Blog

From East Westphalia to the rest of the world: Miele is represented in 50 countries/regions by company-owned sales organizations and in about 50 additional countries via importers.Miele appliances, whether used for laundry care, vacuuming, or in the kitchen, are subjected to the strictest stress and endurance tests before their market launch. Miele has won many tests carried out by the Stiftung Warentest, a German consumer watchdog organization, proving why we are the number-one choice.Protecting people and the environment and doing business responsibly, for generations to come. That’s what sustainability means to us. More specifically, we want to ensure energy efficiency and resource conservation with our products and production processes. Working to take responsibility for our employees and our company. Miele holds the German Sustainability Award, is a member of the UN Global Compact sustainability initiative, and is a signatory of the “Diversity Charter”.

Two families, one company: founded nearly 120 years ago by engineer Carl Miele and businessman Reinhard Zinkann, Miele still belongs exclusively to direct descendants of the pair. With 11 employees, 4 lathes, and a drilling machine, Miele and Zinkann launched their first cream separators and butter machines in 1899 in Herzebrock, Germany. Their guiding principle, “Immer Besser” – which translates as “Forever Better”, still shapes the company today.Our design represents innovation, value, and timeless elegance. It shapes the user experience – meeting expectations, facilitating handling, and creating trust. Numerous earned attest to Miele’s design excellence. There are many good reasons for choosing Miele. Since the company’s founding in 1899, Miele has remained true to its “Immer Besser” brand promise. This means that we will do all that we can to be “Immer Besser” (forever better) than our competitors and “Immer Besser” (forever better) than we already are. For our customers, this means the peace of mind of knowing that choosing Miele is a good decision – and probably the decision of a lifetime. The Keurig K-Elite gives you the option to adjust its brewing temperature between 187 and 192 degrees, and it can also dispense hot water on demand for those times you’re making tea, oatmeal or instant soup. Its removable drip tray leaves room for travel mugs over 7 inches tall, and the machine also alerts you when it needs to be descaled.

“Automatic drip machines have gotten really good in recent years,” says Konecny. “The Breville Precision Brewer is one I like a lot if you want a lot of granular control over your brewing.”For avid coffee drinkers, there are few more worthwhile investments than one of the best coffee makers. These kitchen workhorses can help to break your morning café habit, saving you money and time in the process—and once you’re equipped with the tools to whip up delicious brews all on your own, you might be surprised by how much you enjoy it. For the majority of Americans, drip coffee makers still reign supreme, but espresso machines are quickly becoming more ubiquitous in the States, as are specialty devices like cold brew coffee makers, Nespresso machines, French presses and more. After a month of rigorous, firsthand testing, our in-house team has determined that there’s no better choice than OXO Brew 9-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker—but we’ve included over a dozen other excellent options in our curated list of top picks, ahead.

While we trust all the names featured here, if you’re looking for a reputable appliance brand that’s always dependable, you can’t go wrong with OXO, Cuisinart, Breville, Chemex (for pour-over carafes), Keurig or Nespresso (for pod-style brewing). For a newer-to-the-market, trendier brand that caters to home coffee connoisseurs, check out Fellow, which has amassed its own fan following.

The right model for you depends on your preferences, but for true coffeehouse-quality brews at home, check out the high-tech (and expert-backed) Technivorm Moccamaster or our top pick, the OXO Brew 9-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker. Alternatively, go the artisan route with a pour-over carafe (like the Chemex) or a French press (see the Fellow Clara). Bonus: Both of these devices are budget-friendly.I’m a writer, editor, and consultant focusing on luxury lifestyle. Formerly, I was an editor at Departures, Travel + Leisure, Glamour, and more. I’m also the founder of @littleackbook, a Nantucket-based publication and concierge service. For more: @anniedavidsonwatson

I’m a senior fashion editor covering women’s and men’s fashion, grooming and accessories. My work often explores the unique people and cultural trends that bring products to life and make them worthy of obsession. I grew up in New England and studied art history and architecture at Brown University. My writing has appeared in T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Vogue and the Wall Street Journal, and I’m the author of two books on beauty, including Be Well: New Spa and Bath Culture and The New Beauty: A Modern Look at Beauty, Culture and Fashion. Follow me @Kari_MolvarSome coffee makers brew one cup at a time, while others brew up to 12 cups. To find the best option for your home, consider how many cups of coffee your household usually drinks—homes with multiple coffee drinkers will likely want a larger capacity machine. People who live alone or have different coffee preferences than their housemates might be better off with a single-serve machine, many of which offer a range of serving sizes. Discarded capsule capacity: 10 large capsules | Water tank capacity: 40 ounces | Types of drinks brewed: A range of coffees, espressos and double espressos The glass carafe has an ergonomic handle, dripless spout and knuckle guard, and the machine comes with a gold-tone filter, measuring scoop and paper coffee starter kit. It might not be the fanciest machine out there, but the Cuisinart Brew Central gets consistently positive reviews from buyers who love its adjustable features and say it lasts for many years. I am a staff writer for Forbes Vetted who primarily covers deals and consumer shopping. I previously worked as a deals staff writer for Wirecutter, and my byline has also appeared in the New York Times. When I’m not scouring the web for consumer news, you can find me cooking, crafting, or reading. Sometimes, simpler is better. That was certainly the case with this budget-friendly pick, which two of our experts recommended wholeheartedly. “Personally, I remain a fan of the classic Chemex glass brewer,” says Tony “Tonx” Konecny, founder of Yes Plz Coffee. “Unlike a lot of coffee gear, it looks beautiful on the countertop and I find it to be less fussy than some of the other manual pour-over devices. The filters it uses are a bit heavier and more forgiving, and it delivers a really full-flavored cup.”

The coffee maker has an LCD display that allows you to choose the grind setting, grind time and number of cups to make. There are eight strength settings, along with the option to use pre-ground coffee for those times you don’t have whole beans on hand.

I’m a New Yorker who lives in Los Angeles with my husband, three daughters and dog. A former Conde Nast staffer, I’ve covered style for over two decades (with an emphasis on beauty and wellness). I would love to cover more travel as it’s my greatest passion. I also owned a designer clothing store many years ago with a fellow Conde Nast editor.I’m the executive strategy editor at Forbes Vetted and a functional nutritionist. In between geeking out over SEO and obsessing over products, from mattresses to treadmills to every kitchen gadget I can get my hands on, I’ve written more than a dozen books and cookbooks and created over 1,000 original recipes.

Single-serve coffee makers offer unbeatable convenience, and one of the best coffee machines that uses coffee pods is the Keurig K-Elite. This sleek appliance offers a wide range of settings—including five drink sizes, brew strength adjustment, an iced coffee option and more—and its large, 75-ounce reservoir lets you make up to eight drinks before it needs to be refilled.“A coffee maker can have a huge impact on flavor as it impacts the way the coffee is extracted,” explains Phillips. “From getting the correct temperature, to having a pour that consistently saturates the bed of grounds evenly, to even the simple aspects of being easy to keep clean, the coffee maker you pick will definitely change the cup you get.”With a sleek-looking glass pitcher, this cold brew maker is easy enough to lid: Just measure out your grounds, then place them into the filter basket—which conveniently screws into the lid. Next, fill the pitcher, seal the lid and let the coffee brew for 12 hours at room temperature or 24 hours in the refrigerator. It couldn’t be simpler, and what’s more, it’s dishwasher-safe.Freshly ground coffee beans yield a fresher and more flavorful drink. The Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker has a built-in burr grinder that processes beans right before it makes your brew, resulting in the freshest coffee possible. It has six grinder settings, and in addition to brewing into the 12-cup stainless steel carafe, the machine can also dispense a single serving of coffee directly into a travel cup or large mug.If you want one of the absolute best coffee makers, the Technivorm Moccamaster is one of the most highly regarded options available—but it comes with a price tag to match.

This coffee press only takes a minute to use, and its compact form makes it ideal for travel, as well. Its plastic design is phthalate- and BPA-free, and it comes with paper micro-filters that eliminate any grit from your drink and make cleaning up easy.“I love the Moccamaster by Technivorm,” says McCarthy. “It heats the brew water to around 200 degrees, which enables the water to pull out more sweetness, body and nuance. The brew basket has a switch that you can use to close it all the way (I’ve found this helpful for a short bloom or degassing time after the first hit of water), and halfway, if you’d like to slow down the flow of water through the coffee bed.” He adds, “It delivers the most well-extracted flavor when you use it to its full capacity.”

This high-end model boasts a beautiful stainless steel exterior and six brewing modes, which include Gold Cup, Fast, Strong Brew, Iced Coffee, Cold Brew and My Brew, a custom setting that lets you customize bloom, water temperature, brew time and more. The machine includes both flat-bottom and cone-style filter baskets, and it has a 12-cup stainless steel carafe to keep your java hot until you’re ready to drink it.For those that tend to drink one cup at a time, the AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker is budget-friendly, versatile and easy to use. “When it comes to my home coffee setup, I value versatility over all else, which is why I recommend the AeroPress,” says David Yake, Director of Sales & Sustainability at Tony’s Coffee. “It doesn’t require a fancy kettle, and it can make nearly any coffee shine. With an easy recipe adjustment, you can make everything from a strong, concentrated coffee for your cappuccino, to a clean, crisp cup using your favorite floral Ethiopia coffee.” This French press is made from insulated stainless steel that will keep your drink a consistent temperature, and it yields clean, full-flavored coffee. The all-directional pour lid makes it easy to serve, and the nonstick interior makes for fast cleanup. Coffee makers often have a variety of features designed to keep your drink an ideal temperature. Some machines have insulated stainless steel carafes that will keep coffee warm for longer, while others have keep warm settings that use a hot plate to maintain a consistent temperature. If you tend to come back for a second cup of coffee, these types of features will definitely be beneficial.I’m also passionate about mental health and I’ve written extensively on the subject over the past four years. In my spare time, I enjoy doing yoga, playing with my shih tzu puppy and creating paintings for my art business, Paint By Kara.

There are many kinds of coffee makers available today, and they all have their own benefits. Traditional drip coffee makers are a popular choice, as they can generally brew multiple servings at once. There are also pod coffee makers, such as Keurigs, which are ideal for those who want to brew one serving at a time. Finally, there are manual coffee makers, which give you more precise control over your brew.

If you’re specific about how you like your coffee to taste, you may want to look for a coffee maker that allows you to customize the brew. “To ensure the best cup of coffee, the most important feature is being able to adjust the brew strength so you can make each cup of coffee to your individual liking,” explains Raymond Cole, CEO of Lucky Jack Coffee. More advanced coffee machines allow you to adjust settings like the brew temperature, brew time, coffee strength and more, helping you make the perfect cup of coffee for your individual tastes.OXO’s Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker is, hands down, our top pick for 2023. A drip maker, it offers high functionality at a reasonable price, and its ease of use and no-frills display is bound to appeal to most home users. There’s a helpful “brew pause” feature and a freshness timer that can tell you how long the coffee in the carafe has been waiting around, and it’s fairly easy to clean, too, with nothing more than dish soap and hot water. Users are also notified when the machine needs to be descaled. Note that it is on the bigger side—at 15 inches tall and 17 inches wide, this might not be the best option for smaller kitchens. But it’s a solid, durable machine that’s bound to last years.

As a shopping editor, I always have my eye on the latest deals. When I’m not scrolling through the most recent Anthropologie sale, I’m probably testing out a new serum or a pair of running sneakers for a potential review.Some people swear by French press coffee, and if you want to see what the hype is about, you can’t go wrong with the Fellow Clara French Press Coffee Maker. Not only is this French press incredibly sleek with its matte black exterior (it’s also available with walnut accents!), but it takes the guesswork out of coffee brewing thanks to coffee and hot water lines marked inside the carafe.

The Nespresso VertuoPlus was our top tested pick when we tested all of the best Nespresso machines on the market. With the press of a button, you’ll be treated to your coffee drink of choice, whether 5 or 8 ounces, espresso or double espresso. (The machine scans the embedded instructions within each capsule, and automatically brews from there.) It’s also easy enough to clean—you’ll just have to dump out the capsules every once in a while, and wash out the water tank.In our testing, it was clear that the coffee bed from both of these brewers was evenly saturated, while cheaper brewers had big divots in the center. High-quality spray heads might seem like a picky detail, but they made a huge difference in our taste tests and required more engineering than the systems in cheaper brewers. Both Hellweg and Grasing explained that Ratio and OXO iterated on a number of spray head designs and extensive testing before landing on their final version.

Another great feature of high-end brewers is the built-in bloom cycle. Fresh coffee has a lot of carbon dioxide in it that immediately releases when hit with hot water, often referred to as the “bloom.” Both the Ratio Six and the OXO brewers have built-in programming that automatically blooms the coffee, and OXO even has a proportional bloom depending on the size of the batch you’re brewing. “What’s unique about OXO coffee makers is that we optimize the time and temperature based on the brew size—if you’re brewing two to four cups, the coffee maker will deliver an appropriate amount of water to bloom the coffee, and then finish brewing,” Grasing says.

We think so. While our top coffee maker picks might be more expensive than most of what’s out there, these brewers are designed with high-quality parts and are engineered for performance. They outclassed all of the other brewers tested in taste tests, and have higher-build quality than cheaper brewers designed to last, as well.The first thing that sets high-end coffee makers apart from the competition is raw power. The Ratio Six Coffee Maker, the OXO Brew 8-Cup and the OXO Brew 9-Cup are all rated at 1400 watts, which means they can heat water much faster than cheaper models. Both brewers completed full brew cycles in around five to six minutes in accordance with the Specialty Coffee Associations home brewer standards. Conversely, many cheaper brewers are rated at 900 watts or lower, and took more than 10 minutes to brew. But aside from power, the actual design of the flash-heating chamber is another thing that sets these machines apart.Speaking of the spray heads: both brewers have specifically designed spray heads that saturate the coffee evenly during extraction. Cheaper brewers tend to concentrate water towards the center of the coffee bed, over-extracting bitter flavors. While the Ratio Six has a metal spray head with a slight spiral pattern, both OXO brewers have a trademarked design they call “The Rainmaker,” which features different channels that divert the water to each hole.Both the Ratio Six and the OXO brewers use a cast aluminum coil as their heating element, which wraps around the chamber in a spiral and heats the water to boiling in just a few seconds, sending it up to the spray head after. “Cheaper models often use a horseshoe-shaped heating element that has a double purpose: also powering the hot plate,” says Ratio founder Mark Hellweg. These horseshoe-shaped heating elements don’t fully surround the heating chamber and are usually rated for lower wattage, making them less efficient than coil-shaped heating elements. They’re also a lot cheaper to manufacture, and don’t require a high-wattage cord either: another cost-saving measure. But even horseshoe-shaped heating elements can hit boiling temperatures, eventually, which brings us to our next point.

In our testing, the Ratio Six and OXO brewers reached target temperatures of 195-205ºF within the first 45 seconds and held those temperatures for the entire brew cycle. Less powerful brewers took two to three minutes to reach a peak temperature of only 185ºF and then would skyrocket to 208ºF to 210ºF in the last minute of the brew cycle, which is too hot.What sets the Ratio Six apart, and is a big reason why it’s the most expensive brewer we tested, is the build quality. While the outside of the brewer is made from stamped stainless steel (compared to the plastic body of most home machines), the inside uses borosilicate glass water supply lines. “They’re also designed to be serviceable,” Hellweg says. “If you open up a Ratio Six, you’ll see screws.” Every part in the Ratio Six brewer is designed to be swappable, so even if something fails, the machine can be repaired time and time again. Each brewer also comes with a 5-year warranty. Most cheaper coffee brewers on the market don’t have this, and are usually thrown out if something breaks.

Coffee shops have one major advantage over most home coffee equipment: the quality of the brewer they use. Commercial coffee machines have precision temperature control, built-in bloom cycles, and spray heads that saturate the coffee evenly. While most home coffee makers don’t have these features, our favorite automatic drip coffee makers do. They might be more expensive than a lot of the competition, but they make cafe-quality coffee achievable in your own home.We’re not shy about how much we love our favorite coffee makers, but there’s no denying it: our top picks are more expensive than the average brewer. We tested 16 models across varying price points, and the costlier models won out every time.

“The UK is a very interesting market for us,” says Miele. “It’s growing at a double-digit percentage rate for us because we’ve found the right way to go to that market.“We were successful before that and we will probably be successful afterwards as well, as there will always be demand for a premium brand. So I am not afraid for us,” he says.

Miele, which tests its machines to last 20 years, prides itself on a culture of continuous improvement dating back to when its co-founders wrote “immer besser” (forever better) on their first butter churn.With the weak euro helping to decrease prices of its appliances outside the eurozone, Miele achieved sales growth of 8.3pc in the 12 months to the end of June, its highest annual growth since 2005. Excluding exchange rate effects, sales grew by 6.4pc.

“When you have a lot of your manufacturing in the eurozone and particularly in Germany, you always have to look for improvements because you have to charge a higher price,” he says.

“It’s like what happens in the car market,” says Miele. “There are entry- level cars and premium cars and sometimes these are more than a few hundred per cent more expensive than the entry-level cars.“We’ve never been on the stock market,” adds Zinkann. “We see competitive advantage in our independence. Our independence is our strength. We’re able to think in generations. It’s only possible because we’re independent and auto-financed. Yes, of course you can grow faster with equity from the stock market or wherever, but we think we can only grow healthily and sustainably by thinking long-term.

Germany accounts for 30pc of Miele’s €3.49bn (£2.56bn) sales and most of its production – it makes 850,000 washing machines a year. The company is a proud member of the “Mittelstand” community of privately-owned businesses, though it now also has factories in the Czech Republic and Romania. Britain is Miele’s fifth biggest market after Germany, the US, Switzerland and Australia, and home to 500 of the company’s 17,750 employees.“She had used her Miele washing machine for more than 30 years and worked out it was the cheapest washing machine she had ever bought.” Zinkann feels this is a common occurrence. “If your product breaks down after five or six years, the cost of the service call is nearly coming to the cost of the machine, so you’re paying for it a second time.

All the company’s 70 managing directors, including Miele and Zinkann, are the founders’ descendants and the co-proprietors say Miele’s family ownership means they can take a long-term view.

“They’re happy with the company and the revenues. As long as they’re happy with what we’re doing and the results, the company can have a strong future.” “Yes, our customers spend a little more on washing machines, but they also get more. I received a letter from an elderly lady in East Germany who said she was too poor to buy a different brand. “We’ve invested a lot there in logistics, warehousing and the customer experience centre and we have a long history there, so people know the brand and how durable the machines are.”

For example, Miele has its own sales and service subsidiaries in 47 countries, but sells through importers and distributors in another 50 nations where it doesn’t think it can make a long-term return from its own operations.

Miele believes the company’s premium positioning made it more resilient to the global financial crisis than peers, with sales declining by only 1.2pc in 2008-09 before returning to growth the following year.“If you have a Miele machine, this can’t happen or shouldn’t happen. Even if something happens, our service technician can update the machine to the latest standard, which gives you the feeling of having a new product,” he says.

Yes, BostonbeaN Coffee Company offers a wide variety of touchless coffee and water machines, commercial coffee & tea options and espresso-based beverage machines. View our office coffee & tea page for more information.Contact us today to schedule your hot or cold brew coffee demo at the office. We can install the equipment and provide the coffee and supplies at no charge so the whole office gets a chance to try the coffee program that’s best for your office. No obligation.

Yes! Our team makes the job of your office breakroom manager easy. A professional will arrive at your office at a scheduled time, install the machine, and explain anything that is necessary.

Yes, our team can cover all of your pantry service, breakroom supply, coffee & tea, other beverage, food, snack and office sanitation product needs. We pride ourselves in being your one-stop office supplier and we always prioritize client satisfaction. Contact us if you have any questions.BostonbeaN Coffee company serves workplaces in Boston, Cambridge and the Greater Boston, MA Area. Click here to view some of our most popular service areas.Since the Emblem Bean to Cup Coffee Brewer has dozens of beverage options, it covers the function of many machines in one. Some of the most popular beverage options include coffee, iced coffee, lattes, espresso options and more. Also, there is a touchless model available, which many offices opt for to reduce the spread of germs. Finally, whether you choose the hands-on or touchless model, the Emblem Bean to Cup is easy to use and produces high quality beverages, which will ensure its popularity in your office.Match your machine to your coffee area or brand image. The Emblem allows you to choose between 30 different colors for both the interface and LED lights.

Note: While this method can create a strong coffee that mimics the flavor of a Starbucks espresso, it will not be a true espresso due to the lack of pressure from an espresso machine.

However, the most common espresso machine used in Starbucks stores is the Mastrena High-Performance Espresso Machine, which is made by the Swiss company Thermoplan AG. The Mastrena machine is designed specifically for high-volume environments like Starbucks, and it’s known for its speed, consistency, and ease of use.You may have seen a Starbucks Reserve and asked yourself “what is a Starbucks Reserve?” One thing is for certain – they make espresso the proper way at these cafés using higher quality equipment meant for better flavor, not necessarily speed like most Starbucks locations using the Mastrena. Once the coffee is brewed, pour it into a measuring cup. You should have about 1-2 ounces of coffee, which is the standard serving size for an espresso shot. Starbucks Reserve is a line of premium and rare coffees offered by Starbucks, featuring unique blends and single-origin varieties sourced from around the world. The Starbucks Reserve program was launched in 2010 as a way for Starbucks to showcase their expertise in sourcing and roasting high-quality coffee.The Starbucks Reserve line includes small-lot coffees that are only available in limited quantities, often with unique and distinct flavors that reflect the terroir and processing methods of the beans. Some Starbucks Reserve coffees are also aged or barrel-aged, adding complexity and depth to the flavor profile.

If you are using a Moka pot, fill the bottom chamber with water up to the safety valve. Insert the filter basket and fill it with the ground coffee, then screw on the top chamber.

Making a Starbucks-style espresso without an espresso machine can be challenging, as the espresso machines used by Starbucks are specifically designed to create the high pressure required for a true espresso. However, you can still make a strong coffee that mimics the flavor of a Starbucks espresso using the following method:

Boil enough water to fill your Moka pot or French press. Let the water cool for a few minutes before using it, as espresso should be brewed at a lower temperature than regular coffee.We hope this helps in trying to find the best coffee maker for you. Getting a quality coffee maker will not only make your coffee taste better, but it will allow you to enjoy it for much longer. To browse quality options, see our full coffee maker line-up here. Happy brewing!

For the highest quality, consider the Ratio Six Coffee Maker. While it carries a heavy price tag (nearly $350), it offers the highest quality and an industry-leading warranty of 5 years.

Want a coffee maker that lasts forever? Get one that doesn’t have all the internal parts. French Press coffee makers and other manual coffee makers can last indefinitely. Or at least until you break it. There are no pumps, tubes or heating elements to get in the way.

Check out drip coffee makers from Zojirushi, which are known for their quality and are customer-favorites for their precise coffee taste and affordable price points.

Quality coffee makers with durable parts, long warranties and proper maintenance can last well over 5 years. Use the tips given here, and you’ll extend the life of your coffee maker and get the most out of it.