Top tier budget coffee makers are generally very affordable. An automatic brewer from a trusted manufacturer may be more expensive than its lower-tier budget alternatives but it still won’t exceed the comfortable hundred-dollar range.
Many elite small appliance brands produce entire ranges of affordable residential coffee makers, most of which are then sub-divided into specific price brackets. At the top of the range, you will typically see more well-known manufacturers such as Keurig, Cuisinart, Bonavita, Braun, and KitchenAid.
List of Top Coffee Maker Under $100
| Photo | Product | Capacity | Serving sizes | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker | 48 oz | 6, 8, 10 oz | View on Amazon |
 | Ninja CE201 | 60 oz | 1-4 cups 10-12 cups | View on Amazon |
 | Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 | 70 oz | 1-4 cups 14 cups | View on Amazon |
 | Hamilton Beach 48464 | 60 oz | On-demand | View on Amazon |
| BLACK+DECKER CM5000B | 60 oz | 4-12 cups | View on Amazon |
 | Cuisinart DCC-1200 | 60 oz | 1-4 cups 12 cups | View on Amazon |
 | Keurig K-Mini® Single Serve Coffee Maker | 12 oz | 6, 12 oz | View on Amazon |
 | KitchenAid KCM1208DG | 60 oz | 12 cups | View on Amazon |
 | Bonavita BV1500TS | 30 oz | 5 cups | View on Amazon |
 | Braun KF7150BK | 60 oz | 1-4 cups 12 cups | View on Amazon |
How to Choose a Good Coffee Maker Under $100?
Efficient and inexpensive brewers with optimally-balanced features generally go for about $75-100, depending on various operational features, design, and brand name recognition.
Most of those are drip-style coffee makers with the exception of Keurig that use K-Cup pods and extract coffee with pressurised hot steam and water.
When choosing a new coffee maker in this price range, your primary focus should be on any given model’s brewing capacity, brewing versatility, quality of extraction, and simplicity of use.
Capacity
The capacity of a coffee maker is determined by the size of its water tank. It’s recommended to choose models with removable reservoirs, though this type of design adds to the overall price. Built-in water tanks are also perfectly suitable and make the brewer more affordable, but the cleaning may be a bit of a problem.
If you plan to serve large numbers of people on a regular basis, it would be wise to go with a more sizable coffee maker with the standard 60-ounce/12-cup capacity. More casual coffee drinkers will be happy with smaller 5-cup or single-serve models.
Brewing versatility
For budget drip coffee makers this mainly means brew customization. Picky coffee drinkers will find it more convenient to use coffee makers with adjustable brew options such as brew strength levels and brew size selection.
If your home requires a large 12-cup coffee maker but you still want an option to make smaller brews, and even one-cup servings, it’s important to pay attention to the coffee maker’s available serving sizes. Go for those that offer a small 1-4 cup batch option to their pre-set brewing programs.
Extraction
The best brew is usually achieved with a better extraction system. This involves the brewer’s showerhead and additional infusion options.
Those who value the rich flavor and aroma of their coffee should consider coffee makers with larger showerheads that supply full-perimeter dispensation, saturating the coffee filter’s contents to the best possible degree. Some coffee makers also include pre-soaking features for a stronger and more aromatic brew.
Review of the Best Coffee Makers Under $100
Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker
The Keurig brand maintains its firm position as one of the most popular choices among affordable capsule coffee makers, with the Keurig K-Classic being at the top of the list of customer favorites, lauded for its ease of usage, ergonomic design, and a handy selection of brew size options.
Features:
- Capacity: 48 oz
- Serving options: 6, 8, 10 oz
- Materials: Plastic
- Dimensions: 13.3” x 9.8” x 13”
- Item weight: 8.93 pounds
Pros:
- One full tank serves up to 6 people
- Removable cup platform features drip-collecting surface
- Coffee pod holder supports all K-Cup pods
- Fits regular cups and travel mugs
With its mid-range water tank capacity of 48 ounces and user-friendly design, the K-Classic makes it extremely easy to brew coffee for a large group of people, refill the removable tank with ease, and clean interior parts in a much faster and more accessible fashion.
To compensate for a slightly smaller than the standard 60-ounce tank, the K-Classic expands its coffee delivery options by supporting more than one standard brew size.
The K-Cup pod takes ant type of Keurig cups and other size-compatible soft pods, dispensing each pod in three most common coffee servings: 6, 8, and 10 ounces per cup.
Aside from regular mugs, the machine supports tall travel mugs. It’s possible to fit a mug as tall as 7.1 inches by detaching the cup stand and setting the mug right under the dispenser nozzle.
The coffee maker also includes other automatic functions to free more of your time in the morning, including the descaling option for timely cleaning of the vital interior components and automatic shut-off designed to minimize power consumption.
Brew size selection, power button, and automatic shut off can all be accessed on the top right side of the coffee maker where the control panel is located within quick reach.
Ninja CE201
With its large capacity, programmable serving options, and easily cleanable black-and-stainless-steel finish, this inexpensive yet powerful CE201 by Ninja makes for an ideal coffee maker for large families, offices, student dormitories, and guest houses.
Features:
- Capacity: 60 oz
- Serving options: 1-4 cups, 10-12 cups
- Materials: Plastic, metal, rubber
- Dimensions: 8.74” x 9.94” x 14.61”
- Item weight: 6.48 pounds
Pros:
- Features a coffee scoop for optimal measurement of grounds
- Flavor straw technology preserves optimal temp and flavor in the carafe
- Capable of brewing up to 12 cups per cycle
- Meticulous coffee extraction and post-brew warming cycle
Like most classic drip-style brewers, the CE201 is equipped with a top-loading coffee compartment and a reusable gold-tone filter, though where it immediately differs from other budget models is in the detachable design of its water tank and a sealable coffee filter lid.
The 60-ounce tank is completely visible thanks to its efficient exterior placement and clearly readable volume markings. It’s also easy to pull away from the brewer’s body for refills and maintenance.
Another interesting improvement to the brewing process is Ninja’s thermal extraction system that utilizes a wide showerhead for complete and full dispersion of coffee grounds, resulting in a more even saturation and richer preservation of flavor.
The glass carafe included with the coffee maker holds up to 10 standard cups or 50 ounces of liquid. Additionally, the carafe stand comes with an automatic warming plate that turns off automatically 4 hours after the brewing.
As for the brewing options, the CE201 allows you to choose between 2 brew strength levels—classic and rich—as well as select the brew size. Apart from the full carafe, the brewer can make smaller batches between 1–4 cups.
Loathed below the water thank, the control panel features rubberized push-buttons with a digital clock and such automatic options as 24-hour brew delay, 2-hour shut-off, and mid-brew pause.
Cuisinart DCC-3200P1
Those looking for something with more substantial capacity might just find what they need in Cuisinart’s Perfectemp coffee maker with fully-automated brewing features, a voluminous water tank and narrow design particularly suitable for home use.
Features:
- Capacity: 70 oz
- Serving options: 1-4 cups, 14 cups
- Materials: Plastic
- Dimensions: 7.75” x 9” x 14”
- Item weight: 8.75 pounds
Pros:
- Automatic shut-off can be engaged immediately or 4 hours after brewing
- Glass carafe with a protective plastic handle and stylish stainless steel elements
- Customizable brew strength and size
- Lightweight plastic body with smooth silver finish
- Hot and extreme brew options
- Brew pause and delay functionality
Featuring a 70-ounce integrated reservoir with a side water window and a 14-cup carafe to match the water tank capacity, the DCC-3200P1 is able to brew enough coffee for 5 people all in one go.
As a drip coffee maker, the DCC-3200P1 extracts coffee from fresh or store-bought grounds loaded inside the dispenser compartment that uses a permanent gold-tone filter to minimize the mess.
The brewer also comes with a plastic holder for cleaning tablets that slides into the interior water tank to make regular cleaning more automated and spare you the unnecessary effort.
The interface of this model is also extremely accessible, offering a set of backlit buttons and LCD timer. Available functions include the selection of brew strength (between regular and bold) and brew size (14-cup and 1-4 cup options), 24-hour brew start, self-cleaning, and auto shut-off.
Hamilton Beach 48464
An unusual divergence from the brand’s traditional drip coffee machine designs, Hamilton Beach BrewStation offers a versatile one-hand dispensing system backed by the same water tank capacity as similar 12-cup brewers in this range.
Features:
- Capacity: 60 oz
- Serving options: On-demand
- Materials: Plastic + stainless steel accents
- Dimensions: 11.03” x 8.19” x 15.15”
- Item weight: 14.4 pounds
Pros:
- Regular and bold brew strength adjustment
- Single-serve delivery customized for different cup sizes
- Consistently warm coffee for hours after brewing
- Water windows on both sides of the unit for more precise control
Unlike most coffee makers of this type, the BrewStation doesn’t include a carafe or pot but instead allows you to dispense the coffee in precise portions directly into your cup or drinkware of choice.
To make this form of delivery possible, the brewer extracts and stores the coffee inside its inner coffee tank instead of dispensing it outside and using a warming plate.
The same boiler that heats up the water for brewing is also used for retaining optimal brew temperatures up t 4 while the freshly-brewed coffee is kept in the inner reservoir.
The stainless steel control panel at the front of the unit allows you to choose between such options as brew strength, the size of the serving, and 4-hour auto shut-off.
BLACK+DECKER CM5000B
One of the most affordable mill brewers, the BLACK+DECKER CM5000B retains the classic drip-style coffee making system while at the same time widening the brewing options with the addition of the built-in grinder and drip-free carafe.
Features:
- Capacity: 60 oz
- Serving options: 4-12 cups
- Materials: Plastic + stainless steel accents
- Dimensions: 10” x 13.5” x 15.5”
- Item weight: 9.5 pounds
Pros:
- Dishwasher-safe components
- Grinder can be deactivated in favor of grounds
- QuickTouch feature selection
- Programmable 24-hour start
Though the CM5000B may appear bulky at a first glance, there is a good reason for that and it’s the brewer’s integrated stainless steel grinder with adjustable grinding settings that also doubles as the permanent filter for pre-ground coffee.
The grinder’s operation depends on the amount of coffee you plan to brew, so the number of beans should be measured together with the desired brew size. Half a cup of whole beans should be enough to brew 12 cups of standard-strength coffee.
Since the bean holder is also used as a coffee filter for grounds, you can always turn off the grinder and load the bronze-tone basket with ore-ground coffee.
As the coffee is being extracted with the brewer’s precise showerhead, the resulting beverage pours directly into BLACK+DECKER’s Duralife carafe.
Designed to hold up to 12 cups or about 48 ounces of coffee, the carafe fits the nozzle seamlessly and prevents unfortunate drippage. And it’s dishwasher-safe just like the grinder/filter basket.
Brewing options can also bring some variety into your morning routine, letting you choose between three brew strength levels (regular, bold, strong) and brew sizes (4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 cups).
Digital controls feature automatic brew and shut-off functions, indicators for water levels and post-brew coffee freshness, a timer and a time-saving mid-brew Sneak-a-Cup option.
Cuisinart DCC-1200
A slightly smaller and more affordable model compared to the previously-mentioned Cuisinart brewer, the Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central combines all customer-favorite efficiency features with a lighter design and smaller body completed with brushed chrome finish.
Features:
- Capacity: 60 oz
- Serving options: 1-4 cups, 12 cups
- Materials: Plastic + stainless steel accents
- Dimensions: 7.75” x 9” x 14”
- Item weight: 6.8 pounds
Pros:
- Features a permanent charcoal water filter
- Removable gold-tone basket for coffee grounds
- Adjustable warming plate
- Dishwasher-safe BPA-free carafe
- Comes with a convenient coffee scoop
Despite its somewhat retro-futuristic design, the Brew Central offers a number of modern features, including improved water filtration, 24-hour start, automatic 4-hour shutdown, and brew-pause function.
The glass carafe is light and safe to handle, holding up to 12 cups of coffee at once. When positioned under the dispensing spout, the bottom of the carafe fits over the warming plate with adjustable settings that let you choose between three heat levels—low, medium, and high.
The Brew Central uses an integrated water reservoir with a maximum capacity of 12 cups (over 60 ounces) of water. This doesn’t mean you will always have to brew at maximum capacity since this coffee maker allows small-batch 1-4 cup brews.
K-Mini® Single Serve Coffee Maker
Being one of the smallest capsule coffee makers on the market, Keurig’s K-Mini is a perfect fit for single-person households, small spaces, students, and busy professionals.
Features:
- Capacity: 12 oz
- Serving options: 6-12 oz
- Materials: Plastic
- Dimensions: 12.1” x 4.5” x 11.3”
- Item weight: 2 pounds
Pros:
- Lightweight, compact, and includes cord storage
- One-touch brewing
- Single-serve dispensing system
- Works with coffee pods of most varieties
- Suitable for recreational vehicles
With only two pounds in weight and four-and-a-half inches in width, the K-Mini is exceptionally portable and can be moved without much effort. It also requires minimal maintenance thanks to its K-Cup brewing system.
Most Keurig K-Cups are compatible with this model’s coffee pod and the brewing process only requires fresh water and a quick touch of a button. The brewer supports regular 6-ounce cups as well as 12-ounce travel mugs.
KitchenAid KCM1208DG
A known manufacturer of premium kitchen appliances for home use, KitchenAid also produces more affordable products such as this KitchenAid KCM1208DG with a unique extraction system, detachable reservoir, and sufficient brewing capacity, all at a more than reasonable price.
Features:
- Capacity: 60 oz
- Serving options: 12 cups
- Materials: Plastic
- Dimensions: 13.4” x 14.34” x 7.17”
- Item weight: 10.8 pounds
Pros:
- More even coffee extraction due to spiral showerhead
- Features cleaning and 24-hour delay-brew cycles
- Stylish charcoal finish with stainless steel elements
- Ergonomic carafe and dual brew switch
Holding up to 60 ounces of water, the removable water reservoir is located at the back of the brewer and allows for effortless filling, cleaning, and easy prevention of spillage.
Both the water tank and the brewer’s gold-tone coffee basket feature handy measurement charts so you can control how much water or grounds you add for each cycle.
Once the grounds are added and ready, the brewer’s high-efficiency showerhead uses its 29 dispenser holes to extract the best of the coffee’s flavor, making it richer and more aromatic.
The fresh coffee is delivered into the large 12-cup carafe with a brew-through lid and ergonomic plastic handle. Warming plate maintains brew temperature for comfortable drinking and shuts down 2 hours after the cycle.
This coffee maker is also a win in terms of interface, featuring two power on/off buttons—one at the front and one on the side control panel—and allowing for more leeway as you position the brewer in your kitchen space.
Push-button controls let you customise the brew strength, set an automatic start, choose the pause-and-brew option, and initiate the cleaning cycle.
Bonavita BV1500TS
Perhaps one of the very few brands that provide affordable coffee makers with artisan-inspired technologies, Bonavita makes automatic brewers in a variety of sizes all of which come with near-identical brewing systems.
Similar to 8-cup or 10-cup models, the Bonavita One-Touch BV1500TS coffee maker is a more compact take on the company’s full-size brewers, offering 5 cups worth of carafe volume and even more capacity in its removable water tank.
Features:
- Capacity: 30 oz
- Serving options: 5 cups
- Materials: Stainless steel
- Dimensions: 12.3” x 6.2” x 10.6”
- Item weight: 5 pounds
Pros:
- Meets the Golden Cup standard of brewing quality
- Brews with a single touch of a switch
- Safe automatic shut-off
- Compatible with paper and other cone-shaped filters
- Dishwasher-safe components
Considering its more compact dimensions—at least compared to dual brewers or bulkier models with built-in grinders—the BV1500TS holds some impressive power in its 1100-watt boiler, ensuring consistently fast brewing, with the average time to fill a 5-cup potful not exceeding the 6-minute mark.
The regular brewing program begins with pre-heating water to the most effective temperatures of 198°-205°F after which the water is fed into the wide showerhead to then be dispersed across the entire filter compartment.
This full-saturation method allows for a more thorough infusion of the grounds and subsequent extraction of the coffee, preserving its strength, aroma, and rich flavor—a particularly important aspect for brewing smaller batches.
For even more effective extraction you may always use the pre-infusion setting that imitates pour-over coffee makers in the way it conducts the saturation and leaves room for grounds to properly soak, resulting in a more developed flavor.
The BV1500TS comes with its own carafe in the form of a stainless steel pot that connects to the coffee spout via a brew-through lid. The thermal carafe features double walls and extra insulation designed to extend the freshness of freshly-brewed coffee.
Braun KF7150BK
Manufactured at De’Longhi production facilities, Braun’s small appliances combine the famed German precision and Italian refinement while being more than reasonable prices.
The Braun KF7150BK BrewSense is among the most inexpensive models of this range that delivers on several important points, from fully-automated programmable features and decorative stainless steel frame to a rather gratifying brewing versatility and multi-serving capacity.
Features:
- Capacity: 60 oz
- Serving options: 1-4 cups, 12 cups
- Materials: Plastic + stainless steel accents
- Dimensions: 7.9 x 7.9 x 14.2”
- Item weight: 7.1 pounds
Pros:
- Unique body design gives superior condensation control
- Digital timer + automated cleaning and brewing
- Ergonomic carafe and interior water tank amount to 60 oz each
- Stylish plastic and stainless steel finish
- Top panel works as a cup stand
- Small batch and brew strength selection
Similar to other more refined brewing systems found in inexpensive coffee makers, the BrewSense improves the quality of the brew with its meticulous PureFlavor extraction technology that infuses coffee grounds at recommended temperatures for just the right amount of time without burning or diluting it.
The fresh coffee is poured straight into the glass carafe and preserved at optimal temperatures thanks to the carafe’s dripless design and sealable brew-through lid.
Placed on the size-fitting platform with condensation-collecting tray, the carafe connects to the nozzle and remains partially enclosed by the brewer’s walls for extra protection and space efficiency.
The brewer’s digital controls let you customize brew strength between regular and bold, choose serving size (between 1-4 cups or full 12-cup pot), control the settings of the integrated warming plate (between low, medium, and high) as well as set up the 24-hour delay and initiate the self-cleaning cycle.
Q & A
There are a few factors that impact the coffee flavor, some directly related to the coffee maker being used and others concerning extraneous factors. Almost any coffee machine is bound to brew good-tasting coffee if some or all of the following prerequisites are true:
– Plastic-free or BPA-free design
– High-quality filtration system
– Ability to reach and maintain optimal brewing temperatures (198°-205°F) otherwise the coffee will be too bitter
– Compatible with whole coffee beans and freshly-ground coffee
– Long-term warming features such as a keep-hot plate
Most budget coffee makers are capable of making a more than decent cup coffee, espresso or drip, with some brands held in particular esteem among coffee lovers, namely Breville, Braun, Bonavita, KitchenAid, and Keurig.
A good drip coffee maker should be able to deliver a strong spray with full coverage, usually supported by a wide or spiral showerhead. Industry professionals recommend drip coffee makers with glass carafes since they are said to reduce oxidation.
Other features that improve the quality of operation include a removable water tank, an adjustable heating plate, front-loading coffee basket, full automation (delay brew, shut off, etc), brew strength and size customization, and better condensation control.
The best single-serve pod coffee makers are usually made by Keurig, for instance, the Keurig K-Mini with a one-cup reservoir that brews coffee for regular and travel mugs.
Small drip coffee makers usually mean any model with a capacity below standard, so you’d normally be looking at 4-cup or 5-cup brewers that often include selective serving sizes.
The simpler the coffee maker, the more reliable and consistent the operation. Complex hardware that incorporates too many intricate components can easily malfunction or require frequent maintenance, and some replacement parts are hard to come by.
The majority of Starbucks coffeehouses use Mastrena high-performance espresso machines designed for commercial coffee brewing. Though these coffee machines feature digital controls for pre-set selection, the grinding, brewing, and dispensing are fully manual.
High prices of the vast majority of expensive appliances are generally fairly justified, though only the models manufactured by trusted brands that come with independent quality certifications. Top-of-the-range coffee makers are predominantly made of high-quality materials and boast serious operational reliability as well as an array of extra functions.
At the same time, inexpensive appliances also produce comparable results if paired with high-quality coffee (beans or grounds) and regularly maintained. In the end, the choice depends on the limits of the buyer’s budget.
If you want to brew a truly premium-tasting cup of coffee at home, start with buying high-quality coffee beans of any preferred roast. It’s best to grind the coffee yourself, preferably in the standalone coffee grinder with ceramic burrs and only minutes before brewing the actual drink.
The best home brewers for elite coffee types tend to be manual—anything from French presses to pour-overs and even traditional pots. In most other cases you will only need to push a button on your automatic coffee maker, and your brew will be done in mere minutes.
It is impossible to name one specific brand of pre-ground coffee as the best. Not only do individual preferences vary, but also there are different sub-classifications even within one type of coffee based on roast and fineness of the grind.
There are, of course, coffee brands that are considered to be the leaders of the trade but even those offer too many good-quality coffee types based on their country of origin, roast level, grind size, and the actual type of bean used (arabica, robusta, liberica). Arabica may be considered to be the best coffee type by many, but some people find it too acidic for their tastes and prefer robusta instead.
But if you haven’t formed any particular preferences yet, it’s always safe to start with the grind size. The way the coffee beans are ground is directly related to their application. For example, drip coffee makers are best paired with medium-grind coffee, and espresso machines require a finer grind.
One of the most common causes that lead to the replacement of a coffee maker is the insufficient or faulty filtration which includes the patency of functional brewing components. When a coffee maker accumulates a critical amount of calcium deposits, the brewing efficiency simply drops to a near zero.
On average, drip coffee makers can last for up to 3 years, though regular maintenance can significantly extend the life cycle of any brewer. Timely descaling and other forms of cleaning are a sure way to postpone the replacement of a coffee maker.
The choice of a coffee maker depends primarily on your preferred type of coffee as well as the potential number of consumers, whether it’s at home or at the office.
Drip coffee makers provide faster coffee brews capable of satisfying larger families or working environments, while espresso coffee makers tackle more complex coffee drinks such as latte, cappuccino, mocha, cocoa, tea, and even iced beverages.
One of the most important factors influencing the choice of a coffee machine is, quite naturally, the price range. Next comes the level of automation and available programmability, not to mention voice-activated appliances that support WiFi connection and are therefore compatible with smart assistant apps like Amazon Alexa.
The choice is also significantly affected by the availability of additional features such as integrated coffee grinders, frothers, replaceable water filters, and many more.
Table of Contents
