BEST SCA COFFEE MAKERS: ARE THEY WORTH THE SKY HIGH PRICES?

The fact that you are looking for a Specialty Coffee Association-certified coffee maker tells me you take your morning brew seriously.

You want a machine that makes great coffee every time and meets the rest of your coffee criteria. That’s what I’m here to help you find.

I’ve rounded up the top 5 SCA certified coffee makers of 2024. All are guaranteed to deliver a perfect cup of coffee but each impressed me with its unique features and attributes. One is sure to be the right choice for you!

IMAGE	PRODUCTS	DETAILS
Best Overall Best Overall No products found.	Technivorm Moccamaster KBT	Dimensions: 12.8” x 6.7” x 14” Capacity: 10 cups Time: 4-6 minutes	CHECK PRICE
Budget Pick Budget Pick No products found.	Bonavita Connoisseur	Dimensions: 12.4” x 6.8” x 12.2” Capacity: 8 cups Time: 6 minutes	CHECK PRICE
Most Versatile Most Versatile No products found.	Breville BDC450 Precision Brewer	Dimensions: 12.4” x 6.7” x 15.7” Capacity: 12 cups Time: 8 minutes	CHECK PRICE
Most Stylish Most Stylish No products found.	OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker	Dimensions: 15” x 8.3” x 17.2” Capacity: 9 cups Time: 7-8 minutes	CHECK PRICE
Easiest To Use Easiest To Use	Ratio Six Coffee Maker	Dimensions: 13.5” x 6.75” x 14.25” Capacity: 8 cups Time: 5-8 minutes	CHECK PRICE

The 5 Best SCA Coffee Makers in 2024

These incredible brewers have met the rigorous brewing standards set by the coffee professionals at the SCA. But that only guarantees high-quality coffee. Each model has its own aesthetics, capacity, and set of features.

Read these short reviews and the buyer’s guide below to decide which coffee maker is the perfect choice to start your day.

Best Overall

1. Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741

• Dimensions: 12.8” x 6.7” x 14”

• Capacity: 10 cups
• Time: 4-6 minutes
• Materials: Stainless steel & BPA-free plastic, with thermal carafe

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Technivorm Moccamaster coffee makers are some of the most expensive on the market, despite offering little in the way of features or programmability. Yet, you’ll find them atop most lists of the best drip coffee makers and on the counters of coffee lovers worldwide.

Why? Aside from their ability to brew the Golden Cup, you’re paying for quality. And it’s absolutely worth the price. Every Technivorm Moccamaster is handmade in the Netherlands, hand-tested before it leaves the factory, and backed by an industry-leading 5-year warranty.

All Technivorm coffee makers all use a precise copper-heating system, a rectangular metallic showerhead with 9 outlets, and pulse action brewing – features that ensure an ideal brew temperature and even extraction.

Here’s why I like the KBT model in particular. 

The Moccamaster KBT is equipped with a manual drip stop. You can control the flow of water using a lever on the side of the cone-shaped filter basket. It provides a way to adjust the brewing process (if you want) and makes it possible to brew less than a full pot of coffee. I made flavorful brews as small as 12 ounces.

The KBT has a high-quality stainless steel carafe with a brew-through lid to maintain coffee temperature during brewing. It’s a small thing, but small things are what take a coffee maker from good to great.

Budget Pick

2. Bonavita Connossieur

• Dimensions: 12.4” x 6.8” x 12.2”

• Capacity: 8 cups
• Time: 6 minutes
• Materials: Stainless steel & BPA-free plastic

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The Bonavita BV1901TS 8-cup coffee maker is a minimalist one-touch brewer without bells and whistles, making it the most affordable of the SCA-certified home brewers. I wouldn’t necessarily call it cheap, but the value for money is excellent – perfect for the coffee drinker on a budget who refuses to compromise on quality.

The Bonavita Connoisseur comes with a showerhead-style top and optional pre-infusion mode, ensuring even extraction of the coffee grounds and enabling your Golden Cup. 

The BV1901TS is not programmable, which contributes to its affordability. But thanks to an impressively powerful 1500 W heating element, I was waiting less than 6 minutes for a full carafe. Personally, I don’t mind using the time to prep breakfast, but if you want hot coffee ready when you wake up, the slightly pricier BV1901TD model brews on a timer.

I can’t say I love the barebones design of this brewer, though you may feel differently. It’s not unattractive, just bland. However, I definitely appreciate the small footprint. It’s one of the more compact SCA-approved brewers, great if you have limited counter space.

Most Versatille

3. Breville BDC450 Precision Brewer 

• Dimensions: 12.4” x 6.7” x 15.7”

• Capacity: 1-12 cups
• Time: 8 minutes
• Materials: Stainless steel

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As someone who enjoys exploring new coffees and tinkering with my brewing recipe, I love the Breville Precision Brewer Thermal. It’s the only option on this list that doesn’t just brew the Golden Cup coffee.

There are six preset brewing modes, including the Golden Cup, and you can play around with each by adjusting flow rate, bloom time, and water temperature – the latter of which is PID-controlled for unbeatable accuracy and precision (1). It’s like having the control of a manual pour over without the requisite skills. There are even options for cold brew and iced coffee.

Adding to its versatility, this coffee maker can brew everything from a single cup to a 12-cup carafe without sacrificing flavor. I refused to believe this was possible until I saw how they do it. You get two filter baskets – a flat-bottom one for brewing large volumes and a conical one for smaller quantities. A clever solution to a tricky problem!

The only downside to this coffee machine, from my perspective, is its large size. It feels bulky and honestly looks kind of silly in my tiny kitchen, despite sporting a fairly sleek stainless steel design.You can learn more about this Breville coffee maker in our review here.

Most Stylish

4. OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker

• Dimensions: 15” x 8.3” x 17.2”

• Capacity: 9 cups
• Time: 7-8 minutes
• Materials: Stainless steel & plastic

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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I love the sleek, modern design of the OXO Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker. If you value aesthetics as much as quality coffee, there’s no reason to choose between them.

I like the simplicity of this machine, both in design and operation. The control panel is a single button with a dial to choose between brewing 2-4 or 5-9 cups of coffee. The brew cycle is designed to mimic a manual pour over prepared by a skilled barista using a bloom phase, pulsating brew, and 7-hole rainmaker showerhead.

The thermal carafe has a mixing tube that channels ‘new’ coffee straight to the bottom, ensuring a consistent cup from start to finish. One of my favorite features is that the display screen reports how long ago your coffee was brewed. This is so handy if one person in the household gets up early to make coffee.

In testing, this machine was noticeably quiet. I don’t consider drip coffee brewers to be noisy in general, but this one really stood out for its stealth. This is worth noting if you plan to take advantage of its ability to brew your coffee on a timer. Waking up to the smell of fresh coffee is wonderful; waking up to the sound of your coffee maker firing up, not so much.The OXO Brew 8-Cup coffee maker is also SCA certified and has the advantage of brewing single cups. However, it lacks the aesthetic appeal of its big brother.

Most Customizable

5. Ratio Six Coffee Maker

• Dimensions: 13.5” x 6.75” x 14.25”

• Capacity: 8 cups
• Time: 5 to 8 minutes
• Materials: Stainless steel & BPA-free plastic

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The Ratio Six Coffee Maker is immediately identifiable by its unique modern style, available in matte black, white, or stainless steel. The aesthetics of this brewer are divisive among coffee fans, but I love its industrial look. And I think it’s smart for a smaller upstart company like Ratio to design something that stands out from the crowd.

The Ratio Six coffee maker sports the features you expect in an SCA-certified brewer, including a showerhead-style water flow and an optional bloom phase (2). More unusual is the removable “heat shield” surrounding the showerhead, which keeps the brew water at an ideal 200 degrees F throughout the brewing process. 

What sold me on the Ratio Six was its simple operation. Like the Bonavita, this is a no-bells-and-whistles brewer. Enjoy delicious coffee at the touch of a button. The only decision you need to make is the amount of coffee to brew, between 8 and 40 ounces.

The build quality is also noteworthy. This all-stainless-steel brewer is made to last, and Ratio backs it up with a 5-year warranty. You certainly pay for it, though. This is the most expensive option on the list, a bit shocking for something with no programmability.

How I Tested These Coffee Makers

Given that every coffee maker on this list has already passed the rigorous requirements of the SCA, I did not evaluate coffee quality or brew temperature. Instead, I focused on user-friendliness, features, build quality, value for money, and ease of cleaning and maintenance.

Here’s a sum up of all the essential features of my top picks:

Machine Brand	Technivorm	Bonavita	Breville	Oxo	Ratio
Model	Add NeMoccamaster KBTw	1901TS Connoisseur	Precision Brewer	Brew 9-Cup	Six
Capacity	10 cups	8 cups	12 cups	9 cups	8 cups
Brew sizes	10 - 50 oz	20 - 40 oz	6 - 60 oz	10 - 45 oz	8 - 40 oz
Programmable timer	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Heating element	1400 W	1500 W	1650 W	1400 W	1400 W
Brew time	4-6 minutes	5-6 minutes	7-8 minutes	7-8 minutes	5-8 minutes
Filter	Conical	Flat-bottom	Conical and Flat-bottom	Conical	Flat-bottom
Auto-off	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dimensions	12.8” x 6.7” x 14”	12.4” x 6.8” x 12.2	12.4” x 6.7” x 15.7”	15” x 8.3” x 17.2”	13.5” x 6.75” x 14.25”
Warranty	5 years	1 year	2 years	2 years	5 years
Current price	$339.00	$189.95	$329.95	$229.95	$339.00
	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE

What does SCA certified coffee maker mean?

The Specialty Coffee Association has very strict requirements, and only a few premium home coffee machines have achieved the certification so far (3).

What makes a coffee maker Golden Cup certified, you ask? The requirements include:

• A sufficiently large brew basket volume to avoid overflow.
• Brew water temperature between 195 and 205 ℉.
• Brew strength of 1.15-1.55% at the standard ratio when brewing at full capacity.
• Consistently high-quality over multiple brew cycles.
• Uniformity of extraction rating of 60 or above.
• Keep your coffee hot (between 176 and 185 ℉) for at least 30 minutes after brewing.
• A detailed manual specifying recommended ground coffee size, filter, brewing ratio of 55 grams of coffee per liter, and cleaning procedures.

Each point must be proven by the manufacturer using specific testing guidelines. Clearly, the SCA home certification is difficult to achieve, and any brewer with the award is outstanding.

How to Choose Your SCA-Certified Coffee Maker

There are plenty of factors to consider when shopping for a coffee machine, but buying an SCA certified home brewer takes the most important variable (coffee quality) out of the equation. That’s a guarantee. Let’s look at what you still need to consider.

Do you prefer convenience or control?

Some drip coffee makers offer more options for setting the brew temperature and timing. Choose one of these brewers if you enjoy having more control over coffee brewing parameters. This can be especially useful if you enjoy sampling a wide variety of coffee bean origins and roasts.

Alternatively, perhaps you just want to know you’re going to get the exact same “Golden” cup of coffee without a fuss. There is no denying the convenience of a one-touch brewer, particularly if you’re faced with a hectic morning schedule.

If you are used to waking up to the smell of brewed coffee, make sure that you pick a coffee brewer with a programmable timing option.

How much coffee do you need to make?

Do you usually make coffee at home only for yourself? Or do you prefer larger pots for family and friends? Pick a machine that makes enough coffee to suit your caffeine needs. 

The models on this list vary from 8 to 12-cup maximum capacity. But if you mostly enjoy just a cup or two at a time, make sure you choose a single cup coffee maker or one with a smaller volume setting. 

Should you pick a thermal or glass carafe?

The carafe might seem like an afterthought, but it acually plays a huge part in the final result of your brew. You may have noticed that every machine on this list has a thermal carafe, so you can guess which style I favor.

A thermal carafe is made of double-wall vacuum-insulated stainless steel and is the best option if you want to take your time drinking your coffee. It keeps your coffee warm without compromising flavor; something that can not be said of a hot plate. If you’re a slow drinker, read our guide to the best thermal carafe coffee makers.

A glass carafe is generally cheaper and is a fine option if you plan to enjoy your coffee within 30 minutes or so. After that, the heat of the warming plate begins to negatively affect the black coffee, giving it a bitter or burnt flavor (as well as wasting energy).

Don’t worry if you’re a glass carafe enthusiast. The Technivorm Moccamaster, Breville Precision Brewer, and Ratio Six are available in glass carafe options.

Are SCA-certified brewers worth the extra cost?

The answer to this question depends on your coffee habits, but I’m inclined to say yes. And not just for the obvious reason.

Specialty coffee beans are expensive, and it is absolutely worth investing in a coffee machine that treats them right. If you love specialty coffee and want to save money, I suggest learning to craft filter coffee manually with a pour over rather than settling for a cheap drip machine.

Most coffee makers certified by the SCA represent a brand’s top-of-the-line model (or they come from a brand like Technivorm that only makes exceptionally high-quality machines). So while the certification guarantees great-tasting coffee, in most cases, you’re also paying for incredible build quality. You’ll note that every machine on this list is stainless steel and has a lengthy warranty.

The Verdict

The Technivorm Moccamaster KBT gets my vote as the best Golden Cup certified coffee maker. I love the way it balances the convenience of one-touch brewing with the option of manual control. The build quality is second to none, and the retro aesthetic is iconic.

However, the best coffee maker for you is the one that meets your needs and preferences. I hope that this buying guide and collection of reviews help you choose. After all, few things are as important as the first morning coffee.

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