Coffee machine test 2022

The good old filter coffee machine! Proven for decades, comparatively low-maintenance and, above all, easy to use – it simply belongs in every household. We show you the test winners and recommendations among the classic coffee machines.

The best coffee machines 2022: All recommendations at a glance

Price tip/bestseller: Melitta Easy

the Melitta Easy (look at MediaMarkt) is available in stores for less than 40 euros – a real bargain. The equipment is limited to the essentials. The drip stop prevents drips after removing the glass jug, after 40 minutes the machine switches off automatically, the filter holder and the jug are dishwasher-safe.

The Melitta Easy is a bestseller on Amazon, rated average 4.5 out of 5 stars is extremely popular with customers. Before buying, however, you should make it clear once again that this is a budget model in the “entry-level class”: “The feel and look of the machine appear cheap, but are to be expected for the price and are therefore okay,” summarizes one of the buyers together.

Advantages:

• Does exactly what it’s supposed to (makes coffee you can drink too)
• Value for money unbeatable

Disadvantages:

• Manageable equipment, according to the price range

Test winner coffee machine with glass jug: Krups KM321 Proaroma Plus

In its 08/2018 issue, Stiftung Warentest tested 15 filter coffee machines, 7 of them with a glass jug. The best glass jug coffee maker is the Krups KM321 Proaroma Plus (look at Otto), which can be found in stores for around 40 euros. The final grade is “good” (2.1), the “sensory assessment” (taste, smell) came to a partial grade of 2.0 (with 35 percent, the highest weighting in the test procedure). The power consumption is comparatively low and received the sub-grade “very good” from the Warentest Foundation. No abnormalities were found – this machine is simply inexpensive and makes decent coffee.

The average customer rating on Amazon is 4.4 out of 5 stars. Individual users criticize the pot because it spills when pouring the coffee. Incidentally, you should be particularly careful with the jug, because a suitable replacement glass jug (“XB9006”) costs around 18 euros.

Advantages:

• Makes good coffee
• Attractive price

Disadvantages:

• Replacement glass jug is quite expensive

Test winner coffee machine with thermos flask: Melitta Look V Therm Perfection

In the magazine “Kitchen & Household” (issue 03/2020, available from Readly) the Melitta Look Therm Perfection (view at MediaMarkt) emerged as the test winner with a grade of 1.3. The coffee machine scores with a thermos flask made of stainless steel (unbreakable) and a removable water tank.

The machine switches itself off after 40 minutes (“Auto-Off”) – but the Melitta Look Therm Perfection does not have a timer for the pre-planned coffee preparation. Practical: After a while of daily use, an LED indicates when the descaling program should be carried out.

Advantages:

• Good equipment (stainless steel jug, timer for keeping warm function, decalcification reminder, removable water tank)
• Aroma control (mild or strong)

Disadvantages:

Luxury coffee machine: Moccamaster KBG Select

It comes from the Netherlands Moccamaster by Technivorm (look at Ebay) – a noble coffee machine with cult status, which according to some fans produces the best filter coffee in the world. Well, such assessments should of course be viewed with a certain degree of skepticism. The Moccamaster has a history that stretches back to 1968, so there was plenty of time for legends to form.

The hard facts still speak for the iconic device: Numerous tests and reports attest the Moccamaster KBG 741 very good performance (among other things CNET, The Perfect Grind, New York Times). Apart from that, the design deserves a second and third look: the shape is industrial, functional and timeless. Such a coffee maker goes well alongside other kitchen classics such as the Kitchen Aid Artisan or the Smeg 2-slice toaster (see Amazon). What they all have in common, however, is that they are expensive.

Advantages:

• Considered by some experts to be the best coffee machine in the world
• Exemplary product design, available in numerous colors

Disadvantages:

• Quite expensive for a filter coffee machine

The best coffee machines: this is how we selected the recommendations

This overview presents current and popular filter coffee machines without a grinder, which have received special praise from the press and customers and are therefore recommended for purchase. The test procedure of the Stiftung Warentest on the relevant website explained in detail. Sources used include: Stiftung Warentest 08/2018“Kitchen & Household” (issue 03/2020, available from Readly), CNET, The Perfect Grind, New York Times.

Filter coffee machine: you should know that

How a filter coffee machine works

In front of all the fully automatic coffee machines and espresso machines, you could almost forget how easy it is to use a classic filter coffee machine. Fill the tank with water, put the filter bag in the holder, add the ground coffee and then switch on the machine. Around ten minutes later, a pot (approx. 8-10 cups) of wholesome coffee is ready. Since the built-in electronics are quite simple, maintenance is limited and it is simply less likely to break. Experience has shown that a glass jug is the most likely to break, then you have to get a suitable replacement jug (e.g. on Ebay for the test winner from Krups).

Maintenance and cleaning

Filter coffee machines are comparatively low-maintenance – at least when you think of the much more complex fully automatic coffee machines. Nevertheless, a filter coffee machine must also be maintained and serviced. If you are not yet familiar with this, you can take a look at the Operating instructions (PDF) for the Melitta Easy throw.

The most important point that applies to all models is described here: “Depending on the water hardness, the device can become calcified over time. This also increases the energy consumption of the device, since the layer of limescale in the heating element prevents optimal transfer of the heating energy to the water. To avoid damage, the device must be descaled regularly.” For descaling, you use special descaler liquids or – as with a kettle – the household remedy vinegar. Important when using chemical products: It is essential to follow the instructions of the cleaning agent manufacturer!

Fairtrade coffee: Good for the producer, good for the environment

Consumed in Germany each person consumes an average of 5.7 kilograms of coffee per year – that’s quite a lot. Coffee beans and powder that have been traded fairly have been the trend for a number of years. When you buy, you support small farmers in the growing countries (e.g. Brazil, Tanzania, Costa Rica) and do loud the TransFair initiative “a valuable contribution to improving living and working conditions” and also contributes “to the promotion of environmental protection”. Corresponding products are marked with the label FAIRTRADE and a blue-green seal.

Coffee and health: don’t overdo it

Coffee contains caffeine – according to nutritionist Dr. Anna Floegel it is between 40 and 120 milligrams per cup. It is a psychoactive substance with a stimulant effect – or in other words: a chemical substance that stimulates the body and thus keeps the coffee drinker awake longer.

How and, above all, how strongly caffeine works varies from person to person. One hardly notices any effect, the other gets a racing heart after just a few cups. Basically, coffee should be drunk in moderation and without added sugar – then the brown drink is also recommended for daily enjoyment. T-Online has compiled 19 positive effects on health: Among other things, a reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Around 4 cups of coffee distributed throughout the day are considered harmless (healthy adult general population, according to EFSA), but pregnant women should not drink more than 1 cup of coffee per day.

Dispose of the coffee machine: This is how it works

More about the disposal of electronic devices in our Video:

From the point of view of the legislator, coffee machines are “small electrical appliances” and fall under this Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act. Old machines must therefore not be disposed of with household waste, but must be taken to the appropriate collection points (recycling center) or to dealers.