Choosing the Best Single Serve Coffee Maker

Posted by keya on Jul 16, 2012 in Coffee Brewing | 1 comment

Single serve coffee makers have gained popularity over the past few years. If you’re contemplating buying one, it can be difficult to navigate through all of the options. Here are some helpful tips for picking the best single serve coffee maker in 2012.

Buying the Best Single Serve Coffee Maker: Things to Consider

Single serve coffee makers usually need a specific receptacle in order to brew coffee, whether it’s K-Cups, Nespresso capsules, T-disks, or whatever else. If you have a brand of coffee you prefer, you should see if your coffee comes in a receptacle that’s compatible with the single serve coffee maker you want. If it doesn’t, you should see if the coffee maker will let you brew your own coffee grounds.

Are you a fan of lattes, cappuccinos or espressos? You’ll need to see if your preferred best single serve coffee maker is good only for serving you a quick cup of coffee, or if it can also froth milk. Some brands make espresso k-cups and pods, but the machine uses the same settings to brew a cup of coffee as it does to brew an espresso. If you want to brew different types of coffee, it’s best if you buy a machine with multiple capabilities.

How much are you willing to spend on a single serve coffee maker? If you’re always in a rush, having a single serve coffee maker might pay for itself if you get to work on time. If you’re just trying to figure out if this coffee maker lives up to its hype, a cheaper option could be better for your wallet.

Which Are the Best Single Serve Coffee Makers?

Here are a few popular brands:

Keurig

Keurig offers a system of brewing coffee using either a massive variety of K-Cups or Vue packs. You can brew coffees, teas, and even apple cider in a Keurig single-serve machine. However, the models have a limited number of brew settings so you’ll have to forgo having a real latte or cappuccino with this machine.

See the bestselling Keurig models.

Nespresso

Nespresso machines are designed to make a good espresso and they will look sleek sitting on your counter. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find Nespresso capsules in some cities– you can either buy at a a local Nespresso store if you have one or go online.

More about Nespresso machines

Tassimo

The highlight of a Tassimo machine is that each T-disk (which you can easily buy from a store) has a barcode that the machine reads to figure out how to brew the drink. However, you’ll have to use a milk T-disk if you want a frothy drink.

Where to find Tassimo products

Senseo

The Senseo coffee maker uses coffee pods, which can be found at the store, although there is only a limited variety. There are also a limited number of machine varieties.

Have any suggestions for the best single serve coffee makers? We’d love to hear in the comments below.

Main Photo: •●pfaff

Content Photo: Nick Harris1