Ever heard of BPA?
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), BPA or bisphenol A is a chemical component present in polycarbonate plastics used in the manufacturing of certain beverage containers and many food and beverage can liner. AND it’s safe in small doses.
As more people are becoming aware of BPA and its health risks, it’s getting the norm to avoid plastics.
Unfortunately, your coffee maker may be the biggest culprit in your kitchen.
The safest thing to do is to look for a coffee maker with no plastic parts, or least none that come in contact with your pot’s content.
While single-serve and drip brew coffee makers might be the best options, those are ones that are more likely made of plastics primarily.
But you don’t need to worry as there are many types of coffee makers out there that are made up of stainless steel and glass, making them convenient choices when you’re more concerned about toxins and chemical residues in your coffee.
The old-fashioned percolator that your mom might use is one of those. If she didn’t throw it after buying the plastic one, appropriate it! Otherwise, there are plenty of new ones on the market if you can’t find your mom’s.
If you’re looking for the best BPA-free coffee makers on the market, then this guide has got you covered. I’ve made a list of the top products available on the market along with their exceptional and advanced features so you would select only the best one without wasting your hard-earned money on the bad product.
Let’s explore the features and benefits of each, one by one…
1. Technivorm Moccamaster 79112 KBT Coffee Brewer
Moccamaster 79112 KBT is a BPA-free coffee maker that’s made with durable metal housings and BPA/BPS/BPF & phthalate-free plastics to make your drinks free from bisphenol A chemical.
This machine is very simple to operate and a quiet brewing process that brews 40 ounces of the full carafe in less than 6 minutes. The thermal carafe keeps your coffee hot for up to an hour. However, if you want to keep the coffee hot longer or for traveling with your carafe, switch to the included Travel Lid.
Technivorm Moccamaster 79112 KBT delivers the consistently delicious and hot cup of coffee every time without bearing on the quality and overheating, so no more burnt coffee. What makes this coffee maker so great is its copper heating element that heats up quickly and controls brewing temperature between 196º to 205º F, which is required to make a great cup of coffee for you, then automatically switches off when the water reservoir is empty.
This machine has an elegant, industrial and classic appearance that looks great in your kitchen without taking up much space on your counter.
On top of that, this machine offers great safety feature as it hardly draws any power if any one of these given conditions is not met:
- If the carafe is placed right next to the unit.
- If there is water present in the reservoir to be heated.
- If the power switch is in the ON position.
The parts are easily detachable and easy to clean, and last but not least overflow channel on the filter basket helps prevent the mess in the kitchen and device damage that increases the durability of the product.
PROS
- Coffee tastes delicious and hot without overheating
- Easy to pour water into a wide-open reservoir
- Simple to operate and smooth brewing process
- Brews a full 40oz pot of coffee in less than six minutes
- Elegant and classic appearance
- Eco-friendly with great safety feature
- Comes with insulated carafe and Travel Lid
CONS
- Fairly expensive
What’s the bottom line?
It’s probably the best BPA-free coffee maker for many baristas and coffee enthusiasts. This machine might be expensive for some people, but it definitely worths the investment.
2. Bodum Columbia – Thermal French Press Coffee Maker
Bodium Columbia is a French Press BPA-free coffee or tea maker and pretty non-reactive all around which makes it probably the best choice for health and chemical-conscious people.
This coffee maker is made with double-wall and insulated stainless steel to keep your drinks hot for two hours, leisurely enjoy your beverages without getting cold. This 3-part stainless steel also has a mesh filter that helps extract your coffee’s aromatic oils and subtle flavors without losing the quality and freshness.
This thermal French Press holds the capacity of 31 ounces that is enough for the entire family (8 cups of coffee or tea). Moreover, the big advantage of this french is its size, that makes it a travel-friendly and optimal choice to take on family vacations.
This machine is fairly easy-to-use, and you don’t need to have any prior knowledge to use it. By following the 4 simple steps, you will have your delicious and smooth cup of joe with a very fine oil slick on top (fresh oil from freshly ground beans).
Lastly, this French Press is extremely easy to clean, and one of the least returned models from Bodum for its efficient durability.
PROS
- Good looking design
- Makes delicious beverages (coffee or tea) without losing quality and taste
- Keeps the coffee hot for 2 hours
- Comes with mesh filter for ground-free filtering
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to use and clean
- Efficient durability
CONS
- Can only make 8 cups of coffee at a time
What’s the bottom line?
Bodum Columbia is probably the best BPA-free French Press that makes a terrific and warm cup of coffee for you every morning in just a matter of few minutes without compromising on the quality and taste. The might be the best French Press that offers such functionalities without breaking your bank.
3. Cuisinart DCC-3200 – 14-Cup Glass Carafe
Cuisinart DCC-3200 is an efficient BPA-free coffee maker that offers all the essential features and functionalities without breaking your bank.
When it comes to taste, DCC-3200 is more flavorful than the older model DC-1200 as it has made the brewing process much better by getting the right flow and temperature.
By using cutting-edge technology, Cuisinart DCC-3200 always delivers you a warm cup of coffee without compromising the quality and taste of the coffee. Just choose the regular or bold flavor profile and set up your brewing time up to 24 hours ahead so you can always have a strong and delicious cup of coffee every morning right at the time when you are.
This machine can handle 14 cups at a time that makes it a perfect choice for a large household or office. This is a stainless steel coffee maker that makes for a modern and stylish addition to your kitchen that doesn’t take up much space on your counter.
This coffee maker features a self-cleaning option that lets you know when it’s needed cleaning instead of routinely doing it every 6 months. This also has an auto shut-off feature with an adjustable timer that can be useful when making less coffee as it burns pretty faster.
PROS
- Easy to use and fully automatic with 24 hours programming
- 14 cup capacity (2 more than the previous model)
- Makes hot coffee and can adjust the temperature of carafe warmer plat
- Does not “Burn” coffee
- Coffee taste is excellent and strong
- Auto shut-off feature
- Sleek design, easy to clean, and comes with reusable meta filter
CONS
- Noisy
- Filling can be tricky as the lid opens to 90 degrees
What’s the bottom line?
This BPA-Free coffee maker is probably the best budget-friendly option with all the essential features and functionalities that you need to make a perfect quality and delicious coffee for a single person or large household.
4. Chemex Classic Series – Pour-Over Glass Coffee Maker
Chemex Class is a Pour-Over coffee maker that’s made from non-porous Borosilicate glass, which ensures to deliver you the purest flavor experience without absorbing odors or chemical residues.
It has a simple, decent, and elegant looking design with the capacity of making 8-Cup of coffee at a time. It’s a very thick beaker with a beautiful wooden wrap around and simple leather strap, which makes it a great looking appliance on your kitchen counter without taking up much space.
Chemex is built on a very simple concept that lets you control every aspect of the brewing process – making coffee is overall easy and fun. It brews a clean and delicious cup of coffee every time. No doubt, it requires a bit of fine-tuning as far as grinding, water temperature, timing and pour, etc, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll easily be churning out delicious and high-quality coffee in no time.
When it comes to the cleaning process, it’s very simple, just remove the wooden and continue to hand wash with soap and warm water or you can also place this coffee maker securely in the dishwasher.
PROS
- Delivers delicious and high-quality coffee in a matter of few minutes
- Keeps the coffee good for a couple of days when covered and refrigerated
- Beautiful and classic Chemex design
- Made of glass, no plastic involved
- Easy to clean
- Budget-friendly
CONS
- There is a bit of a learning curve for making a perfect cup of coffee that matches your taste and quality.
- Special Chemex filters are needed.
What’s the bottom line?
Chemex Class is a budget-friendly coffee maker that offers high-quality coffee without leaking the quality and freshness. It’s probably the best pour-over BPA-free coffee maker, all in a beautiful, timeless glass carafe for your family or when camping with friends and family.
5. Presto 02811 12-Cup – Stainless Steel Percolator
Preso 02811 is a stainless steel coffee maker that makes a delicious pot of coffee without BPA and plastic touching any part of your coffee.
Many of the percolators are made with aluminum, but this Presto percolator is made with all stainless steel, including the inner fixures (filter basket and perk tube).
It’s so easy to use, and the cleaning process is so quick, just unplug the unit and allow it to cool completely, then wash the coffee maker with warm, sudsy water and dry it thoroughly. In order to preserve the gloss of stainless steel, don’t use steel wool or harsh abrasive cleaners.
Lastly, you can set up this machine a night before that allows you to prepare the next morning’s pot so it will be ready when you wake up.
PROS
- Made of all stainless steel, including inner fixtures with no plastic involved that could touch your coffee.
- It is very simple and easy to make coffee.
- It can make up to 12 cups of coffee as fast as a cup a minute rate
- Easy to clean
- It can be set up the night before, so you can always have your morning’s pot read at your set up timer.
CONS
- The cord is short
- The filter basket lid allows some grinds into the coffee
What’s the bottom line?
Presto 02811 is probably the best coffee maker for those who want to stay away from nasty plastics and BPA. It’s a budget-friendly percolator with such efficient durability and positive customer feedback.
6. Hamilton Beach BrewStation (48464) Coffee Maker
No matter how hard you try, it’s nearly impossible to get freshly brewed flavor from coffee that’s been sitting on the hot plate too long. This is where Hamilton Beach BrewStation comes in, which delivers high quality, delicious coffee with the aroma of fresh beans and keeps the coffee tasting fresh for up to four hours – with no BPA involved.
This machine has the capacity to brew 10 to 12 cups of coffee in less than 5 to 10 minutes and reserve them without a glass carafe, so you’ve got nothing fragile to break and replace.
It’s very simple to operate, just press the bar to dispense into your travel mug or cup with the one-handed simplicity of a dispensing bar.
It has programmable controls and multiple brewing options like bold, regular, small batches, and even iced coffee. In addition, it also has an internal water reservoir and brew-basket, which can easily be removed and cleaned with no hassle.
PROS
- Deliver high quality and delicious cup of coffee
- Keeps the coffee hot for up to four hours
- It comes with an internal tank, no carafe needed!
- Easy to operate
- Can make up to 12 cups of coffee at a time in a matter of 5 to 12 minutes
- Automatically turns off after a couple of hours
- Easily detachable parts and can be cleaned easily
CONS
- Need filter
- A bit of a learning curve to making the cup of coffee that matches your taste
What’s the bottom line?
Hamilton Beach BrewStation is probably the best bet for large households and people who want to enjoy every cup as delicious as the first and fresh one with no burnt taste and chemical residues. This machine also comes with some extra automated features with no extra cost to your pocket.
7. OXO BREW 9 Cup Coffee Maker
OXO BREW is an SCA Certified coffee maker that brews the cup of coffee at the perfect temperature that comes to out be delicious yet balanced and tasting great, unlike other coffee makers out there. Moreover, it has an auto timer (up to 60 mins) that shows how long ago the coffee was brewed.
OXO BREW is equipped with an Intuitive LED interface that features a backlit screen that displays the coffee maker status and freshness indicator. This helps you know what stage your coffee is in the brewing process, and there’s no guessing at how long it will take to make the pot.
This machine has a beautiful display and a rainmaker shower head that extracts full flavor from the coffee grounds. Within 2 sips, you would be fully awakened!
The single dial control is relatively intuitive that allows you to program the number of cups, and it also has 24 hours timer that allows you to brew the coffee right at the time when you want. In addition, it also has a double-walled carafe that keeps your coffee warmed after brewing without heating the outside at all.
It has a clean, modern, and futuristic appearance that makes it the nicest looking appliance on your kitchen counter. Lastly, there are only a few removable parts of this machine that are easy to remove/reassemble – making cleaning a breeze.
PROS
- Stainless steel machine with BPA free plastic
- Sleek and modern looking appliance
- One-touch interface that makes brewing process free from hassle
- Brew delicious and high-quality coffee with no burnt taste
- It has the capacity of making 12 cups of coffee at a time
- Double-walled carafe keeps the coffee warmed for long without leaking the quality
- 24-hour programmable timer
- Extremely easy to clean
CONS
- Larger in size
- Pricey
What’s the bottom line?
OXO BREW is a bit more expensive unit, but if you want to level up from your uncertified basic drip to get the best tasting coffee at home, this is probably your best choice in a BPA-free drip filter coffee maker.
There are ongoing studies that continue to support the safety of BPA in food containers and packaging. But does it worth risking your health?
Safety is always better than sorry, and it would be better to stay away from anything that contains BPA, including your coffee makers.
According to NCBI, BPA exposure is linked to several health risks, including:
- High blood pressure
- Infertility
- Endocrine disorders
- Certain type of cancers
How to Identify BPA in Your Coffee Maker
The taste of your coffee would be the biggest indication, your coffee may still contain BPA if you don’t notice it in your beverage aftertaste.
Another way is to look at the parts where you put water and coffee beans. Basically, you must look at all the parts like the plastic filter and the area that holds the water, where your coffee will make direct contact. These should be free from plastic, in this way, you would make sure that BPA won’t get into your coffee.
Unfortunately, not every coffee maker will be labeled BPA-free, even if a company doesn’t use BPA in making coffee appliances, there are still chances they might be using BPS, which is just as harmful.
A French study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found a link between BPS exposure and increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
How to Choose the Best BPA Free Coffee Maker – The Complete Guide
As I’ve already stated, a BPA-free coffee maker doesn’t contain plastic parts that have direct contact with your coffee. It doesn’t mean plastic can’t be used in the coffee makers, it should be limited to exterior parts. However, if you don’t want any sort of plastic in your coffee maker, then you opt for these options:
French Press
French Press is the oldest type of coffee maker available, which is made of glass, so you don’t need to worry about plastic. It comes with a coffee plunger that allows you to control how strong and hot you like your coffee. The lid can sometimes be made of plastic, so it’s better to choose the one which is made of stainless steel, similar to the body.
Pour-Over Coffee Making Method
This is the simplest method, you just need to pour boil water over ground coffee beans. I would recommend you use unbleached coffee filters to avoid any added toxins from winding up in your mug. Though this method takes a bit longer than French, the taste is well worth it!
Percolators
Before drip coffee makers entered the market, percolators were on-trend. They are often made of stainless steel, which makes them BPA-free. It has a simple plug-and-play functionality that makes it the choice for many people as it’s much easier to operate.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do stainless steel coffee makers contain BPA?
Stainless steel doesn’t contain BPA, though a lot of stainless steel coffee makers contain plastic parts that couldn’t be created out of metals. Like in the listed products, some are having plastic parts, not all plastics contain BPA.
2. Is a Stainless Steel coffee maker a better option than Glass?
It’s all up to you which option suits you since both are BPA-free. However, if you’re looking for a pour-over coffee maker, then glass pour-over coffee should be your choice. Alternatively, if you’re looking for French Press, then stainless steel will probably your best bet.
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