Taking a look at filter coffee machine reviews

If you are looking for a good buy in a filter coffee maker, a good first step is to take a look at the reviews. There are hundreds of different models of this type on the market, and more than 10 times more reviews. You can save time if you know what features you’d like in a price range you can afford, since you can buy a filter coffee maker from $20 to $300 and up.

Take a Shortcut: Find the “Top Picks”

Doing a quick check on what some reviewers consider to be the best options for a filter coffee maker in a price range you think 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 the “best” units will be in the $100-$150 price range. Cuisinart, Hamilton Beach, and Mr. Coffee have numerous models to choose from, and the same goes for Krups. If you like to grind your own coffee, the Krups KM 7000 is highly rated and retails for around $180.

If $180 is a bit high, the Cuisinart DGB 550BK, another ground and brew, is also highly regarded, and you can find one for under $100. The Cuisinart DC 1200 sells for less. Although the DGB 550BK has had many good reviews, the DC 1200 has received even better reviews and appears to be the better buy of the two.

Mr. Coffee models rarely appear on the “best coffee makers” list. However, most of their drip or filter models seem to get good reviews, and most models are quite affordable. Mr. Coffee is a very good brand if you are looking for a “good” cup of coffee for breakfast. If you consider yourself a connoisseur of good coffee, look for Krups, Bonavita or Technivorm.

Three great options

Three models really stand out, made by three different manufacturers. 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 soil. It’s easy to clean and has been rated equal to or better than its Technivorm counterpart. The Bonavita BV-1800 has been rated the best on various reviewers’ “best of the bunch” lists.

Bunn has several models that are highly rated, but the overall winner seems to be the Bunn BT Velocity Brew 10-Cup Thermal Coffee Maker. The Velocity line of products extracts the flavor of ground coffee using the turbulence of the water. The BT Velocity model is one of the best sellers on Amazon for coffee makers of this type, retailing for around $120.

The third featured model is the Zojirushi ECBD-15 8-cup machine. This model, which features a thermal carafe, currently retails for less than $100. You can use Melitta or Medelco filters. Many users prefer a coffee maker that uses a thermal carafe to one that has a hot plate that, when left on for a period of time, tends to “cook” the coffee, negatively affecting its flavor. To get the best performance from Zojirushi, the coffee should be ground to near espresso fineness.

In short, you should be able to get a very reliable filter coffee maker that produces great-tasting coffee for a little more or a little less than $100. The best option seems to be the Bonavita BV-1800 model or the Bunn BT Velocity Brew model. Both have extended warranties and can be expected to last for several years. However, don’t write Mr. Coffee off entirely. Many coffee drinkers like the brand, and you might be in luck.