After all, Moccamaster has designed the Cup-One brewing process to maintain its rigorous quality standards for the perfect coffee extraction. If you’re a person of practicality or want to keep less out on your countertop, the ease of this dual machine means you’ll never have to comprise between a full-size and a single-serve coffee machine. Some reviewers even say that the Cuisinart can brew a better single-cup than a standard Keurig machine.
The machine reads a piece of digital information on each pod label and will only brew if the pod is, in fact, a licensed variety. The competition, in turn, filed lawsuits and the Internet community posted hacks and workarounds that allowed third-party pods to be used. When the Keurig was introduced in 1990, the hamilton coffee Maker company held the exclusive patent on the cups that fit into the machine. In September of 2012, that patent expired and the market was flooded with private-label pods from a variety of independent and corporate entities. The Mr. Coffee has one setting for brewing, and it lacks any different size settings.
In our tests, we found this coffee maker easy to use without needing to refer to the instruction manual. We were impressed with the 40-ounce water reservoir that eliminates the need for frequent refills — the tank is also removable making required refills a breeze. We found the temperature of its just-brewed coffee to be hot but not piping hot if that’s your thing, though it did have a fairly fast brew time. The best espresso machine you can buy according to our tests, the Nespresso VertuoPlus makes a well-rounded brew with frothy crema that was consistent in temperature and volume every time. It can also brew other great-tasting single-serve coffee drinks, including double espresso, lungo and regular coffee that in sizes up to 14 ounces.
It’s also the loudest, as we measured 80 decibels during its brew cycle. Still, like all Keurigs, the K-Slim can brew a cup in less than two minutes. There’s no paper filter required for this machine since it comes equipped with a permanent metal mesh version. If you do prefer a paper filter, however, there are some small versions that will work with this model.
If you need help choosing the right brewer, start with our coffee maker buying guide. Despite Keurig’s popularity, our tests show that the best K-Cup coffee makers usually aren’t made by Keurig. In fact, of the top five K-Cup brewers in our ratings, only one model is made by Keurig. Our testers liked that all parts comfortably fit into a gallon-sized zip top bag making it perfect for packing, plus it was a breeze to wash.
For the best results, heat the water just to boiling, turn off the heat, and let the water sit for 30 seconds. Once the water has cooled slightly, carefully pour the water over the cup with coffee grounds in it. However, what happens when you wake up one morning to find your Keurig machine has given up the ghost? Can you open a K-Cup and use the contents in a regular coffee machine? After all, we know better than most how impossible it is to get going in the morning without your coffee.
Many reviewers say they bought this Keurig to upgrade from an older model, and the larger water reservoir is definitely one of the main improvements. “I had plodded along with a single-serve Keurig for years and finally decided to hamilton coffee Maker buy one that would make more cups of coffee without doing a whole refill process,” one writes. While Keurig is famous for their single-serve machines, they clearly couldn’t ignore the growing popularity of dual coffee makers.