A Thermal carafe coffee maker is a machine that brews coffee directly into its insulated thermal and keeps it hot without the use of a warming tray. In this product round-up, we have put together a list of the best thermal carafe coffee makers that can satisfy your coffee cravings as well as those around you.
Checking into a café every time you need to get a caffeine fix can be expensive. If you enjoy multiple cups of coffee, have a family of coffee drinkers or have an office of coffee lovers to satisfy, a thermal carafe coffee maker might be something well worth the investment.
1) Hamilton Beach 49966 Programmable Thermal Carafe
The Hamilton Beach 49966 Thermal Carafe is a 2-in-1 coffee maker that gives you brewing flexibility to please all types of coffee fans. If your family has multiple coffee drinkers, this could be a perfect gift.
Another good thing about this thermal carafe is that it keeps your coffee hot and fresh after you’ve made it.
What I liked most is that it comes with a programmable timer, auto pause and an auto shutoff function. This means you can remove the carafe and pour a cup during the brewing process. Best of all, you can programme it to shutoff after some times.
- 2 easy to fill water reservoirs
- Durable construction that keeps coffee hot & fresh
- Programmable to fit your needs
- Easy assembly & cleaning
- Brewing flexibility
- Printing on the buttons comes off quite easily
- Requires quite a bit of space on your countertop
2) Zojirushi EC-YSC100 Fresh Brew Plus Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker
The Zojirushi EC-YSC100 Fresh Brew Plus comes with a removable water tank that gives convenience when it comes to filling them up.
It is nice to see that that it brews at temperatures over 200 degrees; this means that it extracts maximum flavours from your coffee roast. Your coffee will also stay warm for a few hours after brewing. Thanks to its thumb activated pouring, serving becomes a joy.
All surfaces exposed to your coffee are BPA free, hence eliminating health related issues in that regards.
- Removable tanks that are easy to fill & wash
- Thumb activated pouring for smooth & easy serving
- 24 hour programmable timer & auto off function
- Vacuum insulated body to keep coffee warm
- Consistent brew temperature
- Clean lights alert to indicate when it needs cleaning
- Makes noise during brewing process
3) Melitta Pour-Over Thermal Carafe Brewer
What we liked about the Melitta Thermal Carafe Brewer is that the filter cone and lid are BPA free. The cone also fits nicely on the carafe to prevent spills when brewing.
Again, this unit is proudly made using high quality materials making it less susceptible to breakage, which means it will serve you for years.
If you have a large family of coffee drinkers, this unit could be a good option as it holds up to 10 cups of coffee and can keep the coffee warm for hours.
This unit allows full control over the coffee extraction process brew a cup of coffee in a matter of seconds.
- Indestructible design
- Perfect brewing temperature
- Optimal flavour extraction
- Cone, carafe and lid are dishwasher safe
- Doesn’t hold heat for very long that well
4) Bellemain Premium Thermal Coffee Carafe
This thermal carafe by Bellemain has a cutting-edge vacuity insulation to ensure your morning coffee stays hot.
It is designed such that it is very user-friendly. If your hands shake when pouring hot liquids, the wide mouth architecture allows you to pour coffee without spilling a drop.
What is more about this brewer is the cool touch technology that prevent burning.
- Professional appearance
- Safe one-touch design for safety
- Ultra heat technology keeps coffee hotter over 13 hours
- Lid can be quite difficult to clean
- Requires pre-heating for perfect operation
5) Cuisinart DCC-3750 Elite Thermal Coffeemaker
The Cuisinart Elite Thermal Coffeemaker features a drip free pour sprout that allows for smooth and easy pouring. The wide-grip handle is also beneficial when it comes to serving coffee.
The most outstanding feature of this brewer is that it uses a re-engineered brewing technology that brews coffee up to 25% faster.
It is nice to see that this brewer has a full range of programmable option. You can therefore customize every cup of your drink.
- Dishwasher safe
- Very user-friendly
- Smooth & easy pour sprout
- Faster brewing up to 25%
- Some reviews that the On/off button fails intermittently
6) Heavy Duty Thermal Coffee Carafe Pot
Thanks to the airtight and surgical grade construction of the Heavy Duty Thermal Coffee Carafe, your coffee will stay piping hot hours after brewing,
This device features a removable steeper that places loose-leaf tea or coffee grinds directly into the carafe. This is advantageous because it places keeps your tea/coffee fresh always for immediate enjoyment.
It is ergonomically designed with your comfort in mind. The handle is sturdy and it is firmly attached to the unit. another good thing is that it is leakproof and portable and this is a plus for coffee drinkers on the go.
- Extremely well designed
- Hot and fresh drink always
- Ideal for drinkers on the go
- Easy to use
- BPA free
- Thermal pitcher that keeps drinks ice-cold
- Coating on the handle might peel off
7) BUNN BTX-B(D) ThermoFresh High Altitude Thermal Carafe
One thing that makes the Bunn ThermoFresh brewer stand out from others is that it can brew 4-10 cups of coffee within 3 minutes. That is not all; this carafe has a unique spray head that ensures complete coffee flavour extraction.
This unit is double walled and vacuum insulated, this ensures that your coffee remains warm for up to 2 hours.
Lastly, you will like the internal hot water tank that ensures consistent brewing temperature.
- Brews 4-10 cups in 3 minutes
- Unique spray head for maximum flavour extraction
- Vacuum insulated to keep coffee hot
- Simple & easy to maintain
- Slight plastic smell that can persists for a few days
- Insulation could have been better
8) Cuisinart Extreme Brew Coffeemaker (DCC2750)
This thermal carafe by Cuisinart is a very user-friendly fully automatic coffee maker features a 24-hour programmable function, it’s very user-friendly. In addition, this brewer has a brew pause feature that allows you pour out a cup to enjoy before the full brewing is even completed.
It is nice to see that this brewer uses a re-engineered brewing technology that delivers coffee up to 25% faster than most coffee maker in the market.
Another cool thing about this coffeemaker is the drip-free pour sprout, ergonomic and a comfortable handle for easy and smooth serving.
Lastly but not the least, I liked the easy-to-fill water reservoir that lifts up for quick fill-ups. What is more about the reservoirs is the widow on the opposite side of the unit where you can check the water level.
- Fully automatic with a 24-hour programmability
- Double-walled insulation
- Fast brewing technology
- 60 second reset control
- Easy to fill water reservoir
- Drip-free pour sprout
Thermal coffee makers VS Glass Carafe coffee makers
A thermal carafe is made out of an opaque, vacuum insulated stainless steel while a glass carafe coffee maker is made of a clear glass so you can see your coffee brewing.
>> Also read: Technivorm Moccamaster Coffee Brewer Review
The major difference is that the former brew coffee into an insulated carafe and has a closed lid. On the other hand, a glass carafe requires warming plate to stay warm.
How To Choose A Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker
Other than great looks, there are a few other things you must consider when choosing the thermal coffee maker to buy. Definitely consider these criterias when picking out one.
Insulation – The first thing you must consider is the type of insulation on the unit. To keep your coffee hot always, you want to use an insulated thermal carafe coffee maker. An insulated thermal carafe will keep your coffee hot up to three times longer than the traditional glass kind.
Construction – The first thing you want is something that has a good body. The body of your unit will determine its overall durability. You do not want something that will fall in rust or breaks after a few weeks of usage. Make sure that both the exterior and interior surfaces are durable (preferably made of stainless steel). Also, that all other parts that will come into contact with the coffee should be BPA free.
Chip smart technology – A smart carafe coffee maker can even be set to have a daily start time. This allows you to brew coffee right before you get out of bed, which welcomes your morning with a refreshing aroma of coffee brewing. Some also have a pause option if you prefer to enjoy a cup before full brewing is completed. More advanced ones can even perform self-cleaning and auto-shutoff feature.
User-friendliness – This has everything to do with convenience. A good machine is one that it obvious and straightforward to use. You should take much effort to brew a good cup of coffee in the morning. It should also give you a free hand in controlling the strength of coffee according to taste. In addition, heater plates should be adjustable so that you can adjust them according to your machine.
Reservoir size – For users who only needs to brew one cup at a time, then a machine with a small reservoir is just fine. For a large family or an office crowd to please repeatedly, investing in a coffee maker with a large reservoir is a wise decision. Also, choose one with easy to fill reservoirs for convenience.
Built-in coffee grinder – If you like grinding your coffee bean before brew (which we highly recommend), you can consider a thermal carafe coffee maker with a built-in grinder. >> Also read: Best Coffee Maker with Grinder
Size – Size matters when choosing a coffee maker. You must first see its water capacity and the amount it can brew at a time. A small unit takes less space on the countertop. This makes it ideal for those who are always travelling. Nevertheless, if you need a machine that will serve your guests, a large unit is ideal as it provides you ample area for serving coffee and operating the machine.
Filter basket – A machine with a filter basket will help eliminate coffee grounds from your finished coffee, leaving you with a cup of smooth and non-granule drink.
Speed – Due to our busy schedules, you need a machine that will deliver a cup of your drink within seconds. A faster coffee maker saves you time for your other home chores.
Conclusion
In the round up, our top-pick would be the Zojirushi EC-YSC100 Fresh Brew Plus Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker.
Some of the features that makes this machine stand out are; 24-hour programmable timer and auto off controls, vacuum insulated body to keep coffee warm, consistent brew temperature and clean lights alerts to signal you when it is time to clean.
Have you tried using a thermal carafe coffee maker? What’s you experience using one? Or which of the listed ones are you most like to go ahead and try? Let us know what you finally purchased and what your experiences are by leaving a comment.
