There’s nothing quite like a fresh cup of hot coffee on a cold winter morning, but having to get out of bed to start the coffee brewing is a big ask. Thankfully, there are coffee makers equipped with smart technology that lets you control the brewing process from a smartphone app or smart home device.
The top choice is the Keurig K-Supreme Plus because it works with Alexa, offers an incredible number of customization options and gives you the ability to choose from the wide variety of Keurig-compatible pods on the market. Your choice of which smart coffee maker to go with will largely depend on what kind of coffee drinker you are, so here are a few things to keep in mind as you make your selection.
What to know before you buy a smart coffee maker
Style: pods vs. beans vs. grounds
The biggest thing to think about when choosing a new coffee maker is what you want to put in it. Traditional drip coffee makers use coffee grounds and a paper filter, giving you the option to either purchase grounds yourself or buy fresh beans and grind them at home with a separately-purchased grinder. Some machines incorporate grinders into the process, so you can feed whole beans into the machine and it will grind the proper amount each time. The other type is pod machines, single-serve units ideal for those who live alone or in office settings where everyone has a different favorite drink. For more information, consult the full coffee makers guide on BestReviews.
Capacity
The smallest multi-cup coffee makers can usually produce 4 or 5 cups per brewing cycle, while larger units produce 10 or 12 cups. However, the definition of a cup is used rather loosely, so you should check the capacity in ounces before you buy because the maker’s version of a cup may be different from yours. Single-serve machines, whether they work with pods or produce espresso from grounds, rely on water tanks, and in most cases, the bigger the tank, the better. Obviously, if the machine is too big, it will take up a lot of space on your counter, but you also don’t want to have to constantly refill it, so it’s a balancing act.
Compatibility with your devices
In general, a smart coffee maker means it connects with a device for remote operation either via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The most common way to control coffee makers remotely is through smartphone apps. Some machines have dedicated apps that you must download, while others can be controlled using the Alexa app. If you want to be able to use Alexa, you need to make sure the machine you’re buying works with the Alexa app instead of through its own proprietary app.
Smart coffee maker features
Voice control
Coffee makers that operate through the Alexa app are also compatible with Amazon’s smart home devices, meaning you can control them with voice commands. Just how much you can control with your voice will depend on the type of machine you get. You might be able to adjust the brew strength or temperature, or you might simply be able to start or stop the brewing process. There aren’t a lot of machines available with this feature, so you won’t have many to choose from.
Automatic stop/start
It’s always nice to wake up in the morning to a fresh pot of coffee. Many coffee makers, including those that don’t have smartphone connectivity, offer the ability to program a brewing cycle so you can set it to start brewing before you get up in the morning. With smartphone control, you can set this up from bed or make adjustments on the fly, and you can also turn the machine off after you leave the house if you forgot to do so. Many machines also have automatic shutoff functions so the warming plate will turn itself off after a certain amount of time. Again, even machines without smartphone connectivity have this feature, so you don’t have to spend more for a smart coffee maker unless you want the ability to control it from your phone.
Additional drinks
While traditional drip coffee machines can only make one thing — coffee — pod machines can make all sorts of drinks depending on what kind of pod you’re using. The top pod machines can be adjusted based on the type of pod, and some can even sense which pod you’ve got and make those adjustments automatically, altering the brew strength and cup size based on whether you’re making coffee, espresso, tea or cocoa. There are also some automatic espresso machines that can make both coffee and espresso drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, letting you add textured milk while enjoying freshly-ground beans.
Smart coffee maker cost
The cheapest smart coffee makers are available for under $100, but there aren’t a lot of them on the market. Pod machines that offer smartphone connectivity are also rare and can cost around $200. If you want an automatic espresso machine that uses fresh beans, offers a variety of drinks and can be controlled from an app, you might end up paying $1,000 or more.
Smart coffee maker FAQ
Can I use my own beans or coffee grounds with a pod coffee machine?
A. You can, but it’s not that simple. The first thing you’re going to need is a quality grinder so you can go from beans to grounds. Next, you’re going to need a reusable pod that you can fill with your grounds, and unfortunately, there are a lot of lousy ones out there. If you can find a good reusable pod that you’re able to reliably reseal, you can then use your fresh grounds with your pod machine. Most people find this to be too much hassle and choose to either just use the pods sold for their brand of machine or purchase a coffee maker that uses beans or grounds.
Are pod coffee machines bad for the environment?
A. There are a lot of different brands of pod coffee machines, and even more types of coffee pods produced. Some pods are recyclable or compostable, and some aren’t. If you don’t want to contribute to the creation of more plastic waste, you’ll have to keep an eye out when shopping online so you can purchase pods that you can recycle. Environmentalists may also want to do some research into the different brands of capsule machines to find which ones have the most recyclable pod options available, though it’s important to remember that making this a priority may mean you’ll have to forego certain other features in the name of being environmentally conscious.
Which smart coffee maker should I get?
Best of the best smart coffee maker
Keurig K-Supreme Plus: available at Amazon, Kohl’s, Bed Bath & Beyond and Keurig
Our take: This single-serve machine allows you to customize your brewing experience by making adjustments either on the machine, over Wi-Fi via a smartphone app or by voice control with Alexa.
What we like: The machine has a 78-ounce reservoir and features BrewID, which recognizes the type of pod being used and adjusts the brew settings accordingly. There are five drink size settings, five strength settings and six temperature settings. You can save up to 10 drink settings to quickly brew your favorite beverages.
What we dislike: Despite all its connected convenience, it is still a pod machine, meaning you’re largely limited to the types of coffee you can obtain in pod form.
Best bang for your buck smart coffee maker
Hamilton Beach Smart Coffee Maker: available at Amazon
Our take: Drip coffee purists can save money with this 12-cup machine that doesn’t have the ability to make fancy espresso drinks, but can reliably start the brewing process after a voice command given to Alexa through the app or an Echo device.
What we like: The clock syncs wirelessly to automatically keep the correct time. The heating plate automatically shuts off after two hours. You can set coffee to brew at a specific time every morning, change the brew strength or start/stop the brewing process through the Alexa app.
What we dislike: Even if you’ve filled the basket with grounds and the reservoir with water, you have to remember to select ready to brew or else it won’t start brewing when you tell it to brew.
Honorable mention smart coffee maker
Jura D6 Automatic: available at Amazon and Sur la Table
Our take: Although it’s quite expensive, the D6 is actually on the simpler end of Jura’s offerings, giving you the ability to make espresso, cappuccino or coffee with control from the company’s Smart Connect app.
What we like: It includes a milk frother so you can steam milk to make creamy cappuccinos. The Pulse Extraction Process brewing method delivers quality espresso, and the integrated grinder allows you to use fresh whole beans. The smart water filter alerts you when it needs to be changed.
What we dislike: Not every version of the machine comes with Smart Connect, so you may have to purchase an adapter from Jura separately.
Gregg Parker is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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