Is the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Coffee Maker the most Instagrammable filter coffee machine out there?
It's gorg, but there's definitely room for improvement
The Beautiful Coffee Maker by Drew Barrymore looks great on a countertop and makes a sizeable pot of coffee, but it wasn’t the most intuitive to use. It also got seriously hot on the outside of the machine, which is a bit concerning.
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Modern touchscreen display
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Ergonomic handle
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Programmable up to 24 hours
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Can brew up to 14 cups
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Easy to clean
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Replaceable charcoal water filter
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Reusable coffee filter saves money
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Dishwasher-safe borosilicate glass carafe
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4-hour keep-warm mode
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Limited two-year warranty
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Difficult to figure out how to use
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Overheated on the outside
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Takes up a lot of counter space
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Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Coffee Maker Review: Quick Menu
1. TLDR
2. Testing
3. Specs
4. Unboxing and setup
5. Making coffee
6. Cleaning
7. Is it right for you?
8. Where to buy
9. How we test
I love coffee. I used to be a barista for six years, I drink it every single day, and I love the ritual of making it and enjoying a cup. So when I was given the opportunity to review the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Coffee Maker, I was excited! It comes in six colors, and I chose lavender (my favorite!).
When I make coffee, it’s typically in my Chemex pour-over coffee maker. It’s been quite some time since I’ve used an automatic filter coffee maker where you get to just push a few buttons and get nice, hot coffee. I was looking forward to the next morning to test this out, so I excitedly washed everything, read the user guide, and went to sleep dreaming of all the beautiful coffee I’d be enjoying the next day.
TLDR: What I thought of the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore coffee maker
| Attributes | Notes | Rating | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Sleek touchscreen interface with no dials, buttons or knobs. But this can make it difficult to learn how to use | ★★★★ | Row 0 - Cell 3 |
| Price | Under $60 | ★★★★ | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| Maintenance | Has dishwasher-safe parts and easy to clean. Loses points for how hot it gets. | ★★★ | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| Packaging | Fairly minimal: it was sandwiched between two contoured pieces of cardboard and wrapped in plastic. | ★★★★★ | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
Like other small kitchen appliances in Drew Barrymore’s Beautiful line, this coffee maker also features a touch-activated display with no dials, buttons, or knobs. While this makes for a pretty sleek look, it ends up being a bit confusing to operate. I had to read and re-read the instruction guide several times and still ended up cycling through different “buttons” (again, they are LED buttons, not physical ones).
Once I got it to work, it did make a nice pot of coffee. I had some friends over, so I went with 12 cups, which comes out to 12 scoops of coffee. Note: the coffee scoop is included. Although the coffee tasted great, I have some major concerns. The top of the machine got seriously hot. I used my laser thermometer (what, you don’t have one of those?) and it read out at a concerning 189 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of this and the difficulty of using it, I chose to give this coffee maker 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Testing the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore coffee maker
Hey, I'm Bailey Cain, a freelance writer who tested the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 14-cup programmable coffee maker. As an ex-Barista who loves a brew, I have at-home and vocational experience with coffee-making machines.
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore coffee maker specifications
- Model number: #19017
- Size (in.): H10.78 x W12.95 x L17.44
- Weight: 4.87 lbs
- Watts: 1200 W
- Capacity: 14 cups
- Price: $59
- Colors: 6
- Accessories included: Reusable gold filter basket, charcoal water filter, and measuring scoop
Unboxing the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore coffee maker
The coffee maker comes in a cute and colorful box with a lovely little photo of Drew and a message from her that reads, “Make Something Beautiful.” (When Drew Barrymore tells you what to do, you do it!)
The packaging is fairly minimal. It was sandwiched between two contoured pieces of cardboard and wrapped in plastic. Included in the box is the coffee maker, reusable metal coffee filter basket (no paper ones required), a charcoal water filter, and a plastic coffee scoop.
Before getting started, it’s advised to clean the coffee maker with hot, soapy water. The guide also asks that you run two full pots of regular water to flush out the system. In total, this took me about 20 minutes, since I waited for the machine to cool a bit before the second cycle.
On the touchscreen, there’s a clock you can set (this resets to midnight every time it’s unplugged FYI), an option to turn the beep sounds off, different programs and strengths, and the Brew/Off button. After all the setup, you add in the charcoal water filter inside the machine, which I thought was a fun addition.
Using the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore coffee maker
The Beautiful Coffee Maker works pretty similarly to other machines. You lift open the lid, measure out your desired amount of water in the carafe, and pour it into the machine. There are tiered levels inside the water reservoir to indicate the volume in cups.
After that, you take out the coffee filter. It’s important to note that this is made out of a reusable mesh, so you don’t need to buy disposable paper filters — a win financially and environmentally. The coffee basket also has a flat bottom and a handle so it’s easy to lift out of the machine and set it on the counter while you add in your coffee.
The included coffee scoop corresponds to the amount of water, e.g. if you want eight cups of coffee, you measure out eight cups of water and add eight scoops of ground coffee. Once it’s filled, you pop the basket back into the machine and you’re ready to go… almost. The charcoal filter doesn’t like to stay put after you add water, so I had to push it back down and quickly close the lid.
There are three options for brew strength: Regular, Gourmet, or Bold. I like a lighter cup so I went with a Regular. After it’s done brewing, the machine switches to a Keep Warm mode that can count up to four hours, and if you end up making it that long, it will sound twice before it switches off.
Cleaning the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore coffee maker
This machine was pretty easy to clean. The instruction manual recommends cleaning after every use, which is standard practice for coffee makers. After the machine cools, you’re meant to discard the coffee grounds, wash the filter basket and glass carafe with hot, soapy water (or in the top rack of a dishwasher!), and thoroughly dry everything before using again.
As for the outside of the machine, a simple damp microfiber cloth (available on Amazon) should be enough to wipe away any stains or mess. For more difficult stains, the guide advises using a nylon or plastic pad (like Scotch-Brite cleaning pads) with a non-abrasive cleanser — something I, fortunately, didn't have to do.
There is also a Self-Cleaning function for descaling the machine that is supposed to automatically alert you when it’s required, after 300 uses. The guide walks you through detailed instructions on how to do this process, and it’s said to take between 45 and 60 minutes to complete.
Is the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore coffee maker right for you?
If you’re looking for a standard coffee machine with a big capacity and a beautiful finish, this is the coffee maker for you. It’s relatively affordable at $59, comes in six shades to suit any palette, and has a reusable filter so you don’t have to worry about buying paper ones.
I did find that a combination of all the various settings and a touchscreen-only display made it difficult to learn how to use. The machine is also quite large and may not suit every kitchen space. Lastly, and the most concerning of all, the top of the coffee maker got incredibly hot (almost 200 degrees Fahrenheit!) during brewing. I would definitely make sure you don’t have anything near this coffee maker while it’s on, juuuust in case.
If you're not sure whether this coffee maker is for you, here are some more suggestions that we've tested and rate highly:
Size (in.): H13.5 x W10.5 x D7
Filter type: Paper
Capacity (cups): 8
Water filter: Yes
Warming plate? No
Programmable? No
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars in our review
Pull out all the stops with this 2-in-1 coffee grinder and drip filter coffee maker. OXO has such a fabulous reputation for its kitchenware, so we're not surprised this small coffee maker is #1 on our list. Make a whole carafe or a single serving, for some me-time.
Size (in.): H13.75 x W13 x D6.25
Filter type: Paper
Capacity (cups): 12
Water filter: No
Warming plate? Yes
Programmable? No
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 in our review
Though the Technivorm Moccamaster takes a little longer than a pod coffee maker to deliver a hot mug of coffee, the filter process is mesmerizing AF. Good things take time and you can taste the difference with this temperature-controlled brew. It's a great buy for remote workers who hate making constant single-serves, as this one makes up to 12 cups at a time.
Size (in.): H15.16 x W11.2 x D7.48
Filter type: Paper or permanent
Capacity (cups): 12
Water filter?: Yes
Warming plate?: Yes
Programmable?: Yes (24 hours)
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 in our review
If you're looking for fresh coffee and lots of it without spending a ton on a fancy machine, then you'll want the Cuisinart Grind & Brew 12-Cup Automatic Coffee Maker. Why? It does it all: grinds fresh coffee beans (yep, just like the best bean-to-cup coffee machine), and makes great coffee whether you want one cup or 12. Just note, he's a big boy so it's one for large(r) countertops.
Where to buy
Although there is a Beautiful by Drew Barrymore site that hosts all of Ms. Barrymore's range, her collection is available exclusively at Walmart. However, you may find some pre-loved appliances on eBay, too.
How we test
The Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Coffee Maker was sent to me by Walmart, and I tested it out daily for several weeks before writing this review. I’ve continued to use the machine and will keep this updated if my thoughts or opinions on the coffee maker change.
Here are a few things we to look out for when testing coffee makers:
- Water tank: When looking at the water tank, I assess whether it’s easy to fill, remove (if at all), and clean.
- Operation: How easy is it to use the machine? Are the prompts/buttons legible? If the machine makes a sound, is it clear to understand what is happening?
- Type of coffee: What type of coffee does this machine take? Is it an appropriate volume for the resulting beverage? How much waste is left after the drink has been made?
- Cleaning and descaling: How easy is it to provide maintenance for the machine? This may involve anything from removing coffee stains to getting rid of limescale.
- Functionality of features: Here I may look at any standout features. In the case of the Ninja Programmable XL 14-Cup Coffee Maker Pro coffee maker, I observed how well the warming plate worked to retain the temperature of the coffee.