We Tested the Best Non-Electric Coffee Makers—Here Are Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Chemex Classic Series Coffeemaker

$49 at Amazon $49 at Walmart $48 at Williams Sonoma

The Chemex Classic Coffeemaker is an iconic brewing device that suits beginners and experts alike. Several of our editors use a Chemex as their daily coffee maker and say it's easy to use, lasts for years, and consistently brews rich coffee. Even though it requires more hands-on effort than an electric drip coffee maker, the brewing process is forgiving and only takes around five minutes once the water is hot. The pour-over method also offers more control, which is why it's a favorite among aficionados. Allie Caran, the Program Manager at BaristaValet, recommends using medium-ground coffee for a stronger brew and a medium-coarse grind for more clarity.

Another benefit is that, unlike many other pour-overs, the Chemex brews multiple cups at once. It's available in capacities of three, six, eight, and 10 cups. Taysha Murtaugh, editorial director for The Spruce Eats, has used a Chemex for years and recommends it to anyone with the time to brew this café-quality coffee. It's easier to clean than a French press and is dishwasher-safe once the wooden collar is removed. The style is so eye-catching that a Chemex is permanently displayed in New York City's Museum of Modern Art.

"Pour-over makers take some time to master and require continuous monitoring while brewing, so they're not ideal for those short on time," she says. "However, when I can spare a few moments, it's a nice experience that makes me feel more connected to my morning cup."

One minor drawback is that Chemex-brand filters are recommended, and they aren't available in all grocery stores. The all-glass carafe poses a risk, but we've never had issues with chipping or breaking in several years of use.

Capacity: 64 ounces | Material: Glass | Grind Size: Medium-ground | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Filter: Yes

Best Budget

Secura French Press Coffee Maker

$33 at Amazon $26 at Walmart View on Thesecura.com

The Secura French Press brings a high-end feel to your coffee routine for a low price. It's made from three layers of stainless steel—an improvement over easily breakable glass French presses—and has a cool-to-touch handle and knob, so you can grab and pour as soon as the coffee is ready. The double-wall insulation keeps your coffee hot for at least one hour, which is convenient when you brew a full pot in the morning. There are many French presses around the same price, but this one offers superior durability and quality of construction. It's available in multiple colors and sizes ranging from 12 to 50 ounces.

Unfortunately, the steel design has a couple of downsides, too. You can't see how much coffee is left as you pour cups throughout the day. We also noticed a subtle scratching sound when we pushed the plunger. It's a minor annoyance but not overly distracting, and we've encountered the same issue when testing other steel French presses.

Capacity: 34 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Grind Size: Coarse | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Filter: No

Best Pour Over

Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper

$30 $27 at Amazon View on Webstaurantstore.com View on Lacolombe.com

The Hario V60 is a simple, budget-priced coffee maker that eliminates the fuss when brewing. All you have to do is place the V60 on your coffee mug, add a filter and coffee grounds, and pour hot water. The whole process only takes a couple of minutes; the downside is that it only brews between one to four cups and is best for small servings. Overall, we found the V60 an excellent value-for-money option, and we appreciated its compact design. Since it's roughly the size of a coffee mug, it's easy to store and can even accompany you on trips.

The V60 is available in several materials, including glass and plastic, but the elegant ceramic model tends to be the most popular. Specific filters are required because of the brewer's unique design. Nigel Price, the founder and owner of Drip Coffee Makers in New York City, told us that the V60 gets its name because the sides are angled at 60 degrees.

Capacity: 1 to 4 cups | Material: Ceramic | Grind Size: Medium-fine | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Filter: Yes

Best Splurge

Espro P7 French Press

$150 at Amazon $120 at Williams Sonoma View on Neiman Marcus

Many French presses come at budget prices, but if you're looking for a noticeable upgrade, the Espro P7 French Press produces exceptionally rich coffee that we tasted firsthand. The P7's key feature is that it has two fine-mesh filters instead of a single stainless steel filter. We tested 21 other French presses alongside the P7 and found significantly less sediment in coffee brewed by the P7. It leads to greater flavor clarity and eliminates coffee sludge from ending up in the last few sips.

One downside to the double filter is that it requires more elbow grease to press the plunger down and remove it afterward. This is a good sign, though, because it means there's almost no gap between the filters and the interior of the French press. The P7 is available in two sizes, 18 and 32 ounces. We tested the 32-ounce option and think it's sufficient for single-person and multi-person households. We've continued using the P7 for multiple years, and it works just as well as it did on day one.

Capacity: 32 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Grind Size: Coarse | Dishwasher Safe: Yes (top-rack only) | Filter: Yes

Best French Press

Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker

$40 at Amazon $13 at Walmart $40 at Target

The Bodum Chambord is a best-selling French press recognizable for its stainless steel frame. While the frame frequently moves and rattles, it protects the glass carafe and creates a timeless look. The steel accents are available in multiple colors to suit various kitchen aesthetics. The Chambord can be purchased in capacities of 12, 17, 34, and 51 ounces. The smaller sizes work well when traveling, and even the largest size is compact enough to store in a cupboard if you want to save counter space.

As for the coffee itself, we found each brew consistently strong when testing the Chambord. Some coffee grounds slipped through the filter, but it was less than average and only affected the last few sips. The filter isn't the sturdiest we tested; it occasionally wobbles, especially when there are a lot of coffee grounds in the chamber.

Capacity: 34 ounces | Material: Glass and stainless steel | Grind Size: Coarse | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Filter: No

Most Versatile

AeroPress Original Coffee Maker

$50 at Amazon $40 at Target $40 at Wayfair

Many coffee lovers appreciate the AeroPress' convenience, versatility, and rich brew. It's a hand-powered coffee brewer that makes regular-strength coffee or a more concentrated "espresso-like" drink, depending on the amount of water and grounds you use. Countless brewing techniques can be found all over the internet (look up the winning approach taken at the World AeroPress Championships for a real doozy of a brew), but the little maker and its proprietary paper filters make a quick coffee that's an ideal size for one person. However, the brand later released the AeroPress XL, which has more than double the capacity at 20 ounces.

It only takes a minute or two to brew. There are several parts involved, but setup becomes easy after a few trial runs. The plastic isn't great for heat retention, and cleaning can be a pain, but these little presses pack a lot of bang for the buck and fit neatly in a drawer, on a counter, or in a carry-on suitcase.

Capacity: 8 ounces | Material: Plastic | Grind Size: Fine to medium-fine | Dishwasher Safe: Yes (top rack only) | Filter: Yes

Best Moka Pot

Bialetti Moka Express

$33 at Amazon $40 at Williams Sonoma $40 at Sur La Table

The Bialetti Moka Express is a classic stovetop brewer that produces rich, concentrated coffee, close to espresso. While you won't get the thick crema that's a hallmark of a quality espresso shot, you can whip up strong coffee in a flash with one of these brewers and make various other drinks. Dilute the coffee with hot water for an Americano or pour it into frothed milk for a latte or cappuccino.

Not only is this device cheap and reliable, but it's versatile, too. We appreciated the amount of control we had over the coffee, using a finer grind, higher heat, and less water for an extra-bold punch of caffeine or a medium grind with more water for a result closer to drip coffee. The handle gets hot from many burners, so you'll need a towel or oven mitt to grab it from the stove.

Moka pots only take a few minutes to brew (about three minutes for medium grounds on high heat and almost 10 minutes for fine grounds on low heat), but they need to be cleaned after each use and aren't dishwasher-safe. It also uses a lot of coffee grounds per serving. On the plus side, the Moka Express comes in multiple sizes, all of which are low-priced. And it's small enough to store in a cupboard when you're done using it.

Capacity: 4.4 ounces | Material: Aluminum | Grind Size: Fine | Dishwasher Safe: No | Filter: No

Best for Espresso

9Barista Espresso Machine

View on 9barista.com

Through one-of-a-kind engineering, the 9Barista brews café-quality espresso shots without electricity. All you need is a cooktop, whether it's gas, electric, or ceramic; a separate adaptor plate is available for induction stoves, too.

We tested the 9Barista over six months, using gas and electric burners, and found the espresso richer than what many electric espresso makers produce. The shots were topped with a golden layer of crema and had a pleasant balance of sweetness, boldness, and acidity. However, it took longer than average to dial in the right grind size, and we tinkered with the amount of water and coffee grounds until we got the right ratio. The 9Barista heated up at different rates on the gas and electric burners, and we dialed in the shots differently as a result. Even though it's not the most forgiving, the results are worth it once you get the hang of it.

The 9Barista's price is similar to that of a high-end espresso machine, so it might be too expensive for people who are mainly interested in a casual coffee gadget. However, the price feels justified upon unboxing the item. It's made from solid, durable materials and has a high-end look and feel. It's also compact and saves a lot of space compared to an electric espresso maker.

Capacity: 1.4 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Grind Size: Fine | Dishwasher Safe: No | Filter: No

Best Cold Brew

Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker System

$49 at Amazon $49 at Sur La Table View on Bluebottlecoffee.com

If cold brew and iced coffee are your thing, there are plenty of non-electric brewers out there for you, but one of the most popular and highly reviewed is the Toddy Cold Brew System. It's reasonably priced, easy to use, and, most importantly, leads to delicious results. After testing the item, our reviewer said the taste was "strong yet smooth" and noted that users can easily adjust the ratio of coffee grounds to water to make it stronger or weaker as they wish.

The Toddy is an immersion-based brewer, which means the grounds are soaked directly in water for a recommended steep time of 12 to 24 hours. Expect to get 38 ounces (roughly 14 servings) of rich cold brew concentrate per batch.

Capacity: 38 ounces | Material: Glass and plastic | Grind Size: Coarse | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Filter: Yes

Best for Travel

OXO Rapid Brewer

$40 $36 at Amazon $40 at Target $32 at Oxo

Whether you're camping, road-tripping, or traveling for work, the Oxo Rapid Brewer lets you brew coffee on the go. It weighs just over one pound and has a clever design that saves space and avoids fragile, breakable parts. We carried the item in a duffel bag for multiple days without damage. It's also a great travel companion because it doesn't require paper filters; you only need coffee grounds and hot water. The item is easy to clean with a simple rinse, which is especially handy when brewing outdoors.

The aptly named Rapid Brewer produces 5 ounces of coffee in around two minutes. The brewing process is similar to that of an AeroPress because, in both, water is pumped by hand through a puck of coffee grounds. The Rapid Brewer's coffee is strong–Oxo recommends diluting it with milk or hot water for a full 8-ounce serving–but doesn't have the smoothness and clarity of AeroPress coffee, partly because the latter uses a filter. Nonetheless, the Rapid Brewer's coffee is tasty and remarkably easy to make. It's better suited as a travel coffee maker than an everyday brewing device, but some people may prefer these quick, individual cups over a pot of drip coffee that gets stale as the day goes on.

Capacity: 5 ounces | Material: Plastic and stainless steel | Grind Size: Fine | Dishwasher Safe: Yes (except the pump) | Filter: No