Best Single Serve Coffee Makers

This offering from Cuisinart features a high-tech appearance at an affordable price point. It’s compatible with many different K-Cup styles, and capable of brewing cups in five different sizes, from 4- to 12-ounce servings. In addition to the basic brewing option, there’s a hot water button that allows you to put together instant soup, tea, or hot chocolate on the fly. Folks with busy morning schedules should also appreciate the automatic start feature and the user-friendly interface.

The removable drip tray and rinse setting make the Cuisinart SS-10P1 very easy to clean. There’s even a charcoal water filter to ensure that your brew is concocted from the highest-quality ingredients possible. What we love best about this model, however, is the reusable filter cup, which provides all the convenience of a K-Cup unit without sacrificing environmental concerns.

Like the Cuisinart SS-10P1, the K-Elite offers five different cup sizes: 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-ounce servings. However, this one is also equipped with a “Strong Brew” button that allows you to customize the flavor of each cup. There’s a hot water option as well, and an iced setting for those who prefer to take their coffee cold. An automatic start function is available, and your brew can be ready in as little as one minute. There’s even a high-altitude setting, as well as the temperature control that comes standard with electric-powered models.

Keurig is a major name in the coffee-brewing game, and consumers can expect to pay a bit more for the privilege of using and displaying their products. Fortunately, the high quality usually offers a decent return on the investment. Note that while this unit is compatible with most standard K-Cups, it doesn’t come with a reusable filter—that option is sold separately.

Also, it’s important to check whether the unit you’re buying is a refurbished one. If this is the case, it may be missing vital components, such as the water filter or user manual. While you may save a few dollars, it might be prudent to hold out for a complete “original” model instead.

The Mueller Ultima can accommodate both the smaller and larger K-Cups, which gives it a great boost in the versatility department. The programming function allows you to choose from 6-, 8-, 10-, or 12-ounce cups, and the “Rapid Brew” feature ensures that the liquid brews at the proper temperature.

Although this is a single-serve machine, the water reservoir is generously sized at 48 ounces, meaning that you won’t have to worry about refills very often. The machine can easily accommodate a reusable filter (although this is sold separately), and the clearly marked minimum fill line helps to prevent that dreaded burnt taste.

Our main gripe with the Mueller Ultima is with the low clearance. Although it’s capable of brewing a sizable cup of java, it can’t accommodate a 7-inch-tall travel mug. Before investing in this unit, make sure that all of your appropriate drinking vessels measure under seven inches tall.

The Grande Verismo is one of the most high-end offerings on our list, with one important caveat: It’s capable of brewing shots of espresso, in addition to traditional java. The 118-ounce water tank is enormous, suitable for even the largest caffeine-addicted households, and a built-in container stores up to 30 capsules for your convenience. An easy-to-read display will alert you when the reservoir is running low, when it’s time for cleaning and routine maintenance, and when the water filter needs to be changed.

This unit has an energy-saving mode that switches it to a lower-watt setting after five minutes of inactivity. The espresso function is impressive, producing a thick crema (the creamy tan head that forms on a properly pulled espresso shot) as long as the water is heated to the proper temperature. Be forewarned that this system doesn’t allow for “double dipping,” with the capsules—once a pod has been used, you won’t be able to run water through it a second time. This may not bother purists, but economic-minded and environmentally conscious buyers will want to take note.

The tiny footprint of this single-serve machine makes it the ideal fit for galley-style kitchens, mobile homes, or campers. Despite its slender size, it can accommodate any travel-sized mug measuring up to seven inches.

The K-Mini lacks the special digitized features of much of the competition, but it does include an automatic switch-off feature to help conserve energy. The removable drip tray aids with cleanup, and the machine is compatible with the K-Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filter. If you’re looking for a basic, energy-efficient, portable single serve coffee maker that won’t take up too much space in your kitchen, this model could be the right fit for you.

The Sboly can be adapted to brew from traditional ground coffee or K-Cups, making it a potentially planet-friendly bet. There are buttons affixed to the side that allow you to toggle between the two options. The water reservoir is cleverly designed, giving you a maximum coffee output of 14 ounces—a generous pour for this type of machine.

This model can have your brew ready in about three minutes, which is on the high side for single-serve coffee makers, but not prohibitively so. While many of the models listed here have features that control the brewing strength, this one is also equipped with an auto-clean function. Sboly also offers tips on cleaning and maintenance to help take the guesswork out of the process and ensure that you get the most out of your purchase.

The mesh scoop filter on this attractive stainless-steel unit allows you to choose from many different flavors and grinds. You can also decide between “regular” and “bold” options on the customized settings. Other features include an automatic shutoff function, a spill-resistant drip tray, and an adjustable cup rest.

While this model is low-profile enough to be at home in smaller kitchens, it’s capable of brewing enough joe to fill a 14-ounce travel mug. Since 14 ounces is also the maximum amount of water that the reservoir can hold, you won’t have to worry about turning out a too-weak brew for larger portions. The included mesh scoop filter lets you select from a variety of coffee styles, but be aware that very finely ground coffee can lead to overflowing.

This is a low-profile offering from Mueller, with the same capsule-sizing flexibility as the Ultima model. The company offers a variety of flavors to choose from, and you can have a steaming cup ready in under three minutes. Because the reservoir holds only 10 ounces, this unit is best suited for standard-sized coffee mugs—a travel thermos won’t fit beneath the nozzle.

With its one-touch button operation, the Mueller Pro is one of the easiest single serve coffee makers on our list. The automatic shutoff function keeps the unit from overheating, and a removable drip tray makes cleanup a snap. The price is perhaps the best reason to consider purchasing this model—you could pay easily three times this much for a product that yields similar results. If there’s only one coffee drinker in your household, you’ll want to make the Mueller Pro a top contender.

With a 30-second brew time, the Chefman is a particularly efficient little unit. Despite its miniscule footprint, it offers a great deal of flexibility. For example, you can choose between freshly ground coffee and K-Cups—a feature that’s usually reserved for larger models. While it takes up very little counter space, it offers enough clearance to accommodate 14-ounce travel mugs. That makes this a wise choice for office use, as well as for college students living in dormitories or small apartments.

While the Chefman is capable of brewing a cup in an impressively short time, there are trade-offs. The temperature never gets quite high enough to result in a strong cup, and the needle that’s meant to puncture the K-Cups is on the weak side. You might need to press down extra hard to get the foil to pierce properly. Given the efficiency and convenience that this model offers, these are small complaints, but they’re something to be aware of.

If you’re in the market specifically for a gravity-powered single serve coffee maker, then you might want to consider the Thang Long Premium Vietnamese Coffee Filter. Unlike the other units listed here, this stainless-steel device requires no electricity, just boiling water. You can customize the strength of your brew by adding more grounds to the paperless filter, and it’s capable of turning out two to three servings at a time if need be.

Since this unit doesn’t heat up on its own, it’s a great choice for iced coffee lovers. The cold-press technique has gained popularity in recent years, and Thang Long’s product offers buyers an affordable way to try this method for themselves. In addition to being eco-friendly, this filter comes in especially handy on camping and road trips. You can even bring it along on tailgating expeditions to offer your fellow partygoers a nonalcoholic pick-me-up.

So, which of these single serve coffee makers stands above the rest? It’s tough to select just one, especially since they all come with their own quirks and foibles in addition to their impressive lists of benefits.

If we had to choose, however, we would give the edge to the Keurig K-Mini. Although it isn’t the most sophisticated unit we reviewed, it delivers on all the important levels, particularly if you choose to purchase the reusable filter. Fortunately, the reasonable price point makes that an easy investment. If you’re looking for a compact, user-friendly model, the K-Mini should get the job done.

Now that you’ve decided on a self serve coffee maker, there are a few important points to cover regarding the care of your new appliance. While these smaller models are justly praised for their convenience, they still require frequent cleanings and tune-ups if they’re going to continue working properly. In this section, we’ll talk you through the proper maintenance procedures.

You might be wondering why you need to clean out the reservoir in the first place, since all it holds is hot water anyway. However, if you neglect this issue, the answer will make itself plain. Hard water deposits can build up in a remarkably short period of time, clogging up the system and making it run sluggishly. You can avoid this by following the simple steps outlined below.

Most appliances will display certain signs when they’re in need of maintenance, and coffee makers are no exception. If you experience any of the following issues, it’s probably time for a cleaning.

• Visible build-up on any parts of the reservoir or exterior
• Slow production—it’s taking the machine longer than usual to brew a serving
• The unit is only filling a portion of your cup when the settings suggest otherwise
• An excess of coffee grounds in the cup or on the drip tray
• Unpleasant smells that are unrelated to off-gassing (industrial smells from packaging)

• Unplug the unit and remove all the componentst that can be safely detached from the machine: The drip tray, the K-Cup holder, and the water reservoir, for starters. Your model may contain more removable pieces. When in doubt, consult the owner’s manual.
• Wash all of the pieces that you removed and leave them in a safe place where they can drip dry.
• Wipe the main structure with a damp microfiber cloth. If you don’t have one of these on hand, damp paper towels can do the trick, but you might have to apply a bit of cleaner as well. Before applying a cleaner, make sure it’s compatible with the construction of your machine.
• Make sure that all the grounds have been removed from the K-Cup basket.
• Finish drying all the removable components, if necessary, and put them back in their proper places.
• Plug the machine back into the outlet so you don’t forget to do this later.
• Fill the reservoir with a solution of one part white vinegar and one part cold water.
• Turn the power switch to its regular setting and run a cycle, collecting the solution in a coffee cup or other receptacle.
• When the cycle is completed, run it again. Repeat this process as many times as is necessary, until the entire vinegar solution is gone from the reservoir.
• Fill the reservoir with cold filtered water, and run through the cycle again. Repeat until you can no longer detect the smell of vinegar and the reservoir is empty.
• Your machine is now ready to resume regular use. If you continue to have problems with the speed and quality of its performance, it’s likely that some underlying issue is to blame. Contact the manufacturer to see if they’re able to offer any suggestions.

May your new single serve coffee maker bring you many vibrant mornings in the years to come!