Do you folks like coffee? I know a lot of you do, especially in the morning or when your friends come over for a visit.
I, too like to have a cup of my favorite coffee now and then, and I like it to be prepared in the best possible way. That’s why I use coffee makers – they are fast, easy to use, and clean.
Best 4-Cup Coffee Maker
A few days ago, I was at the mall with my kids, and we came across some new and interesting 4-cup coffee makers. I was planning to buy a new and reliable coffee maker shortly, so I decided to analyze, try and test several of them and to find the most appropriate maker for my needs.
Here’re some things you need to know before you start your search:
Types of Coffee Makers
There are differences between the coffee maker types, and here are the most common types:
1. Manual Coffee Makers
Also called the French press, they are transportable and inexpensive. They are patented in 1929 by Italian designer Attilio Calimani. Coffee and water are brewed together, and when the coffee is brewed, you need to press the piston to separate the coffee grounds from your beverage.
Check out: TheBest Coffee Grinder for French Press
2. Cold Brew Coffee Makers
The name says it all – it makes cold coffee!
You can make it hot after the process is finished or you can drink it cold (or even colder if you add ice). The drawback of this way of making coffee is that the process takes about 24 to 36 hours.
3. Mokapot
This is an electric or stove-top coffee maker that makes coffee by passing hot or boiled water which is pressurized by steam through the coffee grounds.
4. Vacuum Brewers
They have two chambers (the bottom one contains water, and the ground coffee is placed in the top chamber) and they brew coffee using vapor pressure and vacuum.
5. Percolators
They brew coffee by cycling the boiling or nearly boiling water through the coffee grounds using gravity.
6. Automatic Drip Coffee Makers
The most used types of coffee machines today, are electric, simple to use, and easy to acquire. They vary in number and types of features and size (capacity). There are single cup makers, 4 cups, 8 cups, 10 cups, and 12 cup makers.
I prefer 4-cup makers because they are small, don’t take up a lot of space, are easy to handle and move, and are very affordable. Over the years I’ve mostly used 4 cup makers, and that is the reason why I’ll focus on them in the continuation of this text.
Things To Look For When Buying a 4-Cup Coffee Maker
- Construction quality – Stability, firmness of the maker.
- Construction materials – Is it all plastic, or does it have some metal or glass parts (if the carafe is made from metal then it can’t be transparent)
- Is it programmable or not – Programmable machines can be very convenient, but they are often more expensive.
- Does it have a warranty (and how long does it last)
- Does it have an instruction manual – If the maker comes with an instruction manual, feel free to explore it, they don’t exist for no reason.
- What kind of filters can be used – What size, what material?
- Speed of brewing – Faster is better, but only if the speed doesn’t reduce the quality of the coffee.
- Can you pour a cup of coffee while it’s still brewing (I really love this option!)
- Does it have an automatic turn-off feature – If not, be careful not to forget to turn it off.
- Price (or price-quality ratio)
- Is it simple to use it
See Also: High-Quality French Press Coffee Maker
What’s The Best Way to Use 4 CupCoffee Makers
Modern coffee makers are usually very simple to use, although some models have some special features which can be a bit complicated for some people (especially for someone who’s not familiar with making coffee with machines).
I will give you some of my tips and trick which can be very helpful:
- Always wet your filter before inserting it into the filter holder.
- It’s not a bad idea to wash your maker before the first use or to just boil the clean water first.
- Clean it orderly to get the best taste possible and to preserve your coffee maker.
- You can use vinegar to clean your maker. In that case, I recommend not to use the water boiled the first time after the cleaning.
- Be careful if you like to use a stainless steel filter. Some coffee maker manufacturers do not recommend using them in their machines.
- Use the right size filter.
- Use the right ratio of coffee and water (some makers require different amounts of coffee grounds).
Most Recommended4-Cup Coffee Makers: Detailed Reviews 2022
Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch Coffeemaker – Good for the price
This device is quite similar to the previous one in that it is black, weighs 2.5 pounds, and has a capacity of around 20–22 oz. If you wish to have a cup of coffee while the coffee is still brewing, it also offers a Pause ‘N Serve option. The distinction is that this coffee machine cannot be set up to prebrew coffee.
It contains a stain-resistant warming plate and a detachable filter, making it simple to clean and maintain. The reservoir displays how much water is in it, and the on/off indication light lets you know when the machine is brewing. This maker’s disadvantage is that it does not have an automatic turn-off option, so you must be cautious not to forget to switch it off after use. Additionally, there are no disposable filters included.
If you take care of this coffee maker properly, it may last a very long time and provide excellent coffee. It employs a permanent 4-cup filter in addition to a regular tiny paper filter for the brew basket. It makes coffee rather quickly—between three and five minutes—and quietly. It is really reasonably priced, and I haven’t had any trouble with it yet.
Things I liked
- Pause ‘n serve option
- On/off indicator
- One-year limited warranty
- Includes instruction manual
- Stain-resistant warming plate
- Fairly fast
Things I didn’t like
- The top part of the brewer is poorly and cheaply constructed
- No auto shut-off option
- Comes with no paper filters
- Hard to clean the inside of the pot
- The opening at the top is too small
- Poorly constructed
Cuisinart DCC-450BK 4-Cup Coffeemaker – A Good Investment
Very durable, made of plastic and stainless steel, this coffee maker makes delicious hot coffee. This machine has an indicator light that shows if the coffee maker is on or off.
The brew-pause option is very useful because it lets you pour yourself a cup of coffee while the maker is still brewing. It has a dripless pour spout and knuckle guard which is very handy and a 30-minute automatic shutoff, so you don’t have to worry about turning it off.
The coffee maker weighs 3.25 lbs, and it is built to North American electrical standards. The stainless steel decanter doesn’t affect the taste at all; the coffee always turns out tasty and rich. It comes with three temporary paper filters (it uses #2 paper filters), but you can buy a permanent one too.
This coffee maker has a mechanical, toggle-type switch, it’s quick (the coffee is ready in 3-4 minutes) and not too loud – I can hear the usual dripping only when I’m standing right next to it.
It can fit 22-24 oz of liquid in the coffee maker’s carafe, it’s very simple to use, and doesn’t take up a lot of space. All in all, a very useful and convenient coffee maker.
Things I liked
- Limited 3-year warranty
- Includes instruction booklet
- Simple to use
- BPA free
- Durable
- Brew-pause option
- On/off indicator
- 30-minute automatic shutoff
Things I didn’t like
- A bit pricey
- The carafe is not transparent
- The spout is undersized
- The carafe is not well insulated
- There’s a possibility for leaking if heated too much
Related article: Most Recommended Coffee & Espresso Maker Combo
Mr. Coffee TF5GTF 4-Cup Switch Coffeemaker – Comes With a Permanent, Reusable Filter
One more Mr. Coffee product on the list, this one shares a lot of features with the previous two – on/off indicator light, Pause ‘N Serve option, and standard on/off switch. This coffee maker comes with a gold-tone filter – a permanent, built-to-last, reusable, and dishwasher-safe filter that will save you a lot of money.
You just need to wash this filter each time you use it, and your coffee will taste great. Of course, you can still use standard removable paper filters if you prefer them and keep this re-useable filter in a safe place, just in case you run out of paper filters or if you change your mind.
It doesn’t have an automatic shut-off feature, so be careful not to forget to turn it off! The container is made from glass, it can contain about 22 oz, and it’s dishwasher safe. The upper lid on the pot is a little balky during closing and opening, but that is a minor drawback.
Things I liked
- On/off indicator
- Reusable, and dishwasher-safe filter
- Pause ‘N Serve option
- Dishwasher safe carafe
- Includes instruction manual
Things I didn’t like
- Fragile
- Little difficult to close ad open the upper lid on the pot
- No auto shut off
- Leaks slightly from the bottom when heavily used
- Poorly constructed
Elite Cuisine EHC-2022 Maxi-Matic 4 Cup Coffee Maker – Nice Little Coffee Maker
This is a classic 4-cup coffee maker, which does the job as it should – it brews fresh and hot coffee! Like all previous makers, this one has a Pause ‘N Serve system that allows you to take a cup of coffee while it’s still brewing.
It has a standard on/off switch and power indicator which shows you when the machine is brewing. The carafe is dishwasher safe, with a capacity of approximately 20 oz and a water level indicator.
The filter is reusable and washable, which is very convenient because it saves money and eliminates waste from disposable filters. This maker is incredibly easy to use and clean which saves a lot of time. You can use it with a paper filter if you want to get a stronger coffee.
It weighs 2.4 pounds, and it’s ideal if you don’t have a lot of space on your kitchen desk. Brewing is done in a couple of minutes, and it takes even less to clean it. The best way to use it is to put in the coffee first, then the water and put in the carafe last.
Quite reliable, simple, and effective, this coffee maker deserves to be a part of my kitchen gadgets.
Things I liked
- 30-day warranty
- On/off indicator
- Cone filter system
- Very simple to use
- Pause ‘N Serve system
Things I didn’t like
- No auto shut off
- Can melt some of the plastic on the bottom part if let on too long
- Cheap construction
- The spout is susceptible to dripping
Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker – Schedule your coffee up to 24 hours in advance
This coffee machine is fascinating. It has a few convenient features, and the most important thing is – the coffee tastes great.
It has a capacity of 20 ounces of liquid and a removable filter basket that is easy to fill and clean. It’s pretty fast – it brews your coffee in about 6 minutes. A green indicator light lets you know when it’s on or off, and the Pause ‘N Serve option enables you to pour a cup of coffee while the machine is still brewing.
The feature that separates this maker from the others is that it can be programmed up to 24 hours in advance – this means you can get your cup of coffee right when you want it (in the morning or when you come home from work). You just need to set the time when you want a coffee maker to begin brewing, and you will have it ready at the desired time.
This coffee maker keeps your coffee warm for one hour, and then it automatically turns off. It’s very silent until your coffee starts to boil. The filter basket, glass decanter, and lid are dishwasher safe. It is mostly made from black plastic, and it weighs 3.1 pounds. It’s suitable for tea as well.
Things I liked
- On/off indicator
- Pause ‘n serve option
- One year limited warranty
- Programmable – you can set brew time up in advance
- Nonstick hot plate
- Digital display
- Includes instruction manual
Things I didn’t like
- The top part of the brewer is poorly and cheaply constructed
- Susceptible to corrosion
- It’s easy to spill (you need to fill the canister very carefully)
- Comes with no paper filters
- Some grounds end up in coffee
In My Opinion, the Best 4-Cup Coffee Maker Is…
Those were the best 4-cup coffee makers I’ve tried.
Now it’s up to you to decide which one fits you the most.
I have to single out Cuisinart DCC-450BK 4-Cup Coffeemaker – this one impressed me the most.
Durable, BPA-free, easy to use clean, and maintain, it has the Brew-Pause option, and 30-minute automatic shutoff – these features make it my number one pick!
An honorable mention goes to Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker– the option to schedule your coffee up to 24 hours in advance is really great.