BEST CHEAP COFFEE MAKER: TOP BUDGET COFFEE MAKERS OF 2026
Buying a cheaper coffee maker to save a few bucks is great, but not if it means sacrificing your precious morning brew.
Let me spare you that tragedy!
You don’t need to be wealthy to enjoy delicious coffee; you just need to be discerning. That’s why I’ve done the research and tested the options. I guarantee that these 8 inexpensive coffee makers will satisfy your caffeination needs without breaking the bank.
At A Glance
- TOP PICK: Hamilton Beach 46310
- FOR SINGLE SERVINGS: AeroPress
- FOR SPECIALTY COFFEE: Hario V60
The 8 Best Cheap Coffee Makers in 2026
Reviewing the best cheap coffee maker is a tricky business because everyone has their own definition of cheap – and, for that matter, their own definition of a coffee maker.
I suspect most of you are here looking for a classic automatic drip coffee machine that costs less than $50 and makes a reliably decent cup of coffee. So that’s where I’ve focused my efforts. But I’ve also included a few manual brewers that cost even less and make even more amazing coffee, provided you give them a little more care and attention.
In short, I hope this list has something for everyone! Let’s get into it.
| Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No products found. | Hamilton Beach 46310 Programmable Coffee Maker |
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| No products found. | Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker |
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| No products found. | Chulux Mini |
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| No products found. | Hario V60 |
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| No products found. | Black + Decker CM1160 |
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| No products found. | Aeropress |
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| No products found. | Cuisinart DCC-5570 |
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| No products found. | Delonghi Stilosa |
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1. Hamilton Beach 46310 Programmable Coffee Maker
Type: Automatic drip machine
- Capacity: 12 cups
- Carafe: Glass
Are you surprised you can find a feature-packed 12-cup programmable coffee maker for under $50? I certainly was!
I kept waiting for something to go wrong in testing, but the Hamilton Beach 46310 continued to deliver. This is a real gem for a bargain price.
The Hamilton Beach 46310 is fully programmable. You can set your brew time in advance, use the brew strength selector to choose a regular or stronger cup, or grab a quick cup of coffee during brewing with the automatic brew pause. The hot plate shuts off automatically after 2 hours.
The small-serving option optimizes the brew cycle for one to four cups, and I thought it did an excellent job maintaining full flavor when brewing as little as 12 ounces at a time.
New to this Hamilton Beach model is the front access water tank, making it easy to refill. I love this feature because I prefer to keep my coffee maker under my cupboards, and I never have to slide it out. Similarly, the filter basket swings out rather than opening from the top.
2. Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker
Type: Automatic drip machine
- Capacity: 12 cups
- Carafe: Glass
Mr. Coffee has built its reputation on no-frills coffee makers. Their priority is to make great hot coffee in the classic diner style, and that is epitomized by my runner-up pick, the Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker. It trades all the bells and whistles of the Hamilton Beach in top spot for unbeatable user-friendliness and a lower price.
This automatic drip machine’s design is so simple I’m fairly certain I could train my dog to use it. There’s just one button and an indicator light. All you need to do is turn it on and wait for a full pot of coffee. And if you can’t wait, it does offer an auto-pause so you can grab a cup during brewing.
You can brew flavorful pots of between 4 and a dozen cups of coffee, but there is no mode for brewing smaller quantities. So I wouldn’t recommend this machine if you regularly want single servings.
Lest you think a basic Mr. Coffee brewer is a relic from another time, I can assure you that these machines continue to see regular updates. New to this model are dual water-level windows that make it easier to monitor the water in the tank.
3. Chulux Mini
Type: Single-serve coffee maker
- Capacity: 12 ounces
- Carafe: n/a
Chulux’s cute single-serve coffee maker is the brewer I wish I’d had as a college student. At just 4.3” wide, it would make a perfect dorm room accessory. Or it would be equally at home in an RV, small kitchen, or office cubicle. Though its footprint is small, it can still accommodate a 5.3”-tall travel mug thanks to the removable drip tray.
You’ll notice there are no Keurig machines on this list, and that’s because none fell in my chosen price range of under $50. But if I’m being honest, I actually prefer the Chulux Mini to the Keurig K-Mini anyway. The Chulux coffee maker comes with an adaptor so you can brew with ground coffee or any K-Cups, a degree of flexibility I definitely appreciate (1).
The Chulux Mini is incredibly easy to use. A single button controls the entire machine, and in testing, it took me less than 3 minutes to brew a cup of coffee, including heat-up time. It turns off automatically after 3 minutes – another energy-efficient feature I prefer to the longer shut-off times of most Keurig brewers.
The water reservoir holds up to 12 ounces. The idea is for you to fill it as much as you want, and it will brew until it’s empty. For a stronger coffee, you can add less water or use the reusable coffee filter with pre-ground coffee, which holds significantly more grounds than an average K-Cup.
4. Hario V60
Type: Pour-over dripper
- Capacity: 1 – 4 cups
- Carafe: n/a
If you’ve bought very expensive specialty coffee beans, perhaps a rare single origin, you’ll be doing them a disservice by dumping them in a Mr. Coffee machine. Fortunately, there’s a dirt-cheap brewer used by top baristas in the specialty coffee industry – the famous Hario V60 pour-over dripper.
Sure, manual pour-over brewing takes a little practice to master, but it’s the best way to respect your specialty beans and your budget.
The made-in-Japan V60 is the cheapest brewer on the list despite having the capability to produce arguably the best coffee. Although I recommend you pair it with a decent gooseneck kettle for best results.
The Hario V60 is available in various materials – glass, ceramic, plastic, and metal – each of which yields a unique cup due to differing thermal properties. Personally, I love the extra insulation of the ceramic model. But if low cost is the priority, the plastic version is under $10! Or if you’re planning to travel, the metal option is virtually unbreakable.
5. Black + Decker CM1160
Type: Automatic drip machine
- Capacity: 12 cups
- Carafe: Glass
The Black + Decker CM1160 is your basic programmable coffee maker. It can be set to brew on a timer. Its only additional feature is the ”sneak-a-cup” that lets you grab a first cup during the brew cycle.
The Black + Decker lacks brew strength control and a small-volume brewing mode of my favorite machine, the Hamilton Beach, but it’s only about two-thirds the cost. I had some success playing with brew strength by adjusting the amount of coffee grounds and grind size.
What stood out to me when testing this simple coffee maker was how comfortable it was to use. The display is large and easy to read, the rubber buttons are satisfying and tactile, and the front-facing water window saved me from craning around the side or back to check the water tank. This feels like a coffee maker designed for people who don’t love mornings.
6. Aeropress
Type: Manual coffee press
- Capacity: 10 ounces
- Carafe: n/a
The Aeropress started as a simple invention to make better single-cup coffee and has become a worldwide sensation (2). They’re now used in hipster coffee shops and at the AeroPress World Championship, but the price remains remarkably affordable – well under our $50 limit.
As with the V60, it takes a little more elbow grease than an automatic machine, but this is some of the best coffee you can make at this price point (3).
I spent nearly a year perfecting the design, experimenting with different variations. I was just absolutely blown away by how sweet the coffee tasted–it wasn’t bitter!
Coffee brewed with the Aeropress is so good that you’ll probably want to use it all the time, but it really shines when traveling. My Aeropress is usually the first thing I pack when I’m hitting the road. It’s super light and durable, and it doesn’t require electricity, making it equally great on a business trip or backcountry adventure.
The Aeropress brews using pressure, which produces a uniquely strong and smooth coffee that almost feels like espresso. This rich shot is a versatile starting point. You can down it like an espresso, dilute it with hot water to make up to 4 cups of coffee, pour it over ice for iced coffee, or add frothed milk for a passable latte.
7. Cuisinart DCC-5570
Type: Automatic drip machine
- Capacity: 5 cups
- Carafe: Stainless steel
While not quite as tiny as the Chulux Mini, the Cuisinart 5 cup coffee maker is the perfect pint-size brewer for anyone who doesn’t want to settle for a single-serving machine. At under 6 inches wide, it can brew up to 25 ounces at a time, enough for serving up to three people.
The strangest thing about this little machine is its carafe, which is stainless steel but not thermal – something I don’t think I’ve encountered before. While I’d prefer a thermal carafe, I’m very happy to find stainless steel at this price. It’s more durable than glass, and it gives this machine a sleek, modern look. Just remember that the exterior gets hot, so use the heatproof handle and keep it on the hot plate after pouring.
Along with the steel carafe, this machine comes with a few other perks I didn’t expect at a bargain price. The included charcoal water filter improves coffee flavor and keeps the interior plumbing clean. And the reusable nylon filter basket makes paper filters optional, another potential cost savings.
Impressively, Cuisinart backs this machine with the same 3-year warranty as its more expensive models, so you don’t need to worry that a low price means it’s not built to last.
8. Delonghi Stilosa
Type: Espresso machine
- Capacity: 34 oz
- Carafe: n/a
I’ll admit that this pick is a bit of an outlier, as the Delonghi Stilosa is both not a coffee maker and not under $50. But I wanted to offer something for espresso lovers, and for less than $100, the Stilosa is by far the best cheap automatic espresso maker I’ve tried.
I assume it benefits from Delonghi’s extensive expertise in the espresso space, despite being the brand’s lowest-end model. Even though costs have clearly been cut with its cheap plastic exterior, it doesn’t suffer from the two issues that plague most cheap espresso machines: leakage and too-low water temperature.
The Stilosa is the perfect beginner’s espresso machine. It’s compact, affordable, and easy to use, but it will still teach you the barista skills required to pull delicious shots and froth milk for lattes and cappuccinos.
How To Choose The Best Budget Coffee Maker
Choosing the best affordable coffee maker is no different than choosing any other coffee maker, except that you have an upper limit to your budget. You still want to buy one that suits your lifestyle, your household size, and how you like your coffee. This buyer’s guide will walk you through it.
Convenience Vs Coffee Quality
The first thing to decide when buying any home coffee maker is whether you prefer an automatic or manual brewer. This decision is particularly important when shopping for a budget-friendly coffee maker.
A cheap automatic coffee machine is incredibly easy to use, but it has an inherent limit on the quality of the coffee (and the build). The high-end components required for precise water temperature or flow control are simply too expensive.
On the other hand, with a manual coffee maker, the only limit on coffee quality is your skill. A $10 plastic pour over dripper in the hands of a talented coffee professional can yield a life-changing cup of coffee. But it means devoting more of your morning to making that perfect cup.
Consider your lifestyle and palate when deciding which style of coffee maker is right for you.
How Do You Like Your Coffee?
Different coffee makers brew different types of coffee, even if you use the same beans every time. I want to make sure you get a quality coffee maker that suits your taste, not just your budget.
- If you want to brew a mild, smooth coffee with a light or medium body, an automatic drip coffee maker or pour-over dripper will suit you best.
- If you like a small but intense shot of coffee or espresso (or if you like lattes and cappuccinos), choose something that brews using pressure – for example, an espresso machine, Moka pot, or Aeropress.
- If you want your coffee to be a heavy-bodied brew rich with coffee oils, consider a coffee maker with a metal filter, like a French press or percolator.
Are You Brewing For A Crowd Or Just You?
The number of people you need to serve should play a significant role in helping you choose your ideal coffee maker.
If you need to serve a crowd of coffee drinkers, opt for a coffee maker with a 10-cup or higher capacity. This will save you a lot of time and hassle compared to making ten consecutive Aeropress or espresso shots. On the other hand, if you mostly make coffee for just you, a smaller capacity or single-cup coffee maker makes sense. It will be faster, more energy-efficient, and less expensive.
What if you need a coffee maker that can serve one as easily as it can serve 10?
One option is to consider a single-serve pod-based brewer. Everyone can brew their own K Cup and get precisely the coffee they want. Pod coffee machines are so fast to brew and easy to clean that it’s not an inconvenience to brew many cups in a row.
Alternatively, get a large-capacity automatic brewer that has a mode for small-volume brewing. Many drip coffee makers have a feature that adjusts the brew cycle when making less than 4 cups of coffee.
Do You Have A Coffee Grinder?
I always advise that you buy whole bean coffee and grind it yourself right before brewing, preferably with a high-quality burr coffee grinder. As soon as coffee is ground, it starts to lose flavor, and I want you to get all that flavor in your cup.
In fact, if you’re here because your budget is limited, I’d argue that you’re better off spending more money on a good burr grinder and skimping on the coffee brewer. You can also buy a coffee machine with a built-in grinder, which is usually less expensive than buying two separate appliances.
That said, I understand that sometimes peak flavor isn’t a priority when making your morning coffee. You just want something warm, comforting, and caffeinated to start the day. In that case, a single-serve pod machine is your friend, but I definitely recommend one (like the Chulux on this list) that gives you the option of pods or ground coffee (4).
Glass Or Thermal: A Tale Of Two Carafes
Automatic drip coffee makers usually come bundled with a carafe, which can be glass or thermal. A thermal carafe is essentially a thermos made from double-wall stainless steel with vacuum insulation. It will keep coffee hot without relying on an additional heat source (5).
There are pros and cons for each carafe style:
- Price: Glass carafes are cheaper than thermal carafes. It’s actually somewhat rare to find an inexpensive coffee maker that comes standard with a thermal carafe.
- Durability: A stainless steel carafe is far more durable than glass. If you’re in a busy and chaotic household, it might be worth spending more for a carafe that won’t break.
- Size: For a given size of coffee machine, a glass carafe has a larger capacity because it doesn’t lose volume to double-wall construction.
- Coffee quality: A thermal carafe can keep the coffee warm for hours without a hot plate, which avoids the inevitable burnt-tasting or bitter coffee. But if you always drink your brewed coffee right away, this is a non-issue.
- Energy efficiency: Thermal carafes maintain the temperature of the coffee without a hot plate, so you can turn your coffee machine off right after brewing. This should save a little money on your power bill.
The Verdict
It’s easy to find a cheap coffee maker, but it’s much more challenging to find the best value coffee maker. Personally, I don’t think you should have to sacrifice a great cup of coffee to stick to your budget. You deserve a coffee maker at a low price without a corresponding low quality. Fortunately, these unicorn brewers do exist, and I’ve tracked down eight of the best.
My favorite is the easy-to-use Hamilton Beach 46310. This programmable automatic drip coffee maker packs more features than you’d expect for its price and, more importantly, makes excellent classic cups of coffee.
FAQs
Percolators and drip brewers make different styles of coffee, so the best coffee maker for you depends on your taste. If you like a sweet and smooth coffee with complex flavors and a medium body, a drip coffee machine or pour-over dripper is better. If you prefer your coffee extra hot with an intense flavor and a heavier body, the percolator delivers.
Yes, usually expensive coffee machines make tastier coffee – at least in the case of automatic coffee machines – though there are exceptions to the rule. The biggest factor is that more expensive machines improve extraction by heating brew water to the Specialty Coffee Association’s recommended temperature and holding it consistent throughout brewing (6).
No, you don’t need a coffee machine to make good coffee. A simple pour over cone is one of the best drip coffee makers for amazing coffee. The key tenets to making great coffee are high-quality, freshly roasted and ground beans, the correct coffee-to-water ratio, and the correct brew temperature – none of which require a fancy coffee machine.
References
- D’Ambrosio, D. (2015, June 11). Keurig 2.0 flopped, can it rebound? Retrieved from https://eu.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/money/2015/06/11/keurig-reacts-others-capitalize-brewer-backlash/71020340/
- Guevara, J. (2018, July 20). How Have World Aeropress Champion Recipes Changed Over the Years? Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2018/07/how-have-world-aeropress-champion-recipes-changed-over-the-years/
- Sprudge Staff. (2014, May 8). “A Good, Single Serve Coffee For Myself” — Our Interview With AeroPress Inventor Alan Adler. Retrieved from https://sprudge.com/alan-adler-aeropress-designer-56009.html
- Brown, D. (2019, March 13). K-cups and coffee capsules: Is your quick java fix killing the environment? Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2019/03/13/heres-why-your-used-k-cups-coffee-pods-arent-usually-recycled/3067283002/
- Andal, J. (2014, October 27). The Physics of a Thermos (& All About Heat Transfer). Retrieved from https://futurism.com/physics-thermos-heat-transfer
- Specialty Coffee Association. (2024). Protocols & Best Practices. Retrieved from https://sca.coffee/research/protocols-best-practices
