11 "Faux Pas" That Are Actually Acceptable To Make With Your Best Single Brew Coffee Maker
Best Single Brew Coffee Makers
There's nothing better than a cup of freshly brewed coffee at the beginning of the day. This is why we love single-brew coffee makers.
To find the best one for you, consider the most important aspects to your brewing requirements and the extra features that seem like frills. Our criteria include a big reservoir, multiple brew setting, and the use of coffee pods that are reusable.
1. Do you prefer capsules or ground coffee?
Depending on the style you prefer You can select one that uses coffee pods or beans ground. While we have a few models that use only coffee pods in our roundup, the majority can accommodate both. These models are great for those who like to have a range of options available.
Nespresso's Vertuo Plus is an excellent example. It's a part of the newer Vertuoline from the brand and comes with an easy-to-use one-touch system that produces amazing espresso shots and freshly brewed beans. It's also the most efficient machine we tested and comes with reuseable pods that are better for the environment than K-Cups.
For those who prefer to stick with ground coffee, the Cuisinart Grind & Brew is a fantastic alternative. It has a built-in conical grinder that produces freshly ground coffee. It also comes with three brewing sizes that are pre-set that include eight ounces, ten and twelve inches. It's a bit more costly than the other single-serve coffee makers in our selection however, it was one of the most flavorful models we tested and it removes the need for disposable K-Cups or the waste that comes with them.
People who want the option of using two types of pods or grounds could be interested in the second option in our review which is the Instant Pot Dual Pod Plus. It's a machine that's flexible, as it can be used to brew coffee using Keurig K-Cups or original Nespresso capsules. The company also sells its own compostable capsules. It also produces some of the hottest coffee of all the machines we've tested and offers a variety of additional functions, including hot water for tea and a milk frother.
2. Does it have a big reservoir of water?
The best single brew coffee maker will have a big reservoir of water that is able to keep up with your needs. This will stop your machine from running out of water frequently, which could affect the quality of the brew. When you are choosing a coffee maker the amount of water in the reservoir is vital. It will determine how often you have to refill and drain the tank.
The BLACK+DECKER Compact Single-Serve Coffee Maker is an excellent option for anyone looking for a simple-to-use machine that won't cost a fortune. It can make a cup of coffee under two minutes and can be programmed to brew for up to 24 hours in advance. This is perfect for those who are always moving. It has a compact design that can be easily tucked away on a small countertop and is the least expensive of our top selections. It also makes the most hot coffee and has a built-in travel mug for ease of use. It did not perform as well as the other brewers in our testing, however the water reservoir is relatively small.
If you're willing a little more, our upgrade option the Keurig K-Supreme Smart Single-Serve Coffee Maker is a stunning design and features that stand out in our testing. It offers fast brewing time and high temperatures for coffee. It also offers three brew sizes and is extremely easy to use. It's only downside is that you need to descal it for an hour, which can be a hassle for those who drink a lot of coffee.
3. Does it have multiple brewing settings?
The best single-brew coffee maker has multiple settings, which include different cup sizes, types and quantities of beverages and the capability to make a cold brew. This lets you personalize your drink exactly how you like it and save a few minutes by skipping the step of boiling and steeping your grounds in hot water. This method uses cooler water that helps keep the coffee's flavor.
Epi's reviews editor Noah Kaufman is a big fan of the Bruvi single-serve coffee maker because it has several one-touch brewing options to allow the perfect cup of joe, whether you prefer a low acid beverage or an espresso-like shot served over ice. The Bruvi also comes with the option of brewing that is more time-consuming than a typical quick brew, but is worth the wait for a smooth creamy cup.
In our tests, the Bruvi consistently brewed the most consistent and hot cup of coffee among all the single-serve machines we tried. Its brewing process and timer are easy to program and it keeps your beverage hot for up to four hours. single serve espresso machine has an option for cold brew that adjusts the brewing temperature and brew times to make a refreshingly cool beverage.
Another standout was the Breville Precision Brewer, which offers six brew modes including Gold Fast, Strong, Fast and Iced. The Gold Brew Setting follows Specialty Coffee Association guidelines for the perfect cup of coffee, while the other settings are customizable, so you can customize your experience to fit your personal preferences. The Breville Precision is narrower than many of the single-serve coffee brewers that we tried. This made it easier to maintain its brew temperature and encourage deeper saturation and a more consistent extraction of the beans.
4. Does it come with an automatic cleaning feature?
The top single-cup coffee makers feature an automatic cleaning feature that cleans any leftover grounds or used K-Cup pods out of the machine after every use. Certain models even notify you of the need for cleaning cycles. It's essential to look through the manual for the user or manufacturer website for specific instructions, since different machines have various cleaning methods.
Bruvi’s single-serve espresso maker is among the best we've used. It has a simple, intuitive interface, makes great coffee, and requires little maintenance. It has a large water reservoir and can be used to make hot or iced coffee. It also offers a variety of brewing options that can be done with one touch which include low acid, Americano, and cold brew. It takes longer to brew compared to other models. However it's a minor fault in an otherwise excellent product.
This coffee maker is one of our top picks for budgets since it's cheap and is capable of making a cup of coffee. It has a removable water tank that weighs 40 ounces, which can be used for K-Cups and ground coffee. The user's manual includes specific instructions on how to remove the reservoir, fill it up and then perform regular descaling. It can brew any type of coffee, unlike many other single-cup machines.
This coffee maker is a fantastic option for anyone who likes the convenience of single-serve coffee, but isn't a fan of the taste or the waste of K-Cups. It comes with a large water tank and a built-in grinder that allows you to make a delicious cup of coffee from ground beans. It has multiple options for brewing, including bold and over ice and can be utilized with reused K-Cups or the brand's recyclable pods. It also comes with steam buttons to make tea and a fold-away froth.
5. Is it programmable?
The most efficient espresso maker that can be programmed allows you to set it up the night before, so you can awake to freshly brewed coffee. This is particularly helpful for those who are in a hurry or who don't want to use a pour-over or Moka pot.
The majority of programmable machines have the basic timer of 24 hours. However, if you're looking for more advanced features, you may be interested in De'Longhi's COM532 which is our top single-cup pod machine. It has a touch-screen digital screen and a variety of options to alter the coffee you drink, including the brew temperature and intensity. The machine is pricey, but it produces the most intense coffee out of any of our tested machines and its carafe is able to keep it at a perfect drinking temperature for more than an hour after it has been brewed.
Black + Decker Classic single-serve coffeemaker is a budget-friendly and programable machine. It's a compact footprint, is compatible with ESE (Eco-friendly Single-Serve) pods, and offers simple controls that make it easy to use. It scored well in our taste test, brews fast, and has a dishwasher-safe water tank.
If you're tired of purchasing coffee pods that are already packaged and ready to go and want to save even more money, you should consider a single-cup or manual drip brewer. You can grind your beans yourself for a more fresh taste and more control over the flavor of your beverage. It takes more time than using a machine that utilizes pods, but if you are a fan of coffee, it might be worth the effort. To ensure regular results, weigh your coffee beans and ground coffee on a scale, instead of measuring volume.