Best Thermal Coffee Makers in 2021 Reviewed

When buying a new coffee maker for your home, you will come across two types of carafe – glass and thermal. While glass carafes are cheaper, thermal carafe coffee makers are the best because of their efficacy. They retain heat for longer, potentially minimizing waste.  

The extended exposure to heat also maximizes coffee extraction and keeps your coffee hot for longer after brewing. Finally, unlike glass that breaks, thermal carafes are dependable. The thermal carafe is a double-walled container, typically made of stainless steel that is designed to reduce heat transfer from the coffee inside.  It will not burn coffee so it eliminates the need for the hot plate that is typical of a coffee maker with a glass carafe. If the added weight is not an issue for you, order one for your home worry-free.

Benefits of Thermal Carafe Coffee Makers

Are you considering buying a new thermal carafe coffee maker for your home? If you enjoy coffee or brew it often for friends or family members, you will love having one around. Here are some benefits:

Efficient: Glass carafes are stylish and cheaper but tend to lose heat faster even during summer. Because of this heat loss, you may have to heat your coffee, which some consider to compromise its taste. This is never an issue with a thermal carafe. They not only heat quicker but also retain heat for better brewing results.  The thermal carafe will also keep your coffee hotter, possibly eliminating the need to reheat your coffee.

Durable: Most thermal carafes have a double-walled stainless-steel structure that is less likely to break than a glass carafe. They can support heavier loads than glass thus without breaking. You can drop one a few times without damage and use them indoors or on the road without them rusting. 

Easy to Use: While using pots or stovetop kettles to brew coffee, you have to check temperature manually to make sure the temperature does not get too high. With a thermal carafe, however, this is a non-issue. Most models have preprogramed designs that do the hard work for you. They maintain an optimal temperature for brewing coffee. You can also adjust brew settings and set it to shut off automatically after brewing.

Versatile: The best thermal carafe coffee makers can brew more than coffee. Depending on the model you choose, you can choose to brew cappuccino or another coffee product with the push of a button.

How to Choose the Best Thermal Carafe

Thermal carafes are fast, super-efficient, durable, and easy to use at home. However, before you get to enjoy these benefits, you have to find a premium product that excels at its job. We can help you with this. Specify a budget and follow this guide to find the best brand.

Size: It is tempting to buy the cheapest products while shopping for coffee makers. We don't recommend products based on price alone, you should instead look for a product that has the features that you feel you will use the most, one of which is the size of the carafe. The brewing capacity of the coffee maker is one of the key features to focus on. If you have a small family, a product that makes 1-4 cups will serve you well, you should opt for a larger carafe if you drink a lot of coffee or have a large family or if you entertain frequently.

Longevity: By design, thermal carafes are durable coffee makers with dependable double-walled designs. Make sure that all other components are dependable and not prone to breaking. Other features that can impact the life of a coffee maker are the electronics system as well as the base of the coffee maker.  An unsteady base can cause accidents that can break the maker itself.

Easy to Use: Any coffee maker that requires a lot of work to get your coffee, will likely annoy you, particularly first thing in the morning. Many people opt for a coffee maker that can be set up the night before so that their coffee is ready when you wake up.  Most modern coffee makers make this pretty easy..

The 5 Best Thermal Coffee Makers

Here are our picks of the best thermal carafe coffee makes for you.

1. Cuisinart Stainless Steel Thermal Coffeemaker

This silver thermal coffeemaker from Cuisinart has a stainless-steel design with a silver theme that does not fade. Stainless steel is also durable. Compared to plastic, it can withstand high levels of heat without melting. The carafe has a double-walled design that can prepare up to 12 cups of coffee. However, it also has 1-4 cup settings that you can use to brew a small amount of coffee.

This thermal coffee maker can brew regular and bold coffee. Use the brew-strength control on its front panel to set your preferred strength whenever you are making coffee at home. Its electric system has a 36-inch power cord, which is short by today’s standards. The cord requires 120 volts of power to work and meets the recommended electric standard in North America. For added safety, the manufacturer has included an automatic shutoff feature that switches off its system automatically after brewing coffee.

2. BLACK+DECKER CM2035B Thermal Coffeemaker

BLACK+DECKER gained prominence over the years with its power tools. However, the company has diversified into the thermal coffee maker industry as well with products such as the BLACK+DECKER CM2035B. This 12-cup coffee maker has a double-walled carafe made from stainless steel. The carafe has an insulated design that retains heat for long to boost coffee extraction. The carafe doubles as a serving jug as it has a sturdy base with a thick, cool-touch handle.

BLACK+DECKER CM2035B has the option for brewing small batches of coffee. You can set it to brew 1-4 cups of coffee directly into a cup while maintaining the flavor of a full brew. It also has customizable brew options, including a brew strength selector for setting the boldness of coffee. You can set it to brew regular or bold coffee, for instance, using front-mounted controls on its front panel. Each cup that this thermal coffee maker brews measures 5 ounces.

3. Mr. Coffee 10 Cup Thermal Coffee Maker

Mr. Coffee has produced eco-friendly coffee makers and espresso machines for homes and hotels for many years now. Its products are efficient and backed by a robust customer service system. Mr. Coffee, for instance, has a 10-cup design with a built-in reservoir. Like other parts, its reservoir is stainless steel and therefore durable. You can also remove and clean it by hand after use or when dirty.

The system uses an electric element to heat water. Made from steel, it has a fast heating and durable design. Also, it generates up to 1300 watts of power to ensure fresh flavor extraction. At full power, Mr. Coffee claims that the system can reach 205 degrees and can brew up to 20% faster than its predecessors. While this was not verified, it is noteworthy, especially to those who make a lot of coffee. The gold-tone filter in this system removes up to 70% of chlorine from water and eliminates the need for paper filters.

Mr. Coffee, like other premium brands, has a customizable brew setting. The top left of the product has buttons for adjusting its brew strength to either bold or regular.  Because all systems come pre-programmed. You do not have to adjust attributes such as temperature or time to achieve this.

4. BUNN 55200 CSB3T Speed Brew Platinum Thermal Coffee Maker

BUNN 55200 CSB3T is a thermal coffee maker that brews up to 10 cups of coffee per session. To work, you fill a built-in reservoir with water. Then, you add coffee grounds, switch it on, and let it brew coffee for you.

The stainless-steel carafe of this product has a removable design that is also dishwasher safe. If you decide to clean it by hand, rinse its interior thoroughly to get rid of the soap smell that often ruins the taste of coffee. At full capacity, the pot holds 50 ounces of coffee. The system can also brew coffee in a 20-ounce travel mug (not included).

The double-walled and vacuumed design of BUNN 55200 CSB3T is efficient. It does not lose heat as quickly as glass pots often do. Thus, it keeps coffee warm for longer, eliminating the need for reheating. Depending on the coffee you are brewing, it stays warm for 2+ hours. All parts come from the United States and have a 3-year warranty.

5. Breville Precision Brewer Thermal Coffee Maker

This brushed steel thermal coffee maker from Breville has a portable 13.5 x 9 x 16-inch design with a specialty third wave carafe. It makes up to 60 ounces of coffee in a stainless-steel carafe with a non-slip handle and vacuum insulation. As such, it retains heat slightly longer than some of the best glass carafes do.

The third-wave brew technology of this product has a few pre-set programs. Temperature and time control, for instance, are precise and automated. Once powered, it sets the correct temperature and time for making gold, strong, and iced coffee, to name a few. The thermo coil heating system of the product reaches 197-204 degrees.

Breville Precision Brewer Thermal Coffee Maker has an auto-sleep system. After making coffee, it shuts off automatically to save power and prevent its system from overcooking coffee.  The steep and release system, on the other hand, makes smaller volumes of coffee on cups and not the carafe. The system has an automated setting too.

Final Thoughts

Thermal carafe coffee makers brew both bold and regular coffee in vacuum-sealed stainless-steel carafes. Most models have pre-programmed systems with touch controls on the front or side-mounted control panels. They also have a plug-and-use interface with reliable electrical elements and high-capacity designs (60 ounces or more).