15 Unquestionable Reasons To Love Best Single Brew Coffee Maker
Best Single Brew Coffee Makers
There's nothing better than a cup freshly brewed coffee to start your day. We are a fan of single-brew coffee makers for this reason.
To determine the best option for you, consider the most important aspects to your brewing requirements and what extra features seem like frills. Our criteria includes a large reservoir of water, multiple brewing settings, and the ability to reuse coffee pods.
1. Do you need capsules or ground coffee?
Depending on your preference You may decide to select a model that uses coffee pods or ground beans. While we have a few models that rely solely on coffee pods in our roundup, the majority can accommodate both. These models are an excellent choice for those who want to have a variety of options available.
Our top choice is the Nespresso Vertuo Plus, is an excellent example of this. It's part of the brand's newer Vertuoline and comes with a one-touch system that is foolproof and delivers excellent espresso shots and brewed coffee. It's also the most efficient machine we've seen in our testing and comes with reuseable capsules that are better to the environment than K-Cups.
For those who prefer to use ground coffee and prefer to use the Cuisinart Grind & Brew is a fantastic alternative. It has a built-in conical burr grinder to create freshly-ground coffee, and it comes with three brewing sizes that are preset- eight, ten, and twelve ounces. It's more expensive than the other single-serve models in our lineup but it's among the best-tasting ones we've test.
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 machine that can brew using Keurig K-Cups, original Nespresso pods, and also the company's compostable capsules (though they require an industrial composting facility). It also produces the hottest coffee we've ever tried and comes with a variety of other features like hot tea water or a milk frother.
2. Does it have a huge water reservoir?
The top single-brew coffee maker will have a big reservoir of water that is able to keep up with your needs. This will ensure that your machine is not constantly running out of water, which could affect the quality of your brew. When selecting a coffee maker the amount of water in the reservoir is crucial. It will determine the frequency you need to refill and empty the tank.
The BLACK+DECKER Compact Single-Serve Coffee Maker is a great option for anyone looking for a simple-to-use machine that won't break the bank. It can brew the perfect cup of coffee in just two minutes and can be programmed to brew up to 24 hours ahead. This is perfect for those who are always moving. This machine has a compact design that can be easily tucked away on the countertop, and is the cheapest of our top choices. It also makes the most delicious coffee and comes with a built-in travel cup to make it easy. It did not perform as well as the other brewers we tested however, and its water reservoir is rather small.
If you're willing to spend a bit more, our upgrade pick the Keurig K-Supreme Smart Single-Serve Coffee Maker has a great design and features that make it stand out in our testing. It has fast brewing times and high temperatures for coffee. It also comes with three brew sizes, and is extremely user-friendly. The only downside is that it requires a one hour descaling process, which can be a hassle for those who drink lots of coffee regularly.
3. Does it come with different brewing options?
The top single-brew coffee maker will come with several settings for various cup sizes, types of drinks, and the ability to make cold brew. This allows you to customize the drink to suit your preferences and reduce time by not boiling or steeping the grounds of coffee in hot water. This method makes use of cooler water which helps to keep the coffee's flavor.
Epi's reviews editor Noah Kaufman is a big fan of the single-serve Bruvi coffee maker because it offers a variety of single-touch brewing options that make for the perfect cup of coffee, whether you prefer a less acidic drink or an espresso-like shot served over ice. The Bruvi has a brewing option that is more time-consuming than a quick brew, but it's worthwhile if you are looking for a rich and smooth cup.
In our tests the Bruvi consistently produced the most hot and consistent cup of coffee out of all the single-serve machines that we test. Its brewing cycle and timer are easy to program and keeps your beverage hot for up to four hours. If you're a fan cold brew, the Bruvi also has a setting for brewing that adjusts the temperature and brew duration to create a deliciously refreshing beverage.
Breville Precision Brewer was another standout, offering six brew options, including Gold Strong, Fast and Iced. The Gold Brew setting is based on Specialty Coffee Association guidelines for the perfect cup of coffee, while the other settings are adjustable, allowing you to tailor your experience to meet your individual preferences. The Breville Precision is narrower than many single-serve brewers that we test. This helped it to keep its brew temperature constant and to encourage a deeper saturation and a more consistent 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 and grounds after each use. Certain models even let you know when it's time to start cleaning. It is recommended to always read the user manual or manufacturer's website for more detailed instructions. Different machines use different cleaning methods.
Bruvi’s single-serve espresso maker is one of the best we've tried. It has an easy, intuitive interface, makes great coffee, and needs minimal maintenance. It can be used for brewing hot or cold drinks. It also provides a variety of brewing options that can be done with one touch, including low acid, Americano, and cold brew. It takes longer to brew compared to other models. However, this is an insignificant flaw in a great product.
This coffee maker is a budget pick because it's affordable and makes a great cup of coffee. It comes with a removable 40-ounce water tank and is compatible with K-Cups as well as ground coffee. Its user manual includes detailed instructions for taking the reservoir off, emptying and refilling it, as well as 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 make any kind of coffee.
This coffee maker is a fantastic option for anyone who likes the convenience of single-serve coffee, but dislikes the taste or waste of K-Cups. It has a large water tank as well as a built-in grinder, which makes it easy to make a delicious cup of coffee using ground beans. It has a variety of options for brewing, including bold and over-ice. It can be used with recyclable K-Cups and the brand's compostable pods. It also comes with steam buttons to make tea and a fold-away froth.
5. Can it be programmed?
The most programmable espresso maker allows you to set it up at night prior to, so you can wake up with freshly brewed coffee. This is especially useful for mornings when you're on the go or for those who don't like the effort required to use pour-over or Moka pot.
The majority of coffee makers with programmable settings offer a basic 24-hour timer however, should you want more advanced features you might be interested in the De'Longhi COM532, which is our most popular single-cup pod machine. It comes with a digital touch screen with multiple options to alter the coffee you drink including the brew temperature and intensity. This model is a bit expensive, yet it produces the most intense coffee out of any of our tested machines and its carafe is able to keep it at the ideal drinking temperature for over an hour after brewing.
If you're looking for a more economical programmable machine for your coffee, check out the Black + Decker Classic Single-Serve Coffeemaker. It has a relatively small footprint, and is compatible with ESE (Eco-friendly Single-Serve) pods, and offers simple controls that make it easy to use. It scored very well in our taste test, is brews quickly, and has a dishwasher-safe water tank.
If single coffee machine are tired of pre-packaged pods and would like to save more money, a single-cup or manual drip brewer is a great option. You can grind your own beans for better taste and more control over the taste of your drink. It is more time-consuming than using a machine that makes use of pods, but if are a coffee enthusiast, it might be worth it. To get reliable results make sure you weigh your coffee beans and ground coffee on a scale instead of measuring volume.