You're a man who likes the finer things in life. You know the exquisite pleasure of a perfectly tailored suit, a well-seared steak, a decanted bottle of Brunello. But if you still have an old Keurig in your kitchen—or worse, a Mr. Coffee—you, my friend, aren't nearly as sophisticated and savvy as you think you are. Even worse: you're starting your days with a truly subpar cup of Joe.
If you're ready to elevate your at-home coffee experience to something a trained barista would be jealous of, look no further—we've compiled our all-time favorite coffee makers just for you. These include upscale espresso machines, artful drip coffee makers, and some seriously space-age looking gizmos that are all guaranteed to make your mornings a whole lot tastier.
Best of all: they're not all expensive. (Some are as low as $40.) And if you're looking to really improve your life, you should commute to work afterwards on one of these 17 Insanely Cool Luxury Bicycles.
1 | Pasquini Livia G4
$1,740.00; buy now at pasquini.com
If it's good enough for the hardworking White House Press Corps (last week Tom Hanks donated them one as a gift), it's probably good enough for you. The G4—a major upgrade to Pasquini's now defunct Livia 90—includes an actively heated group head, lever-operated steam/hot water arms, and a stainless steel 1.5 liter heat-exchange boiler (replacing the relatively corrosion-prone copper version). Best of all, the G4 allows you to program it for coffee strength and consistency—so you'll always brew it just the way you like it.
2 | CoffeeBoxx
$229.99; Buy now at oxx.com
Think of the CoffeeBoxx as a Keurig in Kevlar: it's actually crush proof up to 1,500 pounds. This machine also contains a watertight 2.5 L reservoir (good for ten cups of coffee or tea), tight seams all around (to prevent any water and dust from getting in), and it's compatible with K-Cups so you can continue to drink all of your favorite blends and brews. Whether you're on the job site, camp site or damn near anywhere where the going gets tough, the CoffeeBoxx will hold up to the challenge.
3 | Bonavita BV1900TS
$134; Buy now at amazon.com
To get the speed, convenience, and quantity of a traditional drip coffee machine, you usually end up sacrificing the quality of the brew. That's not the case with Bonavita's BV1900TS.
The BV1900TS locks down one of the most important components in coffee brewing: temperature control. Water needs to be hot, but not too hot and Bonavita's 1500-watt heater is able to maintain an ideal 195°-205°F brewing temperature, ensuring that beans are fully extracted but not burnt. Its large showerhead also promotes uniform saturation across all the grounds, providing a level of cup consistency on par with that of a traditional pour over.
4 | La Marzocco Linea Mini
$4,500; Buy now at home.lamarzoccousa
Meet the Rolls Royce of kitchen appliances.
The Linea Mini makes an espresso truly on par with what you'd expect from an upscale, well-trained barista. Combining dual boilers with a thermal-stability system that maintains water temperature from tank to portafilter, bean extraction is the focal point of this machine. A 2-liter water reservoir also means that you won't have to install a direct water line—you know, unless you really want to emulate the fancy coffee shop experience.
5 | Jura Impressa XS90
$2,099; Buy now at shopjura.com
How many coffee machines can make twelve different coffee drinks on their own? Not many. The Impressa XS90 can. Whether you fancy a latte, cappuccino, macchiato, or whatever else, the XS90 has you covered. Simply fill the machine with beans, milk and water and it'll do the rest. Basically, it's like having a barista in your home (minus all the small talk).
6 | Hario Coffee Syphon "Technica" 5 Cup
$67; Buy now at amazon.com
While we can't be certain that Nikola Tesla made coffee using a vacuum siphon—like the Hario Technica—it surely fits his brand. The Technica employs fundamental physics in the brewing of coffee: an open flame boils water in glass reservoir, air pressure expands and contracts putting water in contact with ground beans, and it all drips down into a carafe for serving. If this list was dedicated to rating coffee makers in terms of swagger alone, the Technica would be the undisputed champ. And it makes a damn good cup of coffee, too.
7 | Bonaverde Berlin
$800 (with a $20 reserve fee); Reserve on now at bonaverde.com
For coffee enthusiasts who want the most possible control over their cup, the Bonaverde Berlin does everything short of growing beans. This Kickstarter-backed device roasts, grinds, and brews (claiming to be the first that does all three) providing incomparable control over the brewing process.
While the process of roasting may seem daunting, the Berlin makes it nearly foolproof by incorporating RFID tags into their coffee bags letting your machine know how each specific strain of coffee bean should be roasted and brewed for the highest quality. The only downside: it may take a while to get your hands on one. Bonaverde is currently only accepting pre-orders.
8 | Chemex Ottomatic
$350; Buy now at chemexcoffeemaker.com
If the style and wonderfully non-bitter taste of a Chemex are what you seek, the Ottomatic can accomplish that feat without the pouring, waiting, pouring, waiting associated with the bare-bones model. Chemex's automatic dripper heats water to the optimal temperature range (197.6F-204.8F) while providing an even dispersement across the grounds for prime extraction. And its warming plate keeps brewed coffee warm, but not burnt, so you can enjoy a perfect (read: not lukewarm) cup at your own pace.
9 | Nespresso Prodigio & Milk
$225; Buy now at amazon.com
Coming from the largest brand on this list, the Nespresso Prodigio & Milk makes coffee using Nespresso's pods while incorporating — you guessed it — frothy milk. The real magic of the Prodigio, though, is its bluetooth connectivity. Whether you're running low on pods or your machine requires a descale, it will immediately alert your phone. Adding on the ability to schedule brewing means the only time you have to touch this thing is when you're pulling away a freshly made cappuccino.
10 | Yama Glass Cold Drip Maker
$230; Buy now at amazon.com
If Tesla used the Technica, then Thomas Edison had the Yama Glass Cold Drip Maker — assuming he liked cold brew. While making a good cold brew isn't the most complicated process, doing it with style and grace can be a bit more challenging. Fortunately, style and grace are in excess supply with the gorgeous Yama Glass. Just be sure to clear your schedule first; brewing with this rig takes three hours.
11 | Trinity One
$300; Buy now at amazon.com
Another brewer birthed from a Kickstarter campaign, the Trinity One has versatility unlike any other on our list. This glass, stainless steel, black-walnut beauty has the tools to brew a cup via pour over, air-press or cold brew; so you're not limited to drip alone. For coffee aficionados who prefer a selection of non-traditional brews, the Trinity One does the job.
12 | Wacaco Minipresso GR
$60; Buy now at amazon.com
Decent espresso doesn't always require a big fancy machine, or even electricity. Wacaco's Minipresso incorporates neither, using 116 PSI of pressure with a portable 2.35 ounce water tank to make espresso just about anywhere you have access to your hands. No, this coffee-brewing bullet doesn't produce the 135 PSI required for true espresso. It does get pretty close, though. And if you're looking to pull a shot while traversing the Patagonias, you probably won't mind the shortcoming.
13 | Presto 02811 12-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker
$37; Buy now at amazon.com
Sometimes "good coffee" transcends extraction efficiency, SCAA standards and stabilized brewing temperatures. Percolators—relics of a bygone era for some—seem to create that je ne sais quois associated a with a cup of baby-boomer coffee served up right before the old man headed to Ford Motors for another day on the assembly line. The Presto's 02811 meets that standard both in taste and style with its old-school, stainless-steel design.
14 | Technivorm Moccamaster KBG 741 AO
$306; Buy now at amazon.com
Another brewer that'll have you reminiscing of antenna TVs and Jiffy pop, the Technivorm Moccamaster KBG 741 AO has a style and charm reminiscent of simpler times. It's ability to brew coffee, though… well, that's caught up with the modern era.
This traditional drip machine comes in 24 different colors to fit any existing decor, or possibly be a decor setter on its own. It also has the capacity to brew six cups in a respectably swift six minutes—and it'll keep that brew ready to drink with a dedicated hotplate. Finding a crew to share the pot with is your own responsibility.
15 | AeroPress
$30; Buy now at amazon.com
The most affordable option on the list happens to make one of the most well-rounded, unique cups of coffee. Designed by Alan Adler, inventor of the Skyro frisbee, the AeroPress is some parts pour over, some parts espresso machine. (Some people might also confuse the AeroPress with a French press, but it's actually the functional opposite of its European predecessor.) It works by mixing hot water with coffee in a plastic chamber, agitating with a paddle and finally plunging the dissolved solids through a small circular filter. The result: a well-balanced, double shot of "espresso."
Like the Minipresso, the Aeropress's 10.2 PSI of pressure won't produce anything close to a true espresso. But if the coffee tastes good for a tiny fraction of an espresso machine's cost, why complain?
