Students, get up and running with a cup of great coffee!
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If you are a college student who likes coffee, you’re going to want to invest in a coffee maker to get you through those rough study sessions.
Having your own coffee maker is a brilliant idea to not only brew yourself the best coffee possible but also help to save money in the long run.
Choosing a coffee maker for college can be challenging and confusing especially with the abundance of choices available out there on the market.
Most colleges have strict rules about which electronics and small appliances are allowed in dorm rooms so that there are no fire hazards. Generally, as long as your coffee maker doesn’t have a warming hot plate, you are allowed to use it in your dorm room.
We’re here to help you find a coffee maker that fits your budget and needs.
We’ve compiled a list of 5 best coffee makers for college so you can get caffeinated, focus and be more alert.
- Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Single-Serve Coffee Maker
- Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Mini Brew Programmable Coffee Maker
- Black+Decker 12-Cup Thermal Coffee Maker
- Krups 12-Cup Thermal Programmable Coffee Maker
- Nespresso Essenza Mini Coffee and Espresso Machine
1. Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Single-Serve Coffee Maker – Most Versatile
- Capacity: 10 oz with pod, 14 oz with ground coffee
- Coffee Pot: Travel mug or regular coffee mug (not included)
- Weight: 3.22 lbs
- Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.2 x 13.35 inches
- Power: 1050 watts
- Warranty: 5 years
This versatile coffee maker from Hamilton Beach fits perfectly by the bedside in your dorm room or off-campus apartment. It is a single-serve style coffee maker that accommodates a variety of mugs for your convenience.
Use a K-Cup coffee pod when you are in a rush in the morning, or opt for pre-ground coffee using the reusable K-Cup filter basket if you have extra time to spare.
Cleaning is super easy with removable parts. You just need to rinse all the parts under running water and let them dry. However, you will need to perform a deep cleaning once in a while on the piercing needle assembly in order to prevent or remove clogs.
Pros
- One button operation
- Brew K-Cup pod or pre-ground coffee
- Easy view reservoir windows
- Easy to clean
- Auto shut-off
- Storage area inside cup rest
Cons
- Small water reservoir
See Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Single-Serve Coffee Maker in action:
2. Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Mini Brew Programmable Coffee Maker – Best Budget Friendly
- Capacity: 25 oz
- Coffee Pot: Glass carafe
- Weight: 1.56 lbs
- Dimensions: 9.65 x 7.1 x 10.63 inches
- Power: 650 watts
- Warranty: 1 year
This Mr. Coffee is a compact, nice little coffee maker for a small dorm room and could make a good cup of coffee quick and easy.
It is a small coffee maker that is easy to set up and easy to program. It has an LCD display clock which allows you to set a brew time for that required morning coffee. However, the display has no backlight and it is difficult to see without turning on the lights even during the day.
This coffee maker includes a reusable coffee filter, which is an excellent alternative and saves you the cost of constantly buying paper filters.
Pros
- Compact
- Programmable
- Easy to use
- Reusable coffee filter
Cons
- Display is not backlit
3. Black+Decker 12-Cup Thermal Coffee Maker – Best All-Rounder
- Capacity: 60 oz
- Coffee Pot: Stainless steel thermal carafe
- Weight: 4 lbs
- Dimensions: 13.25 x 13.25 x 7.75 inches
- Power: 900 watts
- Warranty: 2 years
This Black+Decker thermal coffee maker is a great coffee maker for those who are looking for a compact unit with a big capacity. Not only does this coffee maker look stylish, but it also brews quietly, which is perfect if you have a roommate.
This coffee maker is programmable and will let you pick your brew strength according to your coffee type and origin. It also has the option for small-batch brewing that maintains all the flavor of a regular full brew.
The thermal pot is double-walled and vacuum-sealed, which will keep your coffee hot and fresh for long hours. The 60oz large thermal carafe features a wide top opening for fast and easy cleanup after brewing.
Pros
- QuickTouch programming
- EvenStream showerhead technology
- Thermal carafe
- Reusable coffee filter
- Customize brewing options
- Cord storage
- LCD digital display
Cons
- Screen is not backlit
- Water reservoir is not detachable
See the Black+Decker 12-Cup Thermal Coffee Maker in action:
4. Krups 12-Cup Thermal Programmable Coffee Maker – Best Programmable
- Capacity: 60 oz
- Coffee Pot: Stainless steel thermal carafe
- Weight: 10.04 lbs
- Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.6 x 15.9 inches
- Power: 1100 watts
- Warranty: 2 years
Nothing beats the ease of pressing a button for coffee with a built-in programmable digital clock. This coffee maker from Krups holds 12 cups of coffee and will stay warm for up to 4 hours in its thermal carafe.
Now you can sleep in until right before class. It is so easy to program with its auto-start brewing function to have that hot pot of coffee ready when you get up.
Easy upkeep and maintenance, especially the tedious descaling part, are some of the most important features of your coffee maker. Krups makes it easy to facilitate the descaling process at the touch of a button.
Pros
- Thermal carafe
- Reusable gold tone filter
- Easy-to-read LCD screen
- Adjustable brew strength
- Clean function
Cons
- Long brewing time
5. Nespresso Essenza Mini Coffee and Espresso Machine – Most Convenient
- Capacity: 1.35 oz for Espresso / 5 oz for Lungo
- Coffee Pot: Demitasse or Lungo cups (not included)
- Weight: 5.1 lbs
- Dimensions: 8.1 x 12.8 x 4.3 inches
- Power: 1150 watts
- Warranty: 2 years
Nespresso Essenza lets you create a barista-style coffee or espresso every single time. It is fast, easy to use and clean, and simple to operate.
This coffee maker has a simple one touch design that features a patented extraction system. There are two buttons that allow you to adjust the cup size to make either an espresso or a lungo.
Nespresso is perfect for college dorm rooms or apartments. With a 25 seconds warm-up time, requiring no cleanup, and the extended choices of capsules, the Essenza is a hard machine to beat.
Pros
- Super convenient
- Rich and bold coffee
- Save time
- Compact
- Tons of Nespresso capsules choices
- Virtually no cleanup
Cons
- Capsule costs more than whole beans or pre-ground coffee
See the Nespresso Essenza in action:
The best way to enjoy your coffee right after waking up is to brew it from your own room. We hope our list is useful and helps you make the right decision. Regardless of which one you pick, these are all great coffee makers that will definitely serve you well either in the morning or before class. Stay caffeinated!
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