THE BEST HOME AUTO DRIP COFFEE MAKERS

The coffee machine. The drip coffee maker. The auto-drip. The classic must-have coffee making machine that graces almost all American kitchens and offices. Love ’em or hate ’em, there are thousands of coffee machines to choose from, each one promising you to brew the perfect cup of coffee. However, more times than not, the auto-drip doesn’t quite live up to expectations.

If you brew coffee at home and aren’t quite getting the results your barista gets you, maybe your machine could be to blame. However, before you point your finger, make sure you’re using freshly-roasted specialty beans and filtered water. Remember, coffee is just beans and water so the better quality both of your ingredients are, the better, in theory, it should taste.

If you are in the market to buy a new coffee maker, the fine folks down at the SCAA have made things a little easier for you. They’ve put a whole bunch of coffee brewers to the test and certified the ones that actually brew coffee properly.

Each coffee brewer has to meet the SCAA’s Minimum Certification Requirements, that tests for coffee volume, brewing time, water temperature, uniform extraction and overall beverage clarity. Out of all the coffee brewers that grace our home kitchens and offices across the country, the SCAA only deemed 12 coffee makers up to the task. That’s right. 12.

Here are the current champions of our mornings.

HOW TO USE A DRIP COFFEE MACHINE

We’ve put together an easy to follow auto-drip brew guide that gives you all the hints, tips and ratios you need to brew a damn tasty cup using your auto-drip coffee maker. And never underestimate the importance of a good grinder. Always freshly grind your coffee just before brewing.