The Best Keurig Coffee Machine Under $100, Per Consumer Reports

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Waking up and making pour-over coffee while you're half-asleep is hard. So, if a budget hand-brew coffee maker is understandably beyond your mental capacity before caffeine, you may need an automatic machine. But which one? Fortunately, the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Consumer Reports tested 35 single-serve coffee machines (hopefully only in the morning). According to the group, the highest-rated single-serve coffee maker under $100 is the K-Mini Mate by Keurig.

The reviewers felt the machine had excellent first-cup speed (time from water heating up to your first drinkable cup), temperature consistency, and size consistency (whether or not each cup has the same amount of coffee). Convenience and repeat speed (amount of time between separate cups) were both solid as well. Overall, they found the machine easy to operate. The Consumer Reports' top-rated machine is currently available on Amazon for $49, which is around the same price as a Chemex.

Overall, reviews for the Keurig K-Mini Mate are mixed. Even on Consumer Reports noted two downsides: the need to refill the water after each cup and the limited drink options. The machine's small size and simplicity mean it can only make basic cups of coffee (Keurigs can't really make true espresso, anyway, though some can approximate a shot).

On Amazon, it gets 4.3 stars with over 4,300 reviews. People like that it's easy to use, small, and fast. One reviewer takes full advantage of its size, writing: "I take it with me anytime I go on vacation because sometimes the hotels do not have a Keurig coffee maker or something that takes the k pods." They go on to highlight another factor to be aware of when buying the machine: "And [the hotel's] coffee at times, the ones that are in the rooms, are way too strong for me." If other coffees are too strong for you, there's no shame in picking up a Keurig K-Mini Mate, but if you like strong coffee, beware.

The weak brew is an issue for some on Reddit. One commenter wrote: "I just got the mini mate to speed up my morning cup from the French press I've used for years. I cannot get a decent cup from it. Either it's weak or if I lower the water level it doesn't use all the water and I get a couple tablespoons of mud." The original poster had issues with the machine breaking down. Keurig coffee makers are one of the most returned items at Costco, after all. It appears that, while it may be the best cheap Keurig, it still has some flaws. Whether the convenience makes up for those flaws is up to you!