A 5 cup coffee maker offers a nice amount of coffee for a single person or a couple. They cost about the same as 4-cup coffee makers, and are therefore better value for money even though the difference in liquid amounts to very little.
Note on cup measure:
Coffee manufacturers measure cup contents in 5 ounces. In other words, a 5-cup coffee machine will give you roughly 25 ounces of coffee in the carafe, or three full coffee mugs.
Here are the three best rated 5-cup coffee makers based on customer satisfaction ratios and user ratings.
5-Cup Coffee Maker Roundup
Zojirushi EC-DAC50 Zutto 5-Cup Drip Coffee Maker
This is without a doubt the best looking 5-cup coffee maker around. Brace yourself though, because it is also 2 – 4 times more expensive than mainstream brands like Mr. Coffee and Black & Decker.
You’ll see the difference immediately in the engineering and some features that you won’t find on the cheap brands.
Here’s a quick summary of the features:
– 650W drip coffee maker
– Filter cone inside decanter for ease of use
– Concealed, removable water reservoir
– Automatic keep warm function
– Replaceable water filter
– Built-in charcoal filter
– Cone-bottom filter
Zojirushi got it right with this coffee maker, and it makes some of the best coffee you’re ever likely to taste from a drip coffee maker. The filter being in the lid of the decanter is actually a great idea and works very well, making the machine less bulky. The removable water reservoir is a great convenience.
It’s not perfect though. There is no auto-off function and the carafe can spill if you pour too quickly.
Overall though, if you’re serious about having a really great tasting cup of coffee instead of just a cup of coffee, consider this quality 5-cup coffee maker. It may not be worth the high price for everyone.
Customer satisfaction ratio: 81%
Average User Rating: 4.2 out of 5
Click Here for Zojirushi Zutto Pricing and User Reviews
Mr. Coffee JWX3 Programmable Coffee Maker
Costing roughly half of what the Zojirushi costs, the Mr. Coffee JWX3 is a decent 5-cup programmable coffee maker with the same basic features as its 4-cup siblings.
Quick Features:
– On/off indicator light
– Removable filter basket
– Brewing Pause ‘n Serve function
– Dual water window
– Programmable 24 hours in advance
Overall, this machine works as expected. The programmable function works fine, and you can set it to have a carafe of coffee ready for you when you wake up in the morning. The coffee is good quality, just do the proper cleaning ritual described in the manual before you start making coffee with it to avoid that fresh plastic-like taste.
As you’d expect at this price, the machine will have some flaws. In the case of the JWX3, hot water doesn’t seem to be evenly distributed around the filter, dripping in to the side somewhat. This can cause the filter to fold over. The carafe spills slightly when pouring while its full.
Apart from that, you get a cheaply made but decent programmable 5-cup coffee machine that makes a good cup of coffee. The unit has a 1 hour auto shut-off.
Customer satisfaction ratio: 70%
Average User Rating: 3.8 out of 5
Click Here for Mr Coffee JWX3 Pricing and User Reviews
Mr. Coffee TF6 5-Cup Switch Coffee Maker
The Mr. Coffee TF coffee makers are simple, straightforward machines that just get the job done. The TF6 is the same. There’s nothing automatic or programmable about this machine. You turn it on, it brews, you turn it off. That’s it.
Quick Features:
– On/off indicator light
– Removable filter basket
– Pause ‘n Serve function
– Dual water window
The TF6 is plastic for the most part and fairly flimsy. This is of particular concern with the carafe lid, which is crucial to the functioning of the machine. So, just be careful. It does brew a hot cup of coffee though, not piping hot but good enough. It typically takes between 6 and 8 minutes to brew a full carafe.
If you like simplicity and don’t need programming or auto-shutoff, this is a decent little 5-cupper for around 20 bucks, and the majority of buyers are quite fond of it.
Customer satisfaction ratio: 77%
Average User Rating: 4.2 out of 5
Click Here for Mr Coffee TF6 Pricing and User Reviews
Conclusion: Best 5-Cup Coffee Maker
The Zojirushi Zutto is the standout coffee maker in this segment, but also a lot more expensive that the other models. Either of the Mr. Coffee models also provide good value for money if the Zojirushi is beyond your budget.
Models not considered in this roundup:
The following two models are worth considering, but were not included here because they don’t really offer better value or quality than the three models above.