One-Cup Drip Coffee Makers

Single-cup coffee makers are inexpensive

One-cup automatic-drip coffee makers are designed to brew directly into a mug; some models come with thermal mugs. Automatic drip machines are generally less expensive than pod coffee makers, and they can use any kind of ground coffee, unlike pod machines that rely on pricier prepackaged selections. However, one-cup drip coffee makers aren't as convenient as pod machines because users have to measure coffee grounds and contend with coffee filters, a process that can be messy.

One standout, the Black & Decker Brew 'N Go DCM18S (*Est. $20) receives a score of "very good" for brew temperature and "good" for convenience in one professional coffee-maker roundup. The Brew 'N Go coffee maker has an impressive number of reviews at Amazon.com, where nearly 1,200 owners give it an average of 4 stars out of 5. Reviewers say the Brew 'N Go is easy to operate: Put 2.5 tablespoons of coffee grounds in a paper filter or the machine's permanent filter, pour water in the machine and place the accompanying 15-ounce stainless-steel thermal mug under the spout. Then flip the power switch and wait for the light to signal the coffee is ready.

Owners praise the tapered mug that comes with the Black & Decker Brew 'N Go DCM18S, saying it fits most car cupholders. Also garnering praise from owners are the permanent filter and auto-shutoff feature. Most people report the coffee tastes good, but using extra coffee to make a stronger brew may cause grounds to overflow. The Black & Decker Brew 'N Go comes with a one-year warranty.

The Brookstone Single Cup Coffee Maker (*Est. $40) earns the highest overall score among three single-serve drip coffee makers tested by one consumer testing organization. Editors give the Brookstone coffee maker a rating of "very good" for brew temperature and "good" for convenience. Nearly 200 owners posting reviews to Brookstone.com contribute to an average rating of 4.4 stars out of 5. Owners say the Brookstone Single Cup Coffee Maker is easy to use and looks stylish. It comes with an eight-ounce thermal travel mug, which some owners say is on the small side, and the unit doesn't accommodate larger mugs. That said, most users agree that coffee stays hot in the mug. A reusable metal coffee filter is included, although a number of owners say they prefer using standard paper filters.

Owners posting reviews to Amazon.com are less enthusiastic, although the Brookstone Single Cup Coffee Maker earns a decent average rating of 3.5 stars out of 5, based on nearly 50 owner-written reviews. There are a few complaints of leaks, but many owners report owning the Brookstone Single Cup Coffee Maker for five years or more with no problems. One reviewer points out a detriment: the machine doesn't have an automatic timer.

Although only one Toastess product is included in any professional reviews, the company makes several one-cup models that include travel mugs. For example, the Toastess 1 Cup Thermal Coffee Maker (*Est. $25) can brew up to 14 ounces of liquid into its accompanying plastic travel mug. This coffee maker receives an average of 3.5 stars from about 15 owners at Amazon.com, who are mostly happy with their purchase. Another model, the Toastess Personal Coffee Maker (*Est. $300) , brews up to 15 ounces into a stainless-steel thermal travel mug. At Amazon.com, more than 30 owners give it an average 3 stars. Some are happy with this coffee maker and say the mug keeps the coffee hot. However, a few owners complain that coffee tastes "blah" and there are a significant number of complaints about units that work only once or twice. The Toastess Silhouette Twin (*Est. $40) is identical to the regular Toastess Silhouette, but comes with two travel mugs and can brew two flavors of coffee simultaneously. It finishes last compared to the Black & Decker Brew 'N Go and Brookstone Single Cup Coffee Maker in one professional review.

Toastess also makes a one-cup drip coffee maker that brews up to 10 ounces into a regular mug. The Toastess Space-Saving One Cup Coffee Maker (*Est. $15) receives an average of 3.5 stars from just under 80 owners at Amazon.com. Owners say this coffee maker does the job but is a little noisy and doesn't shut off automatically after brewing. Overall, most owners appreciate the ability to use freshly ground beans and say the Toastess produces a great-tasting, albeit small, cup of coffee. All Toastess one-cup coffee makers come with a reusable filter and a lit power switch. None have programmable features, but most are backed by a one-year warranty; the Space-Saving model offers a two-year warranty.