Nerdy Science in the Kitchen

Best Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe

Good coffee is hot and fresh. That's why you need a thermal carafe.

Good coffee is hot and fresh. Which one is the best coffee maker with a thermal carafe?

When purchasing coffee makers, there are a lot of different types to sift through.

My favorite is the Cuisinart DCC-3400 Grind & Brew Thermal 12-Cup because it’s the complete package. Check it out at Amazon.

From single-serve units to traditional coffee makers that brew four or more cups at a time, all the way to machines that come with thermal carafes to use with your coffee maker.

If you are in the market for a coffee maker, you’ll have several options to choose from, and the best machine for you will depend on the way you drink coffee.

If you are brewing for more than one person, you’ll need the classic carafe coffee maker. This option has two more options. Glass or thermal carafes. Glass carafes are fine if you drink your coffee relatively fast, but if you need to keep your coffee fresher for longer, than a thermal carafe is what you’re looking for.

So after you’ve factored in all of your coffee drinking habits and decided on a proper classic coffee maker with a thermal carafe, the next step is choosing the right one for you. Here I’ve got three machines and I’ll go over my reasons for liking them.

Black+Decker 12-Cup Thermal Drip

BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Thermal Coffeemaker, Black/Silver, CM2035B

The Black+Decker 12-Cup Thermal Drip Coffee Maker is an excellent product for your basic coffee needs.

The 12-cup capacity is ideal for large families. Or maybe you just drink a lot of coffee throughout the day. Nothing wrong with that. I enjoy the ability this one gives you to choose not only your brew size but your brew strength as well.

Of course, it’s a thermal carafe so it holds heat well and because it is vacuum sealed, your coffee will maintain its temperature for several hours. Another convenient perk here is the timer that shows you how long ago the last brew was. You’ll always know if your coffee is fresh.

Here’s the Black+Decker at Amazon.

Should you purchase this one?

This is an excellent coffee maker. If you are like me and drink your coffee pretty much plain, then this is the one you should get. That said, if you want to be able to do more than brew a simple batch of coffee, you could certainly go in another direction.

Capresso MT600 Programmable Thermal Carafe

Capresso 485.05 MT600 Plus 10-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe,Black

Here is a mid-tier coffee maker that will give you some more capabilities than the entry-level machines. It’s the Capresso MT600. It’s a terrific product that will work well for your home, and look good doing it.

It holds up to ten cups of coffee and will keep your beverage hot for several hours before it goes stale. The Capresso MT600 has a power function enabling it to retain all settings during short power outages. Waking up to no coffee because a power outage reset your coffee maker’s timer will not happen to you ever again.

This one also has a charcoal water filter that will get rid of 82 percent of the impurities, and the electronic indicator on it will let you know when you need to have it replaced. After all, coffee is basically two ingredients, beans and water. Better water, better coffee.

Check out the Capresso at Amazon.

Should you purchase this coffee maker?

The sleek design makes it a good fit in any kitchen, and the practicality of the machine means it’s a good value for your dollar. It might cost more than some people would like to spend on a coffee maker, but it will give you quality coffee for several years to come.

For hot coffee that stays hot, not just any cup will do... You need an insulated cup!
Hot coffee is the best coffee.

This cup will keep your coffee hot outside of the carafe.

Cuisinart DCC-3400

Cuisinart Stainless Steel Thermal Coffeemaker, 12 Cup Carafe, Silver

The third coffee maker on our list is the Cuisinart DCC-3400 Burr Grind and Brew Thermal 12-Cup Automatic Coffee Maker.

If you want to have the freshest coffee possible, then your best option is to grind the beans yourself. This means getting a coffee grinder (unless your grocery store can grind whole beans for you) or get this machine and get the capabilities of a coffee grinder and coffee maker in one.

Another great thing? The 12-cup thermal carafe means you have plenty of coffee to sip on throughout the day without having to worry about brewing too many pots.

Remember: Never put a thermal carafe in the dishwasher.

It looks pretty nice on your kitchen counter but is rather bulky and will feel a little unwieldy if you already lack counter space. That said, the extra space it takes up is necessary as the burr grinder can hold up to a half a pound of coffee beans.

As a person who likes strong coffee, I do have one issue with the DBG-900, it brews coffee that is on the weaker side. You could certainly offset the weakness by adding a little less cream, but if you like your coffee black, that’s just not an option.

See what the Cuisinart model at Amazon.

Should you purchase this coffee maker?

While you might think it’s unnecessary to be able to grind your own coffee when you can easily buy coffee that’s already ground, trust me, you will enjoy the taste of a brew from freshly ground beans.

However, this is a rather expensive bit of machinery, and if you already have a coffee grinder, then you probably don’t need this machine. If you are in the market for a burr grinder as well as a coffee maker, then save yourself a bit of money and pick up this 2-in-1.

Here’s the best grinder for coarse coffee grounds. And here’s the best milk steamer for home use.

Additional Resources

Image credit via Flickr Creative Commons: Basheer T.

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