Best Single Serve Coffee Makers 2024

Best Single Serve Coffee Maker

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Single-cup personal coffee makers are the perfect choice for those of you who live in a smaller apartment, are students at college, or if you just prefer the convenience of quickly brewing a cup of coffee with no fuss and minimal cleanup.

But even though you’re brewing just 1-cup of coffee at a time, the machines still come with all of the functions and features you can expect to find on larger coffee makers.

And some of the best single-serve coffee makers can do far more than brew just a simple cup of coffee.

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In this article, I have done the legwork for you and handpicked some great home options in the personal coffee makers category.

All of the machines are worth every penny, and I have picked out coffee brewers to fit all budgets – big or small.

Single Cup Coffee Makers – The Right Choice For You?

Before you even think about buying a personal coffee maker, take a minute to think if this type of coffee brewer is the right choice for you.

1-cup coffee makers are perfect for brewing a single cup of coffee throughout the day; however, they are not workhorses and will struggle if you are brewing a large amount of coffee for friends, family, or even co-workers.

Does This Sound Like You?

  1. You enjoy gourmet coffee but don’t like the extra effort involved in grinding the coffee beans and frothing the milk.
  2. If you are always in a rush and want to get your coffee fix quickly, these new machines may just be what you’re looking for.
  3. If you hate cleaning as well as the mess that comes with regular coffee brewing and want to brew coffee effortlessly, quickly, and fast.
  4. If you live in a home where everyone has different tastes and preferences in their coffee.
  5. Do you live alone and brew just for one?

If you answered YES to all or some of these questions, a single-cup coffee maker might be just what you need.

Best Single Serve Personal Coffee Makers

Having considered all the questions above and now realizing that you actually do need a single-serve coffee maker, what’s left to take into consideration?

A big one is going to be the price, and in this marketplace, the price of coffee makers can vary dramatically.

So knowing that we all have different budgets, the items reviewed below range from super cheap to wallet-hurting options. Setting your budget aside now is going to make choosing the best single-cup coffee maker a lot easier.

I’m confident there’s a coffee brewer that’s right for your needs and can feed your caffeine addiction.

The Nespresso Pixie Espresso Machine by De’Longhi

The Nespresso Pixie Espresso Machine by De’Longhi

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If you’re wanting coffee shop quality coffee at a push of a button, look no further than the Nespresso Pixie. This coffee maker does demand a high price, but with that comes a high-pressure pump that churns out robust flavorful coffee on par with an espresso shot.

With good espresso machines often costing hundreds of dollars, the smaller price tag of the Nespresso Pixie is justified.

The Nespresso Pixie comes jammed-packed with functions and features, and it’s also worth pointing out the various dispensing volumes that allow you to fill any mug or travel cup of your choosing.

This DeLonghi espresso machine is perfectly suited for those of you looking for a coffee shop quality cup of coffee but who also lack the time to leave the house or office to visit the local barista.

What We Love

  • It has a 19 bar high-pressure pump that allows for barista-style results.
  • Efficient and energy-saving technology.
  • It includes an Espresso capsule welcome kit with a range of capsules.

Take Note

  • The coffee is not very hot, which is disappointing.

The Ninja Coffee Bar Single-Serve System

The Ninja Coffee Bar Single-Serve System

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If the basic simple cup of coffee just doesn’t do it for you, what you need is the Ninja Coffee Bar.

This coffee brewing powerhouse provides all of the barista tools needed to knock up a whole range of hot and cold espresso-based drinks.

Unlike some of the other machines on my list, the Ninja Coffee Bar is a capsule-free system, which means you have much more flexibility, and you’re not locked into using those expensive coffee capsules.

With the Ninja coffee station, you have complete control to fully customize your beverage using any type of coffee brand, and you decide on the grind.

If you want more control over your coffee brewing and you think of yourself as a budding barista, give the Ninja Coffee Bar a try.

What We Love

  • There are 4 different brew sizes for all cup sizes.
  • Built-in milk frother.
  • Fully pod-free with 5 different brew types.

Take Note

  • Can be challenging to clean.

Keurig K-Mini Plus Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer

Keurig K-Mini Plus Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer

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When it comes to choosing a good-quality personal coffee maker, there are only a handful of brewers that I recommend. The Keurig K-Mini Plus Brewing System is one of those coffee makers.

The Keurig K-Mini Plus is tiny, and making a cup of coffee is as simple as adding a coffee pod and pressing one button, and after 2-minutes, your single cup of coffee is done.

The Keurig K-Mini Plus can also make iced beverages, hot cocoa, and even specialty teas. This small brewer really packs a lot of brewing in one small package.

What We Love

  • You just can’t argue with the price.
  • 3 different brew sizes are available.
  • Small and portable, with cord storage feature.

Take Note

  • Some users have complained about the lukewarm coffee temperature.

KitchenAid Personal Coffee Maker

KitchenAid Personal Coffee Maker

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Another one of my personal favorites is the personal coffee maker offered by KitchenAid.

The smart feature of the KitchenAid personal coffee maker is the fact that it brews directly into an 18oz thermal mug that you can pick up and take with you when you are on the move, perfect for the early morning commute.

What We Love

  • Includes a gold tone permanent filter.
  • Removable water tank with handle.
  • Comes with a 18 oz. thermal travel coffee mug.

Take Note

  • Hard to see when water reaches the fill marks when filling.

Capresso On-the-Go Personal Coffee Maker

Capresso On-the-Go Personal Coffee Maker

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Similar in design to the KitchenAid is the Capresso on-the-go personal coffee maker.

The design is almost the same, but the fundamental difference with the Capresso is you can brew freshly ground coffee, or you have to option to use coffee pods.

Just like the KitchenAid, you can brew your coffee directly into a thermal travel mug and take your coffee with you when you leave the house.

What We Love

  • Heats up quickly to the preferred temperature of 200°F.
  • It can be used with ground coffee or coffee pods.
  • Comes with a 16-ounce stainless steel travel mug.

Take Note

  • The lid doesn’t stay on the travel mug.

BUNN CSB2B Speed Brew Elite

BUNN CSB2B Speed Brew Elite

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The BUNN CSB2B Speed Brew Elite home coffee brewer. BUNN machines are a top-rated coffee maker brand that has been manufacturing coffee machines for decades. In fact, they are often the number one choice for many restaurants and hotels due to their reliability!

​BUNN coffee makers are reliable and will effortlessly brew coffee for years without any issues; I have had one since the early 1990s that is still going strong after all these years.

They may not look the most attractive sat on your kitchen countertop, but they make up for looks with solid, reliable performance.

Although this isn’t a single-serve brewer, it is capable of making only one or two cups if you reduce the amount of ground coffee you add to the filter.

What We Love

  • A multifunctional machine – brews with cups, pods, ground coffee, etc.
  • Compact design takes up little space.
  • Easy to use and operate.

Take Note

  • No on/off switch.

The Cuisinart SS-10 Premium Single-Serve Coffee Brewing System

The Cuisinart SS-10 Premium Single-Serve Coffee Brewing System

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For those of you looking for a good single-serve coffee system that is packed full of functions and features and you have a fairly decent budget, I highly recommend you take a look at the Cuisinart SS-10.

The Cuisinart SS-10 is completely programmable, all via the easy-to-read backlit LCD screen. It’s also worth mentioning that the Cuisinart has the largest water tank out of all of the machines listed, which means less refilling and more time brewing.

K-cups are utilized in this coffeemaker, but the good news is that you don’t have to be locked into a limited range of brands because you’re also able to use a reusable K-cup so you can grind and use your favorite coffee beans.

What We Love

  • Use with: K-Cups, reusable pod included.
  • The charcoal water filter guarantees pure water for your brew.
  • A built-in rinse feature automatically cleans the inside of the brew chamber.

Take Note

  • Lots of plastic components.

Things to Consider Before You Part with Your Money

Before you run out and buy a new personal coffee maker, there are a few things you should be aware of, and this could be the deciding factor for some of you whether a personal coffee maker is a good choice for you.

Even though single-serve coffee makers are super convenient, that convenience does come at a price. Below are two disadvantages of owning a 1-cup coffee maker vs. a regular coffee brewer.

If you drink a lot of coffee, then a personal coffee maker can cost you a lot more when compared to regular auto-drip coffee machines. Most popular personal coffee makers use coffee pods rather than ground coffee found.

single serve coffee makers for pods and ground coffee

With an assortment pack of coffee pods sometimes costing in the region of $20+, the cost of making coffee at home can quickly add up.

Because the best 1-cup coffee makers tend to use coffee pods, you will always be limited in your choice of coffee.

Sure, the selection of coffee pod flavors is growing by the day, but with other coffee makers that don’t use pods, you have to option to use hundreds of different types of ground and whole-bean coffee.

Even though personal coffee makers are becoming more and more popular, I still find myself using the tried and tested regular coffee makers that don’t limit the type of coffee you can use and also allow you to brew for more than just one person at a time.

I guess it really boils down to your own requirements and whether buying a 1-mug coffee maker for your home brewing needs is the right choice for your lifestyle.


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Why Should You Trust Us
Mark Morphew Resident Coffee Expert Mark has over 20 years of experience in the catering and hospitality sector. He takes his years of knowledge and expertise and applies it to critiquing coffee equipment and brewing gear.

Since the creation of the Bean Ground coffee blog in 2014, Mark Morphew and a small circle of coffee hobbyists have rigorously tested, reviewed, and researched coffee gear. In most cases, they have purchased the items themselves with the sole intention of rating and evaluating.

In that time, they have built up a list of quality points to look for and what makes specific equipment better than others. They cut through the noise and marketing hype that often surrounds products to give you their unbiased opinions so you can make clear decisions on your next purchase.
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