfect. These ratios neither allow the coffee to give away too much nor stop the water from taking in all the goodness required from the beans.
Right Water Temperature
If the water is not great for regular consumption, you cannot consume it with coffee in it. Non-flavored water is the way to go for a great cup of coffee. Coffee lovers around the globe commonly prefer water temperature between the range of 195 and 205o F.
Choosing the Right Automatic Pour Over Coffee Maker
Before making any kind of purchase, it is important to note certain factors about the product. A few things that require consideration even while buying the second or the third automatic pour over coffee maker for your household. Some of such things to consider are given below.
The Build Material of the Carafe
Most coffee makers come with glass carafes. This is not only because they are easy to keep warm, but they also let you see just how much coffee is left. They are also excellent because they do not leave any flavor in the brewed coffee if appropriately cleaned.
The only major problem with glass carafes is that they become brittle over time. The frequent temperature changes make the glass even more fragile. Therefore, the durability of these carafes can not be guaranteed.
The other option of carafes that you have is steel carafes. They fix the major downside of the glass carafes. They are incredibly durable and will not break even if you want them to – unless you break them with a massive hammer. But that is not why they are on par with glass carafes.
A great thing about steal carafes is that they are usually insulated on the inside. This means that they have the capability of keeping the coffee warmer for a more extended period. The only problem with steel carafes is that you can not see the amount of left coffee. You can only figure out the quantity either by weight or by taking off the lift.
Carafe Sprout
This might be a surprise, but the carafe’s sprout’s design is one of the most important yet overlooked aspects of an automatic pour over coffee maker. It is not uncommon to experience side-dripping over the carafe as you pour coffee. This usually happens due to straight and small sprouts.
With the help of elongate and slightly titled sprouts, the carafe will be able to re-accumulate all the coffee that would have otherwise side-spilled.
Hot Plate Temperature
One of the biggest reasons why drip machines failed was that their hot plates were not smart enough to adapt to the kind of temperature that coffee needed. They were always heated regardless of the coffee’s necessities. This made the coffee bitter, glass carafes too hot and brittle to handle, and electricity bills too high.
Modern automatic pour over coffee makers features hot plates that have automatic shut-down features. Not only do they facilitate you to have better coffee, but they are also great for your kitchen’s protection. Most hot plates shut on and off according to the coffee’s temperature and maintain the optimum range of 195 to 205o F.
This kind of automatic temperature regulation prevents you from getting bitter, over-brewed coffee. It also safeguards your carafe as modern hot plates generally stay off when the carafe is empty. Therefore, with such good hot plates in the machine you’re going to buy, you do not have to worry about shoving empty pots over a heated hot plate.
Temperature Controls
Most new automatic pour over coffee makers provide you with temperature control options. These controls allow you to set the drink to the temperature that you like to consume it at. This is important because most people prefer the optimum 195-205o F range; however, some prefer their coffee to be hotter or colder.
The best temperature control technology that does the job perfectly is the PID microcontroller. This is a digital temperature operating machine that allows you to set the machine and hot plate’s temperature to what you generally prefer.
Coffee to Water Ratio Control
Every person prefers their coffee in a different format. While some people prefer the morning kick-off of a coffee with a ratio of about 1:20, others prefer the light 1:12 ratio. The kind of water tank volume ratio that people prefer also depends on the time of the day. Nobody likes to disturb a good night’s sleep with a high coffee caffeinated drink.
Therefore, the best automatic pour over coffee makers is the one that gives you control over the coffee to water ratio.
Brew Basket Type
The brew basket of a coffee maker is the section that holds the coffee filter. They come in two basic shapes – the classic conical-shaped filter and the more modern flat cupcake tyle filter. Most diners prefer using the latter since they have a wider filter arrangement. However, if you are buying the automatic maker for home utility, the classic basket is ideal.
Cost of the Machine
This is a self-explanatory point to be made. There is no way that you should go over-budget for a coffee maker. Therefore, if you have a small budget, you can narrow down the things that you care about in the machine and get the one that suits your purpose properly.
On the other hand, if you are ready to splash out, get the most premium build machine and include all necessary features that make a great automatic pour over coffee maker.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Any kind of machinery requires some kind of maintenance from time to time. Buy a coffee maker from the manufacturer that has ready customer service centers near you. You do not want to reply on a machine only to get it taken away for a few weeks to get repaired.
The cleaning method of these machines should also be easy. A dirty electric coffee pot can lead to taste alteration in the coffee, which is not ideal. Since coffee makers are one of the most used appliances in a kitchen, they should be quick to clean. Therefore, buying products that do not have too many grooved edges are ideal.
Programmable Settings
It is necessary to note that some new automatic pour over coffee makers have some incredibly cool features that you must consider. Some coffee makers have programmable timers that allow you to set the machine’s on and off time. With such timers, you can wake up to freshly brewed coffee every morning, as the machine comes alive a few minutes before you wake up.
Many single-button operation machines, too, have multiple features that change your coffee brewing experience. Therefore, especially if you are a premium buyer, these programmable features should be taken into consideration.
The Best Automatic Pour Over Coffee Makers – Product Reviews
You have gained knowledge about the best way to use automatic pour over coffee makers through the previous sections. You have also learned about the things you need to consider before buying the coffee maker to best suit your needs. Therefore, now we will help you make the right purchase with the help of many of the products that we like the best.
This list includes some of the best automatic pours over coffee makers you can buy from the market. Therefore, you can choose the machine that best suits your requirements. Without further ado, let’s get acquainted with the best coffee makers in the market.
Cuisinart CPO-850 8-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Brewer
Cuisinart is one of the most trustworthy brands when the question of the best kitchen appliances arises. Not only is the CPO-850 a gorgeous coffee maker, but it also has some great culinary skills. This SCAA-certified brewer has the capability of producing one of the best cups of coffee that you can ever drink.
These coffee makers come with handy controls that help you personalize your cup of coffee. Not only do you get to shift the temperature range from hot to extra-hot, but you also have the capability of choosing whether you want mild, medium, and bold strength of coffee. Such pre-fixed control helps beginners use the coffee maker at use without confusing them with the exact temperature and ratio control digits.
This coffee pot has a stainless-steel carafe that allows you to brew up to 8 cups of coffee. This carafe is insulated to keep the coffee warm for a long period.
Since this is an automatic brewing machine, it also comes with some safety and efficiency features. This automatic pour over coffee maker comes with an auto shut-off feature that helps you save power and preserves the sanctity of your coffee’s taste. This brewing machine also has an auto-clean feature and charcoal water filter that allows you to have a clean and healthy cup of coffee on every single use.
Pros
- Great value for money
- SCAA-Certifies
- Programmable and automatic auto-off and auto-on features
- Pre-fixed temperature and strength controls
Cons
- Basic design
- The build quality could be improved.
Bonavita 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker
Consumer utility was definitely kept in mind while making this particular automatic coffee maker. It is very simple to use a machine that does not compromise on the quality of coffee that you get.
This machine has an 8-cup stainless steel thermal carafe that will keep your drink warm for a long time. However, other similar variants from the company come with glass carafes with hot plates. We prefer the stainless-steel carafe as it does not have the hassle of hot plates.
A great thing about this coffee maker is that it comes with a very wide showerhead that soaks the filter and the coffee beans in an optimum way. This showerhead is designed to mimic the close pour over process followed by most professional baristas.
Another important thing to note about this automatic pour over coffee maker is that it allows blooming to occur. The showerhead does because it soaks the beans for a little while and allows the coffee to emit carbon dioxide for flavor development. After a few moments, the showerhead pours all the water that is demanded to brew perfect coffee.
This is a quickly functioning coffee maker that can brew its 8-cups’ worth full capacity within 6 minutes. This is because of the 1500W quick-heating water heater that it comes with. The single button usage allows you to turn on the coffee maker’s process and forget about it until you have eight wonderful cups of coffee. The only downside of the single touch function is that it does not have many customizability options.
Pros
- Easy to operate with the press and pour functionality
- Automatic power-on and power-off features
- The pre-infusion mode allows for a higher quality of the coffee.
- Quick functioning
Cons
- Questionable durability
- Does not have many controls for customizability
Breville BDC450 Precision Brewer Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe
Breville is one of the most innovative companies you can come across while shopping for great coffee making solutions. This Precision Brewer is no exception to showing off the company’s innovative touch.
With a timer, this coffee maker comes with the PID temperature controller that allows you to set the perfect brewing temperature. This is the best temperature-regulating technology that exists as it does not allow a variation of even a tiny fraction of a degree.
There is nothing as great as getting a coffee maker that allows you to control the kind of coffee you want to consume. This machine has six different brewing options, including cold brew and manual pour over functions. You can also achieve coffee that matches the gold cup standard set up by the SCAA.
Breville is one of the most innovative companies you can come across while shopping for great coffee making solutions. This Precision Brewer is no exception to showing off the company’s innovative touch.
With a timer, this coffee maker comes with the PID temperature controller that allows you to set the perfect brewing temperature. This is the best temperature-regulating technology that exists as it does not allow a variation of even a tiny fraction of a degree.
There is nothing as great as getting a coffee maker that allows you to control the kind of coffee you want to consume. This machine has six different brewing options, including cold brew and manual pour over functions. You can also achieve coffee that matches the gold cup standard set up by the SCAA.
All these customizable options are available on an LED screen on one side of the machine. You also get to choose the kind of filter paper that you would like to use. You could either use the flat bottomed or the cupcake style paper filters. This machine also allows you to the classic conical paper filters that are easily available at any convenience store.
This machine’s brewing’s versatility allows you to fall in love with coffee because you get to play with flavors at your accord. You can create a whole new coffee style that you prefer for the best taste that can be achieved according to your preference.
Since this coffee maker pours the customized coffee into a thermal steel carafe, you do not have to worry about your coffee running cold quickly.
Pros
- Extremely versatile
- PID temperature control
SCAA certified
- Brews into insulated 60oz carafe
- Allows you to experiment with your coffee brewing
Cons
- The carafe lid might to fragile.
- Expensive
Technivorm Moccamaster 10-Cup Coffee Maker
The Technivorm Moccamaster coffee maker surely steals the show when the question of unquestionably powerful and usable coffee makers arises.
With an improved design and brewing technology, this coffee maker has been winning the hearts of global coffee-lovers since the 1950s. The design is sleek and looks fantastic over any kitchen counter. Other than the futuristic design of the machine, it also has some uber-effective and fantastic features.
A great feature about this automatic pour over coffee maker is that it comes with a unique showerhead. This showerhead ensures n even distribution of water, and therefore, even soaking of the coffee beans. It also enhances the taste of the coffee since it allows the grounds to bloom.
The customizability of this design is also great. This is because the coffee is produced at the optimum range between 195 and 205o F, but you can adjust the hot plate’s temperature between 175 and 185o F. This ensures that the coffee is never bitter due to overheating.
The entire machine has a robust stainless-steel design that stands the test of time. The copper heating coils are quick to heat, allowing for a great usability experience. The shatter-resistance glass carafe allows you to see the amount of coffee that you have left. It also provides a beautiful design for the entire apparatus.
To ensure the glass carafe’s safety and the hot plate, the machine features the 100-minute auto-shutoff feature. What is means is that if the machine is on for more than 100 minutes without use, it will automatically turn off.
Pros
- Adjustable temperature of the hot plate
- Comes in a variety of colors
- Automatic shut-off feature
- Durable build quality
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Expensive
- No coffee to water ratio controls
OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker
If you have been looking for the right coffee brewing machine for a while, there is absolutely no way that you could have missed this handy brewer. This is a powerful little machine that is extremely easy to store and use. The sleek, slim, and smart design has the capability of fitting into just about any kitchen interior.
There is nothing that any premium coffee maker machine has that this one doesn’t. It can make 2-9 cups o coffee with full programmability and perfect temperature controls. It also features a thermal carafe, which is extremely well at temperature regulation and durability. However, this brewer has other things to offer that set it apart from every other electronic coffee pot.
If you have been looking for the right coffee brewing machine for a while, there is absolutely no way that you could have missed this handy brewer. This is a powerful little machine that is extremely easy to store and use. The sleek, slim, and smart design has the capability of fitting into just about any kitchen interior.
There is nothing that any premium coffee maker machine has that this one doesn’t. It can make 2-9 cups o coffee with full programmability and perfect temperature controls. It also features a thermal carafe, which is extremely well at temperature regulation and durability. However, this brewer has other things to offer that set it apart from every other electronic coffee pot.
It is extremely convenient to use since instead of using annoying buttons, all you have to do is turn a few knobs. This machine borrows something important from the older drip machines – the thermal carafe that keeps coffee piping hot for a long time. This machine has an automatic brew time option, which means that you will never wake up not having ready coffee.
The quality of brewing of this machine is extraordinary. The showerhead matches the required industry standards. This machine can produce coffee at the optimum water temperature with the taste of properly bloomed coffee grounds. This machine can get you the best coffee cup that you can get even by a professional barista.
Another wonderfully handy feature of this product is that it comes with an LED screen. You can see the brewing status, time, and preferences of the coffee maker on this screen.
Pros
- 24-hour programmable feature
- Industry-standard brewing
- Super modern design
- Well-made thermal carafe with a long sprout
Cons
- Not easy to clean
- OXO’s customer support can be a little slow.
Redline MK1 Coffee Brewer
The Redline MK1 Coffee Brewer is a powerful brewing machine that helps you get the right energy kick each morning. This brewer has an admirable performance quality and is, therefore, a part of this list.
The machine brews the coffee at the optimum brewing temperature range. While the temperature might vary even in between a single cycle, the important thing to remember is that the machine sticks to the recommended temperature range.
This is one of the best budget-friendly products that you can find in the market at such a low price. Even at that price point, the coffee maker has the option to pre-infuse the filter basket for proper blooming. Just like premium products, it also works very quickly. It has the capability of producing 8 cups of coffee within 10 minutes.
Another great feature about this product is that you do not have to wait for the entire carafe to fill before you can get yourself a cup of coffee. It has a brew-cycle pause button that allows you to pour a coffee cup in between the cycle without risking any spillage. The company calls this feature The Parking Brake.
At this price range, it is commendable that this machine is capable of competing with the Moccamaster. It even looks similar to the premium competitor. However, durability is one aspect that this automatic maker could not compete with the Moccamaster.
Pros
- Great budget-friendly product
- Value of money
- High-quality brewing
- Quick functioning
- The Parking Brake feature
- Simple to operate, manage, and clean
Cons
- Low durability
- Cheap-looking design
Bodum Bistro Automatic Pour Over Coffee Machine
If you are not a fan of diner-style coffee, this is the right product for you. This amazing modern-looking coffee maker can imitate the modern automatic pour over technique. It brews the most delicious cups of coffee possible with the coffee filters of your choice.
The futuristic design comes with a reminiscence of the past classic products. This is evident from the carafe that resembles the classic Chemex carafe due to its hourglass shape. Many people like the European look of this coffee maker. It is a great visual addition to any kitchen counter. However, the quality of this product does not stop at looks.
The Bodum Bistro coffee maker is one of the sturdiest coffee makers you can find in the market. It is made of stainless steel and food-safe plastic. The glass addition to accent the design is also strong and robust. You do not have to be worried about the durability of this machine.
To maintain the perfect taste of coffee, the water in this machine is heated through glass tubes. This prevents it from picking up any kind of metallic taste, which can ruin your coffee. The powerful low-seated showerhead is capable of providing even distribution of water on the coffee grounds.
This machine also makes you use less wasteful paper. This is because the stainless-steel mesh filter efficiently does the job. You also save electricity due to the thermal carafe that does not require multiple re-heating to deliver the optimum coffee warmth level. The lack of hot plate also makes it a considerably safe product to be using plastic compounds.
Pros
- Modern and beautiful design
- Insulated stainless-steel carafe
- A powerful shower head that pours water evenly.
Cons
- No additional features
- Small water reservoir
Motif Elements Pour Over Style Coffee Brewer
No matter what you expect from an automatic pour over coffee maker, the motif coffee maker is sure to surpass it. This coffee maker is designed to provide the user with a great cup of coffee as is expected of it. The brewing quality of this machine is top-notch and cannot be questioned with high-quality coffee grounds.
The aspect that sets this machine apart from others is extremely quick functioning. There is no other coffee machine that can brew 40oz of coffee within five minutes. These 5 minutes include the time taken by the pre-infusion process. Even if you forget to set reminders, you will not have to wait for too long to get a great cup of coffee with this machine.
The Motif Elements coffee maker ensures that you only get to extract coffee from either the machine or the glass carafe when it is at the optimum temperature. Therefore, every time you crave a cup of coffee, you can be sure that you will get a piping hot but ready-to-drink cup from this machine.
Another great feature that comes with this coffee maker is that it is a fully programmable machine. This means that you can vary the temperature, the coffee to water ratio, and even the sleep timer on this machine. You can program it to automatically come to life before you wake up so that you wake up to a freshly made hot cup of coffee every day.
This is a great value for money product. It does not cost too much, but the features and the brewing quality you get with this machine are wonderful. The only problem is that to provide quick service, the coffee maker can sometimes deliver weak-tasting coffee.
Pros
- Fully programmable coffee maker
- Great value for money
- Extremely quick functioning
Cons
- Coffee can taste weak due to quick functioning.
- The machine may take up too much space on the kitchen counter due to its unusual design.
Behmor Brazen 8-Cup Coffee Maker
This coffee maker has a very small footprint due to its vertical design. Therefore, it looks sleek and wonderful on a kitchen counter. This is the reason why it is great to use in small kitchens. It doesn’t take up a lot of space.
You get to manually control this machine’s temperature anywhere between 180-210o F. Since this range is well beyond the recommended range on both ends, it allows you to explore a different dimension of coffee brewing.
This coffee maker with a timer also allows you to set the coffee brewing and pre-soak time. This helps in blooming and gets you in total control of the entire process. This coffee maker comes with an in-built screen that allows you to monitor your coffee brewing’s timing and temperature.
Everything you need to handle in this machine can be handled through the Mode button that does most of the customization. The pre-set modes are easy to use, and therefore ideal for people with various kitchen knowledge levels. This smart coffee maker also has an auto-start feature that allows you to wake up to already brewed coffee.
The Behmor Brazen coffee maker comes with a rare feature to see in any of its competitors. Not only does it allow you to choose if you want to pre-soak your coffee beans, but it also allows you to choose the time limit for pre-soaking. You can choose any time between 15 seconds and 4 minutes. This allows you to get the perfect bloom according to your taste and liking.
The Elevation Calibration system helps you work out the right boiling time. This is done as this coffee maker can sense how over the sea level you are. This helps you get a personalized optimum cup of tea. This coffee maker features a stainless-steel carafe that is insulated to stay warm the entire day.
Pros
- Ideal for small kitchens
- Elevation Calibration
- Pre-soak controllability
- Fully programmable
- Complete temperature and time adjustability
Cons
- The hot plate does not have temperature regulation.
- The design looks a little cheap.
Kitchenaid KCM082CU Pour Over Coffee Brewer
Good things take time. This is a wonderful product for people who are never in a hurry. If you do not care about the time the machine takes as long as you are delivered with the right coffee cup, you should consider this product. This machine takes its time but delivers coffee made in mimicry of a professional barista’s manual pour-over coffee.
Even though it is a machine, you will never differentiate between the quality delivered by this and a manual coffee making professional barista once you get the hang of which coffee beans to use and the optimum flow rate and temperature, you will be able to get the best possible coffee through this machine.
Due to this machine’s slow functioning, you will get exact under and overtones intended by particular coffee filters. Therefore, with different coffee beans, you will be able to tell the subtle differences.
The fact that this machine is SCAA certified makes it even better. This certification means that this coffee maker works on temperature, time, and other ranges as set by The Specialty Coffee Association of America. These ranges are followed to get the best cup of coffee possible.
This coffee maker comes with a glass carafe that can be filled with 8 cups of coffee. You have an option to buy between the model that has an LED panel and the model that has traditional lights.
Pros
- Mimics a professional barista’s manual pour over coffee brewing technique
- Delivers the perfect cup of coffee every single time
- SCAA certified
- Various buying options available
Cons
- Slow to brew
The Verdict
Finding the right coffee maker is every coffee lover’s dream. Many aspects need to be taken into account to make sure that you make the right purchase according to your needs. From the list given above, we have concluded the best automatic pour over coffee maker.
In our opinion, the OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker is the best machine that you can buy for your coffee-making purposes. This is because not only does the machine look smart, it also follows all the utility requirements that should be served by a coffee maker.
It has an intuitive LED screen that helps you keep track of the coffee you’re making and the preferences you have set. Another important thing to note about this coffee maker is that it has all the premium features you can ask for paired with easy usability.
If you are looking for the right product for your coffee brewing needs, this is our overall favorite brewing machine.