Buying Guide: What to and What Not to Look for in the Best 4 Cup Coffee Maker
Before looking up different 4-cup coffee pots, these are factors you must consider, the features you should never settle without and the trivialities that you better avoid:
Factors You Must Consider:
The Brewing Temperature:
An excessively high brewing temperature burns your coffee and tampers with its taste and quality. Conversely, brewing coffee at an insufficient temperature does not bring out the taste and aroma that you desire.
The best mini coffee makers prepare your coffee at the right brewing temperature, that is, around 205℉.
The Type of Carafe:
The best carafe for a small 4-cup coffee maker is one that is made of stainless steel.
Steel carafes look stylish and sleek. The main advantage of these is that they are virtually unbreakable.
Take the Cuisinart DCC-450BK 4-Cup Coffeemaker for example. The carafe won’t shatter.
Moreover, some 4-cup thermal coffee makers including the Bonavita 5-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker, offer insulated steel carafes to keep your coffee warm for a considerable amount of time.
Glass carafes are more traditional. Zojirushi EC-DAC50 Zutto 5-Cup Drip Coffeemaker and Braun KF7150BK Brew Sense Drip Coffee Maker are great units that come with a glass carafe.
They look classy and elegant but they are easily breakable. Also, you cannot count on them to keep your coffee hot long enough.
Even then, if you do decide to opt for a unit with a glass carafe, there must be a warmer plate that keeps your coffee warm. Also, make sure that your brand offers replacement carafes with your purchase.
Some 4-cup coffee makers come with thick plastic carafes. These are also great as long as they are not cheaply built.
Types of Filters:
A 4-cup coffee maker utilizes either a disposable paper filter or a reusable mesh filter. While both have their perks, a reusable mesh filter always works best.
It can be used over and over again, meaning it is eco friendly. It also saves you money as you don’t have to worry about restocking filter papers.
Units like Brentwood Coffee Maker are eco-friendly as they use a reusable filter.
Things You Must Look for
Durability:
Look for 4 cup coffee makers that come with a warranty.
The warranty does not only keep your purchase covered, the warranty period often gives you an idea of how long you can expect your machine to serve you.
4-cup coffee makers that come with a noteworthy warranty plan are Hamilton Beach 5-Cup Switch Coffee Maker and Aigostar Buck – Coffee Maker.
Individual reviews of the products will also give you a fair idea about the durability of your coffee maker.
Small Size:
We believe that the whole point of buying a 4-cup coffee maker is to have a device with a small footprint.
Ergo, look for a small 4-cup coffee maker. Something that is compact and nicely adorns your kitchen counter.
To get started, check the height and width of the unit and decide for yourself whether it is meant for your home.
All the units we have reviewed here are small and compact.
Programmability:
A small coffee maker doesn’t necessarily need to be old school or basic. You can always choose programmable options to make life easier.
Here are some great features that the best 4 cup coffee makers offer:
- Timer: You can set it the night before to wake up to the aroma of your coffee.
- Brew Pause: you are in a hurry and your coffee pot is still brewing? The pause feature will make it stop so that you can sneak a cup in the middle of a brew.
- Auto Shut down: This shuts your device after a certain period of time. This is a safety feature that relieves you of the burden of shutting down your 4 cup coffee maker whenever you step outside.
KRUPS KM550D50 Personal Café Grind Drip Maker Coffee Grinder is a highly programmable coffee maker.
Easy Cleaning:
The more parts your unit has, the harder it is to clean. When choosing the best 4-cup coffee machine, make sure that most of the parts are removable and dishwasher safe.
Most of the 4-cup coffee makers that made it to our top list including the Bonavita 5-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker have dishwashable parts.
Good Brand Reputation:
To ensure that your purchase lasts for years, it’s a good idea to opt for well-reputed brands. Brands with impeccable reputation usually offer you the most sturdily built coffee makers.
All brands we reviewed here are known for their reputation.
Things You Should Avoid:
A Bulky 4-Cup Coffee Maker:
A large and bulky unit meant to brew only a small serving every time doesn’t look too efficient to us.
Breaking the Bank:
Let’s face it. We are looking for a fairly uncomplicated machine here. Breaking your bank for an extravagant unit does not seem necessary.
However, don’t just fall for any affordable 4-cup coffee maker. It may cost you more in the long run.
On top of the price tag there are additional costs, remember? Your coffee maker will consume energy, charge you for maintenance, and ask for accessories.
To make a penny-wise decision, choose an energy-saving appliance, even if the price tag seems a tad higher than its counterparts. It will pay off in the long run.
You can also give coffee makers that utilize reusable mesh filters an upper hand. This will relieve you from having to buy paper filters.
FAQs: Here are the Answers to the Most Common 4-Cup Coffee Maker Questions
We are often asked about coffee makers and related appliances. We try to answer them for you in every relevant article.
Here are the solutions to the 4-Cup Coffee Maker Questions we are frequently asked.
01. Why Should You Choose a 4-Cup Coffee Maker?
There are a handful of reasons why you should choose a 4-cup coffee maker. Here are a few solid ones:
- It is faster than any artisan coffee maker. It gets your job done with no-fuss.
- Consumes less counter space.
- Easier to clean.
- Ideal for small families.
02. Why Should You Purchase a 4-Cup Coffee Maker?
Purchasing a 4-cup coffee maker is a good decision, especially for a penny-wise person. These units are reasonably priced and often cost way less than any artisan coffee maker.
A 4-cup coffee maker is a perfect adornment for dorm rooms, small apartments and RVs. they take up the least of your counter space.
A 4-Cup Coffee Maker suits a minimalist lifestyle. An efficient drip coffee maker can conveniently replace a complicated bulky unit.
Such a unit saves time, saves space, saves energy, and is perfect to fuel the life of a duo.
03. How Should You Take Care of Your Coffee Maker?
The first step to taking good care of your coffee maker starts with the user manual. Every device is made differently. The user manual is the key to each and every unit.
- Give the user manual a thorough read and abide by it.
Once you get the hang of the things you need to do to keep your coffee maker in pristine condition, you can do certain extra things to maximize the longevity of your coffee maker.
Here are a few tips you may follow:
- Turn your coffee maker off when not in use.
This prevents it from overheating and gives it sufficient rest. This habit will maximize your coffee maker’s performance and life.
- Descale your coffee maker regularly.
Minerals that deposit inside your coffee maker can reduce its efficiency and create a lot of problems. Descaling it will keep it running smoothly.
Some coffee makers will give you access to cleaning guides with your smartphone and tablet. Scan the QR code to open your coffee maker’s very own health encyclopedia.
04. How Much Coffee Do I Use in a 4-Cup Coffee Maker?
That depends depending on the desired strength preferences.
Generally speaking, the Specialty Coffee Association of America recommends adding 2 rounded tablespoons of coffee every 6 ounces of water.
Roughly, you can add one tablespoon per cup as well.
1 or 2 tablespoons for every 6 ounce of water is called the ‘Golden Ratio’ of coffee.
05. How Much is 6 Ounces?
6 ounces of a liquid is equivalent to 3/4th cup or 180 ml of a liquid.
The Final Sip
There are plenty of reasons to downsize.
Having an efficient 4-cup coffee maker means that you get to wake up to the aroma of coffee every morning without having to deal with the demanding maintenance of a large artisan coffee maker.
For busy bees, small families, and dorm dwellers, the best 4 cup coffee maker is a breath of fresh air.
The worst of its kind, however, could be a nuisance. But we promised never to let you buy something unworthy!\
So, we compiled this listicle of the 14 best 4 cup coffee makers in town. Let us know which one you fell in love with!
Until next time, have a happy coffee day!
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