9 Best Single Serve Coffee Makers – Reviews and Buying Guide

Simon Calvin
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There are so many single-serve coffee makers available in the market today. Basically, you get your own cup, just the way you like it. And, a lot of single serve coffee makers come with big discounts, especially during holiday season, do check out our single serve coffee maker deals page for up-to-date coupon codes.

Single-serve coffee makers are all the rage although these don’t make espresso and cappuccino (that’s what espresso and cappuccino machines are for), but they do make rich, hot, fresh coffee.

More and more options are hitting the market every year. You can choose from a variety of designs, styles, sizes, shapes, with or without a built-in grinder, automatic or just one-touch operation and many different features. So, it’s time to compare some of the best single-serve coffee makers available.

We’ve updated these reviews with the best single serve coffee makers for 2016.

So, grab your mug (we suggest a single-serve coffee mug), relax, get comfy and we’ll take you through the pros and cons of the best single-serve coffee makers.

NameCategoryProduct
Keurig K-Elite Coffee MakerBest OverallKeurig K-Elite Coffee Maker
Pour Over Coffee Travel MugBudget PickPour Over Coffee Travel Mug
Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Maker by De'LonghiUpgrade PickNespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Maker by De'Longhi

1. Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker

Our rating: 9 / 10

Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker

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Pros:

  • * K-Cup pods are great for single-serve coffee or tea * Strong heating element

What makes the Keurig K-Elite stand out?

It boasts an extra-large 72 oz. water reservoir that allows you to make 6 cups of delicious hot coffee before having to refill the tank. Fill it up and just leave it on the counter; it will turn itself off after 2 hours of inactivity.

The brewer features a 48-oz. removable water reservoir so an entire kettle’s worth of water can be brewed before it needs to be emptied. Simply remove the tank, fill it with water and replace it. This is very convenient!

2. AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker

Our rating: 9 / 10

AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker

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3. Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker

Our rating: 8 / 10

Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker

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Pros:

  • Has a removable drip tray
  • Has a hot plate to keep the carafe warm
  • Brews a 4 oz. cup in under a minute
  • Has a nice selection of K-Cup pods
  • Has an Auto-OFF feature to extend the product’s lifespan
  • Comes with a helpful tutorial
  • Easy to clean and empty out residue
  • Stylish colors and modern design
  • Has a nice weight and feel
  • Brews a 8-10 oz. cup with the single-cup brew sizes

Cons:

  • Can be used in drip mode only to brew a full carafe
  • The handle may feel too flimsy for some
  • Can feel a little flimsy to some when using it
  • The carafe is not dishwasher safe
  • Has a plastic feel

If you would like to recreate that corner coffee shop feel in your home, then the Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker is the way to go. It also does an amazing job of retaining heat, meaning you can brew a 4 oz. cup in under a minute and still have an amazingly hot cup of coffee.

4. Pour Over Coffee Maker

Our rating: 8 / 10

Pour Over Coffee Maker

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Pros:

  • It looks great
  • The filters are 13 grams with a cloth material designed to make it easy to clean.

Cons:

  • It's made of glass and is fragile
  • The lid is very heavy

You can brew up to 3 cups of coffee with this pour over coffee maker.

It’s very simple to use and takes up very little counter space.

It’s easy to clean and the stainless steel filter is reusable and easy to clean.

5. Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Maker by De'Longhi

Our rating: 8 / 10

Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Maker by De'Longhi

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Pros:

  • One Touch Creates Rich Espresso, Lusciously Smooth Pods and Rich Coffee
  • One Touch Creates Rich Espresso, Lusciously Smooth Pods and Rich Coffee *87.5-oz Water Resistant Container
  • 87.5-oz Water Resistant Container *Removable Drip Tray
  • Removable Drip Tray *Adjustable Drip Tray and Coffee Spout
  • Adjustable Drip Tray and Coffee Spout *Removable Folding Handle
  • Removable Folding Handle *Digital Touch Display
  • Digital Touch Display *24-oz Maximum Fill Line Indicator
  • 24-oz Maximum Fill Line Indicator *Automatic Switch Off
  • Automatic Switch Off *Brewing Lock
  • Brewing Lock *170-oz Water Reservoir

6. Pour Over Coffee Travel Mug

Our rating: 8 / 10

Pour Over Coffee Travel Mug

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Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Extremely portable
  • Has a compact build; suitable for everyday use
  • Works well when making pour over coffee
  • No mess coffee brewing

Cons:

  • Makers could be prone to breaking
  • Doesn’t make full pots of coffee

The Pour Over Coffee Travel Mug is a travel mug that is extremely well known for making one or two cups of coffee at a time using a pour-over coffee method.

The paperless filter is made differently than most, yet works just as well at letting the coffee oils filter through.

The Pour Over Coffee Travel Mug is very easy to clean, and very easy to use.

7. Cuisinart SS-10P1 Premium Single-Serve Coffeemaker Coffemaker

Our rating: 8 / 10

Cuisinart SS-10P1 Premium Single-Serve Coffeemaker Coffemaker

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Pros:

  • One of the most ergonomic single serve coffee makers you can buy
  • Programmable
  • Great temperature control
  • Cone filter instead of the typical mesh filter removes waste.
  • Option for automatically brewing large batches
  • Lightweight
  • Quiet operation
  • Dual water faucet connection
  • Dishwasher safe parts
  • 1-year warranty

Cons:

  • Annoying power cord
  • Decanter, while sleek, is made of thin glass that can easily crack
  • Slow to brew a small cup of coffee

With its stainless steel look, simple button controls, and trendy design, the Cuisinart SS-10P1 is one of the best-selling single serve coffee makers on the market.

The futuristic looking appliance with its intense and focused coffee flavor is a perfect example of Cuisinart’s product design. It took a long time for Cuisinart to replicate the great coffee they were used to creating with their drip brew coffee machines to their single-serve coffee maker but they finally did it. No more bitter additives and watery flavors with Cuisinart’s single-serve coffee maker.

8. Keurig K-Mini Plus Coffee Maker

Our rating: 8 / 10

Keurig K-Mini Plus Coffee Maker

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Pros:

  • Incredibly potent
  • Small and portable
  • Automatically off to save energy
  • Available in one color

Cons:

  • Non-adjustable cup size
  • Cannot use any kind of coffee or tea with the product

You probably already know this, but our name is not just true for science stuff, it's also true for coffee. We really love our coffee, much more than a lot of people, and we just got to give you the Keurig K-Mini.

First off, this is the same Keurig that makes names like office and homes across the country brewed up some awesome coffee. Ever since the first Keurig was developed, people have loved the convenience of the Keurig system. The Keurig K-Mini is definitely the growing company's most portable coffee machine. In fact, it's so small that it even has its own little mug, the same one you serve milk in.

Imagine an incredibly simple coffee brewer that will brew you your favorite cup of coffee on demand! And not just that, it is a pretty good looking model, something that you don't want to hide away like some of the older and bulkier models. Imagine a product which is as powerful and as simple as Keurig, and just small enough to fit on a kitchen counter.

9. Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker

Our rating: 7 / 10

Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker

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Pros:

  • Large serving sizes
  • Offers a variety of serving sizes
  • Features an auto-off feature
  • Affordable
  • One-year warranty

Cons:

  • Can waste coffee
  • Lower brew temperature
  • Slow to heat up
  • Uses disposable K-Cups
  • Does not feature a carafe

The Hamilton Beach freestanding single serve coffee maker features a variety of features that set it apart from the competition, starting, of course, with the less expensive, disposable K-Cup portion pack that you can use to brew your favorite coffee from companies like Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Green Mountain Coffee, and others.

This model features an auto-off function found on most single serve coffee makers guaranteeing that the device shuts off after 2 hours, eliminating the risk of leaving your coffee water on and burning down your house.

This model also features iced beverage options that let you make your favorite hot beverages into iced versions in a matter of minutes.

10. Mr. Coffee BVMC SC100 2 Single Serve Coffee Maker

Our rating: 7 / 10

Mr. Coffee BVMC SC100 2 Single Serve Coffee Maker

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Pros:

  • BPA-free pitcher
  • Dishwasher-safe parts
  • Extremely affordable
  • Makes good coffee
  • Removable filter for easy clean up

Cons:

  • Cup too small for some
  • Hard to push
  • Relatively small water reservoir

This model by Mr. Coffee is one of the more popular tiny coffee makers on the market, but it does come with a couple of issues. It is not easy to push, and some of its users have complained about a leaking issue.

The SC100 is small yet has a huge capacity, which allow for single-serve coffee brewing in a wide variety of locations. All of the SC100 model’s plastic components are made with BPA-free materials. The unit can be used to brew decaffeinated coffee, and it includes a removable drip filter.

The unit’s makers tout that this coffee brewer offers the largest cup size of most products on the market. The unit’s cup will fit a 2015/2016 travel cup as well as a 16 oz coffee cup. It utilizes a one-button push operation, making this product easy to use.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the best rated single serve coffee maker?

If you love that great taste of coffee, but don't want to spend all day brewing a pot, single serve coffee makers are for you. Simply substitute a single serve coffee maker for that standard drip coffee maker at home.

Instead of using a 12 cup coffee pot, you use an equally sized disposable coffee pod filled with coffee grounds. It takes far less time to make just one cup. That means you’ll have your coffee fresh and piping hot within a few minutes. I’d be willing to bet you’ll want to make more than just one cup.

Are Single Serve Coffee Makers worth it?

Single serve coffee makers have come a long way in a really short time. They’re now so easy to use that even if you don’t know much about coffee you can find a good one that suits your needs. Since you have a machine that is compact and easy to use, you can make a great cup of coffee in your own home. You’ll never have to worry about fighting your way through a crowded store or standing in line for the pack up counter at your favorite coffee shop.

Your days of sipping bitter, stale coffee are over! Before making your decision about which single serve coffee maker is best for you, you’ll want to consider what is most important to you: cup quality, ease of use, availability of coffee capsules (or the option to use your own grounds) as well as budget.

Is there a better coffee maker than Keurig?

Sure, we love the Keurig, but we also love a lot of alternatives.

BUNN 10-Cup Coffee Maker:

If you like the one-cup convenience of a Keurig with the richness of French press coffee, the Bunn 10-cup is your best choice. The key to the Bunn 10-cup is the fact that it makes up to 10 cups at once, which means there is no largest.

This is an ideal option for offices and households with more than one coffee drinker, but it also has smaller counterparts that make up to three cups at a time.

Which built in coffee maker is the best?

I really like the Nespresso machine. It's simple to use and very high quality coffee.

Conclusion

We're all looking for convenience to go with our coffee. A single cup coffee maker lets you enjoy your coffee on the go and with a pod, you don’t have to deal with the mess and waste of grounds. They can also be more versatile than a traditional coffee machine, as you can use many different kinds of pods. With how popular single serve coffee makers are nowadays, it pays to know which single serve coffee maker to buy.

Our Recommendation

NameCategoryProduct
Keurig K-Elite Coffee MakerBest OverallKeurig K-Elite Coffee Maker
Pour Over Coffee Travel MugBudget PickPour Over Coffee Travel Mug
Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Maker by De'LonghiUpgrade PickNespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Maker by De'Longhi