The owner’s manual was clear and easy to follow, helping our testers quickly identify how to brew a cup of coffee. Out of all of the coffee makers we tested, the Keurig K-Elite boasted the largest water reservoir at 75 ounces — meaning you won’t have to refill constantly. If you prefer to use your own ground coffee, there’s also hamilton beach dual coffee maker a reusable filter attachment that can be purchased separately. Though it measures only a little over 7 inches wide, you’ll be surprised by the amount of functionality here. Using either pods or ground coffee, it can brew a full 10-cup carafe or a single serving — or, thanks to the Select-A-Cup feature, any amount in between!
Daniel is a Canadian farm boy who grew up to be a nerd with a literature degree and too many hobbies to count. He emigrated from Canada to California in 2013, and now writes for Your Best Digs full-time. Daniel remains unapologetic about Canadian spelling, serial commas, and the destruction of expensive travel mugs. Another aspect of the Keurig system that has drawn criticism is the environmental impact of the one-use-only pods, which are neither easily recyclable nor biodegradable. According to recycleacup.com, K-Cups can only be recycled if the separate components are taken apart prior to recycling.
Our GH experts tested 15 best-selling and highly-rated models from brands we trust, including AeroPress, Cuisinart, Hamilton Beach, Keurig and Nespresso. When testing single-serve coffee makers, some of the things we use to evaluate each model are ease of use, set up, how easy it is to clean and brew time. Our list includes the top-performing machines in our hands-on tests, as well as popular ones from brands our experts have tested in the past and trust. Here are our recommendations for the best single-serve coffee makers you can buy in 2022. This is to ensure that smaller batches of coffee are brewed consistently. Since drip machines are usually designed to brew a full pot, the speed that the water passes through the coffee grounds is often too fast when only making a few cups.
The permanent mesh filter system eliminates the need for paper filters, and it cleans easily with just a rinse. You can either use coffee ground for drip machine use or grind the beans yourself at home. You have total control over strength and taste because you select the amount of coffee, the type of coffee, and the amount of water.
Reusable brew basketsCompared to pods, reusable brew baskets “provide the freedom to brew with your coffee of choice and are better for the environment,” Teoh said. You can grind coffee every time you need to fill the filter instead of buying pre-ground beans, making for a fresher brew. We cut Keurig pods open and brewed the coffee in other filters to evaluate the coffee taste without the pod.
The majority of the coffee makers on the list feature durable stainless steel components for longevity. Lastly, some models come with a charcoal filter that enhances flavor, 24-hour programmability, brew pausing, and auto shut-off. With single-serve coffee makers, you may be limited on brewing options in regards to brew size, strength, and temperature. Clark notes this is a main reason that coffee connoisseurs may not enjoy all single-serve machines.
To account for this, the 1-4 cup setting adjusts the drip function to a slower speed and extracts the grounds to suit a smaller pot of coffee. Overall, the Ratio Six is an excellent and reliable brewing device, but there are few considerations to mention. It is expectedly more expensive than the average drip coffee maker, and despite the high price tag, there’s no pause-and-serve feature. Paper filters are required for brewing, as well, as opposed to a permanent filter. The Ratio Six is also quite long for a coffee maker, due in part to the separate water reservoir and shower head.
The reservoir is also compatible with Keurig Water filters, which will improve the quality of your water and therefore your coffee. The Hamilton Beach FlexBrew dual coffee maker produces a full carafe of coffee, as well as single servings using pods or coffee grounds. The single-serving side dispenses coffee into a mug or hamilton beach dual coffee maker travel cup and is compatible with standard coffee pods. It is also equipped with a reusable filter basket to fill with ground coffee. Part coffeemaker, part milk frother, the K-Cafe is the best Keurig coffee maker overall because it combines the best of both worlds between pod machines and countertop espresso appliances.