![The BALMUDA The Brew Coffee Maker on a kitchen counter.](https://www.thespruceeats.com/thmb/tmFWyghk6mT-3BaeCgnt5k9_kkw=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ses-product-balmuda-the-brew-coffee-maker-4-wdickey-004-90234c11f38a472a9f3a97f821a90aec.jpeg)
The Spruce Eats / Will Dickey
Between canisters, cutting boards, and miscellaneous utensils, it can be hard to find enough counter space to fit a coffee maker. As a result, we rounded up the best space-saving options in various categories, including drip coffee makers, espresso machines, and non-electric brewers. We also tested every coffee maker on this list to ensure that our picks are worth purchasing and that our descriptions are accurate and detailed. Coffee quality shouldn't be affected by the size of your kitchen. Here are the best small coffee makers to buy.
Best Overall
OXO Brew Coffee Maker
Sleek, minimal design
Thermal carafe for long-lasting heat retention
Brews excellent drip coffee
Makes single-serve and large batches
Not programmable
Thermal coffee pots offer three main benefits over glass ones: they're more durable, retain heat better, and subsequently make coffee taste better. Glass coffee pots have hot plates underneath to keep coffee warm, but this essentially "cooks" the coffee, changing its flavor and making it more bitter. Instead, a machine like the OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker keeps coffee fresh and delicious for hours by leaving the flavor intact. It's no wonder we were highly impressed with the quality of the coffee that this machine brews.
We found that the brewer's showerhead evenly distributes water over the coffee grounds, leading to a well-balanced cup of joe. The device also has the unique capability to brew one cup at a time when you prefer that over a full 8-cup pot. And if you need one that brews more cups of coffee, OXO makes a 12-cup coffee maker.
The design is slim at 7 inches wide and incredibly simple. The machine has only three buttons: a power button and two brew settings. A major downside to the simplicity, however, is that the OXO 8-Cup Coffee Maker is not programmable. So, if you like to situate your coffee maker at night and set it to brew before you wake up in the morning, you might prefer another option.
Grounds or Pods: Grounds | Capacity: 40 ounces | Dimensions: 10.5 x 7 x 13.5 inches | Warranty: Two years
The Spruce Eats / Will Dickey
The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell
The Spruce Eats / Will Dickey
The Spruce Eats / Will Dickey
The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell
Best Keurig
Keurig K-Mini Plus Single Serve Coffee Maker
Slightly cheaper than most Keurigs
Surprising versatility
Stores up to nine K-Cups
Multiple colorways
Must fill water before every use
Keurig is one of the most popular names in coffee. Its K-Cup pods are easy to use and offer a wide range of coffees, teas, and more. The Keurig K-Mini Plus takes the brand's signature convenience and packs it into a 5-inch-wide device, made for those hoping to save space in the kitchen. A pod storage bin holds nine K-Cup pods to keep them handy and slides into the front of the brewer when not in use. If you want your coffee a little stronger, all it takes is the press of a button.
The K-Mini Plus brews 6 to 12 ounces of coffee, simply by adding that amount to the removable water reservoir. If you’re unsure how much coffee your mug holds, you can use that to fill the reservoir, so you’ll never overfill a cup. When the drip tray is removed, you can brew directly into a travel mug up to 7 inches tall.
The coffee maker turns itself off 90 seconds after brewing. If you want to put the coffee maker away between uses, the cord stores neatly in the back of the brewer, so it won’t tangle when the brewer is resting on a shelf in the pantry.
Grounds or Pods: Pods (or reusable K-Cup filter) | Capacity: 6 to 12 ounces | Dimensions: 11.3 x 4.5 x 12.1 inches | Warranty: One year
![A Keurig K-Mini Plus Single Serve Coffee Maker displayed on a wooden surface dripping coffee into a small white cup](https://www.thespruceeats.com/thmb/i6XOcR6lI2HdIDYFea2p_uPWSQc=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ses-product-keurig-k-mini-plus-single-serve-coffee-maker-wdickey-8-492c927a7ad9460c9d4ecd8aec9a1ef8.jpg)
The Spruce Eats / Will Dickey
Best Budget
Black+Decker 5-Cup Coffeemaker
Compact
Makes good drip coffee
Budget-friendly
Cord storage compartment
No automatic shutoff
This Black + Decker brewer is small, affordable, and doesn’t have many frills, but it simply makes a good cup of coffee. The carafe holds five cups, which is smaller than average but enough to get your fill in the morning. It operates with a simple on/off switch that lights up to let you know that the coffee maker is on. We wish it had an automatic shutoff, but the light makes it easy to see when you've forgotten to flip the switch. The hot plate will keep the carafe warm as long as the coffee maker is on, but there is no auto-off feature.
The carafe is designed for ergonomic handling and drip-free pouring, so you won’t make a mess, and the lid is completely removable for easy cleaning when the coffee is gone. If you can’t wait for the first cup, it has a pause-and-serve feature so you can pour a cup without making a mess. A permanent filter is included, so you’ll never need paper filters. After testing the machine ourselves, we found the coffee quality above average. It isn't the most vibrant coffee we tried, but it's better than one would expect given the budget price.
Grounds or Pods: Grounds | Capacity: 5 cups | Dimensions: 7.25 x 8.2 x 10.75 inches | Warranty: Two years
The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell
The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell
The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell
The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell
Best High-End
Balmuda The Brew Coffee Maker
Strong, pour-over-style coffee
Compact design
Option for iced coffee
Learning curve
Thermal carafe is unnecessary
BALMUDA automates the pour-over process with this slim coffee maker, simply named The Brew. We tested the machine firsthand and found that it produces coffee with a lot of clarity. Individual flavors stand out better than coffee brewed by a typical drip coffee maker. The coffee is also clean and has no sludge or grit in the last few sips. It's a great choice for the coffee drinker who prioritizes quality over quantity since The Brew has a maximum brewing capacity of 16.5 ounces.
We had to read the instruction manual on first use to understand how to attach the pour-over cone, but The Brew proved simple and intuitive after that. It takes about four minutes to brew a medium coffee and six minutes for a large. That's slower than a drip coffee maker but on par with pour-over brewers. There are settings for iced coffee and a bolder brew, too.
The Brew comes with a thermal carafe that some customers may enjoy, but we don't think it adds much value since the serving sizes are so small you're likely to drink it quickly. It's worth noting that a similar coffee quality can be achieved with a non-electric pour-over coffee maker, which would save several hundred dollars. For customers who don't mind paying more for added convenience and consistency, The Brew is worth splurging on.
Grounds or Pods: Grounds | Capacity: 16.5 ounces | Dimensions: 11.7 x 5.5 x 14.9 inches | Warranty: One year
The Spruce Eats / Derek Rose
The Spruce Eats / Derek Rose
The Spruce Eats / Derek Rose
The Spruce Eats / Derek Rose
The Spruce Eats / Will Dickey
The Spruce Eats / Will Dickey
The Spruce Eats / Will Dickey
The Spruce Eats / Will Dickey
Best With Grinder
Cuisinart DGB-850 Burr Grind & Brew Coffee Maker
Durable and long lasting
Burr grinder
Quiet operation
Adjustable grind size and coffee strength
Slower-than-average brew time
A grinder is a great accessory for making fresher, tastier coffee. Unfortunately, it's yet another item that takes up a spot in your kitchen. To save space, you can purchase a coffee maker with a built-in grinder, and one of the best we've tested is the Cuisinart Grind & Brew DGB-850. While it's more expensive than a regular drip coffee maker, it's a great value-for-money buy considering it has a burr grinder instead of a blade grinder. Burr grinders are more consistent and produce less heat, leading to better coffee. This shone through in our taste tests, as the flavor received an excellent score for its strength, smoothness, and temperature.
The Cuisinart Grind and Brew comes with several convenient features, too. There's a 1-4 cup setting when you need a little caffeine but don't want to make a full pot. It's also programmable up to 24 hours in advance and has a self-cleaning function. We found that a full pot of coffee takes a little over seven minutes to brew, which is slightly slower than average. However, the machine has a "brew pause" function that lets users snag a cup of coffee while brewing is in progress.
Grounds or Pods: Grounds | Capacity: 10 cups | Dimensions: 8.1 x 10 x 15.5 inches | Warranty: Three years
The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore
The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore
The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore
The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore
Best Travel
AeroPress Original Coffee Maker
Fast brewing (2 minutes)
Affordable
Easy to clean
Time-consuming setup
Slight effort to plunge
A favorite among outdoor enthusiasts and coffee experts alike, the AeroPress is the best travel companion you can find. It's small enough to toss in a backpack or suitcase, and all it takes is access to hot water to make a tasty cup of coffee or even a richer, espresso-like brew.
One question that pops up with the AeroPress is whether it's useful as a primary brewing device—like a drip coffee maker, for example—or if it's more of an occasional, on-the-go gadget. There's no set answer, but we think it's suitable for both. Just keep in mind that it has a small capacity of 8 ounces and requires more hands-on effort than most coffee makers, so some people may tire of using it and cleaning it multiple times a day. Cleaning is quick and easy, though. The four main plastic parts of the AeroPress are top-shelf dishwasher safe, and we found that rinsing them by hand takes no more than a minute. The AeroPress is also reasonably priced. It's similar to other non-electric brewing devices and cheaper than many electric ones.
Grounds or Pods: Grounds | Capacity: 8 ounces | Dimensions: 4.75 x 4.5 x 11.75 inches | Warranty: One year
The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell
The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell
The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell
Best French Press
Fellow Clara French Press
Rich, full-bodied coffee
Excellent insulation
Exterior doesn't smudge
Smooth plunging and pouring
Interior prone to scratches
The Fellow Clara French Press has a compact design, durable materials, and a high-quality filter. After testing the French press ourselves, we found the coffee to have less sediment than average, making for a cleaner, more enjoyable cup. The carafe's temperature retention was above average, too. After 30 minutes, the coffee was nearly just as hot as when we brewed it, making for a fresh second cup. The handle and carafe itself stayed cool to touch the entire time, so you don't have to worry about burning yourself.
It's pricier than most French press but not exorbitant. Plus, the Clara French Press feels more high-end than a budget-priced alternative. The 24-ounce capacity is smaller than average, yet it's still enough to brew multiple servings at once, and this naturally helps the French press stay on the smaller side. We recommend using a wooden spoon when stirring the coffee because metal instruments can scratch the interior.
Grounds or Pods: Grounds | Capacity: 24 ounces | Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.5 x 7.9 inches | Warranty: 30 days
The Spruce Eats / Fred Hardy
The Spruce Eats / Isaac Nunn
The Spruce Eats / Isaac Nunn
The Spruce Eats / Isaac Nunn
Best Espresso
Coffee Gator Espresso Machine
Affordable
Fast heat-up time
Reservoir placement saves space
Rich flavor
Not the strongest steam wand
Espresso makers tend to be bulkier than other brewing devices, but this Coffee Gator model is among the most compact you can find. It’s just 5.5 inches wide–slimmer than some drip coffee makers on our list–and, at 10.3 inches tall, it fits comfortably below most cupboards. Don’t let its stature fool you, though: The tiny brewer packs a powerful punch. We tasted the espresso and consistently found the shots to have a strong flavor, rich body, and an all-important, golden-brown crema.
Such strong flavor makes the Coffee Gator Espresso Machine a viable option for seasoned espresso drinkers, while the item’s intuitive design and affordable price make it an excellent choice for those new to espresso as well. Once the red display lights stop blinking and turn solid, all you have to do is turn the machine’s lone dial, located on the side, to start pulling espresso shots.
During testing, we didn’t have to wait long for delicious coffee, as the item heats up in roughly 20 seconds. It takes a little longer to froth milk, however, as the steam wand isn’t the strongest that we've come across. That said, the wand is easy to use and still sufficient for lattes and cappuccinos—making it one of the best espresso/cappuccino machines on the market.
Grounds or Pods: Grounds or ESE pods | Capacity: Single serve | Dimensions: 12.4 x 5.5 x 10.3 inches | Warranty: One year
The Spruce Eats / Derek Rose
The Spruce Eats / Derek Rose
The Spruce Eats / Derek Rose
Best Pour Over
Melitta Ceramic Pour Over Coffee Dripper
Budget price
Easy to use
Sturdy material
Paper filters are easy to find
Uses a lot of paper coffee filters
Pour-over brewers are, in general, a great option for people looking to save space. We've tested several types over the years and one of our favorites is the Melitta Ceramic Pour Over Dripper. The brewing process is simple and takes about three minutes depending on the quantity of coffee you're making and the grind size you use. All you have to do is place the dripper on a coffee mug, insert a paper filter and coffee grounds, and pour hot water over it. It may require some trial and error to find the perfect coffee-to-water ratio, but once you get it down the flavor is strong, smooth, and devoid of sludge. Since weighing is the most exact method, we recommend 1 gram of coffee for every 15 grams of water.
Melitta sells this pour-over dripper in multiple materials, including plastic and porcelain. They're all budget-priced, but the ceramic version has enough weight to feel solid and durable. One of the few downsides of a pour-over coffee maker is that you go through paper filters fast. Luckily, Melitta's paper filters are sold by many grocery stores and online retailers.
Grounds or Pods: Grounds | Capacity: Single serve | Dimensions: 3.875 x 5.75 x 4 inches | Warranty: One year
![Melitta 1 Cup Porcelain Pour-Over Cone Coffeemaker displayed on a mug on a wood counter](https://www.thespruceeats.com/thmb/uwAjT9lAgzZqxSPeRVqxCvSeXLk=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ses-product-melitta-1-cup-porcelain-cone-coffee-maker-rkilgore-6.jpg-2e23997a8f61465896bcb08714d3bcb4.jpg)
The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore
Best Nespresso
Nespresso Essenza Mini with Aeroccino Frother
Consistent espresso and crema
Compact and lightweight
Easy to use
Energy efficient
Small container for used capsules
The Nespresso Essenza Mini is a reliable and easy-to-use espresso maker. We tested the item over several weeks and found that the espresso consistently had a strong flavor and a rich crema. Throw in an Aeroccino3 Milk Frother and the bundle becomes highly versatile, allowing users to whip up lattes, cappuccinos, and more right from home.
It has most of the drink options you get from an automatic espresso maker (except for an Americano) but in a more compact device. The Essenza Mini is roughly 4 inches wide, so it can slide between anything on your kitchen counters. The separate milk frother, measuring 3.5 inches in diameter, doesn't take up much space either, and it can go in a cupboard when not in use.
This machine has two drink sizes—espresso and lungo—labeled by a pair of top-facing buttons. The capsule container needs to be emptied after six shots of espresso, which is smaller than many alternative Nespresso machines, but that's a natural consequence of such a slim design. While Nespresso products skew toward the pricier end, the Essenza Mini is one of the most affordable, and we think it's an excellent value-for-money option.
Grounds or Pods: Pods | Capacity: Single serve | Dimensions: 4.3 x 8 x 12.8 inches | Warranty: One year
The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell
The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell
The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell
The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell
The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell
Final Verdict
The K-Mini Plus is the slimmest Keurig coffee maker available and, on top of its space-saving design, it offers the beloved convenience of K-Cups. Black+Decker's 5-Cup Coffee Maker is a much cheaper alternative, as well as one of the most compact electric brewers you can find. It's also a great option for customers who prefer freshly ground coffee to pods.
How We Tested Small Coffee Makers
Over the years, we have tested and collected research on dozens of coffee makers that fit the scope of this article. That includes espresso machines, drip coffee makers, and non-electric brewers that are more compact than average. To create this list, we consulted in-depth product reviews written by various members of our team, and we tested, or even re-tested, a select number of coffee makers in our Lab.
We Observed
- The size and shape of every coffee maker: We measure and weigh every coffee maker that we test. That data was given increased significance for this round-up of small coffee makers. Some terrific coffee makers were naturally too large to consider for this article. We also took notes on various design elements during our testing process, like the size and position of water reservoirs, brew capacity, cord length, and more.
- What settings the coffee makers had: We tested every setting that the coffee makers offered. For drip coffee makers, that included stronger brew settings, 1-4 cup settings, and occasionally built-in grinders. For espresso makers, that included testing milk frothers and, in some cases, different espresso shot sizes.
- How long it took to brew the coffee: We used stopwatches to time how long it took to brew a cup or pot of coffee with each brewer. We assessed a variety of brewing devices for this article, ranging from lightning-fast pod coffee makers to non-electric ones that required more time to brew. While we didn't time aspects like grinding coffee beans or adding scoops to a brew basket, the amount of preparation before brewing was factored into our final opinion of a machine's speed and ease of use.
We Rated
- Brew Quality: The biggest question everyone has before a coffee maker is about how good the coffee tastes. That's why rated the brew quality of every coffee maker on a scale of one to fine. We also used different types of coffee beans when testing, which helped us understand a coffee maker's versatility and give more accurate ratings. Outstanding coffee—strong, fragrant, and complex—was given the highest score of five, while the weakest and worst cups were given a one.
- Ease of Use: Even if a cup of coffee is delicious, that doesn't mean we want to work hard for it. So, we rated every coffee maker's ease of use. Items that were confusing, slow, time-consuming, or difficult to clean were given a lower ease-of-use score. To make testing more fair, we took into account the type of brewing device, knowing that something like a French press has more steps than a Keurig or Nespresso maker.
- Value: Finally, we compared a coffee maker's all-around performance to its price. That helped us rate its value for money. Coffee makers that had a reasonable price for the quality of coffee they offered were given higher scores, while overpriced items received low scores. In our testing, we found some bargains that offered top quality at a low price, as well as machines that lived up to extremely high prices by making delicious coffee.
Our Testers
- Our Lab team has spent collective decades working in professional kitchens, developing recipes, and testing kitchen gear.
- Derek Rose has been the coffee and tea expert for The Spruce Eats since 2019. He has used several of the coffee makers featured in this article, like the AeroPress and Coffee Gator Espresso Machine, before we tested them in our Lab.
- Cheyenne Elwell is a freelance writer specializing in food and coffee. Her work has appeared in Business Insider, Insider, MSN, and her own coffee blog BakedBrewedBeautiful.com. She tested many of the items on this list before we tested them a second time in our Lab, including the Oxo Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker, the Black + Decker 5-Cup Coffee Maker, and the Nespresso Essenza Mini.
Other Options We Tested
- Ninja CE251 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer: This drip coffee maker from Ninja is worth considering for many coffee drinkers. It packs a 12-cup capacity into a surprisingly slim design. Unfortunately, the coffee was mediocre and the quality of the materials was somewhat flimsy, preventing us from recommending the item.
- Chefman Grind and Brew Coffee Maker Review: This coffee maker is compact, affordable, and has a built-in grinder, but it didn't perform well enough in our tests to be recommended. The grinder was messy and inconsistent, and the coffee itself was mediocre.
![An unplugged Ninja CE251 12-Cup Coffee Brewer displayed on a wooden table with a beige couch in the background](https://www.thespruceeats.com/thmb/et4DQgsZVwbP7mJB7RIMg_yE7BU=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Ninja_12-Cup_04-d4678eba174544bd805ff46edc1f3f2d.jpg)
The Spruce / Cheyenne Elwell
What to Look for in a Small Coffee Maker
Capacity
Just because a coffee maker is compact doesn't mean it's limited to a small capacity. There are plenty of space-saving options that brew upwards of 14 cups (some of which can be found on this list). Think about the amount of coffee you consume a day, as well as the number of coffee drinkers in your household. If it's a lot, your best bet is likely a drip coffee maker. If you primarily brew a cup or two a day just for yourself, check out pour overs, French presses, and pod-based machines.
Price
This is an important consideration when buying any type of coffee maker, not just compact ones. But price is unique here since small coffee makers can vary from $10 pour-over brewers to $300 machines. Knowing your budget will help narrow down the many options.
Features
Small coffee makers tend to have fewer features than full-sized ones, but there are still loads of compact devices with all kinds of bells and whistles, including automatic shutoffs, bolder strength settings, and even temperature control. If you’re looking for convenience, just be prepared to pay the price for advanced models.
"I like to look for a coffee maker that hits a couple of marks," Allie Caran, the product manager at BaristaValet, told us. "The first is price, of course. But I also only want to buy a coffee maker once, so a good warranty and replaceable parts are important. The next is functionality—how it performs and what it offers."
![nespresso-essenza-mini-espresso-machine-coffee](https://www.thespruceeats.com/thmb/RbxOZunr4kVM99Yd3jlX-xDonX8=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Nespresso_Essenza_03-ea09112452864befa3b39bcd54ab072a.jpg)
The Spruce / Cheyenne Elwell
FAQs
What is descaling?
Descaling is the process of removing mineral residue that builds up in an electric coffee maker. If left untreated, the buildup—also known as scale—can cause issues like the machine not getting hot enough or not working whatsoever. Many brands sell descaling products to make the process easier, but a simple combination of vinegar and warm soapy water also works. Check if the manufacturer of your device recommends how often you should descale; otherwise, the rule of thumb is to perform the task every one to three months.
What is a 1-4 cup setting?
Many drip coffee makers are equipped with a 1-4 cup setting. This is to ensure that smaller batches of coffee are brewed consistently. Since drip machines are usually designed to brew a full pot, the speed that the water passes through the coffee grounds is often too fast when only making a few cups. That’s why smaller batches can end up weak and watery. To account for this, the 1-4 cup setting adjusts the drip function to a slower speed and extracts the grounds to suit a smaller pot of coffee.
What grind size should I use?
Owners of a drip coffee maker, AeroPress, or pour-over should use medium-ground coffee beans when brewing. Luckily, this is the standard grind size for bags of pre-ground coffee, so it is very easy to find both in-store and online. Those who use a French press or a cold brew coffee maker should stick with a coarse grind. Finally, espresso makers and moka pots require a very fine grind to produce the rich and bold coffee they are known for.
What is the best coffee-to-water ratio?
Even if you are switching to a smaller coffee maker, the general coffee-to-water ratio remains the same. The Golden Ratio—a phrase used among baristas and other coffee experts—is 1 to 2 tablespoons of coffee for every 6 ounces of water. There are slight differences depending on the type of brewing device you own, but this is a common starting point. Experts also recommend measuring coffee in terms of weight instead of volume, if possible, because it improves accuracy. If you do own a kitchen scale and want to weigh the grounds and water you use, the Golden Ratio translates to 1 gram of coffee for every 15 to 18 grams of water.
What temperature should coffee be?
Coffee tastes best when brewed at a temperature between 195 and 205 degrees. At this temperature, Caran says you "get a cup with better extraction, better flavor, and better body." The best coffee makers maintain this temperature throughout the brewing process, while low-quality coffee makers either fluctuate in brewing temperature or don't get hot enough.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
This piece was written by Derek Rose, the coffee and tea expert for The Spruce Eats. He researches a variety of coffee products, from measuring scoops to commercial espresso machines, and interviews field experts for their insight. One of his favorite coffee makers that didn't make this list is the Bodum Brazil French Press, a great budget option, especially for those who prefer non-electric brewers. He also tested the Coffee Gator Espresso Machine over the course of several weeks and fully recommends it.
Sources
Allie Caran, the Product Manager at BaristaValet, was interviewed for this piece. She previously worked as the Director of Education at Partners Coffee. Allie has been in the coffee industry for more than 15 years.