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Best Cheap Coffee Makers- Coffee Maker Reviews
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Cheap Coffee Makers Buying Guide
An automatic drip coffee maker is a staple in many households. With prices ranging from about $15 for a no-frills coffee maker to more than $300 for a deluxe version, there are hundreds of models to choose from. Because so many of us rely on that hot cup of caffeine to get the day rolling -- and sometimes keep it in overdrive -- it may be tempting to spend more than you need to. To help you avoid that expense, we've focused our research on coffee makers selling for less than $50.
Popular features found on some of these budget models include programmability (i.e., a timer), reusable coffee filters, automatic shut-off, and unique design. What you won't find on these cheaper coffee makers are coffee grinders, elaborate water filtration systems, and programmable automatic shut-off timers -- features more commonly found on pricier brands like Cuisinart and KitchenAid. At the lower end of the market, big name manufacturers include Kalorik, Mr. Coffee (a subsidiary of Sunbeam), Black & Decker, DeLonghi, Hamilton Beach, and Braun.
To help you choose the best coffee maker that fits within your budget, we've highlighted critical features and performance attributes. Across the board we found complaints about low-priced coffee makers’ design, durability, and end product; that said, several garnered enough positive comments to warrant frugal consumers’ consideration. The ultimate goal, of course, is a smooth, flavorful brew, and although taste is subjective, we found an association between how well a coffee maker is designed and how good the coffee tastes.
Back to top »What to Look for: Cheap Coffee Makers Features
Cheap Coffee Makers Programmability.
It's hard to buy an appliance these days without some form of programmable controls. Indeed, there are two types of coffee makers with price tags under $50: those that are programmable and those that are not. Programmable coffee makers are great for people who like to wake up to the smell of coffee. If this isn't you, you can save about $20 and buy a model like the Black & Decker SmartBrew DCM 2000 (starting at $15, Amazon
) or the Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Switch Coffeemaker (starting at $17, Amazon
) that only starts brewing when you switch it on.
But don't shy away from programmable machines because you're worried they'll be complicated to set up. Across the board on a range of budget models, including the Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker (TFX23) (starting at $30, Amazon
Cheap Coffee Makers Pause-n-Serve.
If you hate waiting for a full pot to brew before sipping that first cup, the pause-n-serve is your feature. This handy feature suspends the brewing and lets you pour a cup before the entire cycle is finished. Almost every coffee maker — programmable and switch-on -- comes with the pause-n-serve.Bargain Coffee Makers Automatic Shut-Off.
Sometimes it takes a while to drink a full pot of coffee, so most coffee makers continue heating the contents of the carafe. This is no doubt a convenience, but one that could pose a safety problem. To avoid the possibility of scorched coffee, an empty carafe left to burn -- or worse -- many budget coffee makers, including the Mr. Coffee 12-cup Programmable and Michael Graves Design Automatic Drip Coffeemaker Black 40304 (starting at $45, Amazon
), now have an automatic shut-off that usually activates after two hours. If the coffee maker you think you want doesn't have an auto shut-off, like the Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffeemaker Model VB13 (starting at $20, Amazon
), find one that does; it won't add to the cost. Consumers, like this one posting on Best Buy, appreciate not having to worry about another electrical appliance that someone forgot to turn off. At the higher end of the coffee maker market, models like the Cuisinart DCC-1200 12-Cup Brew Central Coffeemaker (starting at $80, Amazon
) let you program the amount of time before the coffee maker shuts down.
Budget Coffee Makers Water Filter.
Water is such a basic commodity that we're often tempted to take it for granted. Not so for coffee fanatics. As WholeLatteLove.com points out, water is a key component of the coffee experience. In locales with hard or poor-tasting tap water, a water filter built into your coffee maker can make a whole lot of difference in the end product. More common on higher-priced coffee makers, water filtration systems are found on some inexpensive coffee makers, such as the Hamilton Beach Ensemble (starting at $30, Amazon
) and many Mr. Coffee models.
That said, there are pros and cons to built-in water filters. On the plus side, the coffee will taste better because the filter removes chemicals and chlorine lurking in tap water. One coffee drinker living in a hard water zone writes on Buzzillions about the filter's beneficial effects on the smoothness and taste of the coffee brewed by the Hamilton Beach Ensemble. The downside of the filtration system is added maintenance, which involves both effort and cost: you'll need to change the filter every two to three months and spend about $10 for each new filter. A nice feature to be sure, but a water filter is not a necessity in a budget coffee maker. If you already have a water filter in your home, either on the tap or in a pitcher you fill from the tap, you can use the filtered water and get similar results. (Bottled water works, as well, but why spend the money?)
Cheap Coffee Makers Coffee Filter.
The type of coffee filter in your coffee maker also affects the coffee's flavor. Although coffee filters come in two shapes -- cone and basket -- coffee experts, including those at Ineedcoffee.com agree that cone-shaped filters do the best job of draining water and extracting the most flavor. Cone filters are more commonly found on expensive coffee makers, but do show up on inexpensive models like the Kalorik Sunny Morning 10-Cup Coffee Maker (starting at $25, Amazon
) and Hamilton Beach Ensemble. Basket filters, owing to their flat-bottom design, tend to clog and overflow, although this problem is not universal. The Mr. Coffee Programmable and Switch models use baskets, as do the DeLonghi and Michael Graves models.
Once you're settled on the shape of the filter, you face another two choices: a permanent (plastic or metal) filter or disposable paper filters. Purists believe that reusable metal filters, preferably gold-tone, result in a better flavor despite letting small amounts of sediment pass through. The initial investment of about $7-$10 may seem a bit pricey, but permanent filters save money over the life of your budget coffee maker because you don't have to continually buy paper filters; the environmental advantages are an added bonus. Metal filters require rinsing after every use and may make a mess if you're not careful when dumping the wet grounds. Paper filters are a bit neater on that score because you just lift the filter out of its container, grounds and all. Coffee purists say paper filters may leach some chemicals that adversely affect the flavor of the coffee, and they cost about $2-$4 for each hundred pots you brew.
Budget Coffee Makers Pots/Carafes.
The size and design of the coffee carafe are also important considerations when choosing an inexpensive coffee maker. Size is measured in cups, and the most popular are 4-cup, 8-10 cup, and 10-12 cup. But remember, one cup in the lingo of coffee pot producers isn't equivalent to one (big) coffee mug. A coffee pot cup is typically four ounces; in today's caffeinated culture, coffee mugs hold at least twice as much.Compared to the neutral topic of carafe size, coffee pot design arouses lots of scalding commentary. Designs that lead to coffee spills everywhere but in the cup are among the leading complaints about cheap coffee makers. Pay attention to the width of the spout: many carafes have narrow spouts and can only handle a thin stream of coffee, so you have to pour slowly. While that technique might minimize unwanted trickles, it may not guarantee a clean pour, as this user of the Kalorik Thermal Coffee Maker (starting at $38, Amazon
Budget coffee maker carafes are usually glass, but a few, like the Black & Decker SmartBrew DCM2000, feature plastic on the spout. According to a coffee maker review by a user on Amazon, the leaking-while-pouring problem is exacerbated because the coffee pours from the spout and simultaneously leaks from the space between the plastic and the glass. Coffee drinkers posting on the Target site and on Epinions about the DeLonghi DCF212T complain about leaks from the bottom and sides of the carafe.
Inexpensive Coffee Makers Styling.
Most coffee makers have permanent homes on kitchen counters, which is why looks and design are big factors when choosing the right low-priced coffee maker. The Delonghi 212t is praised for its unique design, namely, the front access for water and coffee grinds. As one Amazon user explains, most machines have to be moved in their entirety to add coffee or water through the top, but the Delonghi design makes the water and coffee compartments readily accessible from the front. Several Abt.com customers applaud the DeLonghi's easy access and appreciate not having to move the coffee maker out from under their cabinets to fill it with water. Expert coffee maker reviews from Good Housekeeping and About.com concur that the unique design is a winner.Kudos in the “counter appeal” category go to the Hamilton Beach Ensemble and Michael Graves Design Automatic Drip Coffee Maker. Wired.com is partial to the Hamilton Beach Ensemble's snazzy elegance, although HowStuffWorks.com suggests that at just under 16 inches high, it may be a bit too tall for some countertops. Michael Graves, the person, is famous for his good-design-on-a-budget philosophy, which spilled over to the simple and sophisticated design of his namesake coffee maker. Many coffee maker reviewers, including this one posting on Amazon, applaud the budget coffee maker for its functional yet simple design, bright clock, and overall sleek looks.
Back to top »What to Expect: Cheap Coffee Makers Performance
Cheap Coffee Makers Coffee Taste.
There are a lot of factors that go into making a good cup of coffee, including water and the shape of the filter. We've not discussed beans because that would send us off into a whole other chapter; but in a word, don't underestimate the importance of good quality coffee beans if you want a rich, full-tasting, and complex drink. Beans aside, though, the key question is, how good is the coffee that winds up in the carafe?Some budget coffee makers, like the DeLonghi and Michael Graves, have special "aroma" or "flavor" buttons designed to make the coffee stronger and more flavorful by slowing down the brewing process. Experts and users are generally pleased with the outcome, as was this consumer, who reports on Target.com about the satisfyingly strong-flavored brew the Michael Graves coffee maker produces. Even without the extra flavor setting pressed on, this low-priced model produces good-tasting coffee, according to posts on Amazon. The DeLonghi has its share of fans as well, including the experts at About.com who note that the aroma setting, which releases water into the coffee grounds in 30-second spurts, takes a bit longer to brew but yields excellent coffee that's worth waiting for.
Quick-brewing budget coffee makers also make good-tasting coffee. People are pleased with the results from the Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable, according to customers' posts on BestBuy.com. Ditto for the Hamilton Beach Ensemble, say coffee drinkers on Target.com.
Inexpensive Coffee Makers Brew Time.
A surprising number of people grumble that their budget coffee makers brew too slowly, with or without an activated aroma/flavor button. One Sears.com posting relates how the DeLonghi DCF212T needed 31 minutes to brew a full 12-cup pot, and 43 minutes with the aroma button pushed. Our research does not indicate this is the norm, however. But if you're impatient, experts at Seattlecoffeefear.com suggest you set the timer in advance so the coffee is ready when you are.Remember, though, fast brewing isn't always a good thing -- it can result in watered-down coffee. This is what one Amazon coffee maker reviewer discovered with his Black & Decker DCM2000. Finding the right balance between quick brew time and rich, flavorful coffee is not necessarily an elusive goal, and the Hamilton Beach Ensemble seems to have hit the mark, suggests this Target.com coffee maker review.
Cheap Coffee Makers Coffee Temperature.
How hot is too hot when it comes to coffee? Ask ten people and you'll get ten different answers, which is why coffee temperature is a personal thing. But when numerous people say coffee coming from the same low-cost coffee maker isn't hot, you know there's a problem. Such is the case with the Kalorik Coffee Maker. Despite its thermal carafe, multiple users complain about coffee cooling too quickly; one coffee drinker notes on Buzzillions that s/he microwaves the coffee to make it hotter. Experts at Howstuffworks.com say the Hamilton Beach Ensemble and Michael Graves budget coffee makers brew coffee that starts out hot and stays hot (at least until the auto shut-off kicks in), an assessment seconded by this consumer reviewer on the Target website. Several consumer complaints about coffee temperature cropped up with the DeLonghi DCF212T, but SeattleCoffeeGear.com bluntly says that if you're looking for scalding hot coffee that will slowly cool on your drive to work, this isn't the machine for you.The final word: Despite a flaw here and there, there are many budget coffee makers with lots of features and different designs that will no doubt suit your coffee needs and satisfy your aesthetic sensibility.
Back to top »
Best Cheap Coffee Makers
DeLonghi DCF212T Drip Coffee Maker
Experts and consumers applaud the unique front-access design of this 12-cup coffee maker but some complain about leakage from the carafe; although the coffee brews a bit slowly, largely due to a special ‘aroma' button, reviewers say the taste is worth the wait.
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Products Mentioned in This Review
Kalorik Coffee Maker with Thermal CarafeBlack & Decker SmartBrew DCM 2000
Hamilton Beach Ensemble
Michael Graves Design Automatic Drip Coffeemaker Black 40304
DeLonghi DCF212T Drip Coffee Maker
Mr. Coffee 12-cup Programmable Model TFX23
