The Best Single Cup Coffee Maker

If convenience is your top priority the single cup coffee makers-cup coffee maker may be the ideal choice for you. They take up less counter space and are more simple to use than their drip counterparts.

You can pick from models that make use of K-Cups, original Nespresso pods or recycled aftermarket ones. Certain models can also make espresso-style shots as well as iced coffee.

1. Cuisinart Grind & Brew

The machine is designed to be elegant and stylish. It can grind and brew just one cup or a full pot. It is smaller than other coffee makers that have a grinder. This lets you use the counter space for other appliances. Unlike some grinders that can leave the coffee with a coarse, granular consistency the Grind & Brew uses a burr grinder designed to precisely crush beans down to a preset size. This makes for a more consistent grind of coffee.

The Grind & Brew has an automatic shut-off, as well as a showerhead that evenly distributes water over the grounds. This ensures consistency between brews. It can be programmed to begin brewing up to 24 hrs in advance, and provides multiple control options such as a customizable clock display as well as coffee strength (mild, moderate, or strong) and a brew pause feature that lets you pour a cup out without halting the process.

One of the most interesting things about this model is that it can brew from whole beans as well as K-Cups. The choice between both is determined by your personal preference. The machine can hold up to 12 K-Cups, or you can fill the hopper with ground beans. The timing of brewing is a bit slower than our top pick however it's still fast enough to have their coffee brewed by the time they wake up.

As a whole the Grind & Brew performed well in our tests, but it fell short of our top overall score. The brew temperatures of the Grind & Brew were the least stable among all models we tested. It shifted from the first brew to the fifth by nearly 5 degrees, and never achieved the 195-degree target set by the SCAA for the best coffee.

However, it's a small price to pay for the convenience of having a grinder and brewer that will make your mornings more peaceful. The machine is easy-to-use and clean. All of its components fit into place and open/close with a satisfying "clunk". It's also lightweight and compact, which is great for those with a small counter space.

2. Smeg Drip coffee maker

If you are looking for a sleek and compact single-cup coffee maker to put in your kitchen, this one from SMEG is a great choice. This drip filter coffee maker from the Italian brand is famous for its retro-style appliances of the 1950s. It is elegant in its design and blends function and form. The auto-start feature allows you to start your day with freshly brewed coffee. It can make 10 cups at a time. You can also select between two different aroma settings, Intense or Delicate, to alter the strength of your coffee. Set an alarm to notify you when it's ready.

This programmable coffee maker has a generous 1.4-liter water tank, meaning you don't have to worry about running out of water. The reusable filter helps reduce waste, and it has an indicator that shows the water level to inform you when it's time to refill. This coffee maker can also be used to make hot chocolate and herbal tea. The brewing process is fast, and it comes with a keep-warm plate to help ensure that your coffee stays warm until you're ready to drink it.

This SMEG drip-filter coffee maker features four buttons that are easy to use. The LED clock displays the current settings. Its dishwasher-safe permanent filter and reusable filter help reduce waste, and the spout is designed to avoid spills. If you reside in a region that has hard water, your SMEG drip-filter coffee maker might need to be periodically descaled. You can descale the machine by pressing the automatic-start and off/on buttons for five seconds, and then pouring the descaler solution into the water reservoir.

This drip-filter coffee maker is programmable and also has the added bonus of being compatible with ESE pods. They are greener alternatives to K-Cups or other single serve espresso machine-serve pods. This coffee maker has one flaw that it doesn't have a brew-timer. You will need to establish the start time each morning.

3. Oxo Brew 12-Cup Thermal Carafe

The Oxo Brew 12-Cup thermal carafe is an excellent alternative for those who want an espresso maker that has the capability to brew a single cup or a whole pot. It includes a stainless-steel thermal carafe with a double wall and a vacuum insulation that keeps coffee hot for several hours. It also comes with a handy, easy-to-use interactive display screen and a mixing tube that can be removed. The machine can be programmed to run up to 24 hours ahead of time. The LCD display backlit displays the remaining time until your coffee is ready.

The coffee maker comes with two different sized brew baskets for small or large quantities, making it ideal for households that use various sizes and amounts of cups. It is certified by the Specialty Coffee Association for brewing Gold-standard coffee. The BetterBrew Precision System and Rainmaker Shower Head evenly disperse water throughout your grounds to ensure the best flavor extraction.

In contrast to most pod-based coffee machines, this one makes use of regular ground or whole beans (not proprietary ones) instead of prepackaged single-serve capsules. The use of regular coffee grounds decreases waste and saves money. The machine is also fast making a cup of coffee in less than six minutes. The only downside to this machine is that it's more expensive than other drip coffee makers that we tested however its sleek design and durable build make it a good option.

This drip coffee maker is a fantastic alternative to multi-functional kitchen appliances that are geared towards gadgets. It's built well and is quiet. The user-friendly interface makes it easy to set the exact amount of water to make. We found the Brew Barista Brain to be a reliable machine, and it was able to handle our most challenging test coffee (Costco House Blend, medium grind) extremely well.

While the majority of cold brew coffee makers employ the method of immersion, this model dispenses your coffee with a spray of iced water that gives you the most drinkable results than the one you get from infusion. It also has a programmable setting that starts the brew exactly five minutes in the future and avoids the hassle of standing around waiting for your coffee to finish brewing.

4. Bruvi Brewer

If you're ready to spend a little more than your typical K-cup coffee maker, this sleek machine from Bruvi could be the ideal single serve espresso machine cup brewer for you. It makes use of what Bruvi calls "B-Pods," which contain 40% more coffee than a normal K-cup pod, and are constructed with treated polypropylene that is designed to break down in composters and landfills over time, leaving no microplastics behind (though it's not certified for organic waste). B-Pods also permit the brewing process to be hygienic, with each individual coffee brewer cup being sealed inside the pod to prevent flavor cross contamination between cups. The Bruvi's sleek and modern design is impressive. The machine's touch screen comes to life only when you insert a pod, and it will display the options available for that specific kind of beverage.

The Bruvi also offers multiple options for cold coffee and iced brew, including hot and iced espresso as well as americanos. And the machine is designed to utilize less water than a traditional single-serve brewer. This can help minimize dilution when you add Ice.

Another great feature of the Bruvi is that it's a smarter single use coffee maker-serve pod brewer. It has an embedded camera that examines the unique code of each B-Pod and then optimizes the brewing settings to suit the specific type of coffee. You can be assured that your Bruvi will provide a delicious cup espresso.

Lastly, the drip tray on the Bruvi can be adjusted to limit splashing when pouring the beverage into a small mug or glass and can be removed completely for tall travel mugs. The Bruvi comes with a few additional features, including a removable water tank and an automatic cleaning cycle to keep it running efficiently and efficiently.

The pod coffee maker from Bruvi is more expensive than other pod makers, however, it's worth the cost due to its superior taste and lower impact on the environment. It's an excellent choice for those who alternate between espresso and coffee frequently due to its clean system. allows for easy and quick change to cold brew or iced coffee, without the need for a separate coffee maker. It also includes an milk frother which is a welcome addition at this price point.