In a rush? Our top choice is the Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp 14-Cup Coffee Maker.
Have a large household full of coffee lovers?
Then you need a huge machine.
Like, 14-cup huge.
If you don’t know what to get, don’t worry. That’s why we’re here today.
In this article, I’ll share with you what the best 14 cup coffee maker on the market is. We’ll also go over everything you need to consider when buying a machine.
Let’s jump straight in!
Best 14-Cup Coffee Maker: Top 5 Picks
Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp 14-Cup Coffee Maker (Best Overall)
Hamilton Beach Programmable FrontFill 14-Cup Coffee Maker (Budget Pick)
KRUPS EC322 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker (Premium Pick)
Ninja DCM201 XL 14-Cup Coffee Maker (Most Intuitive To Use)
Calphalon Coffee Maker Programmable 14-Cup Coffee Machine (Sturdiest Design)
Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp 14-Cup Coffee Maker
There are so many things great about this Cuisinart coffee maker, making it worthy of the high spot on this list. It’s practically a high-end machine with a rather affordable price tag. And not just that, but it’s sleek looking and very easy to use.
Starting with the design, this minimalistic machine comes in four colors: copper, white, steel, and gray. And with the dimensions of 7.7x9x14 inches, it can easily fit onto small counter spaces with other kitchen appliances.
This is a fully automatic machine, meaning you can set it up to brew coffee up to 24 hours in advance. That way, you will have your brewed coffee when you wake up.
And in case you brewed way more than you can drink at a time, no worries. You can set the warming plate to a Low, Medium, or High temperature setting. Since the machine comes with a glass carafe, this feature is essential to keep your coffee warm for longer.
One thing I especially like about this machine is that it recalls settings and the current step in the coffee brewing process in case of a power loss. This comes especially handy if you’re using the machine in an RV.
Pros
- The compact design makes the machine suitable for small kitchen spaces
- There are 3 temperature settings to set the warming plate on
- The ready tone alerts you when the machine is done brewing
- Comes with a charcoal water filter, so you don’t have to descale it that often
Cons
- Rather small water tank for a 14-cup machine
Hamilton Beach Programmable FrontFill 14-Cup Coffee Maker
For a more than affordable price, Hamilton Beach always manages to deliver a machine that satisfies every need of a casual coffee drinker.
First, let’s talk about the glass carafe that comes with this drip coffee maker. It’s drip-free, so there’s no way you can spill even when pouring from a full carafe. This is especially useful for clumsy ones like me.
I love the fact that his programmable coffee maker has a front-fill water tank. This means you can easily access it without having to move the brewer. I know, it weighs only 8 pounds, but having to drag it from under the cabinets every time you need a refill is quite a hassle.
Another cool feature is the freshness indicator. The machine tells you when was coffee was brewed, so you know if it’s a good coffee.
The machine is relatively fast when it comes to brewing. But if you can’t wait for the carafe to fill up, you can auto-pause the process to grab a cup. All that without spilling! When you put the carafe back in place, the machine simply continues brewing.
Pros
- Spill-free carafe allows you to pour coffee even when it’s full without making a mess
- You can access the water tank from the front, so there’s no need to move the machine around
- The machine turns off after being idle for some time, saving energy
- The freshness indicator shows when the carafe was brewed
Cons
- No warming plate temperature settings are available
KRUPS EC322 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker
If you don’t mind spending a bit more on a drip coffee maker, KRUPS EC322 14 cup programmable coffee maker has some pretty cool features that will make your coffee taste even better.
These include the so-called 3-step Thermobrew optimization. This fancy technology consists of: a showerhead design, a hot water circuit, and a stirring tube. Together, they ensure coffee gets optimally extracted every time.
This model offers a bit of customization. There are two strength options to choose from, standard and bold. There’s also a specific setting for brewing 1 to 4 cups, designed to assure you get delicious coffee even when making a small batch.
If you’re impatient to get your caffeine kick in the morning, you can grab a cup mid-brew. As you remove the carafe from its position, the machine pauses brew until you put it back in place.
Your coffee stays warm for up to 4 hours, thanks to the warming plate underneath the carafe. Of course, you can change the duration depending on your preference. After it’s done keeping your coffee warm, the machine automatically shuts down.
Pros
- The 3-step brewing optimization assures coffee gets optimally extracted every time
- The Pause & Serve feature allows you to pour a cup while the machine is still brewing coffee
- You can set up the machine to keep your coffee warm for up to 4 hours
- Comes with a reusable gold-tone filter, so you don’t have to buy paper ones
Cons
- Rather expensive compared to other models
Ninja DCM201 XL 14-Cup Coffee Maker
Making coffee shouldn’t be rocket science. Well, it certainly isn’t with this model by Ninja. When it comes to drip coffee, this machine has one of the most intuitive control panels.
Every button is labeled, so there’s absolutely no way you can mess something up. But while simple, this machine still offers a bit of customizability.
There are two strength options to choose from – classic and rich. That way, you can enjoy a bolder cup in the morning, and go easy on the energy kick in the afternoon.
Depending on how much coffee you need, you can make a small batch (1-4 cups) or a whole carafe. Regardless of the amount, you can keep the coffee hot for up to 4 hours. Just set the warming plate on any of the 3 temperature settings.
Thanks to the freshness timer, you always know when was the last carafe brewed. That way, you know if the coffee is stale without tasting it.
You can program the machine to brew coffee up to 24 hours in advance. That way, you can enjoy fresh hot coffee as soon as you open your eyes.
Pros
- The warming plate keeps your coffee hot for up to 4 hours
- The compact design makes this coffee maker suitable for small spaces
- Depending on your preference, you can choose between a regular or bold cup of coffee
- The freshness timer shows you when coffee was last brewed
Cons
- You have to move the machine around to reach the water tank
Calphalon Coffee Maker Programmable 14-Cup Coffee Machine
Even at the first glance, you just know this is a sturdy machine. The entire body is made of stainless steel, with a corrosion-resistant aluminum heating plate. It’s clear this coffee maker is built to last.
And speaking of the heating plate, there are 3 warming settings to choose from. So whether you like your coffee scorching, warm or mild, the machine will keep it that way for several hours.
This machine offers a couple of programmable options, including Delay Brew and Auto-Shutdown. Basically, you can set the machine to turn on and off at a specific time of the day.
Maintenance is pretty simple with this drip coffee maker. The alert pops up when it’s time to decalcify, so you never miss the schedule. But since you get a charcoal filter with the purchase, you don’t even have to run it that often.
Thanks to the enlarged showerhead, the machine evenly saturates ground coffee. This assures optimal extraction. If you want to make your cup a joe bolder, there’s a brew strength control that does just that.
Pros
- The ergonomic 14-cup coffee carafe makes it easy to pour and serve coffee without spilling
- The warming plate has 3 temperature settings to choose from
- The dual insulated heating tube assures coffee is brewed at the optimal temperature each time
- The machine lets you know when it’s time to descale it
Cons
- Needs to be reprogrammed every time you unplug it from the electric outlet
How to Choose a Perfect 14-Cup Coffee Maker?
As you can see, many 14 cup coffee makers are pretty similar at the first glance. So how does one choose the best one? Well, here are the things you should pay attention to.
Coffee Type
Do you like your coffee pitch-black?
In that case, you won’t be satisfied with a machine that just makes a standard cup of coffee. Luckily, many models nowadays feature an strong brew selector that makes your cup a bit bolder.
Furthermore, certain coffee makers also have a separate option for brewing smaller batches. What this does is it assures coffee doesn’t get diluted when making 1 to 4 cups.
Filter Type
Drip coffee makers come with either a flat bottom or a cone-shaped coffee filter.
Now, you might be wondering – does the shape matter that much?
Well, yes, it does.
Water takes more time to pass through the conical filter. Because of that, coffee is extracted for a longer time. As a result, it extracts those darker, earthy notes that make coffee rather bold and full-bodied.
With a flat-bottom filter, extraction lasts shorter. For that reason, your cup of joe will have those floral and sweet notes.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to what flavor profile you prefer in coffee.
Brewing Technique
No matter how fast your brewer might be, it will take more than 10 minutes for an entire carafe. Sometimes, we need coffee fast.
In that case, a mid-brew pause feature comes in handy. Basically, it allows you to grab a cup of coffee in the middle of the brewing process. When you put the carafe back in place, it continues where it left off.
One nifty feature I like my coffee maker to have is the ready alert. With a machine that starts beeping when it’s done brewing, you’re always on time for a hot coffee.
Programming Options
Don’t like waiting for a machine to brew coffee in the morning?
Nowadays, many 14 cup coffee makers are fully programmable to brew up to 24 hours in advance. That way, you can always have a hot coffee waiting.
Another cool programmable feature some models have is the auto-shutdown. In case you forget to turn off the machine after brewing, no worries. It will automatically turn off after being idle for some time.
Carafe Type
Your machine can come with either a glass or a thermal carafe.
The glass carafe is more commonly found on cheaper models. While it looks pretty nice, a glass carafe doesn’t insulate well. For that reason, a machine needs a warming plate to keep coffee warm.
But warming plates aren’t ideal. After 2 hours, they start burning the coffee, causing it to taste slightly bitter.
A thermal carafe does a great job of keeping coffee warm for a couple of hours. At the same time, it doesn’t alter its taste.
The problem with thermal carafes is that they’re expensive. They can increase the overall price tag of the coffee maker by quite a bit.
Conclusion
There are some pretty great 14 cup coffee makers on the market nowadays.
But one that proves to be above others is the Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp 14-Cup Coffee Maker.
It’s well-made, affordable, and makes excellent coffee. It’s also pretty compact, so it’s suitable for small apartments and RVs.