Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Mini Brew Review

While the Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Mini Brew generally didn't score very high in our testing; it is affordable and simple to use. The coffee it makes is mediocre. If you're a little more particular about your morning java, you can check out some other options on our best drip coffee maker review.

Performance Comparison

Taste

Taste is a highly subjective metric, but our team of taste testers sipped and evaluated many cups of coffee brewed by the Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Mini Brew. The results were better than expected for how simple and affordable this machine is. Nothing outstanding, but acceptable.

For one, the acidity was on point — our testers all reported that it was bright without being sharp and overbearing. Fruity, nutty, and chocolatey flavor notes were detected. Surprisingly, hardly a whiff of bitter or astringent notes slipped through. However, one of our testers reported that they thought this was because the brewed coffee was “lacking flavor” and “tasted thin.” Still, the overall impression was that the coffee had some semblance of flavor with a light mouthfeel, which is what some people prefer. But if you're hoping to extract a robust blend of both deep and delicate flavors from your brew, this machine isn't the one to do it.

Brew Quality

We found similar results with the Mr. Coffee 5-Cup's brew quality. It can produce a drinkable cup of coffee, but its metrics don't look great on paper.

For temperature testing and data collecting, we took the Mr. Coffee 5-Cup to sea level to get accurate readings. On average, the Mr. Coffee 5-Cup brews at an average of 181.9°F based on the measurement of five separate brews. As far as brewing temperature goes, this machine did not impress.

This coffee maker falls just shy of the desired 195°F-205°F suggested by the SCA, leading to less flavor extraction. Couple this with the manufacturer's suggested measurement of coffee grounds, and you have a recipe for a weak cup of coffee. Additionally, there is no pre-infusion option or any of the added features you might find on a higher-end model.

Brew Time

For the exhausted and anxious coffee drinkers of the world who don't want to be patient in the early morning hours, the Mr. Coffee 5-Cup is not the most ideal choice. It takes a long time to brew a pot.

In our testing, the first pot took 9 minutes from flipping the brew switch to the last drip. That's well above the norm and longer than most will want to wait. Subsequent brews were faster, averaging about 8 minutes per pot.

Ease of Use

The Mr. Coffee 5-cup could be considered quite user-friendly if you are basing your assessment solely on its simplicity. Without any programmable settings to mess with, making coffee with this machine is pretty foolproof. Add your coffee filter, put in the grounds, pour in your water, close the lid, and flip the switch. The only potential hang-up is that the brew basket is a bit weird. At first, it wasn't very obvious which way it goes in, but once we figured that out, we were in business. The basket is a mini version of the standard flat basket. However, we found that you can use a standard-size filter if you need to. With that being said, the lack of ability to personalize your coffee experience may be a glaring loss if you are used to a tastier pour-over.

This machine has just one switch to toggle it on and off, meaning it does not shut off on its own if you run out the door and forget. There is a sneak-a-cup feature on the Mr. Coffee 5-Cup, which is meant to pause the coffee drip so that you can grab the carafe, but we noticed it still tends to drip without the carafe underneath. With a hot plate warm enough to heat the coffee in the carafe, this dripping can lead to burnt coffee on the hot plate. The water reservoir is located in the back of the machine, and it has a lid that opens to both the water tank and the coffee grounds. Fortunately, this space is large enough that there isn't much fear of accidentally spilling water into the grounds while you're filling the machine. The hinge of the lid to the water reservoir is located on the left, so it would have to be poured right-handed. There is also an indicator window on the right-hand side so you can see how much water you're adding.

Thankfully, the Mr. Coffee 5-Cup has a dishwasher-safe glass carafe and lid, and the filter basket is also dishwasher-safe. However, we were a bit surprised to find the manufacturer has no recommendation for descaling. It is simply suggested to add water and run a single brew to flush the system, which won't provide the deep-cleaning power you need to keep your machine running smoothly.

Should You Buy the Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Mini Brew?

While the Mr. Coffee 5-Cup does little to impress or set itself apart from other low-end drip coffee makers, it isn't a horrible option for small-space living. If you are willing to compromise affordability for a less tasty coffee, this is not a bad machine, but there are far better options out there — including inexpensive and small options that taste and perform better overall.

What Other Drip Coffee Makers Should You Consider?

We've tested a few models that are a little higher up on the price ladder but provide better-tasting coffee. The Black+Decker Thermal is an inexpensive programmable machine with more impressive brew quality and features, plus it has a convenient auto-brew feature. It brews similar tasting coffee but is more robust in features and brews a bit faster. If you can afford to splurge just a little more, the Ninja 12-Cup is well worth the investment, offering very useful features, great ease of use, and a much more satisfying brew.