Best Cheap Coffee Makers
Best Cheap Coffee Makers for 2012
Top Models
High End
If you’re like me, you have to consider price as much as function and quality when buying a new coffee maker. And, a cheap coffee maker doesn’t have to mean cheaply made. Especially in this economy when it seems like there’s always a better deal around the corner. More bells and whistles will usually mean more money but it doesn’t have to. We’re going to review some high quality coffee makers at several different price points. These models should be great products for anyone’s kitchen or office. We hope to provide reviews on models for everyone’s budget. Our hope is that you will find all the information you need to make an informed decision on the best cheap coffee makers and/or accessories for you without having to scour the net and waste endless hours searching to find the right fit for your budget. We would like to be your “one stop shopping” site for all your cheap coffee maker needs. Our goal is to provide informative and accurate reviews on quality made, cheap coffee makers. So, below are our picks for the best cheap coffee makers for the new year.
Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central Coffeemaker
A Best Cheap Coffee Makers High-Luxury Best Buy
First up is the Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central. This model retails for around $140.00 and can be bought, new, for under $80. That’s a savings of over 45 percent! The price point for this coffeemaker definitely makes it a best cheap coffee maker. It can brew up to 12 cups at a time. It has a scratch resistant, adjustable heat plate with three settings, low, medium, and high. It’s programmable and has a 24 hour advance brew start capability with auto shut down so that you can set it and forget it. It comes with a gold tone filter and a charcoal water filter to insure that you get the freshest tasting coffee with every brew. This coffeemaker is really a steal at this price. A good friend bought this model “on sale” at a local box store and got a real deal at $129.00. If he would have only checked here, we could have pointed him toward a better deal over at Amazon. Other than the price he paid, he has been extremely happy with this model and I can say from personal experience, it makes great coffee. Although, his purchase would not be qualify as a cheap coffee maker. Price matters!
This coffeemaker has an adjustable “keep-warm” temperature control feature that allows for keeping the coffee warm without burning it. This model also has a “time to clean” monitor with indicator light to let the user know when it’s ready for a cleaning. Also, along with this model you’ll receive a #4 paper filter starter kit, instruction book and 3 year warranty.
All materials that come into contact with water or coffee are BPA Free!
Pros
- The price can be either a pro or con, depending on your budget. We consider this a good buy at less than $80. This coffeemaker has so many features for its price point that it’s hard to pass up.
- It’s a Cuisinart and comes with a 3 year warranty against defects.
- It also has a gold tone filter that eliminates the need for paper filters, which will save more money over time and is better for the environment.
Cons
- As stated above, the price could be a con for some.
- If the filter is not cleaned regularly it can result in the unit stopping during a brew cycle.
- If you ever need to make use of the warranty, Cuisinart could apply shipping fees in some cases. Approximately $25.
This is a good buy in the high-luxury range. We consider it high-luxury due to the features it offers and it’s MSRP. This is definitely a best cheap coffee makers recommended buy for 2012!
Click HERE to purchase at the lowest price online.
Mid Range
Krups KM1010 Prelude Coffeemaker
A Best Cheap Coffee Makers Mid-Luxury Best Buy
Next up for our mid-range or medium-range pick is the Krups KM1010 Prelude. Retail price on this model is around $60 but you can pick it up online for less than $45, that’s a savings of more than 25 percent! Again, the price at Amazon can’t be beat. This is definitely a quality made, cheap coffee maker. The savings on this model are not as high as the Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central but it is still significant and it’s already priced in the mid-luxury range before any discounts. When you buy this model you get all stainless steel construction and it can brew up to 10 cups at a time. It weighs around 7lbs and only takes up minimal counter space. Great for small offices or kitchen nooks. This coffeemaker could also be good for a conference room. It’s sleek, stainless steel finish looks good almost anywhere. Its easy to clean and resists scratching and scuffs under normal conditions. This is definitely a best cheap coffee makers recommended buy and a stand out in the mid-luxury range for 2012.
This model has a 900 watt heating element and the stainless steel body has graphite accents to give it a little extra pop. This model doesn’t take up too much counter space and with its sleek design, it could be right at home in an office or conference room.
Pros
- One pro we’ve heard a lot of good feedback about is that it has “sticky feet”. It stays in place.
- It brews coffee quick and hot.
- Krups has a reputation of making products that last.
Cons
- Krups warranty requires the unit to be shipped to them at the owner’s expense.
Lower End (under $20)
Black and Decker DCM18S Coffeemaker
A Best Cheap Coffee Makers Low-luxury Best Buy
Lastly, our pick for a low end cheap coffee maker is the Black and Decker DCM18S. This model can be picked up for around $20 over at Amazon. This is a personal coffee maker and comes with a travel mug. It brews directly into the travel mug for grab and go ease. It comes with a permanent filter and the travel mug is stainless steel. Stainless steel has the ability to fit in anywhere, from a conference room or white collar meeting to a construction job site. And, under normal conditions, stainless steel will last a very long time. This unit is small and easy to transport. For the GC’s out there that work out of their truck or mobile offices, this model is a great way to save money. By avoiding the Starbucks and other high price coffee sellers, this product would pay for itself in a week or two. Nowadays everyone’s watching their budget. This model is also green, in that it has a permanent filter. No need for constantly buying and then disposing of paper filters.
Pros
- This coffeemaker is very inexpensive and takes up very little counter space.
- Has a permanent filter which is good for the budget and the environment.
- Also comes with a one year warranty.
Cons
- This cheap coffeemaker only brews one cup at a time, and only into its own mug.
- If there’s more than one coffee drinker in the house or office, this model wouldn’t be a good fit.
Bonus Buy
Keurig B60 Special Edition
Our bonus model review for 2012 is the Keurig B60 Special Edition. This model retails for around $190.00 but can be bought online for $149, that’s a savings of over 20 percent! Because of its features and discounted price we’re considering it a cheap coffee maker, but definitely at the higher end of the scale. This is only a cheap coffee maker in a relative sense. Keurig calls this a Gourmet Single-Cup Home Brewing system and considers it a “mid-luxury” system. However, $190 would not be mid-luxury around my home. This is definitely a high-luxury coffee maker based solely on price.
When these single cup systems started getting popular a while back, I wasn’t a fan, but this model changed my mind. You can brew coffee, tea, or hot chocolate with this model. It has a digital clock, a blue lit back light, and an auto on/off feature. The heating and pumping mechanism on this model is top notch and it’s very durable. Because it’s a Keurig single cup brewer, you can buy the K-Cups that eliminate messy cleanups. The K-Cups come in a wide variety of flavours and can be found online for relatively cheap. I don’t own this model but a friend does and I’ve checked it out. It really is a great coffee maker.
This is considered a Bonus Buy. We consider it a bonus because this unit might not be one that someone would buy for everyday use. This might be more along the lines of a nice gift to someone. Maybe an anniversary present or wedding gift. The friend mentioned above, received hers as a birthday present. As stated above, I’ve tried this model and it’s worth the price for the right person. As far as these single cup brewers go, and when you factor in the features, this is a quality made, cheap coffee maker at this price point.
Click HERE to purchase or for the lowest price online.
