Those who prefer piping hot coffee may be disappointed by cooler temperatures. This coffee maker comes with a chamber, a plunger, micro-filters, a coffee scoop, a stirrer, and a filter holder. The manual act of pushing the plunger down is similar to a French press; however, this gadget’s quick brew time and micro-filter reduce the bitterness and acidity. With a 17-ounce capacity, it can brew about two cups with each press. Keurig’s K155 Office Pro Coffee Maker is designed to withstand frequent use and is not limited to commercial use—it’s a great choice for homes, too. It has a touchscreen interface for simple operation, a removable drip tray for easy cleanup , and a 90-ounce capacity that can supply up to 18 cups before needing a refill.
This little pour-over device is affordable, easy to use, and saves more space in the kitchen than even the slimmest electric coffee maker. Its elegant design is similar to that of a Chemex—rounded glass body, cork or rubber band—but it comes with a permanent stainless steel filter, so you won’t have to buy countless paper ones. However, if you’re only a coffee drinker and would rather save some cash, opt for our top budget pick, the Hamilton Beach Two-Way Brewer.
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.
The features that are important to you will primarily be determined by the type of coffee you intend to make on a daily basis. If espresso-based coffee drinks get you going in the morning, you should look no further than the Nespresso – Citiz Espresso Maker. Keurig responded by introducing a sensor embedded in their 2.0 models that prohibits the use of unlicensed pods. The machine reads a piece of digital information on each pod label and will only brew if the pod is, in fact, a licensed variety. The competition, in turn, filed lawsuits and the Internet community posted hacks and workarounds that allowed third-party pods to be used.
Compact coffee makers tend to be more affordable than standard-sized ones, so this could also be an opportunity to experiment with less-familiar options, like a French press or pour over. Both can be found at prices as low as $20, some even cheaper than that. You can brew all of your favorites with the K-Classic, and thanks to the machine’s 48-ounce removable water reservoir, you can brew about six cups before you need to refill it. This machine is great for first-time coffee maker owners because it’s easy to use and comes at a price point that’s lower than most of its competitors. Now, that consistency, of course, is partly owed to its use of Nespresso — specifically, Nespresso VertuoPlus — pods. The big pluses of the pods are that you are always guaranteed a great cup of coffee, no guessing or experimenting with ground amount or timing .