One-Cup Coffee Maker Review

Comparing one-cup coffee makers

One-cup coffee makers aren't just for people who want a single cup of joe. These products can also be handy for couples who don't like the same kind of coffee, and some machines can even whip up tea and hot cocoa. One-cup coffee makers take one of three forms: manual presses, automatic drip coffee makers or automated pod coffee makers. Some versatile single-cup coffee makers have adjustable serving sizes or can brew espresso shots.

Manual presses and full-size automatic drip coffee makers both require measuring ground coffee into a reusable or disposable filter and then pouring water into the top. Although manual presses don't require electricity, they do require boiling the water and -- in one case -- some strength to press the plunger down. Full-size automatic drip coffee makers generally take longer than one-cup or manual coffee makers and cleaning messy grounds can be inconvenient, especially if you're only making one cup.

Pod coffee makers, on the other hand, brew a single serving of coffee from premeasured ground coffee sealed in a pod made of paper, plastic or aluminum. Many of these machines can brew a beverage in less than a minute, eliminating the need to buy filters, measure coffee or clean up messy grounds. They do have a few drawbacks, reviewers note. Most coffee capsules are neither biodegradable nor recyclable and they produce more waste than other means of brewing coffee. Some pod coffee machines such as Nespresso and Tassimo require users to buy proprietary discs or capsules that come in only a few flavors, while other pod machines are compatible with dozens of brands and varieties. A few machines also offer the ability to use ground coffee with a special, reusable filter in the shape of a pod.

We found credible one-cup coffee maker reviews from ConsumerReports.org and Cook's Illustrated magazine. In one review, ConsumerReports.org rates 15 pod models on brewing range, first-cup speed, repeat-cup speed, temperature, consistency and size consistency. ConsumerReports.org also evaluates three inexpensive single-serve models for brew temperature and ease of use as part of a larger roundup of drip coffee makers. A review by Cook's Illustrated magazine analyzes two different one-cup coffee makers that brew espresso or coffee through manual operation. Editors like the flavor of the coffee and simple operation of the less expensive model, which doesn't require buying pods. This review is a few years old, but both manual models tested are still current and we appreciate the head-to-head professional evaluation.

Editors at Popular Mechanics compare eight single-serve coffee makers, evaluating them for speed, cost and convenience, while two different New York Times reviews discuss two manual coffee makers. Wired, meanwhile, discusses an expensive manual espresso maker that uses nitrous oxide cartridges to dispense a serving; this model is also covered in a review on Home-Barista.com.

Food & Wine magazine's 2006 review names a favorite one-cup drip unit and pod espresso machine. However, we don't know how many one-cup coffee makers were among the 67 models of coffee makers tested or testing methodology.

For additional feedback, we consulted several blogs and aficionado websites. CoffeeReview.com, a website for coffee connoisseurs, offers some interesting insights. The blog Attention Deficit posts an article comparing three top brands of pod coffee makers and TheNibble.com offers a solo review. SingleServeCoffee.com is an enthusiast site with some useful information about pod machines and products; editors there compare two coffee makers by Keurig over a two-week period. Lastly, CoffeeGeek.com, another website for coffee lovers, features thousands of detailed reviews of single-serve coffee makers, from both editors and consumers.

Owner-written reviews at Amazon.com, Cooking.com, Viewpoints.com, Target.com, Brookstone.com, Williams-Sonoma.com, Epinions.com and Macys.com also offer insight into long-term reliability. A few of these sites have thousands of owner-written coffee maker reviews, while others have only a few owner opinions. Some coffee makers have accumulated well over 1,000 reviews. Finally, we consulted Chowhound.com, a forum for foodies, where coffee lovers discuss their favorite one-cup coffee makers in several threads.