For coffee lovers, a great cup of coffee borders on the realm of the divine, but often what makes it truly fulfilling is a timely completion–something offered by the fastest-brewing coffee makers.
Because as we all know, coffee lovers will not suffer long waits when the metabolism demands caffeine and coffee beans. Many of us cannot effectively start our days until one or two cups have been dropped down the hatch.
And each coffee lover knows how they like their brew best. But what’s a coffee lover to do when there are only a few minutes separating a ringing alarm and the need to dash out the door to get to work or school on time?
Fortunately, there are some terrific and quick brewing coffee makers on the market that will meet your need for speed and satisfy even the most discerning coffee lover’s preferences. In this article we cover the best coffee makers on the market that will be capable of making your coffee how you like–even on a tight schedule.
Fast-Brewing Coffee Makers We RAVE About
The Technology behind a Fast Cup of Coffee
With technology outpacing even the most aggressive predictions, today the best fast brewing coffee makers implement various forms high-technology. New technology allows these coffee makers to offer a quality blend of joe that delivers the bold and rich flavors of a slow-brewed coffee without the wait.
What’s more, this technology allows for new settings and options that allow users to decide between brewing a delicious cup in only a few minutes, or making a whole pot–when before coffee lovers were typically forced to make a whole pot, regardless of time constraints.
But before you make your decision on which coffee maker is best for you, it is important to answer these essential questions about fast coffee makers:
- What is the best drip coffee maker?
- What are the best coffee makers for home use?
- Which coffee maker brews the fastest?
- Which coffee maker is best for making whole pots quickly?
So, if you are one of those people who only allots a limited time to get out the door, the reality is that an average coffee maker or brewer may not make the cut. We cover coffee makers available at a wide range of prices and options, which are outlined below, so there should be a top-tier option to match your interests and your budget.
NOTE: if you’re totally new to the coffee-maker market, consider our buyer’s guide section after the ranking. In this section, we answer commonly reported questions and concerns that might arise when hunting down the best coffee maker.
The 10 Fastest Brewing Coffee Makers
The BUNN BT Speed Brew 10-Cup Thermal Carafe Home Coffee Brewer
BUNN-O-Matic Corp. has been making machinery since the 1840s. The BUNN BT Speed Brew Coffee Brewer is a great option as it is capable of brewing ten cups of coffee in only three minutes. The internal stainless-steel hot-water tank heats the water to an optimal brewing temperature of 200 degrees.
The BUNN BT BT also offers an insulated, vacuum-sealed, double-walled thermal café that will keep coffee warm for up to 120 minutes. Additionally, this fastest brewing home coffee maker is constructed with a unique spray head design that helps ensure coffee flavors are extracted evenly. The BUNN BT BT is engineered with a thermostat that is functional above 5,000 feet in elevation.
Note: that BUNN recommends that the minimum amount to brew is 24 ounces, which essentially is one-half a pot. This amount can fill a large travel coffee mug.
Brew Time – 10 cups in 3 minutes
Capacity – 50 Ounces.
Weight – 10 lbs.
Color – Black & Stainless Steel
Pros
- Spray head design
Cons
- Pricey
The BUNN 55200 CSB3T Speed Brew Platinum Thermal Coffee Maker
The BUNN 55200 CSB3T Speed Brew is among the fastest brewing coffee makers. This coffee maker is constructed of commercial-grade stainless steel, which is dishwasher safe. The BUNN 55200 Speed Brew can brew a full pot of coffee in less than one-half the time it takes for similar top-selling coffee makers.
Additionally, this coffee maker can brew between 20 ounces (enough to fill a travel coffee mug) and a full pot of coffee – equal to 50 ounces. The double-walled, thermal carafe will keep coffee warm for two or more hours. The spray head from BUNN offers a unique design that creates remarkably tasty and superior coffee, even to a novice. This coffee maker from BUNN offers a three-year warranty and is assemble and designed in the United States.
Brew Time – 20 oz in 2 minutes, 10 cups in 4 minutes
Capacity – 50 Fluid Ounces.
Weight – 7.8 lbs.
Color – Black & Stainless Steel
Pros
- Bunn quality
Cons
- Less durable than the BT
The Hamilton Beach Brew Station Summit 12-Cup Dispensing Drip Coffeemaker
Hamilton Beach products, for the past 100 years, have been thoughtfully designed to make every coffee lover’s life a little easier and more delicious. The Brew Station Summit from Hamilton Beach holds coffee fresh/hot for up to four hours (although the time is adjustable) in its internal tank.
Hamilton Beach accomplishes this without the need for a thermal carafe, yet this fast brew coffee maker can dispense a single cup of coffee even before the brew is done. This technology allows for coffee to be kept for hours without impacting its taste negatively.
The Hamilton Beach coffee maker also offers programmable functions (with four brew strengths) and is recognized to be one of the best fast cold brew coffee maker options available. The internal water reservoir is removable, making it easy to clean. Set it at night to be ready in minutes in the morning when you awaken.
Considering its price tag, we think you will be hard-pressed to find a better value coffee maker anywhere.
Brew Time – 8 minutes
Capacity – 12 Cups or 60 Ounces.
Weight – 7.3 lbs.
Color – Black
Pros
- Programmable
Cons
- Slow brew time
The BUNN GRB Velocity Brew 10-Cup Home Coffee Brewer
The BUNN GRB Velocity Home Coffee Brewer is among the fastest brewing coffee makers available. The BUNN GRB Velocity Home Coffee Brewer can brew a full pot of four to ten cups of delicious coffee in just four minutes. The internal water in the coffee maker’s reservoir remains hot, which allows you to quick brew coffee on demand. A multi-stream spray shows the water over the coffee grounds evenly.
The drip-free carafe is exclusively designed with a spout and lid that is easy to manage without mishaps or spills. This fast brew coffee maker also uses a large flat filter which achieves superior flavor through extraction. This BUNN GRB coffee maker is made in the USA and offers one of the most affordable price tags of BUNN’s line of fast-brew coffee makers.
Brew Time – 10 cups in 4 minutes
Capacity – 50 Ounces.
Weight – 8 lbs.
Color – Black & Stainless Steel
Pros
- Speed
Cons
- Non-insulated carafe
The Ninja Hot & Cold Brewed System CP307 Coffee Maker
The Ninja Hot & Cold Brewed System is among the best quick coffee makers, and offers the unique capability of fast-brewing cold coffee as well. The Ninja Hot & Cold Brewed System offers six brew sizes for both coffee and tea options – ranging from a cup to a full carafe.
In addition, this Ninja coffee maker provides you with five styles to brew that include classic, rich, specialty (frothy), over ice, or a cold brew. This coffee maker allows you to brew directly into a cup/mug. This coffee maker from Ninja has a frothing feature (hot and cold) that folds away and two baskets – one designed for coffee grounds and the other for tea leaves/bags. Note, this coffee brewer can heat water without tea leaves or coffee grinds.
The Ninja Hot & Cold Brewed System allows you to use any brand of tea or coffee, including bagged tea. With all of these features and the stellar customer reviews behind this product, we believe the higher price tag is justified.
Brew Time – 6 minutes; 10 to 15 minutes for slow cold brew
Capacity – 10 Cups or 60 Ounces.
Weight – 8 lbs.
Color – Black, Metal & Rubber
Pros
- Versatility
Cons
- Complicated
The Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central 12 Cup Programmable Coffeemaker
The Cuisinart Brew Central Coffee Maker in Stainless Steel is among the most reliable fast coffee makers with a large 12-cup carafe. Its retro design makes this fast brew coffee maker a must-have, with ease of use, especially for coffee lovers who drink multiple cups of coffee every day.
This coffee maker has various helpful and useful functions, including programmable shut-off (from 0 to 4 hours), a 24-hour clock and timer, a brew pause function, a charcoal water filter, an adjustable (low, medium, or high) keep-warm control, and an indicator identifying when it must be cleaned. This BPA-free glass carafe from Cuisinart is equipped with an ergonomic handle, drip -ess spout and is dishwasher safe.
The Cuisinart Brew Central Coffee Maker also comes with a fold tone filter that can be reused, an instruction booklet, and a measuring scoop. While certainly more expensive than the budget options on this article, this product provides excellent value at the mid-range level.
Brew Time – 5 minutes
Capacity – 12 Cups.
Weight – 6.8 lbs.
Color –Brushed Chrome & Variety of Color Options
Pros
- Retro design
Cons
- Glass carafe
The BLACK+DECKER Brew ‘n Go Personal Coffeemaker with Travel Mug
The Black + Decker Personal Coffee Maker offers one of the most affordable and best fast brewing coffee makers designed for travel mugs. The Black + Decker Brew ‘n Go is made with a space-saving designed and equipped with a permanent filter for coffee grounds that is simple to clean and flexible enough to work with grounds or a soft pod.
The travel mug fits most automobile cup holders and is ready in a few minutes as you prepare to race out the door for the day. This personal coffee maker has a safety feature that shuts off immediately after the brewing is finished. This single-serve brewer provides an easy-to-use (and clean) and saves you money as there is no need to buy paper filters.
You won’t find as many options or settings with this model, but if you found the other options on this list overkill, then this one might be perfect for you.
Brew Time – 4 minutes
Capacity – 14.88 Ounces.
Weight – 7.8 lbs.
Color – Black & Beige
Pros
- Convenient
Cons
- Only single-serve option
The Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker
The Mr. Coffee 12-Cup coffee maker is among the most affordable of available quick coffee makers. Mr. Coffee has been filling coffee cups with delicious Joe for about five decades with its classic functionality. Mr. Coffees Coffee Brewer offers an auto-pause feature to grab a mug of coffee before the entire brewing process is complete.
With more than 27,000 reviews and an average of 4.5 stars, Mr. Coffee’s 12-Cup coffee maker is also easy to clean machine that uses a basket-style filter, with a built-in cord storage feature. Mr. Coffee makes expertly brewed coffee without the fuss. The glass carafe holds for Mr. Coffee’s coffee brewer, holds up to 60 ounces or 12 cups, and sits on a warming plate that stays warm for two hours.
Much like the Black and Decker model, this product cuts out some extraneous settings and options in order to deliver a highly affordable price. This also makes it a great option to keep at the office for those situations where an emergency cup of joe is required.
Brew Time – 7 minutes
Capacity – 12 Cups or 60 Ounces.
Weight – 3.6 lbs.
Color – Black or White
Pros
- Classic design
Cons
- Slow brewing
The OXO Brew 8 Cup Coffee Maker
The OXO 8 Cup Coffee maker is recognized to be the gold standard for the Specialty Coffee Association. With a brew capability of one cup to a carafe, the OXO fast brew coffee maker is designed with a double-walled, insulated thermal carafe that goes from machine to kitchen table.
In addition, there is a single-serve function, a convenient cleaning mode, and adjustments for tall mugs. The internal mechanisms offer better precision for brewing and optional brew cycles with its rainmaker show head that sprays water across the grounds evenly. The OXO coffee brewer is designed to fit beneath cabinets and is offered with ten paper filters and a pre-measured scoop. This coffee maker features an intuitive LED function that identifies the brewing status and the coffee grounds’ freshness.
While it is among the more expensive coffee makers on our ranking and you will find “faster” brewers, you won’t find a coffee maker that does more than this one. And the level of quality delivered at each of its settings makes it one of the most notable and aspirational coffee makers on the market.
Brew Time – 6 minutes
Capacity – 64 Ounces.
Weight – 10.29 lbs.
Color – Black & Stainless Steel
Pros
- Thermal carafe
Cons
- Output is low
The Hamilton Beach 45 Cup Fast Brew Coffee Urn and Hot Beverage
The Hamilton Beach Coffee Brewer is one of the most affordable and best fast brewing coffee makers in the market, ready to serve up to 45 cups in no time. The Hamilton Beach coffee urn operates with two heating elements to keep coffee hot without overheating and uses a percolator rather than a drip-style operation.
With a 45 cup capacity, this fast brew coffee maker can be ready to serve a crowd in less than one-half hour. Hamilton Beach’s coffee maker offers a two-way dispenser that permits single or continuous serving options, a great feature as it allows to fill large or small decanters or cups.
The Hamilton Beach 45 Cup Coffee Brewer has a helpful water-level mark to ensure the right amount of water is used, plus an indicator that lights up when the coffee is ready to be served. These features make this coffee maker the ideal choice for an office or a large household made up of many coffee drinkers.
Brew Time – 28 minutes (Group coffee) – 30% Faster than Most Brands
Capacity – 15 to 45 Cups.
Weight – 7.8 lbs.
Color – Black & Stainless Steel
Pros
- Fastest large coffee maker
Cons
- Not for home use
Does a Faster Coffee Maker Make Better Coffee?
The reality is that one of the most important flavor factors when making coffee is the amount of time the heated water is in contact with the coffee grounds. The ideal time for making a delicious cup of coffee will depend on the type of coffee maker.
The primary types of coffee makers on the market fall into the following categories:
- A Coffee Drip System – should be approximately 5 minutes for optimal results.
- A French Press – should be approximately 2 to 4 minutes in length.
- An Espresso Maker – offers the shortest brew time, only needing the water to contact the coffee grounds for 20 to 30 seconds.
If your coffee leaves you less than satisfied product, it is likely that one these problems is occurring:
- Under-extracting the coffee – with a brewing time that is simply too short.
- Over-extracting the coffee – with a brewing time that is too long.
Are Commercial Grade Coffee Makers Really Better Than Consumer Brands?
Does the smell or thought of a freshly brewed cup of coffee rank as the number one motivation to get out of bed in the morning? If you answer “yes,” then it is likely you already own a coffee maker of some kind. But there are many different kinds from which to choose.
How does one know if a commercial-grade coffee maker is better than one designed for consumer use? Commercial coffee makers are designed for heavy use and are built to last. Therefore, using a commercial coffee maker at home will likely provide you with a longer-lasting machine if you use it frequently.
Commercial coffee makers may offer more reliable ‘proper brew temperatures’ and have a few extra bells and whistles, like a frothing or grinding function, but are the extras worth the extra cost?
Commercial coffee makers are designed for commercial use – which generally means they are built to withstand overuse compared to a non-commercial brand. In addition, a commercial coffee maker may be more complicated to operate, which can be frustrating for non-digital types and more expensive.
So the type of coffee maker that will best meet your needs will depend on your unique coffee demands. If you and your family, friends, or co-workers plan to brew coffee multiple times a day for the next few years, it may be time to consider upgrading to a commercial model.
How Important is Name Brand?
Despite the coffee maker or coffee brand that is chosen, the basic premise to making coffee is the same – heated water contacts coffee grounds, which extracts the flavor of the ground coffee beans. Water drains through coffee grinds which are held in some sort of filter, which essentially creates a grit-free coffee.
The process to brew coffee is straightforward; however, different coffee brewers produce differing results. For example, the temperature of the water impacts the flavors that have been extracted, and the time of contact between the water and the beans can impact the strength of the coffee.
Some of the better coffee maker brands use proprietary techniques that may shower water over the coffee grounds rather than hitting the coffee in a steady stream of water or agitate grounds to improve brewed coffee.
But remember, coffee is personal. The type of coffee maker one chooses is a highly personal decision. For some, the name brand will matter, while others will find a coffee brewer of average quality is perfectly fine for their taste. It really comes down to your palate and your expectations.
If you consider yourself a more refined enthusiast of coffee brews, then you will likely taste the nuance in blends that many others won’t. If this is the case, we recommend experimenting with a few more affordable models of various brands, until you find one calibrated to your tastes–then you can more comfortably upgrade to one of the brand’s more luxurious options without risking disappointment.
