Buying guide for best single-cup coffee makers
Every solitary coffee drinker eventually runs into the problem of wanting to brew a cup, but not wanting to brew a whole pot and waste the 11 cups that are left over. Fortunately, there’s now an easy solution: a single-cup coffee maker.
These coffee makers have gained popularity in recent years, and there are already dozens of models on the market, all doing more or less the same job. This can make it hard to determine which one is right for you. There are many factors to consider, including your budget, the kind of coffee you like to drink, the features of each machine, and the impact on the environment.
Benefits of single-cup coffee makers
Versatile: Single-cup coffee makers offer the ultimate in flexibility. You can quickly brew a fresh cup of coffee whenever you want one without having to worry about what you’re going to do with all the leftover coffee. It’s great for households whose members prefer different types of coffee. Each person can prepare one serving of exactly the right brew.
Quick: Single-cup coffee makers often take less time to brew coffee than regular coffee makers, so they’re a great choice when you need to get out the door quickly. Plus, if the coffee maker uses pods, there’s a lot less prep time because you don’t have to measure out the grounds.
Types of single-cup coffee makers
Pods: Most single-cup coffee makers use some type of plastic pod, which contains the coffee grounds and sometimes other flavors as well. The major appeal of these pods is that they’re easy to use. Just pop one in the machine and press the button. When the coffee’s ready, take out the pod and throw it away. The downside of the pods is that they’re not very environmentally friendly.
Filter: If throwing away pods is an issue for you, you might want a more traditional single-cup coffee maker. These machines work just like regular coffee makers. You measure and add the grounds and water yourself before brewing. These are designed to accommodate just enough grounds for a single mug instead of a whole pot Some use paper filters and some have permanent metal filters. You can also find some traditional coffee pots with a single-cup setting.
Caution
It’s important to clean your single-cup coffee maker at least once per month to avoid bacteria growth. If you notice that your coffee tastes strange, you might want to clean it more frequently.
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Single-cup coffee maker features to consider
Here are some of the key features you should pay attention to when comparing single-cup coffee makers:
Brewing speed
Brewing speed is especially important if you need to make coffee quickly before you leave for work in the morning. Most single-cup coffee makers can brew a cup of coffee in a couple of minutes, and some of the fastest models can brew a cup in less than one minute. Check the user manual or read customer reviews online to find out exact times.
Brewing strength
Not everyone enjoys their coffee the same way, and the best single-cup coffee makers have controls that enable you to adjust the brew strength from weaker to stronger. If you aren’t that particular, you might be fine without this option.
Water reservoir
Many single-cup coffee makers have a large water reservoir, so you don’t have to refill it every time you want to make a cup of coffee. Some of these water reservoirs are detachable, so you can remove it from the coffee maker and easily fill it up in the sink. Others don’t come off. You can only refill these by pouring cups of water into the reservoir.
Timer
If you like to wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee every morning, look for a machine with a built-in timer that you can program to start at a set time, so your coffee will be ready and waiting for you when you want it. You just have to remember to put the pod or coffee grounds and water in the machine beforehand!
Machine size
If you plan on leaving your coffee maker on the countertop when it isn’t in use, pay attention to its size. Most single-cup coffee makers are fairly compact, so they shouldn’t take up a lot of room, but some models are larger than others. If you don’t have a lot of counter space to begin with, it’s especially important to choose one with a small footprint.
Type of coffee
With a traditional coffee maker, you have a lot of freedom when it comes to what type of coffee you use. This isn’t always the case if you have a coffee maker that uses pods. Make sure that the pods you choose are compatible with the machine you’re interested in. If there’s one particular brand of coffee you really like, it’s a good idea to see what kind of pods it uses and choose a machine that can accommodate those.
Expert Tip
Some single-cup coffee makers have a reusable pod option, so you can add your own coffee grounds to the pod for a custom cup of coffee.
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Single-cup coffee maker prices
You can expect to pay from $15 to $200 and more for a single-cup coffee maker.
Inexpensive: If you’re just interested in a basic model without any bells and whistles, you should be able to find something you like for $15 to $50.
Mid-range: If you’re interested in advanced features like a timer and multiple brew strength settings, you can expect to pay at least $50 to $75.
Expensive: Unless you’re purchasing a machine for an office where it will get a lot of use, you probably don’t need to spend more than $75 to $130, but some machines can cost over $200.
Coffee and filters: When choosing a single-cup coffee maker, you also have to pay attention to the cost of the coffee itself, particularly if you’re using pods. Try to estimate how much coffee you’ll go through in a month and then figure out how much that will cost. Some pods are more expensive than others. If you use a single-cup coffee maker that uses paper filters, you’ll have to buy replacements, which can run from about a penny to several cents apiece.
Tips
The recommended temperature for brewing coffee is between 195°F and 205°F, but many single-cup coffee makers don’t reach this temperature. This is something to be mindful of if you’re picky about how you take your coffee, but it won’t bother everyone.
Make sure that the model you choose can accommodate the size of your coffee mug.
Some coffee makers come with an option to dispense hot water only, so you can use it to make tea, hot chocolate, and other warm beverages.
Though rare, some single-cup coffee makers come with a built-in water filtration system, which is nice to have if you’re worried impurities in your tap water.
FAQ
Q. How do I clean my single-cup coffee maker?
A. You clean a single-cup coffee maker in the same way that you would clean a traditional coffee maker, by periodically running a brew cycle with vinegar and water to clear out anything that might be building up in the machine. You can learn more about how and how often to clean your coffee maker by consulting your owner’s manual.
Q. Does coffee from a pod taste the same as coffee from grounds?
A. That all depends on how picky you are about your coffee. Some people don’t enjoy the taste of coffee from pods as much, while others seem to prefer pods. If you’re unsure about pod coffee, you might want to look for a more traditional coffee maker that enables you to brew a single cup at a time.
Q. Can I choose the size of my cup of coffee?
A. Yes, most single-cup coffee makers enable you to adjust the serving size to suit your coffee mug.
