Value concerns aside, it’s also worth noting that this is another noisy coffee maker. This shouldn’t necessarily be a dealbreaker—especially not if you need the counter space—but it is something to be mindful of. If you ever need to brew larger quantities of coffee all at once, this might also be the right option for you. The K575 can brew carafe-sized batches of coffee, provided that you have the proper pods and a Keurig carafe. The Cuisinart Grind and Brew comes with a variety of convenient features, too.
You can program it to brew at a later time, and unlike most dual coffee makers, this option works for both carafe and single serve modes. While Keurig is famous for their single-serve machines, they clearly couldn’t ignore the growing popularity of dual coffee makers. Our preferred model is the Keurig K-Duo Plus that, less than 8 inches wide, is a blessing for those who truly want to optimize their countertop space. Plus, thanks to the multi-position 60 oz water reservoir, you can place the tank to its right, left or on the back to adapt the coffee maker to your kitchen’s layout.
The chamber holds about 16 grams of coffee per serving and produces a rich cup of coffee that stands up to milk well. The water reservoir capacity for pod coffee makers can vary greatly. The capacity of brewers we reviewed for the roundup ranged from 40 ounces to 75 ounces. Smaller machines can brew just a few cups, but take up less space on your countertop. Both the K-Duo and K-Duo Plus can brew both single-serve cups of coffee and a whole carafe.
All Keurig machines are simple to operate, even for folks who are technology-challenged. At first glance, you might think the Keurig K-Slim and K-Mini are identical. And while the two drip brewers look and function pretty similarly, there are a few key differences between the two. We’ve mentioned the highlights of each machine, but for full specs and to order your favorite, just click on the links in each review. Please visit /support/register to register your new Instant Brands™ appliance. Failure to register your product will not diminish your warranty rights.
Most coffee is recommended to be brewed between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit and served between 155 and 175 degrees, but personal preference for coffee temperature varies widely. If you really want to maintain an exact temperature for your coffee, check out the heated coffee mug by Ember. When you wake up in the morning you want coffee fast — this machine delivers on that. The K-Elite is tops for convenience, which is why consumers are attracted to single-cup machines in the first place. Our testers thought that this Keurig was the most complicated to use because of its many features.
The brewer features a stainless steel steam wand to froth milk and an adjustable cup holder. On the touchscreen, you can adjust the brew temperature, cup size, and program automatic on/off setting. The smallest size produces the strongest intensity, while the largest size tastes the mildest. This smart coffee maker also lets you set your language preferences to English, Spanish, or French. If you’re a fan of iced coffee, consider Keurig’s K-Supreme Coffee Maker. It has an “over ice” feature that starts brewing the coffee at a hot temperature to boost flavor and then cools it down to prevent it from getting watery.
As a bonus, the espresso maker comes with 12 free capsules to get you started. We evaluated the ease of cleaning by measuring the time spent cleaning after each use and the machines’ long-term cleaning needs. The Keurig and Nespresso machines required minimal daily cleaning, but they needed to be descaled every three to six months. The Keurig descaling sequence took about an hour for the big machines, while the Nespresso machines required less than 15 minutes. By contrast, the Aeropress, with no water heating element, required cleaning three pieces with each brewing, but it had no long-term service needs. Makers like the Hamilton Beach Scoop required a fair bit of cleaning with each use as well as periodic descaling.
The capsule container needs to be emptied after six shots of espresso, which is smaller than many alternative Nespresso machines, but that’s a natural consequence of such a slim design. While Nespresso products skew toward the pricier end, the Essenza Mini is one of the most affordable, and our tester called it an excellent value-for-money option. A small, affordable coffee maker, this doesn’t have a lot of frills, but it still makes a good cup of coffee. The carafe holds five cups, so you have plenty of coffee to last the morning, or to share.
How much water you can add, however, depends on the size of the reservoir as well as how much you need. The Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Maker is the best single-serve coffee maker for those who prefer an iced beverage. The small appliance is hamilton coffee Maker offered in three colors and is less expensive than most other coffee makers, so you won’t have to worry if you only want to use it seasonally. For espresso aficionados, the Nespresso machine is the best single-serve coffee machine.
The brew time is, in part, affected by whether the Keurig needs to reheat the water. For the first cup of the day, it may take a few minutes to get everything heated up before the actual brewing begins. However, if you need to refill the water reservoir continuously, the system will need to reheat much more often, wasting everyone’s time.