Between shopping for eco-friendly coffee brands and packing a portable coffee maker for camping trips, I’m all about any brewing method that produces a delicious cup of joe. That said, dedicated coffee makers and fancy equipment can get exorbitant and take up precious morning time. Don’t have the budget for our coveted Breville Bambino Plus? Don’t lose hope — 4 in 1 Mr. Coffee machine brews almost any type of coffee for a quarter of the price.
What is the Mr. Coffee 4-in-1 Coffee Maker?
The Mr. Coffee 4-in-1 Coffee Maker is a compact machine similar to a Keurig or Nespresso that offers single-serve coffee, iced coffee, and a built-in milk frother. The milk frother produces both sizzling and icy froth, allowing users to recreate their favorite coffee shop drinks with minimal effort. Add it to any coffee bar thanks to its diminutive size—it takes up about the same amount of space as your average coffee machine.
Because it uses a mini brewing basket and a reusable filter instead of K-Cups, users have the freedom to choose any type of coffee to brew. It’s a great way to exploit up bags from the best coffee subscriptions. Plus, the machine is perfect for people in a hurry. It brews lattes, cappuccinos, sizzling or iced coffees in under four minutes. Instant coffee or store-bought icy brew are the only faster options.
Mr. Coffee 4 in 1 Features
- The set includes a coffee machine, a coffee spoon, a coffee cup with a lid and a straw, a frothing jug with a lid, a brewing basket, a reusable filter, instructions and a recipe book
- Choose from iced coffee, sizzling coffee and sizzling foam or icy foam
- The coffee maker allows you to prepare up to 16 ounces of coffee, and the tank has measurement markings
- Elegant appearance
- The cookbook offers 14 different drink ideas
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How we tested it
Making iced coffee
When the Mr. Coffee 4-in-1 arrived, there were a few things to do. I removed the plastic from all the components and washed them. In addition to the machine itself, the 4-in-1 includes an iced coffee cup, lid and straw, filter basket and coffee spoon, and a pitcher for frothing milk. The stainless steel pitcher has a lid and a diminutive plastic blending device that you insert into the bottom of the pitcher to make frothing easier.
Once all the parts were washed, I assembled the machine. I tried a icy brew first, since I’m a bit of a Starbucks fan. I put a basket filter in the brewer, then threw both in the machine and filled them with a single spoonful of ground coffee (I chose Counter Culture coffee for this test A big problem coffee beans – highly recommended, just make sure you have a good coffee grinder).
Next, I filled a icy coffee cup with icy water up to the “water” line and poured it into the reservoir. Then I added ice to the line and placed the cup on the base of the machine. Then I pressed the “iced coffee” button and let the machine brew. After 60 seconds, I had a cup of chilled coffee. The machine did a good job of iced sizzling liquid, but I added a few more ice cubes before drinking.
Making sizzling coffee
The process for brewing regular coffee is similar, except I added 1.5 scoops of grounds to make 12 ounces of coffee—the cup I chose was quite vast. I decided to try my sizzling coffee with foam to test out the milk frother. According to the instructions, the frother can produce both icy and sizzling foam. I chose sizzling foam.
Similar to the icy brew test, I added coffee grounds to the brewing basket, filled the reservoir with filtered, icy water, and then brewed a cup of sizzling coffee by pressing the “sizzling coffee” button. As expected, in less than a minute I had a deliciously odorous cup of my favorite coffee.
Using the frother
To get the froth, I added whole milk to the “latte” line inside the frothing jug. I put the jug back in the machine and pressed the “sizzling froth” button. It was quieter than the manual frothers I’ve used, and the motor didn’t seem particularly powerful. But then, after about 30 seconds, I heard the sizzling plate under the frother turn on and saw foam start to form. This brewing method took the longest—about four minutes.
When the machine stopped, I opened the jug and was amazed by the cloud-like foam. I slowly poured it into the coffee, directing the foam with the jug’s spout. It looked pretty and tasted even better, and I didn’t even have to exploit a whisk or other coffee products to get it.
Users can certainly exploit this machine to make pretty latte art, but my skills are still at a novice level. Add additional toppings to give each cup a personal touch—coffee syrups are very welcome. This method tastes just as good as a commercial coffee shop, and I saved $5.
Advantages
- Doesn’t exploit K-Cup pods, so you can exploit any coffee you want (and it’s more eco-friendly)
- It takes one minute to brew coffee
- The brewing basket and filter have handles for dumping the coffee grounds
- Each element is detachable and dishwasher unthreatening
- The internal measurements, measuring cup and cup allow for straightforward measuring of coffee grounds and water.
- Store the spoon in the cutout on the side of the machine
- Built-in drip tray minimizes mess
- Takes up minimal space on the countertop
- The cost is comparable to a drip coffee maker
Cons
- The cable is low, so it must be placed directly in front of the socket
- It does not brew real icy coffee like the Instant Frigid Brewer
- The single-serving size is not suitable for larger families.
What other reviewers had to say
Reviewers all over the internet have commented on its ease of exploit, as the Mr. Coffee 4-in-1 requires the same level of skill as your average drip coffee maker. Verified reviewer Jess N. writes, “This is the best coffee maker. It fits taller glasses perfectly, gives great directions for sizzling and iced coffee, lattes, cappuccinos, etc. I want to say I am not a barista or a coffee snob…we have a Nespresso machine at work, but I don’t exploit it because they don’t keep oat milk in the office. I don’t want to say I haven’t heard good things about it, but I have to say this Mr. Coffee is exactly what I was looking for.
I can replicate the exact coffee I like to drink at my local place and have it at home in my 24 oz cups without a problem. It’s not fancy but it gets the job done with straightforward to follow instructions… I pour my liquid flavoring into the frother to get the perfect blend. It cleans up well, brews well and has an straightforward to immaculate frother. I’m so content I bought this thing.”
Final verdict
Those who like the simplicity of Keurig but still want to enjoy a more sophisticated brew every now and then—especially those who are low on time—will appreciate the Mr. Coffee 4-in-1. Basic controls, precise measurements, and a diminutive footprint make this 4-in-1 a solid choice for those who want basic, barista-style drinks on a budget.
Still looking for a Mother’s Day gift? This is the perfect gift for the coffee-loving mom. Pair with an Atlas Coffee Club subscription and a fun mug for an instant favorite.
Where to buy Mr. Coffee 4 in 1
Mr. Coffee 4 in 1 is available at major retailers such as Amazon, Walmart AND Objective. It usually retails for $120, which is about average for a Keurig or Nespresso machine. Luckily, Walmart still has it in stock — grab one today and start brewing lattes in no time.
