REASONS TO BUY
Great water temperature output
One-button simplicity
Insulated carafe
Sleek design
REASONS TO AVOID
Smaller capacity
No additional features
Expensive
Ratio Six Review
An expensive yet simple coffee maker that consistently brews high-quality coffee, but isn't the most fun to use
Despite the hassle of a brew basket that sits on the carafe, this machine gives a pretty great tasting cup of coffee.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: Best Drip Coffee Makers of 2024
Our Verdict
The Ratio Six is a simple brewer that will consistently brew a great cup of coffee. It's designed with simplicity, as only one button controls the entire machine. It consistently brews at some of the highest temperatures of any model we tested, extracting more from every brew. The brewer has an integrated bloom cycle that further pulls out the best flavors from your beans. However, this appliance has many non-dishwasher-safe components, making it one of our least favorite to clean. It also has a brew basket that sits directly on the carafe, forcing you to deal with the messy grounds before you can pour your first cup of joe. To see how it compares to the rest of our test fleet, check out our best drip coffee maker review.
Our Analysis and Test Results
We were impressed with the Ratio Six's high-quality output. Time and time again, we brewed great-tasting coffee with this machine. One simple button begins the brewing process, which includes a blooming cycle. However, we weren't overly thrilled about the handful of additional components and a brew basket that forces you to take care of the grounds before drinking, making it a less user-friendly model.
Performance Comparison
The Ratio Six has a unique design, with the filter basket resting on top of the carafe. We found it a bit inconvenient to deal with.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Brew Quality
The Ratio scored well in our brew quality test, delivering high-quality coffee in just over six minutes. This brewer had no trouble reaching the industry standard for temperature output, which is crucial for a tasty cup of coffee.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
With an average brew temperature of 204.4°F, this drip machine extracts flavor from your beans on the very high end of the recommended brewing range (195°F to 205°F). The grounds were evenly saturated, though the spray head appeared to be more indented on one side.
The spray head has an average amount of indentation into the grounds. The indents are slightly deeper on the side closest to the machine.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The machine has an automatic, integrated bloom cycle for maximum extraction. We appreciate the included bloom cycle; however, there is no option to change the cycle time or turn it off. Additionally, the cycle requires over a cup of water and doesn't start until nearly two minutes into the brew cycle. Still, this coffee maker produces a great cup of coffee.
The machine is filled with water by a opening on the top. It is ambidextrous, which is great, but if you hit the side when you pour, the water will shoot out from the lip of the opening.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
User Friendliness
This brewer has a simple, easy-to-use interface with no screen and only one button. The coffee is dispensed into an insulated carafe which sits on a non-heated pad. The insulated carafe kept our brew warm without sacrificing flavor, as heated plates often do.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
This brewer has a few more components compared to the average coffee maker. Typically, the filter basket attaches to the machine. However, the Ratio Six's filter basket sits directly on top of the carafe, completely relying on it for support during the brewing process.
One button controls the machine with lights indicating the cycle progress. All three lights blink when the carafe isn't placed on the machine correctly.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The troubles arise following the brewing. To pour the coffee, you must first remove the filter basket from the carafe and then put the lid on. This process lends itself to messes as the filter will still drip for a few minutes and puts precious time between you and your first cup of coffee in the morning. It also means that you can't sneak a cup from this machine during its brew cycle — you have to wait until it's completely done and you've dealt with the grounds and placed the lid on the carafe before you can have any coffee.
Transporting the filter caused a bit of drippage on the countertop. This isn't our favorite set up for a drip coffee machine.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The carafe pours well, but we found getting to that point a bit of a hassle. Removing the carafe with the attached basket from the machine can lead to some splatter, which was unpleasant considering the high brew temperature. Next, we had to remove the basket and screw on the pour lid, which needs to be lined up just right to get it on properly. Once all of these steps are finished, it's smooth sailing.
The Ratio Six impressed us with brewing quality coffee, but we were disappointed with difficulty of getting the pour lid screwed on properly.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Cleaning
The Six has a smooth matte black surface, making it easy to wipe down and conceal stains. The carafe cannot be put through the dishwasher, and the opening is on the smaller side, which might be a problem for those with larger hands. The additional components make this brewer slightly more challenging to wash than others. Without a cleaning alert, you'll need to remember to descale this regularly.
The carafe is not dishwasher safe, and with the small opening, it's not the easiest to clean.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Consistency
The Ratio Six was a top performer in consistency. We tested five pots of coffee back-to-back to determine the average temperature, the time it took to brew, and the flavor retention.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
On average, the Ratio produced a full pot in just about six and a half minutes. The temperature was exceptionally consistent, and after two hours, the coffee retained most of its flavor.
The Ratio Six brews a quick pot of coffee, maxing out at 5 cups, and consistently hits temperatures on the high side of the optimal brewing range.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente
Should You Buy the Ratio Six?
The Ratio Six brews top-quality coffee but is on the pricier side, with no customization and some extra steps we found annoying. If you're looking for a simple machine that consistently delivers excellent coffee and you don't mind the extra parts and the high price tag, this is a great option that also looks great on your counter. However, its simple design lacks features — like programmable timers or sneak-a-cup — and has a smaller carafe than most, limiting the amount of coffee you can make at once.
The Ratio has a few moving parts as the filter basket sits on top of the carafe. It must be removed prior to pouring coffee and the pour lid must be twisted on.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
What Other Drip Coffee Makers Should You Consider?
If you're looking for a customizable appliance with features like auto-brewing or sneak-a-cup, check out the Breville Precision Brewer. This brewer is also on the pricier side but has a few more features and brews excellent coffee. For a great cup and a better price, you might consider the Ninja 12-Cup. We found it easier to clean and more pleasant to use.
—Jessica Riconscente, Becca Glades, and Kendra Ridenour
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