The Best Affordable Coffee Gear, According to Our Tests

We love our coffee gear here at Serious Eats. Over the years, we’ve tested tools and gadgets for all types of brewing methods, including espresso and pour-over. Happily, we’ve also found budget-friendly products that don’t skimp on quality and performance. 

So, we rounded up the best affordable coffee gear that continues to impress us year after year. Whether it’s a budget-friendly espresso machine or a cheap coffee grinder, all of the items featured below have undergone our rigorous tests for quality and durability. Best yet, they’re $100 or less.

The Best Budget Coffee Gear, at a Glance

Zojirushi Dome Brew Classic Coffee Maker

When we tested coffee makers under $150, the Zojirushi delivered good coffee at a fraction of the price compared to premium models. It brews a full pot in under seven minutes and has a programmable start. Plus, it’s 35% off.

De’Longhi Stilosa Espresso Machine

In the espresso world, machines can cost  thousands of dollars. Our top pick, the Breville Bambino Plus, is a reasonable $500, but that’s still pricey for some. For the espresso curious who want to pull acceptable shots for under $100, our budget recommendation, the De’Longhi Stilosa Espresso Machine, is currently on sale for $87. During our tests, it outperformed every other model under $400 and had a user-friendly interface with a dial to easily select the drink you want to make.

Coffee Gator 34-Ounce French Press Coffee Maker

About a third of the price of our top French press pick, the Coffee Gator French press has a dual filter that produces a smooth, grit-free cup of coffee. This double-walled carafe keeps coffee hot for hours. We found that it was also very durable, making it ideal for traveling or camping.

OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

Not everyone needs a $300 coffee grinder, which is why we’ve recommended the OXO Brew conical burr grinder for years. It’s simple, intuitive, and delivers excellent grind quality for its price. Our own senior commerce editor Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm has used it at home for years.

Krups Precision Coffee Grinder

For a super-budget coffee grinder, the Krups Precision coffee grinder gets the job done adequately. If you’ve had enough of the cumin aftertaste in your coffee, the Krups coffee grinder is a cheap upgrade from a spice grinder that’ll still make a big difference in your coffee routine. Plus, its normally bargain price is even lower right now at 21% off.

Timemore C2 Max Manual Grinder

For a handheld grinder, the Timemore C2 Max is as good as it gets, pairing quality and affordability. Its textured, cylindrical body made it easy to hold, and ground coffee evenly. 

Kalita Wave Dripper 155 Series

For occasional coffee drinkers who want eight to 10 ounces of coffee from time to time, we recommend the Kalita Wave dripper. This $20 pour-over brewer has a flat-bottomed design, allowing for even grounds saturation.It can brew up to 14 ounces if needed, making it rather versatile.

Hario V60 “Buono” Electric Gooseneck Kettle

For pour-over coffee, a gooseneck kettle allows you to pour in the slow, circular motion needed to evenly saturate the coffee grounds. After our tests, the Hario V60 electric gooseneck kettle emerged as our budget pick. It takes just five minutes to heat a full pot and the flow of water from it was easy to control.

OXO Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Sometimes, the stars align and our top pick is also affordable. At $44, the OXO compact cold brew coffee maker produces consistently great cold brew without any fuss. During our tests, we appreciated the compact glass carafe and its cork lid, which made it easy to stash  in the fridge.

OXO Brew Precision Scale with Timer

When so much of coffee is about precision, a coffee scale feels like a no-brainer. They can be pricey though, which is why the OXO Brew precision scale is one of our favorites. It’s about $100 less than our other picks and was the second most responsive model in our tests. It’s precise, down to 0.1 gram increments, and easy to clean. It also has a high enough max capacity that you can use it for other kitchen tasks as needed.

Fellow Atmos Vacuum Coffee Canister

The Fellow Atmos is the only coffee canister we recommend. In our review, the Fellow Atmos  kept beans the freshest and the longest. . It was easy to use, and the vacuum lid ensures any air gets pumped out, guaranteeing the ideal storage environment for coffee beans.

Instant 4-in-1 Milk Frother and Steamer

Having café-level milk foam seems like a luxury, but it’s within reach with the Instant, our budget milk frother. During our tests, it heated up milk quickly and made excellent frothed milk. It did a fair job of differentiating between latte and cappuccino foam and even whipped up a solid cold foam. 

FAQs

How do I get started with espresso?

Our espresso 101 guide covers all the tools and gadgets you’ll need to get started on your espresso journey.

How do I make pour-over coffee?

In our pour-over coffee guide, we walk through the steps for brewing the perfect batch of pour-over coffee.

How do I make French press coffee at home?

We outline the steps for getting perfect French press coffee at home in this guide.

Why We’re the Experts

• An Uong is a Commerce Writer for Serious Eats and Food & Wine.
• We’ve tested coffee gear for years and years, including French press coffee makers, espresso machines, pour-over brewers, and more.