The 10 Best Coffee Makers With Thermal Carafes

When researching a new coffee maker, it’s easy to overlook the carafe. It might not sound crucial, but if you like to sip your coffee while, I don’t know, let’s just say, writing about the best coffee makers with thermal carafes, making sure that your coffee stays nice and warm becomes important.

Thermal carafes have increased in popularity in the past few years for a good reason. They keep your coffee warm without running the risk of a burnt, bitter cup of coffee you might get from a glass carafe with a hot plate. Plus, if you’re clumsy like me, they’re much harder to break if you drop them.

Hold on to your butts, and let’s get you a new coffee maker with a thermal carafe.

At a Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Best Coffee Maker With Thermal Carafe

OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker

OXO is synonymous with quality, and the OXO Brew 8-cup is no different. This brewer gives you plenty of options, is compact, and has an updated design that looks great on your counter.

If you want a quick cup on the go, the OXO Brew 8-cup gives you the option to make a single cup. You know the coffee will taste great since this brewer uses SCA Gold standards to ensure you’re only getting the best.

Make sure you use filtered water since this coffee maker doesn’t have a water filtration system.

Things We Like

• Makes single-serve or large batches
• Easy to use
• Quick brewing time

Things We Don’t Like

• No water filter system

Black+Decker 12 Cup Thermal Coffee Maker

The Black+Decker is great if you want a thermal carafe without breaking the bank. It might look like a standard coffee maker, but it has some excellent options like customizable brew strength, Sneak-a-Cup, and several programming features.

The “Sneak-a-Cup” feature stops the flow of coffee to the carafe, allowing you to grab a quick cup before the brewing is over. This coffee maker also features an auto-brew that you can set ahead for up to 24 hours, auto shut off, and a QuickTouch Programming system with clearly marked larger buttons that are easy to press while half asleep or in low light, which is great when you’re just trying to get your coffee to start the day.

Things We Like

• 12-cup thermal carafe
• QuickTouch Programming
• Programmable for up to 24 hours prior to brewing
• Most affordable option on the list

Things We Don’t Like

• The plastic elements on the machine feel thin

Bonavita 8-Cup Coffee Maker

The Bonavita 8-Cup coffee maker may look plain, but don’t let that fool you. This brewer is a workhorse, but that doesn’t mean you will get anything less than a great cup of coffee.

This brewer delivers coffee with the touch of a single button. The same button also controls the pre-infusion setting, giving your coffee a chance to bloom before it brews with the heated water from the large shower head that sits directly over the grounds. Since there aren’t many moving parts, there isn’t much to break.

There is beauty in simplicity; this simplicity also means that the Bonavita isn’t programmable. Not the biggest deal breaker. But if you want a fresh cup of coffee ready when you wake up, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

Things We Like

• Simple and Durable Design
• Small
• Pre-infusion setting to bloom the coffee

Things We Don’t Like

• Not programmable

Mr. Coffee 10-cup Coffee Maker

Mr. Coffee is a high-quality brand, and this machine is no different. The 10-cup brewing capacity means you’ll always have the right amount to share with a friend, and it does it in around seven minutes.

This brewer even helps take care of the clean-up with a self-cleaning mode. This will save you a lot of time and energy when your machine inevitably needs to be descaled.

Things We Like

• 10-cup capacity
• Self-cleaning option
• Second most affordable option on the list
• Water filter system

Things We Don’t Like

• Not the most consistent coffee maker on our list
• It takes up a lot of counter space despite its smaller coffee capacity

Zojirushi EC-YTC100XB Coffee Maker

You’ve probably come across the name Zojirushi if you’ve ever been in the market for a rice maker. They are known for being the king of the rice maker world, and the Zojirushi EC-YTC100XB keeps that legacy alive.

The Zojirushi comes with a swing-out brew basket, making this great for counter areas with little headroom due to cupboards or whatnot. Clean-up couldn’t be easier with a removable water reservoir. An added feature in the water reservoir helps you know where to fill it if you want to have iced coffee so that your coffee won’t be diluted.

This coffee maker is also programmable for up to 24 hours in advance, which is great considering that it takes a little longer to brew with its pulse brewing technology. This coffee maker will play a sound to let you know it’s done brewing, but don’t worry. If you don’t want this feature, it’s easily turned off.

Things We Like

• Removable water reservoir
• Programmable for up to 24 hours in advance
• Iced coffee measurements on the water reservoir

Things We Don’t Like

• It can be a bit of a counter hog
• Long brewing time

Hamilton Beach Programmable FrontFill Coffee Maker

Hamilton Beach is known for quality coffee makers at affordable prices. The Hamilton Beach FrontFill coffee maker takes that same quality and throws in some nice features that make this a great choice.

This brewer gives you the option of 1-4 cup settings for those days when you’re just making coffee for yourself, or make the full 12-cup pot of coffee if you need more to share. Add the programmable brewing time and the charcoal water filter, and all you have to do is set it and forget it.

But drink up quickly, as this brewer doesn’t keep your coffee as hot as some of our other options.

Things We Like

• Fill from the front without having to move the coffee maker
• 12-cup capacity
• Includes a charcoal water filter
• Affordable, especially considering the programmable features

Things We Don’t Like

• Doesn’t keep coffee as hot as other options
• Carafe sometimes leaks

Cuisinart Programmable 12-cup Thermal Coffee Maker

Cuisinart has several models on the market, but this thermal carafe coffee maker is an excellent choice with plenty of options for that perfect cup.

These options let you control the brew strength and the heat with three separate temperature settings. Or, if you need your cup in a hurry, try the “Extreme Brew” setting that brews 25% faster than other coffee makers.

With its 24-hour programmable timer, you can set it before bed and have fresh, hot coffee that you can rest assured will stay hot thanks to their quality thermal carafe.

Things We Like

• 12-cup capacity
• Coffee stays hotter than most other carafes
• The thermal carafe is dishwasher-safe, and the machine has a self-cleaning option

Things We Don’t

• The carafe is heavier than other options
• The hot plate can rust (so wipe it down after each use)

Keurig K-Duo Plus Coffee Maker

Having a Keurig on a list that features thermal carafes might seem strange. Most people know Keurig as the coffee machine famous for making a single cup. Well, they scaled up their game with this machine, which can make up to 12 cups of coffee at once.

The Keurig K-Duo looks sleek and doesn’t take up much counter space. If you want a coffee maker that can brew a quick cup or enough to serve guests, then you’ll get it all in this machine.

Things We Like

• Brews a single cup or an entire carafe—up to 12 cups
• Programmable brew time, which is unique for single-serve machines
• Removable, easily-refillable water reservoir

Things We Don’t Like

• It’s fairly expensive.

Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System

Ninja is a brand known for its blenders, but then they got into the coffee and tea side of things and have been designing incredibly innovative coffee makers ever since. This Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System machine will make almost any beverage you can imagine.

The coffee maker will make a single cup of coffee or brew a thermal carafe of ten cups. It makes drip coffee, iced coffee, hot tea, iced tea, and more. It comes with separate baskets so your tea won’t have a coffee taste, and vice versa. You even get a setting for iced drinks, so you can make them strong enough that the ice won’t dilute the flavor.

Things We Like

• Brews single cups or a carafe of up to ten cups
• Has five brew strength options
• Can make hot beverages or iced without sacrificing flavor

Things We Don’t Like

• It’s fairly expensive.

Breville Precision Brewer Thermal Coffee Maker

The Breville Precision Brewer is made for someone that likes to experiment to find their perfect cup of coffee. This brewer lets you control everything from the bloom time to the temperature of your coffee. Once your perfect brew is dialed in, you can save it to the machine, so you have that same tasting cup every morning.

With its 60-ounce thermal carafe, you can always be sure that you have enough hot coffee to get you through even the toughest Mondays. Or, if you just need a cup to start your day, the Breville has you covered there, too, with its small cup detection that controls contact time between the water and coffee when making up to a 20-ounce serving.

Things We Like

• Fully Customizable
• Cold Brew preset
• Single-cup brewing option

Things We Don’t Like

• Most expensive on this list
• Takes up a lot of counter space

How Thermal Carafes Work

Thermal carafes are another sciency thing that some of us use on a regular basis. They were invented in 1892 and have been used in many industries to keep your coffee hot and liquid nitrogen cold.

Thermal carafes and thermoses use a double-walled design that is really just one container inside another, with the two containers meeting at the top and sealed. This design creates a near-vacuum between both containers and allows for a significant reduction in heat transfer.

This means they don’t need to stay on a warming plate to keep the coffee hot like a glass carafe.

While you get a lot of upside with thermal carafes because they are essentially two stainless steel containers, they tend to be much heavier than a glass carafe. It’s not the biggest downside, but it is something to be aware of if you’re someone with limited mobility or hand strength.

How Much Coffee Do You Need?

The capacity of the thermal carafes might influence which coffee maker you’ll buy. Most of our options hold 10 or 12 cups, which is relatively standard for coffee makers.

We have a few machines that allow you to brew single cups, which can be nice if you want to try different flavors of coffee or just need a quick cup to start your day. Depending on the model you choose, you can brew a full carafe of 10 or 12 cups, giving you a lot of flexibility.

How Hot is Coffee in a Thermal Carafe?

The optimal brewing temperature is typically anywhere from 195 to 205 degrees. The coffee machine heats the water to that temperature to extract the most flavor from the coffee grounds. Once the coffee is in the carafe, it might cool down slightly, but the double walls will keep it warm.

You can preheat the carafe before you start brewing if you want to keep the coffee hotter for longer. You do this by pouring hot water into the carafe and letting it sit while you get the rest of the machine ready.

This will help reduce the heat lost when the hot coffee hits the cold interior of the carafe. Think of it like preheating your oven before you throw in your dinner.

How Long Will a Thermal Carafe Keep Coffee Hot?

A Consumer Reports study found that thermal carafes lose about four degrees of heat every hour. Since coffee brews at 195 to 205 degrees, we’ll use 200 degrees as the average. After an hour, your coffee is 196 degrees.

At that rate, it would be about 184 degrees at the four-hour mark. That still seems plenty hot for us; it’s an ideal temperature for drinking coffee without scalding your tongue.

How Do You Clean a Thermal Carafe?

Because they’re made from stainless steel, you should use a solution of vinegar and water to remove hard water residue from the carafe. If you find that the carafe isn’t as clean as you’d prefer, you can also use a coffee detergent like Cafiza (need amazon link). Cafiza is used in cafes for everything from soaking espresso portafilters to cleaning their massive thermal carafes.

It helps to look for a carafe with a wide mouth. The wide mouth makes it easier for you to clean because you’ll most likely be washing it by hand. You might be tempted to throw your carafe into the dishwasher, but resist that urge unless your carafe is dishwasher safe like the one that comes with the Cuisinart Programmable 12-cup Thermal Coffee Maker. Doing so can damage the double-walled vacuum insulation.

Best Brands of Coffee Makers With Thermal Carafes

We didn’t choose the coffee makers on our list just because we liked the machine. We also really respect the brands we feature.

Black+Decker

Black+Decker started in 1910 in Maryland. They made power tools until World War II. The company then shifted its focus to producing gun shells and war supplies. After the war, they resumed making power tools and added small appliances to their name.

Mr. Coffee

Mr. Coffee started in 1970 and is America’s original coffee maker. They have various models on the market, such as drip coffee makers, espresso makers, iced coffee machines, cappuccino machines, and more.

Hamilton Beach

Hamilton Beach was founded in 1904. They’re known for their motorized kitchen appliances, which they developed when motors were only used in commercial machines. They’re best known for their mixers, food processors, toasters, can openers, and more.

Cuisinart

Like Hamilton Beach, Cuisinart is another company that makes small home appliances. They also have lines of cookware and bakeware.

Keurig

Keurig was founded in 1992 in Massachusetts. The company initially made single-serve coffee makers that use K-Cups for brewing. They’ve expanded into manufacturing larger coffee makers and other drink machines.

Ninja

Ninja became famous for their portable blenders, but they also make food processors, pressure cookers, ice cream machines, and juicers.

Other Brands

Many other brands manufacture coffee makers with thermal carafes. We wish we could feature them all, but if you’re interested, you can check out the following:

• Behmor
• Bonavita
• Breville
• Bunn
• Frieling
• Melitta
• OXO
• Zojirushi

FAQ

We hope our list helped you narrow down the coffee maker with a thermal carafe that suits your needs. In case you have additional questions, don’t worry! We have you covered there, too.

Thermal vs. Glass Carafe

There’s no bad carafe for a coffee maker. Depending on your coffee-drinking habits, a glass carafe might work well. You won’t need a thermal carafe if you drink your coffee before it sits on the burner too long.

If you like to sip coffee all day long, you’ll want to choose a thermal carafe. Glass carafes must stay on the heating element to keep the coffee warm. As a result, the heat continues to cook the coffee, giving it a burnt and bitter taste.

One downside of thermal carafes is that you can’t see how much coffee is inside. Clear glass is better for that. However, glass is more fragile and can chip or shatter, whereas stainless steel thermal carafes are very durable.

How Can You Keep Coffee Warm All Day?

A thermal carafe is the best choice to keep coffee warm all day, but barring that, you might want to try something else.

Most travel mugs have excellent insulation since they’re meant to carry coffee from place to place, and most work similarly to thermal carafes. Those with lids that have self-closing sipping areas are especially effective.

How Hot is a Coffee Machine Hot Plate?

Most hot plates maintain temperatures from 120° to 140° Fahrenheit. This is the sweet spot, temperature-wise. Anything lower will leave you with a lukewarm second cup that tastes “sweeter.” We can perceive more of the sugars in the coffee as it cools. Higher temperatures will cause the coffee to taste burnt and bitter.

These temperatures are also in a range that lets you do some pretty interesting things with your coffee maker.

If you find yourself in a hotel and want to cook something up but only have a coffee maker, don’t worry. That temperature is hot enough to poach some fish or make some pancakes.

Can I Replace a Glass Carafe With a Thermal Carafe?

Suppose you can’t seem to find a coffee maker with a thermal carafe that meets your needs. Or maybe you are clumsy like me, and you’ve dropped the glass carafe that came with your coffee maker, and you’re wondering if you can replace it with a thermal carafe.

The short answer is maybe.

Most coffee makers are built so that the top of the carafe fits snugly against the brew basket. This makes it hard to find a replacement that isn’t designed for that exact coffee maker.

If the manufacturer has a thermal carafe that will fit, you should be able to replace it with no problems. But be aware that most coffee makers with glass carafes come equipped with a hot plate that the carafe sits on during brewing.

This will heat the metal in the carafe, so be careful not to burn yourself.

You can always get a standalone carafe if you can’t find a thermal carafe that will fit your coffee maker. These offer you the same benefits while being able to use it with whatever coffee maker you might have.

MIRA is known for its insulated water bottle, but they also make some great thermal carafes, like the MIRA Stainless Steel Thermal Coffee Carafe (need amazon link).

Wrap Up

It’s hard to make a final choice with ten great coffee makers with thermal carafes on the line, but we love the Cuisinart Programmable 12-Cup Thermal Coffee Maker the most. It’s an affordable machine with many options.

We especially like the Extreme Brew cycle, which prepares coffee faster than the other machines. It’s also nice to have various temperature options. You can brew extra hot coffee, and it’ll stay hotter in the carafe for longer.

Trying a coffee maker with a thermal carafe doesn’t have to break your budget. Black+Decker is an affordable brand with an excellent reputation for its quality. Their coffee maker offers just enough special features to make it easy to use, with a thermal carafe to keep your coffee hot.

Happy Caffeinating!