Is that big, bulky coffee maker taking up too much space in your kitchen? Are you on the lookout for a more compact alternative? I've put together a list of the best 4 cup coffee makers on the market. Keep reading to learn more about what I found!
Updated on: 18. March 2025 We aim to provide you with the most relevant content! However, prices and availability can change at short notice. That's why we've integrated fact checking into our editorial process. During this additional step, our team members make sure that every article has the most current information available. That way you're always up to date! If you happen to notice an issue, please leave us a comment. Thank you! Facts checked by Nicholas Marshall
Written by people for people
Updated on: 18. March 2025 We aim to provide you with the most relevant content! However, prices and availability can change at short notice. That's why we've integrated fact checking into our editorial process. During this additional step, our team members make sure that every article has the most current information available. That way you're always up to date! If you happen to notice an issue, please leave us a comment. Thank you! Facts checked by Nicholas Marshall
Written by people for people
Hi! My name is Arne. Having spent years working as a barista I'm now on a mission to bring more good coffee to the people. To that end, my team and I provide you with a broad knowledge base on the subject of coffee.
Nobody likes to waste freshly brewed coffee, so when it’s just you and a partner, that bulky 12 cup coffee maker can seem a little inconvenient. Fortunately, there are plenty of compact alternatives, and you won’t have to compromise on features and coffee quality.
In this article I’ll give you the inside scoop on choosing the best 4 cup coffee maker. With all that said, let’s get started!
Here’s a list of the 4 cup coffee makers we’ll be looking at today:
Sleek design
Makes superb coffee
High-end glass carafe
Stylish design
Reusable filter
Tempered glass carafe
High-quality materials
Fantastic glass carafe
Versatile brewer
Straightforward operation
Convenient cord storage
Easy to clean
A four cup coffee maker may not be the best option if you’re brewing java for a family of ten. Still, that doesn’t mean they don’t come with benefits. Most of the time, people add a 4 cup coffee maker to their arsenal when they’re looking for something portable and compact.
Let’s face it, a standard 12 cup coffee maker is overkill for just one person. On the flip side, a single serve coffee maker might not be able to keep up with your needs.
The best 4 cup coffee makers present the perfect balance. You’ll get all the benefits of having a small coffee maker that can easily fit into your studio apartment, dorm room or RV kitchen. Plus, that convenience won’t come at the cost of missing out on your daily dose of caffeine.
Using the standard 5 ounce (147.9 milliliter) measurement that most manufacturers consider to be a “cup,” you’re still looking at around a cup and a half or two cups of coffee if you’re used to filling up your favorite mug.
And it’s definitely enough for people who like to fill up their ceramic travel mugs for their morning boost.
Another reason people flock to 4 cup coffee makers is the versatility they offer. Maybe you’re a die-hard fan of Robusta beans but your partner can’t stomach anything other than Arabica coffee.
With a four cup coffee machine on your counter, you can have the best of both worlds. Plus, you won’t need to waste precious coffee. That’s what I call a win win situation!
I’ve done a lot of talking about why people buy 4 cup coffee makers and what makes a good choice. However, it’s time to cut the chit chat and get down to business. Below you’ll find the skinny on my favorite four cup coffee makers. I’m fairly confident one of these beauties will be the best 4 cup coffee maker for your needs!
I recently bought the Ratio Four Coffee Machine to test out for you guys, and was pretty blown away by its performance. Then again, I wasn’t particularly surprised after having conducted a Ratio Six review. Let’s just say the folks at Fellow really know how to design an exceptional drip coffee maker.
Costing $259.00, the Ratio Four is certainly the most expensive option on my list of the best 4 cup coffee makers. However, this baby has been designed to produce pour over coffee of the very highest quality.
Thanks to its sophisticated bloom function and immaculate temperature control, the Ratio Four delivers up to four cups of coffee that meets all the requirements of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Golden Cup standards. What’s more, this drip coffee maker comes with a beautiful borosilicate glass carafe and a stainless steel shower head.
I particularly love the innovative water tank design. It sits on a separate docking station that’s attached to the coffee maker via a flexible supply line. It’s super easy to remove the thing for filling, and there are clearly marked level markers to help. Plus, you can easily find space for this compact brewer if your kitchen counter is already crowded.
See Also: Ratio Four Coffee Machine Review
Available for just $20.04, the Brentwood 4 Cup Coffee Maker definitely won’t break the bank. What’s more, it certainly doesn’t skimp on special features or great tasting coffee.
Not everyone cares about color. However, if you’re big on style, you can’t beat the stunning shade of blue that this coffee maker comes in. While I always prefer a stainless steel carafe, the Brentwood’s glass carafe is tempered – so it definitely wins points for durability.
Not only do you get a reusable coffee filter and removable filter basket, this small coffee maker also comes with a handy coffee scoop. Ultimately, what makes this coffee maker a stand-out is its simplicity. There’s no complex control panel to navigate and no timer to worry about – just a simple on/off button to start the brewing cycle.
That’s not to say this coffee maker isn’t without its perks. There’s a warming plate to keep your coffee hot, and an automatic shutoff that’ll kick in after two hours.
If you feel like the best 4 cup drip coffee maker should be dishwasher safe, you might want to pass on this one. While the filter basket is easier to clean than most coffee makers, all removable parts should be washed by hand.
If you’re a French press aficionado, it can be hard to find one that sits in the Goldilocks zone. In saying that, I’m referring to the fact that they’re often either too large or too small. Enter the Mira Insulated French Press, which offers a 20-ounce (591-milliliter) capacity, making it the best 4-cup French press I’ve been able to find.
Costing an entirely reasonable $30.61, the Mira is no ordinary French press. Rather, this 4 cup coffee maker is constructed from durable 18/10 stainless steel. So, forget having to worry about dropping a glass carafe! Furthermore, the inside of the Mira is stainless steel too, meaning your coffee will stay nice and hot. Oh, and the thing even boasts an air pocket between the inside and outside, so it’ll be cool to the touch.
Personally, I love the way this 4 cup French press looks – the Pearl Blue color will bring a touch of class to any kitchen. Finally, the Mira French press features a lovely ergonomic handle, so pouring your first cup of the day will be a breeze, even if you’re still feeling sleepy!
Related: Best French Press
Picking the best pour over coffee maker with a 4 cup capacity was a no-brainer. Having tested the Fellow Stagg XF Pour Over Set, I can confidently say that those of you for whom manual coffee brewing methods are your idea of heaven will absolutely love this thing.
Sure, the Fellow Stagg XF Pour Over Set ain’t cheap at $99.00. However, you definitely get what you pay for.
To begin, the dripper itself is made from double-walled stainless steel and features an innovative 10-hole design that aids in facilitating the perfect extraction. What’s more, Fellow includes a nifty metal dosing funnel to help fill the paper filter without spilling coffee everywhere.
As part of the set, you’ll also get a stunning carafe made from hand-blown double-walled borosilicate glass. This gorgeous piece of art features the Fellow logo as well as a silicone stopper, and has a 20-ounce (591-milliliter) capacity.
Finally, the Fellow Stagg XF can be used in a couple of different ways. You can use it as you would any other dripper, by carefully pouring water in a controlled way, or simply add all the water in one go and let gravity take care of the rest.
See Also: Fellow Stagg Pour Over Review
Like the aforementioned Brentwood machine, the Dominion 4 Cup Coffee Maker is about as simple as it gets if you’re looking for a no-frills 4 cup coffee maker. Plus, this compact model will set you back just $29.99 on Amazon.
Featuring a classic coffee maker design and all-black color palate, the Dominion 4 Cup Coffee Maker is easy to use and won’t take up more space. I particularly appreciate the built-in cord storage, which means you could keep this coffee maker in a cupboard when you aren’t using it.
The Dominion coffee maker comes with a drip-free glass carafe and a removable filter basket for easy cleaning. With that said, I would have liked to have seen a reusable coffee filter included.
Although the Dominion 4 Cup Coffee Maker does have a warming plate, I’d recommend ignoring that unless you like the taste of stewed coffee. Then again, thanks to its limited capacity, I don’t foresee coffee hanging out in the carafe for very long!
Scouting for your next coffee maker isn’t always fun, especially if you’re not even sure what kind of features you’re looking for. That said, there are a few factors that separate mediocre coffee makers from the solid performers.
Features: Some people appreciate a four cup coffee maker that has all the bells and whistles, while others prefer simplicity. In fact, the manual brewers on my list exemplify simplicity at its finest. Although some coffee makers include complex control panels, others can brew your coffee with the push of a button. Neither option is necessarily superior. However, there’s no reason to spend extra money on special features if you’re not planning to use them.
Brew pause: The few minutes that it takes your coffee to brew can feel like an eternity. If you’re someone who likes to pour your first cup before the java is done flowing, you’ll want to consider an auto pause feature. This automatically pauses your brew, so you can safely pour a cup without the rest of the coffee dripping onto the hot plate.
Automatic shutoff: Most people don’t want to think about their coffee maker once they’ve poured the last cup, which is why an auto shutoff feature comes in handy. This function automatically turns off your coffee maker after a designated amount of time. It’s great if you’re leaving for work after your morning hot coffee, or you’re headed out to run errands.
Ease of cleaning: Delicious coffee doesn’t mean as much if cleaning your coffee maker is a pain. That might mean looking for a coffee maker that’s dishwasher safe. However, at the very least, you’ll want your carafe’s opening to be large enough to make hand washing easy.
Carafe: Speaking of a carafe, it’s a crucial part of any good simple coffee maker. While a glass carafe might win the award for easiest to clean, it’s not going to be as durable as a stainless steel carafe. What’s more, a glass carafe won’t retain heat as well as a thermal pot.
If you’re looking for more inspiration, make sure to check out my guide to the best drip coffee makers!
When shopping for the best 4 cup coffee maker, some of the technical jargon can be a little overwhelming. Not only that, you’ve got to decide between a stainless steel or glass carafe, whether you want a permanent coffee filter and how easy it’ll be to clean the machine.
It’s easy to overthink, but take a deep breath and relax. All the 4 cup coffee makers on my list are top notch machines. All you need to do is select the best small coffee maker for your lifestyle. Trust me, it won’t be long before you’re enjoying delicious fresh coffee as well as all that extra space in your kitchen!
What’s your favorite 4 cup coffee maker? Where do you use it? Is there a different one you believe should make my list of the best 4 cup coffee makers? I look forward to your comments!
Although it can vary from brand to brand, most coffee manufacturers do include replacement parts for their machines – including stainless steel or glass carafes.
The wrong grind size can throw off the entire brewing process in your coffee pot. When it comes to 4 cup coffee makers, a medium grind size is going to make the best morning cup.
Sprinkle a dash of baking soda into the bottom of the carafe and add enough water until it has a paste-like consistency. Then, use a sponge or an old toothbrush to scrub the stains. Ultimately, the baking soda’s abrasive qualities should do the trick.
It’s always a good idea to do a quick rinse in between brew cycles. That said, you should deep clean your 4 cup coffee maker every three to six months – depending on how regularly you use it. Even if your coffee maker is dishwasher safe, hand washing with a mild detergent is still the better alternative.
Instant coffee and your 4 cup coffee machine aren’t friends. Instant coffee is made to dissolve quickly – much faster than the typical time it takes to get freshly brewed coffee with your filter and glass carafe.
What you will get if you add instant coffee to your machine is a sludgy, undrinkable coffee mixture and a clogged machine. Depending on how much instant coffee you use, this experiment could put you in the market for a new coffee maker by the time you’re done.
Hi! My name is Arne. Having spent years working as a barista I'm now on a mission to bring more good coffee to the people. To that end, my team and I provide you with a broad knowledge base on the subject of coffee.
Hi! My name is Arne. Having spent years working as a barista I'm now on a mission to bring more good coffee to the people. To that end, my team and I provide you with a broad knowledge base on the subject of coffee.
