Four High-Performing, Low-Priced Coffee Makers
Ranging From $20 to $45, These Convenient Drip Models Have Carafes
Nov 9, 2009
A high price is not necessarily an indication of quality when it comes to coffee makers. Consumer Reports rated thirty-six models that have carafes and brew eight to twelve cups. Here are some details about the highest-rated models.
Kalorik TKM-20208
The priciest of the four winners, and not a Best Buy, the Kalorik TKM-20208 sells for around $45 at most online and brick-and-mortar stores. It is a very pretty machine, black with a handsome stainless steel carafe and stylish knobs and buttons. It is the only one that is not programmable but it does have a thermal carafe/mug.
Mr. Coffee JWX27
Selling for around $40, this Mr. Coffee model had a better brew performance than the Kalorik TKM-20208, but it doesn’t have a thermal carafe. Its appearance is rather plain-Jane compared to some other models, but it earned the CR Best Buy rating. It has a built-in brew strength control and is a good buy for those who want a dependable, no-frills coffeemaker without that stylish look.
Michael Graves 40304
This coffee maker has a distinctive blue light on the front, and according to many reviews on Amazon it is simply too bright. It also has a distinctive style that goes with the light – it has been compared to something out of a space ship. Consumer Reports rated it as CR Best Buy and only found two machines that scored higher performance rankings. It does not have a thermal carafe but it does have a brew-strength feature. It is the highest-rated among those with the brew strength feature.
Black & Decker DLX1050B
The least expensive of the winning coffeepots, and also falling short of the CR Best Buy rating, the Black & Decker has neither a brew-strength feature nor a thermal carafe. It sells for around $20 at most stores, making it a whopping bargain for those who just want a dependable cup of coffee without any frills. It has a retractable cord but doesn’t rate quite as high in brew performance as the Mr. Coffee or Michael Graves.
Balancing price and performance can sometimes be tricky for consumers. For those who don’t have to worry about price, the $100 Cuisinart Brew Central DCC-1200 would be a good choice, having much better ratings than the $265 Technivorm Moccamaster KBT-741. On the other hand, for those who must sacrifice performance in favor of price, the $20 Black & Decker mentioned above is an excellent choice, a bit less expensive than Wal-Mart’s GE 169164 at $30. The GE model is still only half-way down the ranking list and would also make an excellent choice.
 |
 |
