The 9 Best 4 Cup Coffee Makers

This wiki has been updated 19 times since it was first published in November of 2018. Not everyone has room for a massive coffee machine that resembles a small factory more than it does a kitchen appliance. However, being limited on space and budget doesn't mean you have to drink sub-par joe or need to pick up your fix from an expensive shop each day. These four-cup models will let you brew this all-important caffeinated beverage just the way you like it, at work or home. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.

This wiki has been updated 19 times since it was first published in November of 2018. Not everyone has room for a massive coffee machine that resembles a small factory more than it does a kitchen appliance. However, being limited on space and budget doesn't mean you have to drink sub-par joe or need to pick up your fix from an expensive shop each day. These four-cup models will let you brew this all-important caffeinated beverage just the way you like it, at work or home. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.

1. Cuisinart DCC-450BK

There's no need to wait for the whole batch to finish when you're jonesing for a cup. The Cuisinart DCC-450BK (appx. $30) features a brew-pause option that stops the drip while you pour some joe, and it comes with a stainless steel pot that keeps the contents warm for a long time.

Compact footprint
Automatic 30-minute shutoff
Leak-resistant spout

2. Mr. Coffee TF4-RB

If you're making your own caffeinated beverage to save money, then boost those budgeting efforts with the affordable Mr. Coffee TF4-RB (appx. $25). A thick, rounded handle makes the pot comfortable to grab and pour out its contents when you are in a rush.

Filter basket comes out for cleaning
Warming plate doesn't show stains
Straightforward operation

3. Barsetto Home Office

Don't let the huffing and puffing of a coffee machine interrupt your workflow. The Barsetto Home Office (around $25) is surprisingly silent as it brews java. A reusable filter basket eliminates the need for paper, making it an eco-friendly option.

Large reservoir window
Clearly defined water level marks
100-percent bpa free

4. Conair Cuisinart

The attractive glass carafe and basket of the Conair Cuisinart (around $36) are dishwasher friendly, which should encourage you to sanitize them a little more often. Its slender handle provides a lot of finger space for those with large mitts.

Uses coffee filter packs
Nontraditional pot shape
Instructions printed on the lid

5. Coffee Pro Office

A prolonged two-hour automatic shutoff ensures the Coffee Pro Office (around $52) keeps your java warm for when you return for another cup between meetings, but doesn't let it stay on overnight when you head home. It's the ideal small and simple model for a workplace.

Brews a new pot quickly
Easy to disassemble and clean
Spout is too narrow

6. Mr. Coffee Programmable

Just because you don't have space for a big appliance doesn't mean you can't enjoy an advanced one. The Mr. Coffee Programmable (appx. $47) lets you set a time you'd like your machine to start brewing, so you can wake up to a steaming hot cup of joe.

Shows reservoir level on both sides
Integrated cord storage
Clock display can become dim

7. Better Chef IM-104S

Built like a tank and ready for a busy home or office, the Better Chef IM-104S (around $19) won't make you miss a larger model. It features cord storage, allowing you to keep those countertops neat even if they're cluttered with other appliances.

Drip stops instantly if carafe moves
Filter never lets grounds through
Doesn't have auto shutoff

8. Maxi-Matic Elite

Each portion of the Maxi-Matic Elite (about $149) is impressively made, from the fine mesh filter to the durable basket. Rather than just having a reservoir window, the entire water tank is semitransparent, allowing you to monitor the brewing process.

Bold markings at each cup level
Bright power indicator light
Requires a lot of head clearance

9. KitchenBro CM-117

Home appliances can be masculine, as proven by the cleverly-named KitchenBro CM-117 (around $22). Its shiny silver tank sports a cool industrial look, and it has a large opening to pour your water into that prevents splattering it all over the counter.

Long-lasting steel components
Nonstick warming plate
Brew pause feature can malfunction

Last updated by Brett Dvoretz

A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.

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