The Shardor CM1429TE-UL is a stripped-down 10-cup programmable drip machine, built around a cone-shaped permanent filter and priced under $40. Consumer Reports tested this exact model, which makes it one of the rare budget machines in this category with real lab numbers behind it rather than marketing copy.
The temperature number is the story
CR’s test found the Shardor fell short of the 195°F-or-higher guideline that the Specialty Coffee Association considers necessary for full extraction, held for five to six minutes of brewing. That is not a matter of taste preference; water that runs cool under-extracts the grounds, and the usual result is coffee that tastes flat or sour rather than bitter. It is the same failure mode CR has flagged on other budget machines in this price band, and it is the reason this listing’s own published downside centers on temperature rather than on features.
What you get instead of heat
CR measured the carafe’s usable capacity at 49oz, a bit under a true 10 cups by the 5oz-per-cup standard the industry actually uses. The machine includes a permanent cone filter (no ongoing paper cost), a two-setting brew strength control, a keep-warm plate, and drip-stop so you can pull the carafe mid-brew. There is no removable reservoir, no small-batch setting for brewing under a full pot, and no thermal carafe — the coffee sits on a hotplate until you shut it off or the auto-shutoff kicks in.
Where it actually scored well
It would be easy to write this off entirely on the temperature result, but CR’s testers rated it well on convenience — clear controls, easy filling, easy cleaning — and specifically called the carafe “especially easy to use,” with good handle comfort and pour control. CR notes it has insufficient survey data to rank the Shardor brand on reliability or owner satisfaction, so there is no track record to lean on either way; you are buying a known brew-temperature shortfall in exchange for a genuinely pleasant carafe and a low price.
Who this actually suits
If you drink coffee with milk and sugar, or you’re not chasing the brightest possible cup, a few degrees of under-extraction is easy to live with, and $40 for a permanent filter and a strength setting is a fair trade. If you already care enough about brew temperature to have a thermometer opinion, this is not your machine — look at a model CR rated as meeting the 195°F guideline instead, even at a higher price.
Before you buy
- Confirm you’re getting the CM1429TE-UL model number CR tested — Shardor sells several similarly named 10-cup machines with different specs.
- Don’t expect a full 10 cups; treat the measured 49oz capacity as roughly 9 cups by the standard 5oz measure.
- Rinse the permanent filter well before first use; metal mesh filters pass more fine sediment and oils than paper.
- If brew temperature matters to you, budget for a model with a confirmed 195°F+ result instead.
Based on Consumer Reports’ published test of the Shardor CM1429TE-UL and the retail listing for this model. CoffeeLogik has not tested this machine in person.
