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Making freshly brewed coffee at home is so much better than drinking instant. It’s no secret that coffee is one of the most popular beverages around the world. But what’s the best way to make it? It will all depend on your budget, so which is the best coffee maker under 50 dollars?
Most coffee makers under 50 will make decent coffee and machines range from drip to pour-over. Espresso machines can cost a bit more, but make a wider range of coffee. Have a look at our posts about espresso machines under $200 and $100 if you’re interested.
When it comes to buying into making your own coffee, you can buy pre-ground beans or grind your own with a decent coffee grinder. We’ve put together a list of our favourite coffee makers under $50, most of which are drip coffee makers. These come in a range of sizes, some are programmable and some more manual. Let’s take a look:
Our Picks for The Best Coffee Maker Under $50
1. Mueller Austria Ultra Brew Thermal Coffee Maker
- Capacity: 8 Cups
- Machine type: Drip
The Mueller Austria Ultra Brew is a Thermal Coffee maker with Auto Shut-off and LCD-display. All it takes is one button to make great tasting and freshly brewed coffee in less than 10 minutes. This machine has a simple interface and a permanent filter. Programming is quick and easy.
We love that this model has one permanent coffee filter so there’s no ongoing cost of buying paper filters, it also means that this coffee maker produces less waste so you’ll be doing your bit for the environment as well.
With the delay brew function, you can set the machine to make your morning coffee to be ready as soon as your alarm goes off. It will even keep your coffee warm with the thermal carafe if you’re bound to press the snooze button.
Pros:
- Thermal carafe to keep your coffee hot and won’t break as easily as glass
- No paper filters to replace
- Delay brew function
Cons:
- A bit tricky to get the last coffee out of the carafe due to the way it pours
2. Hamilton Beach 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Machine
- Capacity: 12 Cups
- Machine type: Drip
The Hamilton Beach 12 Cup machine gives you three brewing options; regular, bold or 1-4 cups making it a super flexible little machine. You have the option to programme your brew 24 hours in advance so that your coffee is ready and waiting in the morning. The hot plate is non-stick, so if you accidentally drip coffee onto the plate it’s easy to wipe away.
We love the small cup feature so that you can make just enough for a small family, but have enough capacity to make 12 cups if you have guests. The machine also has an auto pause and serve function that lets you pour your first cup while the machine is still brewing.
Pros:
- Programmable 24 hours in advance
- Large capacity
- Auto shut off after 2 hours
Cons:
- Replacement carafe can be hard to find so don’t break yours!
3. Mr Coffee 12-Cup Programmable MACHINE
- Capacity: 12 Cups
- Machine type: Drip
If you have a big family and need to make a lot of coffee, then the Mr Coffee will be a great buy as you can make up to 12 cups at a time. The machine is programmable up to 24 hours in advance and has a 2-hour auto shut off.
The machine allows you to pause brewing mid-cycle so you don’t have to brew all 12 cups at once, and it allows you to pour a cup while the machine is still brewing. Mr Coffee has been around since 1970 and is a trusted machine so you won’t have to worry about the quality of this product.
Cons:
- The filter basket can get messy when changing the filter
4. BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker
- Capacity: 12 Cups
- Machine type: Drip
The Black + Decker 12 cup programmable machine is a brilliant coffee gadget at a good value price. Similar to the other machines listed it has a 24-hour auto brew feature, allowing you to set your brew up in advance. The controls are rubberized so that you can easily programme and set your machine.
You’ll find that this machine also has an auto-stop function that will allow you to pour your coffee while the machine is brewing. Water levels are easy to check with the easy view water window.
Pros:
- Programmable 24 hours in advance
- Large capacity
- Auto shut off after 2 hours
Cons:
- The filter tends to overflow if you’re not careful
5. KRUPS Simply Brew Compact Filter
- Capacity: 5 Cups
- Machine type: Drip
If a 12 cup machine is too big for your needs then this nifty Krups drip coffee maker is a compact 5 cup option. It is perfect for couples or singles who don’t need to make lots of coffee and it allows you to pour your first cup of coffee while it’s still brewing the second. The pot has a no-drip spout and an automatic keep-warm function to keep your brew nice and toasty.
Krups is an expert german coffee machine maker who has been around since 1846. They have great quality products that will last for many years.
Pros:
- The small size makes it great for couples or singles
- Compact design
- Auto keep-warm function
Cons:
- No programming option
6. Mr Coffee Simple Brew Coffee Maker
- Capacity: 4 Cups
- Machine type: Drip
The Mr Coffee Simple Brew is the perfect machine for couples who aren’t heavy coffee drinkers and singles as it brews 4 cups of coffee at a time. It makes great coffee without the mess or stress as you can grab your first cup while the machine is brewing. The filter basket is quick and easy to remove and the water level is easy to check with the dual water window.
This machine is not programmable as but the indicator light will remind you to shut it off, so you won’t forget to turn your machine off.
Pros:
- The small 4 cup size makes it great for couples or singles
- Compact design
- Power off reminder function
Cons:
- No programming option
7. Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker
- Capacity: 8 Cups
- Machine type: Pour Over
The Bodem pour-over machine uses a mesh stainless steel filter so there is no need to buy paper filters. We love this option due to its low waste and environmentally friendly process. You will still be able to use your kettle with a pour-over is it means you’ll pour hot water over the coffee, which will then drip through as normal. The filter process takes about 4 minutes. For best results don’t boil the water completely or let it rest for a few minutes before brewing your coffee as the water should ideally be between 195 F (91 C) and 205 F (96 C).
With this machine, there are no electrical components that could break down, which means it can truly last a lifetime. Unless you drop the glass carafe of course.
Pros:
- Medium-sized, makes up to 8 cups at a time
- No paper filter needed
- No electronic parts to break down
Cons:
- No programming option
Things to Consider when Buying the Best Coffee Maker for You
- Filters: Machines that use paper filters can generate a lot of waste so using one with a mesh filter is a more environmentally friendly option in the long run. Also, consider buying unbleached filters as white-bleached filters can contain extra chemicals and the bleaching process is harmful to the environment
- Water Temperature: For the best coffee, you definitely don’t want to add boiling water to the beans as this can affect the taste of your coffee. Brewing between 195 F (91 C) and 205 F (96 C) is the ideal temperature. Remember that the boiling point of water will vary due to the altitude. The closer you are to sea level the higher the boiling point of your water. This becomes more important for pour-over machines as you’ll need to pay attention to the water temperature manually
- Auto-off and Timers: Not everyone needs the auto-off and timer functions, especially if you don’t drink coffee every morning. It’s a great feature for coffee addicts who can’t wake up without a morning cuppa.