The Best Coffee Makers to Add to Your Wedding Registry

The best coffee makers to add to your wedding registry, chosen by the pros at The Knot for our 2019 Registry Awards.
alyssa longobucco the knot wedding planning expert
by
Alyssa Longobucco
alyssa longobucco the knot wedding planning expert
Alyssa Longobucco
Wedding Planning Expert
  • Alyssa Longobucco is a freelance editor, content creator, and stylist.
  • Alyssa is well-versed in shoot production and styling and market work for a variety of platforms.
  • Alyssa worked as a Senior Style and Planning Editor for The Knot for over three years.
Updated Jul 17, 2020
We have included third party products to help you navigate and enjoy life’s biggest moments. Purchases made through links on this page may earn us a commission.

Coffee has morphed from a busy day must-needed fix to a full-blown obsession for lots of couples. If the two of you met over matcha lattes or know your arabica from your robusta, then you're probably looking to wishlist the best coffee maker out there to support your habit. Turns out, we're big fans too—which is why we gave ourselves the very hard job (jkjk) of testing some of the best machines in the biz to find the best options for you. Let's brew this.

In this article:

Best Pour-Over and Press Coffee Makers

Some things are worth going back to basics for. And if you ask, well, a lot of people, that includes making pour-over coffee. Harnessing old-school methods, fans of pour-over and press coffee use just hot water and a press or funnel to make their coffee. If that's your style, then we've got the best pour-over coffee maker for you.

best pour over and press coffee chemex

Editor's Pick: Chemex 8-Cup Coffee Maker, $46, WorldMarket.com

Coffee snobs know that Chemex is the way to go if you're a pour-over coffee fan. It may look better suited to a chemistry lab than a coffee shop, but we promise—it's super easy to use. Simply put your grounds in a cone filter on the top of the vessel and pour hot water over them evenly, allowing the coffee to drip through to the vase below. It's as easy as that!

Pros:

This is one of the very best coffee pots on the market. The Chemex's simple design makes it easy for novices to pick up in no time.

Cons:

The simplistic design can be limiting for some coffee enthusiasts. If you prefer to set and forget your coffee maker, you probably won't want to rely on the Chemex for your daily cup.

best pour over and press coffee bodum

Couple's Pick: Bodum Chambord Copper 34 Ounce French Press, $50, CrateAndBarrel.com

Our couples have sophisticated taste—they must, because they've chosen the Bodum French Press as their pick for best coffee maker. If you're unfamiliar with the art of the French press, it's another manual brewing method thought to result in a rich, full-bodied brew. You simply load the canister with ground coffee and water, then use the middle plunger with a mesh sieve to push down the grounds, extracting extra flavor from the grounds. This Bodum press is sleek and stylish and most of all, effective.

Pros:

When looking for the best coffee maker available, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more elegant and effective product. It also looks incredible – who doesn't want to add something shiny to their countertop?

Cons:

Like the Chemex, this device requires a bit more manual labor than your average coffee machine. If you're willing to put in the work, the rewards can be sweet. However, if you're looking for ease of use, you may want something automatic.

best pour over and press coffee hario

Best Basic Pour-Over Coffee Maker: Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper, $19, Amazon.com

This little guy actually looks like a coffee cup—but you'll still need of your own on-hand to brew with the Hario. Simply place the dripper atop a glass carafe or coffee cup (depending on the amount you are making), pour the grinds into a filter and top with the correct amount of water for your serving size. It's ceramic body retains heat and ensures the coffee maintains the right temperature to "bloom," while its small size makes it ideal for homes with small kitchens.

Pros:

Sometimes, the simplest methods are the most effective. There's something incredibly understated and easy about this gorgeous design, which makes it instantly appealing.

Cons:

You'll have to be gentle with your brew when using this device. Careful temperature monitoring is required, so if you prefer not to babysit your cup of coffee, you might want to invest in another option.

best iced coffee oxo

Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker: OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker, $52, Oxo.com

Prefer cold over hot? You may have tried making iced coffee at home before and ended up with only a watered down mess. Good news—OXO has you covered. Their cold brew machine is the best coffee maker for iced coffee addicts. It has an ultra-fine mesh filter, so you get all the flavor with none of the sediment. Plus, one use will make up to five cups, so you can batch enough for a week at a time.

Pros:

This is perhaps the very best coffee pot for iced concoctions, making it easier than ever to brew up some cold caffeine. It prioritizes bold flavors. You won't ever have to worry about a watered down cup.

Cons:

You'll need some patience when using this contraption for the first few times. The learning curve can be steep; the benefits are worth the effort.

best pour over and press coffee aeropress

Best Travel Coffee Maker: Aeropress Coffee Maker, $30, Williams-Sonoma.com

If you're someone who craves delicious joe on the go, then you're going to want to invest in this little wonder product. The Aerpress is perfectly packable and will help you brew a cup of coffee (or espresso) right over a travel mug. Just place in the microfilter, add hot water and press for 20-40 seconds. Cleanup is a breeze too, so whether you're enjoying your batch on the train or in a hotel room, you will indulge mess-free.

Pros:

Lightweight and incredibly hardy, this powerful coffee maker is easy to throw in your suitcase or into the dishwasher.

Cons:

If you're making coffee for a crowd, this one won't be much help. Brewing a single cup can take several minutes, so if you're hoping to pour multiple servings, you're better off with a bigger alternative.

Best Automatic and Drip Coffee Makers

Nothing feels quite as good as waking up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. But unless you've scored yourself an early-rising spouse (who also loves to make you coffee each morning, in which case go you), you probably rarely get to indulge in one of life's greatest pleasures. No worries—add one of these machines to your registry and you'll be smelling that home brew in no time.

best automatic coffee maker bonavita

Editor's Pick: Bonavita Coffee 8-cup One-Touch Drip Coffee Maker, $69, Wayfair.com

We've chosen this drip machine for our best coffee maker list, but you don't have to take our word for it. The Bonavita Coffee machine actually has been tested by the Specialty Coffee Association, where it performed up to their "Golden Cup" standard, so you know it's legit. It will churn out up to 8 cups in six minutes, and then keep your batch warm for up to 40 minutes, so you'll have a chance for a second mug after your morning shower.

Pros:

The best coffee pot we've tried yet, this device is great for multiple servings. It's simple, easy to use and makes a great pour. What more could you want?

Cons:

If you're just making a couple of cups, this coffee pot may be too oversized for your needs.

best automatic coffee maker ninja

Couple's Pick: Ninja Coffee Bar Glass Carafe Coffee System, $149, Target.com

You may associate the Ninja brand with just smoothies, but they're actually pretty strong into the coffee game as well. Our couple's love the Ninja coffee system—with six size options and five different styles of brew, it's the best coffee maker if you and your love have different coffee styles. Bonus alert: it also will heat and brew your milk so lattes are totally an option.

Pros:

The possibilities are endless with this model. If you prize variety and want to do a lot with a single machine, this is the best coffee pot for your home.

Cons:

Simple coffee pots are often best. If you're not going to use all the features available on this model, it may not be the best coffee maker for your needs.

best automatic coffee maker keurig

Best Single Serve Automatic Coffee Maker: Keurig K-Mini Plus Single Serve Coffee Maker, $93, Amazon.com

We don't need to tell you that Keurig owns the single-serve coffee category—you've even probably used (or owned!) one before. But if not, registering for your wedding is the perfect time to add one to your home. We love this mini option for households where only one partner is a coffee fan—why sacrifice all that space when only one of you is into brews? This slim design is great for a cozy kitchen corner and still churns out all the K-cup varieties you've come to love.

Pro:

Keurig is nothing if not convenient. The brand has carved its own unique niche in the market. Nothing really compares. You either love them or hate them.

Cons:

The waste associated with K-cups isn't ideal. You're also limited to K-cup branded coffee blends, making this far from the best coffee maker available.

best automatic coffee maker krups

Best Basic Automatic Coffee Maker: Krups Savory Coffee Maker, $51, Wayfair.com

Not only does this brewer come in at a great price point (it'll practically pay for itself in just a few cups!) but it's programmable, so you can set it to auto-brew as your morning alarm for a perfectly gentle wakeup call. Your sleep schedule (and your coworkers) will thank us.

Pros:

One of the most affordable options available, this coffee pot is an easy addition to any wedding registry. The convenience factor is undeniable, too.

Cons:

Programmable coffee pots rely on beans you grind the night before your morning cup. This means an inherently less fresh option than manual coffee makers.

best automatic coffee maker breville

Best High End Automatic Coffee Maker: Breville Precision Brewer, $330, Breville.com

The price point is higher on this Breville maker, but it is truly the best automatic coffee maker money can buy. With a 12-cup capacity and six brewing modes, you can craft a cup to suit any taste. It's been certified for home brewing by the Specialty Coffee Association, so it's pretty much a guarantee you'll like what it's cranking out.

Pros:

It's easy to see why so many people rank this as the very best coffee maker available today. It's stylish, automatic and easy to use.

Cons:

The price point is kind of high for the average coffee drinker, and given its limited features, may not interest coffee enthusiasts.

Coffee and Tea Cash Fund Ideas

Editor's Pick: A Starbucks cash fund

For those days when sleep too late to make your own cup, have a backup plan in place for your caffeine fix. Start a cash fund on your registry to pay for your favorite dark roast, latte or frappuccino from Starbucks—or really any local shop you want to be able to hit up whenever you need.

Couple's Pick: A brunch cash fund

What goes better with coffee than some fried eggs and bacon? Answer: nothing. Stack your calendar full with Sunday brunch dates with help from your guests with a brunch cash fund on your registry. Who knows—you may even get enough dough for weekly donuts, too.

Up Next
  • Woman using ipad to manage wedding registry online
    The 10 Biggest Wedding Registry Mistakes to Avoid