With all the coffee maker options that exist out there, finding the best affordable coffee maker for your household can be quite a daunting task. Finding one that is reasonably priced only adds another layer of difficulty on top of that.
Because each coffee maker comes with a variety of specialized functions, it’s important to consider what functionalities are the most important to you. Do you absolutely need to wake up to a hot pot of coffee that has been pre-programmed the night before? Is adjustable brew strength important to you or is quick brewing functionality at the top of your list? Do you need a full pot of coffee in the morning and then just a single cup later?
Each coffee maker listed below has specific benefits and drawbacks. I’ve given you my top coffee machine pick, but each comes with its own great functions. I’ve laid out the “good” and the “not-so-good” to help you decide which coffee maker best fits your specific needs. These selections are based on information from consumer reports.
Whichever you choose, however, you can be certain that you’ll get a great pot of home-brewed coffee without breaking the bank.
Table of Contents
Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp Coffee Maker
- Enjoy Hotter Coffee: Utilize expert coffee-making technology to ensure your coffee temperature is perfect, delivering a delightful taste experience without compromising flavor or quality.
- Brew Strength Control: Tailor your coffee flavor to perfection by choosing between regular or bold settings, catering to your unique taste preferences with every brew.
The Good
- A 60-second reset function that recalls the previous setting of the interrupted brewing process
- Programmable up to 24 hours in advance
- Adjustable brew strength
- Temperature control keeps coffee hot
The Not-So-Good
- Must change the filter every month
- On the expensive side
- Lots of steam comes out at the top
- Brewing is slower than other coffee makers
The Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp Coffee Maker not only makes a reliably good cup of coffee, but has all of the programmable functions that take the hassle out of your daily coffee routine. This is why it is my pick for best overall coffee maker for its price.
One function that makes this coffee maker sing is the bold/regular brew strength option, which is great if you like to switch up the strength based on the beans you are using. The a 24-hour programmable function is also a must, letting you wake up to a freshly-brewed pot of coffee each morning. If you like to enjoy multiple cups or are a slow drinker, the adjustable warming plate will keep the coffee warm throughout the day.
The 1-4 cup setting comes in handy if you need a single pick-me-up cup in the afternoon, and the Brew Pause™ feature allows you to get coffee even if the brewing is still in progress. If you need to unplug the machine or the power goes out, it has a 60-Second Reset function that lets you recall the last setting and the brewing process of the previous operation. This is not necessarily a do-or-die setting, but if you are like me always plugging and unplugging appliances, it is a very useful feature. And as an added bonus, it’s both easy to set up and clean, with a programmable self-clean feature.
True, these features really sell this coffee maker on convenience and ease-of-use, but they would mean nothing if this coffee maker did not produce a great cup of coffee. Luckily, it does just that.
BUNN GRB Velocity Brewer
- BUNN BREWS DIFFERENTLY - The BUNN Speed Brew uses an internal commercial grade stainless steel hot water tank that keeps 70oz of water always hot so you can quickly brew at the flip of a lid..Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
- CLASSIC SPEED BREW look with a black finish and stainless-steel faceplate.
The Good
- Brews a full pot of coffee in about 3 minutes
- Stainless steel water tank that is always hot for quick brews
- Achieves and maintains brewing temperature — 200 degrees
The Not-So-Good
- Requires regular cleaning
- Fairly expensive
- Some claim an overflowing problem with the flow restrictor
This BUNN GRB Velocity Brewer is known for making one quick cup of coffee. In only three minutes, it can produce a whole pot (10 cups) of piping hot coffee. If you are a busy person who loves a great cup of coffee, this machine may be the one for you.
Because of it’s fast brewing system, the good people at BUNN have made sure to include a multi-stream spray head that sprays hot water evenly over the coffee grounds and a large flat bottom filter that allows for better extraction of your coffee grounds. Overall, a great choice for someone who needs their coffee, and needs it now!
Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker
- Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use
- On/off indicator light lets you know when your coffee maker is on or off
The Good
- Lift and Clean Filter basket is great for easy cleaning and filling
- Lowest price point for a decent coffee maker
- Pause brewing if you need a cup before brewing is finished
The Not-So-Good
- Not programmable for brewing in the future
- No alerts to remind you when to clean the machine
- Not able to wash in the dishwasher
If you are looking for consistent and straightforward brewing process, the Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker a great option.
For all those who need caffeine as fast as possible when they wake up, the ‘Grab-A-Cup Auto Pause’ function allows you to interrupt the brewing process and grab a single cup. It has dual water window that helps you check the water level for refill and prevent overflows.
Cleaning and filling is very simple, with the only downside being that you have to remember to do it. Overall, this machine is easy to use, inexpensive and makes a great cup of coffee for its price point.
Ninja CE251 Programmable Brewer
- Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use
The Good
- Customizable brew strengths
- Prepare brew in advance with 24-hour programmable delay brew
- Adjustable warming plate keeps coffee warm for up to 4 hours
The Not-So-Good
- Produces a lot of steam when brewing
- Pots break fairly easily
- Problems with mid-pour function
For those who’s pet peeve is a tepid pot of coffee, the Ninja CE251 Programmable Brewer, with ‘hotter brewing technology’ is a good choice for a flavorful cup of hot coffee.
Like many good coffee makers, the Ninja allows you to program your brew in advance and customize your brew strength. If you are someone who likes to drink multiple cups throughout the morning, it has a warming plate that can keep your coffee hot for up to 4 hours. Like most Ninja coffee makers, it has a 60-ounce removable water reservoir that is easy to remove and fill.
Braun KF7170SI BrewSense Drip Coffeemaker
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
- The perfect cup of coffee: Braun’s pure flavor technology ensures your coffee is made at the right temperature and brewing time to extract the best coffee flavor and aroma. Expect excellent results, whether you brew a full pot or choose the 1–4 cup setting
The Good
- Programmable 24-hour timer and auto-shutoff feature
- Built-in filter allows essential oils to pass through, enhancing flavor
- Charcoal filter purifies brewing water
The Not-So-Good
- Hard to clean
- Poorly-designed carafe
There are so many factors that affect the flavor of your coffee, and the Braun KF6050WH BrewSense Drip Coffee Maker ensures that each pot of coffee is made at the right temperature and the right brewing time.
It’s designed for elegance and easy storage. The accessible control panel is very helpful to set all your preferences and time timer. It has a visible clock where you can see the time anywhere in your kitchen. Like others on this list, this machine allows you to program your brew in advance and choose a single-serve brew or full 12-cup pot using its carafe.
The built-in gold-tone filter allows essential oils from the coffee bean to pass through into your cup, an important element that paper filters usually block. In addition, the charcoal filter purifies the water for your coffee. If your priority is a flavorful cup of coffee made with extra purified water, this machine is the way to go.
Cuisinart DCC-3000 Coffeemaker
- Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use
The Good
- Easy to steal a cup of coffee while brewing
- Operates quietly and beeps inaudibly too
- 24-hour programmability and adjustable auto shutoff
The Not-So-Good
- Somewhat difficult to clean and maintain, especially the reservoir
- Small coffee filter
- Problems with the coffee gauge leaking/breaking
A hybrid between a single-serve and full-pot coffee maker, the Cuisinart DCC-3000 Coffeemaker will provide you with a great cup of coffee that lasts throughout the morning.
Rather than making one cup at a time, this machine makes a whole pot (12 5oz cups) and stores it in its internal carafe until you are ready to dispense it cup by cup. Because the coffee is kept internal, you’ll find the coffee remains fresh for quite some time.
It has convenient 24-hour programmability, and for those energy-conscious people, it has an adjustable auto-off function so you don’t have to worry about plugging and unplugging the machine. This coffee maker will be a great fit if you are a slow imbiber.
Bonavita BV1900TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker
- SPECIALTY COFFEE AT HOME: Bonavita's stylish and modern coffee maker with tempered glass pot brews an 8-cup carafe in about 6 minutes; Artisan café style brewer has a sleek, minimal design that brings a trendy touch to your kitchen or office
- AWARD WINNING RESULTS: Golden-Cup Standard Coffee Brewer is curated with features to mimic the artisan pour-over brewing method; Hanging flat bottom filter basket leaves less mess and large showerhead creates perfect flavor for cafe quality coffee
The Good
- Grounds are pre-soaked before brewing for better tasting coffee
- Brewing temperature reaches up to 205 degrees F
- Heating pad turns off after 40 minutes (doesn’t burn the coffee)
The Not-So-Good
- Does not keep coffee hot for very long
- Carafe doesn’t have a spout, needs a lid for pouring
- Carafe’s are expensive to replace if broken
If you are not ready to make the investment in an artisan coffee maker but still want quality coffee at home, I recommend the Bonavita BV1900TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker.
An optional pre-infusion mode saturates your coffee grounds before brewing for optimal extraction, and the special shower head is specifically designed to evenly distribute hot water over the grounds. Not only will the Bonavita give you 8-cups of artisan-quality coffee in a stainless steel carafe, but it can do so in about 6 minutes.
At around $85, this coffee maker is a great deal for its price.
Hamilton Beach (49976) FlexBrew Coffee Maker
- THREE WAYS TO BREW. Brew 12 cups with ground coffee on the carafe side or brew a single serving with a pod or ground coffee on the other. With a pod you can brew up to 10 oz. of coffee and when you use coffee grounds you can fill a 14 oz. travel mug.Filter type:Reusable.Auto shut-off: Yes
- SINGLE-CUP COFFEE MAKER. Brew a cup with a K-Cup pod, another pod brand, or ground coffee. The included pod holder and single-serve grounds basket easily handle both options and the cup rest removes so you can brew into a tall travel mug.
The Good
- Customized brew strength
- Three ways to brew coffee and k-cup compatible
- Easy to clean and maintain
The Not-So-Good
- Difficult to refill water when placed under kitchen cabinet, need to be pulled out
- Coffee strength is inconsistent
- Single-serve side coffee is great but takes a while to fill a cup
The Hamilton Beach (49976) FlexBrew Coffee Maker really allows for diversity in your coffee-making routine, without sacrificing on quality.
It allows you to brew a cup with a K-Cup pod, another pod brand, or ground coffee as usual. Both the single and full 12oz pot have their own water reservoirs, and each is easy to fill from the top of the machine.
You have the option to either have a bold or regular coffee strength, and you can set the time for the next brewing cycle. If you wanted a cup before brewing has completed, it has the ‘Auto Pause and Serve’ function that lets you grab a quick cup before it is done.
Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central Coffeemaker
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
- FULLY AUTOMATIC COFFEE BREWER: 24-hour programmability with 1–4 cup settings, auto-off functionality (0-4 hours)
The Good
- Has a different temperature setting for brewing your coffee
- When it works fine, it really makes good coffee — regular or bold
- Has cleaning alerts and efficient self-cleaning functionality
- Charcoal water filter and permanent gold tone filter that ensures only the freshest coffee flavor flows through
The Not-So-Good
- Brews very slowly
- Water volume indicator is not visible, need to look closer
- Doesn’t keep the coffee hot; hot plate turns off after brewing
This Cuisinart has all the essential functions you would want in a good coffee maker. Skip your coffee preparations with the help of Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central Coffeemaker. It’s fully programmable that lets you set it to wake up each morning and brew a cup of coffee for you.
It comes with a 12-cup carafe with a dripless spout allowing you to care-less with the mess and enjoy your coffee. It has an adjustable heater plate (low, medium, high) perfect if you want your coffee to be served hot or just warm.
You can select from settings 1-4 if you brew less than 5 cups of coffee. A very useful brew pause feature helps you quickly grab a cup even if the process is still going on. Lastly, it has a charcoal water filter and a permanent gold tone filter to ensure you get the natural and bold coffee flavor.
Hamilton Beach 49980A Coffee Maker Single Serve
- 2 WAYS TO BREW:SINGLE CUP OR FULL POT. Brew a single-serve cup or a full pot of coffee with your favorite ground coffee. Whichever way you brew, the Hamilton Beach Programmable Coffee Maker makes it easy to do both. Not compatible with K-Cup* pods.Filter type:Reusable
- EASY TO USE. With the included mesh scoop, adding your favorite ground coffee to brew a cup of coffee couldn’t be easier: just scoop, place and brew. There's no need to use a separate scoop or measure coffee before brewing. Control panel and display, with an hour and minute buttons to program the brewing time up to 24 hours beforehand
The Good
- Brew either single cup or full pot of coffee
- Regular or bold brew strength selector and hot warming plate
- Programmable to either a certain time or 24 hours from the time you set it
The Not-So-Good
- Single-serve only works for loose coffee grounds and disk-shaped soft pods
- Challenging to clean
- Single-serve coffee is not strong
For coffee aficionados who need the option of a full pot versus a single cup of coffee, the Hamilton Beach 49980A Coffee Maker Single Serve is a wise choice. It’s affordable, low maintenance, and gives you premium quality brewed coffee in small or large amounts.
The single-serve side has a standard water reservoir for one-time filling and multilevel cup rests to accommodate different cup sizes. Add grinds into the mesh filter or insert a soft pod and choose between regular or bold coffee strength.
The carafe side has a large water tank and a warming plate that keeps your coffee hot for up to two hours. Like any good coffee maker, it has an LCD display and buttons that let you program your coffee up to 24 hrs in advance.
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Last update on 2023-10-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API