Best Single Brew Coffee Makers

There’s nothing better than a cup of freshly brewed coffee to begin the day. We like single-brew coffee makers due to this reason.

Take note of what is essential for your brewing needs and what features consider frills. Our criteria include a large reservoir, multiple brew settings, and the reuse of coffee pods.

1. Do you need capsules or ground coffee?

Depending on the style you prefer depending on your preferences, you can pick one that utilizes beans ground or coffee pods. While there are a few options that exclusively utilize coffee pods, the majority of the models in our roundup can accommodate both. This makes them a good choice for those who enjoy having a variety of options available.

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

The Cuisinart grind & blend is a great alternative for those who prefer ground coffee. It uses an integrated conical burr grinder to make freshly ground coffee, and it has three preset brewing sizes — eight, ten, and twelve ounces. It’s more expensive than the other single-serve coffee makers we have in our line-up 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.

Those who prefer to have the flexibility of using both kinds of pods or grounds may appreciate the runner-up in our review, the Instant Pot Dual Pod Plus. It’s a model that’s versatile, since it can brew using Keurig K-Cups or original Nespresso capsules. The company also sells its own compostable capsules. It also produces the hottest coffee we’ve ever tested, and offers a variety of other functions, such as hot water for tea or a milk frother.

2. Is there a large reservoir of water?

The top single-brew coffee maker will have a big reservoir of water that is able to keep up with your demands. This will ensure that your machine doesn’t constantly running out of water, which could affect the quality of your coffee. When selecting a coffee maker, the amount of water in its reservoir is important. It will determine the frequency at which you will need to refill and empty the tank.

The BLACK+DECKER Single-Serve Compact Coffee Maker is a great option for anyone looking for an easy-to-use brewer that doesn’t cost a fortune. It can make one cup of coffee in less than two minutes, and it can be programmed to brew for up to 24 hours ahead. This is perfect for those who are constantly moving. It’s compact and can be placed on a compact counter. It’s also the least expensive among our top picks. It also makes the most hot coffee we’ve seen and has a built-in travel mug to make it easy. It didn’t score as well as the other brewers that we tested however, its water reservoir was small.

If you’re willing a bit more, our upgrade choice the Keurig K-Supreme Smart Single-Serve Coffee Maker has a great design and features that stand out in our testing. It has fast brewing times, high coffee temperatures, and the possibility of three different sizes of brew. It’s also extremely easy to use. The only downside 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 have multiple brewing settings?

The best single-brew coffee maker comes with a variety of settings, including different cup sizes, types and amounts of beverages as well as the ability to make a cold brew. This allows you to tailor the drink to your liking and reduce time by not boiling and steeping the grounds of the coffee in hot water. This method uses cooler water which helps to keep the coffee’s flavor.

Epi’s reviews editor Noah Kaufman is a big fan of the Bruvi single-serve coffee maker because it offers a variety of one-touch brewing options that allow for the perfect cup of coffee, whether you prefer a less acidic beverage or an espresso-like shot with ice. The Bruvi also has the option of brewing that takes longer than the standard quick brew, but is worth it for a full, smooth cup.

In our tests, Bruvi consistently made a hot and consistent cup of coffee, compared to all other single-serve machines we tested. Its brewing process and timer are simple to program and keeps your beverage hot for up to four hours. The Bruvi features a cold brew setting that alters the temperature and brew time to create a refreshingly cool beverage.

Another highlight was the Breville Precision Brewer, which offers six brew modes including Gold, Fast, Strong, and Iced. The Gold Brew setting is based on Specialty Coffee Association guidelines for an ideal cup of coffee, while the other settings are all adjustable, allowing you to tailor your experience to suit your preferences. The Breville Precision is narrower than many single-serve coffee brewers that we tested. This allowed it to maintain its brew temperature and encourage deeper saturation as well as an easier extraction of the beans.

4. Does it come with an automatic cleaning feature?

The best single-cup machines have an automatic cleaning feature that cleans the machine. It removes 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 employ different cleaning techniques.

The single-serve coffee maker by Bruvi is among our top choices, as it has a simple and user-friendly interface, produces great-tasting coffee, and requires little daily maintenance. It has a large water reservoir and can be used to brew hot or iced coffee. It also has a range of brewing options that can be done with one serve coffee maker touch, including low acid, Americano, and cold brew. It takes longer to brew when compared to other models. However, this is a minor fault in a great product.

This coffee maker is among our budget picks because it’s cheap and is capable of making a cup of coffee. It comes with a removable 40 ounce water tank that can be used with K-Cups as well as ground coffee. Its user manual includes detailed instructions for removing the reservoir, emptying and refilling it, as well as regular descaling. It can brew any type of coffee, which is not the case with other single cup coffee makers-cup machines.

This coffee maker is perfect for those who love the convenience of single serve coffee and espresso maker-serve K-Cups but dislike the taste or waste that comes with the waste and taste. It comes with a large water tank as well as a built-in grinder, which makes it easy to make a delicious cup coffee using ground beans. It has multiple options for brewing, including bold and over ice and it can be made with reusable K-Cups or the brand’s own recycled pods. It also has a steam button for tea, as well as a fold-away milk frother.

5. Is it programmable?

The most programmable coffee maker allows you to set it up the night before so that you wake up to hot, freshly brewed coffee. This is especially helpful for mornings when you’re on the go or for those who don’t like the hassle of using pour-over or Moka pot.

The majority of coffee makers that can be programmed come with a basic 24-hour timer however, should you want more advanced features you might want to consider the De’Longhi Com532, our favorite pod-based single-cup machine. It comes with a digital touch screen and multiple settings to personalize your coffee such as the temperature of brewing and the intensity. This model is the most expensive but it makes the hottest coffee of all our tested machines. Its carafe will keep it at a perfect drinking temperature for over an hour after brewing.

Black + Decker Classic single-serve coffeemaker is a budget-friendly and programmable machine. It has a small footprint, and is compatible with ESE (Eco-friendly single pod coffee-Serve) pods, and has simple controls that make it simple to use. It also scored highly in our taste tests, brews quickly, and has an easy-to-remove water tank, which is dishwasher safe.

If you’re tired of the pre-packaged beans and would like to save more money, an individual-cup or manual drip brewer is a great alternative. You can grind your own beans for more freshness and more control over the flavor of your drink. It’s more work than using a pod-based machine but it could be worth it if your are a committed coffee lover. Make sure you weigh your coffee beans and ground coffee with scales instead of measuring by volume to get the most consistent results.