Coffee snobs will tell you that the only drinkable coffee is the stuff that you've ground yourself and measured out carefully into your fancy machine.
They'll probably tell you this while fiddling around with each mechanism or perhaps while carefully - painstakingly, even - cleaning each individual compartment after they've brewed a single shot of espresso.
"Sure," you'll nod, politely. Before heading back to your own filter coffee machine and completing the coffee brewing process in a matter of seconds, not minutes.
A filter coffee maker is a big step up from instant coffee but still provides all of the smooth, sumptuous taste that more intricate machines offer. Offering the versatility of choosing your own ground coffee without the struggle of spending forever waiting for the process to finish, the best filter coffee makers promise all of the fun and none of the fuss.
The even better part? Many of these machines come in at less than £50. Which means, if you're an avid coffee drinker, you'll probably make back your money in just a few weeks. Which means more cash to spend on the variety of ground coffee to enjoy through it.
There are a few key things to look out for when it comes to choosing your filter coffee machine. Arguably the most important - particularly if you're a a heavy coffee drinker - is capacity. The larger the machine, the more cups you're able to make in one go. While some filter coffee machines keep it traditional with space for a paper filter, others come with in-built permanent filters, which are better for the environment and require less cleaning up.
We’ve rounded up all of the best filter coffee makers
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Best iced coffee makers tried and tested: Top machines to use all year round
Best manual coffee machines for a truly top notch brew tried and tested
Best pour over coffee makers for home: Pots and filters for the perfect brew
Best cafetières: Get a stylish pot brewing these tried and tested French presses
BEEM Pour Over Coffee Maker Set
Beem’s coffee machines are designed for those who want to romanticise every inch of their lives - including their morning cup of coffee. These beautiful filter coffee makers are a little more stylish than your standard machine, fusing together a frame made of aluminium, a coffee filter and pot made of glass and wooden style elements to bring it all together.
You use it the same way you would any other filter coffee machine - by setting your filter on top with your grounds and pouring the coffee through slowly. But this is one that you’ll enjoy using a little more so than your standard coffee maker.
Buy now £70.00, Imperial Teas
Morphy Richards 162501 Filter Coffee Machine
Morphy Richards’ 162501 Filter Coffee Machine does what it says on the tin: it produces quick, seamless, delicious coffee without any unnecessary mess to clean up. This budget friendly filter coffee maker doesn’t take up too much room either, which means you can leave it safely on the worktop without having to bring it in and out of the cupboard each time you fancy a coffee.
This stylish Equip Filter Coffee Machine has a 10 cup capacity and has a reusable permanent filter, which means there’s no need for filter papers and makes it a little friendlier for the environment.
Buy now £34.00, Amazon
Russell Hobbs Luna Filter Coffee Maker
The Russell Hobbs Luna Filter Coffee Maker may look like a premium coffee machine but it’ll rarely set you back more than £40 - something you’ll definitely second guess while you’re admiring its stunning copper accents or setting up its programmable timer. A coffee machine that ensures you always have a fresh cup waiting for you first thing in the morning, its timer and auto “keep warm” setting promise to definitely come in handy during the working week.
Buy now £99.95, eBay
KitchenAid 5KCM1209BOB Drip Filter Coffee Machine
The KitchenAid 5KCM1209BOB Drip Filter Coffee Machine has the capacity for up to 12 mugs of coffee in one go, making it a great choice if you’re living in a big household or seem to find yourself surrounded by people who say “Oh, go on then!” when you politely faux-offer to make them a cup as well.
With its reusable gold tone permanent filter and keep warm function, it’s also useful if you constantly need a caffeine top-up throughout the day without having to fuss around waiting for the water to heat up each time.
Buy now £169.00, Argos
BREVILLE VCF155 Iced Coffee Machine
Latte lovers look this way: the Breville Iced Coffee Maker is here and promises to quickly become a staple daily habit. The best thing about this coffee machine is its versatility - there’s an option for purely iced coffee or, if you like a little of both, you can upgrade to the hot and iced version. It works the same as any other filter coffee maker but comes designed in a way that ensures your iced coffee is just as delicious at home as it is from your favourite coffee shop.
Buy now £31.93, Amazon
LOGIK L14DCB19 Filter Coffee Machine
The Logik L14DCB19 Filter Coffee Machine is definitely one of the most budget friendly filter coffee makers around and can be found for less than £20 on a regular basis. A top choice for doing the job without any unnecessary bells or whistles, it’s got capacity for up to 1.8 litres of coffee (spoiler: that’s more than enough for even the hardiest of caffeine lovers) and stays hot for a long time after it’s used, too.
Buy now £24.99, Currys
Smarter Coffee WiFi Bean to Cup Drip Filter Coffee Machine
Some people will tell you the world of tech has gone too far and, next thing you know, robots will be taking over our every move. That’s perhaps not too farfetched once you’ve discovered the Smarter Coffee: WiFi Bean to Cup Filter Coffee Machine but, also, we’re not totally against it.
A coffee machine that allows you to get on with your day by allowing you to order a cup of coffee from your phone, this impressively intuitive machine makes coffee drinking an even more enjoyable experience.
The coolest part? Just how customisable it is. Schedule ‘Wake Up Mode’ and ‘Home Mode’ to have freshly brewed coffee ready when you are or personalise your coffee by choosing bean to cup or filter, your desired strength and coarseness of the grind and number of cups you want all via the app.
Buy now £269.00, Desert Cart
Melitta 6707231 Aroma Boy Filter Coffee Machine
Think back to those classic Americana movies where endless cups of coffee are served without hesitation in retro themed diners. And then take a look at the Melitta 6707231 Aroma Boy Filter Coffee Machine and you’ll probably pair up the two pretty quickly.
This vintage-esque coffee machine adds a dash of fun to your coffee making experience and is perfect for anyone who likes a little more flair and character in their kitchenware. It’s on the smaller side - making two cups of coffee at a time - but also squeezes into the smallest of kitchens.
Buy now £35.24, Amazon
Bosch Styline TKA8013GB Filter Coffee Maker
Everything about the Bosch Styline TKA8013GB Filter Coffee Maker was designed to make your coffee to cup experience as smooth as the coffee itself. Like its AromaProtect System, which adapts the brew time automatically and optimises the extraction process based on how many cups you’re making. Or its permanent filter, which provides a cheaper, fuss-free option compared to buying endless paper filters. It also makes a huge 15 cups in one go. With all of that in mind, you can’t really go wrong with this option.
Buy now £79.00, Coffee Friend
Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine, Cream
Smeg’s DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine is the retro filter coffee machine of dreams. With its cream colour and rounded design, it’s worlds away from modern coffee makers but still comes with the same sophisticated tech to ensure an easy user experience.
This machine combines high levels of performance with its unique design, making it a piece of kitchenware you’ll almost definitely want to make space for. The hot plate underneath also ensures your coffee stays suitably hot long after it’s made, too.
Buy now £189.00, John Lewis
Aeropress
Best for: beginner coffee makers
Aeropress has built a cult-like brand following online for a very good reason: it makes consistently great coffee with very little barista knowledge needed. The brand’s eponymous coffee maker has racked up almost 20,000 five-star Amazon reviews and counting.
Developed by a coffee-loving scientist called Alan Adler who wanted to save precious time in the single-cup brewing process, it has an ergonomic workflow that is great for beginners. As there is very little that can go wrong with the Aeropress, it’s a great choice for people who want to drink better coffee, but immediately tap out at the idea of lots of fiddly steps.
Using it is as simple as placing a filter in the filter cap, pouring coffee grounds and hot water into the chamber, and then allowing the coffee to steep for a few minutes. Once you’ve plunged the brewed coffee, you’re left with a smooth and bitterless drink that has a taste profile similar to pour-over, but with around a tenth of the effort.
Buy now £34.98, Amazon
Verdict
If you’re searching for a filter coffee machine that looks good and does good at the same time, look no further than BEEM’s Pour Over Coffee Maker Set. This easy-to-use filter coffee maker stands proud in your kitchen and wastes no time brewing up a round of coffee every morning.
