Well as I was sitting around today I made the decision that I need an automatic coffee maker… In truth I have been contemplating between upgrading my coffee maker (a single serve black and decker model) for some time. Although I have been torn between getting a programmable coffee maker so that I can wake up with coffee already brewed or making the jump to a true barista and getting an espresso maker. So with all that being said I thought it would be a good idea for me to share my picks for coffee makers that best suit the limited space of a dorm room while still satisfying the taste buds of a coffee lover.
Similarly, with accommodating for space my coffee maker needs to be something that is affordable, at least by my standards, while still capturing what I want. With that in mind I unfortunately decided to rule out getting an espresso maker, mainly because I would have to buy a grinder, since all of the automatic espresso makers run upwards of $500 (YIKES!). As well as the fact that I drink my coffee black and having to purchase milk to go along with the espresso would also add to overall costs. However, 
I still picked out an espresso/coffee maker combo that could’ve worked for me and probably still could if I was willing to go with something other than a burr grinder, which normally start out at around $50 alone. So with out dragging this out any longer here is the Delonnghi BC0130T Combination machine is where it is at. With programmable brew times, the ability to interrupt before a brew is done to get a cup of coffee, and adjustable strength for both coffee and espresso at $149.95 this is a steal.
Before unveiling my choice for coffee maker, I would like to give two alternatives that are truly inexpensive and probably more suitable for your average college joe. The first being creatively titled Read Set Travel Mug and
Cone, and it’s creativity doesn’t stop with the title this innovative mug is all you need to make a cup of coffee. Just place your #2 cone filter and coffee in the cone and pour hot water into it and presto. Now this is not going to be the best way to make a great tasting cup of coffee but if you are looking for a cheap way to make coffee this is the way to go. At $7.89 how can you go wrong?
Also I would like to suggest checking out my old coffee maker the Black and Decker Brew N Go, which you can purchase for $16.99 at Amazon.com. Basically this is a coffee maker
that can double as a tea brewer, oatmeal , hot chocolate, or even ramen maker. Simplicity reigns supreme with the Brew N Go, as it has the perfect features for consistently making coffee day in and day out. The Brew N Go comes with a reusable filter, travel mug, and it even shuts off automatically after brewing making it perfect for the dorm. Honestly, I will probably hold on to this to make tea and boil water for food, it has really been reliable.
Finally, we have arrived to the main event, the coffee maker that legends are made of. Although this maker may seem pricey, the Krups KM7000 Pro Grinder Brewer is full of features that normally start appearing on models in the $200 range. At only $130, the Pro Grinder is a steal with a built in conical burr grinder (normally ranging from $50 and up), 24-hour programmable timer, the ability to also use preground coffee, brew strength adjustment, and the list goes on. The only down side I have been able to find with this particular maker is that it doesn’t come with a permanent filter which is disappointing but easily solved since krups uses a #4 cone, which is a 
universal model. Also I would like to take this time to plug my favorite online Coffee lover’s website Whole Latte Love.com they really go out of their way to have great articles to educate yourself on coffee and espresso makers, as well as offering free shipping, no sales tax, price matching, and usually great sales on the more expensive brewers.
Hopefully this has been helpful in giving you some ideas of what to check out and not just me ranting about the new coffee maker I am wanting… I still haven’t 100% committed to buying this one, although I am 99% convinced, so if you have a better one please suggest it!
