Single Cup Coffee Makers

A single cup coffee maker can help you start the day with a delicious, hot cup of coffee. These stylish machines are also ideal presents for the coffee lover in your life.

If you prefer using pods or grounds or pods, there's a top single cup brewer out there for you. Find out which models scored highly in our tests of function, durability, ease of use and aesthetics.

Simple to Use

A single cup coffee maker is a great idea if you only drink one cup coffee machines cup of coffee every day and would like the convenience of making it quickly. They are also perfect for offices or dorms since they take up less room than a full size drip machine and there is no need to refill the water reservoir.

These coffee makers work with pre-filled single-serve pods of coffee or ground coffee. They also often have a "brew over ice" option, which makes them good for making cold brew. Some single-cup coffeemakers can also be used with loose leaf tea which is perfect for those who prefer herbal or rooibos.

There are a variety of one cup coffee makers (resource for this article) on the market which means you'll need to choose which features are important to you. For instance, you may need a larger water reservoir to reduce the number of times you have to refill it. Some have removable water reservoirs that are easy to transport to the sink, while others do not have a tank at all and require you to fill it with your own water.

Some of our top choices also have a fast brewing time, which can help you save precious morning hours. Some also come with a thermal cup that keeps your coffee warm for a few hours after the brew process has finished and can be an added convenience for those who want their coffee to last for a long period of time.

You'll also have to decide if you prefer K-Cups' convenience or prefer ground beans and a filter. If you're in the second camp you should consider the Ninja CM407 or other options such as the Nespresso Essenza Mini. You could also prefer an AeroPress If you enjoy the flavor of espresso made at home but don't like the extra work required by traditional drip coffee makers. It is important to think about how many people will be drinking the coffee. A single-cup coffee maker isn't the best choice for families of three or more who all consume coffee at the same time, as you'll probably end up with leftovers that will be wasted.

Ease of Cleaning

It's important to clean your single-cup coffee maker. It's because, without proper care and maintenance the gunk could build up in the carafe or basket, causing an unpleasant taste. And if left unclean for a long time, the reservoir could harbor mold and yeast according to a study conducted by NSF International. Although these nasties will not have a significant impact on your health, it is nonetheless a bit unsettling to wake up with the smell of coffee that is sour. However, implementing an annual cleaning routine can aid in restoring your coffee maker to its original beauty.

A quick clean using the one item that you likely always have on hand--white vinegar--can do wonders in getting rid of the build-up and hard water deposits that can cause your coffee maker to stop functioning properly. De-scaling should be done once a month or every three months, using the same steps like you would make coffee.

Start by emptying the carafe, then cleaning the lid, mug, and brewing basket with an absorbent cloth dipped into warm, soapy water. Pour equal parts of white vinegar and water into the reservoir. Then brew the mixture just as you would a normal pot of coffee. Let the mixture sit for approximately 45 minutes to give the vinegar time to dissolve the calcium deposits that are in the machine's water reservoir as well as basket.

After 45 minutes After 45 minutes, drain the solution and run several brewing cycles using clean water to wash away any remaining residue. If you don't happen to have vinegar, a mix of baking soda and clean water can do. Be sure to ensure that there aren't any pulp or seeds in the solution.

If your Keurig is showing signs of a more serious build-up, you can clean it with the same procedure as mentioned earlier by disassembling the machine to the point where you can wash each component separately in warm, soapy water. Then, rinse each part and towel-dry before returning it to its original form.

Ease of Maintenance

Our test participants appreciate the ease of using a single-cup coffee maker, even though a pour-over might be the best choice for taste. So, when testing single serving coffee maker-serve brewers, we focused on the ease of daily maintenance--including how easy it was to refill the water reservoir, how simple it was to dump spent grounds or pods, and whether the instructions for descaling were clear and easy to follow.

We also looked at how much waste was produced by the various models, whether it was in the form of disposable coffee cups or reusable filters, or how often the brewer was required to be descaled. For the latter we compared how easy it was to get the machine up and running using an at-home descaling solution which is usually a combination of vinegar and warm soapy water.

Although a basic, entry-level single coffee maker-serve coffee maker may not be the most durable or visually appealing of our choices, this little beauty from Sboly offers an impressive number of innovative features for the price. You can choose between grounds and pods, and it can brew cups of 8 or 14 ounces. It is small enough to fit into the cupboard.

Gift Giving Made Easy

There are a variety of gift ideas for coffee lovers. For instance, you could give your friend the bag of their preferred beans or a gorgeous coffee mug. If you're looking for something to impress, think about gifting one of the top single serving french press cup coffee makers that are suitable for home use. These devices can help your loved ones make the perfect cup of espresso each time, and they'll save the cost of coffee shop visits.

Our experts have put together the top options that fit a wide range of budgets and lifestyles. They've also created helpful shopping guides to assist you in making the best selection for your loved ones.

Of our choices, we recommend the Ninja CM407 for its exceptional performance. It made the most hot cup we've ever tested and offers a variety of options for brewing, allowing you to choose between one-serving or a complete carafe. Additionally, it's small and easy to use.

Keurig K-Cafe is another option, because it comes with several brewing options. If you're looking to give your friends and family the convenience of K Cups or espresso, this is the best alternative. And for those who prefer pouring manually we recommend the Chemex with its elegant design and sturdy construction.

Cupping Spoons are a great way to give your friends the gift of coffee. These tools are utilized by professional coffee tasters to get the most out of every sip. This will let you and your family to enjoy the aroma, flavor, and texture of their coffee.

It is important to remember the finishing touches to a great cup of coffee. These include creamers and milks, both dairy and non-dairy syrups, sauces, as well as coffee liquors. So talk to your friends and loved ones about how much they enjoy their java and what makes it better than the other person's. This will help you find the perfect gift to make their day.