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Nerdy Science in the Kitchen

Dementia Friendly Coffee Makers

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a cup of homemade coffee

7 Best Coffee Makers For Senior Citizens – Independence For Those With Dementia

Every three seconds, somebody gets diagnosed with dementia. Dementia is a serious illness that affects the lives of millions of people every year. This makes certain everyday activities a lot more difficult. Everyday things can become dangerous. It’s important to find easy to use items, and these will allow seniors to stay independent. Age-related illnesses can leave our loved ones feeling upset and overwhelmed.

Many of our elders have a habit of drinking coffee every morning. After receiving an arthritis or dementia diagnosis, it can seem isolating. Some of our stubborn parents/grandparents want to keep their routines without help. That’s why these 7 easy to use coffee pots can be life changing for our seniors. The best rated machines in this list have features that make brewing a pot of coffee easier than ever. Included are an auto shut off option and large buttons for those who struggle with their grip.

If you’re in a rush, here’s my favorite pick: Bunn Coffeemaker at Amazon

1. Cuisinart 4 Cup Coffeemaker

This basic machine has many components that make using it easy. It has one on/off switch to use it, as well as a brew pause feature which lets you choose the strength of your coffee. This can be useful to decrease any confusion, your loved one needs to press one button to get their coffee going. This coffee maker is made of stainless steel for super easy cleaning within seconds.

Cuisinart DCC-450BK 4-Cup Coffeemaker with Stainless-Steel Carafe, Black

One of the most useful features of this coffee machine is it’s automatic shut off. This is very helpful for those with memory impairment. After 30 minutes of not being in use, it will turn the power off to avoid any hazards. So even if someone forgets to turn their machine off, it’s no problem!

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2. Keurig K-Mini

Keurigs are known and loved for how easy they are to use. All you have to do to brew from a Keurig is to add water, put a K Cup in the machine, and hit the brew button. This process makes it easy for people of any ability to make a cup of coffee on their own. However, if your senior is anything like mine, some will balk at the cost of the mini-cups over their favorite can of Folgers.

Keurig K-Mini Plus Maker Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer, Comes with 6 to 12 Oz. Brew Size, Storage, and Travel Mug Friendly, Cardinal Red

Another positive feature is how easy it is to clean. It has a removable drip tray that allows a quick, simple cleaning process. The Keurig K-Mini is one of the most compact models on the list, making it small enough to fit on any countertop. Over time, the Keurig can stop working due to a lime scale buildup. We are talking in a year or two. It’s a simple matter to clean and get it going again, but it can be a surprise

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3. Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker

This top rated machine is one of the best ones for our loved ones. It makes a cup in 90 seconds or less, making it perfect for those who are a little impatient. It also has an automatic shut off feature to decrease any risk of burns or fires.

Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker, Fast Brewing, Stainless Steel (49981A)

This option is the most cost effective. It has a feature that is particularly helpful with loss of coordination: a stand to secure the coffee mug. This lets the cup attach to the machine without the worry of knocking it over. That would not only be a mess, but dangerous from the broken glass or hot coffee too.

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4. Mr. Coffee 10 Cup Coffee Maker

This 10 cup coffee pot is made of an easy to clean and sturdy stainless steel. It also has a delay brew function, which lets you set the brew time ahead. You can wake up to a freshly brewed pot of coffee every morning!

Mr. Coffee 10 Cup Coffee Maker | Optimal Brew Thermal System

Another helpful feature is the water filtration. It removes up to 97% of chlorine from the water used to brew the coffee. This results in better tasting coffee for our loved ones who prefer a stronger flavor.

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5. Zojirushi EC-DAC50 Zutto 5-Cup Drip Coffeemaker

The Zojirushi machine is a 5-cup drip coffee maker that has a removable water tank. The pros of this water tank are that it makes it so much easier to clean and also to refill. This one also purifies the water in the water tank for better tasting and stronger coffee.

Zojirushi EC-DAC50 Zutto 5-Cup Drip Coffeemaker,Silver

This unit is compact and small enough to fit on any counter. Another feature the machine has is an automatic “keep warm” option. This lets the coffee to stay warm for long periods of time without any hassle.

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6. BUNN GRB Velocity Brew 10-Cup Home Coffee Brewer

This machine is one of the top rated ones on the list. It is very fast, making an entire pot of coffee, or 10 cups, in only 3 minutes. It also makes some of the strongest flavored coffee of all the pots on the list. Those who like that bitter taste might lean more towards this machine than the others on the list.

BUNN GRB Velocity Brew 10-Cup Home Coffee Brewer, Black

The Velocity Brew has a drip-free carafe, which makes the cleaning process very simple and quick. Something this product has that none others do is a feature that allows the water in the machine to stay hot. So, you can brew fresh hot coffee on-demand with little wait time.

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7. Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine

This espresso machine has an auto shut off feature, one of the most important components on any coffee maker on the list. This is important for people with dementia or other memory loss diseases because the heated water can become a danger to senior citizens.

Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine by Breville, Black

Another helpful part of this machine for elders is that it only has one button to operate it. This makes it easy to use no matter the ability of the user. There is a movable water tank included to help seniors clean and fill the tank with ease. Last, the water heats up in only 20-25 seconds to brew a fresh cup of coffee in no time!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Easy Are These to Clean?

When someone begins to slow down, basic tasks like cleaning can take 3 times as long. See my article here on the best bleach to clean a coffee pot.

What about other appliances for seniors?

See my popular article on Microwaves for Seniors with Dementia.

Final Thoughts

These 7 coffee makers are some of the best-rated machines for seniors on the market. They have many qualities that make it easy for disabled or elderly people to use every day without help. Dementia can be scary for both the person affected and their loved ones. This makes finding the right appliances that much more important.

These coffee makers seem like simple machines in everyday households. For our sick loved ones these machines can restore their independence. Each of these machines has unique qualities that would benefit different types of people. Use this list to find the right one for you or your loved one.

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