Filter coffee machines are widely used as coffee is a global consumption which is growing day by day. To get the most out of the ground coffee and to benefit from the best extraction method, we will look at the best filter coffee machines in the UK. Since there are many varieties of filter coffee machines, we will explore their techniques for getting good coffee and discuss their advantages and disadvantages so that you can decide what is most suitable for you.
Types of Filter Coffee Machine
There are many types of filter coffee machines. These were established long before espressos as they are perfect for drinking coffee throughout the day. There are mainly five different types of filter machines: filter or drip-brew machines, pour-over machines, grind and brew machines, manual drip coffee maker and a manual immersion brewer.
Filter or drip-brew machine – This is the filter coffee machine that is most common. You have to fill the tank with water, put in a paper filter and ground coffee, then turn it on. They mostly use glass jugs to keep the coffee warm with a hotplate underneath, while some models just use an insulated jug. These tend to be the cheapest automatic machines, but the quality of coffee produced is inconsistent.
Pour-over machines – These work by gradually dispensing water over the coffee grounds as opposed to constantly dripping hot water over the coffee. This process takes longer overall but gives a good quality cup of coffee.
Grind and brew machines – For the freshest cup of filter coffee made with minimal effort, a grind and brew machine may be the way to go. They are equipped with an integrated bean hopper and grinder that produces ground coffee instantly, depositing it directly into the filter basket. Most brew machines allow you to adjust the grind from fine to coarse so you can vary the strength and flavour, or you can still use pre-ground coffee.
Manual drip machine – This is the simplest method of brewing filter coffee, where a manual dripper sits on top of a cup or carafe while hot water is poured slowly over the filter paper and coffee grounds. The water drains through, dripping coffee into the receptacle below. However, it can be tricky to achieve consistent results as you need to monitor the grind size, dosage, amount of water used and even the speed with which you pour very carefully.
Manual immersion brewer – This is an alternative to the manual dripper. It looks very similar to a manual dripper, but it has a valve underneath that allows the coffee to steep thoroughly before you release it into the cup below. This makes it possible to consistently extract all the good flavours from the coffee, while leaving behind the bitter flavours which show that the coffee has been immersed for too long.
Our expert's Choice for the Best Filter Coffee Machine in 2021
Morphy Richards Coffee On The Go Filter Coffee Machine 162740 Black and Brushed Stainless Steel Coffee Maker
£22.59 in stock
1 used from £20.94
This filter coffee machine includes a thermal travel mug that keeps your coffee hot so that you can enjoy your coffee while travelling. The capacity of the travel mug is 300 millilitres which can last you a while, but it depends on how much coffee you consume per day. The permanent filter included means that it is easier to clean after each brew is made, thus saving you money.
✅ Has an auto shutoff feature for safety and to lower energy consumption
✅ Good temperature of the coffee
✅ Has a good quality mug
❌ Cannot use pods, it is designed for ground coffee
❌ Can only make one cup of coffee at a time
❌ Can leak a little when pouring out the water
Aigostar Filter Coffee Machine Drip Coffee Maker, Pour Over Technology for Fuller Flavour, Keep Warm Anti-Drip Reusable Filter Fast Brewing - Chocolate 30KYJ 1000W 1.25 L for 10 Cups, Black
Aigostar has a filter coffee machine that uses a showerhead technique to ensure that the coffee flavour is fully extracted. The warming plate is useful for keeping your coffee warm for up to 40 minutes after brewing. An extra function for keeping your kitchen clean is the anti-drip function which will enable you to remove the carafe to pour a cup whilst pausing the flow of the rest of the coffee. It also switches off automatically when the coffee is finished, so it saves electricity.
✅ Includes a permanent filter which is removable and reusable
✅ Has a large capacity of 1.25 litres
✅ Water indicator makes sure that you do not overfill
✅ Can be used for making hot chocolate or tea
❌ Takes a long time to brew the coffee
❌ Quite noisy
❌ Has a plastic smell even after rinsing multiple times before use
Morphy Richards 162501 Equip Filter Coffe Machine Pour Over Technology for Fuller Flavour, Glass, 1000 W, 1.2 liters, Silver
£24.99 in stock
3 used from £14.99
A pour-over showerhead technology for filter coffee machines creates a more full flavour of coffee as it maximises the extraction from the filter. This product offers a permanent filter as well so that it is easy to clean and cheaper. The heat resistant glass carafe and hotplate allows you to keep your coffee warm for a long time. The large capacity of 1.2 litres enables you to have many cups of coffee before you have to refill the tank.
✅ An aroma blender circulates the coffee evenly
✅ Filter works effectively in making sure the ground coffee does not get into your drink
✅ Very easy to use and easy to clean
❌ It has a plastic tube that is in contact with the coffee, so it may not be very heat resistant
❌ Can be a bit noisy
❌ Only stays warm for up to 30 minutes before it goes cold
Coffee Maker, Filter Coffee Machine with Timer, 1.8L Programmable Drip Coffee Maker, 40min Keep Warm & Anti-Drip System, Reusable Filter, Fast Brewing Technology, 900W, by Yabano
2 used from £35.41
The Yabano coffee machine shows that it can make coffee within eight minutes and that it has a hotplate to keep your coffee warm for 40 minutes. The auto-shutoff function ensures that it is safe to use, because it turns off automatically, in case you forget to do so. The filter basket is easy to remove for a quick refill and for easy and deep cleaning.
✅ Has a time feature integrated into it
✅ Large capacity for serving a lot of people in one go
✅ Very easy to clean
❌ Does not come with clear instructions
❌ Coffee is not very hot
❌ Boils the water very quickly that there can be some leaks
Melitta Filter Coffee Machine with Glass Jug, Easy Top II Model, 1023-04, Black/Brushed Steel, 6762889
£26.00 in stock
3 used from £24.18
For a smooth and flavourful coffee, this product gives 10 large cups of coffee all with exceptional taste. The jug is made of borosilicate glass and it keeps the coffee warm for 40 minutes. The glass jug is good for hot substances and it means that there is less likely to be any leaching of chemicals in your coffee as opposed to plastic jugs. There is one removable swivel filter which can be washed and reused. It is easy to dispose of the coffee filters and the swivel filter is dishwasher safe.
✅ 1.25 litres water tank capacity
✅ Takes about five minutes to brew a full pot of coffee
✅ Compact , so it is easy to store
❌ It uses a disposable paper filter with a swivel filter so you have to continually buy lots of paper filters which may not be good for the environment
❌ Paper filters are quite expensive
❌ Does not have enough time to heat up the coffee properly as it boils the water very quickly, thus causing leaks
Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker with Filter, Borosilicate Glass - 1.0 L, Black
£26.27 in stock
1 used from £21.18
This unique borosilicate glass filter coffee machine looks very elegant and seems to be very compact. The filter is permanent and is made from stainless steel which discards the fact that you would need paper filters. It also incorporates some safety features such as the removable cuff which protects your hands from the hot glass.
✅ 1-litre capacity
✅ Permanent stainless steel filter
✅ Easy to use and clean
❌ Coffee is not hot for long
❌ Need to be careful with the glass as it is fragile
❌ Only makes two mugs of coffee
Melitta AromaFresh Grind and Brew, 1021-01, Filter Coffee Machine, Glass Coffee Jug Included, Adjustable Grind Level and Intensity, Black/Stainless Steel
£114.99 in stock
If you want to make more cups of coffee to last the day, this Melitta stainless steel filter coffee machine can make 10 cups. It has a water capacity of 1.5 litres which is great if you drink a lot of coffee or you have a large family to share with. It also has a programmable warm-up time varying from 30 minutes to 90 minutes. The machine consists of a grinder where you can grind your own coffee beans according to your taste, so this machine gives more flexibility as to how you would prefer your coffee to be made.
✅ Display of timer
✅ Integrated grinder
✅ Easy to set up and easy to clean
❌ Not compact
❌ Does not include a permanent filter, so you would need to buy paper filters
❌ Quite noisy when grinding coffee
Morphy Richards 162010 Pour Over Filter Coffee Maker, 1.8 Litre, 900 W, Brushed Stainless Steel Morphy Richards Coffee Machine
Having a programmable timer that enables you to wake up to a fresh cup of coffee might be ideal with this machine. It offers you a generous amount of coffee to be made throughout the day with a 1.8 litre water tank capacity. A permanent cupcake filter is made for creating a smoother flavour of your filtered coffee and it can be reused. There are also adjustable coffee strength selectors which means you can vary your coffee to your needs.
✅ Large capacity of 1.8 litres
✅ Can pre-set the time you want the coffee to be brewed
✅ Reusable filter
❌ Only keeps the coffee warm for 25 minutes
❌ Does not have an auto-shutoff
❌ Made of plastic so is not durable enough
Melitta Filter Coffee Machine with Insulated Jug, Timer Feature, Aroma Selector, Look Therm Timer, White/Brushed Steel, 1011-15
£53.95 in stock
1 used from £50.17
If you are looking for a filter coffee machine that can give you adjustable coffee intensities, then this Melitta machine not only offers that, but it is able to keep your coffee hot for up to two hours. The jug is very well insulated with a double wall interior to keep your coffee warm. An anti-drip filter which is detachable is also included to keep the counter clean. The machine-washable glass jug helps increase the longevity of this coffee maker.
✅ Dishwasher safe
✅ Coffee remains hot for up to two hours
✅ Timer feature
✅ Consistently good coffee with pour-over technique
❌ Uses filter papers
❌ Quite large so needs a lot of counter space
Melitta Filter Coffee Machine with Insulated Jug, Timer Feature, Aroma Selector, Look Therm Timer, White/Brushed Steel, 1011-15
£53.95 in stock
1 used from £50.17
This Russell Hobbs machine uses advanced showerhead technology to obtain the maximum flavour of the coffee when extracted, thus giving you a great taste every time. It uses a permanent filter which saves you money. There are some features included, such as the Pause, Pour and Auto clean features which helps you decide how much coffee you want and it lets you know when it needs to be cleaned. Furthermore, it is quicker when heating, where it is 50% faster in reaching optimum temperature, meaning less time waiting.
✅ 1.25 litres water capacity, so you need to refill it less frequently
✅ Includes a timer to have your coffee made first thing in the morning
✅ Up to 50% faster at heating
❌ May taste weird depending on the water areas you live in
❌ May leak sometimes
How to choose the Best Filter Coffee Machine?
- Filter
Some may say that by using a paper filter you are more likely to get a better flavour; however, this is not always the case. Most people choose paper filters because of the machine speed and the lack of mess. Paper filters have a downside, which they are quite expensive, so it is better to get a permanent filter. It is both cost-effective as well as flavour-conscious. With this in mind, you just have to wash it under the tap after each brew.
When selecting a machine with a permanent filter, get one with a handle so the removal of the basket is easy and less fiddly.
- Capacity
The capacity of a machine is entirely up to you, based on how much coffee you require per day and how often you need to replace the water. The more often you drink coffee per day, the larger the tank should be. However, a large tank is also profitable because it reduces the refills required with each brewing setting. Of course, this only applies to machines that allow you to adjust the amount of water you want to use with each section, as opposed to those that go by an automatic approach.
- Grind & Brew
Having an integrated grinder in the machine can quickly make it more expensive. They give you freshly ground coffee from the coffee beans but sometimes, it is inconsistent so it is better to get a coffee grinder separately.
- Warming Plate
The most essential feature of a coffee machine is the keep warm function that is supported by the heated plate. This feature will keep your coffee warm after its brewing operation is complete, allowing you to go for a refill whenever you need it. Most machines have a duration varying between 20-40 minutes, but there are some units that keep the jug hot for as long as two hours.
- Integrated Machines
An integrated machine adds more diversity. Integrated machines typically use both ground coffee and capsules, which are then brewed into the chosen mode that is included on a pre-set list of programmes. They tend to be more costly because of the variety of options.
Benefits of using a Filter Coffee Machine
Filter coffee machines can offer many features. From timers to the intensity of the coffee.
- If you like to wake up to fresh coffee or have it ready for a mid-morning break, a programmable timer is essential.
- Some machines have variable strength settings which is great if you prefer stronger or milder drinks, so you have those options.
- Machines with keep-warm options help preserve the coffee for longer.
- Removable water tanks and dishwasher-safe parts help reduce the time spent cleaning while the descaling programmes keep them in good condition.
Best pour-over filter coffee machine
Pour-over filter coffee machines usually take a long amount of time, nonetheless, they give you the best intensity of the coffee which is full of flavour. It is recommended to get the Melitta filter coffee machine as it has a large water tank capacity and you have the option to set the timer for when you would like your coffee to be made. The showerhead technology ensures that there is even distribution of the water so that there is better extraction, leading to a more flavourful cup of coffee.
Which is the Best Filter coffee machine in the UK?
The Melitta filter coffee machine is the ideal choice as it keeps your coffee warm for up to two hours. This is the main feature that you need to look out for as well as the quality of the coffee achieved. Despite this, there is no permanent filter included, but you can buy one separately.
What coffee is best for a filter coffee machine?
The better the ground coffee and the fresher the coffee, the better the flavour in your cup. It has been understood that the better the coffee that you can afford, the better the taste and it does not solely depend on the coffee machine itself. Having a balance between a good coffee machine that can extract out as much of the coffee flavour as possible, is equally as important as buying good ground coffee. So the best coffee for a filter coffee machine depends on the coffee machine you have chosen to buy and what that machine is best at doing.
Summing up
The most important features of filter coffee machines have been broken down for you in detail with explanations of their importance, so that you can make a reasonable decision on what you need and what you do not need and whether these features actually offer value for money or not. You want to be able to choose a filter coffee machine that is fit for you and is the best at drawing out as much of the coffee flavour as possible. You also want it to be quick and efficient so that you can get your coffee in no time.
