Changing the cup size is a crude brew strength control method, but some Keurig machines have settings that more accurately allows you to select brew strength. This is a nice feature if you have more specific preferences or live in a household where some like stronger coffee while others prefer it mild. At less than five inches wide, the incredibly slim and easy to use, K-Mini®single serve coffee maker makes anywhere perfect for great coffee.
Overall, the best single-serve coffee maker is the Cuisinart Single Serve Coffee Maker. The coffee maker has a 72-ounce water reservoir that’s ideal for people who drink several cups of coffee per day or for households with more than one coffee drinker. Keurig coffee makers use K-Cups, small sealed pods containing ground coffee. After inserting the pod into a compartment in the coffee maker, you then select the size drink you want.
The mesh scoop filter can be used as a measuring device, so all you have to do is choose your favorite coffee grounds. Once you’ve made your coffee, the scoop can be run through the keurig single cup drip coffee makers dishwasher for quick cleaning. If you’re in the market for a less-expensive option, the best single-serve coffee maker to consider is the Black+Decker Single Serve Coffee Maker.
Single-serve coffee makers are great for busy individuals, as they can heat water and brew coffee in a fraction of the time it takes traditional coffee makers to. Total brew time can range anywhere from under a minute to up to four minutes total. If speed is a priority, keep this in mind when choosing your coffee maker. This device has user-friendly buttons to switch between single-serve and carafe, program the time you want it to start brewing in the morning, and choose the strength of your drink—regular or bold.
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.
Run the machine a few times with no filter in place, essentially brewing cup after cup of hot vinegar. Reusable filters need a good scrub now and again, too, because the grounds will become congested in the mesh. Instead of just one entrance needle, K Supreme models have five entrance needles, so they can evenly saturate the coffee grounds. The $169.99 Keurig K Elite is one of the best Keurig brewers right now because of all the options it offers. It has one of the largest water tanks as well and can hold up to 75 ounces.
Points were deducted based on the amount of splashing and condensation a Keurig produced during the brewing process. For what it’s worth, it’s still impressively easy to operate due to its minimal button scheme and small water tank, and it’s also the lowest energy hog, clocking in at 110 kWh. Although it can get annoying having to constantly fill up the water reservoir, it also ensures you’re not letting water sit in your machine’s tank, which results in less waste.
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.