Everything You Need to Host Overnight Guests for the Holidays

A great option for caffeinating a lot of people, the Cuisinart Coffee on Demand DCC-3000 is a self-serve coffee maker, meaning it forgoes a carafe and lets you fill a mug straight from its heated reservoir. Guests can brew a fresh cup on demand—and no one gets stuck with the dregs that have been sitting on the warmer all morning.

This model does well in our tests, and Cuisinart self-serve machines received top marks for owner satisfaction. Features include a removable reservoir, a permanent filter, a water filter, a cleaning indicator, auto-shutoff, programming, and a small-batch setting.

For more options: Best drip coffee makers

The Oxo Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder is a fantastic grinder and one of the lower-priced models that does well in our tests. It receives strong scores in our grind performance tests, making it a good choice for any brew method you want to use. It also scores well for convenience, thanks to its clearly marked and easy-to-use controls. Our testers find it extremely easy to clean, too, because it has a removable hopper. It features 15 grind settings, a 12-ounce bean hopper (one of the largest in our tests), an auto-stop feature, and a timer.

For more options: Best and worst burr coffee grinders

The 7-cup Cuisinart PerfecTemp CPK-17 boils about as fast as most of the kettles we tested, but it’s pricey compared with the competition. That said, this stainless kettle has six preset temperature settings for making different types of tea or French-press coffee—whatever your guests like—and it boasts a three-year warranty. It performs well in our convenience tests; you’ll have no trouble reading the markings.

For more options: Best electric kettles

The Hamilton Beach 6-Slice 31411 toaster oven does well in our reheating tests; food emerges evenly heated throughout. It’s better at toasting a batch of toast than just one slice, however. It costs a fraction of most of the other toaster ovens in our tests. That’s why it’s pretty basic, with bake, broil, and warm functions, and three rack positions. This 1,440-watt toaster oven offers a temperature range of warm to 450° F.

For more options: Best toaster ovens

This beast of a waffle maker weighs 15 pounds—double the weight of any other we tested—and takes up the most countertop real estate, too, measuring a foot wide and 16 inches deep. But that size comes in handy when you’re feeding a crowd: The Breville BWM640XL’s large grid can fit twice the batter of a standard round iron, which means a full batch of piping hot waffles in half the time. This model aces our tests, including earning top marks for even browning. It sounds an alert when waffles are done and is one of only two models we tested with a countdown timer. Another bonus: It comes with a batter cup, so you can pour the perfect amount of batter every time, without wasteful overflow.

For more options: Best waffle makers

Keep your friends and family well-hydrated during their stay. This top-rated Brita pitcher does a good job of reducing flavor and odor. It filters as you pour, making its flow rate the quickest of the water filter pitchers we’ve tested.

For more options: Best water filter pitchers

The 6-quart Breville Fast Slow Pro BPR700BSS has a pressure-cook feature and aces our test in that mode. But it’s also one of the best in our ratings at slow-cooking, earning an Excellent rating. Our beef stew turned out tender and ready to eat in 5 hours, and the chili was tender and delicious in 7 hours. Steaming is top-notch because this 1,100-watt cooker doesn’t use pressure for that mode. (Unlike other models, the lid on this Breville doesn’t lock during steaming, so you can monitor your broccoli’s shade of green and avoid overcooking.) The ceramic nonstick coating is a cinch to clean and didn’t show any scratches after testing.

For more options: Best multi-cookers

The Beckham Luxury Linens Hotel Collection pillow has a 100 percent cotton cover and a filling of 100 percent polyester gel-fiber. The manufacturer claims that the materials in the Beckham pillow keep it cool. To that end, it aces our test for breathability and also scores top marks when it comes to resiliency—which means it will hold its shape well over time. Plus, at around $40 for a two-pack, it’s a good value.

For more options: Best pillows

You don’t have to pay triple digits for a great air mattress, and the 17-inch-high Hi-Loft from Simmons Beautyrest proves that. It’s a little more than half the cost of the most expensive air mattress in our ratings, and it performs better than pricier models in our recent tests. During the initial inflation in our convenience tests, we found that it took about 3 minutes to reach full firmness; it took 4 minutes to let all that air out. It snags high scores in our deflection test, meaning this is an easier mattress to get up from once you’ve sat down. The Simmons comes with a storage bag, and it folds down to 6x12x17 inches, which is on the smaller end of those we tested.

For more options: Best and worst air mattresses

A CR Recommended model for humidifying a small room (about 150 square feet), the Honeywell HUL520 earns top scores in almost all our tests, including those for output, convenience, noise, and efficiency. While it doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, you can’t go wrong for the price.

For more options: Best humidifiers

A small heater that makes a big impression, the Comfort Zone CZ499R heats a whole room as well as an individual equally well. It earns an Excellent rating in our fire-safety test, meaning that the chance it will ignite nearby materials is low, but it isn’t as cool to the touch as other models in our tests, so you may want a different model if you have young children. This model has a tip-over switch and a remote control.

For more options: Best space heaters

Sweet dreams are made of cozy sheets. This Brooklinen set will fit a mattress up to 14 inches deep. These sheets don’t shrink as much as some other cotton sheets we’ve tested. The Brooklinen set scores well for fit and shrinkage, which means that even though they tend to get smaller during washes, they don’t change all that much over time. Luxe Core sheets are on the softer side, based on our sensory test.

For more options: Best and worst sheets

A good night’s sleep can go a long way when you’re spending a lot of time with family and friends. The foam Tuft & Needle Mattress earns high marks in our durability tests, which means it shows no signs of wear and tear after eight to 10 years of simulated use. It offers decent support for sleepers of all sizes, whether you prefer to sleep on your side or your back. In other words, it’s a crowd pleaser.

For more options: Best mattresses