Best Single Brew Coffee Makers

There's no better way to kick off your day than with a cup freshly brewed coffee designed for you. This is why we love single-brew coffee makers.

Take note of what is essential for your brewing needs and what features you would consider frills. Our criteria include a big reservoir of water, several brew settings, and the ability to reuse coffee pods.

1. Is it possible to buy capsules or ground coffee in this machine?

Depending on what you prefer depending on your preferences, you can pick one that utilizes coffee pods or beans ground. While there are a few models which exclusively make use of coffee pods, the majority of models in our selection can be used with both. This makes them a great option for those who appreciate having a range of options in their arsenal.

Nespresso's Vertuo Plus is a perfect example. It's a part of the brand's new Vertuoline from the brand and comes with an easy-to-use one-touch system that delivers top espresso shots and brewed beans. It's also the most efficient machine in our tests and comes with reuseable capsules that are better to the environment than K-Cups.

The Cuisinart grind & Brew is a fantastic alternative for those who prefer to grind coffee. It uses an integrated conical burr grinder to make freshly-ground coffee and it offers three different sizes of brewing -eight, ten and twelve ounces. It's more expensive than the other single-serve models we have in our collection, but it's one of the best tasting models we've tested.

The Instant Pot Dual Pod Plus which is our runner-up, is a great option for those who wish to be able to use two kinds of pods or grounds. It's a model that's flexible, as it can brew using Keurig K-Cups or original Nespresso capsules. The company also sells its own compostable capsules. It also produces some of the best coffee of all the machines we've tested, while providing a range of additional functions, such as hot water for tea as well as milk frother.

2. Is there a huge reservoir of water?

The best single brew coffee maker will have a large water reservoir that can easily keep up with your demands. This will ensure that your machine is not always running low on water, which can affect the quality of your brew. The amount of water in the reservoir is an important aspect to consider when you choose the right coffee maker, since it will determine the frequency at which you need to refill and drain the tank.

The BLACK+DECKER Single-Serve Compact Coffee Maker is a good option for someone who wants an easy-to-use brewer that won't break the bank. It can make a cup of coffee under two minutes and can be programmed to brew up to 24 hours in advance. This is perfect for those who are constantly moving. The machine is small and can be placed on a compact counter. It's also the cheapest among our top choices. It also makes the hottest coffee and comes with an in-built travel cup for ease of use. It didn't score as high as the other brewers we tested however, and its water reservoir is relatively small.

If you're willing a bit more, our upgrade choice the Keurig K-Supreme Single-Serve Smart Coffee Maker has a great design and features that make it stand out from our testing. It offers fast brewing time and high coffee temperatures. It also offers three brew sizes, and is extremely easy to use. The only drawback is that it requires a one-hour descaling process which can be a hassle for those who drink a lot of coffee on a regular basis.

3. Does it come with multiple brewing settings?

The most efficient single brew coffee maker will have various settings for different cup sizes, types of beverages, and the capability to make cold brew. This lets you customize the beverage to your preference and reduce time by not boiling and steeping the grounds of coffee in hot water. This method makes use of cooler water which helps to keep the coffee's flavor.

Noah Kaufman, the editor of Epi's Reviews, is a huge fan of the Bruvi Single-Serve Coffee Maker, due to its numerous brewing options with just one tap. You can choose between an acid-free beverage or espresso shot over ice. The Bruvi also has the option of brewing that is more time-consuming than the typical quick brew but is well worth the wait for a smooth creamy cup.

In our tests, Bruvi consistently made an equally hot cup of coffee, compared to all other single coffee maker-serve machines we tried. Its brewing process and timer are simple to program and it keeps your beverage hot for up to four hours. The Bruvi has an option for cold brew that adjusts the brewing temperature and brew times to create a deliciously cool beverage.

Another notable feature was the Breville Precision Brewer, which features six brew options, including Gold Fast, Strong and Iced. The Gold setting is inspired by the Specialty Coffee Association's guidelines for the perfect cup of coffee. The other settings can be customized to your personal preferences. Contrary to other single-serve brewers that we tested, the Breville Precision has a narrower base, which helped it to hold onto its brew temperature more effectively and encourage deeper saturation and more evenly extracted of the coffee.

4. Does it have a self-cleaning feature?

The top single-cup machines come with the option of automatically cleaning the machine. This removes any used K-Cup pods or grounds left over after every use. Certain models can even alert you to the need for a cleaning cycle. It's essential to look through the machine's user manual or manufacturer website for specific instructions as different machines come with various cleaning methods.

The single-serve espresso maker Bruvi makes is one of the best we've ever used. It has a simple, intuitive interface, produces excellent coffee maker single serve, and requires minimal maintenance. It comes with a large reservoir of water and can be used to brew hot or iced coffee. It also provides a variety of brewing options with one touch which include low acid, Americano, and cold brew. It takes longer to brew when compared to other models. However this is a minor fault in a product that is otherwise great.

This coffee maker is a budget pick because it's inexpensive and makes a great cup coffee. It comes with a removable 40-ounce water tank and can be used with both K-Cups as well as ground coffee. The user's manual provides detailed instructions on how you can remove the reservoir, fill it up and then perform regular descaling. In contrast to other single cup coffee makers-cup coffee makers that require a disposable filter or reusable pods. It can be used to brew any kind of coffee.

This coffee maker is a great alternative for anyone who enjoys the convenience of single-serve coffee, but dislikes the taste and waste of K-Cups. It comes with a large water tank, as well as a grinder built-in which makes it easy to create an excellent cup of joe from ground beans. It comes with a variety of brewing options including bold and over-ice. It can be used with recyclable K-Cups and the brand's recycled pods. It also has steam buttons to make tea and a fold-away froth.

5. Does it have a programmeable timer?

The best programmable coffee maker allows you to set it the night before so that you get up to a cup of freshly brewed and hot coffee. This is particularly convenient for mornings when you're in a hurry or for those who do not like the hassle of using a pour-over or Moka pot.

The majority of coffee makers with programmable settings come with a basic 24-hour timer however should you want more advanced features you might want to consider the De'Longhi Com532, our preferred single-cup pod-based machine. It has a digital touchscreen and a variety of settings that let you customize your coffee to the type you like, including brewing temperature and strength. This model is the most expensive, but it makes the most hot coffee out of all of our tested machines. Its carafe will keep it at the perfect temperature for drinking for more than an hour after brewing.

If you're looking to buy a economical programmable machine for your coffee look into the Black + Decker Classic Single-Serve Coffeemaker. It's simple to use, has a small footprint and is compatible with ESE pods (Eco-friendly single-serve). It scored highly in our test of taste, brews quickly, and has a dishwasher-safe water tank.

If you are tired of pre-packaged pods and like to save more money, an individual-cup or manual drip brewer is a good option. You can grind your own beans to get a fresher taste and get more control over the flavor of your drink. It's more work than using a pod-based coffee maker, however, it's worth it if you're a committed coffee lover. To get consistent results, weigh your coffee grounds and beans on a scale, instead of measuring volume.