Best Combination Coffee Makers of 2019
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Combination coffee makers are multifunction appliances that let you brew not only a cup of coffee (or in some cases a carafe) but also lattes, cappuccinos, and even iced coffee.
“The trend took off years ago, thanks to the Ninja Coffee Bar,” says Claudette Ennis, a CR market analyst who covers coffee makers. “Now other brands, such as DeLonghi and Keurig, are coming out with their own take on the all-in-one machine.”
Below are reviews of six of the best combination coffee makers, listed in alphabetical order (not by CR rank). CR members can click on each model name for detailed ratings and reviews.
Depending on their features, Lui's team may subject combination coffee makers to more tests than single-purpose models because there are different tests for different types. For example, we measure the brew temperature and contact time (how long water stays within the sweet spot of 195° F to 205° F for brewing) on drip machines, while we evaluate temperature consistency and size consistency of individual cups of coffee from single-serve (pod) machines.
Learn more—and explore more than 100 brewers—in our coffee maker buying guide and complete coffee maker ratings.
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Keurig K-Café Special Edition Coffee, Latte & Cappuccino Maker K84
CR’s take: The Keurig K-Café Special Edition Coffee, Latte & Cappuccino Maker K84 uses K-Cup pods to brew coffee, lattes, and cappuccinos. It can even brew iced lattes and iced cappuccinos, but it lacks a mode for making traditional iced coffee. In our lab tests this machine performed pretty well, but it wasn’t the speediest pod machine when it comes to brewing the first cup of the day, earning a middle-of-the-pack Good rating for first-cup speed. In addition to its built-in milk frother, the K-Café comes with a strong-brew setting, a "coffee shot" setting for lattes, an auto-shutoff feature, a height-adjustable drip tray, and a removable water reservoir.
Keurig K-Latte Single Serve K-36
CR's take: If you like the Keurig K-Café but are looking for something at a lower price, consider the Keurig K-Latte Single Serve K-36. It isn't as versatile at the K-Café but can still brew hot coffee and lattes, thanks to its built-in milk frother. It performs almost identically to the K-Café in our tests but does better in our first-cup speed evaluation, where it receives a Very Good rating. The K-Latte also features a "coffee shot" setting, an auto-shutoff, a height-adjustable drip tray, and a removable water reservoir.
Mr. Coffee Occasions BVMC-O-CT
CR’s take: The Mr. Coffee Occasions BVMC-O-CT is a combination coffee and espresso machine with a twist—it can brew coffee from either fresh grounds or Keurig K-Cup pods. This Mr. Coffee also features a built-in milk frother, allowing you to make lattes and cappuccinos. It earns a Very Good rating for brew performance in our tests, and our testers found it's fairly convenient to use. This model also comes with a thermal carafe, a removable water reservoir and drip tray, a permanent filter, and auto-shutoff.
Nespresso by DeLonghi Lattissima One Espresso Maker EN500BW/W
CR’s take: If you’re a fan of Nespresso’s proprietary coffee capsules, you might want to upgrade your Nespresso brewer to the DeLonghi Nespresso Lattissima One Espresso Maker EN500BW/W. Using Nespresso OriginalLine capsules, it can brew coffee and espresso as well as lattes and cappuccinos using a built-in milk frother and tank that dispenses milk foam right into your cup. (That means you won’t have to froth milk in a separate cup, as you would with other machines.) This appliance receives strong scores in our lab tests, and Nespresso pod machines, as a group, receive an Excellent rating for owner satisfaction.
Ninja Specialty CM401
CR’s take: A more affordable take on Ninja's Coffee Bar brewers, the Ninja Specialty CM401 is a terrific all-in-one machine, capable of brewing hot and iced coffee, lattes, macchiatos, and other specialty brews. In our tests it receives an Excellent rating for brew performance, and its glass carafe handles with ease. This model is also packed with features, including an over-ice brew mode for iced coffee, a built-in milk frother, brew-strength control, and brew-size adjustment for everything from travel mugs to full carafes. It's one of the most versatile coffee makers we’ve tested.
Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System CP307
CR’s take: Ninja recently one-upped its Coffee Bar models with this Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System CP307. The new model adds the ability to brew tea and cold-brew coffee. (Note that it makes cold brew in about 15 minutes but it comes out lukewarm, not cold.) Our expert taste tester said it makes good iced coffee, but it doesn’t taste like true cold brew. This Ninja does quite well in our other tests. Its brew performance isn’t as good as the Ninja Specialty CM401, but its thermal carafe handles just as well as the CM401's glass carafe. If you want the extras of cold-brew and tea brewing, go for this machine. If not, you’ll get everything you need in the slightly lower-priced Ninja Specialty CM401.
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