Which Single Cup Coffee Maker is Right For You?

When it comes to making coffee you have plenty of choices. Which one is the best for you?

Single cup coffee makers provide convenience at the push of the button. The machines utilize pods or capsules from the store (like K-Cups), to create the beverage of your choice. These are usually made of plastic or aluminum and can result in significant waste.

1. Simple to use

Single-cup coffee makers are great for those who want an instant cup of coffee but don't want to use a larger coffee maker. They're simple to use and come with various choices for brewing to suit various tastes. They also require less counter space than a traditional drip coffee maker which is an advantage in a tight kitchen.

Most of the models we tested make coffee using ground coffee or pre-portioned capsules or pods purchased from stores. The pods, which are tiny cups made of plastic or aluminum, contain ground coffee that has been measured and a built in filter. They are more convenient and less expensive than buying whole coffee beans, but may become costly over time. Many companies also make filter filters that can be reused for their pods and, in many cases, you can recycle them.

Some machines can also brew cold-brewed coffee, and some come with milk-frothing attachments for making cappuccinos or Lattes. Others like our top pick can brew coffee and tea. We evaluated the models on their function, durability and the ease of setup and breakdown, as well as their aesthetics and included warranties to determine the top brewers with one cup for use at home.

Our top choice stood out because of its simplicity of design, the variety of options for brewing and a single-touch operation. It made the most hot coffee in the market and allowed for different sizes of brewing, and was also the most simple model to clean.

The model also comes with an integrated grinder, which was the most valuable feature of the single-cup brewers that we tested. It could grind regular and dark roast beans to the same fineness and was extremely quiet when in operation. We also found it to be the most durable machine we tested, and its compact footprint made it easy to stash in tight spaces.

We'd like to add one last note. While single-cup brewers can be excellent for using both grounds and pods but we wouldn't recommend them to anyone looking to create their own pods that are reusable. These are usually a mixture reviews of single serve coffee makers aluminum and plastic which could wear out the heating element in a machine over time. You can purchase coffee bags made from a combination of filter paper and plant-based materials. This is a greener choice.

2. Easy to clean

A single cup coffeemaker uses whole or ground beans along with a filter, to make the perfect cup of freshly prepared coffee. The majority of models use pods. They are small aluminium or plastic cups that are preportioned with ground beans, with a built in filter. Keurig's K-Cups are made from polypropylene, which is recyclable, but you should consult with your local recycling center to determine if that material is accepted in your community. Nespresso capsules are made of aluminum and are usually recyclable.

3. Coffee makers that are cheaper

There's no need to invest a fortune in a large brewing machine. single coffee brewer-serve brewers, like the Keurig are a cost-effective way to get an instant cup of coffee for yourself or your coworker. The Keurig also has the added benefit of allowing users to socialize and gather around the table with a hot cup of coffee.

Most single-serve coffee systems use ground coffee that is pre-portioned in small pods made of plastic or aluminum which have a built-in filter system. This makes the process quick and simple. These pods that are only used once can be convenient, but they can also be more expensive than making your own beans and create lots of waste. Companies like Green Mountain, Wolfgang Puck and others offer a range of Fair Trade and Organic K-Cups which are both economical and environmentally friendly.

Another option to the pre-portioned coffee pods used by single-serve brewers is to make your own ground coffee with filters that are reusable, which means you don't have to purchase and discarding single-use coffee pods. While this can take a bit more time to prepare, it can save you money over the long term. It also allows you to select your own ground coffee, rather than having to stick with the same brand.

You should consider how much coffee you drink frequently and whether ritual or convenience is more important to you. If you drink lots of coffee and often rush out the door with a mug in one hand, it may be worth investing in a basic single-serve maker.

If you only drink the occasional cup of coffee every day, it might be worth investing in a drip or percolator machine that can handle large quantities at once. This will let you enjoy a variety of flavors and not have to throw the coffee that has been burned or stale.