Most of us kick-start our day with a fresh cup of joe. There are so many ways to get our caffeine fix. We can line up and buy our favorite coffee from a local café or make one with the use of ready-to-mix powders. But nothing can trump the convenience of having a coffee maker at home. With this in tow, you should be able to brew a batch of fresh and aromatic coffee – no need to wake up early to fall in line for your coffee. The 4 cup coffee maker should be just right for small to medium-sized families.
You have plenty of coffee maker choices out there. This is the most popular beverage out there so it’s not surprising to have different 4 cup coffee maker brands competing. If you don’t know where to start looking, don’t worry because this article will help you out. Keep on reading to find out which 4 cup coffee makers are the best choices today.
Quick Comparison: Top 4 Cup Coffee Makers (2021-2022)
Product | Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
A+ | $$ | ||
A | $$ | ||
A | $ | ||
B+ | $$$ | ||
B | $ |
**Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
More...
Reasons to Buy a 4-Cup Coffee Maker for Your Home
We get it. It seems easier to just drop by your favorite coffee shop and get your favorite drink, right? Or you can just used packaged ones, add hot water and enjoy your cup of joe. But there’s something more indulgent in brewing your own coffee at home. You can control how much coffee to use and how much to make. You can get consistent results all the time.
Brewing your own coffee at home is also more cost-effective. You will just pay for the beans. You can grind the beans yourself, so you can be assured that you preserve the taste and aroma of the beans. As you know, prices of coffee in coffee shops tend to be exorbitant. They add up. You can save a lot of money by making your coffee at home yourself.
Many coffee makers even have programmable functions. That means you can set the coffee maker up to grind beans and start brewing your coffee minutes before your morning alarm goes off. There is freshly-brewed hot coffee to greet you every morning.
The coffee produced by these coffee makers is also unparalleled when it comes to taste, consistency, texture and quality. It is unmatched by any packaged coffee mixes that you can find.
How A Coffee Maker Works
Coffee makers might look like complex machines that are capable of producing different caffeine-based beverages, but they are, in fact, very simple.
Most coffee makers today are very straightforward. Once you understand the different parts of it, and once you figure out every parts’ job, you can easily see how such a small machine can make a fine cup of coffee.
If you look closely at your typical coffee maker, you will find a reservoir, a heating element, a tube that connects the reservoir to the heating element, and a shower head.
The reservoir holds all the water that is used to create your cup of coffee, the heating element is basically what makes your water reach high temperatures, and the shower head is the one responsible for putting the hot water on the coffee grounds.
You see, the way a coffee maker works is that once you pour the water into the reservoir, the water flows through a hole that leads into the tube that connects the reservoir and the heating element, therefore heating the water up.
Once the water has reached the optimal brewing temperature, it is then redirected onto the shower head that lets the hot water flow through the coffee grounds and into the carafe or the coffee pot.
What To Look For In A Coffee Maker
Though coffee makers are fairly simple machines, there are still a couple of factors that you should check prior to purchasing one to ensure that you are getting your money’s worth.
Here are a couple of features and benefits that you should not forget to reconsider before you decide on which 4-cup coffee maker you should get.
Programmable Brewing
Programmable functions come handy for people who are always on the go. If you want to have freshly-brewed coffee already waiting for you when you wake up in the morning, look for a coffee maker that you can pre-program so that it does what you have programmed it to do.
Automatic Shut-Off
It’s a good idea to compare energy efficiency when buying a coffee maker. Most modern ones today have efficient features, so you shouldn’t worry about getting a high electricity bill. However, you would want to look for those with an automatic shut-off feature. This also prevents your coffee maker from using up more energy even after it is done brewing. This is also an added safety feature that will come handy in case you forget to turn off or unplug your coffee maker.
Pause Functions
Can’t wait to pour yourself a cup of coffee even before it is completely done brewing? This feature will come handy. Not all 4 cup coffee makers have this so make sure you look for one if you are often in a hurry and need to pour yourself a cup before the cycle is completely finished.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Look for a coffee maker with parts that are easy to remove and are dishwasher-safe. Some coffee makers may even have a self-cleaning function that you can use when trying to descale the appliance. This feature makes life a lot more convenient for coffee aficionados.
Ease of Use
Make sure the controls are not too complicated so even those that have no experience with technology can easily use the product. Also check the carafe or pot if it’s easy to remove and pour. Make sure it slides out easily, so you can avoid spilling your coffee.
Here are the Best 4 Cup Coffee Makers You Should Get
- Cuisinart DCC 4 Cup Coffee Maker (For Beginners)
- Mr. Coffee 4 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker (Easy to Use)
- Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch Coffee Maker (Easy to Clean)
- Capresso Espresso And Cappuccino Machine (Safe to Use)
- Maxi Matic Elite Cuisine 4 Cup Coffee Maker (Least Expensive)
These are some of the fail-proof coffee makers that you will surely find ideal for your needs:
This coffee maker is the ideal choice for any coffee lover that wishes to create a cup of coffee in the house. What’s great about this coffee maker is that it comes with an ergonomic handle that’s very comfortable to the grip. It also comes with a dripless spout for spotless clean countertops or wooden countertops that easily stain.
Another great feature of this coffee maker is that it comes with a function where you can pause it while it is still brewing. This will give you total control over your coffee blend. It even has an automatic shutoff function that will turn off your coffee maker after being idle for 30 minutes.
Pros
- Has a compact design
- Ideal for home use
- Ideal for beginners
- Comes with an automatic shutoff function
- Comes with a brew and pause function
Cons
- Can be a bit difficult to clean
- Doesn’t come with a manufacturer warranty
If you are always on the go, this coffee maker may be the best choice for you. This coffee maker comes with highly reliable programmable features that will let you create any brew you like with just a single push of a button, therefore saving you a lot of time and effort during the morning rush.
What’s great about this coffee maker is that it’s very easy to clean and maintain. It has a filter basket that is removable, ensuring that every cup you make will be free of grounds. It also has a 24-hour delay feature and a handy brew-and-pause feature for an assortment of blends.
Pros
- comes with light indicators
- is very simple and easy to use
- has a removable filter basket
- is easy to clean
- comes with a brew and pause feature
- comes with a 24-hour delay feature
- comes with programmable features
Cons
- the pot can be hard to grip if you have large hands
If you want a coffee maker for your office or your apartment, this one could fit your needs best. This coffee maker requires minimal counter space because of its relatively small build. But don’t be dismayed by its size because it comes with a bunch of features that will make it worth every penny.
Aside from being completely easy to store, this coffee maker comes with handy light indicators, a removable filter for easy cleaning, and a stain-resistant warming plate that will ensure every cup you serve will always be hot.
Pros
- Is simple and easy to use
- Is easy to clean
- Doesn’t require a large counter space
- Comes with light indicators
- Comes with a stain-resistant warming plate
Cons
- Light indicators do not go on sometimes
- Doesn’t come with a manufacturer warranty
If you like creating different sorts of caffeine beverages such as espressos, lattes, and cappuccinos, this 4-cup coffee maker will help you create such brews in no time. This coffee maker makes creating different types of coffee so easy because it has a powerful steam and boiler feature that will let you create a personalized cup with your preferred strength and taste.
It also comes with a swivel frother that has an adjustable steam output to ensure your milk will be streamed to your preference in mere seconds. With this feature, you will be able to create a latte or a cappuccino within just 5-minutes. Say goodbye to your morning café trips because this will take care of your caffeine needs.
What’s more is that it’s completely safe to use since it comes with a safety boiler cap that is integrated with a filter holder with a thumb guard and a valve.
Pros
- Has a removable drip tray
- The carafe is dishwasher safe
- Can create lattes, cappuccinos, and espressos
- Can steam milk
- Is great for creating personalized cups of coffee
- Is completely safe to use
- Comes with a thumb guard
Column 2
- It can be a bit more challenging to clean
- Slightly more expensive than others
- Not ideal for beginners
This compact coffee maker can be a great addition to your kitchen or your office. It is fairly small and can easily fit any countertop or kitchen cupboard. This product is very practical. It has all the features that you need to create a fine cup of coffee every morning.
What’s great about this coffee maker is that it’s very easy to use. It comes with a clearly-marked water reservoir for easy measuring, it has a removable and easy-to-wash filter, light indicators for added ease of use, and a nice brew-and-pause feature for controlled blend flavors.
Pros
- Is very easy to clean
- Comes with a removable filter
- Comes with a washable filter
- Eliminates the need for disposable filters
- Comes with a brew and pauses feature
- Comes with indicator lights
- Is ideal for beginners
- Has a compact size
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a warming plate
- Doesn’t come with a manufacturer warranty
What Should You Get?
You might be wondering which of these products is the best fit for you. If you like something simple, is fuss-free and inexpensive, go get yourself the Maxi Matic Elite Cuisine 4 Cup Coffee Maker. It is devoid of complicated functions and is lacking in bells and whistles but should get the job done with minimum effort. It’s cheap, too.
If you like variety or you often drink different types of coffee such as espresso or cappuccino, the Capresso Espresso and Cappuccino Machine is a fitting choice. You can rely on this for your various coffee cravings.
For those who have a limited counter space, the Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch Coffee Maker should serve you well. It doesn’t take up a large footprint and has all the features you need to brew a delicious batch of coffee.
If you are always on the go, the speed of which the Mr. Coffee 4 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker brews coffee will surely come handy. It is easy to clean as well.
We recommend the Cuisinart DCC 4 Cup Coffee Maker if you are a beginner. It’s very easy to use so even those who are technologically-challenged won’t be intimidated by it. There are several coffee maker options in the maker but Cuisinart's DCC 4 Cup Coffee Maker is the best 4 cup coffee maker to invest in.
Give our suggestions a go. Click those product links and learn more about the features of each product. Our homepage also has a wealth of information you might need for picking out kitchen tools and equipment.
