The 8 Best Coffee Makers Under $200 – Top Picks

best coffee makers under $200

Thinking about getting a new coffee maker? It may be a more complicated task than you anticipated. 

See, this is the question I get asked the most often. “What coffee maker should I buy?” and it’s actually a really tricky one. But with most other appliances, there’s not nearly as much diversity in brands and machines themselves as there is with coffee makers. The market is huge

This means that there are a lot of valid options! In this article, I’m going to explore the options for the best coffee makers under $200. You’ll see how much variety you can find -and quality!- within this price range.

The 8 Best Coffee Makers Under $200

A little preamble here: I genuinely do not think that good espresso machines exist within this price range. This is why I am presenting you with filter coffee makers or capsule coffee makers.

Ninja CFP301 DualBrew Pro System 12-Cup Coffee Maker, Single-Serve for Grounds & K-Cup Pod Compatible

  • Dimensions: 11.39 x 9.13 x 15.54 inches
  • Weight: 9.69 pounds
  • Material: Plastic
  • Hot water system: Independent
  • Water reservoir: Removable
  • Brew styles: Classic, rich, over ice, specialty
  • Ground brew sizes: Small cup, cup, XL cup, travel mug, XL travel mug, 1/4 carafe, half carafe, 3/4 carafe, full carafe
  • Coffee pod sizes: 6oz, 8oz, 10oz, 12oz

Customer ratings by feature

Flavor

Easy to clean

Blending power

Easy to use

Ninja is a rather well-known brand. It is genuinely perceived as modern or cool, which usually makes me very cautious when purchasing a product. If they’re trying to market something as “cool”, it’s probably bad. 

Finally, I caved in and tried this machine at a friend’s coffee shop – and wow. It actually surprised me! The quality of the coffee is absolutely spot on and the machine is satisfyingly fast and smooth when making coffee. 

The whole process, which usually feels awkward in these types of machines, is actually quite simple. And it doubles both as a filter coffee maker and a capsule coffee maker. Amazing!

BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Thermal Coffeemaker 

  • Dimensions: 8 x 11 x 11.5 inches
  • Weight: 4 pounds
  • Material: Plastic
  • Brewing feature: Yes
  • Capacity: 12 cups
  • Brew strength selector: Yes
  • Auto-off function: Yes

Customer ratings by feature

Timer function

Easy to clean

Flavor

Easy to use

I’m all about ergonomics. A good coffee maker, to me, has to be conveniently sized. Otherwise, it really just makes the whole experience uncomfortable. I’ve grown to dislike a lot of machines that looked amazing on paper – but when it comes to using them, they can be really inconvenient and user-unfriendly. 

Which is a big reason why I think this is pretty much the best cheap drip coffee maker I have seen in a while. It is super slim and barely takes more space than the actual carafe does! It’s really easy to reposition, move around the kitchen, and so on. 

The carafe, by the way, is its other strong point. Really great quality: it’s double-walled and vacuum-sealed and will keep your coffee hot for what seems like an eternity.

Cuisinart DCC-3400P1 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Thermal Carafe 

  • Dimensions: 9 x 7.75 x 14.25 inches
  • Weight: 9.48 pounds
  • Material: Stainless steel
  • Carafe: 12-cup thermal
  • Strength control: Yes
  • Controls: Push buttons
  • 24-hour programmable feature: Yes
  • Auto-off function: Yes
  • Reusable gold-tone filter: Yes

Customer ratings by feature

Quality of material

Durability

Flavor

Versatility

There are an infinite amount of drip coffee makers out there. The trick, I believe, is to find a real one that is reliable. Quality is one thing, but there are lots of cases of high-end machines that turn out to be flops. Or very expensive machines that end up breaking two months in. 

Well, Cuisinart is one that never ever disappoints. I’ve been using Cuisinart coffee makers for more than a decade, and it’s always the one that never shows any sort of problem when using it. Literally, I’ve replaced them because they become outdated – never because they stop working. 

So if you really value reliability – this is the best choice in that regard.

Hamilton Beach 49976 FlexBrew Trio 2-Way Coffee Maker 

  • Dimensions: 12.2 x 11.4 x 13.7 inches
  • Weight: 6.37 pounds
  • Material: Plastic
  • Carafe: 12 cups
  • Compatible with grounds and pods: Yes
  • Brew strength selector: Yes
  • Water reservoir: 2
  • Programmable feature: Yes
  • Auto-off function: Yes

Customer ratings by feature

Flavor

Easy to use

Easy to clean

Versatility

Hamilton Beach has been one of my best friends for a while now. Still, there is this strange notion among coffee drinkers that only Nespresso, Keurig, and the usual brands are good for coffee. You’d be surprised how good Hamilton Beach’s products are. 

This is basically three coffee makers in one: on one side, you have the typical filter coffee machine or drip coffee maker – it has much of the same controls and it uses a carafe to brew up to twelve cups. 

The other side is a 2-way brewer used mostly for espresso: you can use coffee capsules or ground coffee. 

All in all, you can get great value out of this machine, more so than any other I’ve seen yet. It’s the ideal machine for indecisive coffee lovers. Don’t know which machine to get? Get all of them. In one.

Keurig K-Cafe Special Edition Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee, Latte, and Cappuccino Maker 

  • Dimensions: 11.7 x 15.3 x 12.5 inches
  • Weight: 13.8 pounds
  • Material: Plastic
  • 4 cup sizes: 6oz, 8oz, 10oz, 12oz
  • Lattes and cappuccinos: 2oz shot of latte and cappuccino
  • Milk froth: Hot and cold
  • Programmable carafe auto brew: No
  • Water reservoir capacity: 60oz removable
  • Auto-off function: Yes

Customer ratings by feature

Flavor

Easy to clean

Versatility

Blending power

Let me let you in on a little secret: I hated the idea of capsule coffee makers when they started becoming mainstream, more than ten years ago. I was sure they could never deliver quality and that they would just be like self-service coffee machines. 

Well, turns out I was incredibly wrong. Not only that: I am a huge fan of these machines now! But I distinctly remember saying that capsule machines could never make a good latte or a good cappuccino. This machine proves me wrong. 

It works much like any other Keurig coffee maker except it has a novel milk-frothing mechanism that is super easy and super fun to use. It makes amazing steamed milk that is just like the one you get at the coffee shop. Truly an accomplishment.

Calphalon Coffee Maker, Programmable Coffee Machine with Glass Carafe 

  • Dimensions: 11.57 x 9.69 x 13.32 inches
  • Weight: 4.8 pounds
  • Material: Plastic
  • Temperature control: Yes
  • Warming plate: Yes
  • Brew strength selector: Yes
  • Carafe: 14-cup
  • Programmable: Yes
  • Reusable gold-tone filter: Yes
  • Auto-off function: Yes

Customer ratings by feature

Flavor

Easy to use

Easy to clean

I’ve encountered the Calphalon many times in my career, and every single time I think the same thing: I really like using this machine. It’s comfortable, it’s easy to use – the buttons and the display just make so much sense. 

There really isn’t a lot going on for this machine that stands out from the others, except for that. The interface and the display are what sets it apart, and make it really comfortable to use – and for that, I really believe it deserves a spot here.

Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker, Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer, With Iced Coffee Capability 

  • Dimensions: 12.7 x 9.9 x 13.1 inches
  • Weight: 6.6 pounds
  • Material: Plastic
  • Brew sizes: 4oz, 6oz, 8oz, 10oz, 12oz
  • Programmable features: Yes
  • Water reservoir capacity: 75oz removable
  • Brew strength selector: Yes

Customer ratings by feature

Flavor

Easy to use

Easy to clean

Versatility

Keurig was my first love of capsule coffee makers and I remain convinced that their machines are the best ones out there. Recently, I’ve been looking at all their machines and thinking which is the one that I would choose – if I could choose only one

And it’s this one. Not even the cappuccino-enabled one: this Elite one is just easier to use and has such good coffee quality. It really is an example of all a capsule coffee maker should be, and officially my favorite Keurig coffee maker.

Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Maker by De’Longhi 

  • Dimensions: 8.97 x 12.22 x 12.33 inches
  • Weight: 10.96 pounds
  • Brew sizes: 5oz, 8oz, 14oz
  • Water reservoir capacity: 54oz
  • Auto-off function: Yes
  • Capsule container capacity: 17

Customer ratings by feature

Flavor

Easy to use

Easy to clean

Blending power

This machine is an absolute masterpiece. Out of all Nespresso machines, it’s just the epitome of quality and design. 

The Vertuo also works with Vertuo capsules, which offer some of the best capsule coffee you can ever get – Single Origin and some really amazing selections that you can find at the Nespresso site. 

Vertuo is right now the best in quality and is delivering some spectacular coffee. I advise you to try it out if you haven’t already because it’s amazing. 

Things to Consider Before Buying a Coffee Maker Under $200

Design and size

Design and size go hand in hand. As I mentioned before, it’s very important to me that a machine is ergonomic. If this is true for you, too, then best to look for smaller dimensions. Coffee machines tend to be big, which is very annoying. 

Fortunately, I’ve included quite a few smaller machines in this list, as well as some that don’t really care about how much space they take.

Beverage/Brewing options

You should look for a coffee maker that offers a variety of brewing options. For example, the Ninja coffee maker in this list offers four different brewing options: classic, rich, over ice, and specialty.

When it comes to the number of brew techniques available, you can reduce your coffee maker selections.

Coffee type

You need to ask yourself: if you could only drink one type of coffee for the rest of your life, would it be drip or capsule? 

It’s a great question that sheds light on what machine is actually best for you. And if you can’t decide, well, that’s why there are two options here that let you do both!

Warranty information

Always get a machine that has an extended warranty. At the very least one year, that’s my rule of thumb. 

Water tank volume

The bigger the water tank, the more coffee you can make in one sitting. I recommend paying close attention to this if you live in a big household with plenty of coffee drinkers.

Also, if you’re buying this machine for an office setting or similar, then better get one with a big water tank so you don’t have to be refilling it every four cups. 

Brewing speed

If you’re a busy person, you might desire a coffee maker that can create a cup of coffee in a matter of seconds. Coffee can usually be made in 5-7 minutes with most brewers.

If these models aren’t fast enough for you, try the Keurig K-Elite, which has a brewing time of less than a minute. What a powerful machine!

Is it easy to clean?

As much as I like to go on about the wonders of hygiene, it is incredibly annoying. Nobody wants more chores in their life. If you know yourself and think that you can clean your machine properly at least once a week, it doesn’t matter which one you get. However… 

If you know you simply won’t clean it, a capsule coffee maker is the best option. They are very low maintenance. 

Understandable interface

Simple coffee machines can help you save a lot of time while preparing a cup of coffee. It’s also preferable to have an appliance with a user-friendly interface that you can use without consulting a handbook.

The majority of the models on our list have no learning curve, and you can brew a delicious cup of coffee in no time.

Energy saving

Another consideration when purchasing a coffee maker is the amount of electricity it will use. This element will have an impact on the monthly bill you must pay.

To keep your electricity cost from increasing, it’s best to use a power-saving gadget.

Inexpensive Coffee Maker – What to Expect?

Some people are afraid of buying an “inexpensive coffee maker”. I see it all the time in my profession – something about how price equals quality. And we know that isn’t true, but most of us believe the opposite. 

I’m here to tell you that cheap coffee makers are a great choice. They are a completely different tool, however. Do not expect them to make super good coffee or flat whites, or anything like that. 

No, the good thing about cheap coffee makers is that they make coffee. They do it easily, with minimal effort (espresso machines can be an absolute nightmare to use), and require very little know-how. 

Don’t expect coffee-shop-grade coffee. But do expect an easy experience and some yummy coffee. 

Coffee Machines Under $200 – Which Types are Available?

Espresso machines under this price range are, for the most part, completely unusable. What’s worse, they make them constantly. There are tons of cheap espresso machines out there that are absolute scams. 

They just don’t have the appropriate components and end up brewing terrible coffee. It’s a big waste of money and they play upon the (false) notion that an espresso machine can be cheap. It can’t. If it’s cheap, it’s probably very bad. 

So we are left with drip coffee makers and capsule coffee makers: the two best things to happen to coffee lovers. 

They are easy to use, inexpensive, and make great coffee. Drip coffee machines make more coffee, capsule coffee makers make better coffee. 

Life-prolonging Coffee Maker Cleaning Tips

The best way to ensure that your coffee maker never malfunctions never breaks, and never stops making good coffee is to clean it properly. Here are some tips: 

● Use a long brush. I actually use a toothbrush. It has the perfect shape and gets all of the muck out.

● Use descaling solution at least once a month.

● Do not use soap! Instead, use water with a little bit of white wine vinegar.

● Clean often – at least once a week. 

Below you can find a video example of how to clean a coffee machine. Usually, the manual of the coffee maker that you buy will tell you how to clean it, Make sure to read it and watch other videos online if you need more info.

FAQ

What kind of coffee filters do you need for brewing?

Some machines will give you the option of using single-use paper filters but usually drip coffee machines use a gold-tone reusable filter that can be used for months without problems. I’d recommend changing it every three months or so – they’re quite inexpensive.

How can I keep my coffee hotter?

The best you can do is go for a thermal carafe. This is really the one option that’s available to everyone that really likes to have their coffee hot for hours. Without a thermal carafe, no matter what anybody says, you can’t really do much of anything about it. 

How can I make stronger coffee?

Use more grounds! It really is the best way. At least for drip coffee makers and such. With capsule coffee makers, there aren’t many options. Some of them come with a “bold” or “strong” choice, and that’s about as far as they take you. 

Conclusion

Choosing the best coffee maker for under $200 is not easy and the risk of getting a machine that will not function in the long term is high. I hope that with this list and tips, I was able to convince you that there are good options on the market for that price and you can definitely save some money if you want to enjoy a good cup of Joe.

Make sure to read our other guides if you want to know more about the best coffee makers:


Marcelo

Marcelo is a filmmaker and passionate barista on the side. He spends his free time cooking up new and exciting recipes – and drinking too much coffee in the process.