By Angela Stringfellow on December 27, 2012 in
The National Coffee Association's latest research on National Coffee Drinking Trends indicates that 75 percent of adults in the U.S. drink coffee, with 58 percent saying they drink coffee daily. It comes as no surprise that a coffee maker is a must-have appliance in most homes. One-cup coffee makers are popular with today's consumers, thanks to their ability to brew a single cup of coffee at a time.
But there are two types of one-cup coffee makers: Traditional models, which like standard coffee makers, use filters and coffee grounds to produce a full pot (or mug) with each brew; and pod coffee makers, which use pre-packaged pods to brew a single cup. So which one-cup model is best? Here's how they fare in this "mud" slinging contest:
Round 1: Ease of Use
Winner: Pod coffee makers
Pod coffee makers are simple to use: insert a pod, select a cup size and brew. Traditional one-cup coffee makers, on the other hand, require measuring coffee grounds and using filters. Many users complain that these models, which include french presses, tend to leak and often leave coffee grounds in the resulting brew.
Another one-cup brewing option is the automatic-drip single-serve coffee makers, however they typically have just one cup size and larger mugs are incompatible with the dispensing unit. Owners say it's also more time consuming to brew multiple cups consecutively, because you must measure the grounds and change filters between each cup.
Round 2: Flavor Variety
Winner: Traditional one-cup coffee makers
While some pod coffee makers have hundreds of flavor options, most are limited in pod selection. Traditional one-cup coffee makers can be used with any variety of coffee, and users can also grind their own beans for limitless flavor options. That said, some pod coffee makers, such as Keurig models, have reusable K-cup filters that allow owners the option of using any ground coffee.
Round 3: Cost of Ownership
Winner: Traditional one-cup coffee makers
The proprietary pods needed for pod coffee makers vary pretty drastically in price but almost always result in a higher per-cup cost than using ground coffee for traditional one-cup coffee makers. Our one-cup coffee makers report reveals that pod coffee makers are also a costlier initial investment than standard models ($50 to more than $200). Traditional mug-to-go brewers typically cost between $20 and $50.
Round 4: Brewing Performance
Winner: Pod coffee makers
In professional tests, automatic-drip single-serve models get lower scores for brewing performance. The optimal brewing temperature for achieving the best flavor is between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. Pod coffee makers get better scores, on average, for falling in this temperature range.
Round 5: Footprint
Winner: Tie
Pod coffee makers receive criticism for their large footprints. In a review for Wired magazine, Bryan Gardiner wonders "why anyone would choose a machine the size of a normal coffee maker to produce a solitary cuppa joe." However, the larger size does provide one advantage over the automatic drip counterpart: Pod coffee makers usually have a larger water reservoir, so consecutive cups can be brewed without needing to add more water.
Round 6: Maintenance
Winner: Pod coffee makers
Many users find it a drag that before each brew cycle water must be added to traditional single-serve models. Most of these traditional brewers don't have removable water reservoirs for easy filling and cleaning, but most pod coffee makers do. Pod machines frequently have more advanced maintenance features, with some offering lights or other indications that it's time to clean the coffee maker.
The Decision: Pod coffee makers win!
While pod coffee makers have a higher cost of ownership, most users agree that the increased cost per cup is worth the added convenience and ease of use. Those who prefer a specific flavor not readily available in pods will be happier with a traditional model or a pod coffee maker capable of brewing your own coffee grounds.
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