Coffee is a universal drink cherished by millions of people around the globe. If you are like me, then no morning will be complete without a hot cup of coffee. And, if you are reading this article about the best 4 cup coffee makers, it means you are interested in mid-sized machines ideal for individuals or small families.
There are a plethora of options. but with no guarantees that all will suit your needs. However, we’ve got you covered. We have done a comprehensive review of the best 4 cup coffee makers. This is so that you can make the right choice the first time.
Also, at the end of the review, we have included a comprehensive buyer’s guide. This is to help you know about the specific factors to consider when shopping for a great coffee maker.
How Was This List Made?
Making this list took tens of hours of researching the internet. We went through the top coffee machine blogs. We referenced the manufacturer’s websites so that we can get all the necessary facts and features of the machines.
We also sampled reviews from individuals who had purchased the machines in the past. This was to let us know their experience with the machines so that we can present accurate and factual information.
Therefore, this is a solid review backed by solid research. You can trust that any product you choose from this list will greatly enhance your coffee experience at home.
TOP PICK
Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch Coffee Maker
The design is compact, with a tantalizing appeal to the eyes. And, all the controls and buttons are easily accessible to ensure you don’t miss out on anything during your brewing experience.
<!-- $150 From Amazon $150 From Amazon --> CHECK LATEST PRICEBest 4 Cup Coffee Maker
1. Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Glass Carafe Handle Coffee Marker
Cuisinart is not a stranger when it comes to the manufacture of high quality kitchen appliances. It is not surprising that one of their products tops the list of the best 4 cup coffee makers. A glance at his gorgeous piece of beauty will make you feel like trying out its coffee almost immediately.
It features a sleek and intuitive design. All the controls are in plain sight. Most importantly, it comes with advanced features that will give you a unique coffee experience.
Its construction features stainless steel, with modern and aesthetically appealing looks. It will, without any doubt, make a beautiful addition to your kitchen countertop. It is designed with state-of-the-art technology which ensures that your coffee will never lose its flavor or quality.
Some of the notable brew brewing features include the brew strength control and its programming features.
With the brew control feature, you will control how strong your coffee will be. With this, you can choose to have bold or regular coffee flavors as well as any other thing in between.
With the automatic programming capabilities, you can set when to have your coffee brewed within 24-hours. With the 1-4 cup setting and auto shut-off features, you will be free to enjoy your coffee at any time of the day or night.
Another great feature you will love about this machine is the fact that it is self-cleaning. You understand the importance of having a clean coffee machine. You also understand how difficult cleaning some of the machines are. But you don’t have to worry about all that – courtesy of this feature.
Pros
- Beautiful and intuitive design
- Gold-tone filter for easy brewing
- Intuitive control panel
- 24-hour programmability
- Easy to clean
Cons
- The warming plate may corrode and catch rust if not used regularly
Verdict: This coffee maker is a solid choice if you are looking for efficiency and reliability. It is compact, nicely designed, and comes with just the right features you need for making a great cup of coffee. It will continue being among the best 4 cup stainless steel coffee makers for many years to come.
2. Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker
Mr. Coffee is no stranger to the manufacture of great coffee machines. It is no wonder one of their products makes it to this list. This is another great choice for every coffee enthusiast interested in an advanced, yet easy to use 4cup coffee pot.
If you usually miss your coffee because you can’t brew at specific times, this coffee maker has the answer for you.
It features the characteristic black color that Mr. Coffee has been known to love. The design is not only compact to save on your countertop space, but also appealing to the eyes to add some glitter to your kitchen.
It comes with a removable filter basket. This you can always easily lift out for fast and easy cleaning. There is an off/on indicator light to let you know whether the machine is off or on.
Another enviable feature you will love about this machine is the Brewing Pause N Serve feature. With this, you will be able to pour a cup of coffee while the machine is still running. This is a handy feature that will save you lots of time if you need speed to make and serve coffee.
It also comes with a dual water window. With this, you can tell, at any time, the amount of water that is in the reservoir. This is so that you can fill it accurately all the time without worrying about spillages.
Since it is programmable, it comes with a lot of conveniences for your brewing schedule. Apart from the brew pause n serve feature, you can program the machine to delay the brewing process. You can easily set it ahead of time, wake up to a freshly brewed coffee in the morning.
Pros
- Simple and intuitive design
- Easy to fill coffee, and clean the machine due to the removable filter basket.
- Dual window makes it easy to fill the reservoir
Cons
- Some buyers complained of weak brews
Verdict: If you are not scared about the complaints of weak brews as reported by some customers, then this will be a great coffee maker. It will also suit your needs if you love enjoying coffee at specific times of the day. All you have to do is take advantage of its programming capabilities to have your coffee brewed at specific times.
3. Cuisinart Coffee Maker with Stainless Steel Carafe
Cuisinart Coffee Maker gets another slot in our list of the best 4 cup coffee makers. This is a subtle demonstration of the company’s prowess when it comes to manufacturing high quality coffee makers.
The Cuisinart Coffee Maker with Stainless Steel Carafe boasts a knuckle guard and a pour spout to avoid messing around the brewing station. It has a brew pause feature so that you can get yourself a cup before the brewing process is over.
With the automatic shut off feature, the machine will automatically go off after 30 minutes of inactivity. This is a vital safety feature that will enhance the longevity of the machine and also avoid common accidents around the home.
For users concerned about the amount of space they will need for this machine, it is a great economizer of space. Its compact design makes it small enough to occupy very small spaces. It will fit virtually anywhere around your countertop.
Pros
- Compact design, hence, occupies less counter space
- The carafe features a dripless pour spout
- Has an automatic shutoff feature
- Relatively affordable
Cons
- All the coffee may not drain if the top is not pushed down completely
- Leaves a puddle of water on the counter after brewing
Verdict: The Cuisinart Coffee Maker with Stainless Steel Carafe is among the best 4 cup coffee makers with incredible reviews across multiple platforms. Its price range, set of features, compact design and capacity make it a winner among most coffee lovers in need of high quality, but affordable coffee makers.
If you are just starting to get serious with your coffee brewing and you are on the lookout for a quality and affordable machine, this is going to be a very natural choice for you.
4. Braun Brew Sense Drip Coffee Maker
Braun Brew Sense Drip Coffee Maker has every feature you need to unleash your barista prowess inside your kitchen. It is a preferred choice for the ardent coffee drinkers who are keen to never miss any flavors due to poor brewing process.
It is sleek in appearance and rich in features, including full programmability for up to 24 hours.
With its innovative Pure Flavor System that this four cup coffee maker comes with, you can rest assured that all the right conditions will always be met when brewing your coffee. This includes the right temperature to guarantee the extraction of all the best flavors and aromas.
The unique carafe lid allows for minimal exposure to air. The result will be that all the fresh flavors will be preserved throughout the brewing system. And with the anti-drip system, you can serve your coffee with great precision all the time.
If you have always had trouble controlling the strength of your brew, you will find your answers in this machine. With the strength function, you can choose whether you want bold or regular according to your preferences.
The inclusion of a reliable clock and a programmable timer will ensure that your cup of coffee will be waiting for you every time you wake or at the precise time, you will want to have it.
On space economy in the kitchen, this machine is compact, featuring a streamlined design with an enclosed carafe. This means that no space will be wasted on your countertop.
Also, it comes with a condensation drip tray and a unique ledge on the back for collecting condensation both inside and outside the machine during the brewing process. With such, no more messy countertops during the brewing process.
Pros
- Compact design for space economy
- Clean brewing process with no mess left behind
- Features the innovative PureFlavor System
- Comes with strength function for both regular and bold brews
Cons
- Some customers complained of leaks at the bottom
Verdict: Braun Brew Sense Drip Coffee Maker is highly recommended for coffee drinkers with a fine distinct taste. You always want to get all the rich flavors and aromas from the coffee. This machine features a technology that is specifically designed to ensure that no flavors are lost. This also includes a unique carafe lid to ensure minimal exposure to air during the brewing process.
5. Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch Coffee Maker
Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch Coffee Maker boasts a classic set of functionalities that will give you the pleasure of enjoying richly flavored and expertly brewed coffee all the time. It comes in the usual Mr. Coffee black color.
The design is compact, with a tantalizing appeal to the eyes. And, all the controls and buttons are easily accessible to ensure you don’t miss out on anything during your brewing experience.
The Grab-A-Cup Auto Pause feature means that you can always treat yourself to a fresh cup while the brewing process is underway. Once you have filled your cup all you have to do is place the carafe back to position to resume the brewing.
The inclusion of the lift and clean filter basket will not just help you extract maximum flavors from the coffee, but also, it makes the cleaning process a breeze. Simply pull it out, wash it, and once dry, feel free to put it back.
With the dual water window, you have an easy way of telling the exact amount of water inside the reservoir. And since you can tell the amount of water you need to add, or you will see the level rise as you fill-up the tank, you can now say goodbye to spillages when filling up the tank.
Another feature you will love about this coffee maker is the stain-resistant warming plate. Its composition implies that it is easy to clean, and so is also the case for the entire coffee machine.
Pros
- Relatively affordable
- Easy to clean stain-resistant warming plate
- Dual water windows
- Lift and clean filter basket
Cons
- No programming features
- Coffee keeps coming out when removing glass holder
Verdict: The Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch Coffee Maker may not be a 4 cup programmable coffee maker, but it is one of the best 4 cup coffee makers with auto shut off features. It doesn’t come with any set of fancy technology or features.
However, the few it has will suffice for the needs of most intermediate coffee enthusiasts. Also, its relative affordability implies that it is within the price range of enthusiasts looking for affordable coffee makers.
Best 4 Cups Coffee Makers: Buyers’ Guide
If you truly appreciate coffee, then there is no shortcut to having a good coffee maker in your kitchen. Investing in any of the best 4 cup coffee makers reviewed above will give you the freedom to enjoy great coffee without leaving your home.
Also, it will help you improve your brewing skills. But what happens if you are not pleased with our choices above? Well, you are always free to choose whatever machine you like. But, first, you need to know what factors to consider when buying these coffee makers independently. To help you out, here is our comprehensive buyers’ guide.
We have detailed the specific factors you need to look for in the best 4 cup coffee maker and why you need to consider them. Once done with the review, you should be in a position to choose a 4-cup coffee maker like a pro.
The type of coffee maker
Most of the four cup coffee makers you will find in the market today are the drip type usually placed on the countertops. However, it is still possible to find built-in-the-wall models.
The type you choose should be dictated by the available space you have at your countertop and your preference in filling the container with water.
If you have enough space and you don’t mind filling up the container manually, then you can go for the drip type standalone models. However, if you are pressed for space, and you need a little bit of automation in filling the water, then your best bet would be the built-in-the-wall models.
The power of the coffee maker
The power of the coffee maker will have a direct impact on energy consumption at home. Most models in this category will utilize between 300 and 600 watts to brew up to four cups of coffee.
However, others may consume up to 1400 watts, making it a very expensive affair. When considering the best 4 cup coffee maker, your desire should be to choose an energy-efficient model so that you save money and energy.
You can always check the energy ratings from the information provided by the manufacturer. However, you should know that opting for those with a built-in grinder will elevate your energy consumption.
Additionally, those with better ratings are likely to be expensive, but they will be worth the investment in the long run.
Programmable brewing features
It is entirely up to you to choose the kind of sophistication you want in these coffee makers. However, if you desire a little bit of automation, then you will be better off going for models with programmable brewing options.
If you are the kind of coffee drinker who would love to wake up to a fresh cup of coffee waiting for them, then choose a model that you can preprogram to have the coffee brewed at a specific time.
However, if you are comfortable brewing your coffee manually at the time you need, then you don’t need such automation.
Automatic shutoff
This is not just a feature for convenience, but also safety. This feature will shut down your coffee maker after some time of inactivity, mainly to help conserve the energy.
Also, should you forget to turn off the machine after use, this feature will take care of it after idling for some time.
Pause function
This is not an absolute necessity, but one that will give you a great deal of convenience. There are those occasions when you just can’t wait to get a sip of your coffee even before the brewing is over. Such occasions are when the pause feature becomes handy.
If you are the kind of person who will find it difficult to wait until the entire brewing process is over, then your preferred machine should have this feature. Not all of the best 4 cup coffee makers will have it, though.
Ease of maintenance and cleaning
Your coffee maker must remain in an impeccable condition before and after use. This calls for regular cleaning and maintenance. For a good experience, look for a machine whose parts you can easily remove and wash properly after every brewing session.
Also, look for machines that are dishwasher safe. If possible, look for models that have self-cleaning functions. Such are very efficient in instances when you want to descale the appliance. If you are a real coffee aficionado, then this is a feature you will not want to miss in your coffee maker.
Ease of use
The machine’s ease of use will make your life easier with the machine. While checking on the ease of use, be sure to check for key features such as a programmable timer and brew strength control. These are completely not necessary, but they won’t just make your life easier, but also they will help you enhance the quality of your brews.
No doubt that there are plenty of choices when it comes to the best 4 cup coffee makers. However, from our reviews above, we highly recommend Mr. Coffee 4 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker (second on our list).
It is a versatile choice in terms of features. Its price is also within the affordable range for more coffee enthusiasts. If you want an option that is equally rich in features and costs slightly more, then you may go for the Cuisinart Glass Carafe Handle Programmable Coffee Maker (first on our list).
If you are looking for the cheapest option, however, then Cuisinart Coffee Maker with Stainless Steel Carafe will be your best bet.