Best Under Cabinet Coffee Makers: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Reviewed by Urban Bean Coffee Team

on August 6, 2021

12

Products Considered

113

Hours of Research

8

Experts Interviewed

19

Customers Consulted

Regardless of whether your kitchen is large or small, you will still want to make best coffee for your friends, yourself, or your staff. But if your kitchen is too small for a regular coffee maker, what do you do?

A compact or under-the-cabinet coffee maker can be a great convenience for someone with a small kitchen or someone who just doesn’t want a coffee maker to ruin their kitchen decor. 

But which coffee machine should you choose? Which product is right for you? Don’t worry, our team answered all the questions that you may have!

Each space-saving and under-the-cabinet coffee maker listed below was selected by Urban Bean Coffee because of its build quality, interesting design, and great customer experience.

The best part?

After the reviews, you will find a buying guide that will help you make your final choice.

Note: It is hard to find good under-the-cabinet coffee makers. Some have unfortunately been discontinued. Therefore, we've added alternative small coffee maker options that can still be stored under the cabinet to this review.

Black & Decker SDC850If you want to mount a coffee maker to your kitchen cabinet, then this is the best option. Key Features
  • The volume of the water tank allows you to brew 8 cups at a time
  • The software allows you to set the start time for brewing coffee
  • Easy to mount
View Latest Price →See Customer Reviews
Hamilton BeachThis coffee maker fits perfectly in any place, as it takes up very little space. Key Features
  • Compact design: 7.6 in x 9.8 in x 13.5 in
  • Making coffee very fast - in 90 seconds you get an 8 oz cup
  • Simple controls and powerful features
View Latest Price →See Customer Reviews
NOSTALGIA BSET300AQThis 3-in-1 coffee maker is perfect if you want to make toast, scrambled eggs and coffee at the same time. Key Features
  • 3 in 1 design includes a coffee maker, griddle and toaster
  • Easy cleaning
  • Ideal for small kitchens, apartments, dormitories, and vans
View Latest Price →See Customer Reviews

How to Pick the Best Under Cabinet Coffee Maker

Dimensions

The brewing volume can be determined by the size of the carafe or travel mug, but does not necessarily indicate how large or small the coffee maker will be. To save space, choose a compact machine.

To choose a compact device, find your favorite brand and check out their smallest models.

Type of fastening for under-the-counter machines

An ideal coffee maker should be easy to install with conventional tools. If you don’t want to go along a long path that involves drilling holes in the countertop before screwing in the coffee maker, you may need something with snap-on clips for easy installation.

Another factor to consider is the length of the power cord. If it is removable, all the better, as you can purchase a longer cord that reaches the wall outlet. If this is not the case, you may need to install the coffee maker closer to a power outlet or buy an extension cord.

Cup capacity

How much coffee do you need to make? This is the biggest question you should answer when evaluating the size of your coffee maker. A coffee maker for three to five cups will be more than enough for one to three people, while larger homes or offices may require larger brewing capacities.

Programmable controls & brewing options

Smart coffee makers have infiltrated our kitchens, offices, and recreational vehicles. 

If you want something that does more than just save space, you might want to buy a programmable coffee maker that brews your coffee before you wake up and keeps it warm.

Wi-Fi wireless control can also be a great idea. With wireless control, all you have to do is pick your settings. No need to push a button and wait for your drink to arrive. 

Material

The two main materials for the under-the-cabinet and space-saving coffee makers are stainless steel and plastic. Both are hygienic, have good thermal conductivity, and are easy to clean. Pay close attention to build quality, design, and durability when choosing a coffee maker.

Space-Saving Coffee Maker Pros and Cons

If you are still not sure whether a space-saving coffee maker is for you, here are some of the biggest pros and cons of compact coffee makers.

Pros

1. Space-saving and under-the-counter makers are usually the perfect solution for very small kitchens, boats, SUVs, trailers, or small office lounges.

2. Most compact coffee makers are automatic and pre-programmable.

3. Many compact devices can brew up to 12 cups of coffee and come with clocks and timers so you can program your coffee maker so that coffee waits for you in the morning.

4. Some compact coffee makers come with the so-called “pour the cup” option, which stops the brewing cycle so you can get a cup of coffee even before brewing is done.

5. Many space-saving coffee makers have a very elegant design, offer various color options and cup capacities, are easy to install, include automatic shutdown, and include a removable water tank.

6. Cables and components remain on the sidelines, and you don’t have to pull it out and put it away, as is the case with other small coffee makers that are not designed to work from your cabinet.

Cons

1. Compact coffee makers are usually small, impromptu versions of their older brothers. This means that most models will only brew one to five cups at a time.

2. You may not have the freedom to make different types of coffee drinks, as designers may remove such functions in order to decrease size.

3. Relatively lower brewing speeds due to a smaller heating coil and cooking chamber. You will not notice this if your coffee machine is programmable.

The Best Under Cabinet Coffee Maker

Therefore, it’s hard to choose only the best under cabinet coffee from the market. Everyone has different reasons for buying space saver coffee maker. To help make your choice easier, we have organized the best devices on amazon by value for money. Here are the Urban Bean Coffee’s top 6 best under cabinet coffee makers in 2021:

1. Black & Decker SDC850 Mountable Coffee Maker

[img_block amz_url=”https://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-SDC850-SpaceMaker-Coffeemaker/dp/B001HSMW6O/?tag=hdcurbnbn-20″ img_url=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71mM9isr5BL.jpg” prod_name=”Black & Decker SDC850″]

This mountable coffee maker not only brews up to 8 cups of hot and tasty coffee at a time, but also offers a compact under-the-cabinet configuration that helps free up space.

The device is equipped with a removable water reservoir for easy filling, a removable brewing basket, and a simple on/off button that starts the brewing process.

For added convenience, the coffee machine offers a blue-lit digital control panel, a programmable clock, a brew delay function, a freshness indicator, and a Sneak-A-Cup option that pauses coffee flow to allow you to take a cup of coffee before brewing has ended.

The kit includes an 8-cup Perfect Pour thermal carafe equipped with a handle for cooling and a non-flowing stream.

For ease of installation, step-by-step instructions and a template for mounting a preliminary size are included (at least two mounting holes match the original ODC coffee machine, which simplifies upgrades).

2. Hamilton Beach

[img_block amz_url=”https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-49981A-Coffee-Single/dp/B00EI7DPS0/?tag=hdcurbnbn-20″ img_url=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71ATmhr-wTL.jpg” prod_name=”Hamilton Beach”]

Hamilton Beach products are smartly designed to make your life easier. The company uses consumer insight, in-depth research, and rigorous testing to provide the best coffee machines for our daily needs.

The Scoop Single Serve coffee maker brews hotter, more delicious drinks than most machines, and does so very quickly. And its benefits do not end there.

The Scoop uses the simplicity of ground coffee beans and quickly brews an 8-ounce customizable cup. One cup takes less than 90 seconds and 14 ounces takes two and a half minutes.

Regardless of what brand you use, you need a machine that understands and quickly adapts. You can use the REGULAR setting for quick, simple, automatic drip coffee, or choose BOLD for finer grinding, decaf, or stronger flavors.

Not sure how much coffee to add when brewing? Don’t worry; each scoop filter has two measuring lines to help you decide. 

Before brewing, adjust the L-shaped cup holder to make sure that your cup is as close to the dispensing nozzle as possible. For travel mugs, just place the mug on the cupholder. 

3. NOSTALGIA BSET300AQ

[img_block amz_url=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F5D10TG/?tag=hdcurbnbn-20″ img_url=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/817dU8FsWjL.jpg” prod_name=”NOSTALGIA BSET300AQ”]

This versatile breakfast station covers your entire morning ritual, allowing you to make coffee, toast and eggs at the same time. The compact 3-in-1 design is ideal for small kitchens, apartments, dormitories, and vans.

The NOSTALGIA BSET300AQ has a 30-minute timer and an oven with a glass door and can hold up to 4 slices of bread or a 7-inch pizza, and can be used to prepare casseroles, cookies and other delicious dishes.

This under-cabinet coffee maker works great in RVs and brews up to 4 cups at a time in a matter of minutes so you can enjoy a cup of coffee while your meal is being prepared. It comes with a glass carafe, a coffee scoop, and a reusable filter.

A large non-stick pan offers plenty of space for cooking, pancakes, sausages, bacon, hash browns and other breakfast items, and comes with a glass lid.

You can also select your desired setting: grill, toast/baking, and heating. The indicator light will let you know when the device is turned on.

4. Hamilton Beach 46205

[img_block amz_url=”https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-46205-Programmable-Standard/dp/B01N7VIDWY/?tag=hdcurbnbn-20″ img_url=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81xN0za-AjL.jpg” prod_name=”Hamilton Beach 46205″]

Every minute counts when you just woke up and need to get out the door. Now you can get started with the Hamilton Beach!

Set up the programmable clock at night, and wake up to a hot cup of coffee in the morning. Whenever you set up a brew, you can do it quickly and easily—a rotating base allows quick access to the rear water reservoir, and the hinged brewing basket opens at the touch of a button.

Three options for the strength of the drink (bold, regular, and 1-4 cups) and an adjustable heating plate allow you to adjust the taste and temperature of the coffee for the perfect cup. And with an automatic pause and serve function, problem-free filling, and non-stick heating plate, spills are a thing of the past. The water reservoir is also removable for easy filling and cleaning.

5. Cuisinart DCC-3400P1

[img_block amz_url=”https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-DCC-3400-Stainless-Thermal-Coffeemaker/dp/B01N6T5QNO/?tag=hdcurbnbn-20″ img_url=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81vrs6Wu4OL.jpg” prod_name=”Cuisinart DCC-3400P1″]

The Cuisinart DCC-3400P1 is one of the most popular machines on the market. It comes with coffee brewing technology that maintains the brewing temperature at an ideal level to extract the natural taste and quality of your coffee.

The Cuisinart DCC-3400P1 allows you to choose between regular or bold brewing. When using the 1-4 cups setting, you can choose one serving. Or you can use the glass carafe (with a capacity of 14 cups) to serve visitors.

The product itself is made of stainless steel with an ergonomic handle.

The Cuisinart DCC-3400P1 is equipped with a backlit LCD display where you can read the settings. Up to 24 hours in advance, you can program it to brew your favorite coffee at a certain time. So every time you wake up in the morning, you have freshly brewed coffee!

6. Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker

[img_block amz_url=”https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-12-Cup-Maker-Black/dp/B002YI2IG0/?tag=hdcurbnbn-20″ img_url=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71LB1AbsorL.jpg” prod_name=”Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker”]

Mr. Coffee is a fundamental coffee maker model that makes good coffee at a reasonable price.

Just install it, turn it on and brew! Richly crafted coffee will be ready in a jiffy.

The Grab-A-Cup automatic pause function is life-saving when you need a cup before the end of the coffee brewing cycle. The Mr. Coffee stops so you can pour a rich cup, and then completes the brewing cycle after you put the glass carafe back in place.

Double water windows give a clear idea of the water level when filling to reduce the possibility of overflow. The power on/off indicator displays the status of the coffee maker. And the brewing light reminds you to turn off this space-saving coffee maker.

The entire upper part opens up, providing easy access to the filter and water reservoir, and the glass carafe has a wide upper opening. The Lift & Clean filter basket is easy to remove for quick cleaning.

under cabinet coffee maker

FAQ

What are the advantages of under-the-cabinet coffee makers?

The main advantage of such coffee makers is that they take up very little space. In addition, the installation of a coffee machine helps ensure its safety, limits the likelihood of it breaking, and increases convenience.

Are mountable, under-the-cabinet coffee makers a good solution for the office?

Under-the-cabinet coffee makers can also be a blessing in places where you need a few cups of coffee throughout the day. In the office, you can also provide a table with napkins, sweeteners, and cream, as well as free snacks or cookies that will be convenient for customers or employees.

What coffee brewing method do the under-cabinet coffee makers use?

These coffee makers use the drip method of brewing coffee.

Sources

Installing Your Spacemaker – ManualsLib