Compare Coffee Machine
Breville Precision Brewer scores higher on safety - here's why.
The most important dimensions, side by side.
The reservoir uses Eastman Tritan — a specifically identified, FDA-cleared plastic that's free from BPA and all bisphenols. It's one of the safest widely used plastics, though it doesn't match stainless steel or glass for inertness.
The water reservoir is plastic, but Mr. Coffee does not disclose what type. Without knowing the specific polymer, there is no way to assess whether it leaches BPA or other chemicals when in contact with hot water daily.
Breville declares all plastic components free from BPA, BPS, BPF, and phthalates — one of the most comprehensive material safety commitments in this category.
Mr. Coffee has not made a BPA-free claim for this specific model. While some of their more expensive machines carry BPA-free labeling, this budget model does not — so there is no assurance about BPA in the plastic components.
UL-listed for electrical safety — an independent lab has verified this machine meets fire and shock prevention standards.
An independent lab has verified this machine meets UL safety standards for household coffee makers — protection against fire, shock, and overheating. This is a solid safety feature at any price, and especially noteworthy at $16.99.
The PID-controlled heating system keeps water precisely in the optimal range for full flavor extraction — you get consistent, repeatable results cup after cup, which many simpler machines struggle with.
Brews at just 182°F — well below the 195-205°F range that specialty coffee experts recommend. Your coffee will taste noticeably weak and watery compared to machines that hit the right temperature. This is the most impactful performance gap.
The glass carafe sits on a warming plate that keeps reheating your coffee — which sounds convenient but actually breaks down the flavors over time. Coffee that's been sitting for 30+ minutes tastes noticeably different. The thermal carafe version of this machine solves this.
The glass carafe sits on a warming plate that keeps cooking your coffee after it is brewed. Already weak from low brew temperature, the coffee degrades further the longer it sits — expect a stale, bitter taste within 30 minutes.
The carafe and filter basket need hand-washing — a minor daily chore but worth noting if you value minimal cleanup.
Mr. Coffee does not say whether the glass carafe is dishwasher safe. We are working from what is listed — and it is not listed.
The 60-ounce water tank is built in — you'll need to bring water to the machine rather than taking the tank to the sink. Consider counter placement near a water source.
The water reservoir is built in — you fill it through the top. It works, but it is less convenient than a removable tank you can carry to the sink.
Six brew modes including Gold, Strong, Iced, and Cold Brew — plus a fully customizable My Brew setting where you control bloom time, temperature, and flow rate. This is the most programmable drip brewer you can buy.
No programmable timer — you flip the switch when you are ready. Straightforward but no way to schedule your morning coffee the night before.
Comes with a reusable mesh basket filter right in the box — no need to buy paper filters unless you prefer the cleaner taste they produce.
Mr. Coffee does not mention a permanent filter — the 'Lift & Clean filter basket' is the housing, not the filter itself. You will likely need paper filters.
At $329.95 this is a premium machine — but the PID temperature control and six brew modes offer more versatility than anything else at this price. Price is recorded for context but does not affect the R3 score.
At $16.99, this is the cheapest coffee maker we have tested — recorded for reference but does not affect the overall score.
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Everything you need to make the call - who each one is for, and who should skip it.
Go for it if you...
You want granular control over every brew parameter — bloom time, temperature, and flow rate are all adjustable
You value material safety transparency and want a reservoir made from an identifiable, FDA-cleared polymer
You brew multiple styles and want dedicated modes for Gold, Strong, Iced, Cold Brew, and custom recipes
You prefer a reusable filter to reduce paper waste and ongoing filter costs
You need the cheapest possible coffee maker and brew quality is not your primary concern
You want verified electrical safety at a budget price — the UL certification is genuine and uncommon at this price point
You prefer the simplest possible operation with no buttons, screens, or settings to figure out
The main thing to know
This ASIN (B07DMBYH4S) is the glass carafe model with a warming plate that degrades coffee quality over time — the thermal carafe version (BDC450, ASIN B078RQVQF1) solves this at the same price.
The brew temperature of 182°F produces noticeably weak, under-extracted coffee — well below the 195-205°F range that specialty coffee experts recommend for proper flavor extraction.
Skip this if you...
You want coffee that stays fresh in the carafe for hours — the glass warming plate model degrades flavor over time (get the thermal version instead)
You want a removable water tank for easy filling at the sink — this machine's 60-oz tank is fixed
You prefer a simple one-switch brewer over a multi-mode machine with a learning curve
You care about coffee flavor — the 182°F brew temperature produces weak, under-extracted coffee that specialty drinkers will find unacceptable
Material safety matters to your family — the plastic reservoir type is undisclosed and no BPA-free claim is made for this model
You want any convenience features like a programmable timer, removable reservoir, or permanent filter
Neither of these quite what you're looking for?
I've reviewed all Coffee Machine options at every price pointEvery Coffee Machine in our database is scored using R3's deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. For this comparison, we evaluated Breville and Mr. Coffee across 3 independent criteria: Safety (72%), Efficacy (23%), Usability (4%). No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.
Straight answers - no sponsored content, no filler.
I'd start with Breville Breville Precision Brewer - it scored 8.5/10 overall in our scoring system. Safety is our top-weighted scoring pillar, followed by efficacy (23%), and usability (4%). Check which pillar matters most to your family and compare those specific scores.
R3 uses a deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. We evaluate each Coffee Machine across Safety (72%), Efficacy (23%), Usability (4%) using independently verified data. No sponsored rankings. No paid placements. Every score is fully reproducible.
Not necessarily. The overall score reflects our weighted rubric, but your priorities may differ. If you care most about safety, compare the safety scores directly. If budget drives your decision, the value scores and prices tell a clearer story. The "right" pick is the one that matches what matters most to your family.
Not the right match? Explore these alternatives in the same category.
