Marlene Montalvo

Best Single Brew Coffee Makers

There's no better way to begin your day than with a cup coffee made just for you. We are a fan of single-brew coffee makers for this reason.

Consider what is most important for your brewing needs and what features you think are frills. Our criteria includes a large reservoir of water, several brew settings, and the capability to use reusable coffee pods.

1. Can I buy capsules or ground coffee in this machine?

Based on your preference depending on your preferences, you can pick one that utilizes beans ground or coffee pods. While we have a few picks that exclusively make use of coffee pods but the majority of the models in our selection can be used with both. This makes them a great option for those who appreciate having a range of options in their arsenal.

Our top pick one, the Nespresso Vertuo Plus, is a great example of this. It's part of the brand's new Vertuoline from the company and comes with a foolproof one-touch system that delivers excellent espresso shots and brewed beans. It's also the most efficient machine we've ever tested. It also comes with refillable pods that are more beneficial for the environment than K-Cups.

The Cuisinart grind & Brew is a fantastic option for those who prefer to grind coffee maker single serve. It comes with a conical grinder that creates freshly-ground coffee machine single cup. It also has three preset brewing size options that include eight ounces, ten and twelve pounds. It's more expensive than other single-serve models in our lineup but it's one of the best tasting models we've test.

The Instant Pot Dual Pod Plus, our runner-up, is a great option for those who wish to be able to utilize both kinds of pods or grounds. It's a versatile machine that can brew with Keurig K-Cups, original Nespresso pods, and the company's own compostable capsules (though they require an industrial composting facility). It also produces the most intense coffee we've ever tested, and offers a variety of other features like hot water for tea or a milk frother.

2. Is there a huge reservoir of water?

The top single brew coffee maker will have a large reservoir of water that can easily keep up with your needs. This will stop your machine from running out of water continuously which can affect the quality of the coffee. The amount of water in the reservoir is also an important aspect to consider when you choose a coffee maker, as it will influence the frequency you have to fill and drain the tank.

The BLACK+DECKER Single-Serve Compact Coffee Maker is a good option for anyone looking for an easy-to-use coffee maker that won't cost a fortune. It brews one cup of coffee in less than two minutes and can be programmed up to 24 hours in advance, making it perfect for those who prefer to have a cup of coffee in the middle of the day. It has a compact design that can be easily tucked away on the countertop, and is the cheapest of our top picks. It also makes the most delicious coffee maker single and has a built-in travel cup for convenience. It did not perform as well as the other brewers we tested however its water reservoir is quite small.

If you're willing to pay a bit more, our upgrade option the Keurig K-Supreme Single-Serve Smart Coffee Maker has a great design and features that make it stand out in our testing. It offers fast brewing time and high temperatures for coffee. It also offers three different brew sizes and is extremely user-friendly. The only drawback is that you have to decal it for an hour, which can be a hassle for people who drink a lot of coffee.

3. Does it come with multiple brewing settings?

The best single-brew coffee maker can be set to multiple settings, which include different cup sizes, types and amounts of beverages and the capability to make cold brew. This allows you to customize the drink to suit your preferences and reduce time by not boiling and steeping the coffee grounds in hot water. This method also uses cooler water, which can help keep the flavor of your coffee.

Noah Kaufman, the editor of Epi's Reviews, is a big fan of the Bruvi single coffee machine-Serve Coffee Maker due to the fact that it provides a variety of options for brewing with just one tap. You can select an acid-free beverage or a shot of espresso over ice. The Bruvi also has the option of brewing which takes longer than the typical quick brew, but is worth the wait for a smooth and smooth cup.

In our tests the Bruvi consistently made the hottest and most consistent cup of coffee among all the single-serve machines that we tested. Its brewing cycle is easy to program, and the timer keeps your beverage warm for upto 4 hours. The Bruvi comes with an option for cold brew that adjusts the brewing temperature and brew times to create a refreshingly cool beverage.

Breville Precision Brewer was another standout, offering six brew settings, including Gold, Strong, Fast and Iced. The Gold brew setting follows Specialty Coffee Association guidelines for the perfect cup of coffee, while the other settings are all customizable so you can tailor your experience to fit your personal preferences. Unlike many of the other single-serve brewers we tested Breville Precision Breville Precision has a narrower base, which allowed it to hold onto the temperature of its brew better and promote deeper saturation as well as an even extraction of the beans.

4. Does it have an auto-cleaning feature?

The top single-cup coffee makers have a self-cleaning feature that removes any leftover grounds or used K-Cup pods from the machine after every use. Certain models even let you know when it's time to start cleaning. Always refer to the manual for use or the manufacturer's website for detailed instructions. Different machines use different cleaning methods.

The single-serve espresso maker Bruvi makes is among the top we've ever used. It features an easy, intuitive interface, makes great coffee, and requires minimal maintenance. It can be used for brewing hot or iced drinks. It also has a range of brewing options that can be done with one touch that include low acid, Americano, and cold brew. The only drawback is that it takes longer to brew than other models, however this is a minor issue in a great product.

This coffee maker is a good budget choice because it's cheap and makes a great cup of coffee. It comes with a removable 40 ounce water tank and can be used with both K-Cups and ground coffee. The user manual contains detailed instructions on how you can remove the reservoir, refill it and then perform regular descaling. It can brew any type of coffee, unlike many other single-cup machines.

This coffee maker is ideal for those who appreciate the convenience of single-serve K-Cups but don't like the taste or waste associated with them. It has a spacious water tank, as well as a integrated grinder which makes it easy to make an excellent cup of joe using ground beans. It comes with a variety of options for brewing, including strong and over-ice. It can be used with reusable K-Cups and the brand's recyclable pods. It also has steam buttons for tea as well as a foldable milk frother.

5. Does it come with a programmable timer?

The best coffee maker that can be programmed allows you to set it the night before to get up to the aroma of hot, freshly brewed coffee. This is particularly useful for those who are on the go or who don't need pour-over pots or Moka pot.

The majority of coffee makers with programmable settings provide a basic timer for 24 hours however, If you're looking for more advanced features, you may think about the De'Longhi COM532, which is our favorite pod-based single-cup machine. It comes with a touchscreen and multiple settings that let you alter your coffee according to the flavor you like, including brewing temperature and strength. This model is a bit pricey, but it produces the most hot coffee of any of our tested machines and the carafe will keep it at the ideal drinking temperature for over an hour after brewing.

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly programmable coffee machine, check out the Black + Decker Classic Single-Serve Coffeemaker. It has a relatively small footprint, it's compatible with ESE (Eco-friendly Single-Serve) pods, and has simple controls that make it easy to use. It also scored well in our tests of taste, brews quickly, and comes with an easy-to-remove water tank that's dishwasher-safe.

If you're fed up of buying coffee pods that are already packaged and ready to go and want to save even more money, consider a manual drip or single-cup brewer. You can grind your own beans for a fresher taste and get more control over the flavor of your drink. It is more time-consuming than using a machine that uses pods, but if you are a coffee lover it could be worth it. To ensure regular results, weigh your coffee beans and ground coffee on a scale, instead of measuring volume.