The Zojirushi ZUTTO EC-DAC50 is a compact 5-cup drip coffee maker with a removable water tank, a charcoal water filter and automatic keep warm. Zojirushi sells it on its US store for $89.99 in silver, black or red, which puts it well below the company's larger 10-cup brewer.
What is the Zojirushi ZUTTO EC-DAC50?
It is a small automatic drip brewer from Zojirushi, the Japanese appliance brand. Zojirushi describes it as a coffee maker that brews up to 5 cups, keeps the coffee warm automatically and is "ideal for small spaces." The capacity is 5 cups, or a maximum of 24 oz (680 mL), so it suits one or two people rather than a full table.
Three things set it apart from a basic budget brewer on paper. The water tank lifts out for filling and cleaning. A charcoal water filter sits in the system and Zojirushi says it lasts up to 2 years under normal use. And the tank carries iced coffee water measure lines, which are there to help you brew a stronger cup for pouring over ice.
Zojirushi ZUTTO EC-DAC50 specs
| Model | EC-DAC50 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 5 cups, max. 24 oz (680 mL) |
| Size (W x D x H) | 8-7/8 x 5-7/8 x 10-5/8 inches |
| Power | 120 volts, 650 watts |
| Water tank | Removable |
| Water filter | Charcoal, up to 2 years under normal use |
| Keep warm | Automatic |
| Colors | Silver, Black, Red |
| Origin | Made in China |
| Price | $89.99 |
Zojirushi also says the parts that touch food and drink are free of PFAS (including PTFE and PFOA) and BPA, and that the machine is cULus listed. The instruction manual comes in English and French, with a Spanish download online. The warranty is the Zojirushi Limited Warranty for Electrical Products, and the page does not give a length in years. It also does not say whether the carafe is glass or what kind of filter basket is fitted, so check the box contents before assuming either.
How the water filter and iced coffee lines work
The filter is a replaceable charcoal cartridge, sold as the Replacement Charcoal Filter 8-ECA-P320. Its job is to treat the water before it reaches the grounds, and Zojirushi pitches it as part of clean operation. Charcoal filters are a common feature on larger machines and rare at this size, so it is one of the machine's selling points. The ongoing cost is the replacement filter, a Purifying Filter Set priced at $12.15 on the same page.
The iced coffee lines are simpler. Hot coffee poured over ice dilutes as the ice melts, so Zojirushi marks the tank so you can add less water for the same amount of coffee. In the maker's words, the lines adjust the water-to-coffee ratio for a stronger coffee that does not taste watered down when chilled with ice. Nobody here has brewed with it, so how strong the result is remains the maker's claim. What the feature does tell you is that iced coffee was planned for, not added later.
Zojirushi ZUTTO EC-DAC50 vs Zojirushi EC-YTC100XB
The larger sibling is the Zojirushi EC-YTC100XB 10-Cup Coffee Maker. It is a thermal carafe machine: stainless steel, vacuum insulated, with a 10 cup capacity, a timer, a time-saving mode and an iced mode that brews a concentrate for up to 5 cups. Zojirushi lists the brewing temperature at around 200F. Its price is not stated on the page we use for it.
The ZUTTO is the smaller and simpler of the pair. It brews 5 cups instead of 10, relies on automatic keep warm rather than a vacuum carafe, and the maker's page does not list a timer. If you want a machine that holds coffee hot for hours without a heating plate and can start on a schedule, the EC-YTC100XB has those features on paper. If you brew a couple of mugs and want something that fits under a cabinet, the ZUTTO's footprint of about 9 by 6 inches is the point of it.
Zojirushi ZUTTO EC-DAC50 vs Krups Simply Brew 5-Cup
The Krups Simply Brew 5-Cup Coffee Maker is the budget alternative at the same size. It lists at $34.99 with a glass pot, a 1.2 liter reservoir, 650 watts, a Keep Warm function and a 2 year warranty, and it includes a permanent filter.
The wattage is identical, so the comparison comes down to extras. The ZUTTO adds a removable tank, a charcoal filter with a stated two year life and the iced coffee lines, and costs $55.00 more at list price. The Krups gives you a lower price and a stated warranty length. Neither maker publishes brew time or brewing temperature in the figures we hold, so speed and cup quality are untested here.
Is the Zojirushi ZUTTO EC-DAC50 worth it?
At $89.99, the ZUTTO costs more than a plain 5-cup brewer and less than most mid-range 10-cup machines. What you pay for is the water filter, the iced coffee marking and the compact body. If none of those matter to you, a cheaper machine does the same basic job.
It also has limits worth knowing. Capacity tops out at 24 oz, so a household of three or four will be brewing twice. There is no listed timer, grinder, thermal carafe or strength setting. And the filter is a recurring cost. Weighing those against the maker's claim of a clean, compact design, it is a reasonable buy for one person who wants a small machine and likes the idea of filtered water, and a poor fit for anyone who needs volume.
Who should buy the Zojirushi ZUTTO EC-DAC50 (and who should not)
Buy it if you live alone or as a couple, have limited counter space, drink iced coffee in summer, or want filtered water built into the machine. Buy it if you prefer a Japanese brand with a stated focus on small, tidy appliances.
Skip it if you regularly brew more than two mugs, want a programmable start time, or want a thermal carafe that holds heat without a warming plate. Look at the 10-cup Zojirushi above for those. Also skip it if you live in Alaska or Hawaii, because Zojirushi says the item does not ship there from its own store.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cups does the Zojirushi ZUTTO EC-DAC50 make?
Zojirushi lists 5 cups, with a maximum of 24 oz or 680 mL. These are small cups, so expect around two ordinary mugs.
Does the ZUTTO have a water filter?
Yes. It has a charcoal water filter that Zojirushi says lasts up to 2 years under normal use. The replacement is part number 8-ECA-P320.
Is the water tank removable?
Yes. The removable tank is one of the headline features on the maker's page, which makes filling and cleaning easier than reaching into a fixed reservoir.
Can the ZUTTO make iced coffee?
It has iced coffee water measure lines. They change the water-to-coffee ratio so the coffee is stronger before it hits the ice. It has no dedicated iced cycle.
What colors does it come in?
Silver, black and red. Zojirushi's store lists all three at the same $89.99 price, with model numbers ending -SZ, -BA and -RA.
Does it keep coffee warm?
Yes, Zojirushi lists automatic keep warm. The maker does not say how long it stays on, so check the manual for the shutoff time.
