Only have a few minutes between your alarm and needing to get out the door and you still want to sneak in a fresh cup of coffee? You are in luck. We’ve curated a list of some of the speediest brewers on the market so that you can find the fastest coffee maker that meets your lifestyle needs.
Read on for reviews of our favorite, fastest coffee makers plus a few tips on how to ensure you get quality results every time you brew. If you aren’t sure what exactly you need, skip down to our handy buying guide to help you sort things out.
Quick Summary: Fastest Coffee Maker
 | Our Top Choice
BUNN BX Speed Brew Classic
| Check on Amazon → |
 | Cuisinart CPO-850 Coffee Brewer | Check on Amazon → |
 | AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker | Check on Amazon → |
 | SterlingPro French Press Coffee Maker | Check on Amazon → |
 | Nespresso EN125S Original Espresso Machine | Check on Amazon → |
Why the Need for Speed?
As our daily lives become increasingly more fast-paced and demanding, our technology and tools must adapt to keep up. We’ve become accustomed to instant gratification, and there is no reason our coffee makers shouldn’t stay in step with us.
So you are the type of person who needs to wake up and leave the house in about 15 minutes every morning? Chances are the average coffee brewer isn’t going to cut it. The brewers on this list can finish your morning cup of coffee in 1-7 minutes. That way, you can take your time (or what little you have of it) on the rest of your morning routine.
Fastest Coffee Makers
BUNN BXB Velocity Brew
First up, we have what is likely the fastest drip coffee maker on the market: the BUNN BXB Velocity Brew. BUNN is touted as having the “Fastest Home Coffee Makers in America,” and this Velocity brewer certainly doesn’t miss the mark. While a bit on the nose, the name is apt.
This 10 cup coffee machine can pump out a full carafe in just 3-4 minutes. That’s enough for about 6 cups of coffee or a couple of travel mugs! And it’s in about half the time (or less) than most average drip coffee makers.
Aside from the impressive speed, this brewer features a commercial-grade stainless steel hot water tank, variable volume control (20-50 oz), a drip-free carafe, a unique showerhead, and a 3-year warranty.
Overall, this is a pretty straightforward, easy-to-use machine that packs some serious speed without many bells and whistles to distract you. The main drawback is that the coffee tends to brew a bit on the weaker side, as the trade-off for speed is the brew temperature and level of extraction.
Cuisinart CPO-850 PurePrecision
If you’re willing to slow down just a tad for a higher quality coffee, then the Cuisinart PurePrecision is for you. This coffee maker is still pretty quick in comparison to other coffee machines with a brew time of 5-7 minutes for an 8-cup carafe.
The extra time gets you a pre-infusion feature and an SCAA certification. Additionally, it makes up for the lost time by offering 24-hour programmability with auto-on, auto-off, and self-clean features. Plus, the Brew Pause lets you sneak in a single cup or two during the brew cycle.
The PurePrecision also has a few other functions and features that may earn some extra points in your book. There’s flavor strength control, temperature control, a thermal carafe, a charcoal water filter, a steel permanent filter, and a limited 3-year warranty.
Basically, this machine offers excellent quality pour-over coffee without the wait and tedium of the traditional method. The only drawbacks we’ve found are complaints of hit-or-miss customer service and mediocre heat retention with the thermal carafe, neither of which will negate that this thing brews some great coffee.
AeroPress
Now, if you need something with serious quickness behind it and don’t mind putting in a tad of effort to get it, then the AeroPress is the one for you. This is the perfect coffee maker for someone who just wants one travel mug of strong coffee right as they are heading out the door.
The AeroPress only takes about 2 minutes to brew your coffee (not including time to heat water). Plus, unlike the other coffee machines on this list, the AeroPress allows you to brew on the go. It’s lightweight, compact, and durable, so it’s a great tool whether it stays in your kitchen, gets toted to the office, or even tags along for a camping trip.
The main downside is that this brewer will only work if you are trying to brew coffee for one person (maybe two) at a time. For some, that’s fine, but for others that is a complete deal-breaker.
SterlingPro French Press Coffee
If you like the idea of using a streamlined manual brewer but need something with a larger capacity, look into getting a French press. We’ve selected the SterlingPro because it is one of our longstanding favorites thanks to its sleek, surgical-grade stainless steel design and impressive durability.
With a French Press, you can brew coffee in 4-5 minutes. The SterlingPro is available in 1, 1.5, and 1.75 L models which can brew about 4, 6, or 9 cups of coffee. This coffee maker is incredibly easy to use and is backed by plenty of happy users who claim it makes the best coffee you’ll ever have.
Plus, if you aren’t satisfied, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. The only drawback is that you do have to account for a bit of added time due to the need to heat your water, a concern you don’t have to worry about with automatic coffee makers.
Nespresso Pixie
Last but not least, we have the Nespresso Pixie. This is easily the fastest brewer on the list, with a brew time of just 1-2 minutes for either an espresso or lungo.
The trade here is the speed for volume. The pixie is only putting out 1.35 to 2.75 ounces of coffee concentrate (stronger than drip coffee) for each brew cycle. However, if you are just brewing for one or two people, that output is more than acceptable, especially with such a short brew time.
Plus, it’s a pod brewer, so this coffee maker makes for a super simple cup of coffee. Also, the Pixie has a pretty impressive performance, featuring a 19 bar high-pressure pump.
This single cup brewer also includes a removable drip tray, a used capsule receptacle (can hold 10 capsules), an auto-off feature (after 9 minutes), and an indicator light for the 24-ounce water reservoir.
Keep it Quality
Unfortunately, sometimes you sacrifice the flavor and quality of a brew for the sake of speed. In some ways, this is unavoidable (you aren’t going to be able to pull a perfect shot and curate a café-style latte in 5 minutes).
However, there are a few steps you can take to ensure that you are getting the best cup of coffee possible, even with the condensed brew time.
The Beans
Freshness
Above all else, you need to make sure your beans are fresh. Even if you decide to buy preground or capsules, check for roast dates. Freshness will make a huge difference in flavor, especially in coffee makers that trend towards weaker brew strengths.
If you do have a little extra time on your hands in the evening, it is also a great idea to grind your beans. That way, you can ensure that your beans are as fresh as possible and that you are getting as much flavor in your cup of coffee as possible.
Check out this list to find a grinder that suits you.
Roast
If you have freshly roasted and ground coffee beans but you still aren’t satisfied with the coffee you are getting, the issue may be with the roast. Though dark roasts are often boasted as the best coffee available, most people find medium roasts more palatable.
In fact, if you think your coffee is too weak, the issue may be that your brewing temperature isn’t hot enough not that your roast isn’t dark enough.
The Water
Temperature
Even the fastest coffee maker is going to need hot water to do its job. Some coffee makers (like the SCAA certified PurePrecision from Cuisinart) do all the work for you. However, other coffee makers, especially manual ones, are completely open-ended.
In general, you are shooting for 200 degrees Fahrenheit, give or take about 5 degrees. Honestly, a thermometer for your kitchen (for more than just measuring your coffee water) can be an excellent investment.
Quality
You should also pay attention to the quality of the water you are using. Poor water quality can not only negatively impact the flavor of your cup of coffee, but it can also deteriorate the quality of the coffee makers themselves. Drip coffee makers especially can fall victim to residue build-up from tap water.
By filtering the water you use to brew, you can keep your brew time on point and ensure that each cup of coffee is as good as the last. Plus, using filtered water can reduce the amount of maintenance and upkeep you need to perform to keep your coffee machine in tip-top shape.
The Equipment
Speaking of upkeep, you need to make sure to clean your coffee maker regularly. Build-up can slow down your brew time, or worse, permanently damage your machine.
Cleaning manual brewers like the SterlingPro or AeroPress is as easy as popping them in the dishwasher. However, automatic brewers need to be regularly descaled to keep them running. Make sure to factor that extra maintenance into your overall decision.
If all of your minutes are precious, you may want to stay away from machines that require more intensive cleaning to keep their brew time at its best.
Things to Consider
Size
The first factor you must consider when looking for a “fast” coffee maker is the size or volume of the coffee you plan on making.
While the Aeropress or pod brewer might be the perfect tool for one or two people, either would be a pain to use for a larger family of coffee drinkers or for people who frequently serve coffee to guests.
On the other hand, a 10 or 12 cup coffee maker that can fill a carafe in a few minutes might sound like a dream to some families on the go. But for one person who just needs to get out the door, those minutes can drag and the excess coffee is often wasted.
So go ahead and take stock of exactly how many cups of coffee you are trying to fill on an average morning before you start narrowing down your search.
Convenience
On this list, we have a combination of manual and automatic machines with a good bit of variance on their need for human input. Outside of how fast a particular brewer can make your coffee, you should consider exactly how much additional time will need to go into both coffee prep and clean up.
Manual brewers require a little more attention during the brewing process, so you won’t be able to multitask too much. However, they also make for some of the easiest and fastest clean-ups imaginable.
Automatic brewers allow you to multitask a bit after you set them to go. However, clean-up tends to be a bit messier. So, many people end up rushing out the door with the pot still cooling in the sink.
Budget
The coffee makers on this range anywhere from $30 to $300. So whether you’ve decided to just skip a few coffee runs this month or you’re putting in some serious saving, there should be a brewer that suits your wallet here.
When considering your budget, be sure to pay attention to the build of your chosen machine as well. Automatic machines with more plastic components tend to have shorter lifespans than their more metal-based counterparts.
On the other hand, a simpler brewer like the Aeropress or French Press is likely to outlast any automatic brewer. Plus, these options will save you a bit of money in the short term as well.
However, if you are happy to invest a little extra for convenience, you may want to consider other coffee makers.
Versatility
There are a few different factors that come up when discussing versatility: brew and situational versatility.
Coffee makers that can produce varying types of brews have the former kind. For example, the PurePrecision by Cuisinart allows you to alter the brew strength and temperature. The Pixie has options to slightly change the brew volume.
Both of those brewers are outpaced by the manual brewers (AeroPress and SterlingPro). Non-automatic brewers allow for nearly complete control over the various brewing factors. So it is pretty clear cut who edges out the competition on this front.
However, who wins in the latter category is entirely dependent on your lifestyle needs. Someone on-the-go may prefer the AeroPress’s rugged durability and compact package. However, someone who prefers a hands-off brewing experience may prefer the 24-hour programmability of the PurePrecision.
In the mood for simplicity above versatility? Try the BUNN BXB Velocity Brewer.
Wrapping Up
So there you have it, from manual brewer to single-serve pod machines and drip brewers, regardless of what’s pushing your fast-paced lifestyle, we are confident one of these brewers can keep up.
If you are just looking for the fastest drip brewer you can get, try the BUNN BXB Velocity Brew.
For extra programmability and a brewer that will have things hot and ready for you as you walk out the door, try the Cuisinart CPO-350 PurePrecision with the thermal carafe.
Don’t mind heating up your own water and would prefer to save a few bucks? Check out the AeroPress if you are brewing for you or the SterlingPro French Press if you’re brewing for a few.
If you prefer pods, try the shockingly speedy Nespresso Pixie.
Happy Caffeinating!
