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Bunn-O-Matic Corporation is one of the longest-serving coffee maker companies around the globe. It currently boasts over 6 decades worth of experience and has several highly respectable products to show for it.
This Illinois, USA-based brand is trendy among foodservice providers worldwide. It also boasts an impressive foothold in most homes today.
Both commercial and home BUNN coffee makers are known for their incredible brewing speeds, but their crucial highlight is durability. If you are tired of replacing your coffee machine every year, let’s help you choose a BUNN that your family will use for years on end.
🌟 Our Top Pick: BUNN NHS Velocity Coffee Brewer
Product award: Best For Home Use
Highlights:
- 10-cup reservoir
- 4-10 cup size
- Multi-stream spray head
- Drip-free carafe
- 3-year warranty
The NHS won’t score a lot of marks in the beauty department. However, it makes up for that with speed and convenience. This coffee maker features a large stainless steel water tank that holds enough water to brew up to 10 cups.
The thing with this tank is that it keeps the water at the ideal coffee-brewing temperature of around 200 F. This implies that when it’s time to make a cup of coffee, brewing starts almost instantly. This coffee maker takes about 3 minutes to brew a carafe of 10 cups- definitely one of the highest, if not the most top speed.
BUNN says that this machine offers a brew size of 4-10 cups. However, you can also make a single cup since the water system dispenses the amount of water that you add in the filler basin.
Importantly, the NHS does not compromise the quality of your coffee credit to the combination of a multiple-stream spray head and a large flat-bottom filter. These 2 increase the contact between hot water and the grounds for optimal flavor extraction.
This coffee maker comes with a glass carafe with a redesigned spout for mess-free pouring. It also has a porcelain-coated hot plate to keep your cuppa warm.
Pros 👍
✔ Fast brewing speeds
✔ Made for durability
✔ Easy-pour carafe
✔ Easy to use
Cons 👎
✘ Reports of plastic smell
✘ Not versatile
View BUNN NHS Velocity Coffee Brewer on Amazon
BUNN GRB Velocity 10-Cup Home Coffee Brewer
Product award: Best For Budget
Highlights:
- Drip-free carafe
- Multi-stream spray head
- Brews 4-10 cups
- Optional hot plate
The BUNN GRB looks very similar to the NHS above. That’s because they come from the same family of Velocity.
However, this model is almost 3 times cheaper, yet it offers pretty much all the features that you find on the NHS. It’s for this reason that we highly recommend it for homeowners looking for the best price on BUNN coffee maker.
The significant difference between the GRB and the NHS is that the former is mainly made of plastics. This is what makes it so affordable. Worth noting, this is the same heavy-duty plastic that BUNN uses for most of its commercial coffee brewers. So, we don’t think durability has been compromised a lot here.
This model has a stainless steel water reservoir with an internal thermostat to keep the water ready for instant brewing. As such, you are still assured of at least 10 cups of hot coffee in around 3 minutes.
Similar to other brewers from this line, fast speed doesn’t come at the expense of a well-blend coffee. This model also uses the multi-stream spray head and BUNN’s iconic large flat-bottom filter to ensure full-bodied coffee drinks with each brew.
Pros 👍
✔ Convenient to use
✔ No brewing skills necessary
✔ Optimum flavor extraction
✔ Fast brewing speeds
Cons 👎
✘ Larger footprint
✘ Not energy efficient
✘ Carafe doesn’t lock in place
View BUNN GRB Velocity Reviews & Price on Amazon
BUNN BT Velocity
Product award: Best with Thermal Carafe
Highlights:
- Thermal Carafe
- 800-watt heater
- Close-and-brew design
- 10-cup reservoir
Any discussion of BUNN drip coffee makers would have to include the BT. This is one of the best-rated models today. The fact that it’s not among the cheapest confirms that it has a lot worth going for.
The first thing that caught our eyes on this coffee maker was its thermal carafe. Of course, the construction material of the carafe has nothing to do with the machine’s performance. However, it goes a long in keeping your brewed coffee hot without the need for a warming plate.
This carafe is double-walled and will keep your coffee warm for up to 2 hours with only the lid on. In our thinking, this is a big plus more so for coffee lovers who want an efficient machine.
This maker’s large reservoir makes it very popular with large households with several coffee addicts. It has a capacity of 50 ounces or the equivalent of around 10 coffee cups. This reservoir is then complemented by BUNN’s ‘always ON’ heating technology, so you get lots of coffee at almost half the time that most non-BUNN units take.
This model has a width of 7’’, a depth of 13.8’’, and a height of 14.8’’. So, be sure to create enough space for it.
Pros 👍
✔ SCAA-certified
✔ Has a thermal carafe
✔ Brews quickly
✔ 3-year warranty
Cons 👎
✘ Needs a lot of space
✘ Unique diffuser required for high altitudes
✘ Carafe has no measurements
View BUNN BT Velocity Price & Reviews on Amazon
BUNN HB Heat N Brew Programmable Coffee Maker
Product award: Best For Versatility
Highlights:
- Programmable
- 10-cup capacity
- Lime-tolerant spray head
- Drip-free glass carafe
- Automatic warmer
BUNN coffee makers aren’t known for versatility, but this is changing with the recent offerings. The BUNN Heat N Brew is among the latest releases from this manufacturer. It’s hands down, the most versatile too.
Right from the design, the HB Brew N Heat is a departure from the usual blocky and oblong shape of the classic BUNN coffee makers. While it’s not what you’d call compact, this model has a significantly reduced depth compared to most of its siblings.
The HB derives its name from BUNN’s heat and release technology that it’s used in it. BUNN says that this technology precisely monitors the water temperature to ensure that it’s heated to the ideal brewing range of 197.6ºF-204.8ºF. They say that only after reaching this temperature does a valve open to allow the brewing process to kick off.
Notably, this new technology extends the brewing time from the usual 3-4 minutes to around 10 minutes for a full carafe. To make up for that, though, the HB brings a rare feature on BUNN coffee makers- a programmable auto-start. This allows you to set the coffee maker in the evening and wake up to the aroma of ready coffee.
This coffee maker comes with a 50-ounce carafe with markings to allow you to brew 4-10 cups. It also has an auto-warmer that turns off after 2 hours.
Pros 👍
✔ Auto-start feature
✔ Brews at perfect temperatures
✔ Drip-free carafe
✔ Easy to keep clean
Cons 👎
✘ Relatively long brewing time
✘ Warmer can’t be turned off
✘ No brew-pause
Check BUNN HB Heat N Brew Reviews & Price on Amazon
BUNN 13300.0001 VP17-1SS
Product award: Best Commercial BUNN Coffee Maker
Highlights:
- Stainless steel construction
- 1 warmer
- Brews 3.8 gallons per hour
- Pour-over design
- Splash-guard funnel
The VP17-1SS is a heavy-duty machine designed to churn out coffee at the rate of 3.8 gallons per hour. This is what makes it ideal for use in family restaurants, taverns, small-to-medium offices, and gatherings. We’ve come across people who say that they use it as their primary coffee maker at home too.
The VP17 uses the same ‘instant-brewing’ concept of other coffee makers by this manufacturer, and has an ‘always ON boiler’ that holds hot water. So, you only need to pour cold water at the top for your coffee to start brewing almost immediately.
Designed for heavy use, this machine’s construction is among its outstanding aspects. A large part of its shell is made of stainless steel. BUNN also assures that the internal components are made of stainless steel too.
As a pour-over coffee machine, we appreciate that the funnel has a splash-guard design to deflect hot liquids away from the hand. This machine also has a warming plate to keep your coffee warm.
Note that this model does not come with a carafe. So, it might be necessary to add the BUNN 6100 or the BUNN 12-cup glass decanter to your cart too. (links will open in a new tab)
Pros 👍
✔ Durable construction
✔ Stainless steel stays clean
✔ Repairable and replaceable parts
✔ Great price for commercial-style brewer
Cons 👎
✘ Decanter not included
✘ Heating element stays on
✘ A little noisy when heating
View BUNN 13300.0001 VP17-1SS Price & Reviews on Amazon
Our Verdict – Which BUNN Cofee Maker is For You?
We believe any of the above models will fit the bill for most homeowners looking for a speedy machine that makes great-tasting coffee. However, if you take your coffee’s brewing temperature seriously and would like the convenience of a programmable model, by all means, get the BUNN HB Heat and Brew.
Best BUNN Coffee Maker Buying Guide
Is BUNN the best coffee maker? Why buy it?
Several aspects go into making the best coffee machines- and we believe BUNN hits the most critical checkmarks.
Let’s start with durability. The longevity of use is one of the factors that will top your must-have list when choosing a reliable coffee maker. Good news, this is one of the areas that BUNN beats most of its competitors.
It’s not hard to come across reports of home and business owners who have had their machines for well over 7 years.
BUNN coffee makers are also famous for their fast brewing speeds. Most of them brew a carafe in around 3-4 minutes – all while maintaining the right balance of sweetness, bitterness, and acidity.
How does a BUNN Coffee Maker Work?
There are 4 major components in BUNN home coffee makers that work together to make your cuppa;
- The primary water reservoir and heater- this heats and holds hot water for release on demand.
- A filler basin- this is where you add water through. Its lid also acts as a ‘brew button.’
- Coffee filter cup- this one holds your coffee grounds.
The primary water reservoir is ideally meant to stay filled with water. A heating element in the tank takes around 15 minutes to heat the water to the ideal coffee-brewing temperatures.
When you add cold water into the filler basin and close the lid, a plunger opens to let the water into the main tank. Almost instantly, the cold water displaces a similar amount of the hot water in the holding tank, which moves through a tube system to saturate the coffee grounds in the brewing chamber.
What are the differences between BUNN Home coffee makers?
BUNN non-commercial coffee makers fall into 2 major lines;
Velocity Brew Line
This line consists of the BUNN BX, BUNN BT, BUNN NHS, and BUNN GRB among other products.
Each of these coffee makers is different in one way or another. However, they also share several standard features, including a stainless steel internal reservoir that heats water to 200 F, a 50-ounce brew capacity, a customizable 8-10-cup brew size, and a brewing time of around 3 minutes. These brewers also don’t have an ON button and a brew-pause feature.
Speed Brew Line
These are the latest coffee makers by Bunn and what you are going to find featured on their website. The success of the Velocity line inspired these models. However, they are much better in terms of performance and convenience. This line consists of the Classic, Select, Platinum, and Elite.
These coffee makers have a 70-ounce reservoir that keeps the water heated. This reduces the brew time significantly compared to competitors. Precisely, these models take around 2 minutes to brew 4 cups (minimum) and under 4 minutes for a full carafe of 10 cups.
Additional Coffee Makers
BUNN also has 2 more machines that don’t exactly fit in either of the above lines;
- BUNN MC MyCafe- this is a versatile machine that can brew using pods or ground coffee.
- Heat N Brew- this is BUNN’s latest entrant and our best recommendation here. It brings most of the features that are common in most modern coffee makers, including programmability, and an auto-off function.
How to Choose a Bunn Coffee Maker
Consider your lifestyle
How much coffee do you chug at once? If 1-2 cups are all you need to jump-start your day, perhaps a model that allows you to make a few cups is all you need. If you prefer using your grounds, you’ll want to consider a model that offers this convenience. Luckily, most BUNN coffee makers allow these 2 with the exception of MyCafe.
Again, if the coffee maker is to be used by a couple of coffee lovers, you might want to go with a model that can brew as much coffee as possible.
Size vs. Available Space
BUNN coffee makers are generally large, whether you are considering the Velocity line or the newer models. So, before buying one, be sure to find whether it will fit where you intend to position it. Of most importance, double-check whether it will fit beneath your upper cabinets.
Price vs. Features Considerations
BUNN coffee makers aren’t the cheapest. Similar to other brands of coffee makers, the price tends to correlate with the available features. What’s important is to consider the functions that matter the most to you rather than paying for additional perks that you’ll never use.
Frequently Asked Questions
The secret behind BUNN coffee machine’s brewing speed is a heating element that keeps water hot. So, when it’s time for a cup of Joe, you go direct into brewing without waiting for the water to heat up. That being said, you can expect these machines to consume a lot more power than typical coffee makers.
You can save energy by turning the entire machine off at night and when there’s no one at home. You could also consider some of the latest products that are programmable.
No. The warranty generally ranges from 2-3 years.
BUNN recommends maintaining the makers at least once every 3 months. This involves removing scale buildup in the hot water tank. To do this, position the carafe in place and add one quart of white vinegar into the filler basin. Close the lid to flush out the water in the reservoir. Let the vinegar sit for around 2 hours. Next, add a full carafe of cold water to flush out the vinegar. Repeat the rinsing cycle until the smell of vinegar dissipates completely.
Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your BUNN Coffee Maker
- If your water has high mineral content, treat the machine with vinegar regularly.
- A great cup of Joe starts right from the quality of your coffee- go for the best.
- Keep in mind that these coffee makers use large filters to prevent passing grounds.
- Use a coarse ground coffee as finer grinds tend to fall into the carafe.
- Always follow the manual/manufacturer’s instructions to prevent accidents.
- 🌟 Our Top Pick: BUNN NHS Velocity Coffee Brewer
- BUNN GRB Velocity 10-Cup Home Coffee Brewer
- BUNN BT Velocity
- BUNN HB Heat N Brew Programmable Coffee Maker
- BUNN 13300.0001 VP17-1SS
- Our Verdict – Which BUNN Cofee Maker is For You?
- Best BUNN Coffee Maker Buying Guide
- Is BUNN the best coffee maker? Why buy it?
- How does a BUNN Coffee Maker Work?
- What are the differences between BUNN Home coffee makers?
- How to Choose a Bunn Coffee Maker
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your BUNN Coffee Maker