Coffee makers & gear
Brewers, espresso machines, grinders and kettles where hot water and coffee touch glass, ceramic or stainless steel.
What we look for
We look for
- Inert materials in the hot path: glass, ceramic or stainless steel wherever hot water or coffee touches.
- Lead-free brass: for espresso machines, brass parts the maker says are lead-free, and stainless steel boilers where offered.
- No PTFE or PFA in the water path: no coatings in kettles or boilers, and no PTFE or PFA tubing or seals where brew water flows.
- Filters you can name: unbleached or oxygen-bleached paper, or a reusable stainless steel or cloth filter.
- Built to last: repairable, with spare parts and descaling instructions you can get.
We avoid
- Plastic pods and plastic brew baskets that sit in near-boiling water.
- Uncoated aluminum where hot coffee sits, such as aluminum moka pots, when a stainless steel version exists.
- Machines whose maker will not say what the water path is made of, or names only the boiler.
Read the research
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15 products · best rated first
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ChemexChemex Classic 6-Cup Pour-Over Coffeemaker
A borosilicate glass carafe with a wood collar, used with Chemex paper filters whose process the maker names. Nothing plastic touches the water or the coffee. All claims are the maker’s own; no test report is published. -
FrielingFrieling Double-Wall Stainless Steel French Press
A double-wall 18/10 stainless steel press that Frieling calls “100% stainless steel, no plastic anywhere”, with a 5-year warranty and sold spare parts. All claims are Frieling’s own, and French press coffee is unfiltered. -
ECMECM Classika PID Espresso Machine
A compact single-boiler machine whose maker names a stainless steel boiler. A retailer’s parts list shows silicone tubing and PTFE gaskets; the E61 group is chrome-plated brass, and nothing says the brass is lead-free. -
ECMECM Synchronika II Espresso Machine
A dual-boiler machine whose maker names stainless steel boilers. A retailer’s parts list shows silicone tubing, brass fittings and PTFE gaskets; the E61 group is chrome-plated brass, and nothing says the brass is lead-free. -
FellowFellow Stagg EKG Pro Electric Pour-Over Kettle
An electric gooseneck kettle that Fellow lists as 304 18/8 stainless steel with a “BPA-free” plastic handle and lid pull. The page carries a Prop 65 warning with no detail, and every material claim is Fellow’s own. -
Flair EspressoFlair 49 PRO Manual Lever Espresso Maker
A hand-pressed espresso maker with no boiler, pump or electronics. Flair says the whole brew path is stainless steel with no plastic. That is a maker’s claim: we found no test report, and the seal materials are not named. -
GaggiaGaggia Classic Pro E24 Espresso Machine
A single-boiler espresso machine whose maker calls the boiler “lead-free brass” and lists a stainless steel body and portafilter. The group head is brass with no lead-free claim, the tank is plastic, and no test report is published. -
HarioHario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper 02
A porcelain cone that holds a paper filter: no electronics, no plastic, nothing to descale. Hario says it is porcelain made in Japan. We found no test report for the glaze. -
LelitLelit Bianca V3 Dual Boiler Espresso Machine
A dual-boiler machine whose maker names stainless steel boilers (AISI 316L on the colored versions) and an AISI 304 outer tank. A retailer lists the group as chrome-plated brass; Lelit does not say the brass is lead-free. -
LelitLelit Mara X Heat Exchanger Espresso Machine
A heat-exchange machine whose maker names 316L stainless steel, though not which part. A retailer lists the E61-style group and portafilter as chrome-plated brass; Lelit does not say the brass is lead-free or describe the tubing. -
ProfitecProfitec Drive Dual Boiler Espresso Machine
A dual-boiler machine whose maker names stainless steel boilers and a stainless steel group mushroom. A retailer’s parts list shows silicone hose, brass fittings and PTFE washers; nothing says the brass is lead-free. -
RatioRatio Eight Series 2 Coffee Maker
An automatic drip brewer whose maker lists the brew path as stainless steel, borosilicate glass and aluminum, with a stainless basket and no plastic touching hot water or coffee. The aluminum heater is the catch, and it costs $699. -
Rocket EspressoRocket Espresso Appartamento TCA Espresso Machine
A compact heat-exchange machine with a copper boiler (Rocket’s brochure) and a chrome-plated brass group (retailers). Well made and serviceable, but Rocket does not say its brass is lead-free or describe the tubing. -
Rocket EspressoRocket Espresso Bicocca Dual Boiler Espresso Machine
A dual-boiler machine whose maker states stainless steel boilers; a retailer lists a stainless group and a chrome-plated brass portafilter. Rocket does not describe the tubing, pump or tank, or say its brass is lead-free. -
Rocket EspressoRocket Espresso R58 TUNE Dual Boiler Espresso Machine
Rocket’s dual-boiler flagship. Rocket states no material for it; a retailer lists both boilers as copper with brass endplates and the group as chrome-plated brass. Well made and serviceable, with the brass and tubing questions open.