9 Best SCAA Coffee Makers [2024 Reviews and Buying Guide]

Not all coffee makers are created equal and if you want to drink the best tasting coffee, you should consider one of the best SCAA coffee makers.

Nothing beats the convenience of an automatic coffee maker. Especially in the morning when all you want is a cup of coffee, fast. But with hundreds, possibly thousands, of coffee makers on the market, it can be hard to decide which coffee maker to purchase.

Which is why investing in one of the best SCAA certified coffee makers is such a good option. It pretty much guarantees you will enjoy smooth, full bodied coffee every day.

If you are looking for SCA approved coffee makers, you have come to the right place.

First we explain what the SCAA certification means and then we review 9 of the best SCA certified coffee makers on the market today, fully updated for changes made to the SCA home brewers list in late 2022. 

Regardless of whether you are searching for the cheapest SCA coffee maker, the fastest brewing SCA coffee maker, the best single cup SCAA certified coffee maker or the very best SCAA certified coffee maker for your home, we are confident you will find the perfect option in our SCAA coffee maker reviews.

Best SCAA Coffee Makers 2024 Compared

In the SCA drip coffee makers comparison chart below we list all current SCAA approved coffee makers for quick and easy comparison.

Click on the product name to check the price or keep reading as we compare and review 8 of the best SCAA coffee brewers from this list in detail in the sections below.

Image	Model	Carafe Size	Brew Time	Programmable	Our Rating	Price
	Bonavita Connoisseur BV1901TS Coffee Maker	8 Cup	6 minutes	No	4.6	CHECK
	OXO Coffee Maker	8 Cup	6 minutes	No	4.8	CHECK
	Ratio Six Coffee Maker	8 Cup	8 minutes	No	5.0	CHECK
	Cuisinart CPO-850 Coffee Brewer	8 Cup	6 minutes	Yes	4.6	CHECK
	OXO On Barista Brain Coffee Maker	9 Cup	8 minutes	Yes	4.6	CHECK
	Technivorm Moccamaster	10 Cup	6 minutes	No	5.0	CHECK
	Braun KF9170SI Multiserve Coffee Machine	10 Cup	8 minutes	Yes	4.4	CHECK
	GE Cafe Specialty Coffee Maker	10 Cup	6 minutes	Yes	4.4	CHECK
	Breville Precision Brewer	12 Cup	8 minutes	Yes	4.8	CHECK

Our Top Pick From The Best SCAA Certified Coffee Makers 2024

Don’t have time to read my full SCAA coffee maker review and want to know my recommendation for the best SCAA coffee maker?

The Technivorm Moccamaster is our top pick from the latest list of approved Specialty Coffee Association coffee makers as the best drip coffee maker.

SCAA Coffee Makers Certification Explained

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is a membership trade organisation who’s primary goal is to define and improve coffee standards. 

One way they do this is through coffee maker certification. To help consumers filter through hundreds of options they define specific criteria that produce a great coffee.

Note: Not all manufacturers of coffee makers will choose to have their products tested and we review other top rated non-certified automatic pour over coffee makers here.

But you can be assured when purchasing an SCAA approved coffee maker you are buying a high quality machine that will deliver a delicious cup of coffee every time.

Best SCA Coffee Maker Requirements

So what criteria do SCAA recommended coffee makers need to meet?

This document lists the SCAA coffee standards document in full, but we have summarised them for you here.

These standards are from the latest version, released in 2021. Note that total brew time and brew clarity standards have been removed from the standards document.

1. Brew Basket Volume

The brew basket must be sized in proportion to the full capacity of the carafe.

It must also be able to accommodate the SCAA golden cup ratio weight of coffee per maximum capacity without overflowing the basket. 

SCAA coffee to water ratio: 55g of coffee per litre or 2 tablespoons for every 6 oz of water.

2. Brewing Temperature 

Water must reach 194-205 degrees Fahrenheit (90-96 Celsius) by the time 33% of the water has been released onto the grinds.

The brewer must then maintain that temperature range through the entire brewing cycle.

3. Beverage Preparation

The brewer must be able to produce the coffee within the target extraction parameters when at full capacity.

This requirement is about ensuring the quality of the extraction and producing a balanced brew.

Technically it is described as “for a brew strength of 1.15% and 1.55% at the standard brew ratio”.

4. Uniformity Of Performance

SCAA certified drip coffee makers must be able to replicate the results across a 3 brewer units running 5 cycles each to ensure consistency and reliability.

5. Uniformity Of Extraction

Brewers must achieve a uniformity of extraction rating of 60 or above to achieve certification.

This criteria for SCAA brewers maximises coffee flavor quality.

6. Carafe And Temperature

The carafe needs to hold the maximum reservoir volume.

In addition if the carafe has a heating plate it must hold the coffee temperature between 176 to 185°F (80 to 85°C) for 30 minutes after brewing to keep coffee warm.

7. Operating Manual

The brewer must come with an operating manual that specifies:

• the recommended grind for coffee
• the coffee/water ratio of 55 g/kg (or its equivalent in other units)
• a recommended filter type
• and cleaning steps.

Features To Consider On SCA Approved Brewers

All of the drip coffee makers on the SCAA certified list meet the technical requirements. 

But don’t forget there are a number of personal requirements you need to weigh up when choosing which SCA coffee maker is best for you.

So to help you choose, here are the main differences to consider as you compare coffee makers certified by SCAA.

1. Programmable

How important is it for you to be able to set a timer?

Some SCAA rated coffee makers simply have an on/off switch, others allow you to program the machine to start at a later time.

2. Manual Controls

Would you like more control over the settings for water temperature or infusion time?

Not all auto drip coffee machines are alike so check what settings are available to find one that suits you.

3. Size

How much space do you have on your countertop? Some of these gold standard coffee makers are WIDE and TALL. Make sure it will fit where you want it to go.

4. Price

How much do you have to spend? There is a large range of price points.

Sometimes the easiest way to choose is to set your price point and choose from the makers in that range.

5. Glass or Thermal

There are pros and cons to both glass and thermal carafes. It comes down to personal preference. Decide which you like to add to your short list.

6. Brew Time

If time is of the essence, shortlist your machines based on brew time.

The SCA coffee makers brew time ranges between 4-12 minutes (which includes time to pre-heat the water in the reservoir).

Summary Of The Best SCA Certified Coffee Makers 2024

Below is a quick summary of the products and models listed in our SCAA coffee maker reviews. Read on for the full reviews!

• Bonavita BV1901TS thermal carafe coffee maker (8 cup)
• Breville BDC400BSS Precision Brewer coffee maker (12 cup)
• Technivorm Moccamaster glass coffee maker (10 cup)
• OXO Brew thermal coffee maker (8 cup)
• Ratio Six coffee brewer (8 cup)
• Braun Multiserve KF9170SI coffee maker (10 cup)
• OXO On Barista Brain thermal coffee maker (9 cup)
• Cuisinart CPO-850 coffee maker (8 cup)
• GE Cafe Specialty drip coffee maker (10 cup)

Best SCAA Coffee Maker 2024 Reviews

Below are our SCA coffee maker reviews.  These are the best options currently on the market for golden cup standard coffee at home.

1. Bonavita Connoisseur BV1901TS Coffee Maker Review

Best budget SCA coffee maker

The Bonavita drip coffee maker is a simple yet high quality coffee maker.

It is a compact coffee maker with an easy one touch design, consistent brewing ability and a large shower head for enhanced infusion and flavor.

It features a 1500w heater and can brew 8 cups in just 6 minutes. The optional pre-infusion feature (which you activate by pressing and holding the on button until it beeps) wets the grounds before brewing to further enhance the flavor in your cup.

Note this Bonavita coffee maker does not have a programmable timer but it does have an auto shut off function.

The carafe has a wide top and is very easy to clean compared to other models in this list. It is reasonably compact at 12.4″ w x 6.8″ d x 12.2″ h with top access needed to top up the water reservoir.

The Bonavita BV1901 model supercedes the Bonavita Connoisseur 8-Cup BV1900TS, which is also SCAA certified.

What is the difference between the Bonavita 1901 vs 1900 range? The new 1901 model has an improved hanging filter basket and carafe insulation compared to 1900 model.

The Bonavita BV1901TS is one of the top gold cup standard coffee maker choices, and is great if you have limited counter space and want a simple machine without the bells and whistles.

It comes with a two year warranty and is one of the cheapest SCA certified coffee maker options on our list.

>> Click here to check the price for the Bonavita BV1901TS coffee maker

2. Breville BDC400BSS Precision Brewer Coffee Maker Review

Best programmable SCA coffee brewers

The Breville Precision Brewer is one of the most popular gold cup brewer options on the SCAA certified home brewer list. 

Just like their high quality espresso machines, this Breville coffee maker is packed full of features. We love the:

• Cold brew setting
• PID temperature control
• Dual filter baskets
• The flexibility to use it in manual mode with your favorite pour over device.

This Breville drip coffee maker certainly isn’t your average drip coffee machine!

The Breville BDC400 is also the largest cup brewer in the SCAA recommended coffee maker list.

This 1 – 12 cup programmable coffeemaker brews in around 8 minutes (depending on your coffee grind), has programmable temperature and pre-infusion controls.

There are 6 preset modes including:

• Gold (SCAA mode)
• Fast
• Strong
• Over Ice
• Cold Brew
• My Brew (personal settings). 

The Breville Precision Brewer comes with both flat bottom and cone filter baskets and it can detect when a single cup is being brewed without the carafe and will automatically adjust the flow settings. 

If you prefer a glass carafe, Breville offer the same featured coffee maker with a glass carafe and heating plate.  See it here.

The machine is tall at 16″ high x 12.4″ dx 6.8″ w. The reservoir needs to be filled from the top and is not removable – it needs a good amount of counter space.

It is worth noting that while the thermal carafe keeps coffee warm for longer than the Cuisinart, it still can’t compete with the Technivorm for longevity in the pot.  

Also, as the machine uses a water pump and thermocoil heating system similar to an espresso machine, it runs louder than your standard drip coffee maker.

For the craft coffee lover, the Breville Precision is an excellent choice and one of the best sca approved coffee makers on our list.

With options for regular drip, cold brew and pour over it offers a lot more functionality than a regular drip coffee maker and comes with a 2 year warranty.  

>> Click here to check the price for the Breville Precision Brewer

3. Technivorm Moccamaster Coffee Maker Review

Best SCA certified coffee maker overall

The Technivorm Moccamaster coffee maker is the darling amongst SCAA approved coffee brewers and one of the best rated coffee makers on the market. 

With a classic (slightly retro) and simple design and few bells and whistles, it is renowned for producing a high quality brew for years to come.

The Technivorm is also consistently rated the best Automatic Coffee Maker by America’s Test Kitchen.

There is a HUGE range of Technivorm models, with both glass and thermal carafes and a large range of colors.  All models are SCAA approved.

This Technivorm KBGV model of SCA home brewer makes up to 10 cups in around 8 minutes (and as little as 2 cups if preferred). With a simple on/off switch, it is quiet and quick to brew your morning cuppa in part due to the unique copper water heating element. 

There is no programmable timer or control over water temperature or bloom time. This model does however have:

• A pre-infusion function
• Flat bottom filter basket
• Auto drip stop (brew pause) function
• Auto shut off after 2 hours.

The lack of an auto start feature at this price point is an inconvenience noted in some Technivorm coffee maker reviews. However when weighed up against the longevity and reliability of the machine, it is still a great buy. 

The Technivorm coffee maker is manufactured in The Netherlands to exacting standards with a 5 year warranty and they remain one of the most loved automatic coffee makers.

The Moccamaster is a top coffee maker that has stood the test of time and is one of the more upscale coffee makers available. The dimensions are 12.75″ w x 6.50″ d x 14″ h.

These SCA coffee machines will produce great coffee for years to come.

If you are happy to pay for a European hand made coffee maker, you won’t be disappointed. Simple to operate and quick to brew they are one of the best premium coffee makers. 

>> Click here to check the price for the Technivorm 53941 KBGV coffee maker

4. OXO Brew Coffee Maker Review

Best single cup SCAA certified coffee maker

The OXO 8 cup coffee maker is the newest coffee maker released by OXO and it is a serious contender to others on the SCA coffee brewer list.

Unlike the OXO On 9-Cup coffee maker, the Oxo 8 cup thermal coffee makers are much more compact and have a nice contemporary design.

They are also one of the few approved drip brewers with single-serve capability thanks to the extra 1 cup brew basket accessory that comes included with the coffee maker.

The OXO Brewer also has:

• a rainmaker showerhead to evenly distribute water over the grounds
• and the brewing process is controlled with OXO’s BetterBrew precision controls.
• a flat bottom filter basket that requires paper filters (which come with the machine).

The controls are simple with just two options: 5-8 cups and 2-4 cups. Unfortunately it isn’t programmable, but with a fast 6 minute brew time this isn’t such a big issue, and you can always sneak a cup thanks to the brew pause function.

The 40 oz water tank is filled from the top and the double walled and vacuum insulated thermal carafe can keep coffee hot for over 3 hours.

Clean up is easy, with all removable components dishwasher safe. The OXO Brew coffee brewer has a built in cleaning function too to help keep your machine clean.

The sleek design will fit comfortably under most cabinets at 13.5″ high x 10.5″ w x 7″ d and it comes with a generous two year warranty. 

Unlike other gold cup certified coffee makers, the OXO brewer doesn’t have pre-infusion options, but thanks to the BetterBrew precision controls, the brew is smooth, rich and lacking in any bitterness.

The Oxo brew 8-cup coffee maker with single-serve capability is one of a few brewers to offer the ability to brew an SCA certified gold standard pot or single cup.

With a simple control interface and high quality brewing function we think this is one of the best 8 cup coffee maker (SCAA certified) options on the market.

>> Click here to check the price for the OXO Brew 8 cup coffee maker

5. Ratio Six Coffee Maker Review

Best SCAA coffee maker – Contemporary Design

The Ratio Six coffee maker with thermal carafe is a simple drip coffee maker designed to brew your coffee to gold cup standards all on its own.

With its minimalist design and high quality materials, the Ratio Six looks as good as the coffee it brews.

The die cast stainless steel base comes in matte black, stainless steel or white, and the carafe is double walled stainless steel.

The machine has a powerful 1400 w element and the large stainless steel showerhead simulates the pour over process, measuring the water flow through each phase and maintaining the ideal brewing temperature throughout the bloom and brew phases.

The adaptive brewing function ensures the right ratio of water to coffee every time and the borosilicate water tubes enable maximum heat retention.

Plus the optional heat shield surrounds the showerhead, maximising the coffee temperature while brewing.

The flat bottom filter, bloom function and simple one button operation mean you can have a delicious, smooth tasting cup of coffee with very little effort and the three LCD display lets you see at a glance what stage the machine is at.

You can brew anything from 2 to 8 cups at a time. The machine comes with a generous 5 year warranty and has dimensions of 13.5″ deep x 6.75″ wide x 14.25″ tall.

Sometimes the simple things in life are the best, and the Ratio Six is certainly that. The quiet pump free design and one button operation make coffee brewing as simple as can be.

>> Click here to check the price for the Ratio Six brewer

6. Braun Multiserve Coffee Maker KF9170SF Review

Best SCAA coffee maker – brew sizes

The Braun Multiserve Coffee Maker is a popular choice for busy households who enjoy a range of different coffee drinks.

With an attractive design, glass carafe and a range of programmable settings it can brew up to 10 cups in around 8 minutes.

The Braun Multiserve has 7 brew sizes from single cup to full carafe, 3 brew strengths and the option to brew over ice for your favorite iced coffee drinks.

It also has a brew pause function to sneak a quick coffee before the brewing is finished and a hot water spout with 6 temperature settings for every type of tea.

Other features of the 1750 watt Braun coffee maker include:

• a removable water reservoir for easy filling and cleaning
• charcoal filter
• permanent gold tone cone filter
• Glass carafe and keep warm plate
• Cleaning function

These Braun coffee machines are tall, but similar to the others in the list at 15″ high x 13″ w x 7.1″ d. 

If you want the flexibility to brew a single cup of coffee, this small batch coffee maker by Braun is a great choice.

With a simple control interface, auto start function and programmable timer, you can enjoy a range of coffee drinks all year round without the need for multiple coffee makers with the Braun Multiserve 10 cup coffee maker. 

>> Click here to check the price for the Braun Multiserve Coffee Maker

7. OXO On Barista Brain 9 Cup Coffee Maker Review

The OXO 9 Cup Coffee Maker is a popular SCA coffee brewer amongst coffee drinkers.

With an attractive design, thermal carafe and simple control panel it offers consistent brewing quality without the bells and whistles.

Brewing 9 cups in around 8 minutes, the OXO coffee maker gives you flexibility to brew as little as 2-4 cups or 5 cups.

The machine contains a microprocessor that controls water temperature and adjusts the brew process to account for the number of cups set to be brewed.

The water is pre-heated before the showerhead releases the water and pre-infuses the grounds in the cone filter. It replicates the pour over method without a complex menu of settings.  The auto start function and freshness timer make brewing a breeze.

The carafe is easy to pour and the lid stays on for both brewing and pouring.

In terms of cleaning, the carafe lid and cone shaped filter basket are dishwasher safe, but the carafe should be hand washed.

The OXO Pour Over coffee brewer is the tallest of the machines reviewed here at 17.2″ high x 15″ wide x 8.3″ deep. 

If you love pour over coffee but lack time in the morning to prepare it, this OXO coffee maker is a great choice and one of the best SCA rated coffee makers.

With a simple control interface, 2 year warranty and 24 hour programmable timer, you can enjoy pour over quality coffee every day with out the wait.

>> Click here to check the price for the Oxo Brew 9 cup coffee maker

8. Cuisinart CPO-850 Coffee Brewer Review

The Cuisinart CPO-850 coffee maker with thermal carafe is an advanced drip coffee maker with plenty of features to customize your brew to SCA standards.

The Cuisinart automatic pour over brewer produces an excellent, well extracted and flavorful coffee.

Brewing 8 cups in 6 – 8 minutes, the exact time will vary depending on the flavor and temperature settings as flavor strength and water temperature are customizable.

With the Cuisinart coffee brewer you can use the stainless steel filter, cone or flat bottom filter basket for even saturation. It also features auto start and brew delay functions plus a charcoal water filter for better tasting coffee.

They are a sturdy build and average in size at 13.5″ x 7.5″ x 12″. The reservoir is topped up from above so high cabinet clearance is required or you will need to pull it out from under the cabinets to refill.

With full control over water temperature and flavor strength plus pre-infusion and programmable start and brew delay, the Cuisinart offers all the bells and whistles you would expect on SCA certified home brewers and comes with a three year warranty. 

>> Click here to check the price for the Cuisinart automatic brewer

9. GE Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker Review

Best SCA coffee maker – wifi enabled

The GE Café Specialty coffee maker is the most technically advanced drip coffee maker with plenty of programmable options to customize your coffee.

With wi-fi enabled voice to brew technology, this smart coffee maker can be connected with Alexa, the SmartHQ app or Google Home.

The Cafe Specialty SCA gold cup brewers have a sleek design and are available in both glass and thermal carafe options in matte black, white and silver.

Brewing 10 cups in 5 – 6 minutes, it is one of the fastest brewers on our list.

You have full control over the temperature and brew strength with four modes, and the auto timer allows you to program it the night before.

The permanent filter means no need for paper filters and the warming plate will keep coffee warm for up to 2 hours. Plus a built in water filter is a nice touch.

They are an average size at 12.5″ x 7.3″ x 14″. Note that the reservoir is topped up from above so you will need enough cupboard clearance to refill. It comes with a 1 year warranty.

With full voice to brew controls through wi-fi connectivity and strength and water temperature options, the GE drip coffee maker is one of the leading technology coffee makers with a sophisticated contemporary design.

>> Click here to check the price for the GE Café Speciality Coffee Maker

How To Make The Perfect Cup Of Coffee

Once you have your new SCAA-certified coffee maker, you are ready to brew the perfect cup of coffee. Here are our tips for achieving it:

• It helps to start with best coffee beans. If you have a sensitive stomach check out our short list of the best low acidity coffee beans here.
• For fresh tasting coffee, grind your beans at home with a coffee grinder.
• Read the manual! Especially if you purchase a coffee maker with options, experiment to find your preferred settings.
• Use a scale to measure your coffee beans to achieve the golden cup standard every time.
• Keep your coffee maker clean.  Check the manual and descale the coffee maker regularly.

SCAA Approved Coffee Makers FAQs

What Does SCA Certified Mean?

A coffee brewer with SCA certification has passed a number of rigorous tests designed to ensure the coffee maker can consistently brew a quality cup of coffee according to the SCA coffee standards including their Golden Cup recommendations.

Is Ninja Coffeemaker SCAA Certified?

No, there are not currently any Ninja Coffeemakers SCAA certified. Previous SCAA certified models included the CP307 and CM407.

Are Bunn Coffee Makers SCAA certified?

Currently there are no SCAA certified Bunn coffee makers. SCAA certification has a term of three years, at which point the coffee maker must be re-tested in order to retain its certification. Several Bunn coffeemakers used to be certified in previous years, but as of early 2023 they are no longer on the SCA approved brewer list.

Conclusion

I hope you have found the perfect coffee maker from our reviews of specialty coffee brewers.

If you are still unsure, let us help you choose!

Our top recommendation is the Technivorm Moccamaster. With a high quality build, simple control panel and long 5 year warranty, it really is worth it.

For a cheaper option, our budget pick is the Bonavita. It produces consistently good coffee at a fraction of the price of others on our list.

But if you are someone who loves to tinker and adjust your settings, go with the Breville Precision Brewer – there are just so many options!

For a more detailed look at the brewer features, take a look at our detailed feature comparison of all the best drip coffee makers certified by SCAA here.

And if you are not sure whether you want to invest in one of the SCA coffee brewers you can find all our best coffee maker reviews here.

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• Best 5 cup coffeemakers
• Best Dual Coffee Makers

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