Best Single Brew Coffee Makers

There's no better way to kick off your day than with a cup of freshly brewed coffee designed for you. We love single cup coffee-brew coffee makers for this reason.

Consider what is most important for your brewing requirements, and what features you consider frills. Our criteria include a large reservoir, multiple brew setting, and the use of reusable coffee pods.

1. Does it take capsules or ground coffee?

Depending on the style you prefer You may decide to choose a model that brews using ground beans or coffee pods. While we have a few models that rely solely on coffee pods in our roundup, the majority can accommodate both. These models are great for those who prefer to have a variety of options.

Our top pick one, the Nespresso Vertuo Plus, is a great example of this. It's a part of the more recent Vertuoline from the company and comes with an unbeatable one-touch system that produces excellent espresso shots and coffee beans that are brewed. It's also the most efficient machine we've seen 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 comes with a built-in conical grinder that makes freshly-ground coffee. It also offers three different sizes of brewing including eight ounces, ten and twelve inches. It's a bit more expensive than some of the other single-serve coffee makers in our selection however it was one of the most delicious models we tried and it removes the need for disposable K-Cups or the waste that comes with them.

The Instant Pot Dual Pod Plus which is our runner-up, is a great option for those who want to be able to use two types of pods or grounds. It's a model that is versatile, since it can brew with Keurig K-Cups or original Nespresso capsules. The company also offers its own compostable capsules. It also produces some of the hottest coffees of any machine we've tested as well as offering a variety of additional functions, including hot water for tea as well as a milk frother.

2. Does it have a big reservoir of water?

The top single-brew coffee maker will have a huge reservoir of water that is able to meet your needs. This will ensure that your machine is not always running low on water, which can impact the quality of your coffee. When you are choosing a coffee maker the amount of water in its reservoir is important. It will determine how often you have to refill and empty the tank.

The BLACK+DECKER Compact Single-Serve Coffee Maker is a great alternative for those seeking a user-friendly machine that won't break their bank. It can make a cup of coffee under two minutes, and it can be programmed to brew for up to 24 hours ahead. This is ideal for those who are constantly moving. The machine is small and can be placed on a compact counter. It's also the least expensive among our top choices. It also makes the most delicious coffee and has an integrated travel cup for convenience. It didn't perform as well as the other brewers we tested however, and its water reservoir is rather small.

If you're willing spend more, the Keurig K.Supreme Smart Single-Serve coffee maker is our top upgrade choice. It's got a stunning design, and has features that stood out during our testing. It is able to brew quickly and high temperatures for coffee. It also has three brew sizes and is extremely easy to use. It's only downside is that you have to descal it for an hour, which can be a hassle for those who consume lots of coffee.

3. Does it have multiple brewing settings?

The top single-brew coffee maker will have various settings for different cup sizes, types of drinks, and the ability to make cold brew. This allows you to customize your drink to exactly how you like it. You can also save a few minutes by skipping the process of boiling and steeping your coffee grounds in hot water. This method makes use of cooler water that helps preserve the flavor of coffee.

Epi's reviews single serve coffee makers editor Noah Kaufman is a big fan of the Bruvi single-serve espresso maker because it has several one-touch brewing options that allow for the perfect cup of joe, whether you prefer a less acidic beverage or an espresso-style shot over ice. The Bruvi offers brewing options that takes longer than a quick brew, but is worth it if you want an incredibly smooth and rich cup.

In our tests, Bruvi consistently produced consistently hot cups of coffee, compared to all other single-serve machines we tried. Its brewing process and timer are simple to program, and it will keep your beverage hot for up to four hours. The Bruvi comes with an option for cold brew that alters the temperature and brew time to create a deliciously cool beverage.

Breville Precision Brewer was another top-of-the-line product, with six brew settings, including Gold, Strong, Fast and Iced. The Gold setting is built on the Specialty coffee Association's guidelines for making the perfect cup of coffee. All other settings can be altered to your personal preferences. Unlike many of the other single-serve brewers that we tested, the Breville Precision has a narrower base, which allowed it to hold onto its brew temperature better and promote deeper saturation as well as an even extraction of the bean.

4. Does it come with an automatic 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. Some models will even notify you when it's time for a cleaning cycle. It is important to read the manual for the user or the manufacturer's website for specific directions because different machines use a variety of cleaning methods.

The single-serve espresso maker from Bruvi is one of the best we've tried. It has an easy, intuitive interface, makes great coffee, and requires little maintenance. It has a large reservoir of water and can be used to brew hot or iced coffee. It offers a range of single-touch options, including low acid, Americano and cold brew. The only drawback is that it takes longer to make than other models, however this is a minor issue in a product that is otherwise great.

This coffee maker is a great budget option because it's inexpensive and produces a fantastic cup of coffee. It comes with a removable water tank that weighs 40 ounces, which can be used for both K-Cups as well as ground coffee. Its user manual includes detailed instructions for taking the reservoir off, emptying and refilling it, and performing regular descaling. It is able to brew any kind of coffee, unlike many other single-cup machines.

This coffee maker is a great option for anyone who likes the convenience of single-serve coffee but dislikes the taste or waste of K-Cups. It has a large water tank as well as a integrated grinder which makes it easy to make an amazing cup of coffee from ground beans. It comes with a variety of brewing options, including strong and over ice, and can be used with recyclable K-Cups or the brand's own recycled pods. It also has a steam button for tea and a foldaway milk frother.

5. Does it have a programmeable timer?

The best coffee maker that can be programmed allows you to set it up the night before so that you get up to a cup of hot, freshly brewed coffee. This is particularly helpful for those who are in a hurry or who do not want to use a pour-over pot or Moka pot.

The majority of coffee makers that can be programmed offer a basic 24-hour timer however, should you want more advanced features, you might be interested in the De'Longhi COM532, our most popular single-cup pod machine. It comes with a digital touch screen and multiple options to alter the coffee you drink such as the temperature of brewing and the intensity. It's pricey, but it produces the most hot coffee of any of our machines we tested and its carafe is able to keep it at the ideal drinking temperature for over an hour after the brewing.

If you're looking for a affordable programmable coffee maker take a look at the Black + Decker Classic Single-Serve Coffeemaker. It has a relatively small footprint, is compatible with ESE (Eco-friendly Single-Serve) pods, and offers simple controls that make it simple to use. It scored highly in our taste test, brews fast, and has a dishwasher-safe water tank.

If you are tired of the pre-packaged beans and would prefer to save some money, an individual-cup or manual drip brewer is a great option. You can grind your own beans to get better taste and more control over the taste of your drink. It is more time-consuming than using a machine that uses pods, but if you are a coffee lover it might be worth it. Just be sure to weigh your beans and ground coffee using a scale rather than measuring by volume to ensure you achieve the most consistent results.