Ah, that sweet dose of caffeine is what sometimes all of us coffee enthusiasts need to kickstart our mornings.
But not all coffee lovers have the time and energy to make a flavorful coffee traditionally. Instead, using an automatic coffee maker can be a fast and efficient way to get your daily coffee without compromising on quality.
So to help you coffee lovers decide, we have compiled a list of the best automatic pour-over coffee makers in town with our favorite features.
While our best pick is the OXO 9-Cup, only time shall tell if it can hold up against its competition. So without further ado, let’s jump into the guide.
At A Glance
- Coffee bloom brew feature
- Integrates precision heating
- Programmable interface
- Integrates pulse action to replicate manual pouring
- Available in 25 different colors
- 5-year warranty
- Very easy to clean
- One-press control option
- Precise temperature control and a powerful boiler
- Has six different brewing options
- Integrates milk frother
- SCAA-certified black coffee
- Extremely simple to use
- Integrates precise temperature control
- Brews impressively fast
What Is an Automatic Pour-Over Coffee Maker?
Automatic pour-over coffee machines have been getting the limelight in recent years, and rightfully so. In its essence, they are similar to good ol’ automatic drip machines except, in this case, the quality and flavor extraction is of higher priority.
The main difference, however, between a drip machine and an automated pour-over coffee maker is that the latter lets the ground coffee beans bloom to get the maximum flavor.
The brews are extracted to their fullest so that the rich coffee taste can rival the barista-styled process.
Blooming is essentially the process where coffee beans release their oils. This happens after coffee ground beans are successfully able to soak up as much hot water as they can.
This may not seem like much, but the release of these oils adds an unrivaled taste to your cup of coffee.
Our Top Picks
Summary: With Ideal flavor and ease to start the brewing process at the click of a button, the OXO 9 tops the charts on our list by a margin.
The Oxo Barista Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker is, quite frankly, the best you can get at this time.
OXO’s drive for innovation is completely visible with this product as they’ve installed an LCD visual display clock with the option to customize and program. Essentially, it allows you to make your schedule and automatically complete the brewing process for your morning coffee without a hassle.
But the product isn’t just all beauty. OXO offers a 2-year warranty on this product, thus promising durability and longevity despite its relatively higher price tag.
If we talk about the brewing process itself, then it is fairly simple. The optimal brewing temperature listed by OXO is approximately 204 °F (96 °C). Once it reaches the optimal temperature, it drips through the ground coffee beans, and you’ll have your coffee ready.
One of the best features of the appliance, however, is the fact that it can be used to design patterns for pour-over. It also comes with the bloom feature, which pours some water beforehand.
- Brewing options can be customized with programmable function
- Bloom feature for optimal flavor extraction
- Several patterns to be made
- Integrates precision heating to get the best brew
- Two-year warranty
- Relatively expensive model
- Must wash thoroughly to avoid plastic taste
Summary: With a simple, elegant design that checks all the requirements for a good coffee maker, the Technivorm Moccamaster is made by one of the very best companies in town.
AI automation has always been a dream for the masses. But in the case of coffee makers, it is a reality for those who have used Technivorm Moccamaster.
One of the major plus points about the appliance is its ease of use. To use it, all you need to do is to place the carafe beneath the brew basket, add water to the tank and leave the machine to do its work.
If you’re more inclined to do the pulse action manually, then that is possible by pouring hot water by hand.
The company itself has been in the spotlight in the world of coffee for a very long time now. It also has SCCA certification, making it extremely trusted.
The main downside with it, however, is that it lacks auto programming features and is an expensive model. At the time of writing, it comes with a price tag of more than $300.
- From a renowned brand that promises quality
- Easy to use and operate
- Durable attributes for extended use
- 5-year warranty
- SCCA certified
- Extremely expensive model
- Lacks automation
Summary: Bonavita strives for elegance and simplicity with a retro-looking design. This is what led them to make a one-touch coffee maker which needs absolutely no other input.
Bonavita’s Connoisseur one-touch pour is simple to use for coffee lovers, and the brewing process produces excellent coffee with the ideal flavor. It only comes with one button. And then you can leave the rest to the automatic process.
While it may not have the fanciest features, such as programmability, it does include a bloom cycle which can be toggled by pressing the same button. It comes compact with a thermal carafe but does not have a hot plate.
Additionally, the filter holder makes use of a flat-bottomed filter basket. While some might frown upon this, others would find it appealing since it allows you to use the filters for drip machines as well.
The Bonavita also features a powerful boiler that operates between temperatures of 195 and 205 °F (90-96 °C). This is the best temperature range for optimal flavor extraction.
- Simple elegant design
- Can be used at the click of a button
- Relatively easier to clean
- Relatively inexpensive model
- Is not programmable and has a low warranty and no visual display
- Does not come with hot plates and instead uses a thermal carafe
Summary: Ninja promises you the most delicious coffee taste when it comes to black coffee, cappuccino, and latte with a plethora of features.
Within a reasonable price, the Ninja CM407 boasts multiple features and serving sizes. Not only does it look aesthetic, but also comes with a sturdy body and stainless steel thermal carafe, perfect for keeping your coffee hot with a rich coffee taste.
Although made of plastic, this solid unit takes up a lot of horizontal and vertical space. That said, It may not be suitable for every user. The machine is quite easy to navigate, having a dial option to start brewing coffee.
This machine comes with a “delay brew” function that allows the user to set it up before the coffee brewing cycle. Another feature is the “drip-stop” function which allows you to put a pot of coffee before the end of the brew cycle for a carafe.
One of the best things about the Ninja CM407 Specialty Coffee Maker is that it is dishwasher friendly. The cleaning process is quick, which is a great deal for a lazy coffee drinker. Every time the machines need to be cleaned, the button will illuminate the control panel.
In terms of price, it is relatively affordable compared to other machines featured among our favorites.
- Great aesthetics and style
- It is programmable and comes with a visual display
- Dishwasher-friendly machine
- Excellent frother whisk
- Great drip coffee
- A lot of counter space is required
- Lacks a warming plate
Summary: KitchenAid is your classic coffee maker that comes with a low price tag but plenty of features to catch your appeal.
KitchenAid is a typical coffee maker that still retains the rich taste you’d expect from a premium coffee shop.
With a sleek and compact design, it easily takes the win in terms of aesthetics. However, the basic components are similar to other automatic pour-over coffee machines.
It comes with a blooming function. All you need to do is heat the water to 200 °F (93 °C), the correct temperature set by a range of professional baristas, before blooming.
Although it is just like any other drip machine, it retains a rich flavor and depth to the pour-over. KitchenAid comes with a carafe made of glass unit and a basket-type filter which will suffice to keep your cup of coffee hot, thus making an excellent coffee cup.
In terms of cleaning, its arts are not removable, so that’s something you should keep in mind.
KCM0802CU comes with a one-year warranty. If you’re looking for functionality with an average coffee maker quality, then KitchenAid is a worthwhile option.
- Integrates iconic complex styling
- It is programmable and has a variety of brewing options
- Boasts the “Bloom” function
- Affordable price tag
- Leakage and minor construction problems
- Not dishwasher friendly
Summary: Brim’s 8-cup coffee maker shines in terms of price, quality, and time it takes to brew cups of excellent coffee with delicious flavor.
For all the minimalists out there, this one’s for you. The Brim 8-cup pour-over coffee maker brews the classic definition of barista-styled coffee.
Whether it’s the brewing process or the optimum temperature, Brim does far better than most other options for a full pot.
While it may be simple, it isn’t a rookie at making a hot pot of coffee with ideal flavor.
The only downside is that the ground coffee beans do not always get evenly soaked up, which may hinder the brewing method. It can also brew around 8 cups in under 5 minutes.
Its carafe has been inspired by a Chemex glass container, similar to the Chemex Ottomatic brewer. The Brim 8 Cup comes at a very good price for that rich coffee taste.
- Barista-styled coffee
- Fast pour-over process
- Precise temperature control automatic process
- Budget-friendly
- Will not soak all the roasted coffee beans efficiently
Summary: The Redline model is there for one purpose; to serve a mean cup of coffee. While it lacks extra features, Redline makes up for it in terms of cost.
The Redline 8 Cup preaches simplicity and does it in the best way possible.
It works at a fixed temperature between 195 and 205 °F (90-96 °F) and brews a cup of coffee in around 5-6 minutes.
The simple design also integrates the bloom feature, which is an important facet of a good cup. This opens up the beans and allows them to be saturated evenly for the most optimal flavor extraction.
However, the simple design also comes at the expense of no programming features. This may be a turnoff for some, but the product justifies these shortcomings with a budget-friendly price tag.
In other words, if you’re someone who just needs their daily driver without any fancy gimmicks and customizable features, then Redline may just be the best thing for you.
- Elegant feel to the exterior and integrated precision heating
- Quick brewing process and automatic process
- Inexpensive model
- Boasts a drip lever
- Comes with a two-year warranty
- It is not programmable
- A more hands-on approach is needed
Summary: Motif Elements is known for providing more for less. While still programmable, it cuts costs in other facets such as build quality and carafe.
Motif Element and Redline are both in the same category when it comes to money to value. But for our purposes, we’ll be rating the former higher.
Although it’s an inexpensive model, it still costs more than its competition. Motif Element has relatively more components and favorite features, including the option to be programmable, a thermally insulated carafe, and of course, a reservoir that will spark the admiration of anyone who sets their eyes on the product.
As you may have assumed, it also includes the “bloom” feature, and the ease of use and cleaning make it a solid pick in our list.
It is a simple design that may be too unique for some. Lastly, it doesn’t have a hot plate like Redline. Instead, Motif makes use of a double-walled carafe.
All in all, the Motif Element is a great brewer, and if you’re looking for a cheap, reliable, and easy-to-use option, then Motif is the way to go.
- Inexpensive Model
- Can be programmed, thus supporting automatic process
- Easy to use and clean
- The showerhead is quite good for extraction
- Integrates precision heating
- Its unique shape may not suit well in your kitchen
- Does not come with a hotplate
Buyer’s Guide
Planning to get an automatic pour-over coffee machine? Well, fret not because we know how daunting the task can be. We’ve compiled some considerations that can help you decide exactly which would be the best for you.
Budget
We don’t even need to stress how much the budget matters. If you’re thinking of getting a pour-over coffee maker, then consider your range of affordability and how far you can stretch it.
Average coffee makers vary between as low as $100 to as high as $400.
If you’re looking for the cheapest option on the market, then we suggest you go with either Redline or Motif Elements, as these are relatively inexpensive models.
However, if you’re not tight on the budget, then in terms of affordability and favorite features, the OXO 9 checks all the requirements, including flavors and design, all at ideal temperatures. Other rather pricey models include Technivorm Moccamaster and the Ninja CM407.
Size/Capacity
The size or capacity of your coffee maker essentially decides how much use you can make of it efficiently. In our list, most standard coffee makers support up to 8 cups, with each cup being 12 oz.
However, we do have anomalies on this list as well, with coffee makers having as low as 40oz capacity.
In the end, it depends on your use. If you are just using the coffee maker for one person, then you won’t need to worry about the capacity as much. If you live in a large household, we suggest you opt for one with at least 96 oz. capacity.
Carafe
The carafe is essentially an open-topped glass flask used for pouring coffee. Although it isn’t the first concern of many buyers, it certainly deserves more attention.
If your carafe is thermally insulated and comes with a hotplate, then that’s a pretty good deal. This is to prevent the individual brew from getting cold. After all, we’re making a hot coffee, not a cold brew.
There are several options out there, such as stainless steel carafes and glass carafes, to speak of a few.
In this regard, glass carafes work quite well and look great.
Programmability
Programmability is now the new talk of the town. If you want to optimize your lifestyle and be as efficient as possible, then a programmable coffee maker can help speed things up. It allows you to schedule when to brew a cup of coffee that is packed with rich flavor.
If you are not that focused on this aspect, then we suggest you go with Redline or Motif Elements. In case you do need a dose of innovation, then opting for Ninja CM407 or OXO would be a good way to go.
Ease of Use
It does not matter if you end up buying an automatic coffee maker that needs a rocket science course to operate. Ease of use is, by far, the most important facet of our list.
That doesn’t mean that we are not promoting our favorite features. However, the product should be made such that it is easy to operate, even if it has a lot of options. How else will you get cups of coffee, one after another?
The ease with which you can clean the coffee maker is also important. In this regard, Motif Elements is certainly our top pick which ensures ease of operation.
Our Verdict
For every cup of coffee to be just right, factors such as the bloom time, water temperature, and brew time matter a lot. If you’re unsure which automatic pour-over coffee machine would best suit you, then our buyer’s guide will help you.
With so many options out there, we are convinced that the OXO 9 – Cup is the best automatic pour-over coffee machine out there in terms of capacity, brewing modes, brewing cycles, and brewing time and price/value ratio.
The OXO Brew 9 Cup is an SCA-certified maker that brews excellent coffee. Fully programmable and with precision heating technology, OXO also wants you to keep this for a long time and offers a 2-year warranty.
