Best Pod Coffee Makers

Top Pod Coffee Maker Reviews

Pod coffee makers are ideal for endless flavor options

Both professional testers and owners praise the Keurig Special Edition Brewing System (*Est. $150), a single-cup coffee maker that can brew 6, 8 or 10 ounces of coffee from a single K-Cup (disposable coffee pod). This programmable model features an adjustable temperature setting of 187 to 192 degrees Fahrenheit, a removable 48-ounce water reservoir and a digital clock. Owners at Viewpoints.com and retail sites like Macys.com and Amazon.com praise the wide selection of coffee from well-known companies. Reviews also say it's easy to clean and minimizes drips. Users who drink more than a couple cups of joe each day may not like the single-cup operation. There are reports of malfunctioning water or air pumps within just a few months and clogs, but there are a few owners who say they've used this machine regularly for years with no problems.

K-Cups aren't just limited to the Keurig Special Edition Brewing System, the company makes other models. The Keurig 40 Elite Brewing System (*Est. $120) has not as many cup sizes as the Special Edition which tends to be a point of contention with users and while it works the same as the B60, users complain it brews weak coffee and talk about problems with the water pump. Then there is the more expensive Keurig Platinum Brewing System (*Est. $180). It is a high-end, single-serve coffee brewer that offers more options. Like other Keurig coffee makers, however, there can be problems with the water pump over time.

Keurig has some competition. The first is the Tassimo Suprema T45 (*Est. $140). Its advanced technology for making different types of beverages attracts users. Unlike the Keurig its T Discs are proprietary, expensive and limited in variety. If you're looking for less per-cup expense, Keurig Special Edition B60 (*Est. $150) offers an extensive variety of flavors. The Tassimo Suprema is a good machine for making different beverages, such as espresso, cappuccino and hot cocoas, users say. But in terms of performance, there are some shortcomings.

Recently, Starbucks entered the one-cup coffee maker with the Starbucks Verismo (*Est. $200 to $400, depending on model). If you want the genuine taste of Starbucks coffee from the comfort of your own home, this is the machine for you, according to reviewer feedback. But this comes at a price - monetary and patience. Fiscally, the basic machine, the Starbucks Verismo 580, runs about $200 and the more advanced model, the Starbucks Verismo 585, costs $400. In addition, the pods are more expensive than pods for other machines, resulting in a per-cup cost between $1.50 and $2.00, according to calculations by CoffeeStylish.com. Still, less than what you'd pay at a Starbucks store. After the cost, problems with the Verismo will test your patience. There are complaints of ruined pods, leaking units and difficult-to-access water tanks.