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Most of us love a good hit of caffeine in the morning, right? That boost of energy can make it infinitely easier to get through a busy day and feel ready to tackle anything that comes your way. And while it might be super convenient to get your fix at a coffee shop on the way to work, it’s also pretty expensive and can be time-consuming on a busy day. Luckily, there’s an easier way!
Drip coffee makers are one of the best ways to brew your own coffee at home. They don’t need a ton of space on your counter and can make a single cup for a solo coffee drinker or a whole pot for the family to share. They’re really easy to use and clean, too. Plus, with keep warm functions and delay start timers, your coffee will always be ready for you as soon as you wake up. And it’ll stay delicious for the next person. Perfect.
If a drip coffee maker sounds like the perfect addition to your kitchen, we’d love to help you find the perfect fit. Drip coffee makers will vary in a variety of features including price, capacity, brew options, overall size, delay timer settings, and so much more. And you’ll want to think about all of them to make sure you get the best option.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best drip coffee makers in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Upgrade Pick: Breville BDC450BSS Precision Brewer Thermal Drip Coffee Maker
Budget Pick: Black+Decker CM1231SC 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker
Runner-Up: Ninja CE251 Programmable Brewer
Streamlined Alternative: OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker
We love everything about the Braun KF7170SI BrewSense Drip Coffee Maker. It’s one of the best-looking coffee makers out there, and it doesn’t need to claim a lot of your counter space. What a relief, right? This thing also performs extremely well. With a cone-shaped filter basket, gold-tone coffee filter, and charcoal water filter, you’ll also get to experience the best-tasting cup of coffee you’ve ever had.
And the good things don’t end there! The control panel is a long line of easy-to-read buttons that make this coffee maker incredibly user-friendly, and the digital screen is large enough to keep the time visible from across the room. The large 12-cup capacity gives you plenty of coffee if you want a full pot for the family, but you can also choose to brew only 1-4 cups as well.
One of the only things you might run into that isn’t quite perfect is the spout shape on the carafe. It’s pretty easy to spill if you pour quickly, so you’ll just need to be a bit more careful with this one to be sure you won’t make a mess. Otherwise, the slightly high price tag might be the only reason you want to look at other options.
Overall, the Braun KF7170SI BrewSense Drip Coffee Maker is a pretty fantastic option. We think it’ll fit well into every household. With a large capacity, superb design, and reliable features, this coffee maker offers everything you could ask for. And then some.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers love basically everything about the Braun KF7170SI BrewSense Drip Coffee Maker. It’s one of the faster coffee makers they’ve used and the control panel could not be more intuitive. Every cup comes out perfectly whether they’re brewing normal or bold coffee, and it looks great on their countertops, too. The only minor concern is how easy it is to spill if you pour too quickly from the carafe.
Buy If…
There are multiple coffee drinkers in your house
A straightforward control panel is ideal
You want a self-sufficient machine
A pure-tasting coffee is your goal
Don’t Buy If…
You’re shopping on a tight budget
You like to pour quickly
Dimensions: 7.9” x 7.9” x 14.2”
Weight: 7.4 lbs
Capacity: 12 cups
Carafe Material: Glass
Delay Timer: 24 hrs
Keep Warm: 5 hrs max with 15 min increments
Brew Options: 1-4 cups or a full pot
Warranty: 3 years
The Breville BDC450BSS Precision Brewer Thermal Drip Coffee Maker has a lot going for it. Of course, as our upgrade pick, it makes the best possible cup of coffee. With six brew types and the ability to adjust the temperature, brewing time, and flow rate, you’ll be able to customize every cup to your exact tastes. How cool is that!?
You’ll also love the digital display — it’s super easy to identify which coffee type is selected, and you can easily make changes with the responsive dial. The sleek stainless steel exterior guarantees it’ll match well with almost any decor scheme, too. And we all know how much that matters.
There are a couple of features that might not totally thrill you, unfortunately. One of them is the timer. It isn’t the most reliable thing on the planet and might not work at all some days. There’s nothing worse than a timer you can’t rely on, right? The other potential issues are the high price tag and the larger size of this option — you’ll need a higher budget and more free counter space for this one.
Overall, the Breville BDC450BSS Precision Brewer Thermal Drip Coffee Maker is one of our favourite drip coffee makers of all time. Not only does it offer the best versatility out there, but it’s also incredibly user-friendly. It doesn’t hurt that it looks great on a countertop, either.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 2/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Reviewers have a very high opinion of the Breville BDC450BSS Precision Brewer Thermal Drip Coffee Maker. They love that it can be used to make all kinds of coffee-related beverages and how adjustable each of the brew settings is. They’ve never had a better cup of coffee. Plus, it’s really easy to use and looks great. They would prefer that the timer was more reliable, though. Sometimes it doesn’t work at all.
Buy If…
You’re very particular about your coffee brewing process
You enjoy a variety of coffee types
You prefer a fully digital display
A sleek appearance would be a nice touch
Don’t Buy If…
You don’t have a lot of counter space available
You need something budget-friendly
You like to use a delay timer
Dimensions: 6.6” x 14.2” x 15.6”
Weight: 10.1 lbs
Capacity: 12 cups
Carafe Material: Stainless steel
Delay Timer: Yes
Keep Warm: No
Dishwasher-Safe Parts: Yes
Brew Options: 6
Warranty: 2 years
The Black+Decker CM1231SC 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is a really great option if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a coffee maker. It has one of the lowest price tags out there. But it still has a lot going for it. Like the delay timer. You can program the coffee maker up to 24 hours in advance to have your coffee ready when you need it. Plus, it’ll stay warm for up to two hours if you can’t drink it right away.
Another one of our favourite features is the display/control panel. Four simple buttons make this coffee maker a dream to use, even when you aren’t fully awake. And the display is easy to read at all times of day. What a relief. With a special Sneak-A-Cup feature, you can grab a cup of coffee before the pot is done brewing. Perfect for those last-minute mornings.
There are a few things that we don’t love about this option. First, it doesn’t offer the same build quality as other choices, so it won’t be a decade-long companion. It also isn’t super versatile and will only brew a full pot of coffee — you can’t adjust the number of cups. Lastly, the back-fill design of the water tank means you’ll have to move the machine every day to access it. Inconvenient, we know.
Overall, the Black+Decker CM1231SC 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is a great choice if you’re looking for a reliable machine and an approachable price. It doesn’t have the best longevity or versatility, but for regular old coffee, it’s all you need.
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Reviewers have mostly good things to say about the Black+Decker CM1231SC 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker. The delay start timer and keep warm functions are very effective and reliable, and they make a big difference in the overall coffee experience. The machine is also very easy to use. However, it isn’t the most durable thing out there and the back-fill design isn’t the most convenient.
Buy If…
You won’t always be able to drink your coffee right away
Affordability is your main priority
You want the option of pouring a cup before the full pot is brewed
Ease of use is important to you
Don’t Buy If…
You don’t like a back-fill water tank
You don’t often need an entire pot of coffee
You want a coffee maker that’ll last
Dimensions: 8.3” x 13.8” x 14.2”
Weight: 6.1 lbs
Capacity: 12 cups
Carafe Material: Glass
Delay Timer: 24 hrs
Keep Warm: Yes
Dishwasher-Safe Parts: Yes
Brew Options: Full pot only
We are big fans of the Ninja CE251 Programmable Brewer. And in a few minutes, you will be too! It has an advanced boiler to make sure your coffee comes out hot without worrying about ruining the taste of the beans. It makes a perfect cup of coffee every time. And you have the option of selecting a normal or strong brew strength to match your caffeine needs. Perfect.
Plus, you can brew either a full pot at once or choose a smaller amount between one and four cups. We love the versatility here. We also love the 24-hour delay timer — your coffee will always be ready for you when you need it. And it’ll stay warm for up to four hours if you can’t get to it right away. So thoughtful. Throw in a removable water tank, dishwasher-safe parts, and an auto-clean feature, and you’ve got a perfect coffee maker on your hands.
Honestly, one of the only remotely negative things we can say about this coffee maker is that its size might be a bit much for a small kitchen. So really, the only reason you might not find this a good fit is if you’re really short on counter space. Happy brewing!
Overall, the Ninja CE251 Programmable Brewer is another one of those easy favourites. It was a no-brainer addition to our top five for this year. No matter what you’re looking to get out of a drip coffee maker, we can pretty much guarantee that this one will exceed your expectations.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4.5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have a very high opinion of the Ninja CE251 Programmable Brewer. It makes some of the best coffee they’ve ever tasted and is very easy to use thanks to the great instruction manual. It makes a hot cup of coffee and offers two brew strengths and two brew amounts (1-4 cups or a full pot). They appreciate the keep warm and delay timer functions as well. And the removable water tank is a huge hit.
Buy If…
You like your coffee piping hot
You want a say in the amount and strength of coffee brewed
You’d love a water tank that can be filled at the sink
Easy cleaning is a must
Don’t Buy If…
You need a super compact machine
Dimensions: 8” x 10” x 14”
Weight: 6.5 lbs
Capacity: 12 cups
Carafe Material: Glass
Delay Timer: 24 hrs
Keep Warm: Up to 4 hrs
Dishwasher-Safe Parts: Yes
Brew Options: 4
Warranty: 1 year
The OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker is a pretty unique option. It’s one of the only coffee makers out there that is built to function with a mug as well as a coffee pot — it has a flip-up pedestal and everything! You’ll easily be able to change the amount of coffee you brew with a single touch of a button, too. The control panel could not be easier to navigate — there are only four buttons!
This is one of the shorter machines as well, so it’s a great option if you’re worried about your coffee maker fitting easily beneath your cabinetry. It’s also perfect for fans of minimalist decor — it has a streamlined look that helps it blend right in. Our favourite thing is probably the vacuum-sealed carafe, though. It’ll keep your coffee hot for hours without the need for a warming plate. How convenient!
There are a few reasons this coffee maker may not be your perfect fit. With only an eight-cup capacity instead of the typical twelve, a full pot won’t go as far as you might be used to. It doesn’t have a delay timer either, so you’ll have to make a fresh pot every morning when you get up. Aside from those things, the price tag might be your only other concern.
Overall, the OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker is an easy thing to love. Whether you’re a single-cup-a-day kind of person or you need to serve a whole family every day, this coffee maker is up to the task. You’ll absolutely love it.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are incredibly happy with the OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker. It’s very easy to keep clean and they love having the option to brew directly into a mug instead of using the carafe as the middleman. It fits easily on all of their countertops since it has a small footprint and isn’t too tall, and the minimalist appearance means it looks great too. They really appreciate how long the carafe keeps coffee hot, too.
Buy If…
You want the option of brewing a pot or directly into a mug
A minimalist design appeals to you
A vacuum-sealed carafe sounds like a great addition
You're coffee maker needs to fit under cabinets
Don’t Buy If…
You’d prefer a machine with a delay timer
You don’t want to spend much on a coffee maker
Your family goes through a lot of coffee every day
Dimensions: 7” x 10.5” x 13.5”
Weight: 10.3 lbs
Capacity: 8 cups
Carafe Material: Stainless steel
Delay Timer: No
Keep Warm: No
Dishwasher-Safe Parts: Yes
Brew Options: Full pot or single cup
Warranty: 2 years
Some drip coffee makers cost as little as $40 while others can cost more than $300. In general, the more expensive options will have a larger capacity, better durability, and extra features like delay timers, unique coffee types, and warming plates.
Drip coffee makers can offer several brew options depending on which model you look at. Most of them are able to offer two brew strengths, and most should also offer multiple brew amounts, such as a full pot along with a smaller 1-4 cup setting. The top-level machines will also be able to brew other coffee types such as cold brew.
Most drip coffee makers will have a 12-cup capacity, but you’ll need to keep in mind that cups in this case refer to a five-ounce portion generally — it can depend on the brew type. Some machines have a smaller capacity of eight cups or less. Bigger machines will be better for bigger families and heavy coffee drinkers.
A delay timer on a drip coffee maker will almost always come with a 24-hour maximum, and this allows you to prep your morning coffee the day before so it’s ready when you wake up. This is a convenience that many people don’t want to do without.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.