Best Single Brew Coffee Makers

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

Take note of what is essential for your brewing requirements and what features think are frills. Our criteria include a big water reservoir, multiple brew settings, and the capability to reuse coffee pods.

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

Depending on the style you prefer You may decide to choose a model which makes coffee using ground beans or coffee pods. While we have some models that only use coffee pods in our roundup, the majority can accommodate both. These models are an excellent choice for those who like to have a variety of options available.

Our top pick, the Nespresso Vertuo Plus, is an excellent example of this. It's part of the brand's newest Vertuoline and comes with a one-touch reliable system that produces excellent espresso shots and brewed coffee. It's also the most efficient machine we tested and comes with refillable pods that are more beneficial for the environment than K-Cups.

For those who prefer to use ground coffee then the Cuisinart Grind & Brew is a great alternative. It comes with a conical grinder that creates freshly-ground coffee. It also offers three different sizes of brewing: eight, ten and twelve pounds. It's more expensive than the other single serve espresso machine-serve models we have in our collection, but it's one of the best tasting ones we test.

Those who prefer to have the flexibility of using both types of pods or grounds may appreciate the runner-up in our review, the Instant Pot Dual Pod Plus. It's a versatile machine that can brew using Keurig K-Cups, original Nespresso pods, as well as the company's compostable capsules (though they require an industrial composting facility). It also produces the hottest coffee we've ever tried and has a range of other functions like hot water for tea or a milk frother.

2. Does it have a huge reservoir of water?

The best single brew coffee maker will have a big water reservoir that can easily meet your needs. This will ensure that your machine is not constantly running out of water, which can affect the quality of your coffee. When choosing a coffee maker, the amount of water that is in the reservoir is vital. It will determine the frequency you need to refill and drain 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 cost a fortune. It can brew the perfect cup of coffee in just two minutes and can be programmed to brew up to 24 hours in advance. This is perfect for people who are always on the move. This machine has a compact design that fits well on the countertop, and is the cheapest of our top choices. It also produces the most hot coffee and has an integrated travel cup for convenience. It didn't get as high a score as other brewers in our testing however the water reservoir is rather small.

If you're willing to spend more, the Keurig Super Smart Single-Serve coffee maker is our upgrade pick. It has an excellent design, and has features that made it stand out in our tests. It is able to brew quickly and high coffee temperatures. It also comes with three brew sizes, and is very easy to use. The only drawback is that it requires a one hour descaling process, which can be a problem for those who drink lots of coffee on a regular basis.

3. Does it come with multiple brewing settings?

The best single-brew coffee maker can be set to multiple settings, including different sizes, styles and quantities of beverages as well as the capability to make cold brew. This lets you personalize your drink to exactly how you prefer it, and also save time by skipping the process of boiling and steeping your grounds in hot water. This method also makes use of cooler water, which can help preserve the flavor of your coffee.

Noah Kaufman, the editor of Epi's Reviews, is a big fan of the Bruvi Single-Serve Espresso Maker, due to its numerous options for brewing with a single click. You can choose from a low-acidity beverage or a shot of espresso over ice. The Bruvi has a brewing option which takes longer than a simple brew but it's worth it if you're looking for an incredibly smooth and rich cup.

In our tests, Bruvi consistently produced an equally hot cup of coffee in comparison to other single-serve machines we tested. 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 comes with a setting for brewing that adjusts the temperature and brew duration to create a deliciously refreshing beverage.

Breville Precision Brewer was another outstanding product, offering six brew settings including Gold, Strong, Fast and Iced. The Gold setting is built on the Specialty coffee Association's guidelines for making the perfect cup of coffee. The other settings can be customized to your personal preferences. The Breville Precision is narrower than many single coffee machine-serve brewers that we tested. This allowed it to keep its brew temperature constant and increase the saturation of the coffee and a more consistent extraction of the beans.

4. Does it come with self-cleaning features?

The best single-cup coffee makers come with a self-cleaning feature that removes any grounds that remain or used K-Cup pods out of the machine after each use. Certain models even let you know when it's time for a cleaning cycle. It's important to check the manual for the user or the manufacturer's website for specific directions as different machines come with a variety of cleaning methods.

The single-serve coffee maker by Bruvi is among our top picks because it features a simple and intuitive user interface, produces great-tasting coffee, and requires only minimal regular maintenance. It has a large water reservoir and can be used to brew hot or iced coffee. It also provides a variety of brewing options that can be done with one touch that include low acid, Americano, and cold brew. It takes longer to brew compared to other models. However it's only a minor flaw in a great product.

This coffee maker is a budget pick because it's affordable and makes a great cup coffee. It comes with a removable 40-ounce water tank and can be used with K-Cups as well as ground coffee. The user manual contains detailed instructions on how to remove the reservoir, re-fill it and perform regular descaling. In contrast to other single-cup coffee makers, it doesn't require a disposable filter or reusable pods. It can be used to make any kind of coffee.

This coffee maker is an excellent alternative for anyone who enjoys the convenience of single-serve coffee but dislikes the taste or waste of K-Cups. It comes with a large water tank and a convenient built-in grinder that allows you to make an excellent cup of joe using ground beans. It offers a variety of options for brewing, such as bold and over ice, and can be made with recyclable K-Cups or the brand's own recycled pods. It also comes with a steam button for tea as well as a foldable milk frother.

5. Does it have a programmeable timer?

The most programmable coffee maker allows you to set it the night before to awake to freshly brewed, hot coffee. This is especially useful for mornings when you're on the go or for those who don't want the hassle of using a pour-over or Moka pot.

Most programmable machines come with an initial timer that lasts for 24 hours. If you're interested in more advanced features, you may think about De'Longhi's Com532 that is our top single-cup pod machine. It comes with a digital touch screen and a variety of settings to customize your coffee such as the brew temperature and intensity. This model is a bit expensive, but it makes the most hot coffee of any of our machines we tested and the carafe will keep it at an optimal drinking temperature for more than an hour after brewing.

Black + Decker Classic single-serve coffeemaker is a budget-friendly, programmable machine that can be programmed. It has a relatively small footprint, it's compatible with ESE (Eco-friendly Single-Serve) pods, and offers simple controls that are easy to use. It also scored highly in our taste tests, brews quickly, and has an easy-to-remove water tank that's dishwasher-safe.

If you're sick of the pre-packaged beans and would like to save money, an individual-cup or manual drip brewer is a good option. You can grind your own beans to get a fresher taste and to have more control over the flavor of your beverage. It takes more time than using a machine that uses pods, but if you are a coffee enthusiast, it could be worth it. To get consistent results, weigh your coffee grounds and beans on a scale, instead of measuring by volume.