$139.99
9.4/ 10
Why we love it
The CM401 is the Swiss Army knife of drip coffee makers. It's one of the few SCA-certified machines that can brew a single cup, a travel mug, a half carafe, or a full pot — all without changing the water level manually. The four brew styles (Classic, Rich, Over Ice, and Specialty) genuinely taste different, and the Specialty mode produces a concentrated brew that works surprisingly well as a base for lattes when paired with the fold-away frother. It's a lot of machine for the money.
Pros
- SCA certified — real deal brew quality
- 4 brew styles including Over Ice and Specialty concentrate
- 6 brew sizes from single cup to full 10-cup carafe
- Built-in fold-away milk frother
- Removable water reservoir — easy to fill at the sink
- Permanent filter included, also works with #4 cone paper filters
Cons
- Large footprint — needs clearance for the swing-out brew basket
- Glass carafe on a warming plate: fine for a pot you drink, but the last of it left for hours turns bitter
- Specialty brew isn't real espresso (no pressure extraction)
- Frother is basic — fine for milk foam, not microfoam
