Filter coffee machines are like the sand by the sea – however, only a few of them can prepare a really good coffee. The clear advantage over the manual brewing methods is the simple and time-saving preparation, especially for brewing larger quantities of coffee. We tested 8 of the best Filter coffee machines and below are our results.

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Best Filter Coffee Machines 2019

Three coffee machines fully convinced us with their coffee quality as well as the processing and operation. Our favorite is the handmade Moccamaster. The classic design combined with the outstanding coffee quality gives it the top spot in our test. Due to the particularly gentle and even brewing even subtle nuances emerge. We recommend the Moccamaster to those who have the highest demands on their filter coffee and want to compromise as little as possible.

The Wilfa Classic is also among the winners. It convinces with a very accurate brewing technique, a balanced and full-bodied taste, and its beautiful Scandinavian design. For all design lovers, who don’t want to compromise in coffee quality the Wilfa Classic is exactly the right machine.

The Gastroback Design Brew Advanced stands out with an especially good coffee taste and a variety of helpful features such as a timer and scalable flow rate and can compete with the best coffee machines.

Filter Coffee Machines we tested

1. Moccamaster
2. Wilfa Classic
3. Gastroback Design Brew Advanced
4. Wilfa Svart Optimal
5. Bonavita BV1500TS
6. Severin Café Caprice
7. Melitta Aroma Elegance Deluxe
8. PhilipsD5408 / 20 88

Testing Methods

In our detailed review, we have tested the most popular and innovative filter coffee machines to find the best one.

We placed great emphasis on the preparation method, the coffee taste as well as the design and usability in everyday life.

To judge the taste of the coffee, tastings were carried out by our experienced team. The water temperature and the brewing technique of the machines are crucial factors for the quality of the coffee. All these factors were tested, compared and evaluated.

Sensory Evaluation of the coffee

A refractometer can be used to determine whether a coffee has been over-extracted or under-extracted. For this purpose, we brewed the coffee in all the machines in our test according to the same parameters and compared the recorded TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) with each other. The TDS for coffee from filter coffee machines is often worse than for manual brewing methods because the brewing temperature fluctuates and the extraction is more uneven.

Moccamaster KBG 741

Technical details:

Design and operation:

The Moccamaster is already one of the all-time classics among the Filter coffee machines and is currently available in two varieties, with the glass jug or thermos. The special feature of the glass jug version is the keep warm function. The intelligent hotplate keeps the coffee at exactly 78°C warm without burning it and turns off automatically after 40 minutes. In our test, the temperature of the water was brought up to a constant 94°C and was poured in small bursts over a 9-hole spray head. This allows for a gentle and even extraction. All elements of the Moccamaster are of high quality and can be, with the exception of the water tank, removed and cleaned in the dishwasher. As the water tank is not removable, you can fill it with the help of a separate container. Two switches control the brewing process as well as the integrated heating plate. The built-in drip stop ensures that when removing the glass jug no coffee is dripping onto the Hot plate.

Taste:

The gentle brewing process is clearly evident in the taste. In the test both strong-intense roasts, as well as fruity-light coffees fully convinced us. The subtle nuances of fruity coffees were especially apparent with the preparation of larger quantities. The coffee taste is very balanced and a difference to the hand-brewed filter coffee can hardly be noticed. Only very small portions of the coffee in the test were a bit thin and unbalanced, but still enjoyable.

Conclusion:

The Moccamaster brews a filter coffee, which is actually the quality of a hand-brewed coffee. Good design is important, but not as crucial as the functionality. With the Moccamaster you don’t have to choose. The machines are handmade and tested in Holland. For ease of mind, there is a 5-year warranty on all Moccamaster models from the manufacturer. For a slightly higher price, this filter coffee machine is a real competition to the hand-brewed alternatives. We think the Moccamaster integrates perfectly into every kitchen and does not lose its shine even after many years of daily usage.

Wilfa Classic CMC-100

Technical details:

Design and operation:

The design of the Wilfa Classic undoubtedly stands out. The elegant Scandinavian design and the high-quality workmanship make the Wilfa Classic an absolute eye-catcher in every kitchen. The machine has an on / off switch and a regulator with orientation scale for seamless flow rate adjustment. An advantage for anyone who likes to brew smaller amounts of coffee (0.5l). An automatic drip stop was not integrated, but you can manually close the flow on the filter holder with the aid of the regulator. The filter holder can be removed for filling but should be operated with care. All removable parts are dishwasher safe. The coffee powder is moistened in batches with a measured water temperature of 96°C via a 9-hole spray head, thus ensuring gentle and uniform extraction.

Taste:

The Wilfa Classic CMC-100 brews a very balanced and nuanced filter coffee. Especially the smallest brewing quantity convinced us the most because the coffee goes through the flow regulator slowly and therefore provides a very balanced taste.

Conclusion:

The Wilfa Classic CMC-100 combines an excellent extraction with one sleek and understated design. Due to the adjustable flow rate for 0.25l up to 1l the coffee tastes great even with small amounts of coffee. In our tests, it proved to be practicable to always leave the flow slightly more open than the scaling recommends, as otherwise the flow rate would be throttled too much and the coffee would be over-extracted. The only downer is the design of the lid of the coffee pot. This is designed in such a way that a small amount of coffee always remains in the glass jug.

Gastroback Design Brew Advanced

Technical details:

Design and Operation:

The Design Brew Advanced coffee maker from Gastroback is very similar in construction and design to the classic Moccamaster. From the spray head to the glass jug we see many similarities. The individual elements are robustly manufactured and fit together well. The design is modern and sleek, only the blue LED display is a tad too bright. Similar to the Wilfa Classic, the Gastroback also has a flow regulator and is very easy to operate. The filter holder can be easily removed for filling and cleaning. The integrated timer function is particularly suitable for all those who like to be awakened by the smell of freshly brewed coffee. All removable elements are dishwasher safe.

Taste:

We enjoyed the coffee from the Gastroback best when the flow was fully open. We could taste a good body and a clear sweetness, which speak for a good extraction.

Conclusion:

The Gastroback Design Brew Advanced brews a really good coffee and offers a lot of useful features. The highlights are the constant brewing temperature and the timer function. The flow control on the filter holder proved to be too sensitive in the test, as the flow rate was greatly reduced even with a small reduction on the scale. As a result, the coffee is extracted too long and tastes slightly bitter.

Wilfa Svart Optimal WSO 1

Technical details:

Design and operation:

The reduced, elegant and Scandinavian design, the functional structure and the high-quality feel make the Wilfa Svart a real eye-catcher. There is only one switch to turn on the machine and activate the heating plate at the same time. The Wilfa Svart Optimal has an integrated drip stop so that no coffee can run out of the filter holder when the glass jug is removed. The filter device can be removed via a slightly sensitive screw cap, which is easy to fill and clean, but cannot be placed on the table as easily due to the drip stop device.

Taste:

The constant brewing temperature, as well as the gradual release of the water, lead to a very balanced tasting and well-extracted coffee.

Conclusion:

In addition to the striking design, the brewing temperature is also impressive, being kept at a constant 96 °C from the start. Unfortunately, as with her sister from Wilfa, the glass jug of the lid is designed in such a way that a small residue always remains in the jug. The Wilfa Svart Optimal is the most expensive filter coffee machine in our test. It is also no longer produced. For this reason, we alternatively recommend the Wilfa Classic CMC-100, which is similar to the Svart Optimal WSO 1, except for a few details.

Bonavita BV1500TS

Technical details:

Design and operation:

The Bonavita is smaller compared to the other machines we have tested and the overall design is very minimal and functional. The cover is made of brushed aluminium and plastic. The filter holder is hung directly under the brewing assembly and placed on the thermos flask. This prevents the coffee pot from being removed prematurely. It is not possible to stir the coffee powder in the filter with a spoon after the first cycles of water. This step, which ensures a more even extraction and leads to a more balanced taste, is no longer necessary. All removable elements are dishwasher safe.

Taste:

The coffee taste convinced us, especially with darker coffee roasts. Although we had the feeling that the machine under extracted the coffee a little, it still produced good results.

Conclusion:

In addition to the space-saving design, the Bonavita is unique in its brewing technology. Of all the machines tested, it is the only one with a kind of pre-infusion, whereby the water is initially added in very small batches, but unfortunately, the coffee grounds can no longer be stirred in the subsequent brewing process. We can recommend the Bonavita to all those who want to buy a space-saving coffee machine and are willing to accept as few compromises as possible in taste. The machine brews a filter coffee that is slightly under-extracted but still tastes good.

Severin Café Caprice

Technical details:

Design and operation:

The design of the Café Caprice impresses with its reduced and, above all, space-saving concept. The workmanship of the individual elements could be more solid and of higher quality. The Café Caprice from Severin is easy to use, but due to its design it does not allow the coffee powder to be mixed in the filter holder after it has been saturated with hot water. The thermos flask supplied can be removed independently of the filter holder. The built-in drip stop works perfectly.

Taste:

The Café Caprice can transform particularly darker, stronger coffee roasts into full-bodied filter coffee. In the test, the coffee was often accompanied by slightly bitter notes and sometimes tasted a bit thin, so we recommend grinding the beans slightly finer in comparison to other coffee machines.

Conclusion:

The Café Caprice scores significantly worse than other coffee machines in the test. In its price class, there are coffee machines that pour water at a much more gentle and constant temperature. We have measured temperatures of 90 – 100 °C. This fluctuation inevitably has a negative effect on the coffee taste. Another problem is that the water is only poured in a single jet, which extracts the coffee unevenly.

Another disadvantage is the duration of the brewing process, as boiling the water considerably extends the entire brewing process. Overall, it can be said that other filter coffee machines extract the ground coffee much more evenly, which leads to a better result.

Melitta Aroma Elegance Deluxe

Technical details:

Design and operation:

The design of the Melitta Aroma Elegance is exceptional and can be easily placed in a corner, for example, thanks to its angled structure. The materials give the machine a high-quality feel. The machine is very user-friendly. It has clearly arranged selection keys and a high-quality stainless steel construction. A positive extra is the removable water tank, so that no further container is needed for filling. Due to the construction, the filter holder is closed during the brewing process so that the coffee grounds cannot be distributed with a spoon. The machine is equipped with a timer function, which allows you to plan the brewing process in advance. For the best possible taste, however, we always advise you to prepare the coffee freshly. An indicator indicates when the machine needs to be descaled. Since water hardness varies from region to region, we recommend that you check for signs of a necessary decalcification yourself.

Taste:

With the Melitta Aroma Elegance Deluxe we noticed that the taste is somewhat less strong and nuanced than with other coffee machines. This can be an indicator for a too fast and/or uneven extraction. Nevertheless, we can still describe the taste as relatively balanced.

Conclusion:

The Aroma Elegance Deluxe not only offers a high-quality and extraordinary design but also brews a good filter coffee. However, we noticed that the arrangement of the valves is not optimal and one side of the filter is wetted more. Other coffee machines, such as the Moccamaster, distribute the water more evenly over the ground coffee. The coffee can compete with the winners in our test, especially with strong coffee roasts.

Philips HD5408 / 20

Technical details:

Design and operation:

The tower-like design allows for space-saving storage in any kitchen, but the height of the machine at 51 cm should be taken into account. The stability suffers from the special design, as the machine wobbles considerably, especially when boiling water. The glass jug is particularly flat but holds up to 1 l of filter coffee. The Philips coffee machine is very easy to operate. A single button starts the brewing process and switches the heating plate on. The design makes it impossible to stir the coffee powder in the filter holder during the brewing process.

Taste:

Compared to the other machines tested, the Philips HD5408/20 didn’t really convince us. In the brewing process, the coffee is first brewed with water that is too hot and at the end of the process with water that is too cold. We recommend stronger roasts and grinding the coffee a bit coarser than usual. Strong roasts still deliver good results even if the brewing method is not optimal.

Conclusion:

The brewing process took the longest with the Philips coffee machine because the machine first boils all the water before it is poured in a single jet. The extraction is therefore very uneven. The design is unusual and space-saving in width, but this comes at the expense of stability. For kitchens where space is limited, it is still worth considering. The Philips coffee machine was the cheapest in the test. It can be interesting as a starter model for filter coffee makers.