You wake in the morning and step outside, take a deep breath and you get real high. And you quietly whisper to yourself, “my hot cold brew’s gone,” and now you need to make yourself something to get you going.
At a Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Best Automatic Pour Over Coffee Maker
Pulling out everything to make a pour-over seems far too overwhelming on those mornings. That’s where the automatic pour-over coffee maker comes in. These things are great when you want pour-over quality coffee in less time.
Quick Summary: Best Automatic Pour Over Coffee Makers
 | Our Top Choice Redline MK1 Coffee Brewer |
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 | SHINE KITCHEN CO. AUTOPOUR SCH-150 |
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 | Bonavita 5 or 8-cup One-Touch Pour-Over Coffee Maker |
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 | OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker |
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 | Breville Precision Brewer Glass Coffee Maker |
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 | Cuisinart CPO-800P1 PurePrecision |
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 | KitchenAid KCM08020B Pour-Over Coffee Brewer |
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This list will help you get one of your very own.
What to Look for in An Automatic Pour-Over Coffee Maker
Before we get into our list, let’s take a second to break down the several components that play an essential role in creating your perfect cup of delicious coffee.
Temperature Control
Brewing temperatures are a critical factor that determines your coffee’s quality. Most automatic pour-over coffee makers produce hot brews with water temperatures between 195°F and 205°F.
Brewing at a lower temperature will lead to a sour and underdeveloped cup of coffee. Conversely, if the temperature is too high, you risk burning the grounds, leaving you with a bitter and burnt cup.
Brewing Capacity
Like all foods, flavorful coffee is something that we love to share, so making sure we can make enough is important. Many models let you brew two to eight cups at a time, and some even let you only brew one cup if you want something just for yourself.
Heat Retention
If you like to sip on your coffee, then ensuring that your coffee stays warm after you brew is something to consider. While a hot plate under a glass carafe is the most common way, you can also use a double-walled thermal carafe.
These don’t use a heating plate. Instead, they keep the coffee hot with the residual heat from the coffee.
Whichever method you pick, make sure you drink your coffee within 30 minutes after brewing for the best taste.
Since we are here… Thermal vs. Glass Carafes
The classic and most common carafe has always been one made of glass. Do you ever find yourself asking why most things are in your kitchen? I always assumed it was because companies hated clumsy people like myself, but the actual reason makes much more sense.
Glass is non-porous, so it doesn’t trap smells or hold unwanted tastes. This is great for things that hold food, like our carafe or a baking dish. The downside is that if a brewer comes with a glass carafe, you can bet it also has a heat plate to help keep your coffee warm. If left on for too long, continually heated coffee usually results in a burnt bitter taste. Think of that “classic” cup of diner coffee.
Thermal carafes have become a bit more popular over the years, but they still aren’t that common. Most of these carafes are double-walled, so they keep the coffee hotter longer without having to have a separate heat source. Add in the fact that these are made of metal, meaning they are much more durable, and you have the perfect carafe.
Filters
Although some people prefer using paper filters to make pour-over coffee, you can only use them once per brew, creating a lot of waste.
Some models have laser-etched metal filters that you can reuse. Just make sure to clean them regularly to prevent any residue buildup. Since these filters are metal, they don’t trap as many of the natural oils from the coffee as a paper filter does, giving you more body in your final cup.
Battery-powered vs. Corded Brewers
Automatic pour-over coffee makers activate at the press of a button but operate on different power sources. Corded one-touch coffee makers need compatible outlets that can handle their wattage.
Battery-powered models don’t need wall outlets to operate, making them ideal for camping or road trips. However, the type and number of batteries needed differ based on the model. Due to their portability and compact size, battery-powered machines make fewer cups of hot coffee than larger ones.
The List Of The Best Automatic Pour Over Coffee Makers
Now that we know what we are looking for, let’s dive into our list!
Redline MK1 Coffee Brewer
If you’re looking for something that doesn’t break the bank, the Redline MK1 is a great place to start. The Redline MK1 draws a lot of its style from Moccamaster, so you know it will look great on your countertop.
Not only will it look good, but you’ll also get a great cup of coffee out of it. This brewer boasts an 8-cup capacity, Gold Cup brewing temperature while brewing, and a bloom setting. That’s pretty good at its price point.
But keep in mind that the Redline can be a bit loud while you’re brewing. It might become an issue if you’re in close quarters with someone. You’ll also want to ensure that the stopper on the bottom of the brew basket is open before you start brewing. It’s an awkward design, to say the least, and something to remember so you don’t end up half asleep cleaning up coffee instead of drinking it.
Shine Kitchen Co. Autopour Sch-150
If you find yourself without an outlet, the Autopour SCH-150 has you covered more often than not. This battery-powered automatic pour-over machine emphasizes portability and convenience. Its small two-cup capacity makes it well suited for an early morning cuppa over a campfire or a late-night study session in a dorm room without looking out of place with its wooden aesthetic.
Add on a thick double-walled carafe that keeps your coffee warm, your fingers burn-free, and can be used as a standalone brewer, and you’ve got yourself a great little coffee maker.
Just make sure you’re only using lukewarm water for your coffee to prevent it from damaging the machine’s plastic.
Bonavita 5 or 8-cup One-Touch Pour-Over Coffee Maker
While the Bonavita might not look like much, this brewer is a workhorse. While you won’t find an extensive list of features, don’t let that fool you. The Bonavita makes up for it with durable construction, a large shower head directly over the grinds, a pre-infusion setting, and constant temperature. Coming in either five or eight-cup sizes, you can find the right size that fits your needs.
The carafe is a little big to fit under the machine with the lid on, but you won’t find many other problems with this brewer. It is simple and doesn’t try to be something it’s not. Just one button and you’re off to coffee bliss.
OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker
If you’ve never heard of OXO, you’re missing out. OXO makes incredible coffee makers, and the OXO Brew 8-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker is no different. The construction makes this brewer feel solid. In this day and age, that’s hard to come by. Not only are you getting a construction, but you’re also getting a solid cup of coffee with a surprising amount of options and features.
This is one of the few brewers on this list that allows you to brew a single cup, which is great when you just need a cup to fill up your travel mug in the morning.
The OXO Brew 8-cup carafe has the same problem as its bigger brother, the OXO Brew 9-cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker. Each brewer has a plastic lip around the mouth of the carafe that makes getting the last bit of water (or those last few precious drops of coffee) out a bit difficult when you’re filling up the reservoir. All in all, not a bad trade-off for a great cup of coffee.
Breville Precision Brewer Glass Coffee Maker
The Breville Precision Brewer is made for someone who wants complete control over their cup of coffee. This 60-ounce brewer comes with five pre-sets ranging from cold brew to fast and an SCA Gold setting. There is even room to save your special brewing instructions. And it brews 12 cups in under seven minutes.
While you can brew the full 60 ounces, this brewer also gives you the option to brew a single cup. The Breville Precision Brewer helps you find your perfect cup of coffee. It even includes a flat and cone brew basket. The possibilities are endless.
Just make sure you have the counter space for it, as it can be a counter hog. You’ll also want to keep an eye on the lid as it can begin to retain water.
Cuisinart CPO-800P1 PurePrecision
If the options the Breville Precision gives you seem a little overwhelming, the Cuisinart CPO-800P1 might be just what you’re looking for. This brewer still allows for some control over your final cup of coffee with its adjustable flavor and temperature settings. You also have the auto-on feature, which lets the machine preheat your water and keep the brewer at the optimal temperature whenever you’re ready for your coffee.
The glass carafe that comes with the brewer looks great and has easy-to-read measurements on its side, making brewing that perfect cup of coffee a little easier.
While this brewer gives you several options, one that seems to be missing is the volume control for the “alarm” after you finish brewing. And while we love the carafe for its ease of measurement, the glass can be on the thinner and fragile side; something to keep in mind.
KitchenAid KCM08020B Pour-Over Coffee Brewer
One of the hardest things to avoid is the water temperature dropping during brewing. That’s where the KitchenAid KMC08020B comes in. This brewer uses a water heater on the top of the machine to keep the water at the optimal brewing temperature (198°to 204°F).
Add in its easy-to-use button interface that shows you the brewing process from start to finish, and you start to see something that lives up to the KitchenAid name.
Just keep an eye out for leaks, as the plastic quality varies from unit to unit.
Using an Automatic Pour-Over Coffee Maker Instead of Manual Brewing
When making pour-over coffee, you have to heat your water to an ideal temperature and pour it over your coffee grounds. Then, depending on how you like your coffee, you might wait several seconds to let the coffee bloom to extract the coffee’s maximum flavor.
An automatic pour-over takes care of all that for you, helping you create something that tastes great through the machine’s brew settings and grind sizes.
Manual brewing requires more specialized knowledge to make that same great cup of coffee; if you have the time, it is worth it. While I love the ease of just pressing a button to get started in the morning, I’m a part of that finished cup when I’m manually brewing coffee.
FAQs
Here are the answers to some more pervasive questions.
What is the Best Grind Size for Automatic Pour-Over Coffee Makers?
Finding the right grind size is something you’ll have to experiment with, but if you’re looking for a great jumping-off point, you’ll want a nice medium-coarse grind.
For the most part, this will give you a good cup of coffee and be a great chance to start dialing in the grind for your perfect cup.
How long does it take for an automatic pour-over coffee maker to brew a cup of coffee?
That depends on a few things; the type of coffee maker you use and whether or not it has customizable flow settings. The average brewing time for pour-over coffee through an automatic coffee machine is about five minutes. It can take longer based on how much fresh coffee you want and how you prefer drinking it.
Does it take longer for an automatic pour-over coffee maker to brew coffee than manual brewing?
When you’re manually brewing, you spend more time measuring, pouring, and waiting (a surprising amount of waiting), usually taking at least ten minutes.
An automatic brewer does this in half the time and is usually much more consistent than manual brewing. The automation allows you to focus on other things during your coffee routine.
Why does my pour-over coffee taste like plastic?
If you purchase a coffee maker with a plastic water reservoir tank, the hot water you add to it while brewing coffee may react with chemicals within the plastic and alter your coffee’s taste. Coffee makers made with plastics containing BPA have higher levels of these chemicals.
To eliminate the taste, descale your coffee machine using boiling water or adding water with lemon juice, vinegar, or baking soda. It would also be wise to select a coffee maker that’s BPA-free to reduce the number of chemicals that can potentially leach into your coffee.
Let’s Wrap it Up
Automatic pour-over coffee makers make waking up that much easier on those days when you just don’t want to.
That ease of use, durability, and options makes the OXO 8-cup coffee maker our top pick. Spend the time dialing this machine in, and you won’t be able to tell the difference between it and a manual cup of coffee.
No matter which option you pick, you’re in for a treat. Automatic coffee makers have come a long way since the days of Mr. Coffee.
Happy Caffeinating!
