Do you know what makes morning coffee even better? Not having to make it!

Programmable coffee pots allow you to prep your coffee machine the evening before so you can wake up to a fresh pot of hot coffee first thing. This is a game changer for anyone wishing to streamline their mornings and skip the stress.

So, without further ado—here is our guide to the best programmable coffee pots that are currently on the market this year.

What To Look For When Shopping For a Programmable Coffee Pot

There are a few things you should keep in mind when shopping around for the best coffee maker for you. These machines vary quite a bit in price and features, and not every machine will be right for every user.

Capacity

Capacity plays a huge role in choosing the right coffee maker for you. If you’re a single-cup coffee drinker, you may be better off looking into single-serve coffee makers. However, if you tend to share a pot of coffee with a partner, you may be better off finding something with a larger capacity so you can brew a full pot for two.

Temperature Control

Did you know that different types of coffee beans brew best at varying temperatures?

Light roasts generally require a slightly higher brew temperature (~195 to 205°F) to properly extract the complex flavors and mitigate any bitterness. Medium roasts taste best between 200 to 205°F, and dark roasts are best at 190 to 200°F to keep their acidity low and let their rich flavors shine through.

While finding a coffee maker with precise temperature control isn’t mandatory—it's a great way to highlight the nuanced flavors of different coffee roasts and monitor your brew strength.

Built-in Grinder

If you’ve ever tasted the difference between freshly ground coffee beans and pre-ground coffee beans side by side, you know that fresh is definitely best!

Having a machine that can handle grinding your coffee for you in the morning while you’re still lying in bed is a welcomed feature. You can still always purchase a separate coffee grinder (especially if you use other home-brewing methods like a French press or pour-over or frequently make iced coffee.

Carafe Material

Have you ever ordered a coffee and could taste that it sat on the burner for far too long? This can also happen with home brew coffee makers as well.

This is because sometimes coffee makers use a hot plate to keep their coffee warm. They generally also feature a glass carafe. While this method is exceptional at keeping your coffee at a stable temperature for longer periods of time—it also can lead to burnt and bitter brews. This may not be a big deal for some, but for those who like to sip coffee all morning on the weekends or use a pot of coffee to get them through their remote workday meetings—there are better options.

Some coffee makers feature a thermally insulated carafe that keeps coffee hot for longer without the need to produce heat constantly. This is also a great option for anyone who wants to preserve power.

The 5 Best Programmable Coffee Pots

Here are our absolute favorite programmable coffee pots:

1. Cuisinart Automatic Grind & Brew 12-Cup Coffeemaker

For those who like to maximize their coffee’s flavor potential— look no further than the Cuisinart Automatic Grind & Brew 12-Cup Coffeemaker.

What makes this compact coffee maker stand out is that it can be pre-programmed to brew coffee on demand and grind your espresso beans. This means you'll never have to sacrifice the freshness and flavor of your beans by grinding them the day before.

Not only that but the Cuisinart 12 Cup Programmable Automatic Coffeemaker can also be programmed to shut off automatically. This means you won't have to stress about whether or not you forgot to shut it off if you're rushing out the door to get to work. This doesn’t mean that it’ll prevent your coffee from burning if left on the hot plate for too long, however.

Another welcomed feature of this coffee maker is the Brew Pause™ feature, which allows you to sneak a cup of coffee before it's finished brewing without leaking coffee all over the counter.

This machine is sleek and comes in a gorgeous blend of black and stainless steel that looks great in just about any kitchen.

This machine is sleek and comes in a gorgeous blend of black and stainless steel that looks great in just about any kitchen.

2. De'Longhi TrueBrew

If you’re looking for a coffee maker that can truly boast the highest quality cup of coffee every single time, the De’Longhi TrueBrew stands out above the crowd.

This coffee pot takes pre-programmable to the next level by not only allowing you to dictate when you'd like your coffee to brew but also grinding and dosing your coffee for you on the spot for the perfect ratio. This takes so much of the prep work out of the brewing process.

Instead of grinding your coffee, filling the water tank, and setting your time— the De'Longhi True Brue lets you occasionally fill up the coffee beans and water reservoir and perfectly doses them out for you on the spot. You can do this with a regular coffee scale, but it's nice to have a machine that can automatically dose for you.

The built-in burr grinder ensures you're getting an even and consistent grind every time to maximize your coffee's flavor profile.

It doesn't stop there, though. This coffee maker also features an auto-clean function, which allows you to keep the internal components clean at the push of a button.

Though the De’Longhi TrueBrew is one of the more pricy options on this list, it’s perfect for anyone who craves the best cup of coffee possible without putting in much effort.

3. Breville Precision Brewer Thermal Coffee Maker

Breville is well-loved in the coffee community for packing impressive features into incredibly affordable packages. Not only do they have a great espresso machine lineup, but they also make some great drip machines and coffee accessories.

The Breville Precision Brewer has a gold cup certification, meaning it’s mastered the ability to craft the perfect cup of coffee from beans of any origin, roast, or age. This is because it features automatic precision temperature and brewing time abilities built-in. This ensures your water temperature is always optimized to make the best quality cup of coffee possible.

Another welcomed feature that Breville brings to the table is their lack of a hotplate. Instead, they use a thermal carafe to keep your coffee warmer for longer. This ensures that your coffee never burns if you leave it for too long.

It should be noted that sometimes thermal carafs can be a little bit trickier to clean than glass, but all of the cleaning supplies are included to keep this process as effortless as possible.

The Breville Precision brewer comes with all of the accessories you need to get started making incredible coffee-like paper filters, a reusable mesh brew basket, and even hard water test strips to protect your machine and ensure your water isn’t negatively affecting your coffee's flavor profile.

4. KitchenAid 12-cup Drip Coffee Brewer

If you’re looking for an affordable pre-programmable coffee maker—The KitchenAid 12-cup Drip Coffee Brewer packs a big punch in an affordable package.

This coffee pot boasts the ability to keep your coffee warm for up to four hours after brewing, thanks to its programmable timer and warming plate. It also allows users to customize the strength of their morning coffee at the push of a button. This helps maximize the flavor profile of different beans and also accommodates different taste preferences between users.

One feature that makes this coffee maker stand out is the spiral showerhead that distributes water onto your coffee grounds for even brewing. This maximizes flavor and ensures your coffee beans are fully utilized.

This machine packs a big punch and offers plenty of great features in a surprisingly affordable package. This is one of the best coffee maker options currently on the market for under $200.

5. OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker

The OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker stands out from other automatic drip coffee makers because of its ability to self-regulate almost all aspects of the brewing process. At the click of a button, the OXO will ensure the machine brew time is perfect, the water temperature is ideal for maximum flavor extraction, and you're getting the top-quality coffee in every single drop.

Don't believe us? This coffee maker was named an exemplary home brewer by the SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) for its ability to deliver gold-standard coffee every single time.

This machine also omits the use of a hotplate to keep your brew warm and instead features a thermally insulated carafe that preserves the heat. This means you'll never have to worry about your pot of coffee burning if left for too long.

The OXO is pre-programmable, so you can prepare your morning coffee to drink as soon as you get out of bed. While this coffee maker can craft amazing quality coffee, it doesn't allow for single-cup brewing. This may be a deal breaker for those who just want a single cup of coffee per day.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this article helped to demystify the world of pre-programmable coffee makers so you know exactly what features you should be looking for.

Finding a coffee maker that can handle all of the leg work and let you snooze for a few extra minutes in the morning can be a game-changer.

Do you have more questions or want to chat with an expert before buying? Chat with one of our Curated Coffee Experts now!