Of course, when using grounds, a little experimentation needs to take place in order to get the flavor to your liking depending on the size you choose. We found the recommended amount resulted in coffee on the weak side, so we added more the next time to get it to our liking. We also noted that coffee brewed in our 14-ounce travel mug tasted the same — and was just as hot — as that brewed at the smaller cup sizes. The coffee maker equips the brand’s BrewID to detect the type of K-Cup pod you’re using and adjusts the brew settings accordingly. You can also manually change brew settings, choosing between five cup sizes, five strength settings and six temperature settings.
In addition to its capsule versatility, this single-serve coffee maker offers six cup sizes, ranging from 2 to 12 ounces, and regular and bold brew strengths. It has a 68-ounce water tank that alerts you when it’s running low and a cleaning indicator that flashes after 300 uses. Its removable drip tray is handy when rinsing it out and filling up travel mugs. You can easily make a single cup of coffee with the touch of a button thanks to this Cuisinart Premium Single-Serve coffee brewer. It’s compatible with any brand of K-cup pods and allows you to create your ideal size thanks to cup settings ranging from four to 12 ounces. This handsome-looking machine also includes a HomeBarista reusable filter cup for either ground coffee or tea.
A pound of whole bean dark roast at Starbucks goes for about $12 a pound and the same is about $9 at Dunkin Donuts. The Brew n’ Go has a sharp, compact design that will fit just about anywhere. This Keurig runs at about $160, which is a relatively mid-range price for a Keurig machine. If you are buying a Keurig to make your life more convenient, we believe the K-Elite is worth the extra coin.
Keurig coffee-making machines will brew in under one minute — an essential consideration for those who need their morning caffeine fix in a hurry. Even better, many Keurig machines are fully programmable, so you can set your coffee maker to deliver your early morning cup of joe before you even get out of bed. Keep in mind that “cup” measurements provided by coffee machine manufacturers don’t necessarily align with the standard unit of measurement. A standard U.S. cup measures 8 ounces, while a “cup” from a coffee maker may only measure 4 to 6 ounces. If you’re going on vacation or not planning on using your single-serve coffee maker for an extended period, empty the reservoir and turn off the machine.
But price is unique here since small coffee makers can vary from $10 pour-over brewers to $300 machines. A favorite among outdoor enthusiasts and coffee experts alike, the AeroPress is the best travel companion you can find. It’s small enough to toss in a backpack or suitcase, and all it takes is access to hot water to hamilton coffee Maker make a tasty cup of coffee or even a richer, espresso-like brew. Our expert product tester compared the flavor and smoothness to pour over coffee. The whole category of single-serve brewers that use the Keurig-style pods is often referred to by the “K-Cup” moniker, even when the appliances are made by other brands.
It includes a removable and reusable filter that works with both coffee and loose-leaf teas. The machine includes a 14-ounce stainless steel travel mug that fits beneath the dispenser perfectly and slides right into most car cup holders. The narrow countertop footprint is a space-saving wonder that offers an impressive 600 watts of power and one-touch operation that makes coffee as good as you’d find at any popular coffee shop. You’ll love waking up to freshly brewed coffee from this easy-to-use Hamilton Beach FlexBrew. It ranks as our best single-serve coffee maker overall because you can use it with or without K-cup pods and it brews up to 10 ounces of coffee at a time, or up to 14 ounces with a pod. A pod holder and grounds basket are included with the machine, and the affordable price point makes it one of the best values.
With this model, keep in mind that the reservoir won’t hold more than 14 ounces of water so you will need to refill it after every cup. This isn’t an inconvenience for those who only want to savor one cup of coffee, but it may matter if you want multiple, quick cups of coffee at home. After brewing three cups of each serving size, we measured the average time it takes for the K-Cafe to brew a cup at 36 seconds, just behind the slightly faster K-Elite and K-Classic. Meanwhile, the frother is a longer process, averaging about one minute and 35 seconds per pitcher. It must be noted that the K-Cafe cannot brew and froth milk at the same time. The frother is also located on the right side of the machine, which could frustrate those who are left-handed during operation.
She’s tried unusual coffees from all over the world and owns an unhealthy amount of coffee gear. Some Keurigs will notify you when it is time to give the system a cleaning. No one is saying that your Keurig will blow the lid off your energy bill. Some Keurigs have an automatic shutoff timer that deactivates the heating element once a certain amount of downtime has passed.
If you’re looking for convenience, just be prepared to pay the price for advanced models. Just because a coffee maker is compact doesn’t mean it’s limited to a small capacity. There are plenty of space-saving options that brew upwards of 14 cups . Think about the amount of coffee you consume a day, as well as the number of coffee drinkers in your household. If you primarily brew a cup or two a day just for yourself, check out pour overs, French presses, and pod-based machines. This list covers a number of space-saving alternatives, from mini drip coffee makers to non-electric brewers small enough to store in cupboards.