Are you shopping for a new coffee maker? You may have come across something new in the market.
It is called BPA free coffee maker, and many manufacturers have started selling these.
If you are new to the whole BPA debate, you probably have a few questions that need answering.
Allow us to make things easier for you. These are the three questions that this article addresses in detail:
So, without further ado, let’s get down to it.
What is BPA?
BPA is short for Bisphenol-A, an industrial grade chemical that is used in plastic manufacturing. BPA has been around for more than half a century and is most commonly found in polycarbonate plastics (1).
Those are the plastics you see in most consumer goods, as well as food packagings, like cans and mineral water bottles.
What are some potential effects of using BPA coffee maker?
It has been proven that plastics used for food storage have the potential to leach chemicals into food and beverages. BPA is one chemical that will seep into food and drink if given a chance.
If you use a BPA coffee maker, you run the risk of the following health effects:
Consumers have a right to be concerned, and manufacturers are also waking up to this reality. More and more products are being labeled BPA-free as a result.
How To Identify BPA In a Coffee Machine?
1. Check the label
If you want to figure out if a coffee machine contains BPA or not (3), check its labeling and specifications first. If that is not possible, you can try the following steps to figure out if you have a BPA coffee maker.
2. Hard, Clear, Microwave Safe Plastics
BPA is used in polycarbonates to make these plastics unbreakable and transparent/translucent. If you have hard plastic bits that are not opaque on your coffee machine, the chances are high that it is made from polycarbonate.
3. Number 7
Plastics are labeled with a recycling symbol with a number in the middle for easy identification. #7 stands for “other,” which includes BPA, polycarbonate, Lexan, etc. Sometimes, the letters “PC” is also used to denote polycarbonates. Not all #7 plastics contain BPA though.
What are the different types of BPA free coffee makers?
There are many different ways to brew your favorite cup of coffee at home. Different cultures have their own coffee brewing techniques.
Over the years, several different coffee makers have become popular in America. Modern coffee makers can be broadly classified into two:
1. Manual Coffee Makers
As the name suggests, you have to be actively involved in making coffee using these devices. They take extra effort and attention during the coffee making process. Some examples of manual coffee makers are:
Manual coffee makers are usually less expensive and have relatively simpler designs. They tend to be easy to use, and can even be carried around during journeys.
Manual coffee makers have old school designs, and you can find more 100% BPA free options in this category.
French Press – Most Popular Manual 100% BPA Free Coffee Maker
The most common manual BPA free coffee maker design is the French Press. This machine is also called the coffee press, coffee plunger, or a press pot. The design was created in France in the 1950s, hence the name “French Press.”
French Press machines are easy to use. All you need to do is add coarse ground coffee beans and hot water. Mix it around for a few minutes, then press down the plunger to filter the coffee brew from the sediment.
This coffee maker uses metal mesh filters and does not need a paper filter. You can get really strong coffee with a French press.
The French press is the most popular BPA free coffee makers, as they have few moving parts. Metal and glass are the most common materials used to make these devices.
Cold Brew Coffee Maker – Manual Coffee Maker With Some BPA Parts
Heat can have a negative impact on the taste of the coffee, often adding unwanted bitterness. Brewing the coffee in a cold brew machine can result in a drink that has a markedly different taste. The process is also pretty simple, as long as you plan ahead.
The mix of water and coffee is allowed to steep overnight in a cold brew coffee maker, preferably in a refrigerator. You can get a rich brew with less acid taste. This liquid can be stored in the fridge and diluted to make both hot and cold coffee.
Cold brew coffee makers use both glass, silicone, and some plastic bits. Those plastic parts on the lid or handle may contain BPA. Machines that are certified BPA free will not have any plastic parts in areas where you put the water and coffee grounds.
2. Automatic Coffee Makers
With these devices, you can get your morning coffee with just a press of a button. They are usually electronic devices, and you don’t have to use a stove or boil water or anything of that sort. The following are some of the automatic coffee makers available on the market:
Automatic coffee makers are undoubtedly expensive, due to their advanced designs. But they offer maximum convenience as well as time savings.
You just have to fill them with water, and your favorite coffee grounds. But since they are bulky, most automatic coffee makers are strictly countertop-based devices.
Drip Coffee Maker – Best Automatic BPA Free Coffee Maker
Modern automatic coffee makers have a lot of components. Many of these are made from polycarbonate plastics containing BPA. In ordinary drip coffee machines, you may find BPA in the following areas:
But many manufacturers have started selling drip coffee machines that are labeled BPA Free.
In these machines, they don’t use any BPA plastics on parts that come in direct contact with the water, coffee grounds, or the hot brew.
Instead, they use metal, ABS plastics, and glass components. These BPA free drip machines are quite safe and affordable as well.
Which coffee maker is the right choice for you?
Several factors can help you decide the ideal BPA free coffee maker for your kitchen:
The Best BPA Free Coffee Maker on the Market 2020
1. Technivorm Moccamaster 59616
If there were a prize for the coolest looking coffee maker out there, the Moccamaster would be in the running.
While most other drip coffee machines that that similar style and look, this one manages to stand out. It almost looks more like a cool piece of lab equipment than a coffee machine!
As for the technical side, this is a drip stop brewing machine, with automatic hot plate and glass carafe. The company is based in the Netherlands, and each Moccamaster is handmade at their Dutch facility.
The coffee maker looks very well made, with robust metal housing and of course, zero BPA plastic components.
This machine is capable of brewing a 40-ounce pot of coffee in under six minutes. The heating element or hot plate at the heart of this device is made of high-quality copper, which makes it very durable indeed.
The automated system inside ensures that the hot plate is turned off when the water runs out, preventing any damage or energy wastage.
The Moccamaster is available in more than a dozen different color options. There are no major cons with this machine, except of course the high asking price.
But that is only to be expected, for a high-quality machine that is handmade in Europe.
Pros
Cons
2. OXO On Barista Brain 9 Cup Coffee Maker (Our Top Recommended)
The OXO On Barista Brain coffee maker has measurements of 8.3” x 15” x 17.2” and weighs 7.7lbs. It can make a single cup of coffee or up to a nine-cup carafe. It features a plastic finish and is BPA-free.
This machine is designed to make coffee that is above and beyond that produced by a regular drip coffee maker by imitating the craft and art of a coffee shop barista making pour-over coffee.
It uses a microprocessor-controlled brew cycle and heats the water to the ideal temperature for brewing coffee.
The water is then delivered using the Rainmaker Showerhead to ensure the coffee is extracted fully and evenly.
The biggest advantage of this machine is that it makes superior-tasting coffee when compared with other similar machines.
We also love the simplicity of the controls and the ease of use. The fact that you can use it to make a single cup is also a great feature.
There are a couple of issues with it, however. First, if you remove the carafe, the coffee is supposed to stop coming through – but sometimes this is not the case.
Secondly, the coffee it makes is not piping hot. It’s not supposed to be, but for those who like it that way, maybe best to look elsewhere.
Overall, a good pick for someone who doesn’t mind spending more for a superior-tasting brew.
Pros
Cons
3. Cuisinart DCC-3200 14-Cup programmable coffee maker
This coffee maker from Cuisinart has dimensions of 7.75” x 9” x 14”, weighs in at 8.5lbs, is BPA free and features a Stainless-Steel finish and 14-cup glass carafe
One of the Cuisinart’s main selling points is the adjustable temperature feature.
You can choose either low, mid or high, giving you flexibility over how hot your coffee is – but the PerfecTemp® technology ensures there’s no compromise on flavor.
We liked the brew strength control that allows you to choose regular or bold, and another great feature is the 24-hour timer that starts the machine at a specified time, so you can have your coffee brewed and waiting when your alarm sounds.
It includes a permanent filter, meaning you don’t need to buy paper ones – but if you prefer paper filters, it is also fully compatible with these.
We appreciated the 1-4 cup feature that allows you to brew smaller quantities and the brew pause option that allows you to pour a coffee before the brew cycle is complete.
One issue with this machine is that the spout design is less than perfect, meaning that sometimes water can spill out during brewing.
Also, although this is a great machine, we are worried about how many years it will last before needing to be replaced.
A good value machine at this price point for those who want a reliable drip coffee maker.
Pros
Cons
4. Cafe Du Chateau French Press Coffee Maker
The name of this coffee maker could not get any more French, even if it tried! When looking for 100% BPA free options among coffee makers, a French press is usually your best option.
The Cafe Du Chateau is one of the most popular options available online, and for a good reason too.
It doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket, and yet is not made from flimsy plastics.
The stainless steel construction is one of the highlights of this french press coffee maker. All the metal bits are made from 304-grade stainless steel.
That is a food-safe material with a durable rust-free coating. The carafe is also quite robust, made from borosilicate glass that can withstand scalding hot water.
This French press machine is quite versatile and can be used to brew hot coffee and tea, and even a cold coffee. The four-level filtration system inside delivers brews with excellent taste and flavor.
There are one or two plastic components, like the lid, but they are all made from certified BPA free plastics. The overall design of the coffee maker is also pretty chic, and it will look at home in any modern kitchen.
To sweeten an already enticing deal, you even get a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.
The main cons related this product deal with the fact that it is a manual French press design. So that vital convenience element is somewhat lacking.
Also, there are some sharp edges inside this device that might cause problems, especially during maintenance.
Pros
Cons
5. Bonavita BV1800SS 8-Cup Original Coffee Brewer
This very simple one-touch drip coffee maker from Bonavita measures 10.8” x 6.2” x 12.2” and weighs 6.39lbs.
It is constructed from Stainless-Steel, with a plastic reservoir and a Stainless-Steel thermal carafe. All plastic is BPA-free.
The biggest advantage of this brewing system is its utter simplicity.
Bonavita has stripped down all the unnecessary extras you may find on other machines and left only the essentials. This means brewing a cup of coffee couldn’t be easier.
However, that’s not to say it only brews a mediocre cup. Water is delivered at optimum temperature through the “showerhead”, ensuring an even saturation of the grounds and a uniform extraction.
This means the coffee it produces is of a superior quality to coffee made in less expensive machines.
On the other hand, its simplicity may be a problem for some. There is no timer, no strength control or any of the other features found on other models.
It is also not cheap for a machine that only does one-touch brewing and has no other settings.
Overall, this is a good choice for someone who wants a high-quality, no-frills coffee maker – but someone who prefers a little more versatility might prefer to look elsewhere.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
Try as we might, removing plastics entirely from our lives is a real tough ask, well-nigh impossible to be honest.
You will have to make significant effort to go 100% BPA free, and the same goes for coffee makers as well. The best option would be to buy a stainless steel/glass French press like the Cafe du Chateau.
But if you want something with the convenience of operation of an automatic drip machine, the OXO On Barista Brain is the best BPA free coffee maker in our opinion. It is expensive, but what you get is pure value for money and performance to boot.
It contains no BPA and is made to last, with metal. The machine looks cool and is available in vibrant colors. Plus, the main thing is that it brews a fantastic cup of coffee. You really cannot go wrong with this one.