Best Smart Coffee Makers: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

What Is a Smart Coffee Maker?

Many coffee makers come with features that automate the brewing process, such as a 24-hour timer or automatic setting, but a truly smart coffee maker is more than just programmable—it connects to your devices or home automation systems via Bluetooth or WiFi. 

But since there are very few high-quality coffee makers on the market, we decided to include both smart and programmable coffee makers in this review. Programmable coffee makers aren’t inferior to smart ones, they’re just different. 

What to Look for in a Smart Coffee Maker

1. Easy to use and install

To choose a product that is efficient and easy to use, choose the one for which you just need to turn it on, connect it to WiFi, and press a few buttons. The technology should simplify the process, so use the full potential of your new coffee machine.

2. Price

There’s a smart coffee maker for every budget. Prices vary based on the brand, added features, and much more. Just make sure you buy a coffee machine from a reliable supplier. 

3. Compatibility

Some coffee makers can be connected via Bluetooth and others via WiFi. If you want to control your coffee maker from further away, choose WiFi compatibility. 

4. Smart home integration

Some coffee makers work with voice recognition when connected to Amazon Alexa or Google Home or can be integrated into your home automation center using IFTT, which is very convenient if you already have a few smart home devices or have an automation system set up. For those who want to make their home really “smart,” the ability to integrate a coffee machine is a great bonus!

5. Carafe size

If you have more than 2 people in your family, you don’t really need a big carafe, unless you drink a lot of coffee every day. However, if you are a family of five or six who all drink coffee, it is worth thinking about getting a 12-cup carafe. You should always buy a coffee machine according to the number of people in your family.

6. Filter type

Smart coffee machines usually come with a built-in filter so you don’t have to buy disposable filters any longer.

However, not all smart coffee makers come with a built-in filter. You will need to read the specifications to see if there is a built-in filter, or if you will need to buy special filters designed specifically for this smart coffee machine.

7. Multifunctionality 

A smart machine’s programmability may include not only several coffee recipes but also other drinks, including hot chocolate and steamed milk. The machine will not only brew a perfect cup of coffee, but also pre-mix coffee beans, pre-heat a cup to improve the flavor of the drink, and create milk foam.

8. User-friendly application

If you choose a coffee maker that works with an app, make sure the app has a simple user interface that does not require technical knowledge to use. 

Of course, it may take time to really get to know all the features, but a smartphone app for coffee preparation should allow you to brew your favorite drink quickly and easily.

9. Auto shutdown

This is definitely a good feature that can save energy and make your home much safer.

Smart coffee machines are designed to be operated via a smartphone app, but you’ll probably forget to turn off your coffee machine at least once or twice a week. The automatic shutdown function ensures that the machine will turn off its heating elements (usually after about 2 hours). This not only helps to reduce energy consumption but also reduces the risk of fire in your kitchen.

10. Pause and pour functionality

This function is always useful in both conventional and smart coffee machines. Automatically stopping the brewing process partway through allows you to serve a cup of coffee without any hassle, giving you a little extra convenience.

11. Water Tank

Some coffee makers produce one serving, and some may pour two cups of coffee at once. Of course, the latter will have a higher price. Some come with a water tank that doesn’t need to be refilled for days. Choose an option based on your price range and how much convenience you desire.

Best Smart Coffee Maker

1. Atomi Smart WiFi Coffee Maker

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Let’s face it, coffee is an important part of your day. That’s why Atomi Smart made it easier for you to enjoy your first cup right after waking up.

The Smart WiFi Coffee Maker is a true blessing, considering the fact that all you need to do is fill it with water and coffee grounds. Then just place an order through the Atomi app on your cell phone, whether you’re home or not, and your coffee will be waiting for you when you arrive in the kitchen.

Whether you set the machine to a programmable timer and create a regular brewing schedule, or start brewing with the smartphone app, you can make coffee whenever you want.

With a simple click on your phone, you can choose between normal and strong brewing, so your coffee will be just the way you like it.

The Atomi Smart WiFi Coffee Maker has a durable 12-cup carafe with volume markings. The sturdy handle and reinforced glass will extend the life of your coffee maker.

You can also adjust the daily brewing schedule according to your lifestyle so that your cup of coffee is always ready when you want it.

Another bonus is that the best coffee machine comes with a reusable permanent filter, so you no longer have to spend money on reusable ones.

If you’re wondering, “Which smart coffee maker is the best?” the Urban Bean Coffee team is sure that the Atomi Smart WiFi Coffee Maker is the answer.

2. Breville-Nespresso BEC720BLK Smart Coffee Maker

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If you are a coffee lover and always on the road, but don’t want to spend so much time in a coffee shop, we’re sure you’ll enjoy one of the best Nespresso machines on the market: the Breville-Nespresso bluetooth coffee maker.

The coffee maker offers a choice between four drink sizes: Ristretto (0.85 ounces), Espresso (1.35 ounces), Lungo (3.7 ounces), and the newly-added Americano (0.84 ounces of coffee with 4.2 ounces of hot water). You can also choose between three temperature settings (medium, hot, very hot) directly on the machine or remotely via the mobile app. 

Stylish and intuitive automatic maintenance alerts let you know when the water reservoir is empty or the machine needs to be descaled, and whether the Nespresso compatible capsule container is full.

Together with the accompanying Nespresso mobile application, the Nespresso Expert allows you to create your own personalized coffee varieties, provides easy access to ordering Nespresso capsules, manages coffee recipes and capsule stock, schedules brewing times, brews remotely, and lets you get simplified assistance via Nespresso Club.

The 19-bar high-performance pump offers barista-style coffee every time, perfectly extracting the delicate taste and first-class flavors of each coffee capsule and creating incomparable crema. The quick heating system reaches the ideal brewing temperature in just 30 seconds and the machine will automatically shut down to save energy after 9 minutes. 

Nespresso has committed to sustainability and quality by partnering with the Rainforest Alliance. The company receives over 80% of its coffee from AAA farms and over 40% of its coffee from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms.

3. Hamilton Beach Works with Alexa Smart Coffee Maker

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Is there a coffee maker that works with Alexa? I’m sure many of you have asked yourself that question while reading this article. And our answer is yes, such coffee machines do exist, and the best example of such a product is the Hamilton Beach Smart Coffee Maker.

This smart coffee machine works with Alexa and is highly regarded for its reliability and functionality. 

Just ask Alexa to turn on the coffee machine and brew up to 12 cups in a glass carafe. Easily add your favorite coffee to the pivoting brew basket and easily add water thanks to the front-fill water tank.

You can even choose your desired brewing power—regular or bold—through the Alexa app, your Alexa smart speaker, or manually. Use the functions of the Alexa app to easily program morning brewing routines. 

You can ask the Alexa app or Alexa smart speaker to start brewing, change the brew strength, or turn off the coffee machine. When the coffee maker is synced wirelessly with the Alexa app, the clock automatically keeps the correct time.

4. Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker

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If you are not a fan of the sound of coffee grinders, but you love the smell of coffee that helps you get out of bed, then the Keurig coffee maker is a great choice for you. 

For many years, Keurig has produced easy-to-use coffee machines that require the least amount of work to make a cup of coffee—after all, this is the first thing you do in the morning.

There are some outstanding features of the K-Elite that we find very useful. In terms of taste, there is a “strong” button that really enhances the strength and flavor of your coffee, at least compared to the cup we made without choosing the “strong” option.

In addition, there a nice “iced” setting that allows you to brew coffee over ice at the perfect strength and ratio to avoid a diluted drink.

The Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker also boasts a large 75-ounce water reservoir, which means you can prepare up to eight cups of coffee before refilling it. 

One of our favorite K-Elite features is the hot water on demand function. The machine can pour hot water into your oatmeal, tea, or whatever else you are making. 

5. Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System

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This is not a very smart coffee maker, but we decided to include it in our guide, because it is a good programmable coffee maker that you can use for the best coffee.

The Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System make delicious drip coffee, lattes complete with steamed milk, hot tea, and also chilled drinks. Besides this versatility, this machine can also serve beverages of different sizes, from small cups to full carafes.

Coffee makers are usually dull plastic boxes or covered with unremarkable stainless steel. The designers at Ninja have chosen a different approach. Although the machine is almost entirely made of plastic, the surface is glossy and black. This, plus the smooth LED lights and a few silver highlights, gives the coffee machine a stylish look.

The Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System also feels compact, considering all that it can do. To achieve this design, Ninja has cleverly hidden many of its special tools in recessed compartments.

The Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System is highly automated. The machine has no manual modes at all. In fact, the Ninja system even solves one critical parameter of coffee brewing, which usually depends on you: the amount of water used.

Drip coffee machines usually drain the entire water reservoir every time. The Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System is different. It uses programmed amounts of water, all based on given container sizes. There are five choices: small cups, large mugs, travel mugs, reusable containers, and a full carafe. 

6. Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 DCC-3200CP Perfectemp Coffee Maker

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This high-quality, programmable coffee maker is equipped with all the necessary functions of a modern coffee machine. One of the most remarkable features of the machine is its advanced Cuisinart coffee-preparation technology. 

This technology ensures that you get hotter coffee without any decrease in quality or taste.

The Cuisinart Perfectemp Coffee Maker also allows the user to choose the strength of their coffee: regular or bold.

The coffee maker is also fully automatic with 24-hour programmability, self-cleaning, a 1 to 4 cup setting, and automatic shutdown. 

Another impressive feature is the Brew Pause function, which allows users to enjoy a cup of black coffee even before the brewing cycle is over. In the event of a power outage, the 60-second reset button ensures that the brew quality won’t be affected.

This Cuisinart coffee maker is not one of the most attractive coffee machines on the market, but it combines most of the best Cuisinart innovations of the last few years with a simple, functional design. This is in line with the minimalist approach of the company’s products. The main body is perfectly shaped, and the smooth, decorative stainless steel handle of the high-quality glass carafe gives it a touch of sophistication. 

Although the filter is expected to last for the life of the product, it should be rinsed with water regularly. As part of maintenance, you should store the machine in a safe place and protect it from voltage spikes. 

Types of smart coffee makers

1. Pod coffee maker

Smart pod coffee machines are very easy to use since all you have to do is press one button. However, they tend to cost more, as you have to buy disposable capsules on a regular basis.

The capsule machine works in the following way. The capsules store a hermetically sealed coffee blend. After being placed in the coffee machine, the capsule is pierced and hot water flows through. After a couple of minutes, the coffee is ready.

The hermetically sealed packaging preserves the taste and aroma for a long time and does not require any special storage method. In addition, the optimum dosage contained in the pods makes it easy to prepare the right drink. No need to choose parameters or take care of water temperature – the coffee machine will do everything for you.

Also, capsule machines do not need to be carefully maintained and only need to be washed once every three months. With standard daily care (cleaning the tray and drain grate, etc.) the machine will last a very long time.

To sum up, capsule coffee machines are characterized by their ease of use and ease of care.

2. Drip coffee maker

Today’s drip-coffee machine is an electric machine with a heater, in which hot water passes through a filter filled with ground coffee and enters the carafe. The strength and aroma of the drink are achieved by slowly passing water through the coffee, during which it is enriched by the taste and aroma of ground beans.

They are simply designed, reliable, inexpensive, and deliver exactly what you want every time. You can find drip coffee makers that produce up to 12 cups at a time.

They last longer than other coffee machines, and you get a fairly stable drink each time. You can adjust the brewing process by adjusting the amount of ground coffee in the filter, but in the end, it’s a simple preparation process. 

Coffee makers differ from one manufacturer to another in design, volume, material and capacity. The biggest differences are in the additional functions: the presence or absence of auto-off, delayed start timer, indication, mechanical or electronic control.

3. Espresso machine

An espresso machine is a specialized coffee maker used to create a very strong Italian coffee drink called espresso. 

The commercial espresso machine, which we are all often used to seeing in cafes, is very large.

But we are interested in a home espresso machine, which may not be as complicated as its professional counterpart. 

To create a fancy espresso drink, flavored syrups can be bought at coffee shops or grocery stores, and virtually any brand of roasted coffee beans can be ground to espresso size in minutes. For the best espresso results, coffee beans should be ground just before brewing.

The problem with espresso machines is drink size. You won’t get more than one full-size cup of coffee from an espresso machine, no matter how much you mess with the settings. It will be top-quality coffee but in small quantities. 

Sources

Alexa will command Hamilton Beach’s new drip coffee maker – CNET
Is a Smart Coffee Maker Worth it? – SmartLDR

FAQ

Do I need WiFi for the smart coffee maker?

There are products available for which you do not need a WiFi connection, but if you’re looking for a coffee maker that can make a cup of coffee via phone or voice control, you’d better buy one with WiFi capability.

Does a smart coffee machine need to be cleaned often?

Generally speaking, you need to clean a smart coffee machine at least 2-3 times a month. But the cleaning schedule depends entirely on what type of machine you use and how often you use it.