Best Programmable Coffee Makers

What separates the best programmable coffee makers on this page?

Two machines sit at the top with an 8.5: the OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker at $200 and the Breville Precision Brewer Thermal at $330. Both are SCA-certified, and both use a thermal carafe. The OXO gets there with a single dial that sets everything and a 24-hour start timer. The Breville gets there with six brew modes, adjustable temperature, bloom time and flow rate, plus cold brew and an iced mode.

Below them, the Ninja DualBrew Pro scores 7.9 at $230. It brews grounds or any K-Cup pod, adds a hot water dispenser and a fold-away frother, and its panel measured brew temperature at 192°F. The Cuisinart PerfecTemp 14-Cup scores 7.7 at $100 with 14 cups, a charcoal water filter and a gold-tone permanent filter. The Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker scores 6.5 at $35 with a 24-hour timer and a pause-and-pour lid.

What should you check before buying a programmable coffee maker?

Brew quality carries the most weight in our scoring at 35 points, so start with temperature and time. The panel measured the Ninja at 192°F and the Cuisinart at 190°F, and called the Cuisinart "diner coffee, decent." The Mr. Coffee hit 185°F and poured thin, under-extracted coffee by the panel's scores.

Then look at the clock. A full pot takes 7.5 minutes on the OXO, seven minutes on the Breville, eight on the Ninja, ten on the Cuisinart and eleven on the Mr. Coffee. If you fill a travel mug before work, that gap matters.

Ease and cleanup is worth 20 points. The OXO's carafe lid must be twisted to pour, and the Cuisinart's hot plate cooks the last cups. The Mr. Coffee carafe and basket are dishwasher-safe. Features add 15 points, build and durability 15, and value 15.

Which programmable coffee maker suits which kitchen?

• OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker: a single dial, a 24-hour timer and a small-batch mode for 2–4 cups, at $200.
• Breville Precision Brewer Thermal: adjustable temperature, bloom, flow rate and strength, cold brew and a pour-over adapter, at $330.
• Ninja DualBrew Pro: grounds or K-Cup pods, four brew styles, six sizes, hot water on tap and a frother, at $230.
• Cuisinart PerfecTemp 14-Cup: 14 cups, 24-hour programming, a 1–4 cup setting and regular or bold strength, at $100.
• Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker: 12 cups, a 24-hour timer and pause-and-pour, at $35.

For the best cup with the least fiddling, the OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker at $200 and the Breville Precision Brewer Thermal at $330 are the two 8.5-scoring picks. The Ninja DualBrew Pro at $230 suits a household that wants pods and grounds in one machine, while the Cuisinart PerfecTemp 14-Cup at $100 covers a big family on a budget. The Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker at $35 is the timer-and-pause pick when the price is the deciding factor.