Popular Coffee Maker Brands To Avoid (And Better Alternatives To Consider)

According to the National Coffee Association, 62% of Americans drink coffee every single day. While many coffee drinkers prefer to purchase their daily cup of joe from a drive through or coffee shop, the majority of coffee lovers choose to brew their favorite beverage at home. This means that, for many Americans, having a high-quality, dependable coffee maker is of the utmost importance, and not all coffee makers and coffee maker brands are of equal quality. Fortunately, in today's age, there are so many coffee maker options on the market. There are pod machines, manual and automatic espresso machines, pour-overs, and of course, simple yet timeless drip coffee makers. However, not every coffee maker brand is a winner, and there are some you may want to pass on if you're looking to upgrade your at home coffee bar with a new machine.

Some common factors to consider when choosing between different coffee maker brands include durability, value for price, how easy it is to clean your coffee machine, and functionality. Keep in mind that a higher price tag doesn't always mean it's a better brand — even some luxury coffee maker brands have issues with clogged grinders and molding. Other coffee maker brands have a bad reputation for being poorly made with plastic parts and having a negative impact on the environment. If you're looking to get the best bang for your buck from a machine that can enhance your morning coffee ritual, here are some coffee maker brands you may want to steer clear of, along with some better alternatives to consider.

There's no denying the popularity of Keurig. In fact, the CEO of the company Bob Gamgort claims that 45 million North Americans are using Keurig machines in their homes. The popularity of Keurig is largely due to its simplicity — all you need to do is pop a pod into the machine, press a button, and you'll have a cup of coffee. However, just because it's popular doesn't mean it's worth the hype.

There are a few reasons to reconsider purchasing a Keurig coffee machine, and a big one is sustainability. The overwhelming majority of Keurig coffee pods, also known as K-Cups, are made from plastic, which means that every time you brew a cup of coffee with Keurig, you are left with plastic waste. Though the company has claimed that the pods have been recyclable since 2020, not all recycling centers in the United States will accept the pods, so this may not be entirely true. While there are several ways you can repurpose your K-Cups, if you're a heavy coffee drinker, the empty pods might pile up faster than you can reuse them.

In addition to concerns with sustainability, drinking coffee brewed in tiny plastic cups may not be great for your health. A study published in Current Research in Toxicology found that "coffee brewed from capsule machines may contain estrogenic chemicals migrated from plastic," and estrogen leaking into your food and drinks can have some serious negative health effects. Plus, K-Cups aren't cheap, and it can be 4 to 5 times more expensive annually to drink coffee from Keurig pods rather than buying plain coffee beans.

In addition to power tools, Black + Decker also makes several kitchen appliances, including coffee and espresso machines. While the brand is generally well-liked for its affordable range of power tools, it's definitely less renowned for its coffee makers. Some common issues with Black + Decker coffee makers cited by users include poor tasting coffee, issues with automatic brewing functions, and longevity of the machine. Additionally, Black + Decker coffee makers have had recalls due to the handles on their coffee pots unexpectedly breaking, leading to users being burned and cut by the glass.

Many consumers report that Black + Decker coffee makers give off a strong plastic taste when the machine is new, and some have even reported that the taste can last longer than a month. While it's true that this may be an issue with other plastic coffee makers when they're new and not just a problem to this coffee maker brand, it's still worth mentioning. On top of having a plastic taste, the main drawback of Black + Decker coffee makers is their quality. It doesn't seem to be uncommon for parts of the machine to break, and for it to not last very long. However, it is a fairly inexpensive coffee maker brand, so this may come with the territory. Users have also reported having issues with Black + Decker coffee makers leaking and creating a mess in the kitchen, along with leaving excessive amounts of coffee grounds in their coffee.

Nespresso, owned by Nestlé, is another popular coffee maker brand you may want to avoid. Similar to Keurig, Nespresso machines brew coffee using disposable pods, and they're very popular for their ease of use. However, Nespresso isn't known for making the best tasting coffee, with many users claiming to not enjoy the taste of coffee made in the machines.

Another reported issue with Nespresso coffee machines is that they can be very noisy. If you're an early riser, this might be a major issue as you don't want your morning coffee to disturb the rest of the house while they're still asleep. Nespresso machines are known to be fairly reliable, but if you do have a problem with any of their machines, you may be in trouble because they are notorious for having terrible customer service.

Environmental concerns are also another reason you may want to pass on a Nespresso machine. The coffee pods necessary for Nespresso machines are made with aluminum, which is technically recyclable, but you can't simply recycle them as-is. To recycle Nespresso pods, you'll have to cut them open and remove other materials before you can throw them in the recycling bin, which can certainly be a time consuming and messy job. Nestlé does have a recycling program where you can mail the capsules back for recycling, but again, this may be rather time consuming. Nespresso coffee machines aren't cheap, and at that price point, you can likely invest in a coffee machine that is better for the environment and brews a better-tasting cup of coffee.

In the coffee world, Breville has garnered a reputation for being the crème de la crème of coffee maker brands. Breville machines are particularly beloved for creating delicious tasting coffee, with one Amazon reviewer even going so far as to compare their espresso to the quality that you'd find in Italy. The coffee maker brand is particularly popular amongst aspiring home baristas, as many Breville machines have functionality that allows users to pull their own espresso shots and steam milk to make lattes by hand. However, Breville is also championed for creating automatic espresso machines like the Breville Barista Touch, which is capable of creating americanos, flat whites, cappuccinos, and more at the touch of a button.

In addition to quality of taste and functionality, many users feel that Breville is a coffee maker brand that offers great value for money. Users also appreciate that Breville machines are easy to empty and clean. Another reason for Breville's popularity as a coffee maker brand is that users find their machines very aesthetically pleasing. While many coffee makers are covered in black plastic and can be rather clunky, the majority of Breville coffee makers are made with stainless steel and have a very sleek and stylish design. One potential downside of Breville is that, in addition to their hefty price tag, the machines may need maintenance as the years go on if you want to make your coffee maker last. However, users are still very happy overall with Breville machines.

While the bells and whistles of Breville coffee machines are undeniably popular, many prefer to keep it simple with a classic cup of black coffee. If a simple coffee maker sounds more like your jam, you may want to consider Mr. Coffee. This coffee maker brand introduced its drip coffee machine in the early 1970s, and it was an instant sensation.

Though Mr. Coffee has expanded in the last 50 years to now sell espresso machines and cappuccino makers, their crown jewel continues to be the Mr. Coffee Black Coffee Maker, which has over 37,000 reviews and an average rating of 4.4 stars on Amazon. Consumers seem to be refreshed by the lack of alarms, buttons, and limited functionality of the simple black coffee brewers. Mr. Coffee machines are also praised for being extremely durable, with one user even mentioning that they were finally buying a replacement coffee machine after their previous one lasted 52 years with over 18,000 refills.