“The Best Single Brew Coffee Maker Awards: The Top, Worst, Or The Most Unlikely Things We've Seen

Best Single Brew Coffee Makers There's nothing better than a cup of freshly brewed coffee at the beginning of your day. That's why we're a fan of single brew coffee makers. Consider what is most important to you in terms of your brewing needs, and what features you would consider frills. Our criteria include a big reservoir of water, several brew settings, and the ability to use coffee pods that are reusable. 1. Can I buy capsules or ground coffee from this machine? Based on your preference You can select one that uses coffee pods or beans ground. While we have a few picks that exclusively make use of coffee pods however, the majority of models in our roundup can accommodate both. These models are an excellent choice for those who like to have a variety of options available. Nespresso's Vertuo Plus is a great example. It's part of the brand's latest Vertuoline and offers a one-touch reliable system that produces excellent espresso shots and brewed coffee. It's also the most efficient machine we've seen in our tests, and comes with reusable capsules that are kinder to the environment than K-Cups. The Cuisinart grind & brew is a great option for those who prefer to grind coffee. It has a built-in conical burr grinder to make freshly-ground coffee and it has three brewing sizes that are preseteight, ten, and twelve ounces. It's more expensive than the other single-serve coffee makers in our selection, but it was among the most delicious models we tried and does away with the need to throw away K-Cups or the waste associated with them. The Instant Pot Dual Pod Plus is our second-placed choice, is a great option for those who want to be able to use both kinds of pods and grounds. It's a versatile model that can brew using Keurig K-Cups, original Nespresso pods, and also the company's own compostable capsules (though they require an industrial composting facility). It also makes the most hot coffee we've ever tested and comes with a variety of other functions including hot tea water or a milk frother. 2. Is there a large reservoir of water? The best single-brew coffee maker has a large reservoir that can easily meet your requirements. This will stop your machine from running out of water constantly which can affect the quality of the brew. The amount of water that is in the reservoir is also an important factor to consider when choosing a coffee maker, as it will determine the frequency you have to refill and empty the tank. The BLACK+DECKER Single-Serve Compact Coffee Maker is a good option for anyone looking for an easy-to-use brewer that doesn't cost a fortune. It can make the perfect cup of coffee in just two minutes, and can be programmed to brew up to 24 hours in advance. This is ideal for those who are always in motion. The machine is compact in design that can be easily tucked away on a small countertop and is the least expensive of our top choices. It also produces the hottest coffee and comes with a built-in travel mug for ease of use. It didn't perform as well as the other brewers in our testing however, and its water reservoir is quite small. If you're willing spend more, the Keurig K.Supreme Smart Single-Serve coffee maker is our recommendation for upgrading. It has an excellent design, and has features that made it stand out in our tests. It has fast brewing times and high temperatures for coffee. It also offers three brew sizes, and is extremely easy to use. The only downside is that it requires a one-hour process to descale which can be a hassle for those who drink a lot of coffee regularly. 3. Does it have multiple brewing settings? The best single-brew coffee maker has multiple settings, including different sizes, types and quantities of drinks and the possibility of making a cold brew. This lets you personalize your drink to exactly how you like it. You can also reduce time by skipping the step of boiling and steeping your coffee grounds in hot water. This method makes use of cooler water which helps to keep the coffee's flavor. Noah Kaufman, the editor of Epi's Reviews, is a huge fan of the Bruvi Single-Serve Coffee Maker because it offers several options for brewing with just one tap. You can choose between an acid-free beverage or a shot of espresso over ice. The Bruvi also comes with an brewing option that is more time-consuming than the typical speedy brew, but is worth the wait for a smooth, smooth cup. In our tests the Bruvi consistently produced the most consistent and hot cup of coffee among the single-serve machines we test. Its brewing cycle and timer are simple to program and keeps your beverage hot for up to four hours. The Bruvi comes with an option for cold brew that adjusts temperature and brew times to create a refreshingly cool beverage. Another highlight was the Breville Precision Brewer, which features six brew options, including Gold, Fast, Strong and Iced. The Gold setting is based on the Specialty Coffee Association's guidelines for a perfect cup of coffee. All other settings can be adjusted to meet your needs. Unlike many of the other single-serve brewers we tested Breville Precision Breville Precision has a narrower base, which helped it hold on to its brew temperature better and allow for deeper saturation and more evenly extracted of the coffee. 4. Does it come with self-cleaning features? The top single-cup coffee makers have a self-cleaning feature that removes any grounds that remain or used K-Cup pods from the machine after every use. Certain models even let you know when it's time to start a cleaning cycle. Always refer to the user manual or manufacturer's site for specific instructions. Different machines employ different cleaning methods. The single-serve espresso maker from Bruvi is among the best we've tried. It has a simple, intuitive interface, produces excellent coffee, and needs minimal maintenance. It can be used to brew hot or cold drinks. It comes with a variety of one-touch options including low acid, Americano and cold brew. It takes longer to brew when compared to other models. However, this is an insignificant flaw in a product that is otherwise great. This coffee maker is a great budget option because it's inexpensive and makes a great cup of coffee. It comes with an adjustable water tank that weighs 40 ounces that can be used for both K-Cups and ground coffee. The user's manual provides detailed instructions on getting rid of the reservoir before refilling and emptying it, and performing regular descaling. In contrast to other single-cup coffee makers, it doesn't require a disposable filter or reusable pods, and can be used to brew any type of coffee. This coffee maker is an excellent alternative for those who appreciate the convenience of single-serve coffee, but dislikes the taste and waste of K-Cups. It has a spacious water tank, as well as a integrated grinder that makes it easy to create an excellent cup of joe using ground beans. It has multiple brewing options, including bold and over ice and it can be used with reusable K-Cups or the brand's own recycled pods. It also has a steam button for tea and a foldaway milk frother. 5. Can it be programmed? best single brew coffee maker lets you set it the night before to wake up to a cup of freshly brewed, hot coffee. This is particularly helpful for those in a hurry or who do not need a pour-over or Moka pot. The majority of coffee makers that can be programmed come with a basic 24-hour timer however should you want more advanced features, you might be interested in the De'Longhi COM532, our preferred single-cup pod-based machine. It has a touch-screen digital screen and multiple settings to personalize your coffee such as the temperature of brewing and the intensity. This model is the most expensive, but it makes the most hot coffee out of all of our tested machines. Its carafe will keep it at the ideal temperature for drinking for more than an hour after brewing. Black + Decker Classic single-serve coffeemaker is a budget-friendly, programmeable machine. It has a relatively small footprint, it's compatible with ESE (Eco-friendly Single-Serve) pods, and comes with simple controls that are easy to use. It scored very well in our taste test, brews fast, and has a dishwasher-safe water tank. If you're tired of purchasing coffee pods that are already packaged and ready to go and want to save even more money, think about a manual drip or single-cup brewer. You can grind your beans by yourself for a more fresh taste and more control over the flavor of your beverage. It is more time-consuming than using a machine that uses pods, however if you are a coffee lover it could be worth the effort. To ensure reliable results measure the weight of your coffee grounds and beans on a scale instead of measuring volume.