Coffee makers come in all shapes and sizes from fancy espresso machines to the old familiar drip coffee maker. When you think of a drip coffee machine it’s normal to picture that familiar glass carafe, sitting on a warming plate.
Although these work well to keep the coffee hot, the downside is, that the longer you leave the coffee there, the greater the risk is that the hotplate will burn it. This leads to a bitter-tasting cup of joe and leaves you with a sad feeling.
Thankfully, there’s a solution to this problem!
Thermal coffee-makers replace the hotplate with an insulated carafe that keeps your coffee hot by not allowing the heat to escape. This is the only way to enjoy hot coffee without any risk of the flavor changing and is perfect for busy mornings.
If this sounds like something you need in your life then you’ll love what’s coming next. We have ten fantastic thermal coffee makers ranging from around $50 to $500 so there’s one for every budget.
Each machine is selected for a specific task it excels at and the two best options for overall coffee brewing are listed as our top choices. Have a browse and if you see any option you like the look of, click the ‘Price & Reviews’ button to check current prices on Amazon.
10 Best Thermal Coffee Makers
- Top Choice – Breville Precision Brewer Thermal Coffee Maker
- Runner Up – Cuisinart DCC Programmable Coffeemaker
- Best Design – Technivorm Moccamaster 10-Cup Coffee Maker
- Best One-Touch Brewer – Bonavita Connoisseur One-Touch Coffee Maker
- Commercial Grade Option – BUNN Speed Brew Platinum Thermal Coffee Maker
- Budget Option – BLACK+DECKER Thermal Coffeemaker
- Best for Clean Tasting Coffee – Mr. Coffee Optimal Brew Thermal Coffee Maker
- Best Single Serve Option – Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Trio 2-Way Single Serve Coffee Maker
- Best for Specialty Coffee – Ninja Coffee Bar Auto-iQ Programmable Coffee Maker
- Best for Iced Coffee – Zojirushi Coffee Maker
Best Thermal Carafe Coffee Makers
1. Top Choice – Breville Precision Brewer Thermal, Coffee Maker
The top choice today has to be Breville as this precision brewer gives you all the fine control of a pour-over set-up but combined with the automation you get with a drip machine. It has six pre-set brew modes including gold, fast, strong brew, iced coffee, cold brew, and my brew so you can customize your cup.
It conforms to the SCA (specialty coffee association) gold standard for optimal brewing temperature and it even has a precise digital control feature so you can adjust it to suit your taste. You can even adjust bloom time and water flow rate to brew coffee perfectly tailored to you.
It even comes with the option of a flat bottom or cone-shaped filter basket or you can remove it altogether and use the machine with your pour-over funnel if you prefer. This coffee maker ticks every box when it comes to a programmable, customizable coffee maker and it makes truly delicious coffee every time.
2. Runner Up – Cuisinart DCC Programmable Coffeemaker
The runner-up is Cuisinart with the DCC programmable coffeemaker. It’s a really great option for those who want an easy and straightforward way to brew great coffee. It’s fully programmable so you can set it up the night before and awake to the delicious smell of fresh-brewed coffee.
If you only need a small amount, select the 1-4 cup option, and if you find the coffee isn’t intense enough then the brew strength selector allows you to fix this. You can control when the machine automatically turns off so it won’t end up switching off too early.
It has a built-in water filter that helps deliver rich and clean tasting coffee and the carafe. There’s a brew-pause feature built-in so you can grab a quick cup before the brew cycle is complete.
This is a budget-friendly, user-friendly option that makes delicious coffee and the thermal carafe keeps coffee warm so you can enjoy it whenever you’re ready.
3. Best Design – Technivorm Moccamaster, 10-Cup Coffee Maker
If you’re looking for coffee brewing perfection, it doesn’t get much better than the Moccamaster. With a 10 cup capacity, stainless steel thermal carafe, hot coffee is available long after the brewing process.
The Moccamaster uses an advanced, copper-coil heating element and pumpless brewing that ensures a quiet brewing process where coffee is never burned. It has a unique water dispenser design that ensures optimal bloom of the coffee and the brew basket automatically stops drips when the carafe is removed.
This option doesn’t have programmable settings but is still a firm favorite among coffee lovers due to its superior brew technology. The copper element switches off after the brew cycle so it doesn’t waste power but you do need to switch the power button off to reset it.
The Moccamaster is the most prestigious yet functional coffee maker on the market and if you want the very best tasting coffee without any hassle then look no further!
4. Best One-Touch Brewer – Bonavita Connoisseur One-Touch Coffee Maker
If all you want is a full carafe of coffee and you’re not the kind of person that likes to mess around with endless settings then this one-touch brewer is the one for you. With the touch of a button, it can brew an 8-cup carafe in around 6 minutes.
It has a powerful heating element that’s designed to maintain the perfect brewing temperature and you can choose to add in a pre-infusion stage that allows the coffee to bloom. The showerhead gives optimal saturation of the coffee grounds so you’ll never get coffee that’s been ruined by channeling.
The filter basket, showerhead, and carafe lid are dishwasher safe for easy clean-up, and all plastic parts are BPA free so completely safe to drink from.
This coffee maker brews a truly delicious cup of coffee, no matter if it’s a single cup or a full pot you’re after. It’s very easy to use and aesthetically pleasing, perfect for any home.
5. Commercial Grade Option – BUNN Speed Brew Platinum Thermal Coffee Maker
A commercial coffee brewer has the benefit of being extremely durable as well as being designed to brew coffee quickly. Bunn is famous for its extremely high-quality, commercial-grade coffee-makers and this is no exception.
It has a stainless steel water tank that works to maintain the water at a perfect brewing temperature to prevent the coffee from burning. Most coffee-makers heat the water as they brew so this adaption is what allows the Bunn machine to brew a full carafe in around 4 minutes.
It has a well-designed water sprayer that evenly coats the coffee grounds and a taller than average funnel directs water down quickly and prevents overflowing. This is the perfect home brewing system for anyone who values commercial-grade quality.
Coffee Brewing Tips
Use Fresh Whole Bean Coffee
As easy as it is to use pre-ground coffee beans if you really want to get the best out of your machine then always choose whole beans. You will need to invest in a burr grinder as well (like this Oxo Brew option) to ensure your coffee is ground to an even consistency. Whole beans lock in all those fresh flavors and aromas and will ensure you brew the freshest cup of joe every time.
Filtered Water
It may come as a surprise but the quality of the water can dramatically affect the taste of the coffee you brew. If the water used is full of minerals and other impurities, this can add a bitter taste to the coffee and also affects the extraction, leading to a thin and unpleasant pot of coffee.
Some coffee makers have a built-in water filter for this reason. If your machine doesn’t have this then you can simply add filtered water to the water reservoir using a filter jug etc.
Ditch the Reusable Filter
A reusable mesh filter may sound like a good idea when it comes to a drip coffee maker. In theory, the coffee should have a bolder flavor (like that brewed in a French press) due to more coffee oils remaining. In practice, the mesh filters let the water drain through too quickly so the brew time is reduced and you get a thin, weak-tasting cup of coffee.
For the best and boldest fresh coffee, use a paper filter. You can wet them beforehand to help remove any ‘papery’ taste and these are fully compostable so clean up is actually easier than with a mesh filter.
Pre-Heat the Carafe
A double-wall insulated carafe will keep the brewed coffee hot by not allowing heat to escape through the walls of the carafe. The downside with these options is that if the coffee is brewed straight into a cold carafe, this will cool the coffee down slightly. You can avoid this issue by pre-heating the carafe with some hot water and discarding this before you brew your coffee.
If this is too much work and you need the hottest coffee possible then consider a glass carafe with a hot plate instead.
Maintain Your Machine (descale)
It’s essential to take good care of your coffee maker to keep it in good working order. All coffee machines need descaling regularly to avoid limescale building up in the pipework. If you don’t do this then the limescale can clog the pipes and may even cause the pump to fail.
It’s important to descale your machine following the manufacturer’s guidelines as failing to do this can invalidate your warranty. Always check the fine print!
F.A.Q.s
Who makes the best thermal coffee maker?
Breville is the best for high-quality coffee machines. The Breville Precision Brewer Thermal Coffee Maker is the best thermal coffee brewer but they also make the best espresso machines as well like the Breville Barista Express.
Are thermal coffee makers good?
Thermal coffee makers are the best choice if you want to make a large batch of coffee and keep it warm all day so you can enjoy a cup whenever you feel like one. It’s always best to preheat the pot before you brew as this ensures the coffee stays as hot as possible for as long as possible.
Which thermal carafe keeps coffee hottest?
A vacuum-sealed thermal carafe with a lid will ensure your coffee stays as hot as possible for as long as possible.
What is a thermal coffee maker?
A thermal coffee maker is a drip coffee machine that has an insulated carafe instead of a glass carafe and hot plate. These options keep the coffee hotter for longer without risking burning the pot.
More Thermal Coffee Maker Reviews
6. Budget Option – BLACK+DECKER Thermal Coffeemaker
The main feature of this Black + Decker coffee maker is you get more for your money. If you want to brew large volumes of coffee but don’t want to spend a lot on the machine then look no further.
This option is fully programmable and easy to customize your drink. It has simple button controls and an LCD display. The showerhead ensures nice, even saturation of your coffee, and the thermal carafe will keep the coffee hot for hours. It has a wide neck opening so is really easy to clean and the non-drip spout keeps your countertop clean.
This coffee maker is capable of performing as well as its rivals but the price tag will keep your bank account happy.
7. Best for Clean Tasting Coffee – Mr. Coffee Optimal Brew Thermal Coffee Maker
Mr. Coffee has taken all the necessary steps to balance a great user experience with great-tasting coffee. This option has a removable water tank for easy filling as well as a removable filter basket for easy cleaning. It even has a self-cleaning cycle built in to do all the hard work for you.
There is a water filtration system that removes impurities leading to the best tasting coffee. There’s a freshness timer that always tells you how long it has been since the coffee brewed and it even has a bold brew button if you prefer a stronger coffee taste.
The thermal carafe will keep your coffee lovely and hot for 2-4 hours as long as the lid is secured in place.
8. Best Single Serve Option – Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Trio 2-Way Single Serve Coffee Maker
If you’re debating whether or not to get a Keurig or a drip coffee maker, why not skip the compromise and get both? Hamilton Beach has released this coffee maker that does both single serve as well as brewing a full carafe so you don’t need to worry about fitting two machines in your kitchen.
Add fresh coffee and a filter to brew a lovely pot of coffee or add your favorite k-cup pod to brew a single cup into your coffee cup or into a taller travel mug by adjusting the cup rest. The two brew options come with their own water reservoirs so you can easily control how much you brew per batch.
It’s fully programmable and has a bold brew button for those that prefer a more intense flavor. The thermal carafe keeps your coffee lovely and warm and the only downside with this machine is you can’t brew these two different kinds of coffee at the same time.
9. Best for Specialty Coffee – Ninja Coffee Bar Auto-iQ Programmable Coffee Maker
If you love specialty coffee as well as drip coffee then we have the coffee maker for you right here. The Ninja Auto-iQ has five coffee brew styles as well as six brew size options so at the touch of a button, you get the coffee that best suits you.
You can brew classic coffee or select rich if you like a bolder brew. There’s an over-ice option, specialty (espresso-like), and cafe forte (a very bold, rich, frothy coffee). The size options include cup, XL cup, travel mug, half carafe, full carafe, and XL multi-serve.
The really unique feature that this machine boasts is a milk frother attachment so you can enjoy milk based lattes, cappuccinos, or macchiatos whenever you desire.
10. Best for Iced Coffee – Zojirushi Coffee Maker
Last up we have Zojirushi with this really functional and very user friendly coffee maker. The filter basket swings out for easy filling and is detachable so you can give it a good clean. It even comes with a permanent mesh filter if you prefer this to paper filters. The water tank is also removable for very easy filling.
It brews coffee fast and maintains the perfect brewing temperature so you’ll never suffer a burnt cup. Pre-infusion cycle ‘blooms’ the coffee so you always get the most flavor and aroma out of your beans.
It has separate indicators marked on the water tank so you know exactly how much water to add for delicious iced coffee. This allows the machine to adjust the brew ratio so you get the best taste even when brewed over ice.
This machine is a really affordable option if you’re looking for something that withholds the SCA standards for temperature and pre-infusion. It’s a great coffee maker and deserves a lot more hype than it currently has.
Final Thoughts
So that’s it for thermal coffee makers. They’re such a good option for those of us that like to brew a pot of coffee and enjoy several cups throughout the morning. Just make sure you pre-heat the pot and fix the lid in place to ensure your coffee stays piping hot. Thermal coffee makers are the most under-rated and yet super-functional options for at-home brewing. Don’t hesitate to grab one for yourself, you won’t regret it!
