Best Single Brew Coffee Makers

There's no better way to start your day than with a cup of coffee made just for you. This is why we love single cup coffee machine brew coffee makers.

Take note of what is essential to you in terms of your brewing needs and what features think are frills. Our criteria include a big water reservoir, multiple brew settings, and the ability to reuse coffee pods.

1. Is it possible to purchase capsules or ground coffee from this machine?

Depending on what you prefer, you can choose one that uses beans ground or coffee pods. While there are a few options which exclusively use coffee pods but the majority of the models in our selection can be used with both. These models are a great option for those who want to have a variety of options available.

Nespresso's Vertuo Plus is an excellent example. It's part of the brand's latest Vertuoline and features a single-touch foolproof system that delivers exceptional espresso shots and brewed coffee. It's also the most efficient machine in our testing and comes with reusable capsules that are kinder to the environment than K-Cups.

The Cuisinart grind & blend is a great alternative for those who prefer ground coffee. It comes with a conical grinder that makes freshly-ground coffee. It also comes with three preset brewing size options including eight ounces, ten and twelve pounds. It's a bit more costly than other single serving french press-serve coffee makers in our selection however, it was one of the best-tasting models we tested and it removes the need for disposable K-Cups or the waste that comes with them.

People who want the flexibility of using both kinds of pods or grounds could be interested in the second option in our review of the Instant Pot Dual Pod Plus. It's a versatile machine that can brew using Keurig K-Cups, original Nespresso pods, as well as the company's own compostable capsules (though they require an industrial composting facility). It also produces some of the hottest coffees of all the machines we've tested so far as well as offering a variety of other functions, including hot water for tea and a milk frother.

2. Does it have a large water reservoir?

The best single-brew coffee maker has a large reservoir that will comfortably meet your needs. This will ensure that your machine is not constantly running out of water, which can impact the quality of your coffee. When you are choosing a coffee maker the amount of water in the reservoir is vital. It will determine the frequency at which you will need to refill and drain the tank.

The BLACK+DECKER Single-Serve Compact Coffee Maker is a good option for those who want an easy-to-use brewer that doesn't cost you a fortune. It can brew one cup of coffee in less than two minutes, and can be programmed to brew up to 24 hours in advance. This is great for those who are constantly on the move. This machine has a compact design that is perfect for the countertop, and is the cheapest of our top selections. It also produces the hottest individual coffee maker of the bunch and comes with a travel mug to make it easy. It did not score as high as the other brewers we tested but its water reservoir was relatively small.

If you're willing to spend more, the Keurig Super Smart Single-Serve coffee maker is our upgrade pick. It has an excellent design and features that made it stand out during our testing. It has fast brewing times and high temperatures for coffee. It also has three brew sizes, and is very easy to use. The only downside is that it requires a one-hour process to descale which could be a hassle for those who drink a lot of coffee regularly.

3. Does it come with multiple brewing settings?

The top single-brew coffee maker has multiple options, including various cup sizes, types and quantities of beverages and the capability to make a cold brew. This lets you customize the drink to suit your preferences and also save time by not boiling or steeping the grounds of the coffee in hot water. This method also makes use of cooler water, which helps keep the flavor of your coffee.

Epi's reviews editor Noah Kaufman is a big fan of the Bruvi single-serve espresso maker because it offers a variety of one-touch brewing options that allow for the perfect cup of coffee, whether you prefer a low acidity drink or espresso-style shot over ice. The Bruvi also has a brewing setting that takes longer than the standard speedy brew, but is worth it for a full creamy cup.

In our tests, Bruvi consistently produced consistently hot cups of coffee, compared to all other single-serve machines that we tested. The brewing process is simple to program and the timer can keep your beverage warm for up to four hours. The Bruvi comes with a cold brew setting that adjusts the brewing temperature and brew times to create a deliciously cool beverage.

Breville Precision Brewer was another standout, offering six brew options, including Gold, Strong, Fast and Iced. The Gold setting is based on the Specialty Coffee Association's guidelines for making the perfect cup of coffee. All other settings can be adjusted to suit your preferences. Contrary to other single-serve brewers that we tested Breville Precision Breville Precision has a narrower base, which aided it to hold onto its brew temperature better and promote deeper saturation as well as more evenly extracted of the coffee.

4. Does it come with an automatic cleaning feature?

The best single-cup coffee makers feature self-cleaning features that eliminate any grounds that remain or used K-Cup pods from the machine after each use. Certain models can even alert you to the need for a cleaning cycle. It's important to check the manual for the user or the manufacturer's website for specific instructions as different machines come with various cleaning methods.

Bruvi’s single cup coffee-serve espresso maker is one of the best single brew coffee Maker we've ever used. It features an intuitive, simple interface, produces great coffee, and requires little maintenance. It can be used for brewing hot or cold drinks. It also provides a variety of one-touch brewing options that include low acid, Americano, and cold brew. It takes longer to brew when compared to other models. However this is an insignificant flaw in a product that is otherwise great.

This coffee maker is one of our top picks for budgets since it's inexpensive and is capable of making an espresso. It has an adjustable water tank of 40 ounces that can be used to make K-Cups as well as ground coffee. The user's manual contains detailed instructions on getting rid of the reservoir, emptying and refilling it, and for regular descaling. It is able to brew any kind of coffee, unlike many other single-cup machines.

This coffee maker is ideal for those who appreciate the convenience of single-serve K-Cups but don't like the taste or waste associated with their waste or taste. It comes with a large water tank as well as a grinder built-in which makes it easy to create an amazing cup of joe from ground beans. It comes with a variety of options for brewing, including strong and over ice, and it can be made with reusable K-Cups or the brand's recyclable pods. It also comes with a steam button to make tea and a fold-away froth.

5. Is it programmable?

The most programmable coffee maker allows you to set it the night before so that you awake to a cup of hot, freshly brewed coffee. This is especially convenient for those who are in a hurry or who don't need a pour-over or Moka pot.

The majority of programmable machines have an initial timer that runs for 24 hours. However, if you're interested in more advanced features, you may be interested in De'Longhi's COM532 that is our top single-cup pod machine. It has a digital touchscreen and a variety of settings that allow you to customize your coffee to the kind you prefer, including brew temperature and strength. This model is the most expensive, but it makes the hottest coffee of all our tested machines. The carafe keeps it at a perfect temperature for about an hour after it has been brewed.

Black + Decker Classic single-serve coffeemaker is a budget-friendly and programmeable machine that can be programmed. It is easy to use, has a small footprint, and is compatible with ESE pods (Eco-friendly single brew coffee machines-serve). It also scored well in our tests of taste, is able to brew quickly, and features an easy-to-clean water tank that is dishwasher-safe.

If you're tired of pre-packaged pods and would prefer to save some money, the single-cup or manual drip brewer is a great alternative. You can grind your beans by yourself to get a fresher taste and to have more control over the flavor of your drink. It's more work than using a pod-based coffee maker, but it may be worthwhile if you're an avid coffee drinker. To get consistent results measure the weight of your coffee beans and ground coffee on a scale instead of measuring volume.