If you’re tired of paying high prices for your daily coffee at your local coffee shop, investing in a coffee urn may be a good idea. Not only will you save a lot of money in the long run but you will also freely be able to make various types of coffee all in the comfort of your own home.
Whether you’re a businessman or businesswoman who doesn’t have much time on their hands but needs their early morning coffee fix or whether you prefer to drink a cup of coffee after a satisfying dinner, a coffee urn can be a quick option for you.
Coffee urns are often a great gadget that can be used in offices and with family and friends too, making it a versatile and essential purchase. The best coffee urn is debatable but we hope that through this article you find a coffee urn that is perfect for you and your lifestyle.
Best Pick
Our best pick would have to be the West Bend 58030 Aluminium Coffee Urn as it comes in various sizes and is NSF certified, ensuring that it is safe to use and drink from. It has many fantastic features such as the two-way dripless faucet, heat resistant handles, cool tip filter basket, indicator light and much more. The is a coffee urn that does it all and will not leave you feeling disappointed.
Budget Pick
Our best budget is the Hamilton Beach Coffee Urn and Hot Beverage dispenser as it has many of the added features that you would want in a good coffee urn such as an indicator light, water measuring labels and the option to choose between a single dispenser or a dual dispenser.
Quick Comparison: Top 10 Best Coffee Urns
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1. West Bend 58030 Highly Polished Aluminium Party Perk Coffee Urn
If you're searching for a coffee urn that can serve large groups of people without letting you down, the West Bend 58030 is a well-rounded option.
This coffee urn is NSF certified which means it meets a high-quality standard which has been approved and is checked regularly. It also has automatic temperature control so you won't have to worry about the coffee going cold.
If you’re planning on using this coffee urn to serve multiple people at once, you’ll be glad to know that this coffee urn brews coffee exceptionally fast. On average, this coffee urn can brew a cup of coffee every single minute. There is also a two-way drip-less faucet for easy serving.
We've all been in a situation where we've spilt our coffee and ruined a meeting or gathering. Luckily, the West Bend 58030 has a secure twist-to-secure cover to prevent any accidental spillage. The opaque exterior of the coffee urn may suggest that filling it with the right amount of water may be difficult. Rest assured that through its interior water markings on the coffee urn makes this process easy.
It works on 1090 watts and 120 volts and has heat resistant handles, base and lid, indicator light and a cool tip filter basket.Pros
Cons
2. Hamilton Beach Coffee Urn and Hot Beverage Dispenser
This coffee urn comes in two versions. One has a single sprout and the other version as a dual sprout making it a great option for crowded functions.
It only takes one minute to brew a cup of coffee and there are water level markings on the coffee urn’s interior which makes measuring the water extremely convenient.
It’s also got an indicator light that demonstrates when the coffee is ready to serve and comes with a locking lid to avoid any accidental spillage. Cleaning a big and heavy coffee urn may be a frustrating thought to some of you but you’ll be glad to know that the Hamilton Beach Coffee Urn has a dishwasher safe lid and brew basket.
To use, simply set the coffee urn up and let it do all the work whilst you get ready to greet your guests and/or colleagues.Pros
Cons
3. Hamilton Beach 40540 Brew Station 40 Cup Coffee Urn
This easy to fill and clean coffee urn and dispenser has comfortable grip handles so you can move it from place to place with ease.
You won't find yourself fumbling around the sprout trying to figure out how to use the urn thanks to its one-hand dispensing feature. The dual heater system maintains the coffee’s temperature without overcooking the coffee and ruining the flavour.
This is great for longer events where you will need fresh and warm coffee for several hours on end. It’s also got lights to notify you when the coffee is ready to pour and drink. To use this urn, simply add water and ground coffee and let the urn do its thing until the light comes on. When it is ready to serve, each cup of coffee takes 45 seconds to brew and pour rather than the typical 60 seconds, making this product more efficient to use compared to other coffee urns.
Unfortunately, there are no water level markings on the interior of the urn making you guess how much water you should put in the urn when making a new batch of coffee.Pros
Cons
4. Hamilton Beach D50065 Commercial Coffee Urn
This stainless steel coffee urn specialises in all the features you look for in a coffee urn and does it with intense durability.
This urn maintains the coffee’s temperature so you can keep this urn in use for multiple hours throughout the day. You can easily dispense the contents with a single hand thanks to the cup trip handle which is included and it takes 60 seconds for a cup of coffee to be ready to drink.
It’s got a window to show you how much water is left in the urn so you won’t find yourself out of coffee with several people queuing up for a refill. This window makes it easy to top up the urn with water before it runs out. Like many of the other coffee urns mentioned, the Hamilton Beach D50065 comes with a light indicator that can let you know when your coffee is ready for drinking.
Pros
Cons
5. VonShef Thermal Airpot Carafe Coffee Dispenser
This slightly more unique coffee urn not only looks more stylish than traditional coffee urns but can also be used for both hot and cold drinks. Ultimately, this urn can be used for coffee, tea, hot chocolate and even ciders and a cool lemonade in the summer.
This product comes in two sizes: 3 litres and 5 litres which will allow you to personalise the urn for your needs and is made from stainless steel.
Not only is this a sturdy material but you won't have to worry about burning your hands by touching the exterior of the dispenser. Though it keeps hot contents warm for long periods, the outside will always stay cool to the touch. On top of all of the different beverages, this urn can be used for, the VonShef Thermal Airpot can also be your companion during camping trips and be used to store soups. It's got a safety lock on it so ensure none of the contents spill.
This product dispenses the contents through a pump which may be a bit of a hassle for some people, however, especially as you will need to use 2 hands and put in a little bit of arm work. This isn't suitable for everyone especially if you have medical conditions which affect your hands and arms.
This dispenser is easy to wash as you can remove the pump entirely and rinse it out thoroughly. Unfortunately, you cannot use any parts of this product in the dishwasher, however.Pros
Cons
6. Nesco CU-30 Professional Coffee Urn
If insulation is your biggest concern with coffee urns and you’re on the lookout for an urn that can ensure your coffee stays hot for a long time, the Nesco CU-30 Professional Coffee Urn is definitely one that you should consider.
This stainless steel coffee urn is double insulated making sure your coffee stays hot, but due to its stainless steel exterior, it is still cool to the touch so you or your guests won't accidentally hurt yourselves while you pour yourselves a cup.
This urn has a 6.8-litre capacity and requires 950 watts of power, and comes in two sizes that can be used to make either 30 cups of coffee or 50 cups of coffee. It comes with a ready to serve light to let you know when you can begin to serve the coffee to guests, an easy to use dispenser, coffee level indicator, dishwasher safe basket and a locking lid which are all great features to have in a great coffee urn.
Pros
Cons
7. Nesco CU-25 Professional Coffee Urn
The Nesco CU-25 is a simple coffee urn that has a matte stainless steel finish for safety and style. It has an easy to use dispenser with a continuous pouring feature making pouring a cup of coffee hassle-free.
The cool touch and twist-lock ensure a level of safety that can keep your mind at peace during any function. The interior of the urn has water markings on it so you can easily measure how much water you are putting into the urn.
The feet of the coffee urn is made from skid-proof rubber to ensure stability once the urn is up and running. It takes approximately one minute to brew a single cup which is usually the standard time it takes most coffee urns to brew a cup of coffee.
This particular urn has a 950-watt heating element, heat resistant handles, dishwasher safe basket, stay-cool handles and double insulated wall to name some other features.Pros
Cons
8. Proctor Silex 45100 100 Cup Brushed Aluminium Coffee Urn
This coffee urn by Hamilton Beach can fit up to a whopping 100 cups of coffee in its container. It's got a dual heater system where the central heating brews the coffee and then shuts off when the coffee is ready.
Then, the outer heating keeps the coffee warms at constant serving temperature without overcooking or burning the coffee.
This coffee urn is rather unique as it includes boil-dry protection which automatically shuts off when the water in the tank has fully boiled away. This will save a lot of energy and offers a peace of mind as you won't need to constantly check if you've turned the urn off or not.
There is also a red indicator light which lights up when the urn is plugged in. You are able to dispense the coffee into a cup with a single hand which makes the process efficient and easy. There is a coffee level indicator and window that can be used to fill up the right amount of liquid into the tank and to check if the coffee is getting low or not.
There is a filter-basket available in the tank but it is recommended to wet it before use to prevent coffee grounds from slipping through the filter and into the liquid.Pros
Cons
9. Hamilton Beach 40519 Coffee Urn
Another safe and reliable coffee urn option is the Hamilton Beach 40519 Coffee Urn that is perfect to brew 15-45 cups of coffee for your guests.
It’s got a 2-way dispensing feature making it convenient to take to crowded meetings and events and won’t leave people forming a queue to get their hands on a cup of coffee.
It comes with the option to have a continuous pour which is great and a coffee level window to ensure you can keep track of how much coffee is left in the tank before making a new batch of coffee. This urn is easy to fill as it has water measuring markings on the interior. You’ll also be pleased to know that this urn has dishwasher safe parts that can make the cleaning process faster and easier.
Pros
Cons
10. Nostalgia HomeCraft CU30SS Quick-Brewing Automatic Coffee Urn
The last coffee urn in our list is the Nostalgia HomeCraft CU30SS Automatic Coffee Urn which is a stylish urn that can add a little sparkle to any office meeting or family gathering.
Of course, this product is not just all looks. It comes with a two-way dripless faucet that can keep surfaces clean from spillage and can continuously fill up cups with ease.
There is a function to keep your coffee warm even long after it has been brewed and has a secure lid that won’t spill and can offer you some peace of mind. Don’t worry about transporting the urn from one location in the room to the next even if the coffee is still hot in its tank. The cool-to-touch handles can make this process danger-free and comfortable.
Pros
Cons
Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Coffee Urn
Although a lot of coffee urns consists of the same functions, there are still some contributing factors to consider before you set out to buy your own coffee urn. Here is a list of the most important things to consider to ensure you pick the best coffee urn for you.
Capacity
One of the most important functions of a coffee urn is to provide a large amount of coffee or beverages to a big group of people. You’ll always want to offer some warm drinks to those around you and a coffee urn makes this process incredibly easy and hassle-free.
Think about where you would use a coffee urn and how many people you will be serving at once and then go for a coffee urn that can fit those demands. If you’re only serving a few people, you won’t need to get the biggest urn on the market. If you’re taking the urn to a parents meeting or church gathering where there will be 40-50 people, a bigger urn is a better option for you.
Once you have a rough idea of how many people you will be serving, you can then go on to looking at the other contributing factors when it comes to choosing a coffee urn.
Cleaning
The next factor to consider is the cleaning process. Unfortunately, most coffee urns have a non-detachable power cord that makes washing the coffee urn a little awkward and difficult. After all, you mustn’t get the power cord wet.
There are now some coffee urns that offer dishwasher-safe lids and baskets but this is not a common theme for all coffee urns on the market. Be mindful to check the cleaning process of each coffee urn that interests you as they are big and heavy tools that may be difficult to clean.
Extras
Each coffee urn comes with its own unique features. From windows that show you how much coffee is left in your urn, double heating that can keep your coffee warm for hours on end, the option to use the urn for soups and ciders, LED lights to let you know when the coffee is ready to brew and more, we suggest reading up on each of the extra features of a coffee urn before purchasing.
No two extra features will be the same in each coffee urn so it’s important to know which features will make your life more convenient. If you will be serving a large group of people, having an urn that has two dispensers rather than a single one may be a better option, for example.