Best Single Brew Coffee Makers

There’s no better way to start your day than with a cup of coffee specially made for you. We love single-brew coffee makers for this reason.

To determine which one is the most suitable for you, consider what’s most important to your brewing needs and what features are frills. Our criteria include a big water reservoir, multiple brew settings, and the possibility to use reusable individual coffee maker pods.

1. Do you prefer capsules or ground coffee?

Depending on what you prefer depending on your preferences, you can pick one that utilizes beans ground or coffee pods. While there are a few options that solely use coffee pods but the majority of models in our list can accommodate both. These models are great for those who want to have a wide range of options.

Our top choice, the Nespresso Vertuo Plus, is a great example of this. It’s part of the more recent Vertuoline from the company and comes with a foolproof one-touch system that produces amazing espresso shots and freshly coffee beans that are brewed. It was also the most efficient machine we’ve ever tested. It also comes with reuseable pods that are better for the environment than K-Cups.

The Cuisinart grind & brew is a great alternative for those who prefer ground coffee. It comes with an integrated conical burr grinder to make freshly ground coffee, and it has three different sizes of brewing — eight, ten, and twelve ounces. It’s a bit more expensive than the other single serving coffee machine-serve coffee makers we have in our line-up however it was one of the best-tasting models we tested and it does away with the need to throw away K-Cups or the waste associated with 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 utilize both kinds of pods or grounds. It’s a versatile device that can be used to brew coffee 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 like hot water for tea or a milk frother.

2. Is there a vast reservoir of water?

The top single-brew coffee maker features a large reservoir that will easily meet your needs. This will prevent your machine from running out of water frequently which can affect the quality of the brew. When selecting a coffee maker, the amount of water that is in the reservoir is crucial. It will determine how often you have to refill and drain the tank.

The BLACK+DECKER Single-Serve Compact Coffee Maker is a great option for those who want an easy-to-use brewer that doesn’t break the bank. It can brew a cup of coffee in under two minutes and can be programmed up to 24 hours in advance, making it perfect for those who want to have a cup of coffee at the go. This machine is compact and fits on a small counter. It’s also the cheapest of our top choices. It also makes the most delicious coffee and comes with a built-in travel cup for convenience. It did not score as high as the other brewers in our testing, however the water reservoir is quite small.

If you’re willing spend more, the Keurig K.Supreme Smart Single-Serve coffee maker is our upgrade pick. It has an excellent design with features that stood out in our tests. It is able to brew quickly and high temperatures for coffee. It also offers three different brew sizes and is very easy to use. Its only downside is that you need to remove it for a period of time which can be a hassle for people who consume a lot of coffee.

3. Does it come with different brewing options?

The best single brew coffee maker will have various settings for different cup sizes, varieties of beverages, as well as the ability to make cold brew. This lets you personalize your drink exactly to how you like it and save time by skipping the process of boiling your coffee and steeping it in hot water. This method also makes use of cooler water, which helps keep the flavor of your coffee.

Epi’s reviews editor Noah Kaufman is a big fan of the Bruvi single serve coffee makers-serve coffee maker because it offers a variety of one-touch brewing options to allow the perfect cup of coffee, regardless of whether you prefer a less acidic drink or espresso-style shot over ice. The Bruvi offers brewing options that is more time-consuming than a quick brew, but it’s worth it if you’re looking for an incredibly smooth and rich cup.

In our tests, Bruvi consistently produced a hot and consistent cup of coffee in comparison to other single-serve machines that we test. Its brewing cycle and timer are easy to program and it keeps your beverage hot for up to four hours. If you’re a lover of cold brew, the Bruvi also comes with a setting for brewing that can adjust the temperature and brew times to make a refreshing and delicious beverage.

Another notable feature was the Breville Precision Brewer, which has six brewing modes, including Gold, Fast, Strong and Iced. The Gold setting is built on the Specialty coffee Association’s guidelines for the perfect cup of coffee. All other settings can be adjusted to meet your needs. The Breville Precision is narrower than many of the single-serve coffee brewers that we tested. This made it easier to keep its brew temperature constant and increase the saturation of the coffee and an even extraction of the beans.

4. Does it have an automatic cleaning feature?

The top single-cup models have an automatic cleaning feature that cleans the machine. This removes any used K-Cup pods or leftover grounds after each use. Certain models can even alert you to the need for a cleaning cycle. Always refer to the manual for use or the manufacturer’s website for more detailed instructions. Different machines employ different cleaning methods.

The single-serve coffee maker by Bruvi is among our top picks due to its simple and intuitive user interface, makes great tasting coffee, and requires minimal daily maintenance. It can be used to brew hot or cold drinks. It has a variety of one-touch options like low acid, Americano and cold brew. It takes longer to brew compared to other models. However, this is only a minor flaw in an otherwise excellent product.

This coffee maker is among our picks for budget because it’s cheap and is capable of making a cup of coffee. It comes with an adjustable water tank of 40 ounces that can be used for both K-Cups and ground coffee. The user’s manual contains specific instructions for getting rid of the reservoir before refilling and emptying it, and performing regular descaling. Unlike many other single-cup coffeemakers that require an empty filter or reusable pods, and can be used to make any kind of coffee.

This coffee maker is perfect for those who love the convenience of single-serve K-Cups but dislike the taste or waste associated with them. It comes with a large water tank as well as an integrated grinder that makes it easy to make a delicious cup coffee from ground beans. It comes with a variety of options for brewing, such as strong and over ice, and it can be made with reusable K-Cups or the brand’s recyclable pods. It also has a steam button for tea as well as a foldable milk frother.

5. Does it come with a programmable timer?

The best programmable espresso maker lets you set it up at night prior to so that you get up to freshly brewed coffee. This is particularly convenient for mornings when you’re on the go or for those who do not like the effort of using a pour-over or Moka pot.

Most programmable machines offer the basic timer that lasts for 24 hours. If you’re looking for more advanced features, you might want to consider De’Longhi’s COM532, which is our favorite single coffee maker-cup pod machine. It comes with a touchscreen and a variety of settings that let you alter your coffee to the type you prefer, including brew temperature and strength. It’s expensive, yet it produces the hottest coffee of any of our tested machines and the carafe will keep it at an optimal drinking temperature for over an hour after brewing.

If you’re looking for a economical programmable machine for your coffee look into the Black + Decker Classic Single-Serve Coffeemaker. It’s a compact footprint, and is compatible with ESE (Eco-friendly Single-Serve) pods, and offers simple controls that are easy to use. It also scored highly in our tests of taste, is able to brew quickly, and comes with an easy-to-remove water tank that’s dishwasher-safe.

If you’re tired of buying pre-packaged coffee pods to save even more money, you should consider a single serve pod coffee maker-cup brewer or a manual drip. You can grind your own beans to get a fresher taste and get more control over the taste of your beverage. It’s more work than using a pod-based coffee maker, but it may be worth it if your are an avid coffee drinker. Just be sure to weigh your beans and ground coffee using scales instead of measuring by volume to get the most consistent results.