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Last Updated on October 27, 2024
You may not know how much you need a coffee carafe in your life, but once you have one, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without it.
Whether you’re brewing for the household or a dinner party, perfecting your pour-over method, or keeping your coffee hot throughout the day, a carafe will enrich your home brewing experience and the flavor in your cup.
There are endless carafes to choose from, and how you intend to use yours will be the defining factor in making your selection. Whether you want an elegant serving vessel for a group, a stylish direct brewing system, or a thermal carafe to keep your coffee hot all day, there’s a great option out there.
Our top pick, the Hastings Collective Thermal Coffee Carafe, perfectly balances form with function. It comes in three classic colors, a range of sizes, and combines an attractive modern style with impressive heat retention.
- THE BETTER CARAFE for a better beverage. From aroma to taste our 50 oz thermal carafe for coffee keeps any drink hot or cold for hours to preserve that just brewed freshness from start to finish
- SUPERIOR STEEPING is a cinch with the right thermos for tea and coffee. More than just an insulated coffee carafe but a thermal tea carafe thermos too! Includes a strainer and filter for a leaf or grind free cup – always
- VACUUM INSULATED carafe for coffee, juice or water. Also makes great cold brews. Designed for maximum temperature retention. Perfect coffee thermos carafe for: home, office or travel use
- EURO-SLEEK DESIGN, stunning function. Our thermal coffee carafe features a double wall, single spout opening, a push button top and comfortable coffee thermal dispenser handle for easy pouring!
- UNRIVALED QUALITY from its stainless steel vacuum pitcher interior and durable exterior, to its lid that will never leak. For a thermos for coffee made like no other – ADD TO CART
We’ll explore the Hastings Collective range in more detail below, along with all the best coffee carafes, both glass and thermal.
Glass vs. Thermal Carafes
Glass and thermal are the two main styles of coffee carafes. Glass carafes tend to be more eye-catching, thermal carafes more functional.
Glass Coffee Carafes
If you brew pour-over and want several cups at once, or simply want a more convenient and functional setup, a glass carafe will suit you. It’s a simple and elegant way to serve your coffee.
Some glass carafes are more art than kitchen tool. If you want to impress friends at a dinner party, or simply begin your day with a touch of beauty, then something like the Yield Pourover Carafe would be a sensational choice.
The downside to a glass carafe is that heat retention is limited. They won’t keep your coffee hot for a long time. Choosing a glass carafe that’s double-walled or made with thicker, heat resistant glass will help, and so will a lid, but your coffee probably won’t stay hot for much more than 30 minutes.
Coffee experts say your coffee’s flavor starts to deteriorate at that time anyway, so there’s really no point in keeping it longer.
Thermal Coffee Carafes
What thermal coffee carafes lack in beauty they make up for in function. Thermal carafes seal in aromas and reduce undesirable characteristics such as bitterness that can develop if you keep your coffee pot on a hotplate.
If you’re looking for a vessel that will hold several cups of coffee while keeping it hot for hours, a thermal carafe is the way to go. A sealed thermal carafe will keep coffee hot and fresh for at least six hours, and up to 12 hours.
Keep in mind that when you open your thermal carafe, oxygen will enter and your coffee will begin to oxidize and lose its freshness. If you intend to use your carafe for longer periods, I recommend finding one with an easy-pour button, rather than a lid that flips open when you pour. This will keep your coffee hot and fresh for longer. If we’re compromising on form, why not maximize function?
If you like to brew a large French press or pot of drip coffee and enjoy it throughout the day, or you host large gatherings and events, a thermal carafe is what you need.
Best Coffee Carafes
Once you know what style of carafe best suits your needs, you may still be overwhelmed by all the options on the market. We’ve rounded up our favorite coffee carafes, so let’s dive into the details.
Best Overall: Hastings Collective Thermal Coffee Carafe
The Hastings Collective line of carafes gets my top vote because they provide a functional, heat-retaining vessel that still looks incredible. I love the modern style of these carafes, which still prioritize function.
They sport an interlocking, leak-proof lid with push-button release for pouring. This minimizes heat loss, keeping your coffee hot for at least six hours.
Each carafe comes with a set of reusable filters for either coffee or tea, and is perfect for hot or cold beverages.
You can select from a range of sizes: 40-ounce, 50-ounce or 68-ounce carafes; or an 85-ounce airpot, all in a sleek white, black, or grey.
They are simple to use and clean, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice beauty for functionality.
Pros:
- double walled and vacuum sealed
- stylish and modern design
- good heat retention
- comes with filters for brewing
- range of sizes
- coffee or tea use
- easy to clean
Cons:
- less heat retention than other thermal carafes on the list
- slightly higher price point
Best Heat Retention: Cresimo 68-Ounce Thermal Coffee Carafe
If you’re looking for a carafe that can hold several cups of coffee and keep them hot all day, the Cresimo Thermal Carafe is the one. It’s not particularly attractive, reminiscent of something you’d find in a restaurant or cafe.
Double-walled and vacuum-sealed, this one keeps coffee hot for 12 hours. That’s likely more than you need for home use, but it’s super durable and portable. If you throw events or work on film sets it would be a great addition to your coffee setup.
Pros:
- great heat retention
- durable
- easy to pour
- large capacity
- great value
Cons:
- not attractive
- plastic lid isn’t very solid
Best Small Capacity: Zojirushi Thermal Coffee Carafe
If you’re looking for the impressive heat retention of the Cresimo but on a smaller scale for home use, the Zojirushi Thermal Carafe is an attractive, durable option.
It comes in both a one-liter or 1.5-liter option and you can choose from matte black, navy blue, silver or copper.
The design is still a bit reminiscent of a café-style carafe, but the smaller, stouter build and fun colors give it a bit more panache.
With an impressive heat retention of 12 hours it will keep your coffee hot all day, and would be great for dinner parties. It’s easy to use and clean, and its durability justifies its slightly higher price point.
Pros:
- great heat retention
- perfect size for home use
- easy to use and clean
- fun colors
- durable
Cons:
- not the most attractive
- slightly higher price point
Best Heat Retention in Glass: Fellow Stagg Double Wall Coffee Carafe
If you love the style and elegance of a glass carafe, but you’re hoping for at least a bit of heat retention, the Fellow Stagg Double Walled Carafe is a great home option.
It doesn’t have a huge capacity, so it’s best suited for personal use.
It’s made of double-walled borosilicate glass, which is heat-resistant and durable, and comes with a handy silicone lid to further improve heat retention. You’ll get a solid half hour out of your Fellow Stagg, and possibly even 45 minutes if you preheat it.
If you’re like me and you like to slowly enjoy several small cups of hot coffee in the morning rather than a large mug that is invariably cold by the time you get to the bottom, then the Stagg is a great choice.
Pros:
- elegant design
- fairly durable
- decent heat retention for glass
- nice size for personal use
- comes with a lid
Cons:
- limited heat retention
- smaller capacity
Best Brewing Design: Chemex Coffee Maker
When you think of pour-over, you think of Chemex. They took the filter basket off your mug and offered something more elegant and functional. I will admit to sleepily putting my metal filter basket onto my mug in the morning, often to have it slip out of position or overfill on me. Brewing straight into your mug gets the job done, but there’s something particularly frustrating about cleaning up a mess before I’ve even had my coffee.
The Chemex system is elegantly designed with the filter shape built right into the carafe. It uses thick paper filters and brews up to eight cups, depending on which size you get.
It’s made with heat-resistant glass so the exterior doesn’t get too hot, and it also has an eye-catching wooden collar for easy handling.
The downside is that the Chemex carafe isn’t insulated, so heat retention is almost non-existent unless you use an electric warming plate or a cozy. Leaving fresh coffee on a hot element for too long, however, will result in loss of aromas and more bitterness.
Chemex is best suited for immediate enjoyment, and is great for entertaining guests.
Pros:
- elegant and functional design
- great size
- good value
Cons:
- no heat retention
- fragile
Best Aesthetic: Yield Pourover Carafe
Sometimes you just want to start your day with something beautiful. If a blast of elegance and refinement sounds like a dream to you, the Yield Pourover Carafe can make it a reality.
It offers a similar experience to the Chemex with an added aesthetic flare that is simply undeniable. The design is striking and the colors are retro magic. Choose from burnt orange, smoky grey, olive green, or sapphire blue to wow at your next dinner party.
Made from thick borosilicate glass, with a matching glass lid, the Yield is arguably more durable than the Chemex, and offers slightly better heat retention.
Being a glass carafe, we’re still looking at around 30 minutes or so to enjoy the Yield’s 1-6 cups of either hot coffee or tea. It’s also great for cold brew and iced tea.
It’s the most expensive on the list by quite a margin, but hey, that’s the price of fine art.
Pros:
- striking and functional design
- durable borosilicate glass
- lid to aid in heat retention
- great size
Cons:
- limited heat retention
- higher price point
There’s no question a coffee carafe will add ease and enjoyment to your daily coffee routine and special events. Hopefully you now have a better idea of which style is right for you.
The Hastings Collective line is sure to impress, perfectly balancing form and function and getting the job done at a price point almost as attractive as the product.
Whichever carafe you choose, you’ll now be able to enjoy your home brew with a touch of elegance and sophistication.
Thumbnail image: © Hastings Collective
