A single cup a day leaves laziness at bay! A single cup of fresh coffee is all you need to kick in through the day. It makes little sense to buy a big machine, for one cup of coffee. The bigger the machine, the more effort it takes. It will require more cleaning. It might require other maintenance services. So what can be done?
Buying a single-serve coffee maker is a great idea. It helps you lessen the efforts for one cup. It will take less time because a small cup is to be made. Water won’t take that long. You will use fresh coffee every time. Less residue means less cleaning. So it’s like grab and go kind of a thing.
Another great advantage is that these are small and compact. These usually have small water reservoirs, keeping in mind that they are single-serve. They take much less space in your already crowded kitchen. They are often sleek and modest ones. So all in all, they are easy to care for, easy to use.
How Was This List Made?
To save you some time, we invested a lot, from our end. We read through customer reviews on Amazon. Compared ratings of different products. Mixed and matched the features. Analyzed what are the priority areas in the features category. We made efforts to get the best ones at the best possible prices. We divided the products into certain categories according to the budget and features. You may choose whatever features you like the most at the best possible price.
What to look for?
A single-serve coffee maker is a fairly easy deal. You just need to keep an eye on certain important features while you choose. First, you need to decide how many people are going to use the machine. With that established, you will know what capacity of machine fits for you. You may be concerned about the looks. Or a small kitchen may be your weakness. Or you are someone who is least bothered about cleanliness. Establish all your needs and then go through the list. Pick the one that fits your needs and your budget. Below, we have cooked a great list for you to choose from.
TOP PICK
Nespresso by De'Longhi EN167W Original Espresso Machine
It can give you your favorite coffee in 2 different sizes. You can opt for a 40ml espresso. Or you can choose 110ml of lungo. With one touch of a button.
CHECK LATEST PRICEBest single-serve coffee maker 2020
1. Nespresso by De'Longhi EN167W Original Espresso Machine
If you want a super frothy cup of espresso. That too from an elegant looking machine. One that comes in colors as unique as green. One that is enclosed in a distinctive curve shaped body. Then you have Nespresso EN167W original espresso, to fulfill your wishes. It is a super-attractive, portable and compact looking machine.
You wouldn’t imagine what wonders such a small looking machine does. With a water tank capacity of 20.3 ounces. It can give you your favorite coffee in 2 different sizes. You can opt for a 40ml espresso. Or you can choose 110ml of lungo. With one touch of a button.
With 19 bars of pressure, the machine can give you a delicious cup in 30 seconds. Amongst its competitors, this one brews the fastest cup. Just insert a coffee pod, add water and choose your size. Even if you forget to switch off, the machine remembers. An inbuilt energy saving mode switches off the machine in 9 mins if not in use.
If this is not enough. The makers give you a complimentary set of Nespresso original capsules. Use as per your choice and mood. You can store the used pods, up to 4 in the container. And then dispose-off together, later. Thus savings on your time and procrastinating the cleaning process.
Pros
- Super attractive machine
- 2 cup sizes with the touch of a button
- Energy saving
- Fastest brew time
Cons
- On the expensive side
- Nespresso pods are expensive
Verdict: Nespresso EN167W Original Espresso Machine is an elegant, compact machine. It is worthy to be called the best single-serve coffee maker. It can produce two different sizes of drinks. It is easy to use, yet smart. It gives you a delicious cup with adequate pressure in less time. For those who want an attractive machine with excellent qualities. But have no budget cap, can easily go for this one.
2. Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker
Keurig is a major player amongst the k-pod, single-serving coffee makers. The Keurig K-classic is also one of a kind. The capacity of the water reservoir is a big-48 ounce. You get 6 cups, until refill. Thus saving your time and energy.
It can give you a brew ranging from 6 to 10 ounces. At 6 ounces you get a rich, bold coffee. Whereas the 10-ounce variety is on a lighter side. In total, you get three options to choose from. It comes in two colors- a hot red and a bold black. Choose whichever could enhance the beauty of your kitchen top.
Not restricted to k-cup usage. You can use your own ground coffee with a filter paper. The removable drip tray helps in easy cleaning. Removing it helps accommodate large travel mugs. It also has an auto-off feature, up to 2 hours. The descaling button helps you in maintaining a clean water tank.
Pros
- Ground coffee and pod compatible
- 3 variety of drinks to choose from
- One-touch descaling
Cons
- Longevity issues with the pump
Verdict: Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker is one of the best k-cup coffee makers. It gives you the liberty to use your own grounds too. The huge capacity of the water reservoir is a boon. You have 3 variety of drinks to choose from. At one touch, you can get a cup of your own size. In less than a minute. So, if you are looking for a large water capacity machine with the legacy of Keurig, you can opt for this one.
3. Hamilton Beach Scoop Single-Serve Coffee Maker
Do you want an award-winning coffee maker, that too in a budget? Well, look for Hamilton Beach Scoop single-serve coffee maker. It has been awarded “2012 good housekeeping very innovative award”. The Industrial Designer’s Society of America applauded the coffee maker for its ability to use coffee grinds. Where other coffee makers usually use pods.
What makes the machine worth it all?? In such a compact design, the makers were able to deliver a lot of features. If you are someone fed up with using stale, ready-made coffee pods, rejoice. Because in this machine you can use your own, freshly grounded coffee beans. Whether you want it bold or regular, you can choose. Regular is used for quick, basic type, drip coffee. For decaf options, flavors and fine grinds you may use Bold.
It can brew an 8-ounce cup in less than 90 seconds. And for a 14-ounce cup, it may take up to 2.5 minutes. The long time taken is the most prominent drawback. On an otherwise durable machine. Made up of stainless steel enhancing its longevity. Therefore, you might as well call it the best coffee maker for a single person.
Pros
- Can use your own coffee grounds
- Too much in small budget
- Compact, durable
- Received several awards
Cons
- Takes more time to brew as compared to its competitors
- Doesn’t use coffee pods
Verdict: Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker is the best coffee maker, within budget. It gives you the choice of using your own grounds. You can select a regular or bold drink. As per your needs. It is a highly praised coffee maker that is a steal at this price. Therefore, for budget laden customers, looking for the best of all worlds. But those who can compromise with the long brew time (not so long actually) can blindly go for this one.
4. Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker
If you miss your coffee machine every time you travel. You can go for this crazy 5 inches wide product. This is one of the best k-cup coffee maker. Hence, compact and easy to handle. The elegance of the machine is enhanced by the choice of colors. You can go for grey or black or something different like oasis.
It brews a cup while you grab your keys. Add the amount of water you need in a cup. Add one pod of Keurig k-cup. And you get a delicious cup in around 1 minute. It is for those who want things fast, easy, without much fuss. Not a panel set of buttons. But just one switch and you get your brew.
A feature that has got mixed reviews is the water reservoir. It has a capacity of 6 to 12 ounces. Which means that every time you get a cup, you refill. Now this is tedious for many. It requires more manual labor. However, on a brighter side, it keeps things fresh. You add only that much amount, that you need. You don’t need to clear up the leftover water. It leaves less mess. Hence. Easy to maintain.
Pros
- Compatible, travel companion
- Sleek, elegant look
Cons
- After to add water with each drink
- Only compatible with keurig k-cup pods
Verdict: Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker can be a travel companion. It can serve as the best single cup coffee maker. It takes so little effort to get a cup. So little space for storage. So little time to fill the water reservoir. Hence, for those who need to grab and go, single coffee drinkers out there, this one’s for you.
5. Single Serve K Cup Coffee Maker Brewer by Sboly
Yet another coffee maker that smells simplicity. Everything here is manual. With a capacity ranging from 6-14 ounces. You need to know how much water goes into the reservoir. It is upto you to choose the capacity. Whether you want a watery brew or strong. There is no button to guide you so.
The good news is that you can use both ground coffee and k-cup pods. It comes with 2 baskets. One that could hold a pod. The other is a filter basket, for ground coffee. You need to insert the basket accordingly.
A compact and portable design. This one could be taken along for your camping activities. It is lightweight too. Though, some consumers find a fault in this. The lightweight makes the machine unstable at times and prone to slide. Also, the process of brewing is quite long. Amongst its competitors, the Sboly takes the maximum time to brew.
Pros
- Compact. Lightweight
- Can use pods and grounds
- Water reservoir is too small
Cons
- Can take upto 3 mins for a single cup
- Is totally manual
Verdict: Single Serve K Cup Coffee Maker by Sboly is a tiny, weightless machine. It is the best one cup coffee maker, with manual settings. Whether you want to use a pod or ground coffee, you have both the options. But you will need to adjust the water accordingly. And also, fill in the tank as and when required. So, if you need a cup a day and are willing to do the work, for a tasty cup, then go for this one.
Buying Guide: What to look for in a Single-Serve Coffee Maker
Single and multiple brew sizes
If you are moody and want a choice in drinks, you won’t settle for a single choice daily. You want espresso one day, lungo the other. So, you need a machine which has multiple options to choose from.
Some of these coffee machines have pre-set options for different kinds of drinks. These depend upon the brew sizes. Some others are manual. So you need to add the adequate amount of water, for the kind of size you want.
The capacity of water reservoir
Single serve coffee machines differ in their capacity of water reservoirs. This can range from 14 ounces to 48 ounces. If you are someone who likes to have a single cup, a time, you can go for the lesser capacity. However, if you share your cup with someone, or consume more, you should go for larger capacity.
While making up your mind on the capacity, another aspect should be kept in mind. A machine which has a larger capacity will have a larger water reservoir. A large water reservoir means a bigger machine. They will take more space in your kitchen and will make their presence felt.
While, the ones with small capacity will be compact. They will save your space and will be easy to handle. And also, much easier to maintain. However, they will need refilling every now and then. Some of these also need to be refilled every time they are used.
Pod vs ground coffee
Some of you might be very happy using k-pods and other variants. While some of you may love freshly ground or atleast grounded coffee. A single serve coffee machine can accommodate both or either, depending upon the model.
Most of these are pod-based. Pod based coffee makers are more convenient. They require less cleaning. You may dispose of the pod after use. Some machines store a few pods after use. You can dispose them of together, later. However, pods are expensive. Some pod based machines are compatible with single-type pods only.
The other variant, is a coffee maker using ground coffee. These will require filter baskets and freshly ground coffee. You need to clean the filter after use. But you may choose to drink fresh ground, rather than pre-packed often stale pods.
While some coffee makers choose one of the two methods, some contain both. So choose a coffee machine that is compatible with your choice of grounds.
Time-taken for brewing
The whole purpose of a single serve coffee is to save time. It has to be quickly brewed in no time. But how quick? Do you want a cup in 30 seconds? Or you are happy to wait for 5 mins. It is up to you. Coffee machines often have different mechanisms. The heating element inside decides how much time it takes to heat. Some of these have the latest technologies and can quicken the brew process.
On average, a brew in about 60seconds or a bit more is good enough. But if you are okay waiting for a longer duration. And are more concerned about the quality, then you may choose accordingly.
Maintenance
We are lazy when it comes to maintenance. We don’t want to spend time cleaning. Some coffee makers have vulnerable parts that need to be taken care of. Water reservoirs need to be cleaned and so are filters. So, individual parts must be given adequate attention.
A major maintenance problem is descaling. Descaling is done to remove the sediments stuck in our machine after long use. These are in the form of sodium and magnesium. From water, it settles inside our machine. Later on, these get mixed with our beloved cup. Hence that queer taste. So we need to get rid of it. Some machines need to be descaled manually. While others have an inbuilt mechanism. With one-touch of a button, you can make your life simpler.
Technology-wise
Even if a machine isn’t good looking. But it has great features in terms of technology. We tend to go for these. In terms of coffee makers, these can be very appealing.
Coffee makers can have options for faster heating. They can heat up, as fast as 30 seconds. They also have inbuilt energy saver. So that even if you forget, the machine switches off on its own.
Looks or design
A compact and portable machine. Or a machine that makes a statement. What is your choice? A compact machine will be handy. Will take less time to clean and use. Will slide away on one side on your kitchen countertop.
However, if you choose a heavy built, huge machine, make sure you have space. A big machine often feels inconvenient in our kitchens. We already have so much to stack. And we don’t want our kitchen to feel crowded.
With or without customization
Whether you want a drink straight, or want modifications? Your coffee maker should be able to provide you the same. Customization can be in terms of the size of the drinks. Whether you want a big, a medium or a small size. It can be in terms of strength. You might love a bold taste over regular. It can also be in terms of the temperature of the coffee. Whether you like a super hot brew or a mildly hot one.
Those with customizations often have panels. These can be digital in nature. A screen wherein you select. Or it can be in the form of buttons. You can choose the interface you like the most.
Ease of use
Sometimes the makers are too smart. They might have designed a machine with several hooks and turns. You might not be able to fathom a way out.
A cup of coffee shouldn’t be a complicated task. Look for easy to use machines. Not too much fuss to create around a cup. Simple, understandable functions. Often too much customization leads to difficulties. You fail to know what step is to be done when. So beware in this area.
Budget
Well, that might be as important as selecting the features. Always keep a balance between budget and features. What features carry utmost importance to you. And how much are they worth paying for? For example- a simple looking, manual machine may come cheaper. It will give you a good cup but with some work. So decide whether you are upto it.
Mostly, a moderately priced machine is a good option. These are machines anyhow. If an expensive one breaks away, it will create a hole in your heart too. And a cheaper version might not have the desired features. So the best bet lies somewhere between the two.
Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker is our choice. It is by far the best instant coffee maker. There are plenty of reasons. It has a big water reservoir. So you can have a large cup of coffee and then again. Without refilling the water tank. The machine has pre-set options of three drinks to choose from. Both the ground coffee or the k-pods can be used in it. You get a smart featured, compact looking machine at a fairly good price. Thus, for us, Keurig classic is the best single serve coffee maker.