What Makes a Coffee Maker ‘Smart’? Here’s How to Tell

Coffee makers come in all shapes and sizes and offer a variety of ways to brew your favorite cup. One of the most modern options is the smart coffee maker. It still makes the same great coffee you're used to, but it's wrapped in tech to make the brewing process easier or more convenient, and oftentimes a little more fun, too.

What Is a Smart Coffee Maker?

Identifying whether a coffee maker is actually smart can be tough. Some machines include digital displays and scheduling options that make them seem pretty smart at first glance, but these are often just programmable models.

So, what actually makes a coffee maker smart?

Generally, a smart coffee maker is characterized by its ability to connect to the internet. This allows it to be controlled remotely using a smartphone app, voice assistant, or smart home devices.

We'll get into the differences between programmable and smart coffee machines below, but as a rule of thumb: if it connects to your phone or smart home system via the internet, it's smart. If it doesn't, it's probably just programmable.

Smart Coffee Makers vs Basic and Programmable Ones

There are several ways to make coffee, but most methods can be filtered into three main categories, ranked by level of technology: basic, programmable, and smart.

Basic Coffee Makers

Most people have seen a traditional, basic coffee maker. This method can be manual or automatic, and is often enjoyed by anyone who wants control over the brewing process or is looking for something cheap and easy to use.

A French press is one example of a classic coffee maker. You can often identify this kind of machine by these traits:

• It's fully manual or uses just a few mechanical parts.
• There are no timers, digital controls, or screens (apart from maybe a clock).
• You can start using the coffee maker within minutes of unboxing it.
• Depending on the machine, it can work with or without power.
  

Programmable Coffee Makers

The programmable coffee maker is extremely common, especially for people who like to have coffee ready at the same time every day. It uses electricity to heat the water, make the coffee, and control other functions. These coffee machines are ideal if you like to prepare your coffee ahead of time.

Here are some things a programmable coffee maker can do that most basic coffee makers can not:

• Schedule when to brew the coffee via buttons on the device.
• Control the brew strength to match your specific tastes.
• Grind whole coffee beans as part of the brewing process.
• Keep the coffee warm after it's been made.

Smart Coffee Makers

You can think of a smart coffee machine as a programmable one with a few extra conveniences. The defining feature of a smart coffee maker is its ability to be controlled with technology that exists outside of itself, like your smartphone or other smart device. For this to work, it needs to have Bluetooth or Wi-Fi access.

An internet-enabled coffee maker unlocks several unique features:

• Use an app to set timers to schedule when the coffee should start brewing.
• Trigger a new cup of coffee manually from an app or smart speaker.
• Integrate it with smart home system routines to trigger coffee when your alarm goes off.
• Learn how much coffee you're consuming over time.
• Receive mobile alerts when it's time to clean the coffee maker.
• Set up automatic orders when your coffee runs low.

Should I Get a Smart Coffee Maker?

Deciding whether to upgrade your coffee maker to one that's more tech-focused depends on things like your budget, lifestyle, and existing setup.

If you like the idea of automating your morning routine, a programmable coffee maker will do just fine. On the other hand, setting schedules is usually easier with an app or smart speaker, and you'll need a smart coffee maker if the plan is to tie it into your smart home setup.

Just remember that smart coffee makers aren't cheap and might be too much tech for what you're after. If you like the hands-on experience of making coffee or enjoy the 10-minute kitchen routine, a basic or programmable model is probably enough.