There’s nothing quite like that first sip of coffee in the morning. The smell, the taste, the feel of a warm mug in my hands—what's not to love? For starters, trying to figure out exactly how to make one perfect cup in a machine that’s designed for six or more.
If you know that struggle all too well, fortunately, there’s a solution: a single-serve coffee maker. But there are a lot of options out there and when it comes to your morning brew, we know you don’t want to mess around.
Here, the best single-serve coffee makers a cuppa joe lover can buy.
Best Overall
Cuisinart SS-10 Premium Single-Serve Coffeemaker
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Amazon
When it comes to countertop appliances, Cuisinart never fails. Their premium single-serve brewer is programmable with five different cup sizes (from four to 12 ounces) and has adjustable brewing temperatures that allow you to make your coffee as hot or as not hot as you’d like.
It also comes with a reusable filter cup so you can brew any of your favorite coffee brands and is compatible with any brand of single-cup pods, including Keurig’s K-cups. And since the water reservoir holds 72 ounces, you don’t have to fill it as often.
Best Budget
Chulux Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer
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Amazon
The CHULUX is another budget-friendly single-serve coffee maker option that gets the job done without any bells and whistles. It fits both 1.0 and 2.0 single-serve coffee pods, or you can purchase a reusable filter separately if you prefer to use your own freshly ground coffee. You can program the coffee maker to brew any size cup between five and 12 ounces but if you decide you want tea instead, it also doubles as a water heater.
It also comes in seven colors—black, blue, cyan, gray, green, orange, and red—so you can bring some of your personality into your coffee-making.
Best Splurge
Jura A1 Super Automatic Coffee Machine
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If you’re serious about your coffee, and budget isn’t a concern, the Jura A1 is like the Cadillac of single-serve coffee makers. It’s designed to make short specialty coffees, so while you won’t be able to pull a 12-ounce cup, you can make espresso, ristretto (a shorter, more concentrated espresso), or an eight-ounce cup of barista-quality coffee right at home. It also has grinding capabilities and a five-ounce bean reservoir, so you get freshly ground coffee every time.
If that wasn’t enough, there’s a self-cleaning option that alerts you when it’s time for a clean, so you don’t have to keep track or hassle with it yourself. Good coffee and less cleaning? Take our money now.
Best Size Options
Nespresso Evoluo Coffee Maker
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Nespresso is solely dedicated to coffee and that’s apparent when you check out their Evoluo coffee maker. The high-end machine uses centrifusion, or a specialized spinning technique, to brew full-bodied, smooth, crema-rich coffee in five different sizes ranging from 1.35 ounces to 14 ounces.
While you can’t use off-brand pods with the Nespresso machine, you probably wouldn’t want to anyway, since each pod contains a barcode that communicates with the Evoluo, ensuring a precise brew every time.
It comes in five colors—graphite metal, silver, black, red, and titan, which is an almost copper gray—so you can choose the one you’ll enjoy looking at on your kitchen counter.
Best Multi-Use
Keurig K-Supreme Single Serve Coffee Maker
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Keurig is arguably the most well-known single-serve coffee maker manufacturer out there, so it’s probably not shocking that they made this list (twice). There are a lot of Keurig models out there, but the K-Supreme seems to have the most to offer with the littlest amount of hassle.
It’s the first in the Keurig line to utilize MultiStream technology—Keurig’s trademarked extracting method that ensures all of the coffee grounds are fully saturated so that you get the best cup of coffee possible every time. And not only can you brew coffee in four different sizes—4, 6, 8, and 12 ounces—the machine also has a “strong button” for the perfect iced coffee or bold cup.
Best Compact
Keurig K-Mini Plus Single Serve Coffee Maker
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Amazon
If you like the Keurig brand, but you’re looking for something a little smaller, the K-Mini Plus is another excellent option. You can use the K-cup pods, or Keurig's reusable coffee filter (sold separately), to brew any size cup between six and 12 ounces.
At just five inches wide, it’s designed to fit just about anywhere. And while the machine is more compact than the others on this list, it’s still big enough to house nine single-serve K-cup pods. It doesn’t have a water reservoir though, so you will need to fill it every time you brew.
Best Podless
Hamilton Beach The Scoop Single-Serve Coffee Maker
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Amazon
If you want the convenience of a single-serve coffee maker, but you’re not looking to shell out a lot of cash, The Scoop by Hamilton Beach may be your best bet. It’s not compatible with any single-serve pods, but it comes equipped with a single-serve filter that scoops the perfect amount of coffee grinds for an eight or 14-ounce cup.
It also has an adjustable stand, so you can move it up or down to fit a standard size mug or a taller travel mug. Like the K-Mini, there’s no water reservoir, so you have to add water each time you brew.
Best Design
K-Fee Twins II Coffee & Espresso Maker
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The K-Fee Twins II is one of the most versatile options on the list. It makes four different cup sizes, ranging from a shot of espresso to a large cup of coffee, and heats in about 15 seconds, putting a cup of coffee in your hand fast. It also has a 78-ounce water reservoir, which means less water filling and more coffee drinking for you.
Available in three high-end color options—black and chrome, black and copper, and white and bronze—it'll sit pretty on your countertop between uses.
Best Large Capacity
Touch Choice Single Serve Coffee Brewer
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The Touch Choice Single Serve Coffee Brewer has the user friendly design we all need in the morning. It has five buttons that indicate cup size—6, 8, 10, 12, and 14-ounce—and another three buttons that allow you to choose from mild, medium, or bold brew strength. All you have to do is push and go and it brews at nice and toasty 200 degrees—no lukewarm coffee here.
It also has a 90-ounce extra-large water reservoir, the largest on this list. It’s compatible with all K-Cup pods or you can purchase a reusable filter separately.
Best Double-Serving
Senseo Coffee Maker
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While it’s technically a single-serve coffee maker, the Senseo, which is made by Phillips, is the only coffee pod maker that can brew two cups at a time, making it an excellent choice for couples. You can choose between one or two cups and short or long-pull options to brew your perfect cup every time.
If you’re a bit of a coffee connoisseur, you’ll also be psyched to hear that it’s equipped with what Phillips calls “Crema Plus” technology. This means that every cup of coffee has a smooth, thick, velvety crema layer that will make you want to put your pinky up as you sip.
Final Verdict
We like the Cuisinart Premium Single Serve Brewer (view at Amazon) for its customizable size and temperature settings, but we love it because it's compatible with both loose ground coffee and any brand of coffee pod. For similar serving size options at a lower price, we recommend the Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer from CHULUX (view at Amazon). It may lack the features of a more luxe coffee maker, but it brews a delicious cup with zero fuss.