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Best Cheap Coffee Makers- Coffee Maker Reviews

Related Guides: Coffee Grinders and Espresso Machines

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 maker's design, durability, and end product; that said, several garnered enough positive comments to warrant frugal consumer's 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.

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) and the DeLonghi DCF212T (starting at $39, Amazon), we found consumers who say programming the machine is a snap. Budget coffee makers reviews on Buzzillions, for example, appreciate the ease of setting up the Mr. Coffee 12-cup Programmable Coffee Maker the night before; an expert coffee maker review on About.com reports that the one-button programmable timer on the DeLonghi DCF212T (starting at $39, Amazon) is a breeze to set.

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) notes in a coffee maker review on Overstock.com; two user reviewers posting on Everycoffeemaker.com report a similar experience with the Kalorik. The Michael Graves Design Automatic Drip Coffeemaker, on the other hand, particularly pleases a user posting on the Target website who bought the machine for the office and happily discovered it doesn't spill all over like the one s/he has at home. Coffee drinkers who get their daily fix from the Hamilton Beach Ensemble almost uniformly say it pours neatly and doesn't drip.

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.

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Kalorik Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe
Black & 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

 

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