Pour-over is a really easy way to make a perfect single cup of coffee. However, a good drip coffee machine will do the same job for you automatically. The petite little machine fits right into a corner or can easily be tucked away in a cabinet until you’re ready to use it. We also rated the ease of use and cleaning for every Keurig, based on the number of functions, buttons, and removable accessories available for each machine. Those appliances with minimal buttons scored higher than any with an abundance of them, though it must be noted that all Keurigs on this list are fairly easy to operate. Any machine with a water reservoir that seemed flimsy or tough to grasp and fill was graded lower than those that featured inserts for fingers or a handle.
If you are a coffee drinker who likes a smart coffee maker, you can enjoy perfect coffee with its auto brew feature. It’s an excellent brewer that brews fast and with exceptional water temperature control. It also offers a quality thermal carafe, makes 10-cup batches and links to Wi-Fi to provide smart app control. The Cafe is easy on the eyes, too, using lots of brushed metal in its design. While a pot of coffee may be fine for weekday mornings, sometimes weekends call for an indulgent latte or cappuccino.
Cuisinart’s dual coffee maker produces a full carafe or a variety of single-cup sizes and features a number of valuable upgrades. One side boasts a 10-cup thermal carafe that keeps coffee warm for hours without impacting its flavor. It also features a gold-tone permanent filter and a charcoal water filter that eliminates chlorine and minerals. Standard coffee makers typically feature several removable parts which must be cleaned regularly, including the carafe, filter basket, and reusable filter.
Unlike other Keurig machines where the amount of water you fill, is the amount of your beverage, the K-Supreme automatically measures out how much water you selected, taking out much guesswork. The Nespresso Vertuo line is built for coffee drinkers who also enjoy espresso drinks. The Vertuo Next is Nespresso’s most compact and sustainable design but also offers the most versatility when it comes to drinking sizes. Charcoal removes any impurities from the water that could affect how it tastes.
A lot has been written about the environmental impact of single-use pods that have been popularized by the Keurig system. It is also clear that K-Cup coffee is significantly more expensive than traditionally brewed drip coffee. When you brew with the K-Elite, you have the ability to choose the size of the drink, from a strong, concentrated four-ounce up to a 12-ounce travel mug.
It’s been around for more than 50 years, and because of its lighting-quick copper heating element, great customer service and strong warranty, it’s still one of the best brewers in the world. The single-cup brew version of the machine keeps with the brand’s tradition of excellence, but comes at a higher price. If it matters, it’s probably the only coffee maker on this list that makes a kitchen look better.
However, depending on the machine you use, you will need to buy the pods that work with the machine. There’s a small color touch screen that gives you a choice of nine black coffee drinks, just pop in an original Nespresso keurig single cup drip coffee makers pod and press go. If you’re selecting a milk-based coffee, you fill the aluminum jug, place it under the steam wand choose from cappuccino, flat white, latte or latte macchiato, and the machine will do the rest.
Coming with a 75-ounce reservoir, you’ll spend less time refilling the machine between cups. Single-serve coffee machines are among the easiest of all models to maintain, as the coffee grounds are trapped in their pods. Look for models that offer descaling and cleaning cycles, especially if you live in hard water areas, but on the whole, they take care of themselves. Water tank is just the right size for enjoying a single cup of coffee. Operation is simple, with minimal buttons to fuss with, and you can brew straight into your favorite mug, with a removable cup holder to get the right fit.