A small, simple brewer for one or two people, and the honest trade-offs that come with going small.
Our Quick Take
The Mr. Coffee 5 cup coffee pot is a compact drip machine that makes about 25 ounces of coffee, which works out to roughly two generous mugs. It has a timer, a pause-and-pour feature, and a reusable filter, and it is priced like a budget appliance.
It is a smart buy for a single drinker, a dorm room, or an office desk. It is not for anyone who wants to fill a full pot for guests, and it asks for a little attention at the filter basket. Read on to see if that trade-off fits your kitchen.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and buying through them may earn us a small commission without raising your price. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The product images are illustrations, not photos of the actual products, so your item may look different. Please check the Amazon listing for real photos, details, and current pricing before you buy.
How we researched this review: We have not brewed with this machine in our own kitchen. This review is built from the manufacturer’s published specifications, hands-on tests and measurements reported by independent reviewers, and common themes in owner feedback. Sources are linked at the bottom, and we point out where details vary by version.
Best for
One or two coffee drinkers, dorms, offices, tiny kitchens
Skip it if
Households that need more than two mugs at a time
Key Specs at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 5 cups, about 25 oz at the standard 5 oz coffee cup |
| Height | About 10.25 in, so it slides under most cabinets |
| Timer | Delay brew, so coffee can be ready when you wake up |
| Pause and pour | Grab-A-Cup auto pause lets you pour mid-brew |
| Filter | Reusable nylon filter included, no paper required |
| Water level | Dual water windows, so you can read the level while filling |
| Auto shutoff | Yes, but listings show different times, so check yours |
| Best for | One to two mugs per brew |
Pros and Cons
What we like
- Small enough for a dorm shelf, a desk, or a corner of a small kitchen
- The delay brew timer is rare on a machine this small and this inexpensive
- Pause-and-pour lets you grab a cup before the pot finishes
- The reusable filter saves you from buying paper filters
- Very easy to learn, since there is almost nothing to figure out
What to know
- Five cups means roughly two mugs, so it is easy to outgrow
- Standard 4 cup paper filters are reported to fold inside the basket, which can cause overflow
- The filter basket design frustrates some owners, mostly when cleaning up grounds
- Fewer features than the bigger Mr. Coffee machines, such as no strength selector
Mr. Coffee Mini Coffee Maker Review: What You Get
We looked at this machine as a very specific tool: a small coffee maker for people who brew for themselves. In that role it makes sense. The brew chamber holds about 25 ounces of water, and since coffee makers count a cup as 5 ounces, that is where the name “5 cup” comes from. Pour it into a regular 12 ounce mug and you get about two.
The built-in timer is what sets this model apart. Plenty of mini brewers only start when you press a button, but this one can be filled the evening before and left to brew while you sleep. Grab-A-Cup is a nice touch too, since it halts the stream when the pot is removed and spares you from waiting on the last drops.
How the Mr. Coffee Small Coffee Maker Performs
Summaries of owner feedback on retailer pages are upbeat about the fundamentals. Buyers say the brew arrives piping hot and tastes perfectly acceptable for the price, first-time setup takes a few minutes, and the lift-out basket keeps cleanup quick. Nobody should expect café quality from a machine at this price, and it never claims to offer it.
The most common complaint is about filters. The basket is sized for 5 cup paper filters, and owners who use ordinary 4 cup filters report that they collapse and let grounds slip into the carafe or cause the basket to overflow. The simple fix is to use the included reusable nylon filter or to buy filters made for this size. If you plan to use paper, check the size before you order a pack.
A few owners also say the basket is trickier to wipe clean of damp grounds than older Mr. Coffee mini models. Rinse it right after brewing and it is no trouble.
Is a 5 Cup Coffee Maker Big Enough?
Think in mugs, not cups. At the industry standard of 5 ounces per cup, this machine makes 25 ounces, enough for two mugs of around 12 ounces each. If you routinely drink a travel mug or two before noon, you will need to brew twice. If your usual is one mug and a half, the size is a good match and you waste almost nothing.
If you are shopping for a household of three or more, look at a 12 cup machine instead. Our Top 10 Best Auto Drip Coffee Makers compares bigger options side by side.
Care and Cleaning
Give the basket and carafe a quick rinse after every pot, and wipe the warming plate once it has cooled. If your tap water is hard, run a vinegar and water cycle roughly once a month so mineral scale does not build up. Our step by step cleaning guide shows how.
How It Compares
Compared with a pod machine, this brewer costs far less per cup because you use regular ground coffee. Compared with the larger Mr. Coffee 14 cup, it gives up capacity and the strength selector but gains a much smaller footprint.
Want to see every option side by side? Browse our Top 10 Best Auto Drip Coffee Makers.
Buy it if
- You brew for one or two people
- Counter space is tight
- You want a timer without paying for extra features
Skip it if
- You host often or live with several coffee drinkers
- You want a bold-strength setting or a thermal carafe
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ounces is the Mr. Coffee 5 cup coffee pot?
It brews about 25 ounces, using the standard 5 ounce coffee cup. That fills roughly two regular mugs.
Does the Mr. Coffee mini coffee maker have a timer?
Yes. It has a delay brew timer, so you can set it the night before. It also has an auto pause so you can pour mid-brew.
What filters does it use?
It comes with a reusable nylon filter. If you prefer paper, look for filters sized for 5 cup baskets, because smaller 4 cup filters are reported to fold over.
Is this a good small coffee maker for an office?
It can be. Its small size suits a desk or the corner of a break room, and the controls take seconds to learn. It simply is not built to serve a crowd.
Final Verdict
The Mr. Coffee 5 cup coffee maker does one thing well: it makes a couple of mugs of hot coffee with very little fuss. Pick it for a small space and a small appetite, pay attention to the filter size, and it should do the job for a long time.