8 filter coffee machines (test 2023)

Technical details:

Design and operation: The Moccamaster is already one of the classics among filter coffee machines and is available in two versions, with a glass jug or a thermos jug. The special feature of the version with a glass jug is the keep-warm function. The intelligent heating plate keeps the coffee warm at 78 °C without burning it and turns off automatically after 40 min. In our test, the temperature of the water was brought to a constant 94 °C and infused in small bursts via a 9-hole spray head. This allows for a smooth extraction. All elements of the Moccamaster are manufactured to a high standard and can be removed and cleaned in the dishwasher, with the exception of the water reservoir. Since the water reservoir is not removable, a separate container is used to fill water into the water reservoir. Two switches control the brewing process as well as the integrated heating plate. The built-in drip stop ensures that no coffee drips onto the heating plate when the glass jug is removed. Click here for a detailed Moccamaster test.

Taste: The gentle brewing process is clearly evident in the taste. In the test, both strong, intense roasts and light, fruity coffees convinced us in the Moccamaster. The subtle nuances of fruity coffees came to the fore especially when preparing larger quantities. The coffee taste is very balanced and a difference to hand-brewed filter coffee can hardly be noticed. Only with small portions was the coffee in the test sometimes a bit thin and unbalanced, but still drinkable.

Conclusion: The Moccamaster brews a filter coffee that actually comes close to the quality of a hand-brewed coffee. Good design is important, but not as crucial as functionality. With the Moccamaster, both are right. The machines are handmade and tested in Holland. In addition, all Moccamaster models come with a 5-year warranty from the manufacturer. For a slightly higher price, this filter coffee maker really competes with the hand filter. We find that it integrates perfectly into any kitchen and does not lose its luster even after many years.

Technical details:

Design and operation: The design of the Wilfa Classic undoubtedly stands out. The Scandinavian elegant design and high-quality workmanship make the Wilfa Classic an absolute eye-catcher in any kitchen. The machine has an on/off switch and a regulator with orientation scale for continuous adjustment of the flow rate. An advantage for all those who also want to prepare smaller quantities of coffee, for example, 0.5 liters. An automatic drip stop was not integrated in the Wilfa Classic, but the flow can be completely closed manually at the filter holder with the help of the regulator. The filter holder can be removed for filling, but the design must be handled with sensitivity here. All removable parts are dishwasher safe. Also in the Wilfa Classic CMC-100, the coffee grounds are wetted in spurts via a 9-hole spray head with a measured water temperature of 96 °C, ensuring gentle and even extraction.

Taste: The Wilfa Classic CMC-100 brews a very balanced and nuanced filter coffee. Especially the smallest brewing amount convinced us the most, as the coffee runs through the flow regulator slowly and accordingly delivers a very balanced flavor.

Conclusion: The Wilfa Classic CMC-100 combines excellent extraction with a chic and minimalist design. Due to the adjustable flow rate on the filter holder for 0.25 l to 1 l, a good tasting filter coffee can be brewed even with small quantities of coffee. In the test, it proved practical to always leave the flow open a bit more than the scale recommends, as otherwise the flow rate is throttled too much and the coffee is over-extracted. The only downer is the design of the lid of the coffee pot. This is designed so that a small residue always remains in the glass jug.

Technical details:

Design and operation: Gastroback’s Design Brew Advanced coffee maker 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 minimalist, only the blue LED display is a bit too bright for our liking. Similar to the Wilfa Classic, the Gastroback also has a flow regulator and is very easy to use. The filter holder can be easily removed for filling and cleaning. The integrated timer function is particularly suitable for those who like to be woken up by the smell of freshly brewed coffee. All removable elements are dishwasher safe.

Taste: The coffee from the Gastroback tasted best when the flow was completely open. We were able to determine 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 constant brewing temperature and the timer function are the highlights. The volume control on the filter holder proved to be too sensitive in the test, as the flow rate was severely throttled even at a small reduction on the scale. As a result, the coffee is extracted for too long and tastes slightly bitter.

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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 that turns the machine on and activates 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 somewhat sensitive twist-lock, though this is easy to fill and clean, but it is not so easy to place on the table due to the drip-stop device.

Taste: The constant brewing temperature and the gradual addition of water result in a very harmonious tasting and well extracted coffee.

Conclusion: Besides the eye-catching design, the brewing temperature, which is kept at a constant 96 °C from the start, is convincing. Unfortunately, as with its sister from Wilfa, the lid of the glass jug 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 comparison test. It is also no longer in production. For this reason, we recommend the Wilfa Classic CMC-100, which is similar to the Svart Optimal WSO 1, except for a few details.

Technical details:

Design and operation: The Bonavita is smaller compared to the other machines we tested, and the overall design is very minimalist and functional. The cover is made of brushed aluminum and plastic. The filter holder is hooked directly under the brew group and placed on top of the thermos. This prevents premature removal of the coffee pot. It is not possible to use a spoon to stir the coffee grounds in the filter after the first few swings of water. This step, which ensures a more even extraction and leads to a more balanced taste, is eliminated. All removable elements are dishwasher safe.

Taste: The coffee taste convinced us especially with darker coffee roasts. Although we felt that the machine somewhat under-extracts the coffee, it still delivers good results.

Conclusion: In addition to its space-saving design, the Bonavita is unique in its brewing technology. Of all the machines tested, it is the only one with a type of pre-infusion, where the water is initially added in very small batches, but the ground coffee can unfortunately no longer be stirred during the subsequent brewing process. We can recommend the Bonavita to anyone who wants to get a space-saving coffee machine and accept as few compromises in taste as possible. The machine brews a noticeably slightly under-extracted but still good tasting filter coffee.

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Technical details:

Technical details

Design and operation: The design of the Melitta Aroma Elegance is unusual and can be placed well in a corner, for example, due to its angled design. The materials give the machine a high-quality feel. The machine is very user-friendly. It has clearly arranged selection buttons and a high-quality stainless steel build. A positive extra is the removable water tank, so no additional vessel is needed for filling. Due to the design, the filter holder is closed during the brewing process, so the coffee grounds cannot be distributed with a spoon. The machine has a timer function that allows you to schedule coffee brewing in advance. However, for the best possible taste, we always advise brewing the coffee fresh. An indicator shows when the machine needs to be descaled. Since water hardness varies from region to region, we recommend watching for signs that the machine needs to be descaled yourself.

Taste: We noticed that the taste of the Melitta Aroma Elegance Deluxe is a bit less strong and nuanced than other coffee machines. This may be an indicator of too fast and/or uneven extraction. However, we can still describe the taste as relatively balanced.

Verdict: The Aroma Elegance Deluxe not only offers a high-quality and unusual 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 makers, such as the Moccamaster, distribute the water more evenly over the grind. The coffee can compete with the winners in our test, especially with strong coffee roasts.