One-Cup Drip Coffee Makers

Single-cup coffee makers are inexpensive

One-cup "to-go" coffee makers brew coffee directly into one or two thermal mugs, which do a better job preserving the flavor and temperature of brewed coffee than any other type of mug. Experts say that thermal mugs can keep coffee warm for hours, but they work best when the mugs are pre-warmed with hot water (swishing around some hot tap water will do).

The Brew 'N Go DCM18S (*Est. $20) by Black & Decker is a favorite of owners posting to Amazon.com, where it has accumulated well over 400 reviews. Testers at Real Simple like this "compact and speedy" machine and its "generous" 15-ounce mug. Owners praise this one-cup coffee maker's tapered stainless steel mug, which fits easily into car cup holders. Its permanent filter and auto-shutoff feature are other pluses. Most say coffee tastes good, and you don't need to use any special pods -- just regular coffee grounds. We did read a few odd complaints that the Brew 'N Go sometimes turns on by itself, so it's a good idea to unplug it between uses. The Brew 'N Go is also available with a plastic thermal mug as the Brew 'N Go DCM18 (*Est. $20).

In general, one- and two-cup to-go coffee makers don't seem to offer many advantages over carafe coffee makers, and they are less versatile. You can't, for example, serve coffee to a crowd if you own a to-go coffee maker. If you will be brewing small batches regularly, you're probably better off buying a standard coffee maker with a small-batch setting and separate thermal mug.