These Drip Coffee Makers Simplify Your Morning Routine in Style — They're Affordable, Look Good on the Counter, and are More Analog
Sometimes you don't need all the bells and whistles for a tasty cup of coffee, and that doesn't mean sacrificing good design either
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.
Just because drip machines are simple doesn't mean they can't be stylish!
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.
Of course, high-tech features can streamline the drip coffee-making process even further, but in my experience, I've found that a good drip coffee can come from a range of machines and prices. It's the quality of the beans that makes your coffee machine work better and the flavor tastier.
So since drip coffee makers are all very similar in terms of function, I've curated this list based mostly on the most design-forward options with excellent reviews. There are so many stylish appliances out there, and hey, style matters around here, even when it comes to coffee machines!
Though we can't fit every cool coffee gadget in our homes (sigh), it's worth figuring out what kind of appliance works best for your home and your routine. A design-forward drip coffee maker is definitely worth considering. Or perhaps a pour-over coffee maker, like the xBloom coffee maker, for something slightly more technical.
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