A Smart Coffee Maker Will Elevate Your Morning (or Evening) Brew
Updated: Dec. 15, 2023
A smart coffee maker streamlines your morning routine, allowing you to start brewing a fresh cup from your device without getting out of bed.
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Do you crave a cup of coffee as soon as your eyes open in the morning? Apparently none of us have original experiences, because this happens to us too. With a smart coffee maker in your life, the mundane task of brewing a pot of joe just got a lot easier. Since these machines connect to a smartphone’s Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, you can brew coffee and adjust settings right from your device. It’s ideal, especially if you want to fire up your coffee machine from bed or on your way home from the office.
Best Overall Smart Coffee Maker
Café Drip Coffee Maker with Wi-Fi
The Café coffee maker has an incredibly stylish, modern design, and it’s as functional as it is attractive. Heck, even the Specialty Coffee Association certifies this machine as an exemplary home brewing device.
It can make up to 10 cups of coffee at a time, and you can adjust settings like brew temperature and strength to customize the drink to your tastes. On-the-go frequently? This machine’s smart functionality allows you to start the machine and schedule automatic brewing from your phone.
Pros
- 24-hour timer
- Sleek design
- Brews up to 10 cups of coffee
- Thermal carafe
Cons
- Water reservoir is not removable
Best Budget Smart Coffee Maker
Hamilton Beach Smart Coffee Maker
If you’re looking for a coffee maker that works seamlessly with your Amazon Alexa, the Hamilton Beach smart coffee maker is one of the best options.
It pairs easily with the Alexa app, and you can even ask any of your Alexa-enabled devices to change settings or turn the machine on or off. This coffee maker can brew up to 12 cups at a time, and it also features a convenient front-fill water reservoir.
Pros
- Affordable
- Pairs with Alexa
- Swivel out water reservoir
- Remote operation
Cons
- No dedicated app
Best Easy-to-Use Smart Coffee Maker
Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Maker
The Nespresso Vertuo Next connects to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but it doesn’t have a complicated, overly-techy user interface. To start making your (hot or iced) coffee with this machine, simply press the small, centrally-located power button. The Vertuo then reads the barcode on your chosen Nespresso coffee capsule and instantly figures out which drink you want to make. We also love the sustainability of the Vertuo–all compatible coffee pods are recyclable.
Pros
- Easy, one-button machine
- Makes espresso and coffee both hot and iced
- Recyclable pods
- Pods come in a variety of flavors and sizes
Cons
- Only works with Nespresso pods
Speaking of easy to use, the AeroPress coffee maker is a must-have—especially for avid campers and travelers.
Best Splurge Smart Coffee Maker
Spinn Coffee Maker
The Spinn coffee maker is a high-end machine that offers all kinds of smart functionality you didn’t even know you needed (but obviously do). You can remotely start a drink, adjust seven brewing parameters, monitor the machine’s status and even order more of your favorite coffee beans.
It has a built-in bean grinder and can make coffee or espresso with a few quick taps of your phone. Prefer voice commands instead? Sync the Spinn up with Amazon Alexa.
Pros
- Makes espressos, americanos, cold brews and more
- Pre-programmed recipes and customizable brew settings
- Built-in bean grinder
- Zero-waste construction
Cons
- It’s a splurge for most buyers
Best Smart Coffee Maker Attachment
Jura Smart Connect
If you have a Jura coffee maker, you may be able to give it smart functionality with the Jura Smart Connect. This Bluetooth adaptor is compatible with models such as the D6 and E6. Once the adaptor is plugged into your coffee maker, program and start the device from the Jura app. You’ll even be able to make customized drinks like a macchiato, vanilla latte, or flat white with a quick click of your smartphone. However, it doesn’t work with all Jura models. Check the complete list of compatible machines on the brand’s website.
Pros
- Customize preferred drink options with app
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Only works with newer Jura machines
What to Consider When Buying a Smart Coffee Maker
Before purchasing a smart coffee maker, you’ll want to decide what features are most important to you. You’ll also want to consider what your machine needs to be compatible with–an iPhone, Android, Alexa, or maybe your Google Home. Plus, don’t forget to check the more obvious things like the carafe size, price, and type of coffee the machine makes.
FAQ
How much do smart coffee makers cost?
The price of a smart coffee maker depends on its features. If you want higher-tech offerings on your smart coffee maker—such as a touchscreen interface, pre-programmed settings and smartphone compatibility, you should expect to spend more money.
How long will a smart coffee maker last?
Expect your smart coffee maker to last about five years, give or take. If you take care of your machine and keep it clean, you can extend its lifespan. However, as technology changes, you might want to replace your smart coffee maker with a newer version that has more up-to-date smart features prior to the five-year mark.
Are smart coffee makers worth it?
Smart coffee makers are worth it for a specific type of person. If you’re always short on time, love technology, or want to take advantage of features like remote start, automatic grinding and single-button brewing, you’ll likely love using a smart coffee maker. However, if you don’t mind prepping your coffee the night before or like personally crafting an espresso shot, you might consider other coffee makers.
How We Found the Best Smart Coffee Makers
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject-matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
Originally Published: February 01, 2023
