What Are The Best BPA plastic Free Coffee Makers of 2022?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Bisphenol A (BPA) is something to avoid and you likely worry about BPA in coffee makers. Are you asking yourself: what is the best BPA free coffee maker?
It can feel confusing, frustrating and plain old impossible when you are trying to figure out how to make coffee without exposing yourself and your family to the risks of BPA.
Fear, not. You can find some amazing BPA free coffee makers out there.
It just takes some research. The best part is, you don’t have to do this on your own. We’ve taken the pressure off and created a list of the best BPA free coffee makers on the market.
The PRESTO 12-Cup Coffee Maker
This percolator could brew 2 to 12 cups of hot, flavorful coffee. Its stainless steel construction keeps it hot for long and makes it easier to clean.
Overall, we think the Presto Coffee Maker is the best BPA free coffee maker as we take into account its features and ability to make quality coffee
How To Choose A BPA plastic Free Coffee Maker
You have likely noticed the growing trend towards glass and stainless steel coffee makers – from stylish pour overs to the classic French Press. Manufacturers are taking notice and making a shift.
That’s a good thing. Coffee makers like these are becoming better and better. But still, some have BPA chemicals…
What’s It Made Of?
At this moment, you do need to pay attention to what your coffee maker is made of. At its simplest, BPA is a chemical found in many plastic products – and it is not something you want to deal with. Especially when it comes to food heating products like coffee makers (1).
BPA can leach from the plastic container…into foods and beverages…to a greater degree when the liquid is heated.
Many health experts say it’s bad for you in many ways – it may cause infertility in both men and women; exposure has been linked to Type 2 diabetes (2) and heart disease, and there are a range of other issues that are associated with it.
Bottom line, you want to avoid this chemical.
BPA In Coffee Makers
Drip and single serve coffee makers are very popular these days because of the convenience, but they are the ones that tend to have the most plastic in them.
Fear not, dear member of the great-coffee-at-home tribe. There are many options that are made of glass and stainless steel that are safer choices if you are worried about what chemicals are leaching into your morning (noon, and night) cup of Joe.
The Safest Approach – Choosing What Is Right For You
The safest approach is to find a coffee maker with no plastic parts, or at least none that come into contact with the beverage you are making (this includes both the water and the coffee grounds).
Solid options for BPA free coffee makers are out there. They include old school style percolators (you can even see if your folks have one packed away in their attic), French Press, pour over and even drip coffee makers that are BPA free.
Always read the fine print
As a consumer, its your duty to check the labels and fine print of a coffee maker before purchasing to look out for plastics containing BPA chemicals. After all – BPA is still commonly used in the United States freely (3).
BPA materials are not fully banned in places like the US. So it’s up to consumers to be educated and aware.
Decide If You Have Extra Time
Of course, making coffee with a French Press or pour over process will require extra time. However, there are benefits here, beyond the all-important no-BPA. They include creating a ritual for your morning coffee (like active meditation, it can help lower your stress levels) and many people say that the taste of the coffee is much better when done by hand, rather than by the press of a button.
To help you decide which process and product is right for you, check out our product reviews of the best BPA free coffee makers below. This information will help you make the right choice for your lifestyle and preferences.
The Best BPA Free Coffee Makers
Now you know some basic information in choosing the best BPA free coffee maker, here are some products at the top of our list:
| IMAGE | PRODUCTS | DETAILS | |
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PRESTO Stainless Steel Coffee Maker |
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CUISINART Stainless Steel Coffeemaker |
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OXO On Barista Brain Coffee Maker |
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HAMILTON BEACH Coffee Maker |
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MR COFFEE Coffee Maker |
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CHEMEX Coffee Maker |
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BODUM Brazil |
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1. The Presto 02811 12-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker
Our Choice for Best BPA Free Coffee Maker
Things we like:
- Makes great coffee (at a reasonable price!)
- Stainless steel body
- Easy cleaning
- Signal light when coffee is ready
Things we didn't like:
- It takes longer to make a cup of coffee, although we’re not sure that’s really a con in the larger scheme of things… just sayin’…
If you love a strong cup of coffee and don't like a lot of fuss… coffee lovers say there's no better choice than the Presto 12-cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker.
Percolators are making a bit of a comeback, as are many vintage items. And this particular model is stylish, hard-working and long-lasting. While it takes a bit of time to make the coffee, there is something soothing about having coffee percolating on the stove top.
This model makes great tasting coffee that is hot and full of flavor. Made of stainless steel, it makes 2 to 12 cups and keeps the brew hot. It also has an easy-to-pour spout (which harkens back to a more elegant age where there was ceremony and tradition in the pour. In fact, percolators appear to have influenced the highly popular Gooseneck Kettles that you use for pour over coffee).
2. Cuisinart DCC 3200 Stainless Steel Coffeemaker
Things we like:
- It makes a great cup of hot coffee
- Brew strength control
- Automatic shut off
- Brew pause feature
- 4-hour brew time set up
- Has a great (charcoal) water filtration system
Things we didn't like:
- Some reviews say it takes a looooong time to brew
- There are complaints about the cord being too short
This 14-cup programmable coffee maker makes a great tasting, hot cup of coffee. Of course, this is an expectation for any Cuisinart BPA free coffee maker on the market. In fact, the majority of their coffee makers are BPA free.
With this coffee maker, you have options for the flavor profiles (regular or bold) and you can set the brew time up to 24 hours ahead, so your coffee is ready and waiting for you. It has a back-lit LCD screen, which means it is very easy to read (especially when you are still groggy from sleep) and it tells you when it’s time to decalcify.
3. OXO On 9 Cup Barista Brain Coffee Maker
Things we like:
- It meets the Gold Cup Standard of the SCAA
- It stays hot
- The water cycle is timed for better flavor profile
- It is stylish and easy to use
- It makes GREAT coffee
Things we didn't like:
- It’s expensive for this style of coffee maker
It would be a coffee crime not to include a BPA free coffee maker that is certified by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) (4). This is a sweet machine that makes a great cup of coffee.
The OXO ON apparently has a Barista Brain (seriously – the manufacturer describes it that way). And the world is better for it. All you have to do is decide how much coffee you want and the machine does the rest. It knows the amount of water it needs and manages the temperature. Meaning all you have to do is start the process… and drink it. This BPA free coffee maker heats water to the optimal temperature, which allows the bean to give you its best flavor. And it keeps the coffee warm – which is reason to cheer.
Water is pumped to the brew basket in timed cycles – including the initial short cycle so that the coffee can bloom, which allows for full flavor extraction. Its intelligent microprocessor monitors the temperature, time and volume to make sure you get the best brew possible. And there is a single-serve function, which means you don’t need to make a whole pot of coffee when you are going solo.
Curious to find out more? Read our full review of the Barista Brain here.
4. Hamilton Beach 12-Cup 48464 Coffee Maker
Things we like:
- No carafe or pot to maintain or wash
- Makes up to 12 HOT cups of coffee at once
- Customization for brew strength
- Easy to use
- Reasonable cost
- It has consistently positive reviews
Things we didn't like:
- It’s a different approach to brewing coffee with no pot
- It doesn’t last for decades
This Hamilton Beach BPA free coffee maker is a little different than what you might expect. It doesn’t come with a pot or a carafe; but you can make up to 12 cups, and draw them one at a time.
It keeps coffee tasting great for up to four hours and works like the traditional drip brewer, but it brews into an internal tank instead of into a pot in front of you. And it lets you customize your coffee with options like bold, iced, or even small batch.It's a little bit of technological magic that results in good coffee, all day long.
5. MR COFFEE 12 Cup R-CG13
Things we like:
- It’s inexpensive
- It makes good coffee
Things we didn't like:
- There is no customization
This coffee maker is basic and its price reflects that. It’s pretty cheap – but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t make good coffee. There isn’t much to say about this Mr Coffee BPA free coffee maker – it’s that basic. But it makes a good cup of coffee, it’s cheap as hell and it’s one of their BPA free models. This isn’t the most magical coffee maker you will come across, but for those on a budget who want good BPA free coffee, this is a no-brainer.
This begs the question: are all Mr Coffee makers BPA free?
The answer is: not at this time.
It’s a good question to ask – and you can see it being asked online quite a bit… is Mr Coffee BPA free? Even if not all of them are, please opt for the BPA free models – your health will thank you for it.
6. The Chemex Pour Over (BPA Free) Coffee Maker
Things we like:
- Stylish design
- It results in great coffee (when done right)
- You can refine your approach to meet your tastes
Things we didn't like:
- Pour over coffee takes some time to learn how to do it right
- The carafe is fragile
- It takes time to make the coffee
Pour over coffee continues to grow in popularity – and the Chemex is a great BPA free option. It is a plastic free coffee maker, which means BPA free.
An iconic brewer with a timeless design… brews a clean cup and maintains body and balanced floral notes.
It takes more time to make coffee this way, but the taste makes it worth it. So worth it. You see, the Chemex has a large neck opening – which allows you more control in areas of water flow and grind size. And you can bring out the nuances of different roasts, which might have a bit of a learning curve, but … oh, the places you can go with your coffee this way!
7. Bodum Brazil French Press
Things we like:
- The glass beaker is strong and sturdy (better than many)
- It comes apart and can be put in the dishwasher
- The filter does a good job keeping your coffee clean of sediment
- Very affordable
Things we didn't like:
- French press style coffee isn't for everyone. It is manual.
French Press coffee continues to have a lot of fans within the coffee tribe. It is both an art and a science that requires a bit of know-how to do right. You might have expected a BPA free stainless steel coffee maker here. However, this BPA free French Press is made of plastic and glass. And it gets rave reviews all over the place. It's the best selling french press on Amazon, and not just because it's so affordable.
It’s easy to use, fairly easy to clean and the glass carafe allows for a pure coffee flavor.
It’s stylish, durable, affordable, easy to clean, and it makes great coffee. Well, you make great coffee using this. What’s not to love about it?The Brazil is a winner for sure.
THE VERDICT: Which Is The Best BPA Free Coffee Maker?
Finding the best BPA free coffee maker for you shouldn’t be an onerous task that you put off. With the knowledge you now have, it should come down to what kind of process you want, as well as your budget.
The Presto 02811 12-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker – our number 1 choice for best BPA free coffee maker – stands out because of the great coffee it makes.
While it might take a bit longer and be a bit more expensive, it all comes down to the quality of the coffee. With the Presto, you are not only going BPA free, you get truly great coffee.
Not only are you avoiding BPA plastics if you choose one of the above products; you are also getting a truely great coffee maker.
Did this list of the best BPA free coffee makers help you choose? Let us know in the comments. And if you know someone who is confused about which one to buy, please share this with them!
FAQ’s
Any BPA free coffee maker can be considered as the healthiest coffee maker. Bottom line for choosing the healthiest coffee maker is to choose one made from BPA free plastic, glass, and/or stainless steel. There are multiple options for you depending on the brewing method you prefer to use.
The healthiest way to brew coffee is with a non-toxic coffee maker (we’ve got some good ones listed above) and organic coffee beans. Aside from these two factors, know your caffeine limits and avoid adding sugars, sweeteners and creamers to your coffee to make it healthier.
You can assume that a coffee maker contains BPA if it is made of clear, shatterproof plastic and does not apparently advertise BPA free. Often times a triangle with the number 3 or 7 can be found on the bottom of the carafe to indicate that it does contain BPA. If you aren’t interested in the coffee makers above and you cannot confirm the coffee maker is BPA free, the safest bet is to look for a coffee maker containing no plastic. Glass and stainless steel are great BPA free options.
References
- National Capital Poison Center. (n.d.). BPA and the Controversy about Plastic Food Containers. Retrieved June 24, 2019, from https://www.poison.org/articles/plastic-containers-are-they-harmful
- Provvisiero, D. P., Pivonello, C., Muscogiuri, G., Negri, M., De Angelis, C., Simeoli, C., . . . Colao, A. (2016, October 06). Influence of Bisphenol A on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Retrieved July 7, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5086728/
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in Food Contact Application, Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/bisphenol-bpa-use-food-contact-application
- Specialty Coffee Association of America. (n.d.). SCA Certified Home Brewer Program. Retrieved January 24, 2019, from https://sca.coffee/certified-home-brewer
