# Best Programmable Coffee Makers Under $100 (Tested: These 3)
## Quick Answer
Programmable coffee makers let you **schedule brewing up to 24 hours ahead**, so coffee is ready when you wake up. The features that actually matter are **delay-brew (timer)**, **auto-shutoff**, and **brew-strength control**—so your coffee is hot, safe, and not watery.
Below are the **3 under-$100 picks** that deliver those features reliably, without pointless “smart” gimmicks.
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## How These 3 Were Chosen
These models all include:
– 24-hour delay brew
– Auto-shutoff
– Pause-and-pour (grab a cup mid-brew)
– Simple, reliable controls
– Proven long-term availability
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## 1) Best Overall: [Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Programmable (Model 46290)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XP4DKGL?tag=coffeelogik-20)
**Why it wins:**
It offers the best balance of features and reliability at a budget price—especially brew-strength control, which many cheap machines lack.
**Key features**
– 24-hour programmable timer
– Auto Pause & Pour
– Brew strength selector (regular/bold + small batch)
– Auto shutoff
**Best for**
– Households that brew full pots some days and small batches other days
– Anyone frustrated by weak coffee from basic machines
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## 2) Best Simple & Reliable: [BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Programmable (CM1160B)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJOMWVA?tag=coffeelogik-20)
**Why it’s here:**
It nails the core job: wake-up coffee with minimal buttons and minimal confusion.
**Key features**
– 24-hour auto brew
– Sneak-A-Cup pause
– Auto shutoff
– Straightforward digital controls
**Best for**
– Replacing an old drip machine
– Users who want scheduling without extra options
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## 3) Best for Strong Coffee: [Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable with Strong Brew](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089DWFP9L?tag=coffeelogik-20)
**Why it’s here:**
Most budget machines brew light unless overloaded with grounds. This one includes a **Strong Brew** mode that increases extraction time.
**Key features**
– Delay brew (Brew Later)
– Strong Brew setting
– Grab-a-Cup pause
– Auto shutoff
**Best for**
– People who complain their coffee is too weak
– Offices or shared kitchens
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## What to Look For (So You Don’t Buy the Wrong One)
Prioritize these features in this order:
1. **Delay brew / 24-hour programming**
2. **Auto shutoff**
3. **Brew strength or small-batch mode**
4. **Pause-and-pour**
Avoid paying extra for:
– Wi-Fi or phone apps
– Voice control
– Overly complex menus
Those don’t make coffee taste better.
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## Quick “Which One Should I Buy?”
| Your Situation | Buy This |
|—————-|———-|
| Most households | Hamilton Beach 46290 |
| Simplest option | BLACK+DECKER CM1160B |
| You want stronger coffee | Mr. Coffee Strong Brew |
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## Final Verdict
A good programmable coffee maker should do three things:
– Brew when you’re asleep
– Shut itself off safely
– Make coffee that isn’t weak
These three models do exactly that without costing more than they should.
**Set it at night. Wake up to coffee. No thinking required.**
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