10 Best Filter Coffee Machines 2020

With an adjustable coffee intensity setting, timer feature and 2-hour keep-warm time, this is a serious machine for serious coffee lovers.

The Aroma Selector feature will help you choose just how strong or mellow you want your cup to be, so whether you want a strong serving on a weekday or weaker mug on a weekend lunchtime, this machine will cater for all eventualities.

The robust metallic jug is double insulated and has an airtight seal, so can keep the coffee warm for up to 2 hours without altering any settings or keeping an eye on it all. This is a much better option than using a hot plate to keep the jug warm, which uses extra power and cuts out after about half an hour. The seal also prevents any spillages and accidents when you are carrying it around or pouring from it.

Not only that, but you can also programme your coffee for when you want it. Simply set a time, such as 7 am, and it will automatically turn itself on and start its work ready for when you reach the kitchen.

Because the carafe is stainless steel, it won’t get damaged or break if you happen to drop it or knock it against a worktop. The handle has been designed to be used with just one hand, so is easy to pick up and doesn’t feel too heavy even when full.

The Melitta Look IV Therm is a great option for those who like their coffee at different strengths for the occasion, prefer something sturdier than a glass jug, and want their coffee to stay warm without any microwaving or re-brewing. In fact, even though Melitta says it will stay warm for 2 hours, we timed 3 with a full pot. Enough to last you for both breakfast and lunch.

With a keep warm plate, auto shut off function, water level indicator and generous capacity, this De’Longhi is a steal for the price.

There is an anti-drip system in place, so the jug can be removed from the plate at any time while the coffee is brewing and there will be no mess. The carafe will hold up to ten regular cups of coffee, which is plenty to fuel a family or your guests. The actual brewing is pretty quick as well, taking about 5-10 minutes depending on the amounts, so even if everyone will want a second cup, they won’t have to wait around long.

Filling with water and replacing the coffee grounds is also pretty simple, with both compartments being accessible from the top of the machine. When the time comes to clean it all, the jug can be washed by hand but be careful as it does seem like very fragile glass.

The auto time off function means it will keep the coffee warm for around half an hour to 40 minutes before switching the hot plate off, but this can be turned on manually again.

You can’t adjust the coffee strength or intensity, but there would be nothing to stop you doing this by adding a bit extra milk or water.

Filter papers are the recommended method, but we found these could sometimes collapse slightly in the holder meaning it was harder to get the coffee grounds into the holder. Some fell through as a result, and the coffee produced seemed a bit weaker. But getting a reusable cloth filter would be easy enough and probably provide a more durable, permanent option.

If you are after a simple to use filter coffee machine for a great price, this is a great option. There’s no fancy unnecessary extras or complicated settings; just a decent cup of coffee.

A heat-resistant glass carafe and hotplate let you keep your coffee warm for up to 40 minutes with this model, making it a great affordable option for anyone who loves their coffee.

Pour Over technology means the water dispenser sprays water over the entire area of the filter, to ensure every ground is soaked and the flavour is extracted. This results in a fuller taste, as well as ensuring you won’t get any waste.

The filter itself is reusable, so just needs a quick wash under water after every use along with its holder. This again cuts down on waste and means coffee is always available to you without having to stock up on paper alternatives.

No parts are suitable for the dishwasher, but the jug is glass so does not mark easily and just needs a wash after every use. The wide, rounded shape makes this easy enough to achieve.

Once the coffee has been made, it will stay warm for up to 40 minutes thanks to the hotplate. You can cater the amount of water you will need too, using the capacity markers on the side of the carafe, just like a kettle. There are also markers on the jug itself, so you know how much is left and how many cups it can stretch to without re-brewing.

A nice sturdy handle is easy to grip and is also situated far enough away from the glass jug so you won’t burn your knuckles, without making it harder to lift. There is also a little guard strip down the side for extra strength and protection.

An illuminated switch makes things easier to see, whether you be brewing up before sunrise or after sunset, but there’s no screen (not that that should be an issue).

Smeg is a brand which needs no introduction, and as seeing they are pretty top-notch at everything they do, there is no surprise that this filter machine is great too.

It can make up to 10 cups at any one time, which is good going for a household of morning coffee lovers. Or, if you want to make enough for a second cup, the Keep Warm feature will hold it for around 40 minutes.

We love the Aroma Intensity setting, which allows you to choose from a light or intense aroma, so the right flavour for your tastebuds is always delivered. A timer allows you to turn it on ahead of time, and the alarm prompts you when the coffee is ready. The glass jug is top quality and doesn’t impair the flavour of the brew over the time it is sat there.

The super-fast heating process of this Buckingham filter coffee maker means it can prepare your coffee up to 50% faster than a lot of the other choices on the market.

This will please anybody who hates waiting around for their coffee to get ready in the mornings, especially when you need to rush out the door in ten minutes. What will also please you is the timer function, able to set 24 hours in advance and get your coffee ready for the next time you’ll need it, morning or night.

Just follow the cup measurements on the side of the water reservoir as a guideline if you want to make a certain amount of drink. Showerhead technology during the brewing process will ensure every ground of coffee is used and the taste of the coffee is consistent, through every part of the carafe. It also results in a richer flavour.

The filter is reusable, but you do also have the option to replace this with paper filters. The latter could give you a more mellow taste as it will absorb a lot of the oils from the granules, but they are seen as harder to use and can’t be washed and reused.

When we tried fine grounds, some of them did pass through when the reusable filter was in place so we would recommend a slightly coarse ground. The entire lid has to be lifted to refill the water compartment, as there is no separate chamber, and this was a bit stiff with the first few goes, so the base needs to be held down at the same time.

Overall, however, it is a machine which produces great coffee when used right and sits at a great price.

A bean to cup machine for under £100 sounds like quite a steal when you consider most others hover around the £300 mark at their lowest.

It isn’t the most technical appliance, hence its price. There is no milk frother for a start, which may be off-putting for some but for those who simply like a cup of strong coffee and add their own milk, and are more about taste than fancy gimmicks, a machine such as this which brings it all back to basics is great.

The interior works as a filter coffee machine, passing the water slowly through the coffee as opposed to with force for the full taste. An adjustable tray height fits different sized cups, and the grinding chamber and basket are removable so they can be thoroughly cleaned as not to damage the taste of the coffee.

Able to use both beans and pre-ground mix, it will use all of the coffee and water you put into the containers, so take this into consideration to alter your strength and length.

It will only make one cup of coffee, as suggested in the name, but the overall process is quite short, so if you need to make a few at a time it won’t take hours. It means every cup is personalised, which is great for fussy households.

There is a lot of noise when it grinds the beans, but this is to be expected and does only seem to last a minute or two depending on how much work needs to be done. The big downside which could put a lot of people off is the fact you have to clean it out every time you use it, even with disposable filters.

Retro appliances are back in a big way, and this coffee machine is the perfect little addition to any kitchen.

Available in green, beige or cerise, you can get the option which matches any other accents in your kitchen or simply one to add a bit of colour. There is an entire range of appliances available from Ariete if you want the whole set.

It keeps the coffee warm via the hot plate for around 40 minutes, before automatically switching off. There is nothing to stop you from pressing the warming button again and keeping it for a further 40 minutes, though.

The filter included is reusable, made from a fine mesh material. All it needs is a quick rinse and dry after every use to keep it looking new and in working order. You can use paper filters if you wish to not bother with the cleaning, but it isn’t strenuous for the money and waste you will save.

Price-wise, it is towards the upper end of the scale for items on this list. We get the impression you’re paying a bit of a premium for the extra design aspects, as there aren’t any huge differences between this model and the ones around half the price.

There is still the 24-hour timer, LCD display, automatic warming plate and reusable filter. We did like the brew strength adjustment and Pause and Serve functions though, the latter of which stops the pouring of the coffee if you remove the carafe. Just press the dedicated button to get it going again.

It certainly has a different look to the traditional filter machines so will create a talking point.

With all of the additional features we love, such as a timer and keep warm function, this Igenix filter coffee machine is a great option for anyone on a budget but who doesn’t want that to ruin their coffee enjoyment.

Coffee isn’t the warmest when freshly made, but after about ten minutes on the warming plate, it is much hotter and better to drink overall in our opinion. The filter is reusable, which is great to cut down on waste and replacing it all the time and is really efficient in ensuring no grounds escape through to the coffee. You can use paper versions if you prefer, though.

The instructions aren’t the best, but one vital piece of information included is to run it at least three times without the coffee to clean it all out and prevent any plastic tasting coffee. All machines have similar requirements, but other users have reported this as being a problem if they didn’t follow instructions.

The jug must also be pushed right back to make contact with the valve to pour the coffee. This is a great safety feature but isn’t made overly clear in the instructions so took us a bit of moving the carafe round to get it to work.

There is a water level indicator on the container and the carafe, so you can use the exact amount you need. The digital display is handy for setting the timer and other options, ensuring the correct ones are selected, but the blue light can make it difficult to see in certain angles.

If you want to make your first purchase of the filter coffee world or make the jump from your cafetière/Moka pot, it is a good option to get used to the methodology. There are better options out there for not much more money, but it does the job it was designed for well.

Thanks to a large 12 cup capacity, this is an ideal filter machine for any families or those who like to go back for a second cup on a relaxing weekend morning.

The glass carafe is great quality, and the contents can stay warm for up to 40 minutes. You can select the number of cups you will want before it gets to work so there is none wasted, and you can even programme it to grind and prepare your brew at a certain time of day, so it is ready when you want it. The timer is 24 hours, so it can even be narrowed down to a precise minute.

When tested against previous models, the Grind and Brew is up to 60% quieter when preparing the coffee, making it ideal for any households where everyone rises out of bed at various hours. The permanent filter means there is no need to replace paper or mesh filters every so often; just give it a wash and you’ll be ready to go again. Ideal if you hate waste or always forget to keep a stock of everything.

Other functions include Pause and Pour, so you can stop the coffee mid-flow and grab a cup before it continues filling the carafe, and a water level window so you won’t run out mid-pour. And the best is that it can also grind whole beans if you prefer to use these over the traditional filter coffee.

A rather interesting filter drip machine for anyone who is bothered about having the quirkiest items.

The Wilfa Classic+ heats your water precisely to the optimum temperature for brewing and then releases it evenly over the grounds and at a good speed to ensure the perfect cup at the end of it all.

It is genius, too. Able to keep your coffee warm for up to 40 minutes, you can go back for a second cup without having to go through all of that rigmarole again, and it also notifies you when it needs cleaning.

We say it keeps warm, but it may not be quite warm enough for you to drink straight from the carafe so some heating may be needed. But overall, it makes perfect coffee with finely ground granules and looks like you definitely are an expert in hot beverages.

Unlike the majority of filter machines, this machine will not just take pre-ground coffee but can also grind the beans for you thanks to the integrated blade. Already, the price seems justified.

Grinding the beans just before they are used increases the flavour, as the oils and aromas don’t have a chance to escape or evaporate between grinding and cup stage. There is also a grind-off feature in case you do have a favourite pre-ground blend already, but it is good to have the choice.

The warming plate under the glass carafe will keep the coffee warm for around 35 minutes, and auto-start allows you to programme in the timings so you can have a cup ready and waiting for when you need it most. An audible beeping noise lets you know when it is prepared.

Thanks to the metal filter, which is reusable, you don’t need to keep on top or ordering and buying your paper filters, and there will be no waste. Also included are two charcoal filters for the water tank, to improve the taste and cleanliness of the water before it turns into your coffee.

You may see that with older models, the carafe could stay warm for over two hours with the hot plate on, but with this one, it is only 35 minutes. This is simply in line with new regulations across the board, so doesn’t take away from the quality of the product or build from Cuisinart.

The buttons and controls are easy to manage and navigate, and a screen will inform you of the chosen settings.

All in all, it is a great machine for the price. The quality of the coffee produced isn’t as great as would be in a dedicated bean to cup machine, but having the best of both worlds for under £100 is pretty brilliant.