What Is a Single Serve Coffee Maker?
A single-serve coffee maker is just as the name sounds. These coffee machines allow you to brew a single serving of coffee and other beverages such as tea and hot chocolate. If you’re someone that dedicates an entire pot of delicious coffee to yourself, you may be asking, “Why would I want a single-serve coffee machine?” The truth is that these machines have many benefits that a traditional coffee maker does not offer.
Coffee is an essential part of most people’s morning. Coffee is proven to boost energy levels, support brain health, aid in weight management, and increase overall longevity. Going out and buying your morning coffee can be expensive, and sometimes brewing a whole pot to yourself leads to waste. That’s where single-serve coffee makers are helpful. You can have the same quality coffee you’d receive at a coffee shop, all from the comfort of your home and at a fraction of the time.
Benefits of a Single Serve Coffee Maker
On The Go
In the morning, it’s easy to wake up behind schedule. You don’t always have enough time to sit and wait for an entire pot of coffee to brew, only to grab a single cup and head out the door. Single brew size coffee makers allow you to make a pot of coffee easily and quickly, without wasting product.
Variety
Single-serve coffee makers allow you to use coffee or beverage pods. These pods not only come in a variety of delicious coffee but a variety of other forms of drinks. You have the option to make teas, ciders, and hot chocolate. This feature allows you to create a beverage for anyone who doesn’t drink caffeine. If your machine enables you to use loose cover grounds, you may also have the option to use loose leaf tea.
Freshness
When you brew a single serving of coffee, you’re drinking the freshest, warm, and high-quality cup of coffee you can offer yourself. This is especially important for anyone that lives in a household where people work different schedules. One family member may brew a pot of coffee at 5 am when the other member doesn’t wake up until 7 am. You could brew another coffee pot, but the previous pot often goes to waste. If you decide to drink the already made coffee, heating it in the microwave or on the stove doesn’t have the same taste and quality as a freshly brewed cup of coffee.
Less Mess
Espresso and other traditional coffee makers can get messy because they use loose beans and coffee grounds. Single-serve coffee machines use coffee pods that keep the mess reality minimal.
Easier To Clean
Keeping your coffee maker clean is essential in allowing it to function correctly and effectively. A single serve machine is much easier to clean than a traditional pot coffee maker. It’s as easy as pouring white vinegar and hot water into the machine and running it as usual. This process cleans the lines and thoroughly sanitizes the device without having to hand wash any components frequently.
Portable
If you frequently travel, picking up a coffee at a local coffee shop can get expensive. One of the great features of a single-serve coffee machine is that they are portable and can be taken with you on business trips and vacations.
Recyclable
In the past, single-serve coffee pods weren’t always earth-friendly. Today, many brands of single-serve coffee pods have curated their materials to be recycled easily. It’s important to note that to recycle coffee pods properly, you may be required to remove the plastic label from them beforehand. Some machines also come with a reusable or permanent filter which cuts down on paper waste.
Best Single Serve Coffee Makers Online
by Keurig
Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker
Keurig is one of the top leading brands in coffee. This Keurig coffee maker offers you a compact version of their previous models. Although compact, this machine makes a cup of coffee with a brew size of 6 to 12 oz. If you’re short on counter space, this coffee maker is only 5 inches long and will fit in most types of corners. The water reservoir is large enough for one cup of coffee, so each cup you brew will have fresh water. Time is essential, so this Keurig coffee maker can brew coffee in just minutes.
In November 2021, Keurig released their recyclable K-Cup pods. All you have to do is remove their easy-peel lid technology on select items. This feature makes recycling easy for everyone! Even though this machine is smaller than other coffee makers, it can fit travel mugs up to 7 inches tall. Energy efficiency is essential for any appliance. Keurig equipped this machine with an auto-off feature that shuts your coffee maker down 90 seconds after brewing a cup. If you’re a K-cup enthusiast already, you’ll be happy to know that the K-mini coffee maker is compatible with the K-cup universal reusable coffee filters.
The Keurig K-mini comes in a sleek matte finish design that will add to any kitchen or space. Because of its small size, this also makes an easy travel companion. Take this machine with you on the go, and bring your favorite coffee pods to enjoy your morning beverage wherever you go! This is the best single-serve coffee maker for anyone looking for a high-quality appliance without taking up much space.
Price: $89.99
by Keurig
Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker
Keurig takes another spot on this list of the best single serve coffee makers for everyone. While comparing Keurig coffeemakers, the K-elite outshines the rest. It holds a brew size of 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 oz, which means you can create a cup of coffee for any desired volume. Inside each box, you’ll receive one water filter and one filter that helps increase the coffee quality and taste. Everyone enjoys their coffee differently. Some like a lot of creams, others like their coffee black. You can brew different coffee strengths as well. The K-Elite can brew potent batches of coffee, changing the coffee ratio to watch for that specific cup. Choosing the strong brew button increases the coffee’s flavor.
Keurig understands that appliances that take up space need to offer functionality and versatility. For warmer days, hot coffee doesn’t allow hit the spot. Keurig understands this and added a unique feature to this coffee machine that will enable you to customize your coffee temperature. You can create your at-home iced coffee by brewing hot water over ice. This is a top choice for the best single serve coffee makers for iced coffee lovers! With this machine, you have instant access to hot and cold water. If you’re running behind in the morning, use their hot water feature to make a bowl of oatmeal or soup. You can easily adjust the temperature to your needs. Even if you need to brew multiple cups in this single serve, its 75 oz water reservoir enables you to quickly and easily brew numerous cups of coffee without needing to continuously fill its tank. Each full tank of water brews up to 8 cups of coffee.
For easy clean-up, this appliance contains a removable drip tray for you to descale your coffee maker. Lastly, the K-elite operates with quiet brew technology, so you can make a cup of coffee in peace, no matter the time of day.
Price: $139.99
by CHULUX
CHULUX Singe Serve Coffee Maker
CHULUX’s single-serve coffee maker comes in various colors, such as green, blue, red, black, and gray. This appliance can easily add a pop of color and personality to your space. Its design is modern and compact, the perfect coffee maker for a kitchen with limited space or in an office or break room. This maker fits 1 – 2 oz pod coffee capsules to ensure that you can fit your desired flavor. One of the top reasons this makes a list as the best single-serve coffee maker is that it allows you to use ground coffee if you choose. You can purchase a refillable coffee filter that will enable you to re-use the same filter between brews.
Each cup of coffee brews within three minutes, much faster than waiting for an espresso machine or coffee pot to brew. The auto-shut-off feature lets you know your machine isn’t still running or overheating if you forget to turn it off. You can use its handle on/off button or wait for it to auto-shutoff on its own. You can also avoid messy clean-up by using the removable drip tray, which acts as a cup size extender when removed. Simply remove the tray and insert a more oversized mug or cup.
There’s no need to sacrifice your favorite morning coffee when you have this portable single-serve coffee maker. This machine is very lightweight, making it easy to take it with you on the go while traveling or going to an event. You can even bring your coffee maker on a plane!
Price: $42.99
by Cuisinart
Cuisinart Premium Single Serve Coffee Maker
Cuisinart is known for its top-tier appliances. Their premium single-serve coffee maker is no exception. If you’ve owned previous coffee makers in the past and have your favorites, this coffee machine is single k-pod compatible. Now, you can try a new coffee machine without missing out on your favorite flavors! You have the option to pour your size of hot water to meet your drink’s needs. Whether you’re making coffee, hot chocolate, soup, or tea, you can change the brew size from 4 to 12 ounces.
Cuisinart includes a reusable HomeBarista filter cup, so you can use any kind of tea leaves or coffee grounds. This is one of the more technologically advanced machines on our best single serve coffee maker list. Cuisinart includes a fully programmable screen. Certain features, such as auto on/off, auto-rinse, and adjustable control settings, allow you to tailor your machine to your needs. The auto-rinse feature is a great way to keep the inside of your machine clean. Not keeping your machine’s internal system clean can lead to poor coffee quality and cause issues with your coffee maker. The 72-ounce water reservoir enables you to brew multiple fresh single cups of coffee with ease and allows you to make a quick single serve cup when you’re short on time. You’ll also receive a built-in charcoal water filter to keep each cup you brew fresh and delicious.
Price: 147.95
by Hamilton Beach
Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker
Hamilton Beach has been in the appliance business since 1910. Since then, their appliances have been featured throughout many department stores. One of the market’s best single serve coffee maker options is their single scoop coffee appliance. Unlike other single-serve coffee machines, they don’t use coffee or beverage pods to brew their drinks. Instead, you can use your favorite ground coffee blends. This feature is great because it can save you money. Single pods are often more expensive than bulk coffee or a standard coffee bag. Ground coffee is also better for the environment. Certain coffee pods are recyclable, but not everyone who uses them responsibly throws them away.
This machine can brew a cup of coffee in under 90 seconds. If you’re looking to fill a more extensive travel mug, you can fill it in under 2.5 minutes. The mesh scoop filters allow you to easily collect your ground coffee instead of pouring it directly into the machine, saving you inevitable coffee ground clean-up. The machine’s structure is made from easy to clean and durable stainless still intended to be long-lasting and easily compliment any space. Like other single-serve machines, Hamilton Beach equipped theirs with an auto-off feature and an easy-to-remove/clean dry tray. It’s important to note that because you manually pour your coffee grounds into this machine, it comes with a fill line to prevent overflow or mess.
Price: $52.99
by Hamilton Beach
Hamilton Beach FlexBrew
As stated previously, Hamilton Beach has been a leading brand in the appliance industry. They’ve made it on this list of the best single-serve coffee maker options a second time! Unlike their last appliance, this machine operates with either k-cup pods or your choice of ground coffee. This versatile feature allows you to shift between the different flavors and blends of your choosing. Each machine includes its own k-cup holder or coffee grounds basket, so you can start brewing the right way. The FlexBrew is easy to use; just lower the lid, insert your k-cup or coffee grounds, and hit brew. Once the machine has completed brewing your coffee, it will shut off on its own. This feature drastically lowers the appliance’s energy use without needing to physically unplug it.
The FlexBrew is compact and user-friendly. It gives you the ability to brew your personalized cup of coffee in an instant. Its wide opening allows you to use mugs of varying sizes. You can also store your coffee pods in the adjustable cup rest. This is the perfect gift for college students, a co-worker, or anyone that runs a busy schedule that would benefit from cutting their coffee-making time in half.
Cleaning this coffee machine is a breeze. You can easily remove the piercing needle to clean to prevent clogging and buildup. If you’re someone who loves Keurig machines but doesn’t have the money to spend, this is an excellent option for you to be able to use their k-cups without breaking the bank.
Price: $49.99
by AdirChef
AdirChef Single Serve Travel Coffee Maker
With coffee prices rising, cutting corners for your morning brew is essential. Instead of buying a $6 cup of coffee from your favorite coffee place, it’s time to start brewing your own at home. With the AdirChef coffee maker, you can not only make your coffee at home but also easily take it with you while traveling or on the go. This machine is eco-friendly and contains a permanent filter that will last for the appliance. Paper filters can be expensive and wasteful, especially if you use them daily.
AdirChef designed this machine to be compact and universal. With its six color options, you can choose your favorite color for this machine. With travelers and coffee lovers in mind, the drink compartment is large enough for most travel mugs. You don’t have to reduce your coffee consumption just because you’re using a single-serve machine. You’ll receive a complimentary travel mug to use with this appliance. The mug is insulated and can keep your coffee warm for long periods.
Because of its portability, AdirChef constructed this machine using extremely durable plastic to stay functioning in case of travel accidents. Some coffee makers don’t come with the essentials you need to start brewing your perfect cup of coffee. With this purchase, you’ll receive a travel mug, a permanent coffee filter, and a holding basket for the coffee grounds. Every component of this machine is dishwasher safe, making clean-up quick and effortless!
Price: $29.95