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The best single serve coffee makers - giving you gourmet coffee without the mess.
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Single serve coffee makers - also known as one cup coffee makers - promise you a fresh cup of coffee, whenever you want it, with no mess and no clean up, one cup at a time.
So far, so good.
But while these single serve brewers may offer the latest in convenience, do they really give the gourmet coffee drinker what he or she wants? Good question.
Is a single-serve coffee maker right for you?
If you just want to grab a single cup of coffee from time to time, one of these new machines may be exactly what you want.
Or if you like gourmet coffee, but are always in too much of a hurry to grind beans and make a full pot.
Or if you like the idea of making coffee with no mess or cleanup.
And particularly if there is only one of you in the house drinking coffee.
Or if there is more than one of you, but you have very different tastes in coffee. In other words, a 12-cup carafe of coffee will suit only one of you.
Two points to consider, before you buy a single-serve coffee maker…
For all their convenience, one cup coffee makers have two disadvantages right now.
1. You will always be limited in your choice of coffees. When you grind your own beans, you have a choice of hundreds of coffees, from stores and online, But with a one cup brewer, you are limited by the number of coffees they choose to offer in the K-Cup, pod or T-Disc format.
2. Each cup of coffee will cost you more. In other words, if you want to watch your pennies, then buying loose coffee for a traditional drip brewer will be more economical. Typically, buying single serve coffees costs the equivalent of over $20 a pound.
There are four leading brands of single serve coffee maker.
K-Cup Brewers - which take K-Cups. There are variety of different Keurig brewers to choose from, each with very different features. You can read our review of the Keurig brewers here.
Another K-Cup brewer, which we think is the best of them all, is the iCoffee Opus.
Nespresso Brewers - these are beautifully designed brewers and take specially designed discs. These are not primarily coffee makers but focus instead on espresso-based drinks like latte and cappuccino. Read out review of the Nespresso brewer here.
Starbucks Verismo Brewer – which makes both coffee and your other favorite Starbucks coffee beverages, like latte and cappuccino. Starbucks pitch it as the machine that allows you to make all your favorite Starbucks drinks at home. You can read our full description of the Verismo brewers here.
Tassimo Brewers - which takes T-Discs. There are two T-Disc brewers, the Braun Tassimo and the Bosch Tassimo. Read our hands-on review of the Tassimo T55 here.
Once you have your brewer, you then buy the sealed cups or pods of coffee that work with that particular brand of brewer.
Brewing the coffee is easy. You simply insert the K-Cup, pod or T-Disc in the machine, add water to the reservoir, and press one button.
In a minute or so you have a fresh brewed cup of coffee, with no messy filters to throw away.
Our personal favorite...
The iCoffee Opus K-Cup Brewer.
Of all the single serve brewing systems we have tried, we found the iCoffee Opus makes the best cup of coffee. Watch our video review...
Bestselling single serve brewers on Amazon.com.
Additional information on single serve coffee makers...
The Touch T526S single serve K-Cup brewer.
The iCoffee Opus single serve K-Cup brewer.
Hamilton Beach "The Scoop" single serve brewer.
Verismo brewers – Starbucks coffee makers for single-serve coffee lovers.
Choosing between the different Keurig single cup brewers.
Buying Keurig brewers and K-Cups online in Canada.
The Tassimo T55 Single Cup Home Brewing System.
BUNN MCU Single Cup Multi-Use Brewer
Nespresso automatic espresso machines.
Organize your Keurig K-Cups with a storage drawer.
Write a review of YOUR single serve coffee maker.
If you have a single serve coffee maker, write a review and tell us about its strong points and weak points. What do you love about it? And what do you wish was different?
What other visitors have written about their single serve coffee makers.
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Can I use a Tassimo disc more than once?
QUESTION:
I was given a Tassimo single cup coffee maker over the holidays. I like it. I like the coffee and have even tried making a cappuccino, …
How long does a Keurig brewer last?
QUESTION:
I have had my Keurig K45 for about a year now and then last week it suddenly stopped working. It comes on all right, but when I press …
Can I use the same K-Cup twice?
QUESTION:
I was recently given a Keurig brewer as a gift. I really like it, but am not crazy about the cost of the K-Cups. The machine is great, …
Frustrated with single serve coffee makers, including my new Bella brewer.
QUESTION:
The problem I find with ALL single serve machines is that it seems that the people who design them do not drink coffee.
They need …
Are some brands of K-Cup brewers better than others?
QUESTION:
I’m looking at buying a K-Cup brewer and notice that while Keurig seems to be the original maker, you can also buy them from other companies …
Can I still get one of the original Keurig brewers, like the B40 Elite?
QUESTION:
I want to get a Keurig brewer, but am feeling nervous because of an awful story told to me by a friend. She bought one of the new Keurig …
Why has my Tassimo brewer stopped working?
QUESTION:
I have a problem with my Bosch Tassimo brewer. It turns on just fine. But when I add a T-Disc and then press the big button, it doesn’t …
Son poured milk in Keurig to make hot cocoa.
QUESTION:
I am sorry if this is put in the wrong spot but was wondering if there was a magic fix for milk in Keurig machine.
My 9 yr old wanted …
Say Goodbye K-Cups and welcome BACK COFFEE PODS
As much as I love the Keurig, you can't open it and get that nasal full of aroma as you do with the PODS. Or the top froth with each brew. POD, which came …
Keurig Won't Turn On
Out of nowhere, my Keurig decided not to turn on. No descale light warning or anything. Keurig did send me a replacement but I can't stand to think of …
Keurig B60 leaking with My K-Cup
Our Keurig B60 came with 6o cups of coffee as well as a My K Cup. We found that the machine brewed the K cups perfectly but the gray My K Cup leaked all …
Sun Cafe Pod Brewing System
Ok, I researched and browsed and googled every which way, the Sun Cafe brewing system and the Kienna coffee pods. I couldn't find a lot so I am determined …
Are Keurig K-Cup brewers available at your local supermarket?
I live in Montreal, and have had my Keurig B60 for over two years now.
I bought the brewer online from the U.S. And for a while I had to buy my K-Cups …
My Keurig won't brew!!
QUESTION:
I have a keurig b60 ultimate and the "not ready" message wont go away. I can not make a cup and it wont let me do anything other than …
My Keurig----have had problems....
I've had my Keurig for less than 6 months...and it only has worked perfectly for about 3 months...
I'm soooo disappointed! I didn't keep my receipt so …
SUN Cafe Pod Brewer
I purchased the New Sun Cafe Pod Brewer at Bed Bath & Beyond in Canada. This machine is the answer when it comes to making a Great cup of Coffee. It makes …
Is the plastic used in Keurig K-Cups safe?
QUESTION:
I love the convenience of using my K-Cup brewer , but have some concerns about the plastic in the K-Cups. When the hot water goes through …
Question about making stronger coffee.
QUESTION:
Does coffee get a stronger flavor if you leave it on for a long period of time? My mother in law insists it does, I think it's a waste …
Use your own coffee in your Keurig
There's a reusable filter cup made by Keurig that you can fill with your own coffee grounds and brew any coffee you want.
Both problems (limited supply, …
Black and Decker Brew and Go
Don't laugh this little gem only cost $19. It brews one cup of coffee, simply, efficiently and you may choose how much coffee to use and your own brand …
Can you recycle k-cups if you disassemble them?
QUESTION:
Hello,
I searched the questions and answers here, but didn't find this exact question addressed.
Assuming that one does not mind …
Ever heard of My Cap?
QUESTION:
This is the URL for a cap that allows one to reuse Keurig K-cups. It works great and allows you to use your favorite coffee bean. I …
How can I descale my Keurig K-Cup brewer?
QUESTION:
I have a Keurig B60 coffee maker and the display is telling me to descale the brewer. But it doesn't tell me how! What do I do?
…
The NEW Bosch Tassimo Single Serve Coffee Brewer.
This is the first entry by Bosch in the single serve coffee maker market.
Like the original Braun Tassimo brewer, this new model will use T-Discs...not …
Various questions about single-serve coffee makers
The last Keurig brewer to hit the market was the Keurig B70, which was much like the older B60, but with a few extra features.
The new Keurig B30 Mini …
The difference in pods vs. K-cups is HUGE!
Thanks for a fabulous site.
But, in all fairness, after reading about one cup coffee makers, you seem to have missed mentioning one very important difference …
Looking for large single-serving coffee maker.
QUESTION:
I was recently at a hospital doctors' lounge where they had a coffee maker like I'd never seen before:
Large.
Single cup at a time. …
Does using single cup coffee makers make sense?
QUESTION:
We're thinking about buying a single cup coffee maker. Is it a good idea? We like the idea of their simplicity.
ANSWER:
There's …
Can I recycle my Keurig K-Cups?
QUESTION:
What exactly is the K-cup made of? What grade plastic is it?
ANSWER:
Good question. I have a Keurig brewer myself and have …
Flavia Fusion Drinks Station
I have a Flavia Fusion single brew coffee maker and love it. It uses coffee packets, not cups. They are vaccum packed and always fresh. The Columbian …
Can I use coffee pods in a Keurig brewer?
QUESTION:
Can I use coffee pods in the Keurig machine? I have seen a little bit of information claiming that you can use the pods in the Keurig …
senseo supreme vs original model
My husband got me the original Senseo model (7810) for my 40th bday about 3 years ago. I fell in love with that coffee maker. It made outstanding coffee …
More Money Overkill For Coffee
My brother got me interested in single cup coffee craze. So I've been researching it and am amazed. I found machines from $70 to $450 dollars. And prepacked …
The Keurig dilemna
The Keurig coffee maker is a real charm for the busy week mornings... No time to waste, no fight with filters and no coffee grind staining the counter... …
About the author: Nick Usborne, aka Coffee Detective, is a writer and long-time coffee enthusiast. Read more…
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