Quick answer: the best under-cabinet coffee maker is the Bonavita 5-Cup. It's short, has a small footprint, and makes excellent drip coffee.
I've owned two machines on this list, the Keurig K-Mini Plus and the Nespresso Essenza Mini. I don't have low cabinets myself, but I do have small cupboards stuffed with pans, so I know the struggle. For the rest, I researched compact machines and measured them against real kitchen clearances.
- Best overall: Bonavita 5-Cup
- Cheapest I can recommend: Mr. Coffee 5-Cup
- Best for K-Cups: Keurig K-Mini Plus
- Best for very tight spaces: Nespresso Essenza Mini
What Counts as an "Under-Cabinet" Coffee Maker?
The term used to mean a coffee maker mounted to the underside of a cabinet, often found in RVs. Those mountable models have essentially disappeared from stores; you might find one secondhand, but that's about it.
So I use a practical definition. An under-cabinet coffee maker:
- Is under 13 inches tall
- Has a footprint under about 100 square inches
That means it fits under low cabinets with room to open the lid, and can be stored in a crowded cupboard when not in use.
Best Overall: Bonavita 5-Cup
Bonavita 5-Cup Coffee Maker
The best coffee of any affordable compact drip machine.
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Coffee Quality: 9/10
Excellent, rivaling drip machines at any price. It's SCA certified, so it holds the ideal brewing temperature and ratio. Bonavita brewers also scored near the top in America's Test Kitchen's test of premium coffee makers.
Design and Build Quality: 6/10
A great brewing system in a plasticky body. The heater and showerhead are excellent, but there's lots of plastic, and owners don't always report long lifespans. Its stainless steel thermal carafe is safe to store in a cupboard, though it drips a bit when you pour.
Value: 8/10
A high-end brewer at a mid-range price, and one of the cheapest SCA-certified machines. Bonavita stock has become patchy in some stores; if it's unavailable, see my best 5-cup coffee makers for alternatives.
Why buy it: excellent coffee, short and compact, no glass carafe. Why skip it: lots of plastic, drippy carafe, 5-cup maximum.
Cheapest I Can Recommend: Mr. Coffee 5-Cup
Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Coffee Maker
Small, cheap and durable: a no-frills machine that fits almost anywhere.
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Coffee Quality: 6/10
Mediocre, but fine for the price. It isn't SCA certified because the water only reaches the ideal temperature near the end of the brew, so the coffee is a bit bland. It isn't terrible, though, and I'd still take it over most K-Cup coffee.
Design and Build Quality: 7/10
Simple and long-lasting. It's the opposite of the Bonavita: a basic brewing system, but built to last. Mr. Coffee machines often come up on r/BuyItForLife, and the basic design hasn't changed much in years.
The downside for cabinet storage: a glass carafe. If it gets knocked around among your pans, it can break.
Value: 8/10
Excellent value if you just want decent, cheap coffee from a machine that lasts.
Why buy it: very durable, up to 25 oz despite its size, the cheapest machine here. Why skip it: bland coffee, a breakable glass carafe.
Best for K-Cups: Keurig K-Mini Plus
Keurig K-Mini Plus
The best compact K-Cup machine, slim enough for a crowded counter.
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Coffee Quality: 5/10 (8/10 for a K-Cup machine)
Good for K-Cups, not compared with drip. K-Cups don't hold enough coffee for a rich cup, so even a cheap drip machine usually beats them. The Mini Plus does better than many Keurigs thanks to its Strong button, which slows the brew for a fuller cup (it takes the brew from about 50 to 65 seconds). It also holds K-Cup storage in its base.
Design and Build Quality: 7/10
Very slim, decent build. The lid is the flimsiest part. Many complaints about weak flow or short cups are fixed by descaling; its narrow internals scale up quickly, so descale every couple of months. It can also take up to about 90 seconds to heat before brewing. See my full K-Mini Plus review.
Value: 4/10 (7/10 for a K-Cup machine)
A bit overpriced. Keurigs make coffee similar to cheap drip machines but cost more to buy and run. The main reason to choose one is access to the huge range of K-Cups.
Why buy it: brews any K-Cup, tiny footprint, Strong mode. Why skip it: K-Cup coffee is weaker than drip, poor value overall.
Comparing tiny Keurigs? See K-Slim vs K-Mini Plus.
Best for Very Tight Spaces: Nespresso Essenza Mini
Nespresso Essenza Mini
The smallest machine that still makes a good cup.
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Coffee Quality: 7/10
Good espresso-style coffee, and a decent long coffee if you add hot water. It only makes espresso and lungo, which are decent but not a patch on a real espresso machine. Topped up with hot water, an espresso makes a long coffee that's better than the K-Mini Plus or Mr. Coffee, though not as good as the Bonavita.
Design and Build Quality: 9/10
Tiny but tough. I was surprised how small it was when mine arrived. It feels solid, and I found very few breakdown complaints. Nespresso machines are known for reliable internals. See my Essenza Mini review.
Value: 3/10
Not great value. It's reliable, but capsules cost more per cup than drip coffee. Compatible capsules help bring the cost down; I break down the numbers in are Nespresso machines worth it?
Why buy it: better long coffee than cheap drip, very reliable, absolutely tiny. Why skip it: not true espresso-machine quality, capsules are expensive.
How to Choose
Size
Aim for under 13 inches tall and under about 100 square inches of footprint. Older US kitchens often have around 18 to 19 inches between counter and wall cabinets; newer ones are usually closer to 24 inches. You'll want a few inches above the machine to open the lid and fill it, so check your gap before buying.
| Height | Approx. footprint | |
|---|---|---|
| Bonavita 5-Cup | ~10.6" | ~76 sq in |
| Mr. Coffee 5-Cup | ~10.7" | ~72 sq in |
| Keurig K-Mini Plus | ~12.1" | ~51 sq in |
| Nespresso Essenza Mini | ~8.1" | ~55 sq in |
Breakable Parts
If you'll store it in a cupboard, avoid glass carafes that can break when things shift around.
| Glass or fragile parts | |
|---|---|
| Bonavita 5-Cup | No (steel thermal carafe) |
| Mr. Coffee 5-Cup | Yes (glass carafe) |
| Keurig K-Mini Plus | No |
| Nespresso Essenza Mini | No |
Type of Coffee
Buy for the coffee you'll actually drink:
| Makes | |
|---|---|
| Bonavita 5-Cup | Drip coffee |
| Mr. Coffee 5-Cup | Drip coffee |
| Keurig K-Mini Plus | Single cups from K-Cups |
| Nespresso Essenza Mini | Espresso and lungo |
Batch Size
Bigger batches mean bigger machines.
| Maximum | |
|---|---|
| Bonavita 5-Cup | 5 cups (~25 oz) |
| Mr. Coffee 5-Cup | 5 cups (~25 oz) |
| Keurig K-Mini Plus | One cup |
| Nespresso Essenza Mini | One cup |
Brewing Temperature
Machines that hold 195°F to 205°F throughout the brew make far better coffee, and they usually cost more.
| Holds the ideal temperature | |
|---|---|
| Bonavita 5-Cup | Yes |
| Mr. Coffee 5-Cup | No |
| Keurig K-Mini Plus | No |
| Nespresso Essenza Mini | Yes |
The Bottom Line
The best under-cabinet coffee maker is the Bonavita 5-Cup: compact, cupboard-safe and excellent at brewing. On a tight budget, the Mr. Coffee 5-Cup does the job.
Need even less height? See my best 4-cup coffee makers. Prefer pods? Compare Nespresso vs Keurig.
Do they still make under-cabinet mounted coffee makers?
Not really. Mounted models have largely been discontinued. A compact countertop machine under 13 inches tall is the practical alternative.
How much clearance do I need above a coffee maker?
A few inches above the machine is usually enough to open the lid and add water. Measure from your counter to the bottom of your cabinets and subtract the machine's height.
What's the smallest coffee maker that makes good coffee?
The Nespresso Essenza Mini, at about 8 inches tall. For drip coffee, the Bonavita 5-Cup is the best small option.
Written by · reviewed by the Cicada Coffee Bar team
Daniel Voss
Lead Equipment Reviewer, Cicada Coffee Bar
Daniel leads the equipment-testing side of Cicada Coffee Bar. Every super-automatic, semi-automatic, and grinder featured on this site is bought or sourced independently, set up on the test bench, and brewed with daily for at least two weeks before a single word is written — tracking espresso quality, milk texture, ease of cleaning, and long-term reliability. Reviews are updated whenever pricing or firmware changes.
