Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker (BVMC-PC05BL2-NP): problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-18

Summary

Owners report a notably breakable glass carafe, recurring Ec6/Ec2 error codes, brew-function failure and premature shut-off, plus difficulty sourcing replacement parts and correctly sized charcoal filters. Yearly running cost is modest: about $4.91 for daily paper filters plus roughly $9.88 of brew electricity in the documented example, before coffee, carbon disks and descaling supplies. It is a good buy at $18 or less; above $25 the larger Mr. Coffee 12-cup programmable and Hamilton Beach 46290 12-cup deserve a comparison.

Common problems and fixes

Glass carafe breakage — iFixit calls the carafe “notably breakable,” owners report trouble getting replacements, and a third-party replacement-carafe market exists for this model. No confirmed genuine replacement part number or stock; third-party replacements run about $26.49 to $33.98. [3][7][8][13]
Ec6/Ec2 error codes — documented on iFixit’s device page; Mr. Coffee Consumer Care attributes them to insufficient power and suggests switching outlets or power-cycling, but some users report this does not resolve the issue. [3]
Brew function failure and premature shut-off — users report the brew function ceasing to work entirely and the machine shutting off before the 2-hour auto shut-off or mid-brew. No documented fix beyond warranty service. [3]
Replacement parts hard to source — the 2-inch charcoal water filters are hard to find; universal 12-cup-size filters are too large and do not fit, and at least one owner got no help from customer service. [3][8]
Filter basket overflow — one owner reports the included charcoal filter caused the reusable filter to overflow with grounds on first use, with paper discs pulling out of the filter ring. Using the correct grind and filter size is the mitigation. [8]
Mold in the water line — one owner who left a basket of grounds in the machine for four days reports mold infiltrated the water line from reservoir to drip and could not be cleaned without tools that would not fit. Regular cleaning and not leaving grounds in the machine is the mitigation. [8]
Early unit failure — one owner reports the machine brewed only half a cup and then stopped working after two uses. [8]
Inadequate manual — owners repeatedly call the supplied manual inadequate for proper operation. [6][8]
Minor dripping with Grab-A-Cup auto pause — mentioned in owner reports. [6]

Parts and consumables

Glass carafe (replacement) — no confirmed genuine Mr. Coffee part number, US price or stock found; a third-party cupsync pot compatible with BVMC-PC05BL2 was listed at $26.49 (out of stock) at Walmart Business, with another seller starting around $33.98. Replacement is event-based, not annual. [13]
Paper basket filters — Melitta 4-6-cup small flat basket filters, 200 count, $2.69 at Target (October 2026); about $4.91 per year at one filter per day. [4][9]
Third-party carbon disks — PureLine 12-pack at $13.49 at Target (October 2026); a verified buyer reports this pack does not fit the 5-cup machine, so it is not recommended as compatible. [10]

Yearly running cost

Paper filters are about $4.91 per year at one $2.69/200-count box used daily. Brew electricity in the documented example is about $9.88 per year: a 650 W element for 10 minutes is about 0.108 kWh, about 39.5 kWh per year at an assumed $0.25/kWh, ignoring warming-plate and standby draw. An example annual subtotal is about $14.79 for one paper filter daily plus that hypothetical brew electricity. [2][4][9][14]

When it is a good buy

At $18 or less before tax: appealing buy for compact programmable brewing if warranty, contents and receipt are clear. Target listed $17.99 (October 2026), with a struck-through retailer reference of $24.99. [4]
$19-25: reasonable but not outstanding. [4]
Above $25: compare alternatives before checkout. Walmart listed $29.47 (October 2026); Best Buy indexed $27.99 but showed it not available new; iFixit reports a $21.99-$39.99 range; the official Mr. Coffee page was out of stock with no reliable direct checkout price. [3][5][6][14]
Above $40-45: weak; larger-capacity or better-reviewed brewers become available and the carafe and repairability caveats bite harder. [3][4]

Alternatives: the Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Switch (non-programmable) at $15.99 at Target (October 2026) if you do not need scheduled brewing; the Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable at $19.99 at Target if you need more volume; the Hamilton Beach 46290 12-Cup Programmable at $27.99 at Target if a bigger jug and a different control layout matter. [4]