10 Best 30 Cup Coffee Makers You Can Buy: What to Consider When Buying

crazy by Editorial Staff | Posted on June 21st, 2021

Do you constantly need to serve more than 10 cups of Joe at a time? Then it might be the time to convert to a coffee urn now. You can expect this to provide you with larger quantities every time. Plus, they’re easy to clean and use! Another great thing is that they can retain heat for longer than other types of brewers. 


What is a coffee urn?

As simple as it is, a coffee urn is just a humongous electric percolator that brews and serves large batches at a time. Most types can also keep your drink hot for longer. This is the type you see in events, meetings, and other commercial venues. Some huge households also use one for convenience.

The 10 Best 30 Cup Coffee Makers You Can Buy

We previously wrote our ultimate coffee urn list and buyers guide. However, we wanted to focus 30 cup coffee urns for those who aren’t looking for 50 or 100 cup coffee makers. This is an ideal starter for most small and medium size gatherings, and even larger groups.

Here’s our 30 cup coffee pot list

Nesco Professional Coffee Urn

For group social functions, the Nesco Professional Coffee Urn is a great option. Its insulation will definitely keep your coffee warm for hours while keeping its delicious taste and aroma. Its design makes it easy to transport, thanks to its stable base, secure lid, and cool handles.

Top features

  • Cool-touch handles
  • Secure lid locks 
  • Double-walled stainless steel urn
  • Brews 1 cup per minute
  • Easy to read water gauge
  • Indicator light to let you know when coffee is ready
  • Removable and dishwasher-safe brew basket

Details

  • Brand/Model: Nesco CU-30
  • Weight: 5.9lbs
  • Size: 12” X 12.5” X 17.75

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Huge capacity for group social functions
  • Easy to clean
  • Durably made with stainless steel
  • Sits well on any countertop
  • Twist locking lid to protect from spills

Con

  • May be too large for some

West Bend Party Perk Coffee Urn

Our top pick for large gatherings is the West Bend Party Perk Coffee Urn due to its ease of use. It’s compact in size and also has a convenient detachable cord for easy storage. The unit houses a two-way spout so you can easily fill either a cup or a whole carafe drip-free. The plastic base and locking lid stays cool so you won’t burn yourself when you need to move it around. 

Top features

  • Lightweight
  • Aluminum build
  • Heat-resistant base, handles, and lid
  • Two-way spout for a dip-free pour
  • Automatic temperature control
  • Detachable and long two-food cord
  • Reusable filter basket

Details

  • Brand/Model: West Bend 58030
  • Weight: 4lbs
  • Size: 16.9” X 10.8” X 10.7”

Pros

  • Multipurpose; applicable for other drinks
  • Heat-resistant base, handles, and lid
  • 12- to 30-cup capacity
  • 2-way dripless faucet 
  • Automatic temperature control

Con

  • Quite noisy

HomeCraft Quick-Brew

The HomeCraft Quick-Brew is a versatile urn with a price that won’t break the bank. It’s applicable and usable with any other hot drinks. Its legs elevate the spout to fit mugs and cups for easy filling.

Top features

  • 2-way dripless spout
  • Keeps your drink warm for longer
  • Twist-lock lid
  • Elevated base for easier filling
  • Easy to transport
  • Reusable and dishwasher-safe filter

Details

  • Brand/Model: Home Craft CU30SS
  • Weight: 4.4lbs
  • Size: 9.7” X 9.7” X 15.9”

Pros

  • Safe and easy to transport
  • Durably made with stainless steel
  • Versatile

Cons

  • Fill markings are challenging to read
  • Discoloration issue

Maxi-Matic Electric Coffee Maker

If you’re looking for a sturdy, fast-brewing, easy to operate, and easy to clean stainless steel urn, you must check Maxi-Matic Electric Coffee Maker. It’s compact and houses a toggle-style spout for an easier filling experience, especially with secure locking lids. Additionally, it comes with a reusable filter so you won’t have to keep purchasing disposable ones.

Top features

  • Comes with a reusable filter
  • Easy to clean
  • Stainless steel 
  • Long 36-inch cord
  • Spill-proof locking lid
  • 2-way toggle-style dispenser

Details

  • Brand/Model: Maxi-Matic CCM-035
  • Weight: 4.1lbs
  • Size: 7.5” X 14.4” X 7.5”

Pros

  • Durably built
  • Easy to use
  • Dishwasher-safe

Cons

  • Limited warranty
  • No indicator once ready to serve

SYBO Percolate Coffee Maker

Now for commercial purposes, we have the SYBO Percolate Coffee Maker. It’s specifically designed for catering services, restaurants, and huge events. It’s made of food-grade 304 stainless steel so you can enjoy the unit for a long time. It comes with a durable heat-resistant base and automatic shutoff feature for the user’s convenience. Lastly, you can rely on the secure lid and handles for easy transportation.

Top features

  • Toggle-style spout
  • Automatic shutoff
  • Keep warm function
  • 2-year replacement warranty
  • Can breww 35 cups in 30 minutes
  • Double-layer insulated stainless steel

Details

  • Brand/Model: SYBO RCM035A
  • Weight: 5.4lbs
  • Size: 16.4” X 9.8” X 9.6”

Pros

  • Convenient keep warm and automatic shutoff feature
  • Durable
  • Reliable
  • ETL Intertek certified parts
  • Comes with a reusable filter

Con

  • Rust-proof filter cover

West Bend Stainless Steel Commercial Grade Coffee Urn

Another commercial grade option is this coffee urn from West Bend. It brews quickly and hearts more evenly than other models in the market. It can keep you coffee hot for hours due to its double wall insulation. It also has an indicator that lets you know when the brew cycle is done. Plus, the spout allows for more clearance for our cups so filling one should be a breeze. 

Top features

  • Removable and dishwasher-safe parts
  • NSF-certified
  • Commercial-rated 
  • Double wall insulation
  • Stainless steel
  • Intuitive display
  • Brew and warm indicator lights
  • Huge spout
  • Comes with built-in drip tray

Details

  • Brand/Model: West Bend 57030
  • Weight: 8.5lbs
  • Size: 14” X 11.5” X 14”

Waring Coffee Urn

This coffee urn from Waring is a great choice, whether for gatherings or simply for home use. You can rely on its precise temperature control because of its dual heaters. Specifically, it brews at 200°F and dispenses at 185°F for a drinkable cup. The clear glass view in front is also a useful touch so you can see if it’s time for another brewing.

Top features

  • Can brew 30 cups in 20 minutes
  • Indicator light to signal you
  • Precise temperature control due to dual heaters
  • Stable flat base
  • Sight glass for easy monitoring
  • Illuminated on/off switch

Details

  • Brand/Model: Waring WCU30
  • Weight: 7.5lbs
  • Size: 11.6” X 11.5” X 18.1”

Dominion Coffee Urn

Another urn that’s easy to use and easy to clean is the Dominion Coffee Urn. It houses an elevated spout for easier filling making it great for meetings and offices. A downside, however, is its thin legs making it less stable than other models. But other than that, it’s safe to use especially with its cool-touch components for easy transportation. 

Top features

  • Sleek
  • Lightweight
  • Keep warm function
  • Automatic temperature control
  • Stainless steel
  • Cool-touch sides and handles
  • Dishwasher-safe interior components
  • Interior level markings and exterior sight gauge

Details

  • Brand/Model: Dominion DK30V2
  • Weight: 3.5lbs
  • Size: 15.9” X 10.2” X 9.8”

Pros

  • Durable build
  • Easy to fill and pour
  • Power indicator light
  • Huge brewing capacity
  • Easy to clean

Con

  • Quite noisy

Shabbat Automatic Coffee Urn

The Shabbat Automatic Coffee Urn houses an impressive 3-way power switch for easy control between brewing and warming. You can also easily monitor the coffee level with its sight glass. The unit comes with a one-touch dispenser spout which makes it insanely easy to fill. It’s safe to say that this urn is suitable for large gatherings. 

Top features

  • Sight glass for easy monitoring
  • Commercial-grade boiler
  • 3-way power switch with brew and warm indicator lights
  • Secure locking lid
  • Cool-touch handles
  • Stainless steel

Details

  • Brand/Model: Shabbat SH4848614
  • Capacity: 30 cups

Gastrorag Premium Coffee Maker

With a whooping 1,000-watt heating element and double-walled stainless steel build, this Gastrorag Premium Coffee Maker is called premium for a reason. Together, you’re sure to have warm bulk coffee anytime! It also comes with an indicator light and sight window so you can easily monitor your coffee.

Top features

  • Boil dry protection
  • Sturdy stainless steel
  • Reusable filter basket
  • Keep warm function
  • Brews a cup per minute
  • Indicator lights and sight glass
  • Double-walled insulation
  • Cool-touch handles

Details

  • Brand/Model: Gastrorag DK30
  • Weight: 3.7lbs
  • Size: 16” X 10” X 9.5”

Pros

  • Heavy duty
  • Boil dry protection
  • Impressive heat retention system

Cons

  • Short cord
  • Logo comes off easily

Buyer’s guide

Here are some important considerations when buying a coffee urn:

Heating capability and temperature control

For full flavor extraction, the machine should be able to brew to 195°F at the very least. For a drinkable cup, it should be kept around 185°F or less. Look for urns with dual heating elements and electronic temperature control to get the best of both worlds.

Safety features

A huge machine with nothing but hot liquid should have a reasonable amount of safety features. Our minimum requirements for urns are a stable base and a secure locking lid. Additionally, cool-touch handles and exterior are also great considerations. Look for dual-walled options!

Spout design

A two-way spout allows for a more versatile filling experience as you can press down for a constant pour and a pressure release for cup-by-cup serving. Take note of the spout height as well as too low of a spout is not ergonomically friendly and safe.

Build

Of course our best recommendation is a stainless steel build. It’s durable and resists damage better than aluminum. Parts that are made of stainless steel are easy to clean too as they’re dishwasher-safe!

Capacity

This depends on how much you need as there are various models in the market with varying sizes. From 12 to 100 cups, you’ll find a percolator for that. A good estimate is to determine using a 1:1 cup-to-person ratio as not everyone in the event will drink coffee while some will drink more than a cup. 

Convenience

You’d want to look for a two-way non-drip dispenser to maximize convenience. A drip tray is a great consideration too. While you want a raised faucet, you also don’t want it to be too high as that will require some tilting and lifting to pour the last 5-6 cups of coffee. Another great feature is a long cord for easy placement.

Coffee strainer

You’d want to look for modern coffee urns with built-in filter baskets so you won’t have to keep  availing disposable paper filters. Make sure that the filter is removable and dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.

FAQs

How much coffee is required to make 30 cups?

Our quick answer is: 25-30 tablespoons which is equivalent to 12-15 scoops or 1.5-2 cups. For stronger coffee, gear towards the upper range and vice versa for a milder taste. Take note as well that darker roasts taste stronger. Additionally, you’ll want a coarser ground if you’re not using a paper filter. But for those who do, use a medium grind. 

How long does it take to brew 30 cups?

Urns are different. Quick brewing typically brews a cup per minute so that’s half an hour!

Do coffee urns produce great tasting coffee?

While standard brewers still produce better coffee, coffee urns won’t disappoint because you’ll still have great tasting coffee. 

Can I use a coffee urn to heat water?

Yes, absolutely! Simply take the filter and stem out and refill with cold water. Then, put the stem back into the coffee basket with the large stem into the heating source. 

How to clean the coffee urn?

It’s best to clean the coffee urn every after each brewing cycle to keep it as clean as possible. Cleaning it is pretty simple. Empty the urn, remove the basket and spout, rinse with soapy water or throw into the dishwasher if compatible. Then, wipe the inside with a clean damp rag. Now if the urn has stains and buildup, follow these steps:

  1. Add 1 cup of warm water and 1 cup of distilled vinegar into the urn without removing the percolator stem and basket.
  2. Let that sit for 30 minutes.
  3. Take the mixture out then rinse with cool water.
  4. Add 2 teaspoons of baking soda into 8 cups of water and throw that into the urn.
  5. Start the brew cycle. 
  6. As the cycle finishes, empty the urn and rinse thoroughly and wipe out any residue with a damp sponge.
  7. Rinse if needed and dry thoroughly!

How to make coffee in a 30-cup coffee urn?

  1. Take the lid out and ensure that the spout and basket are secured, clean, and in place.
  2. Pour in water to desired amount.
  3. While most urns come with metal filters, go ahead and insert the paper filter in the brew basket if that’s what you have.
  4. Grind your beans to medium coarse if you use a metal filter and medium grind for paper filters. 
  5. Add 1 scoop of grounds for every 6 ounces of water. Distribute evenly.
  6. Cover with the lid, plug it into the electrical source, and turn it on.
  7. Wait for the brew to finish and serve!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. Remember to support us by purchasing through the Amazon/Walmart/Impact Radius links provided. Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.

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Editorial Staff

The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.