Drip Coffee Makers That Are Affordable and Design-Forward |

I know it’s still August, and we are still soaking up these last few weeks of summer. Trust me, I’m not trying to rush anything, but humor me for a moment. Imagine it’s a chilly autumn morning, the rain softly falling outside your window. You turn on your drip coffee machine, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the house. Can you imagine a better way to start the day? Even the routine of my gourmet espresso machine household doesn’t compare to the simple magic of a drip coffee maker.

Maybe it’s because I grew up with parents who almost religiously drank drip coffee (it’s a nostalgic scent for me), but something about this slower-paced appliance is so comforting. A drip coffee maker uses a percolation brewing method, where gravity pulls hot water through a bed of coffee grounds held in a filter (typically made of paper). The result is a pot of black coffee with a crisp, light, and balanced flavor profile. The slow brewing and coarser grinds mean it’s less dense (read: intense) than coffee from a French press or espresso maker, and the filter traps heavy oils, giving its taste more clarity. And because these machines are automatic (unlike similar hands-on pour-over machines), you get a controlled brewing process with consistent cups each time. Not to mention, a full pot of coffee so you can easily refill your mug.

A drip coffee maker is simple. This is not the machine for someone who wants to practice latte art, as you can only achieve black coffee from this appliance. And it’s also slower than an espresso machine’s extraction time — a full pot of drip coffee takes about five to ten minutes to brew. But these characteristics are part of what make the experience unique and enjoyable — it’s easy if you don’t want to faff with espresso shots, and it’s light enough that you can enjoy a few cups as you begin your morning routine.

So, if you’ve been searching for a coffee machine and can’t quite find the one that’s right for you, maybe it’s because a drip coffee maker is really what you need. I’ve tested a few of the machines below myself. The Fellow Aiden precision maker is one of my favorites (design and flavor), and the Smeg filter coffee machine is also a fabulous choice.