Photos: Wirecutter Staff

By Haley Jo Lewis

I have a kitchen cabinet that essentially functions as a graveyard for the coffee-making methods of my past. In my early 20s, I used a wobbly French press. Then came the pour-over years. And I tried Nespresso for a while, but didn’t love having to constantly re-up on pods. Whipping up frothed milk every morning felt a little less romantic the hundredth time I did it.

It turns out, I hadn’t been asking myself the right questions. Our experts recommend taking a moment to be honest with yourself about, well, who you really are when you roll out of bed. So you’ll choose a coffee-making method you’ll actually want to do every morning.

How many cups do you drink a day? Do you need it ready the moment you wake up? Do you dream of starting a new hobby of making fancy lattes? (And can I come over?) All of these preferences will help determine the right method for you.

Our journalists have spent a decade testing and finding the best coffee makers and gear to keep you caffeinated. We have picks for basic coffee makers, extravagant espresso machines, and the best gear to get your grind down to an absolute science.

As for me, it looks like my perfect match after all these years is a simple, programmable brewer. Hope we hit it off.

Which coffee maker is right for you?→

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Illustration: Dana Davis; Photo: Michael Hession

If you don’t like to commit to one favorite bean, and you detest running to the store, a coffee subscription service could be good for you. (They also make a great gift for the coffee lover in your life.)

One of our favorite coffee subscription services, Atlas Coffee Club, delivers beans from a different country every month, roasted to your liking. Right now, Wirecutter readers can sign up for 60% off.

An (on-sale!) subscription Wirecutter’s coffee nerd swears by→

Photo: Connie Park

I was matched with our top-pick cheap coffee maker. It made “far and away the best coffee” our kitchen experts brewed in their cheap coffee maker testing—crafting cups that balanced sweetness and rich coffee flavor without tasting bitter or too acidic.

I think we were matched because I indicated that I am incredibly impatient, would ideally love to wake up to fresh coffee already being brewed, and like to keep things simple.

The best cheap coffee maker for most people (and, hopefully, me)→

Cheers. With our favorite mugs, of course.

You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.

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