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What would life look like without coffee? For most people, it’s the go-to morning boost and a source of energy throughout the day. Sure, there are plenty of coffee shops around, but if you like to drink coffee every day, having a good and reliable coffee maker is of utmost importance. First of all, it lets you enjoy a good cup of coffee at home, without having to stand in line, or without ever leaving your pajamas if that’s what you like. Furthermore, you’ll have more freedom to experiment and get your coffee exactly right. You can choose exactly what kind of beans you like, the right brewing time, the right amount of sweeteners and milk…
So how do you find a good coffee maker? There are so many options out there that some people might feel overwhelmed when trying to choose the right one. Don’t worry, we are here to solve this problem for you. First of all, you’ll need to decide how much coffee do you want your coffee maker to be able to make. Large 12-cup coffee makers are fine for larger groups of people, but if you all you need is to make a fresh cup before work, they are definitely too much. While many of them do have warming plates, coffee only stays fresh for about half an hour and there is no reason to drink stale coffee if you don’t have to. A 4-cup coffee maker is a perfect size if you are usually making coffee for one to four people.
Interested to learn more? We’ve tested some of the most popular 4-cup coffee makers and these are our top choices.
Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch Coffee Maker – The Best Budget Coffee Maker
This coffee maker comes with a light indicator that lets you know when the coffee is done
The Auto Pause feature lets you grab a cup whenever you need it
There is a warming plate at the bottom that keeps your coffee warm as long as you want
Comes with a removable filter basket which makes cleanup much easier
Convenient and easy to use
Final Verdict
The Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch Coffee Maker is a simple yet functional unit with all the necessary features. It’s also quite compact and easily portable so you can enjoy fresh coffee wherever you are.- Performance 90%
- Maintenance 80%
- Ease of use 100%
- Design 80%
- Price 100%
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Video Review
Cuisinart DCC-450BK 4-Cup Coffee Maker with Stainless-Steel Carafe – Best Drip Coffee Maker
The Cuisinart DCC-450BK comes with a starter pack of disposable filters so you can brew your first cup as soon as you take the coffee maker out of the box
The stainless steel carafe is durable and rust resistant
The most compact coffee maker on our list
This coffee maker features the 30-minute automatic shutoff function
Final Verdict
This compact coffee maker is a real lifesaver when you are rushing to work in the morning. You just need put the coffee in, press the button on the side and let it do all the work. You can grab a cup whenever you want to thanks to the Brew Pause function. You don’t have to worry about turning it off either since it will shut off automatically after 30 minutes. Overall, a great choice if you are looking for a compact and functional coffee maker for your kitchen or office.- Performance 90%
- Maintenance 80%
- Ease of use 100%
- Design 90%
- Price 90%
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Video Review
Viante CAF-50 Grind and Brew Coffee Maker with built in Coffee Grinder – Best Coffee Maker and Grinder
Use the coffee grinder to grind your beans right on the spot or pre-ground coffee – your choice
The Viante CAF-50 lets you choose between regular and strong intensity
Warming plate included
Final Verdict
Grind & brew machines are usually quite large and they make at least 12 cups at a time. This is fine for large groups of people, but it doesn’t really work when you are making coffee only for yourself or for a small family. After all, if you are using freshly ground coffee beans, you’ll want your coffee to be fresh too. Luckily, the Viante CAF-50 Grind and Brew Coffee Maker solves this problem by combining compact design and impeccable performance!- Performance 80%
- Maintenance 90%
- Ease of use 90%
- Design 80%
- Price 60%
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Video Review
Braun KF7150BK Brew Sense Drip Coffee Maker – Best Programmable Coffee Maker
The 24-hour timer lets you set up the machine to make coffee for you just at the right time
Good value for money
The unique condensation drip tray collects any steam from the brewing process and brings it back into the machine
Easy to use interface dishwasher-safe parts
Final Verdict
This unit from Braun really comes with all the bells and whistles that you can imagine on a drip coffee maker. It offers a great deal of flexibility – you can choose how many cups you want to make, how strong the coffee will be, and you can even adjust the temperature of the warming plate.- Performance 100%
- Maintenance 90%
- Ease of use 100%
- Design 100%
- Price 60%
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Video Review
Powerful steam Espresso and Cappuccino Maker Barista Express Machine – Best 4-Cup Espresso Machine
This compact steamer packs 800 watts of power
Allows you to make espresso, cappuccino, or latte
Removable drip tray and nozzle make cleaning a breeze
Final Verdict
Who said you have to spend a lot of money in order to make high-quality espresso in your home? With this small but powerful steamer, you’ll have everything you need right at your fingertips. Definitely a good choice for those who prefer espresso over regular coffee.- Performance 90%
- Maintenance 70%
- Ease of use 80%
- Design 80%
- Price 50%
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Video Review
Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker – Best Pour Over Coffee Maker
Easy cleaning: all parts are dishwasher safe.
Simple and elegant design
This coffee maker really doesn’t take up a lot of space and it’s easy to store it away
You don’t need to use paper filters which means less waste!
Final Verdict
If you were thinking about trying the pour-over coffee method, this is definitely the right coffee maker for you. It’s simple, functional, and durable, but most importantly, it makes a great-tasting cup of coffee thanks to the stainless steel filter. Paper filters actually soak up the aromatic oils from the coffee, but this reusable filter leaves them intact so you can enjoy the subtle flavors in your morning cup.- Performance 80%
- Maintenance 90%
- Ease of use 70%
- Design 90%
- Price 90%
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