Best Single Serve Coffee Maker Reviews and Buying Guide
Single-serving coffee machine dispenses espresso in a glass cup with coffee capsules in background
Great coffee is one of life’s little luxuries.
If you take the time to calculate how much you spend each month in Starbucks or Costa, though…Well, that money might be better spent on acquiring a machine of your own.
At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Single Serve Coffee Maker
Today, we’ll take you through 15 of the best single serve coffee machines currently on the market. Check out our reviews so you can find the most suitable machine for your needs.
Before that, though, we’ll take a quick look at why these nifty little machines are so popular today…
Our Pick: Keurig K55/K-Classic
They say you shouldn’t change a winning team and the classic Keurig K55 is still enduringly popular today. Enjoy the convenience of pods without compromising the quality of your coffee. Make up to 6 cups from a single reservoir and enjoy coffee in minutes at a fraction the cost of a Starbucks.
I. 15 Best Single Serve Coffee Machine Reviews
1. Best Single Serve Coffee Maker | Keurig K55
Keurig are a market-leading brand in the world of single serve coffee makers.
Set-up couldn’t be simpler. The K55 takes 5-10 minutes to calibrate itself and you’re good to go.
Some coffee makers can be fiddly and awkward. With Keurig, you’ll have no such problems. Pop in a pod and use the handy button controls to choose your brew size. In under a minute, your drink is ready.
The removable filter gives you a little more flexibility. Rather than being restricted to pods only, you can also opt for your own blend of coffee or tea if you prefer.
If you enjoy coffee on the go, you’ll appreciate the stainless steel travel mug thrown in free of charge. Make yourself a piping hot drink for the daily commute.
Editor's Choice
With a generous 48oz water reservoir, you can get 6 cups in before you need to refill. It’s a smart move to clean your cup as soon as the coffee is done. If you put it off, it can be a bit of a struggle.
With no descaling functionality, you’ll need to get rid of the water by hand. Cleaning with vinegar is a good way to sidestep contamination.
For a budget single serve coffee maker that performs like a much more expensive machine, the Keurig K55 is tough to beat. Adaptable, powerful and allowing you a wide choice of beverage, the K55 brings the quality of the coffee shop into your home without breaking the bank.
Pros
- Extremely user-friendly
- Very simple to clean
- Substantial water reservoir for single cup coffee maker
- Heats water very rapidly
- Works with any brand of K-Cups
Cons
- No variable brew strength
- Although it’s straightforward to clean, it requires regular attention inside and out
Read More: Best Keurig Coffee Makers
Read More: Keurig K55 Coffee Maker Unboxing & Review
2. Keurig K-Elite K-Cup Pod Maker
Keurig continually strive to expand and improve their wide assortment of single serve coffee makers and with the K-Elite they’ve doubled down on adding a little more scope for tweaking than you’d expect from a single serve machine.
You’ll have a choice of 5 cup sizes and you can fine-tune the strength and intensity of your beverage using the intuitive interface.
You can program your machine to come on and shut off so everything is fully primed when you get up in the morning or return from work later on.
The water reservoir can take almost 80 oz so you can rack up 8 large coffees before you need to remove and refill the tank. If you need a simple burst of hot water, there’s a button for that, too.
The K-Elite is not just capable of hot beverages. If you want iced coffee the way it should be, hit the Iced button and you’re good to go.
As with all Keurigs, speed is uppermost and you’ll have fresh, steaming coffee in your mug within the minute making it the next best thing to instant but with a far deeper, richer taste.
The drip tray is also removable so you can slot in a larger travel mug fuss-free.
With many of the second-generation Keurig machines, the bar code technology tied you in to a limited selection of pods. You can happily use non-proprietary pods in the K-Elite giving you the freedom to choose from over 500 different coffees.
The K-Elite is finished in a highly attractive brushed metal so it will look at home in any kitchen. Since it occupies such a compact footprint, you’ll be able to leave this machine out proudly on display without feeling cluttered.
For a single-serve coffee machine with a difference, the Keurig K-Elite is tough to beat.
Pros
- Brew K-Cup pods from 4oz through 12oz for more versatility
- Grab hot water on demand
- Substantial reservoir so make up to 8 cups before refilling
- Hot or cold coffee at the press of a button
- Jack up the strength if you like an added kick
Cons
- Not the cheapest option
Read More: 30 Best K-Cup Coffee Pods
3) Ninja Pod-Free Coffee Maker
Our best single serve coffee maker without pods reviews is the enduringly popular Ninja giving you incredible choice at a price you’ll love.
Are you torn between hot and iced coffee? You don’t need to be any longer since you can get your drinks cold at the push of a button with no dilution or roll with your regular hot coffee…
And if it’s a steaming cup of joe you’re looking for, you can tweak the Ninja in so many directions it will feel like you’ve got your own mini-Starbucks at home but without the stiff daily bill. You can choose from 4 brew sizes depending on how much caffeine you want down the hatch, roll with a classic or rich brew and decide whether you prefer your drink black or milky then hit the button while the Ninja delivers.
Want to get even more creative? The Ninja lets you pump in some concentrated coffee then experiment with layered drinks that catch the eye and tease the tastebuds.
No product is perfect and the Ninja is prone to dripping slightly while the reusable filter makes for a messier experience than if you used pods but you’ll get the shower of benefits a pod-free unit serves up so we think that’s a fair trade-off.
Rounding out with a pair of kickers, not only is this one of the best single serve coffee makers with no pods, the sleek black and chromed finish means it will stand out in any kitchen so what are you waiting for?
Pros
- Integrated frother so you can enjoy milky lattes
- Fully customizable range of drinks for all the family
- Why choose hot or iced coffee when you can have both?
- Pioneering extraction system delivers robust flavor
- Super-simple interface ideal even if you hate tech
Cons
- Reusable steel filter means it’s a bit messy when emptying out
- Annoying degree of drippage after brewing
4. Hamilton Beach 49976 Flex brew 2-Way Brewer
If you can’t choose between enjoying full carafes of coffee or the convenience of single serve, why choose at all? The Hamilton Beach FlexBrew offers you the best of both worlds. You can also opt for fresh coffee grounds or K Cup pods for total versatility. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s incredibly value for money, too.
How To Brew K Cup Pods: Pour a maximum of 10oz of cold water in the reservoir on the right. Put the single serve holder into the opening with your K Cup pod added. Close the lid and listen for the snapping sound letting you know the needle has pierced the pack. Hit Single Serve then the Brew Now buttons and you’re good to go. For a stronger cup, press Brew Strength until Bold is displayed
If you want the shotgun service of a single cup using either K Cups or fresh coffee grounds and the convenience of brewing up an entire pot and leaving it to warm, the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew is the obvious solution.
Read More: How to Brew Drip Coffee
There’s a digital clock which is easy to read and fully programmable. If you want coffee brewed at a predetermined time, simply ensure the reservoir is topped up with cold water and punch in the time up to 24 hours in advance.
Check out the FlexBrew today!
Pros
- Dual functionality allowing you to brew a pot of coffee in the carafe or single serve cups on the opposite side of the machine
- Tweak the brewing strength rolling with regular or strong coffee according to taste
- Keep things simple with dedicated water reservoir for carafe and single serve while viewing windows let you know when it’s time to add more cold water
- On-board storage for K Cup or grounds so keep everything to hand
Cons
- Takes up a fair amount of space on the work surface so make sure you can accommodate it
- Limited to using one side at a time
Read More: Best Drip Coffee Maker