Do you need a quick hand in choosing without reading all the info? Here is our selection: Cuisinart DCC-450BK 4 Cup Coffee Maker.
Whether you already have a coffee dependence or not, for many people the day doesn’t start without a cup of hot coffee.
The best 4 cup coffee makers are the right choice for small to medium-sized families and make it very easy to prepare a good coffee in a short time.
All us love nice looking and fancy styles but choosing the right coffee maker consists of exploring a lot of features. We need to have in mind how easy it is to use the machine and extra features like automatic shut-off that will keep the coffee warm for long periods.
Why 4 Cup Coffee Maker?
A lot of you are probably asking why not pick one that can make more cups at a time or why not a machine that makes only a single cup, like an espresso one.
Well, we agree on it’ a matter of personal opinion but we also think that four cups will allow you to stay in the middle. With this amount, you will be ready for some unexpected friends visit.
The first benefit of a small coffee maker is the fact that it is compact and takes up little space.
It’s easy to make the most of your small kitchen or tiny office with this type of machine and because of their sleek body, storage will not be a problem.
The waiting time is minimized. You do not need to wait for a long time before your caffeine dose is ready. The water will heat up rapidly and your coffee is ready before you can say “Jack Robinson!”.
Easy to use. In most cases, you don’t need to study an entire manual on how the machine works. At first sight, you already have the whole idea.
How A 4 Cup Coffee Maker Works
A coffee maker is a surprisingly simple device. If we look at a typical one, we will find a reservoir, a heating element, a tube that connects the reservoir to the heating element, a sensor, and a showerhead.
The reservoir holds the water necessary to create a cup of coffee.
The heating element is responsible for heating the plate and the water. When the coffee machine is turned on, it runs an electric current through the heating element. The presence of a sensor keeps the temperature in check.
Once the water has reached the optimal temperature, it is then redirected onto the showerhead. This one lets the hot water flow through the coffee grounds and into the carafe.
This video gives a nice and deeper explanation of how the Coffee Maker works
How To Choose The Right 4 Cup Coffee Maker
There are different features to consider when choosing your best 4 cup coffee maker. Let’s analyze the most important ones.
Type
Most 4-cup coffee makers stand alone on the counter but there are also built-in-the-wall models. The choice depends on the amount of available space as well as your preferences for filling the reservoir with water.
With built-in-the-wall models, you don’t have to fill the water container because the appliance is connected to the water supply.
Power
The amount of electricity it consumes is very important. Most models will use around 500 watts for brewing four cups of coffee. Others may consume over one kilowatt ( 1000 watts ). With an energy-efficient one, it’s possible to save energy and money.
Some models like those with a built-in grinder need more power to operate at full capacity.
Controls And Ease Of Use
A few useful controls to keep in mind when buying a 4 cup coffee maker include is the timer and the brew-strength control.
These features let you drink a cup of hot coffee to wake up in the morning and regulate the water flow for producing a stronger brew.
Kind Of Carafes
Some models come in thermal carafes, usually made up of stainless steel. In this way, the coffee is hot for longer as it restricts the liquid from evaporating.
The alternatives are glass carafes and even though thermal steel carafes have a longer holding time, glass carafes offer better visibility.
Ease Of Cleaning
An easy coffee maker to maintain is one with a dishwasher-safe carafe and an easy to clean container.
Warranty
Most of the coffee makers come with a one-year warranty, other models come with an extended one of two-yeas.
Materials
While not affecting the quality of the coffee dispensed, it’s important to consider also the material of which the structure of our coffee machine is made.
Most of the models are made of plastic, while others are in metal (steel or aluminum) that is much more resistant but also heavier and often bulky.
Design And Dimension
The choice is very varied and ranges from design with an essential and minimal design to retro and vintage lines. There are also classics revisited in a more modern version and models that make design a real hallmark.
Finally, always check the real dimensions given by the manufacturer in the technical datasheet. A special eye to the depth, as some machines are quite deep due to the presence of the water tank.
The Best 4 Cup Coffee Maker On The Market
We’ve browsed a bit through many different products and chosen five different models to compare.
Have a look through all our pros and cons for each one and feel free to choose your best 4 cup coffee maker.
Cuisinart DCC-450BK 4 Cup Coffee Maker
Of the Cuisinart DCC 450bk customers like the compact design made of plastic and stainless which makes the machine very durable.
It has a brew-pause feature so if you need to sneak a little bit of coffee before it’s finished brewing you can do that. After your small dose of coffee, just slide the carafe back in and the coffee maker will continue to brew the coffee.
The machine is very easy to use, has a convenient ON indicator light and 30-minute auto shutoff so you don’t have to worry about turning it off.
Pros
– Limited three-year warranty
– Automatic shutoff
– On/Off indicator
– Easy to use
– Instruction booklet included
– Brew-pause option
Cons
– Carafe not transparent
– Not perfect for fine grind coffee
Mr. Coffee’s Simple Brew 4-Cup Coffee Maker
Mr. Coffee’s Simple Brew 4 Cup Coffee Maker lets you get rich-tasting, expertly brewed coffee without complicating your life. It has a compact design and some fancy features like the dual water window for better visibility.
It is possible to stop brewing so you can get a cup of coffee, and then finishes the brewing cycle putting the carafe back in position.
The heating element is a stain-resistant warming plate so you can reheat the carafe every single time without having to throw away good but cold coffee.
Pros
– On/Off indicator light
– Grab-A-Cup, pause before brewing is finished
– Removable filter basket
– Easy to clean warming plate
– Compact design
– Easy to use
Cons
– Small cup sizes
– No automatic turnoff
– The top is a little bit hard to open
Gevi 4-Cup Coffee Maker
The Gevi 4 cup coffee maker is surprisingly silent. The reusable filter basket eliminates the need for paper, moreover, it does not contain BPA materials making it an eco-friendly option.
Inside the machine, there is a six-hole spray nozzle to ensure that hot water and steam are uniformly sprayed on the coffee powder.
Finally, the capacity of the carafe is 0.6L and also in this model, there is the pause function. It’s perfect for a medium-sized family.
Pros
– Lighted On/Off Switch
– One-touch control for easy operation
– Easy to clean
– Pause function
Cons
– The base is very light without the carafe
Elite Cuisine EHC-2022 4 Cup Coffee Maker
In the case of a small kitchen, the 4-Cup Elite Cuisine Coffeemaker will help save space and provide hot coffee each morning. Its compact design it’s ideal for small dorm rooms, apartments or an office.
It’s easy to operate, there is a simple on/off button with indicator light. It’s easy to access and fill the water tank and we enjoy the hot plate that keeps coffee warm for an hour after brewing is complete.
The filter is washable and reusable, this saves money and eliminates waste out of single-use filters.
Pros
– Dishwasher safe carafe
– Pause and serve function
– On/Off switch
– Re-usable and washable built-in filter
Cons
– No automatic turnoff
Mr. Coffee Simple Brew Programmable Coffee Maker
Mr. Coffee CGX7-RB model is a 5 cups programmable maker with classic functionality that keeps brewing simple and easy. Just set it up, push the start button and brew. The simple design allows you to make coffee without sacrificing much space
A really cool feature is the delay setting, you can set your perfect delay: number of hours and minutes and enjoy the smell of coffee in the morning. Moreover, it has the auto-shutoff function that shuts off the warming plate after 1 hour.
Also in this model, there is the brewing pause and serve functionality, a lifesaver when you need a cup before the brew cycle is finished. The carafe is in glass, so when it is full it’s better to have coffee in a short time.
Pros
– On/off indicator light
– Removable filter basket
– Delay brew timer
– Brewing pause and serve
– Dual water window
– User manual included
– Digital display
Cons
– Comes without paper filters
– The top part is cheaply constructed
Our Choice
There’s such a wide range of different coffee maker models available from different manufacturers, so finding machines that don’t sacrifice on brew quality for a compact size is very important.
Of the five products we reviewed, the unanimous choice for the best 4 cup coffee maker in terms of quality and easy to use is the Cuisinart DCC-450BK 4 Cup Coffee Maker.
It’s perfect for those who want simplicity and elegance. With over 2000 reviews on Amazon.com, this coffee maker has a high rating, so it is highly appreciated by coffee lovers customers.