The 9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Single Serving Coffee Maker
Single Serving Coffee Maker
The single-serving coffee maker allows you to prepare the perfect cup of coffee with the click of a button. These machines make use of pre-packaged pods, or ground coffee beans with a built-in filtration system.
Some come with a tea drawer and a second one for hot water. They're generally smaller than their brew-and-carafe counterparts and can easily fit on countertops that are busy.
Speed
Single-serve coffee makers are famous for their capacity to brew hot cups of coffee quickly. Some feature an advanced heating mechanism that can heat and brew a cup in less than a minute while others take a little longer. In comparison, it takes about three minutes to brew an entire carafe of drip coffee with a standard coffee maker.
The top single-serve espresso machines also come with an easy, quick cleaning and descaling process which reduces the time between usages. This helps ensure your favorite hot beverage always tastes the best single cup coffee maker.
If you're looking for a machine that is easy to use and requires minimal maintenance, then we suggest the Black+Decker Single-Serve coffee maker. It's compact and affordable, making it a great choice for any kitchen. Additionally, it shuts down automatically when the brewing cycle is complete, which helps avoid messy spills.
Another easy-to-use option is the Bruvi single-serve coffee brewer from Nespresso, which predates Keurig. It comes with a touchscreen control panel that lets you to choose from eight different cup sizes. We also like that it has a cold brew setting and an espresso-style shot button that lets you make your own one-touch beverage.
The machine comes with an individual water reservoir for each of its two brewing stations which we found to be helpful for households with multiple coffee drinkers. The removable reservoir of 40-oz is enough to brew up to 12 cups in a row, which may be ideal for those who want to get their caffeine fix all day. We also liked that the brewing station on this model has an auto-fill function, which means you don't need to manually fill the water tank.
The coffee maker on this model also features a large filter basket that can hold ground coffee, making it possible to make a regular or a bold mug. It also can be used as a reusable travel mug (not included) which makes it an ideal option for those who prefer to skip the coffee pods and simply enjoy the flavor of freshly brewed coffee. The brewing station is programable, meaning you can set it up to brew your favorite joe up to 24 hours in advance.
Convenience
Anyone who must make coffee in the rush can find a single-serving coffee maker to be a good choice. These models come with an integrated K-Cup or a ground coffee filter, so you can use them to create your own blend, and also single-serve flavors like caramel, vanilla and hazelnut.
We've also seen plenty of models with receptacles for single-use pods. This means you don't have to dispose of or recycle many empty plastic cups each time you use your device. However the pods you use are not all created equal. Some pods, such as Keurig K-Cup capsules or Nespresso Vertuo, are more costly than using your own ground coffee and a reusable filtration system. If you're shopping for single-serve coffee makers think about the amount you'll be spending on pods each month to determine if a model that can work with grounds or reusable filters would be more cost-effective in the long run.
If you're planning to make coffee for more than yourself each morning you should also be sure to look for a model that has a larger reservoir of water. All those individual cups add quickly, so a larger capacity will mean less trips to the sink to refill. Some models come with an adjustable drip tray that can be used to hold large travel mugs. This is a great feature if you are moving around.
If you're worried about the environmental impact of a single-serve machine which uses single-use plastic pods, check our list of most eco-friendly single-serve machines. These machines include options that make coffee in just a few minutes and even provide a variety of drink sizes from espresso to lungo so you can customize your daily fix to the way you like it. You'll find many of these models have features that address the need for a more sustainable, less expensive pods, as well as options that can accept reusable K-Cups and capsules made of recyclable and biodegradable materials. If you're looking to reduce your carbon footprint while enjoying a delicious and convenient cup of single-serve coffee, there's no better option than one of these machines.
Variety
There are a variety of different methods to make coffee, however single-serve options offer a convenience that is impossible to beat. If you're tired of standing in line at the drive-through for your morning espresso or just want to brew an instant cup of coffee, a single-serve maker will help you save time and money.
The best single cup coffee maker single coffee maker-serving coffee makers accept K-cups pre-packaged and beans ground, which means you can select from a variety of flavors and roasts. Some of the most advanced models can also make tea, cappuccino, hot chocolate or lattes. They typically come with drawers for every kind of beverage, meaning you can quickly find the right one without having to search your kitchen.
Some models can also make an entire carafe of coffee, which is perfect for those who don't drink just one cup a day. They are ideal for those who have guests or simply need prepare a large amount of coffee to share with your family. A single-serve programmable coffee maker can be programmed at night and then turn on automatically in the early morning. This gives you peace of mind that your coffee will be ready when you get up, and also means you don't have to worry about a hot mess on your counter or in your cup.
Moka pots or pour-overs are brewing methods that can be utilized as an alternative to single-serve coffee makers. They can allow you to create a rich, delicious cup of espresso that rivals any coffee shop's. Both methods require a bit more effort to begin but are rewarding in the end. The most important thing to remember is that it's your kitchen and your coffee, so the only rules are those you prefer.
Look into buying a product with reusable filters as well as an easily removable reservoir for those who want to cut down on the amount you produce. This will ensure that you only use a tiny amount of plastic every time you make a brew and can help protect the environment.
User-Friendliness
If you live on your own and has limited space for a larger coffee set-up or is the sole coffee drinker at their home A single-serving coffee maker is a great option. This type of brewer is made to make a small amount of coffee. It usually comes with a removable pod for easy cleaning and makes it more practical than brewing an entire pot of joe on a regular drip machine or purchasing a to-go cup at the local cafe.
In addition to being more compact and simple, many single-serve coffee makers are able to make use of both K-Cups as well as ground coffee in a separate drawer, giving you more options than your standard Keurig or Nespresso system. If you're a dedicated coffee drinker who wants the best rated single serve coffee machines of both worlds, think about selecting a dual-use model that can also make a full pot of drip coffee.
It's important to note that most single-serve machines only make five ounces of coffee per cycle. This might be less than you are accustomed to. You can find machines that can make up to 12 ounces of coffee however, and they're an excellent option for those who drinks a lot coffee throughout the day or prefers a bit more caffeine in the afternoon.
It's important to keep your coffee maker clean and descaled, regardless of whether you're using a dual-use model or one-serve models. These steps remove mineral residue that builds up within your brewer and could make the coffee taste bad or even cease working completely. The majority of manufacturers recommend decaling your brewer every one to three month, and they provide instructions on how to do it in their manuals of instruction.
The coffee experts from The Spruce Eats tested and evaluated a variety of single-serve brewers like those on this list. Each model was evaluated on the basis of its function, durability and ease of setup and breakdown. The reviewers also considered aesthetics and warranty. The models that made it into this list were those that stood out in all of these categories and brewed delicious coffee in a compact, durable design.