Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Mini Brew Coffee Maker Review (2026)

Size and brewing capacity

The manufacturer lists this model at 10.63 inches tall and about 3.1 pounds, small enough to tuck onto a narrow counter or shelf without dominating the space. It brews up to 25 ounces of coffee per cycle, which the maker describes as good for two 12 ounce cups, so it is sized for one or two people rather than a full pot for a household. The 650 watt heating element is on the modest side for a drip machine, which fits the compact, budget-focused design rather than a machine built for speed. For anyone furnishing a small kitchen where counter space is the limiting factor, the footprint here is one of the smaller options in the compact drip category.

Grab-a-Cup Auto Pause

The standout convenience feature is Grab-a-Cup Auto Pause, which halts the brew cycle the moment you slide the carafe out so you can pour a cup immediately instead of waiting for the full cycle to finish. Once the carafe is back in place under the basket, brewing resumes automatically. This is a common feature on drip makers generally, but it matters more on a small machine like this one since the appeal is quick coffee without extra steps. The carafe itself has ounce markings printed on the side, which takes the guesswork out of measuring water for a specific number of cups before you start a brew.

Controls and daily use

This is a manual machine: a simple on and off switch starts the brew cycle, and a power indicator light shows when it is running or reminds you to switch it off once you are done. There is no programmable timer, so you cannot set it up the night before to have coffee ready at a specific time, which is the main feature buyers give up by choosing this model over a pricier programmable drip maker. An easy to view water window on the reservoir lets you see the exact water level before brewing, which helps prevent overfilling or accidentally running the machine with too little water.

Cleaning and upkeep

The filter basket lifts out for cleaning, which the maker markets as a simple design choice that avoids fiddly parts to disassemble after each use. Like most small drip makers with a glass carafe and warming plate, coffee left sitting on the hot plate for an extended period can start to taste stewed or bitter, so it works best when brewed and served within a reasonable window rather than left warming for hours. Regular descaling, as with any drip machine, will keep the heating element working properly over time, though the product listing does not specify a descaling schedule.

Who should buy this

This coffee maker suits a dorm room, small apartment kitchen, or a second coffee maker for an office desk, where the priority is a low price, a small footprint, and coffee ready in one simple cycle rather than a long list of programmable features. Anyone who wants their coffee brewing automatically before they wake up should look at a programmable model instead, since this one requires manually flipping the switch each time. For straightforward daily drip coffee for one or two people without extra buttons to learn, this compact model covers the basics at an accessible price.

Frequently asked questions