Best 4 Cup Coffee Maker: Top 5

The best brewers offer excellent value for money, efficiency, flexibility, and functionality.

There is very little in life that is quite so beautiful as the aroma of freshly brewed coffee - particularly if it is first thing in the morning, during a slow afternoon, or at the end of a long day.

Whether you require a small pick-me-up or a reassuring hot drink, a cup of coffee is the solution! A coffee maker provides one of the most convenient ways to make a flavorsome brew. Usually, all you need to do with most machines is to add some ground coffee and water and set them going.

Many modern coffee makers are also programmable, meaning that you can set them up in the evening and have a fresh brew ready for you when you wake up in the morning.
Some machines are available in a range of different of colors, enabling you to choose the shade that fits your kitchen, or office best.

Below are my top 5 selections for the best 4 cup coffee makers and find them useful.

The Mr Coffee TF4GTF is an affordable and reliable unit that offers a convenient pause 'n' serve feature.

Pick of the Month: The Mr Coffee TF4GTF: Affordable and Reliable!

The Mr. Coffee TF4GTF is an affordable and reliable brewer that has a convenient pause 'n' serve feature, enabling you to fill up your mug regardless of whether the machine has completed its cycle.

The filter basket is removable, making it convenient and easy to fill and clean. A dual water window enables you to see how much water is in the reservoir for precise filling.

Permanent Filter Plus Pause 'n' Serve: The Continental Electric

Featuring a permanent filter and a Pause n Serve function, the Continental Electric 4-Cup is an excellent coffee brewer that won't put a strain on your budget.

This durable and elegant product is convenient to clean, compact and is easy to store as well as use. It offers excellent value at the inexpensive end of the price range.

Available in four attractive colors: black, red, orange, and pink, the Cuisinart DCC-450R is a durable brewer that is also easy to store, thanks to its compact design and construction.  A thermal carafe keeps your coffee hot, no matter where you wish to take it.

Compact and Durable: The Cuisinart DCC-450R!

Easy to use and with a thermal carafe to keep the coffee hot, the Cuisinart DCC-450R is another product that you should seriously consider.

The carafe is non-breakable, enhancing the overall durability of this small and solid coffee maker. 

This brewer is available in 4 vibrant colors: black, red, orange, and pink, enabling you to choose the look that suits your kitchen and personal taste.

Convenient to Use and Clean: The Jerdon CM21W!

Available in black, red, and pink, the Jerdon CM21W is an attractive 4-cup machine with a stainless-steel carafe available.
This maker features a brew-pause function allowing you to pour a cup of coffee without having to wait for the brew cycle to finish.
Compact and durable, the Cuisinart DCC-450 also has 30-minute auto-shutoff, meaning that there's no need to worry if you have to leave the house or office in a rush.

With a pause 'n' serve feature which means that you don't need to wait until the brew cycle is complete before you pour yourself a drink, the MaxiMatic EHC-2022 Elite is a functional machine that offers very good value for money. Affordable, functional, and attractive, this brewer is easy to store when not in use, thanks to its compact design.

Premium Brewer for a Very Reasonable Price: The MaxiMatic EHC-2022 Elite!

The MaxiMatic EHC-2022 Elite is a compact brewer that is ideal for travelers, as well as home and office users. It is also very affordable.

The pause 'n' serve feature means that you don't need to wait until the brew cycle is complete before you pour yourself a mug. 

The Maxi-Matic also has a built-in filter, making it convenient to use and clean.

What is the Best 10 Cup Coffee Maker 2020?

The KRUPS KT720D50 with thermal carafe has an attractive and durable stainless steel finish, and is also capable of keeping your coffee warm for hours.  The pause and serve feature enables you remove carafe before the brewing cycle is complete.  You can choose between classic and classic or aroma, which delivers a more intense flavor extraction.

Article updated: 10/192020

I've been a coffee brewer and drinker for forty years and in my experience: nothing beats the taste of freshly brewed coffee, especially first thing in the morning, or after a long afternoon at work.

A coffee maker should provide you with a quick and hassle free way to brew a tasty beverage. With many of the best machines, all you need to do is add some ground coffee and water and start the machine.

A lot of the newer models are also programmable, so you can set them up before you go to bed, and have a hot brew ready for you when you awaken.

Some models are also available in a variety of different styles and colors, meaning that you can choose the one that is right for your kitchen or office.

I hope that you enjoy my selections for the best 10 cup coffee maker 2019 and find them helpful.

With 800W of power at its disposal, the BUNN BT Velocity Brew is super fast and efficient, able to brew up to 10 cups in just three minutes.  The carafe is constructed from stainless steel and vacuum insulated to minimize heat loss, so you can take your hot coffee wherever you wish: to the bedroom, porch, or outside in the yard.

#1 Best 10 Cup Coffee Maker: The BUNN BT Velocity Brew: Fast, Efficient and Excellent Value!

With its specially designed spray head to maximize flavor and stylish stainless steel construction, the BUNN Velocity Brew is without doubt a step above the average brewer.

The thermal carafe is vacuum insulated to keep your coffee hot wherever you want to take it, whether it's the bedroom, living room, or outside in the yard.

A stainless steel internal hot water tank utilizes the 800-watt heater and internal thermostat to sustain the water at an optimal brewing temperature of 200 degrees F.

The Bunn brewer is quick, producing flavorsome coffee in just 3 minutes.

An affordable coffee maker that is reliable and easy to clean, the Proctor Silex is definitely worth checking out, especially if you have a limited budget.   Its pause and serve feature means that you can interrupt the machine's brew cycle at any point in order to pour yourself a brew.

Affordable, Easy to Clean, and Reliable: The Proctor Silex 48350!

Reliable and easy to clean, the Proctor Silex 48350 is a very competitively priced 10 Cup brewer that delivers fresh, flavorsome coffee time and time again.

Compact in size, the Proctor Silex 48350 won't take up very much valuable counter space, and is easy to store.

The maker also features auto pause and serve, so you can interrupt its brewing cycle at any time to serve yourself a brew.

This machine is simple to use and also has a carafe that is designed not to dribble when you pour.

Its accessories are dishwasher safe too, making this brewer convenient to clean too.

This is a reliable brewer for a very reasonable price.

Hamilton Beach are not afraid to push the envelope when it comes to thrilling new designs and their BrewStation is one such example.  Rather than use a carafe like standard makers, the BrewStation dispenses one fresh cup at a time.  This avoids the scorched taste that you can get from brewers that use a heating plate to keep the coffee hot.

The Hamilton Beach BrewStation: Stylish and Programmable!

The BrewStation from Hamilton Beach works differently to most coffee makers and doesn't require a carafe. Instead of the traditional method, it brews a full 10 cups and dispenses the coffee one cup at a time.

No carafe means no breakages, no spilled coffee. 

Also, rather than using a hot plate to keep the coffee warm, which can give your drink a burnt taste, this maker uses a gentle warming heater which does not compromise the coffee's flavor. 

There is also a 24-hour programmable clock with 2-hour automatic shut-off.

Classy and Convenient: The Cuisinart DCC-1150BK!

An attractive and well-designed product, the Cuisinart DCC-1150BK 10-Cup is also fully programmable. The thermal carafe is double-wall insulated, so you can take your coffee anywhere, the bedroom, living area, or yard, and it will stay hot for a long period.

There is a stay-cool handle for comfort and convenience. A drip-free spout ensures minimal spillages when you are pouring. The brew pause function means that you can pour yourself a beverage at any point, even before the maker has finished its brew cycle.

The Cuisinart DCC-1150BK also has a 1 to 4 cup setting, for brewing smaller amounts of coffee. A full-flavored brew is further guaranteed by extra accessories, including a charcoal water filter and a gold-tone filter.

With a double wall insulated carafe, enabling you to take your coffee anywhere without it going cold, the Cuisinart DCC-1150BK is an excellent 10-cup brewer that is worth checking out.  A pause function allows you to interrupt the Cuisinart's brew cycle and pour yourself a beverage early.  There is also a 1 to 4 cup setting for those who want to brew less coffee.

Constructed from attractive and very durable stainless steel, the KRUPS KT720D50 Thermal Carafe Filter Brewer offers excellent functionality and value for money.  Brewing can be set to Classic or Aroma function, Aroma providing a more intense extraction and stronger taste. 

The KRUPS KT720D50: An Attractive and Functional Machine with Thermal Carafe!

KRUPS have an excellent reputation when it comes to design quality and functionality, and their KRUPS KT720D50 Thermal Carafe Filter Brewer does not disappoint.

Housed in brushed stainless steel, the brewer has an attractive appearance and an exceptionally durable construction. 

The 40 ounce thermal jug will keep the coffee hot, even when away from the maker for a long time, whether you take it to the bedroom, living area, office space, or outside in the yard.

The pause 'n' serve feature allows you to pour a drink no matter where the Krups is in its brewing cycle.

Best Burr Grinder: Top 5

With its emphasis on style and functionality, the Rancilio HSD-ROC-SS ROCKY is a premium machine that produces accurate grounds, whatever your style of coffee beverage. It is also a remarkable versatile machine that is easy to use. 

Article Updated October 19th 2020

I've been brewing and drinking coffee for forty years, and came to understand early on that grinding is a necessary part of the coffee making process, especially for those seeking the perfect cup of coffee. This means that owning the right machine is essential.

Grinding the beans right before brewing is important because that way your beverage will have the maximum taste and aroma. The grounds also need be of a consistent size, and at the optimum level of fineness for the coffee maker, otherwise you will not get the fullest flavor, so choosing a machine that is accurate is also important.

Below is my top 5 list for the best burr grinder in 2019, I hope that you enjoy reading it and find it useful.

The best machines will produce grounds that are consistently accurate in size, that means you will obtain maximum flavor when you brew.  You can also expect the better grinders to be less noisy and less messy than the cheapest products on the market.

Source: Public Domain Image via Pixabay

Why are Burr Grinders the Best?

They are superior to blade grinders because:

• They producing a more consistent and precise size of ground. This effectively optimizes the amount of flavor that you can extract from the beans.
• They are usually quieter, which is especially useful if you grind first thing in the morning, or late at night, while others are asleep in bed, or if others are focused on work or study.
• They produce less heat during the grinding process and so don't scorch the beans and compromise the taste.

There are two main types of burr grinder: conical and wheel. Out of the two, the best is the conical type, they are usually slightly less noisy and messy than wheel grinders.
Conical machines are usually more expensive, however.

 "To me, the smell of fresh-made coffee is one of the greatest inventions."

— Hugh Jackman

The KitchenAid combines excellent design features with usability.  This high quality machine is robust as well as versatile and attractive.

#1 Best Quality Burr Grinder: The KitchenAid, Robust and Consistent!

This first thing to say about this machine is that it is very well designed and made. In fact the KitchenAid ProLine grinder manages to be stylish in its design, very usable, and built to last thanks to the solid glass and metal construction materials.

The parts fit together well too, unlike with some of the cheaper machines, which can sometimes be difficult to clean thanks to poor design and construction. There are 15 grind settings give a range of fineness/coarseness options to choose from, giving this product versatility as well as strength.

This machine is quiet too, making it great if you need to brew a beverage in the early hours or late at night. The ground size is accurate, you should expect that from a machine of this caliber, but I thought it should be mentioned. If coffee is your daily luxury, your grinder should deliver and this one does.

If you want a high quality machine that produces consistent grounds for delicious coffee, style and durability, this is the one for you.

Before You Buy: Things to Consider When Buying a Grinder

Here are some questions that you might want to ask:

• Is it a conical or a wheel burr grinder? As I mentioned above, conical burrs are generally quieter and less messy but more expensive.
• Is the design suitable in terms of functionality and appearance - some units come in a range of colors, so you can pick one that fits with your kitchen decor.
• Is the machine easy to operate?
• Is it easy to clean?
• Is it versatile enough to meet my needs, in terms of the range of settings?
• Does the product offer excellent value for money?

The Bodum Bistro

#1 Best Cheap Burr Grinder: The Bodum Bistro for Versatility and Value!

The Bodum Bistro is a remarkably versatile machine with over 14 settings for the level of coarseness/fineness required.

It also has a glass ground receptacle, which means no static and messy coffee grounds flying around. Easy to clean and operate, it offers consistent quality coffee grinding.

This machine is very difficult to beat in the under $200 price range. It also comes in a variety of vibrant colors (black, orange, red, green, and white).

Modern coffee originates from Ethiopa. According to legend, a goat herder noticed that his goats were more physically and mentally active when they chewed from a certain plant, It was the Arabs who first mass cultivated the plant, however.

Source: Public Domain Image via Pixabay

The Breville BCG800XL Smart Grinder has
25 distinct grind settings, making it great for brewers of all coffee types.

The Breville BCG800XL: Quiet and Stylish!

This stylish and elegant Breville grinder produces superior ground coffee with a minimal amount of noise, mess and fuss.

There are 25 distinct grind settings, making it a versatile brewer and suitable for of all coffee types, and an auto dosing system that calibrates each adjusted dose.

Offering excellent value for money, it's easy to understand why the Breville BCG800XL is one of the biggest selling machines on the market and well worth the expenditure, in my opinion.

The Rancilio HSD-ROC-SS ROCKY is a durable machine that is quiet, efficient, and precise.

The Rancilio HSD-ROC-SS ROCKY: Powerful and Precise!

For those that demand only the best, the Rancilio HSD-ROC-SS ROCKY is a must!
The build of this durable and reliable machine is truly beautiful when it comes to attractiveness and functionality.

But the best thing about this model is the ease and effectiveness of control. You can alter the grind setting with a simple unlock of the lever and a quick turn of the bean hopper.

This quiet, efficient, and incredibly precise machine will produce impressive ground coffee for espresso and cappuccino lovers everywhere. It is certainly one of the best grinders for coffee on the market available at present.

The Baratza Vario Ceramic has 230 distinct grind settings to choose from, making it an extremely versatile and precise machine to operate.

The Baratza Vario: Substantive and Easy to Use!

The Baratza Vario Ceramic combines power with precision to deliver quiet and precise grinding.
Its substantive ceramic burrs grind to an exactness not found in cheaper machines and there are 230 distinct grind settings to choose from.

The powerful motor turns slower, meaning less noise, more efficiency, and much more control over the process, than you do with lesser machines.

How to Store Your Coffee Beans Correctly!

Getting the storage right for your coffee beans is crucial. If you don't do it effectively, then your beans will quickly lose their flavor and the taste and aroma of your beverages will suffer!

The 4 great enemies of effective storage are: air, moisture, heat, and light. Consequently, you want a container that will protect your beans from all four, if possible (although where you place your storage container can also play a part in effectiveness).

Glass and ceramic containers often work the best, although stainless steel can also be an option. The most important thing is that they have an airtight lid.

Remember to buy your coffee regularly in relatively small amounts, however, as flavor will still be lost after one or two weeks, even if stored well.

Don't be tempted to freeze or refrigerate your coffee either, unless absolutely necessary, as the changes in temperature will also inhibit the flavor.

 

The Baratza Encore is highly rated by experts and public alike. This machine is versatile, with 40 different grind settings, offering accurate and reliable grinds. The motor is durable and efficient, as well as cool enough not to heat up the beans.

Two More Great Burr Grinders to Consider!

Another great product by Baratza is their New and Improved Encore. For those seeking quality within an affordable price range, this model is very difficult to beat. Featuring upgraded burrs and a completely new redesigned gearbox, this machine provides premium precision.

The Baratza is also versatile, offering 40 different grind speeds to choose from, enough options to suit any taste or need. The burr grinding speed is just 450 RPM, making it a quieter machine than most, with less heat and static build up.

At the affordable end of the price scale, the Capresso 565.04 Infinity is a sturdy and durable machine that is easy to use, as well as clean.

The Capresso Infinity Plus is another best-selling product and very affordable, being towards the lower end of the price scale. This machine is sturdy and attractive, constructed with a zinc die-cast housing. That also makes the machine remarkably durable and easy to clean.

Commercial-grade conical burrs provide accurate and reliable grinding time after time, providing maximum coffee flavor and aroma. 16 different grind settings mean excellent versatility, offering a range that runs from Turkish fine all the way to French press coarse - enough options to suit all needs and tastes.

Best Travel Coffee Mug: Top 5

Article Updated October 19th 2020

A travel mug is a must-have item for most active coffee drinkers. With the ability to keep a cold beverage cold, and a hot beverage hot, a mug will enhance your day, whatever your lifestyle.

As well as being great purchases for oneself, they can also make great gifts for friends and family.

Travel mugs provide:

• Commuters with the opportunity to enjoy a convenient hot or cold beverage while traveling to work, or during breaks.
• Day trippers, students, and outdoor workers the opportunity to warm or cool themselves with a refreshing drink.
• Sports players a way to keep their drinks cold.

In essence, this product is very useful to anyone with an on-the-go lifestyle, who likes to drink their beverages at an appropriate temperature. I hope that you enjoy reading my top 5 list for the best travel coffee mug.

Most Desirable Qualities

There are many different products out there, but the qualities that people typically seek in a travel coffee mug are:

• Excellent insulating qualities
• Durability and resilience
• An attractive feel and appearance
• Seals to prevent spillages
• Easy to pour with no drips
• Easy to grip, secure to pick up when driving
• Compatible with standard vehicle drink holders
• Original design, especially if required to use as a gift
• Competitive pricing and value for money.

Functional and attractive, the OXO Good Grips Plastic LiquiSeal is well-designed and constructed.  It is available for a very affordable price.

#1 Best Travel Coffee Mug: Well Designed and Affordable: The Oxo Good Grips!

The OXO Good Grips Plastic LiquiSeal Travel Mug is well designed and constructed, and available for a very affordable price.

Thermal retention is achieved through a double wall of plastic and spillages are prevented by the travel mug’s three silicone seals. The outer cup is made from shatter resistant polycarbonate.

The OXO Good Grips LiquiSeal Mug is available in a range of vibrant engaging colors, including blue, clear, and red.

 

The Contigo has a contoured body making it easy to hold.  This attractive and functional mug fits most standard car cup holders

Attractive and Functional: The Contigo

This 16-ounce travel tumbler from Contigo is constructed from double wall stainless steel and vacuum insulated, meaning that it can keep beverages hot for up to 4 hours, or cold for up to 12 hours.

Spillages are prevented by the specially designed lid, which seals between sips. The travel mug is well-designed and comfortable to hold, plus it looks and feels good too, thanks to its contoured body.

The Contigo tumbler is available in a variety of vibrant colors, including black, green, red, blue, gunmetal, silver, and pink.

The 24-105mm Lens Travel Coffee Mug / Cup / Thermos with Lens Lid & Quality Stainless Steel Interior makes a unique and useful gift!

Comfortable and Original: The Lens Travel Mug

Constructed to resemble a camera lens, this travel coffee mug makes a fun gift for fans of photography, whether it's a birthday, Christmas, or other celebration.

The unique design, along with its food grade stainless steel interior lining and rubber grip for enhanced comfort, make it is easy to understand why this 24-105mm Travel Coffee Mug is a major bestseller.

The specially designed lid also has an open/close opening to minimize spillages when drinking on the move.

The Thermos Stainless King 16-Ounce Travel Tumbler is exceptionally tough and durable, making it ideal for commuting workers, students, and travelers.

The Main Different Types of Coffee Maker

Drip coffee machines are powered by electricity.  They have a reservoir of water, which they heat.  The water is then filtered through ground coffee and a paper filter; trickling down into a large warmed pot. These machines are excellent for producing large amounts of coffee and keeping them warm. They take up quite a bit of counter/storage space however, and some people dislike the taste of the paper filter.

Stovetop espresso makers as their name suggests, sit on top of the burner.  You fill the bottom container with water, spoon finely ground coffee into the cupped container that sits on top of the water, screw on the top and heat it up.  A pressurizing process makes the water move up through the ground coffee and into the upper compartment.  Once all the water has moved through, your beverage is ready to be served. Be careful not to let the coffee burn.

French presses are the preferred option by many connoisseurs.  It uses an essentially simple system to brew and doesn't involve paper filters.  All you need is hot water and ground coffee, no filters or electric.  You mix the water and coffee, then plunge the the built-in mesh filter down to separate the grounds from the coffee.

Pod coffee makers are single cup brewing systems, which use prepackaged pods of coffee, which are inserted into the machine.  These electrically powered machines are very convenient.  You fill the maker with coffee, choose your settings, and press a button and in a couple of minutes you have your brew.  

Ultra-durable and Rugged: The Thermos Stainless King

Available in blue and cranberry colors, the Thermos Stainless King 16-Ounce Leak-Proof Travel Mug is built with stainless steel interior and exterior, making it ultra-durable and rugged.

Its specially designed Drinklock lid seals to prevent leaks and spillages.

The Thermos Stainless King remains cool to the touch, even when carrying hot beverages. It also remains free from condensation when containing cold drinks.

The Thermos is dishwasher friendly and durable.  It is available in a variety of vibrant colors.

Sleek and Convenient!

Designed to keep beverages hot for 5 hours and cold for 9 hours, the Thermos 16-Ounce Stainless Steel Travel Tumbler is well worthy of consideration.

With its distinctive sleek appearance, this durable coffee travel mug also has a built- in tea hook for tea bags and loose-leaf infusers. It can also be cleaned safely and conveniently in the dishwasher.

This thermos is available in a variety of attractive colors, including: black, white, teal, and plum.