For many people, coffee is the most important part of their morning routine. Most grab a ready-to-drink cup of coffee on their way to work while some wake up early in the morning to grind their own beans.
But why go through all this trouble when your morning can flow much more smoothly if you had your own coffee maker. Most people would cite price as the reason, but did you know you can actually get a good coffee maker without hurting your wallet. Better yet, you would brew the same beautiful coffee as the one you get at Starbucks or your local café.
Imagine how many dollars you would save with your own coffee maker, especially if you’re an avid coffee drinker. Furthermore, imagine how much time you would save that you would otherwise spend on long queues at cafes.
Below are five of the top coffee makers on the market that won’t hurt your pocket.
Coffee Drip Coffee Maker
This is a top-notch coffee maker that makes excellent coffee and can produce 12 cups with maximum flavor extraction. The machine offers everything you need in a good coffee maker, from a “strength selector” to a “freshness timer” to help you brew a rich-tasting cup of joe. The machine looks sleek with brushed chrome accents, function lights, and a digital display.
It offers many features including the ‘Delay Brew’ setting that brews up to 24 hours in advance, water window, automatic shutoff, and special add-on accessories like thermal carafe.
Everything is well-labeled for ease of use. In addition, its carbon-based water filtration disk removes up to 97 percent of chlorine from the water, making your coffee taste even better.
Pros
Pros
- Multiple controls and menu settings
- Allows you to adjust coffee brew strengths
- Dazzling design
- Easy to use
Cons
Cons
- Can be a bit loud
Hamilton Beach 12 Cup Coffee Maker
The Hamilton Beach 12 cup coffee maker offers many modern features and functions such as a digital display, automatic on/off switch, programmable clock, and self-regulating warming plate. This coffee maker combines both traditional convenience and modern technology. With this machine, you can switch modes and brew different types of regular, bold and iced coffee.
The machine makes consistently fresh, rich-taste coffee – whether you’re making a few cups or full capacity.
Pros
Pros
- Simple and easy to use
- Adjustable settings for different brew coffee types
- Auto shut off saves energy
- Many modern features and functions
Cons
Cons
- No temperature controls
- Can be loud
- Can take a longer time to brew
Cuisinart PerfecTemp 14 Cup Coffee Maker
The Cuisinart PerfecTemp is a great coffee maker that can brew up to 14 cups of excellent coffee. If you want to wake up to a cup of coffee waiting for you, then you’re lucky.
This coffee maker allows you to program brewing up to 24 hours in advance so you can find your coffee ready in the morning. It comes with fantastic features including programming, a cleaning indicator, brew-strength control, auto-shutoff, permanent filter, and a small-batch setting.
Unlike some coffee makers that force you to conform to certain flavor profiles, the PerfecTemp is designed to create your coffee how you like it. In addition, the charcoal water filler option enhances the taste.
Pros
Pros
- Large capacity
- Excellent brew customization options
- Self-cleaning function
- Easy to use
Cons
Cons
- Energy usage may be a bit high
- A little bit slow
Bunn 10-Cup Velocity Brewer
Bunn is known for designing utilitarian coffee makers that are compact and easy to use. If you’re always rushing in the morning, the Velocity is the perfect coffee maker for you. You just need to add beans and water and touch one button, and your cup of joe will be ready in just three minutes.
The coffee maker boasts a stainless steel water tank and its carafe is tightly sealed, insulated and vacuumed to keep your coffee hot and fresh. Due to its design, the 10-cup machine is perfect for a kitchen with limited space. In addition, it keeps the water at or near brew temperature, but you can switch on the vacation mode to keep it standing by.
Pros
Pros
- Easy to use
- Does not take up so much space
- Brews a full pot in just 3 minutes
Cons
Cons
- Can be hard to move around
- Can use more energy
Black & Decker Coffee Maker
The Black & Decker coffee maker is a simple appliance that makes good tasting coffee. This excellent machine allows you to make as many cups as you want up to 12 cups. It has many great features including the “strength selector” that allows you to choose the strength of the brew. You can program it and wake up to a freshly brewed pot of coffee.
If you’re the forgetful type, you don’t need to worry because it has an automatic shutoff function. The thermal carafe is quite heavy but can withstand being dropped on a hard floor. In addition, the carafe is well-designed to prevent drips.
Pros
Pros
- Programmable to make the number of cups you want
- You can select the strength of the brew
- The thermal carafe is quite sturdy
- Quick brew time
- Automatic keep warm setting
Cons
Cons
- Does not alert you when it’s time to clean
- No beep when the brewing is done
Choosing a Coffee Maker
Today’s coffee makers do more than just brewing a cup of joe. They can grind beans, generate coffee bloom, froth milk for specialty drinks like macchiato and lattes, and some even brew iced coffee. But when choosing the best coffee maker to buy on a budget, here are the factors you should consider:
Speed
When it comes to brewing coffee, speed matters a lot. Coffee brewed in less than four minutes is considered under-extracted (weak, sour coffee) and that which takes more than eight minutes is considered over-extracted (heavy, bitter coffee).
Brewing Temperature
Brewing temperature of a machine can tell you if the machine can make a decent cup of coffee. According to Gold Cup standard, good coffee is brewed between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
Type
You’ll find many types of coffee makers on the market, including drip models, percolators, and specialty machines for espresso and cappuccino. Choose the type of coffee maker according to your need.
Capacity
You must consider the number of cups that the machine can make at a time. Most machines make between 8-12 cups on a go and some less.
Cost
When buying a coffee maker, theirs is no need to break the bank. You can find great models which cost less than $100. Therefore, buy a unit that’s within your budget.
Ease of use
Since you want to make your coffee in the morning before you leave for work, get something which is easy to operate. You don’t want a unit with many switches and buttons and complicated procedures.
Extra Features
Coffee makers have different features such as programmable settings, auto shutoff, built-in grinder, steamer, and water filter. Choose according to your needs and budget.
Final Thoughts
A coffee maker is a great addition to your kitchen appliances. If you’re looking for the best cheap coffee makers on the market, the coffee makers listed above are superb and will make you amazing coffee and save you time and hundreds of bucks. However, even if you decide to choose another model, make sure you consider the factors discussed above. Also, note that brewing coffee is a skill that takes time to perfect.
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