Best Carafes and Carafe Accessories

Shopping the best carafes isn’t hard if you know what to look for.

Contrary to hot plates which “add heat” to your coffee, coffee carafes retain heat thereby preventing the need for any reheating. Additionally, hot plates can burn coffee as well. Burnt coffee is just as bad as cold coffee.

Whether you’re hosting family and guests or just drink a lot of coffee yourself, a quality coffee carafe is very important. Choose from our best coffee carafes and find a style, shape, and size that suits your particular needs.

Using an insulated carafe will not only keep your coffee hot, but it will do it in a manner that preserves the coffee’s original flavor profile.

As is the case with all coffee equipment, not all carafes are created equal. Usually the differentiating quality is how long the carafe can keep the coffee hot.

Note: Some coffee makers come with built-in carafes to make the process of storing coffee even more convenient.

The best insulated coffee carafes will typically be double-walled and made of stainless steel construction. The air in the space between the double wall is vacuumed out and serves as an effective barrier to keeping the heat insulated within the carafe.

Tips for Shopping the Best Carafe

• Make sure that the carafe is built with solid craftsmanship and that the lid fits tightly over the opening. Any exposure to oxygen means you’re coffee is getting cold faster than it should
• The best carafes are durable, relatively light-weight while still being effective, and easy to clean
• Be sure to choose a carafe that is the right size for the amount of coffee you intend to make. If you buy a carafe that’s too large, the heat retention won’t be as effective.
• Choose a carafe that is resistant to thermal shock (sudden and drastic changes in temperature)
• The carafe is important for preventing coffee from becoming stale. It’s worth spending the extra money to buy a quality carafe.