Best Inexpensive Coffee Makers

Coffee has become so integral to our mornings that it’s hard to imagine starting a day without it. After all, you are never truly awake without a cup of strong brew. 

Not everyone can afford to buy their coffee every day—whether on their way to work or while on lunch break—and getting a coffee maker that can replicate coffee shop quality is also not an option. This doesn’t mean that coffee makers that aren’t as expensive make bad coffee.

On the contrary, many affordable coffee makers come from leading companies that are mostly known for their more elite residential appliances. And the selection of inexpensive coffee makers is so broad that it can lead to some confusion to first-time buyers or those seeking to replace an older model with something better but still reasonably-priced.

The following list features the top 10 inexpensive coffee makers that can fit both residential and more professional settings like small offices or dormitories.

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List of Top Inexpensive Coffee Makers

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Photo	Product	Type	Capacity	Details
	Keurig K-Classic Single Serve K-Cup	Capsule	48 oz	View on Amazon
	Hamilton Beach 49976	Capsule + drip	60 oz + 14 oz	View on Amazon
	Cuisinart DCC-3200P1	Drip + carafe	70 oz	View on Amazon
	Ninja CE251	Drip + carafe	60 oz	View on Amazon
	BLACK+DECKER CM2035B-1	Drip + pot	60 oz	View on Amazon
	Mr. Coffee BVMC-PSTX95	Drip + pot	50 oz	View on Amazon
	Braun KF7150BK	Drip + pot	60 oz	View on Amazon
	Capresso 464.05	Grinder + drip + carafe	50 oz	View on Amazon
	Bonavita BV1900TS	Drip + pot	44 oz	View on Amazon
	Zojirushi EC-DAC50	Drip + carafe	22.8 oz	View on Amazon

How to Choose a Good Inexpensive Coffee Maker?

Residential coffee makers come in many types, shapes, and sizes, so finding the single most-suitable model that could fit your specific needs in the best possible way can be quite a feat.

First comes the pricing. Most high-quality coffee makers in this price category range between $50 and $169, with the golden middle falling somewhere between $75 and $85.

Then there is the question of the coffee maker’s type, more specifically its type of brewing. Affordable coffee makers are, for the most part, either drip-style brewers or capsule coffee machines, with some brands offering combo models for efficiency.

Both produce decent coffee, though capsule machines go about it slightly faster. They also allow the portioning of the coffee into smaller brews, namely 4, 6, 8, or 10-ounce cups.

Drip coffee makers typically use carafes (glass decanters or stainless steel pots) that keep the entire coffee batch warm, either with a warming plate or through thermal qualities of the coffee pot.

Which type is best for your particular kitchen depends on how many cups of coffee per day you are planning to brew since the machine needs to work optimally and not at the limit of its capabilities.

Capacity is perhaps the most important feature. Small households can choose more compact coffee makers with 5-cup or 8-cup water tanks, but those who need a constant supply of coffee for the entire day should be looking for coffee machines with water tanks that hold 40, 50, or 60 ounces.

With most drip coffee makers, it means that you should be looking at the capacity of the carafe since it holds the same amount of water as the interior water tank. Capsule machines are tricker but they also come in a wide range of sizes.

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Review of the Best Inexpensive Coffee Makers

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Keurig K-Classic Single Serve K-Cup

Keurig’s K-Classic is a traditional capsule coffee maker that delivers aromatic coffee straight from coffee pods into a cup of your preferred size.

This affordable and efficient option is particularly suitable for working people and busy parents since its automatic brewing system requires only basic interaction with the interface.

Featuring a spacious water tank and variable dispensing system, the K-Classic shows enough brewing capacity to serve up to 6-8 cups (depending on the brew size) of coffee before the reservoir has to be refilled. 

The unit is easy to load with compatible K-Cup pods—the capsule holder is located below the top lid—as well as universal filters designed to brew your own pre-ground coffee. As a single serve model, the K-Classic can portion the coffee into three main brew sizes: 6 ounces, 8 ounces, and 10 ounces.

Equipped with push-button interface and status indicators, the control panel is easy to navigate while its functions are easy to master. On top of letting you choose brew sizes, the machine includes the descaling options for regular maintenance and the automatic shut off function to help reduce energy intake.

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Hamilton Beach 49976

Combining the two popular coffee brewing methods in one unit, Hamilton’s Appliance offers more functional variety with this dual-system Hamilton Beach FlexBrew coffee maker—a particularly useful feature to have in a large family or in an office environment.

As a dual-purpose coffee maker, the FelexBrew offers a capsule system as well as a classic drip-style system, expanding your choice of beverage in terms both of prep time and brew strength.

To ensure that both brewing systems within the unit receive consistent water supply, the FlexBrew utilizes separate water tanks, each able to hold enough water to service the largest drinkware compatible with the machine.

The drip system comes with a large glass carafe capable of holding up to 12 cups of coffee. This means the carafe can fit 60 ounces of water (you can use the pot to pour the water directly into the left water tank) or 48 ounces of brewed coffee.

As for the coffee pod water tank, it is designed to service classic pod brew sizes with a maximum volume of 10 ounces for K-Cups and 14 ounces for a typical 8-inch-tall travel mug. 

Thanks to the universally compatible pod holder, the FlexBrew can take coffee pods of most popular brands, including Keurig’s K-Cups. Moreover, the machine’s kit offers the reusable option with its single-serve coffee holder—the plastic pod-like container can be filled with grounds and reused as many times as you need.

To use the drip system you will need any type of coffee grounds and a paper filter. The grounds (with the maximum amount of 3 tablespoons or 1.5 oz) are added in the filter placed in the removable brew basket, after which the coffee is extracted directly into the carafe.

The model’s brew cup supports Melitta #1 cone coffee filters, so the brewing group can be kept as clean as possible for longer.

Located on the left side of the machine, the control panel combines one-touch buttons and a monochrome info screen for displaying coffee options, time, and other features.

The carafe section is also programmable: you can pre-set the time for the brew start as well as activate the automatic shut off which powers off the machine after 2 hours. There is also the option of choosing between two brew strength settings—bold and regular—giving you the opportunity to up the intensity of your morning drink.

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Cuisinart DCC-3200P1

This stainless steel Cuisinart PerfectTemp DCC-3200P1 is one of the most voluminous drip-style coffee machines of this type. The machine combines a rather large water tank with a classic brewing system that delivers strong coffee straight into the large carafe, making this model ideal for office rec rooms and large households.

Known for the quality of their household appliances, especially when it comes to assemblies and used materials, Cuisinart lives up to their reputation even with this classic PerfectTemp coffee maker by encasing the unit top-grade stainless steel as well as accentuating the handle of its glass carafe with the same durable material.

Made to hold up to 70 ounces of water, the machine gives you easy access to the water tank through the flip-up lid found at the top of the unit for quick access.

As a drip-style brewer, the PerfectTemp pours coffee directly into the carafe which is placed inside the body of the machine itself. The 14-cup carafe is measured in 5-ounce cup portions, giving you a total of 70 ounces of water or 56 ounces of fully-brewed coffee.

The dispensing system includes a removable GoldTone filter for improved coffee filtration, while the boiler system utilizes a built-in charcoal water filter to ensure a cleaner, more long-lasting brewing.

The front panel houses a set of push-button controls and a backlit display with digital clock and timer. Available functions include coffee strength selection (bold and regular options), precise carafe temperature control, cleaning and descaling alert, brew size selection (1-4 cups), automatic shut-off (0-4 hour timer), ready tone with on/off settings, and 24-hour delay start.

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Ninja CE251

Another drip coffee brewer with a stainless steel exterior panelling, the Ninja CE251 is a fully programmable model with a detachable glass carafe, removable water tank, built-in filtration system, and user-friendly controls.

This traditional drip-style brewer offers two coffee strengths: classic and rich, both of which can be selected prior to brewing. Although this model incorporates a large 12-cup carafe, the small-batch option of 1-4 cups at a time is also available in case you need to make only a couple of portions.

As is common with this kind of coffee makers, the volume of the machine’s glass carafe corresponds with the volume of the water tank, and in this case, the water capacity is approximately 60 ounces.

The exterior water tank is transparent and features measurement lines for easy monitoring of water levels. It can also be removed whenever you need to add water or clean it out.

As for the efficiency, the machine’s powerful boiler increases brewing efficiency, while the built-in warming plate ensures the freshly-filled carafe will keep the coffee hot for up to 4 hours after.

Located on the bottom part of the outer water tank, the soft-touch controls allow you to choose between all available functions and control your timer settings via digital display.

Additional features of this machine include the 24-hour delay start, 2-hour automatic shut-off, and time-saving pause option that lets you halt the brewing to pour the first batch of coffee.

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BLACK+DECKER CM2035B-1

Together with its classic drip-brewing system and a unique thermal pot, the BLACK+DECKER CM2035B-1 is able to fill up either an entire pot or only required portions with extra hot coffee while maintaining consistent temperatures in the boiler and inside the pot.

Unlike other similar models with regular glass carafes, this BLACK+DECKER coffee machine uses a thermal pot with protective vacuum sealing to minimize heat loss, thus preserving the optimal temperature of freshly-brewed coffee.

Made from less thermally transferable stainless steel, the opaque carafe holds up to 12 cups of liquid which is equal to 60 ounces of water or 48 ounces of brewed coffee. Its design is distinctive for its wide mouth, making it more accessible during maintenance and cleaning.

Even though the carafe can hold large amounts of coffee per brewing, the machine can create smaller batches (usually between 1-4 cups), and the helpful Sneak-a-Cup option actually lets you get your first cup of coffee before the brewing is finished.

Another interesting distinction of this model is its dispenser nozzle. The patented Evenstream showerhead which targets the coffee grounds with precision so as not to waste the water or power. This slightly tweaked manner in dispersion results in a more flavourful coffee, both in terms of taste and texture.

To perfectly match the carafe’s capacity, the integrated water tank of this machine fits 60 ounces at its fullest. For more convenience, the unit also features a water window on its side, so you can easily monitor the amount of water left in the water tank.

The front-facing control panel consists of a set of QuickTouch buttons with a digital timer placed at the center, allowing quick access to the brewer’s features.

One of the best programmable options of this model is the coffee strength feature that lets you choose between 3 levels of brew intensity: regular, strong, and bold.

Other features that to the efficiency of the machine’s operation are the automatic shut-off, 24-hour automatic brewing, and the LCD timer that indicates the exact time since the end of the brewing process, though it turns off after 120 minutes has elapsed.

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Mr. Coffee BVMC-PSTX95

Though not as voluminous as the previous thermal coffee maker, Mr. Coffee’s Optimal Brew is more than capable of servicing an entire family or a small office without the need for constant refills thanks to its 10-cup thermal decanter and 50-ounce water tank.

The main attraction of this model is its fairly large stainless steel thermal pot. With its double walls, sealed flip-out lid, and quality heat insulation, the pot is capable of retaining the optimal coffee temperature for up to 4 hours after the brewing cycle and all without any warming plate action.

The Optimal Brew also houses a powerful heating element capable of getting water to the right temperature (as high as 205°F) much faster. This means that the brewer can prepare 10 cups worth of water (or 50 ounces) in under seven minutes. 

The built-in water filtration system can be accessed through the easy pull-out drawer on the right side of the unit. Its addition ensures all water that goes into the making of your coffee is almost free of chlorine, making each cup safer to drink as well as much tastier and more aromatic. 

To improve upon its high hygiene standards, the coffee maker also includes a helpful cleaning function. Once engaged, the process of descaling and calcium removal begins automatically, ridding the inside part of the machine of coffee grease and other harmful deposits.

Front-facing push-button control panel features a digital timer and quick access to the brewer’s power button and other features.

Apart from programming the clock, the panel lets you set the brewing to start in the next 24 hours, initiate the self-cleaning program, pause the brew, and dim display lights. The Fresh Brew timer also displays how much time has elapsed since the brewing process has finished.

The Pause ‘N Serve option is there to help reduce waiting time, allowing you to pause the brewing process and get a cup of coffee before the pot is completely filled.

In order to help you save on power consumption as well as ensure that the appliance runs safely, the automatic shut-off option deactivates the coffee machine 2 hours after the last brew cycle.

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Braun KF7150BK

Combining smaller dimensions with an ample-sized water tank, Braun’s Brew Sense Drip coffee maker is a more than reasonable fit for smaller countertop spaces and coffee drinkers who prefer to get large amounts of rich brew in one go.

Featuring a large 12-cup glass carafe with a sealable lid, the KF7150BK can hold up to 60 ounces of water or 48 ounces of hot coffee, keeping the brew warm while also ensuring that no drops escape when you pour the coffee into cups.

The machine’s PureFlavor system achieves a finer temperature control during the important steps of the coffee-making process, bringing the water to the correct temp levels for the optimal drip-style brewing.

To increase filtration quality, Braun adds a water filter system in the form of a removable metal filter basket that can be washed and reused as many times as you wish.

Braun also maintains its reputation for creating clean stylish designs as seen in this model’s black piano exterior, stainless steel accents, wide digital display, and distinguishable buttons.

Adjustable settings let you choose between regular and bold brew strengths, program automatic start with up to 24 hours of delay, select a smaller batch of 1-4 cups, and use the self-clean feature to thoroughly decalcify the machine.

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Capresso 464.05

The only model on the list with a built-in whole bean grinder, Capresso’s CoffeeTeam GS preserves the original aroma and flavor of coffee through the direct bean-to-brew process, infusing the freshly-ground beans with hot water and delivering the well-balanced beverage directly into the glass carafe.

With its conical shape and adjacent 6-ounce bean container, the machine’s built-in burr grinder is able to process large amounts of beans without overheating or burning the beans and feed the grounds into the filter.

Moreover, the CoffeeTeam GS lets you choose between five grinding levels that determine the fineness of the grind. This is done to accommodate various types of beans, from light and dry to dark and oily.

The filtration system consists of a charcoal water filter to cleanse the machine’s water supply from chlorine and hard water elements and a washable GoldTone filter basket. Though the machine also supports size 4 paper filters if you prefer disposable ones.

The coffee is brewed at approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit and then consistently kept at 180 degrees Fahrenheit once the brew is inside the carafe.

Even though the glass carafe can hold up to 10 cups (or 40 ounces) of brewed coffee, the coffee maker gives you a wide selection of brew portions, specifically 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10-cup coffee batches. In addition, you can choose the brew strength for each batch (mild, regular or strong).

Push-button controls are also assisted by a monochrome LCD timer that can be programmed to initiate automatic brewing.

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Bonavita BV1900TS

Another coffee maker with a detachable thermal pot and reusable filter basket, the Bonavita BV1900TS stands out for its minimalist interface and full-body stainless steel construction with piano black accents.

This is slightly smaller thermal carafe brewer than the other same-category models on the list, but its 8-cup pot and matching integrated water tank are still fairly large and can brew for the entire family all throughout the morning.

With its powerful 1500-watt heating element and thick-walled stainless steel decanter, the coffee machine can reach high temperatures of 198°-205°F in under 6 minutes for the full pot. Holding the space for 8 cups of coffee (5-ounce each), the pot fits up to 44 ounces of liquid.

For users that are more concerned with the taste of the beverage, the Bonavita brewer adds a pre-infusion setting (fashioned after the artisan pour-over brewing method) that allows for the aroma and flavor of the coffee to open up to its full rich potential.

The brewer keeps the water tank and the pot sections separate for more operational convenience. This also improves the cleaning process and makes tank refills or filter changes easier.

The one-touch button control system requires minimal effort: you only need to fill the tank, load the grounds, and press the brew button.

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Zojirushi EC-DAC50

One of the more compact coffee makers on the list, the Zojirushi Zutto holds up to 22 ounces of water with a matching 5-cup glass carafe all the while weighing only four-and-a-half pounds and taking up minimal counter space.

Zojirushi’s Zutto is designed for smaller spaces and coffee drinkers who prefer the brewing to be fast and plentiful. The removable glass carafe has a rather satisfying 675 ml (roughly 22.8 ounces) capacity and can also be used to fill the water tank.

The tank itself is removable and can be monitored through the machine’s water window that shows water levels as measured by cups. The maximum number of cups the machine can make per cycle is 5, each holding 145 ml or roughly 4.5 ounces.

Zutto’s filtration system uses a charcoal filter aimed at removing harmful elements from the water and improving the taste of resulting coffee. With regular usage, the built-in filter can go for as long as 2 years before you need to replace it.

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Q & A

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