One-Cup Coffee Makers

One-cup drip coffee makers

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 warmed in advance 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 nearly 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 mug, which fits easily into car cup holders. Its permanent filter and auto shut-off feature are also 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.

We read numerous complaints about uneven coffee distribution among dual-mug coffee makers like the Melitta Take 2 ME2TM (*est. $20) and Cuisinart Two to Go (*est. $30) . These have dual spouts and can brew into two travel mugs at once. Although both machines fare reasonably well in the single expert review that evaluates them, owners complain that the mugs don't fill at the same rate -- a problem that's both messy and potentially dangerous. Of the two, the Two to Go receives slightly better reviews from owners posting to Amazon. Owners like its stainless steel mugs and auto-shutoff feature, but a few wish the mugs were dishwasher-safe.

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.

Pod coffee makers

Pod coffee makers use pressurized water and packed grounds to brew one or two servings of coffee at a time. The coffee they produce isn't to everyone's taste; it's usually mild and light-bodied, and professional tasters say it lacks nuance (though this depends on the particular pods you choose). While manufacturers claim that pod coffee makers can deliver crema -- a creamy top layer of flavorful oils -- experts say it's mere froth. If you like a more robust brew, you can experiment with different pod types. Some manufacturers, including Keurig, offer "bold" and "extra bold" varieties. Otherwise, you can buy a pod coffee maker that accommodates two pods, but bear in mind that this doubles the cost per cup. Most pods are machine-specific, and some are only available by mail order. Owners point out that it's possible to make your own pods, as long as you understand that doing so may void your warranty. A few manufacturers sell reusable filter baskets that allow you to use the grounds of your choice.

Consumer publications don't find much to love about pod coffee makers -- Consumer Reports says they're neither convenient nor cheap -- but owners appear to disagree. One leading seller, Philips Senseo, has sold more 15 million pod machines since the company launched U.S. operations in 2004. With a pod coffee maker, you don't have to grind or measure coffee. Instead, you insert the pod before brewing and press a couple of buttons. Afterward, you simply toss the used pod and rinse the spout. With many machines, the entire process takes around 90 seconds.

The Senseo HD7810 (*est. $60) brews a single 4-ounce cup of coffee per pod. It's possible to brew an 8-ounce mug, but you must use two pods. The newer, more expensive Senseo HD7832 Supreme (*est. $130) can brew up to five ounces of coffee from a single pod or ten ounces from two pods.

Hundreds of owners posting to Amazon are happy with the Senseo HD7810's performance. They love this machine's simple, speedy operation and good build quality. Most say that the coffee is relatively mild, however. We read some complaints about the Senseo HD7810's spout, which is not adjustable.

Senseo has addressed this problem by introducing the Supreme, which has a spout that can be raised or lowered to accommodate mugs of various sizes. It also has a larger water reservoir (32 ounces to the HD7810's 20). Despite these enhancements, the Supreme receives more negative ratings from owners than the less expensive HD7810. Owners say that the performance differences are minimal, and the Supreme isn't worth an additional $70. A number of owners are unhappy that tall thermal mugs cannot fit under the Supreme's "improved" spout. Many are also disappointed that the "metallic chrome" Supreme is actually silver plastic.

Senseo pods are costly -- especially if you drink a large mug every day -- but owners say that the machine can accommodate almost any similarly-sized pod. In fact, many owners say that they prefer non-Senseo pods to the company's proprietary pods. If you are thinking of purchasing a Senseo, don't forget to figure in the cost of pods into your calculations. If you prefer a no-muss, no-fuss coffee maker and you like classic, diner-style coffee, the Senseo HD7810 may be a good choice.

Although it hasn't been professionally reviewed, the Keurig B60 (*est. $130) earns higher marks than the Senseo HD7810 from owners posting to Amazon.com. Experts say that the quality and variety of Keurig's K-Cups -- plastic containers filled with pre-measured coffee -- give it the edge over other pod coffee makers. Keurig sells K-Cups from such highly-rated roasters as Green Mountain and Timothy's, as well as organic and Fair Trade K-Cups from Newman's Own. The company also offers a reusable filter for its machines, the My K-Cup (*est. $15), that can be filled with grounds of your choice.

Reviews say that the Keurig B60 is a good choice for coffee enthusiasts who value convenience because it can brew as much as much as 9.25 ounces of coffee from a single K-Cup. Owners like the B60's contemporary design and chrome accents. Both the Keurig B50 (*est. $150) and B60 have programmable timers, but Keurig is discontinuing the B50, so we've included the B60 in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers.

The Keurig B40 (*est. $100) has a smaller capacity (7.25 ounces) than the B60, and its brewing temperature isn't adjustable, but reviews say that it, too, is a good coffee maker for the money. Editors at Cook's Illustrated like the sleek Keurig B100 (*est. $250), which they say quickly and easily brews a good cup of coffee, but it's pricey, and it doesn't offer adjustable brew strength.

The Braun Tassimo TA1400 (*est. $175) and TA1200 (*est. $130) haven't been professionally reviewed, but both receive high marks from owners posting to Amazon.com. The 1400 has a slightly larger reservoir (68 ounces to the 1200's 50) and a water filter. Like Keurig, Braun offers pre-measured containers of grounds, called T-Discs, which are machine-specific. You can brew cappuccino or latte in a Tassimo, but you must insert an espresso T-Disc, followed by a cappuccino or latte T-Disc. Reviews say that the Tassimo takes longer to brew than the Keurig B60, and it's louder. In addition, Keurig offers more varieties of coffee than Tassimo, and its coffee costs less per serving.

The Melitta One:One (*est. $60) earns above-average ratings in two professional reviews, and it offers adjustable brewing strength. Reviews say that the coffee tastes good, but its main drawback is its lack of coffee selection: Melitta offers just six types of coffee pods.

Manual coffee makers

Experts say you don't need a coffee maker at all to make great coffee. You can boil water and pour it over freshly ground coffee in a reusable filter, stirring as you pour. Kenneth Davids, coffee consultant and editor of CoffeeReview.com, says that this method results in a clear, strong cup.

The simple AeroPress coffee maker (*est. $30) , which consists of a plastic tube, plastic plunger and paper filter, earns raves from owners posting to Amazon.com and CoffeeGeek.com. Using the plunger, you force the coffee through the filter. Grounds stay in contact with the water for less than a minute, producing a strong cup that's nearly sediment-free. Although the AeroPress is not as convenient as a standard or pod coffee maker, owners say that the coffee is exceptionally smooth, with fruity, floral notes. The experts at Sweet Maria's, a coffee maker and home-roasting e-tailer, say that the AeroPress does just as good a job as the Technivorm Clubline (*est. $185), the preferred full-size drip coffee maker of many aficionados.

The AeroPress's only drawbacks are its utilitarian appearance and the slightly misleading way it's marketed: the manufacturer says that this machine makes espresso, but true espresso can only be made when water is forced through grounds at a higher level of pressure than can be generated manually. Although the AeroPress doesn't come with a permanent filter; a pack of 350 disposable filters costs around $4.

Important Features: One-cup coffee makers

Reviews say you should look for the following features when choosing a coffee maker:

• Consider whether you really need a one-cup coffee maker. Many full-size coffee makers have a ”small batch” option, which leaves you with the flexibility of brewing more when needed.

• Decide how strong you like your coffee. Reviews say that automatic drip coffee makers don't let you exercise much control over coffee strength. You can make stronger coffee with manual coffee devices, such as the AeroPress Aerobie. You can also experiment with various types of pods. Keurig offers a particularly wide variety of coffees.

• Consider the cost. Pods can cost between 25 and 50 cents each, and some pod coffee makers require two pods to brew an eight-ounce cup. The Tassimo coffee maker requires two pods to make a cappuccino or latte. If you're concerned about the cost, you can purchase a machine with a reusable filter or make your own pods.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
2	Philips Senseo HD7810 (*est. $60)	details
2	Keurig B60 (*est. $130)	details
2	Black & Decker Brew 'N Go (*est. $20)	details
2	Melitta One:One (*est. $60)	details
1 each	Melitta Take2 ME2TM , Black & Decker Home Café One Cup CoffeeHouse GT300, Senseo Supreme , Keurig B100 , Aerobie AeroPress

The Melitta One:One earns high marks in professional reviews, but other pod coffee makers far outscore it in owner-written reviews. Senseo machines also fare well in professional tests. Among to-go style coffee makers, the Black & Decker Brew 'N Go is a long-running favorite on user-review sites, and it's inexpensive. Keurig pod coffee makers score points as much for the variety of coffee flavors offered as "K-Cups" as for the machines themselves.

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