Top 4 Best Single Serve Coffee Makers for Regular Drinkers
What is the one thing that helps kickstart your day? The answer for most Americans and many people around the world has to be coffee. Just one sip of the creamy black goodness (or however you like it, we are not judging) and you are ready to take on whatever the world throws at your way. Coffee drinkers who love to try a variety of different cups know that it is super easy to just get dressed in the morning and head out to the nearest café for your caffeine fix. But the joy that the freshly brewed coffee brings you is matched by none and this is why most people are often looking for coffee makers.
Usually, when it comes to making coffee, lots of people who go to work daily say that they don’t have much time. Thanks to the technological era, you don’t have to spend hours or even lots of minutes doing the task. If you live alone and feel fresh after one cup of coffee, we have a great hack for you. The invention of pod coffee makers, also known as single-serve coffee makers has been miraculous for all those people living alone who rely on caffeine to make their day better. Plus, if you don't come home till evening, the machine is even better because no amount of milk or beans is wasted. It is an all-in-one magic trick that you need at home.
These single-serve coffee makers come with milk dispensers too so your coffee is brewed from the pod and you don’t have to spend much time grinding the beans. Primarily, the most daunting task of the morning is to ensure the beans are brewed and filtered. With the best pod coffee maker, you don't have to worry about it at all. Just pour in the milk, and the beans and get that frothy and creamy richness within minutes.
Browse through the list that our experts have prepared for you to find the best cup coffee maker today!
Our Top Picks for the Best Single Serve Coffee Maker
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This brand needs no introduction. They have the best quality of models as far as the coffee makers go and the single-serve machines are no exception. We highly recommend it for those people who enjoy their coffee strong like espresso or the black rich kind. It is quite compact and will not take up much space on your counter.
The design has been kept sustainable by the manufacturers as 50% of the model is built with recycled materials. In a world where climate change is an emergency, this is a welcomed initiative. The reason why we have put this on the top and regard it as the best overall single-serve coffee maker is because of how many varieties it offers in a limited amount of money.
You can drink a cup in the morning and also brew one for the travel mug and enjoy the brew throughout the day. What really impressed us was the barcode system that can detect the pod that you have placed in the machine and then pours out the coffee accordingly. From flow, temperature, and volume to extraction, you can control everything and have the caffeine taste as heavenly as you want.
Features
- 38.7oz tank size
- 19 bar pressure
- 3.17 x 14.28 x 2.9 cm
Reason to Buy
- Small footprint
- High pressure
- Made from recycled plastic
- Lots of brewing options
- Works with Nespresso capsules
- Highly regarded
Reason to Avoid
- No built-in steaming for milk
- Not compatible with Nespresso Original capsules
Coffee makers are almost synonymous with this brand and the reason behind this is how much they listen to the customers. They have been in the business for a long time and there is a reason why the best Keurig coffee maker is always the highlight of such lists. One reason why this is an absolute favorite among the coffee community is the compatibility it has with the coffee brands.
You often get lots of discounted brews with Keurig and the trust has taken years to develop. This supreme coffee maker is a giant model that can deliver five 12-ounce coffees with just one fill. So if you have guests staying over after a get-together you don't have to worry about refilling the reservoir again and again.
In fact, this is the star feature of this machine. With large capacity, the design is obviously heavy but it is totally worth it if you have space in the kitchen. With every freshly brewed cup of coffee, you can feel the aroma in the air and the flavor is just breathtakingly delicious.
Features
- 66oz
- 14.84 x 10.12 x 14.41
- 1-year warranty
Reason to Buy
- Outfitted with Keurig’s Multi-Stream tech
- Brews iced coffee
- Takes less than a minute
- Adjusts strength and temperature
- Makes up to 5 beverages
- Works with reusable k-cup pod
Reason to Avoid
- No height adjustable cup platform
- No instructions to set up a water filter
We cannot help but put another Nespresso product on our list, simply because of the feature that is loved by all coffee drinkers. No one can resist a good froth on the cup that can instantly make your mouth water. While there are lots of models available in the market that can brew a rich cup of hot coffee for you, there is an only handful that will transport you straight to a restaurant. Seriously, you can bid farewell to all your spending on the coffee shops around the block because this machine will serve as just the thing you need.
It comes with a variety of options with an extremely helpful design that is easy to operate. When you enter the information, the barcode scans it, and you are provided with exactly the kind of caffeine-induced happiness you need. From espresso to white milky coffees, you get everything with this machine and since it has 19 bars of pressure, you don’t have to worry about the amount of time it will take to prepare your coffee.
You don’t even have to lounge around because the Nespresso One makes your cup within 25 seconds. Impressive, isn’t it? So, if you are the kind who is always running late in the morning and need to have your caffeine fix before you leave the house, we 100% recommend this model.
Features
- 3.4oz size
- 10.5 x 6.1 x 12.8 inches
- 1-year warranty
- 19 bars of pressure
Reason to Buy
- Outfitted with Keurig’s tech
- Brews iced coffee as well
- Adjusts strength and temperature
- Makes up to 5 beverages
- Works with reusable k-cup pod
- Brews coffee within 25 seconds
Reason to Avoid
- No height adjustable cup platform
- No instructions about using the water filter
Again, this is for the users who love to taste a different cup once in a while as there are various types of coffee that you can try with the Ninja model. Be it Classic, Rich, Over the rocks, or any specialty that you have tried at a café and want to recreate at home, this model delivers it with utmost ease. You can also test with different sizes and milk frother and within minutes, you will have a freshly brewed cup which will save you lots of money that you spend outside on caffeine.
The primary reason why this model is on the list is that customers are in love with the customization that Ninja offers. It has a removable pod that you can wash as many times as you want to get a fresh pot. You will find it in a filter basket and after some effort, you will realize just how many options are available in this machine to make your life delightful and easy.
There is just one catch: you need to figure out how Dualbrew works to seek full advantages of this brilliantly made model that will give you the froth to remember. It is a digital system so you won’t have to spend too much time. The model is also built after keeping in mind the modern designs so as far as the space is concerned, you are sorted.
Features
- 60oz tank size
- 11.39 x 9.14 x 15.54 inches
- 1-year warranty
Reason to Buy
- Slim design
- Touch-screen feels high end
- Brews a variety of sizes
- Built-in measuring scoop
- Whisk-style milk frother
- Hot water option
- Can go pod-free
Reason to Avoid
- No instructions
- Need to remove the adapter to brew a carafe
- Requires clean up a lot
How to Find the Best Single Serve Coffee Maker?
Now obviously, our experts have tested these models for you but if you feel the need to go out and try the best one-cup coffee maker, you need to know which features to look out for. There are different varieties that exist within the market and you have to be quite vigilant about the specifications that would make your choice perfect. In the end, it comes down to what you want and how you like your coffee.
Single-use Pods or Reusable
When you buy a single-cup coffee maker, you have to see if they contain store-bought coffee pods or not. Most companies prefer those because they are convenient to use. Everyone is in a hurry in the morning and these pods have the ground coffee already present in them. If you are looking at coffee makers, we are sure you already know what a pod is but just to explain it, it looks like a small aluminum container or a cup that has ready-made ground coffee along with the filter so you don't have to brew your own.
This is a relatively expensive option but it does drastically improve your life. However, if you want to ground your own beans after using the capsule or the pod, you can do. But you have to check if they are recyclable because they will require cleaning and you will have to replace the filter paper too. There is another cheaper option called soft pods. These are like tea bags and filled with ground coffee so there is no need for you to throw away the plastic. On the other hand, if you prefer the coffee you already drink and want to grind it on your own, you can look for single coffee makers that come with a reusable filter. A cheaper and more environment-friendly option, it will save you tons of plastic. It just comes with the additional responsibility of washing it.
Water Reservoir
You get two types of reservoir in the single-cup coffee makers. It totally depends on how much coffee you drink. If you like two or more cups of coffee per day, then you should try and go for a large water reservoir so you don't have to refill again and again. It takes quite some effort to carry the container and fill it. You can try to find coffee makers that are removable and come with handles so that the task gets relatively easier. You can also detach them to clean frequently so you don't have to worry about stains. The other kind is permanently fixed to the machine and you might find it difficult to refill it. Another alternative is the model that has no reservoir attached to it. So every time you have to make coffee, you have to measure water quite precisely and pour it into the machine. This is for those people who only have one cup per day so the hassle of washing, and refilling is relatively lesser.
Brewing
Even though the most popular type of coffee is the black one that instantly makes your soul feel fulfilled, you have many options available in some models that you can experiment with. Usually, the espresso coffee machines have different buttons that measure milk and water in different quantities to give you the kind of brew you need for the day. With single-serve coffee makers, you can also try different types of coffee. From espresso shots of different quantities that you can easily fill up a travel mug with, you can also choose how strong you want your brew to be. Some advanced models also include the options of lattes, cappuccinos, and even iced coffees that can nicely froth on the cup to make your day instantly better. Usually, if you are a basic coffee drinker since most people want to keep it simple early in the morning, you can go for the cheaper options.
Conclusion
One primary concern that people have when buying single-serve coffee machines is the amount of money they have to spend. Well, they don't cost that much, considering they are an investment and cause less than what you will be spending on caffeine in a month outside. You can get the basic design for $30 and then as the features get more advanced, the cost will also keep increasing.
Amazon and many other platforms also offer sales on coffee machines so always be on the lookout for discounts during summers or any tech-related price slash. If you are going for the branded options, spend a bit on their maintenance too; keep them clean and wash them time to avoid any stains and malfunction that might hinder the performance. We suggest that you opt for the options mentioned above because they are tried and tested and can easily save you a lot of research.