Technology is constantly improving and while it’s improving most of our lives, it sometimes makes others’ lives more difficult than it needs to be for older adults.
That’s why in this article we explain some factors to consider when choosing the best coffee makers for older adults such as senior citizens and the elderly.
What Can Go Wrong When Elders Make Their Own Coffee?
Murphy’s first law states, “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” That’s why we feel if you reduce the amount of unnecessary features that it will prevent issues from occurring.
Some of the common issues that The Elderly encounter are:
- Forgetting to turn the coffee maker off
- Pressing the wrong buttons
- Dropping the carafe
- Not cleaning the coffee maker
What's the Best Coffee Maker for Senior Citizens?
The best coffee maker for senior citizens is Mr. Coffee 12-Cup. This is because it’s the easiest coffee maker to use, has auto-off, and is compact.
Features that Benefit the Elderly
Simple & Clear Controls
Large, backlit buttons and few of them are ideal for older adults who are just waking up in the morning. A bright LCD is also beneficial.
Auto-Shutoff
While some one-switch coffee makers may seem ideal, they sometimes lack auto-shut off features. What happens if we want a coffee now and it’s not done brewing?
Pause & Pour
For those machines that don’t have a pause and pour feature it may cause panic if they try to sneak a cup and end-up with more issues than a simple mess.
Single-Cup Brewers
Single cup brewers may be ideal for the senior citizens that only want one cup and it also prevents waste.
Programmable Coffee Maker
A brew timer may simplify the entire process for everyone involved. Try to get a programmable coffee maker that beeps loudly when coffee is ready.
What Type of Coffee Maker is the Senior Citizen Comfortable With?
Humans are creatures of habits. If they used a French Press then get a durable French Press if possible. Studies show that sticking with routines help reduce stress for senior citizens which exacerbates memory loss or early onset of dementia (research study).
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The Best Coffee Makers for Older Adults
Now that you understand what features are best, you can make a better decision when choosing the right model to get the best coffee maker for you.
All the coffee machines mentioned on this list have received hundreds of positive reviews and are made by reputable coffee manufactures.
Hamilton Beach – The Scoop
2 buttons and very easy cleanup. The Scoop has been a top single serve coffee maker for almost a decade.
It gets its name from using the filter as an actual scoop to grab the perfect amount of coffee grounds. There is no need to measure! This model does not use capsules or K-Cups.
The Scoop #49987 has a removable 40oz water tank. There is an adjustable brew stand. However, you can set it once and not have to worry about it any more after snapping it into place.
The Scoop #49981A doesn’t have a water reservoir. However much water you add then that’s how much it will brew.
There are only 2 buttons on model 49981A: Bold Brew & Regular. Whenever you add water and coffee grounds and you’re ready to brew, simply push the button for the desired strength.
PROS
- Single-Cup
- Different versions available to suit your needs
- Simple to use
- Good price point
CONS
- Doesn't come with travel mug in image
- Coffee doesn't get very hot
Bonavita-BV1500TS
Bonavita is a trusted name in the world of coffee. So much so that the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) certified this specific model. It consistently makes great coffee.
Some of the factors as to why it received the certificate is due to:
- BPA Free
- Pre-infusion mode
- Showerhead design
- No heater to burn coffee
The reason why we recommend it as the best coffee maker for older adults is because it checks off the list the main factors to consider when selecting a coffee maker.
PROS
- Stainless steel carafe
- 1-button brew
- Auto shut-off
- Fits under cabinets
- Dishwater safe
CONS
- Significant temperature drop in first hour due to lack of heater
- Screw on carafe lid
Cuisinart DCC-3400P1
The Cuisinart DCC-3400P is such a good value. It’s dependable, brews great coffee and doesn’t require any fuss.
Costco has been selling a glass-carafe version of this, the CBC-7400PC. We called Cuisinart and they told us it is essentially the same as the DCC-3400, except the former is a Costco exclusive.
PROS
- Thermal carafe
- Warming plate temperature control
- Brews fast
CONS
- Due to fast brewing, regular may be weak for some
- Buttons maybe too close together for some elderly
Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker
The K-Mini checks a lot of the features we are looking for in a coffee maker for the elderly.
Being single serve without a heater or reservoir prevents mistakes from happening.
K-Cups are easy to load and make cleaning a breeze. Due to the fact that it doesn’t have many features it is the most affordable Keurig.
To get a cup of coffee you add water, insert a K-Cup, close the lid, and press the only button on the top. Doesn’t get much simpler than that.
PROS
- Easy to use
- Inexpensive
CONS
- Stuck using K-Cups
- Brews loudly
Mr. Coffee 12-Cup
This no-frills model of Mr. Coffee is dependable and inexpensive. The main difference between this model and other similar models from Mr. Coffee is that this one has a 2 hour auto-off.
It doesn’t have any programmable features or even an LCD. Add paper filter, add coffee grounds and only button to get coffee. Paper filters make life a little easier if an older adult has to clean up. It has a 12-cup water reservoir, so you don’t have to worry about filling up too often.
It’s a small coffee maker that doesn’t take up a lot of real estate on the counter. The cord can be stored away to avoid clutter. At 12.56” inches tall it’s short enough to fit under the kitchen cabinet.
The cool thing about this one is you can easily make it a smart coffee maker.
PROS
- Simplest coffee maker
- Inexpensive
- Auto-Off
CONS
- No programmable features
- No customizations
