Coffee Maker With Timer: Top Picks For Brewing On A Schedule

Coffee is a necessary part of our day. But with multiple priorities to juggle, time is a resource we can’t afford to waste. A programmable coffee maker with timer makes it possible to enjoy a great cup of coffee, even when time isn’t on our side.

This review rounds up the seven best programmable coffee makers with a timer so you’ll never be without your morning cup.

The 7 Best Coffee Makers with Timers in 2023

Excellent coffee takes time. Between measuring, grinding, and brewing, a pot of coffee can take over ten minutes to prepare. But having a good drip coffee machine in your corner every morning can be the difference between a cantankerous co-worker and a collaborative colleague.

image	product	details
Best Overall Best Overall	Cuisinart DCC-3200	Dimensions (WxDxH): 7.75″ x 9″ x 14″ Drink Types: Regular and Bold Coffee Capacity: 14 cups	SEE ON AMAZON
Runner Up Runner Up	Bunn Heat N Brew	Dimensions (WxDxH): 8.7″ x 9.7″ x 16.3″ Drink Types: Regular Coffee Capacity: 10 cups	SEE ON AMAZON
Best For Specialty Coffee Best For Specialty Coffee	Breville Precision Brewer	Dimensions (WxDxH): 9″ x 14″ x 16″ Drink Types: Gold, Fast, Strong, Iced, Cold Brew, and My Brew Capacity: 12 cups	SEE ON AMAZON
Best Dual Coffee Maker Best Dual Coffee Maker	Hamilton Beach 2-Way	Dimensions (WxDxH): 10.63″, 12.2″, 13.7″ Drink Types: Bold and Regular Coffee Capacity: 12 cups or 14 ounces	SEE ON AMAZON
Budget Pick Budget Pick	Ninja CE251 Programmable Coffee Maker	Dimensions (WxDxH): 8″ x 10″ x 14″ Drink Types: Rich and Classic Coffee Capacity: 12 cups	SEE ON AMAZON
Best Small Capacity Brewer Best Small Capacity Brewer	Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Coffee Maker With Timer	Dimensions (WxDxH): 7.6″ x 9.6″ x 6.1″ Drink Types: Regular Coffee Capacity: 4 cups	SEE ON AMAZON
Great Value Great Value	GE Drip Coffee Maker	Dimensions (WxDxH): 9.8″ x 12.3″ x 14.8″ Drink Types: Regular and Bold Coffee Capacity: 12 cups	see on amazon

What’s the best way to save a little time and still have delicious coffee? Get a programmable coffee maker with a timer. Here are seven expert picks.

1. Cuisinart DCC-3200 – Best Overall

Specifications

• Dimensions (WxDxH): 7.75″ x 9″ x 14″

• Drink Types: Regular and Bold Coffee
• Capacity: 14 cups
• Timer: 24-hour delay brew, 0-4 hour auto shut-off

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The Cuisinart DCC-3200 coffeemaker is Home Grounds’ best overall pick. It’s a fully programmable coffee maker that offers great drip coffee in a sleek, modern package.

You can program both the auto shut-off and delayed brew times. The auto shut-off gives you a range between zero and four hours, while the delay brew feature lets you program your brew time up to 24 hours in advance.

This Cuisinart coffee machine lets you choose the brew strength of the final cup. Bold will give you a more robust and flavorful kick, while Regular is a more mild, easy-drinking brew.

This fully programmable coffee maker gives you the option to choose between low, medium, and high holding temperatures on the hot plate. So your coffee will always be the exact temperature you enjoy. We love that the “Low” setting prevents your brewed coffee from developing that burnt, bitter taste, even after an hour on the hot plate.

For brewing less than five cups, you can customize the brewing process by programming for 1 to 4 cups. This setting helps to maximize the flavor of your coffee when brewing small volumes.

2. Bunn Heat N Brew – Runner Up

Specifications

• Dimensions (WxDxH): 8.7″ x 9.7″ x 16.3″

• Drink Types: Regular Coffee
• Capacity: 10 cups
• Timer: 24-hour delay brew, 2-hour auto shut-off

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The Bunn Heat N Brew programmable coffee maker includes an innovative “heat ‘n brew” feature that made it an easy pick for the Runner-Up award. The Bunn Heat N Brew brings all the water up to 197 degrees F before the brewing process begins, unlike many drip coffee machines that heat water during the brewing process. Combined with a spray head and cone-shaped filter, this ensures perfectly extracted coffee every time.

This Bunn coffee maker comes with a timer and auto-shut-off feature. It also lets you know when it’s time to clean the unit. Mineral deposits from unfiltered water can clog the spray head and impede water flow. Once the “Clean” indicator comes on, descaling with white vinegar ensures your coffee maker is always in the best shape to make delicious coffee.

Last but not least, you can pre-program your coffee maker to delay brewing for up to 24 hours. After brewing, the built-in hot plate stays on for two hours before shutting off automatically. So a hot cup of coffee will be ready whenever you need it.

3. Breville Precision Brewer – Best for Specialty Coffee

Specifications

• Dimensions (WxDxH): 9″ x 14″ x 16″

• Drink Types: Gold, Fast, Strong, Iced, Cold Brew, and My Brew
• Capacity: 12 cups
• Timer: 24-hour delay brew, no auto shut-off

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The Breville Precision is the top pick for specialty coffee connoisseurs. It combines the  quality of a Specialty Coffee Association-approved Golden Cup with the convenience of a delay brew timer. Though it takes up space, this stainless steel behemoth is unparalleled in its scope of features.

What’s the Golden Cup? According to the Specialty Coffee Association, the perfect cup of coffee exhibits a specific ratio of total dissolved solids to water (1). To achieve it, you need the proper brew time, temperature, and technique. The Breville Precision Brewer’s “Gold” setting does just that, using a PID temperature controller and variable flow rate pump.

There is also a Fast option for brewing a quick cup and a String setting for a more robust brew.  The Over Iced mode lets you make delicious iced coffees without diluting the flavor, while the Cold Brew setting prepares a smooth, sweet cold brew. Or use the My Brew feature to customize the bloom time, brewing temperature and time, and flow rate.

4. Hamilton Beach 2-Way – Best Dual Coffee Maker

Specifications

• Dimensions (WxDxH): 10.63″, 12.2″, 13.7″

• Drink Types: Bold and Regular Coffee
• Capacity: 12 cups or 14 ounces
• Timer duration: 24-hour delay brew, 2-hour auto shut-off

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The Hamilton Beach 2-Way is Home Grounds’ pick for the best dual brew coffee maker because it can brew coffee either in a single-serve cup or a whole pot. This practical design avoids waste and saves time if you only need a single cup or two.

The Hamilton Beach 2-Way is a fully programmable coffee maker that lets you set the time at which you’d like your coffee to be brewed. The two-hour auto shut-off ensures your coffee stays warm as long as needed.

This model has a minimalist design and easy-to-use interface. The single-serve option gives the option of brewing with ground coffee beans or compostable Senseo pods for added convenience. And the drip tray is removable to accommodate a tall travel mug.

5. Ninja CE251 Programmable Coffee Maker – Budget Pick

Specifications

• Dimensions (WxDxH): 8″ x 10″ x 14″

• Drink Types: Rich and Classic Coffee
• Capacity: 12 cups
• Timer duration: 24-hour delay brew, 4-hour auto shut-off

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A tight budget shouldn’t mean you can’t enjoy great coffee. The Ninja CE251 has all the programmability at a fraction of the cost. And with a well-regarded brand like Ninja, you don’t need to worry that low price means cheap quality.

This Ninja coffee machine lets you program your coffee maker up to 24 hours in advance and keeps your coffee warm for up to four hours. You have the option to brew either Rich or Classic coffees, so you can enjoy coffee to your taste.

The 60-ounce removable water reservoir makes it much easier to brew enough coffee for you and any visiting guests or family members.

6. Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Coffee Maker With Timer – Best Small Capacity Brewer

Specifications

• Dimensions (WxDxH): 7.6″ x 9.6″ x 6.1″

• Drink Types: Regular Coffee
• Capacity: 4 cups
• Timer duration: 24-hour delay brew, 1-hour auto shut-off

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Mr. Coffee is a household name in drip coffee brewing, beloved for its simple controls and ease of use. This straightforward 4-cup Mr. Coffee model is no exception to the rule.

The 24-hour timer lets you set your delay brew up to a day in advance, and once your coffee is done, it’ll keep your coffee warm for up to an hour. So you’ll always have a fresh cup of hot coffee waiting for you to enjoy those first rejuvenating sips.

This pint-size brewer measures just 6 inches across, perfect for small kitchens, a dorm room, or the office cubicle. This small drip machine is nearly as quick and convenient as the best Keurig coffee makers, but you won’t be contributing more plastic to your local landfills.

7. GE Drip Coffee Maker – Great Value

Specifications

• Dimensions (WxDxH): 9.8″ x 12.3″ x 14.8″

• Drink Types: Regular and Bold Coffee
• Capacity: 12 cups
• Timer duration: 24-hour delay brew, 2-hour auto shut-off

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The GE coffee maker might be exactly what you need to save time during your hectic morning. This affordable but well-made 12-cup coffee maker offers great value for your hard-earned cash.

This BPA-plastic-free coffee maker uses a showerhead water flow to ensure the best extraction, a hallmark of more expensive models. You can alter the brew cycle to your taste by choosing between Regular and Bold coffee. After brewing, the non-stick hot plate and glass carafe keep your coffee warm for two hours.

The 24-hour delay brew feature means you can have the perfect cup ready for you in the morning — or if your day’s been particularly stressful, a freshly brewed pot wafting delicious aromas for those after-work coffee pick-me-ups.

How to Choose the Best Programmable Coffee Makers

The sheer volume of programmable coffee makers with a timer on the market can be overwhelming. To find the best drip coffee makers for you, keep reading this comprehensive buyer’s guide. It’ll teach you what to look for and what to avoid.

How Much Do You Need To Brew?

Capacity is the first factor you should consider in your quest for a programmable coffee maker. Convenience and value for money might nudge you toward buying the largest capacity drip coffee maker you can find, but bigger isn’t always better. 

Large batches of drip coffee are great for entertaining in-laws, parents, nosy neighbors, and a houseful of random friends for a weekend. But it’s not a good idea if you’re after a delicious cup. Making more coffee than you’ll drink is not only wasteful, but your coffee will degrade with time, becoming more bitter and astringent (2).

To avoid a dreaded over-bitter cup, choose a coffee machine that brews only as much as you need. That could be a small-capacity model, a machine with an option for lower-volume brewing, or a dual coffee maker.

How Much Space Do You Have?

Most programmable coffee makers are designed with the average countertop surface in mind, but not all homes are average. And your counter probably also needs to accommodate cutting boards, prep bowls, and other small appliances. It’s important to measure your space and shop accordingly. Don’t forget to measure the space under your upper cupboards if you intend to slide your coffee maker under them.

It may be worth taking up more precious counter space for a machine that brews more coffee or offers more convenience.

How Do You Take Your Coffee?

Brew strength is a personal choice, but it is always nice to have a coffee maker that gives you options. You can play around with grind size and dose to customize your coffee, but a machine that offers settings for Bold and Regular coffee is more convenient and has more of an effect. If you like your coffee with milk or cream, a Bold setting is generally worthwhile.

Iced coffee lovers should definitely look for programmable coffee makers with an Iced Coffee setting. This brews an ultra-strong cup that is difficult to mimic by any other means. The extra flavor is needed to counter the diluation of melting ice. 

Types of Timers

Programmable coffee makers come with different types of timers. Some programmable coffee makers let you program a time to start the brewing process, others are no-frills machines with auto shut-offs, and many are both.

Auto Shut-Off

The concept of a coffee machine with an auto shut-off is simple: keep the coffee hot for a specified amount of time and then shut off. For most coffee makers, that ranges anywhere from two to four hours, but you probably won’t like the dregs of coffee at the bottom of the coffee carafe after the four-hour mark. If you like to brew a full carafe of coffee, consider a good coffee maker with a programmable auto shut-off to spare yourself that acrid, hot-plate coffee flavor.

Delayed Brewing

The delay brew function on drip machines lets you program a time at which to start the coffee-brewing process. You can program it in the evening and have a hot pot of coffee ready and waiting when you wake up – even if you hit Snooze one too many times.

The downside to this convenience is that your coffee grounds will go stale as they sit in the coffee maker waiting to be brewed. This is an inevitable consequence of oxidation (3).

The best way to avoid this problem is to grind your coffee beans as soon as possible before brewing. But that kind of defeats the purpose of a timer, doesn’t it? Treat it as a necessary evil, and do your best to limit the problem by keeping the coffee grounds away from heat, light, and moisture.

The Verdict

The best balance of customizable brewing, ease of use, and convenience comes in the form of the Cuisinart DCC-3200. This large-capacity 14-cup brewer offers two brew strengths to choose from, an adjustable hot plate, a fully programmable timer for delay brewing coffee, and an auto shut-off. You’ll have everything you need to make great coffee and save time.