Convenience is often the name of the game when it comes to morning routines. Single-serve options, particularly pod-style coffee machines, are a great way to streamline your mornings. However, if you’re in the market for a new coffee maker and aren’t sure what you’re looking for, our collection of coffee reviews will certainly help point you in the right direction. From high-end espresso machines to simple pour overs, as well as accessories like coffee grinders and handheld milk frothers, we have the info you need to make the right purchase.
Able to brew both a carafe and a single-serve sized amount of coffee, the Hamilton gives you the best of both worlds with brewing capacity, strength, and more. You might think K-Cups and coffee pods are interchangeable, and honestly, that’s not such a crazy thought; they do look kind of similar. But in actuality, the differences between the two are like night and day. Though both are single keurig k mini coffee maker servings of ground coffee, pods are usually packaged in filter paper and wrapped in foil for added freshness. K-Cups, on the other hand, use little plastic cups to store your serving of coffee. You fill the water tank, insert your chosen K-Cup coffee pod, and select your preferred brew size, place your cup under the dispenser, press the “go” button, and watch the brew cycle commence.
Plus, it has indicator markings that show how much ice you’ll need. Although it is a single-serve machine, you’ll have the option to brew up to two servings of coffee or espresso at one time for mornings when you need an extra caffeine boost. Start the brew cycle without a K-Cup in place and let the machine run as usual, being sure to use a mug to catch the liquid. Repeat this process a second time with vinegar and then a third time with 10 ounces of fresh water. We timed how long it took for every Keurig machine to warm up, as well as brew coffee and, when appropriate, froth milk.
Others may brew carafes of filter coffee and espresso, or feature a hot water dispenser that can be used for tea or instant coffee. Dual coffee makers tend to take up a lot of counter space, so they’re not always the best choice for small kitchens. However, the Keurig K-Duo Plus Coffee keurig k mini coffee maker Maker features a compact design and brews either a single cup or a full 12-cup carafe. Most models use dual-sided brewing, but this one uses a single-brew system. While this does mean the unit can’t make multiple beverage types at once, it does result in a small footprint.
Though the machine only brews coffee from Nespresso’s own coffee pods, it creates barista-quality espresso at home. It’s made with a specific technology that leads to quiet brewing, a key detail especially if you live with others. Brewing speed depends on how much coffee and what type, but the machine heats up to ideal brewing temperature in 20 seconds or less.
The brew strength selector allows coffee drinkers to choose between regular and bold flavors. Grind-and-brew coffee makers provided added convenience for those who want freshly ground coffee. When choosing a dual coffee maker with a built-in grinder, look for a model that uses burrs rather than blades. Burrs produce a more consistent grind and generate less heat, so the flavor of the coffee isn’t diminished. Pod-based brewers are the clear winner when it comes to quicker brew times. “You don’t need to measure out coffee grounds, and they are ideal for those who consume a single cup of coffee per day,” Clark says.
Whether you’re in search of the most flavorful extraction, the fastest cup, or the machine that best fits your space and lifestyle, we hope that our laborious research helps make your decision a bit easier. We carefully measured the quantity and grind of coffees used and evaluated the taste of their strength, body, and sourness. We brewed the same coffee in six of seven machines simultaneously for a side-by-side comparison; the other two machines exclusively used Nespresso pods and couldn’t be compared as equivalently.
We talked to experts about the pros and cons of single-serve coffee machines and features you should consider when looking to purchase one. Using their advice as filters, we also rounded up highly-rated options from brands like Keurig, Nespresso, Hamilton Beach and more. For people who drink one cup a day, there’s no need to commit to a coffee maker with a large water reservoir. But frequent sippers and coffee-drinking families should consider machines with large water reservoirs, as they save you from constant refills. When it comes to size, you’ll also want to consider how much free countertop space you have.