Single-serve coffee makers come in all shapes and sizes. You're probably most familiar with the super-speedy pod machines, but that's not the only place you need to shop. There are plenty of alternative brewing styles which have single-serve options, such as French press, pour over, and moka pots.
As a barista, I love single-serve coffee makers, but too many of them compromise on quality. I've tested all of these to make sure that they deliver flavors to rival the best coffee maker on the market, so you can have speedy brews without having to lower your expectations on taste.
Quick List
If you just want the headlines for the best single-serve coffee makers, here's where to look. We go deep into the details further down.
Best overall
The Nespresso delivers premium coffee flavors in an easy, speedy way, so it's hard to fault it. If you want milky coffee, you'll need to buy the Aeroccino separately.
Best fresh
The Cuisinart is like no other single-serve machine, because it grinds directly into re-usable pods. The flavors are strong and the machine is speedy, so it's a favorite amongst experts.
Best luxury
You'll have to set aside a cool $750 for this machine, but if you drink a lot of milky coffee it just might be worth it. This makes a delicious cup of coffee and looks beautiful whilst doing it.
Best for French press
Espro's French press is pure luxury. The double filter and tight seal brews a smooth cup of coffee, or cold brew. It won't make more than a bold and acidic Americano though.
Best pour over
Perfect for light, delicate cups of coffee, the Melitta is chic and easy to use. It's a bit messy and more hands-on than others, but nevertheless a good, light option.
Best portable
The Picopresso is better than any Aeropress. No bigger than a can of cola, it makes espressos which are comparable the best coffee makers on the market. It can't do much else though.
Best for smart features
This is the smartest single-serve coffee maker on the market. It comes with ten pre-sets and a thorough app. The design might be a little too modern for some interiors though.
Best for large homes
Large households will make good use of the five-cup water capacity. This can churn out decent coffee from one cheap appliance. There are better flavors on other models, but not for the price.
Best for versatility
Pod or fresh, hot or cold, short or long, the Dual Brew can make almost any coffee you want. It covers a lot of functions, but can't froth plant-based milks well.
The best single-serve coffee maker overall
Buy it if
✅ You want a speedy machine: this is quick and quiet
✅ You need versatility: the Vertuo pod range is extensive
✅ You're short on space: this is slim and svelte
Don't buy it if:
❌ You like miky coffees: this can't steam milk
❌ You want to use other pods: it's only compatible with Vertuo
❌ You're lazy with waste: the pods take effort to recycle
The bottom line
🔎 Nespresso Vertuo Next: this is the best of the best. The Vertuo next is quick, quiet, and extremely capable. However, it can't froth milk and is only compatible with specific pods.
Nespresso is close to synonymous with single-serve coffee makers. It's for a good reason too. These might be more expensive than Keurigs, but they're much more duable, sleek, and the flavors are in a different league.
The Nespresso Vertuo Next is the best Nespresso for single-serve coffee, because it balances a compact and sustainable design (the machine is made from 50% recycled plastic). It's compatible with all the Vertuo pods, so you can make single shots, double shots, 5oz, 8oz, and 14oz coffees too.
The Vertuo Next warms up in under a minute and will make coffee in the same time too. All the coffees I have made in the Nespresso have been good, well-balanced coffees. They're consistently extracted and then spun with Nespresso's centifusion technology, boasting a thick, rich crema.
Nespresso's Vertuo pods are incredibly diverse, but that's because they have to be. You can't use any other pods in these machines, because of the smart (but frustrating) barcode recognition technology. If you want a milky coffee, you'll need to invest in their Aeroccino milk frother. It's an added cost, which isn't ideal, but sometimes you can find a bundle deal.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor | Flavorful and well-balanced | ★★★★★ |
| Value | More expensive, but ont excessive | ★★★★ |
| Range | Limited to Vertuo pods, but those are vast | ★★★★★ |
| Cleaning | Almost self-cleaning | ★★★★★ |
The best single-serve coffee maker for fresh coffee
Buy it if
✅ You want fresh coffee: this grinds freshly
✅ You're short on space: this is compact and subtle
✅ You care about the environment: the filters are re-usable
Don't buy it if:
❌ You like milky coffee: there's no steamer
❌ You want variety: you'll have to buy different beans to change the flavor
❌ You're on a budget: there are cheaper machines
The bottom line
🔎 Cuisinart Grind and Brew: this is the most artisanal and fresh single-serve coffee gets. It's close to perfect, but can't froth milk
When I want to find the best, I always ask experts which appliances they use at home. The Cuisinart Grind and Brew is next to the Nespresso in popularity amongst the experts. It's a speciality coffee maker, which just happens to brew using pods.
The grinder ensures your re-usable pods are filled with fresh coffee. Whether it makes an espresso or Americano, the flavors are consistently bold and rich, like no other single-serve machine. It's also compact enough to clear low wall cupboards and sit neatly onto any countertop.
If you want the versatility offered by other machines, you might find this a little frustrating. Whichever beans you choose, your cups will always be a little acidic. The Cuisinart has no capacity to froth milk, so you'll need to buy one separately. There's also no warming feature, so your coffee needs to be sipped as soon as it has brewed.
You can find more detail in our Cuisinart Grind and Brew review.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor | Faultless flavors, but very strong | ★★★★★ |
| Value | Reasonably priced | ★★★★★ |
| Range | Can only make black coffee | ★★★★ |
| Cleaning | Easy to clean | ★★★★★ |
The best luxury single-serve coffee maker
Buy it if
✅ You want luxury: this is ultra-premium
✅ You enjoy milky coffees: the steam wand is exceptional
✅ You're short on space: this is compact and stylish
Don't buy it if:
❌ You're on a budget: this is expensive
❌ You want to use your own pods: this is Vertuo only
❌ You're bad at cleaning: this is a little high-maintenance
The bottom line
🔎 Nespresso Vertuo Next: this is the epitome of single-serve luxury. It froths milk like a professional, but that comes at a considerable cost.
You won't find a more beautiful coffee maker than this. The shiny stainless steel finish looks ultra-premium and it's also really compact. Any home would have space for it. Any coffee connosiseur should make space for it too; all our experts declared it love at first sight when we unboxed this. Luckily, the coffee it makes can live up to the Vertuo Creatista's appearance.
Nespresso paired with another coffee giant, Breville, to deliver the best milk frothing capacities I've ever tested on a single-serve machine. It did warm the milk to the cusp of burning once, but was otherwise perfect, even with plant-based milks. The combination of Nespresso's pods and the silky milk meant that the coffees I made were delicious.
The drawback of any Nespresso single-serve machine is the pods. They're an ongoing cost and ever-growing waste product. Re-usable pods aren't compatible with the Creatista; you can only use Nespresso's special Vertuo pods. This means your tied to specific flavors and sources.
It's quick, slick, and extremely covetable, but for $750 you have to ignore the 'value for money' aspect of this purchase. It's an indulgence.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor | Beautiful flavors, for coffee and milk | ★★★★★ |
| Value | Very expensive | ★★★ |
| Range | Can make all Vertuo flavors | ★★★★ |
| Cleaning | Easy to clean | ★★★★★ |
The best single-serve French press
Buy it if
✅ You like rich and acidic coffee: this is full of flavor
✅ You drink cold brew: this makes a killer concentrate
✅ You want a smooth drink: this double filters
Don't buy it if:
❌ You're on a budget: this is more expensive than other models
❌ You need quick coffee: this will take at least five minutes
❌ You like variety: this only makes Americano
The bottom line
🔎 Espro P3: this premium French press makes the smoothest, most velvety coffee on this list. However, it can only make Americano
The beauty of the petite Espro P3 is that it delivers all the prestigious features of their larger models, but in a more compact and equally luxurious vessel. Most French presses have a single filter, but the Espro has a double filter with a really tight seal. This means that the cups of coffee it makes are ultra smooth. There are no stray grains in the cup. It's also really well insulated, so you get a warm, evenly brewed cup of coffee every time.
This filter-insulator combination makes it excellent for hopping on the latest coffee trend: cold brew. You can make an incredible concentrate without having to buy a separate coffee maker. Even better, this won't demand much room in your refrigerator or countertop either.
The obvious drawback is that Americano and cold brew are all that the French press can make. There are no espressos or milky coffees here. Also, French presses require a lot more effort to make coffee with. The process is involved and will need at least ten minutes, including washing up. If you normally consume your coffee in a hurry, you might need an automatic machine.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor | Rich, acidic, and smooth | ★★★★★ |
| Value | Pricy for a French press | ★★★★ |
| Range | Can only make plain coffee | ★★ |
| Cleaning | Hand wash only | ★★★ |
The best single-serve pour-over
Buy it if
✅ You want quick coffee: this is ready in seconds
✅ You still want some ritual: this is more than button-pushing
✅ You want fresh coffee: this is best with fresh grounds
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want a hands-off maker: this is involved
❌ You're on a budget: filter paper is an ongoing cost
❌ You drink anything but Americano: it can't do anything else
The bottom line
🔎 Melitta Pour Over: delicate porcelain, in creamy white, makes the Melitta an aesthetic choice for your fika moments. However, you'll need to replace the filter paper each time you use it, which can be expensive and fiddly.
This single-serve coffee maker is a classic pour-over coffee maker. When in use, it would slot seamlessly into any kitchen aesthetic. When not in use, sit it with the rest of your coffee cups: it's stackable and durable. For $15, you'll find it hard to get more for your money.
Compared to automatic single-serve coffee makers, the Melitta is slower and more hands-on. You'll need to fit it with filter paper and use a gooseneck kettle if you want to make a delicate and well-balanced cup of coffee. If you treat coffee as a ritual, you'll enjoy this part of the process, but if you're often in a hurry when making your coffee, it will get frustrating.
This has a single drain, so you'll need to be careful with your water measurements. It's easy to accidentally over-brew coffee if you're too quick with pouring water. I'd strongly recommend that you pre-bloom the coffee. You'll get much better flavors as a result.
If you have the budget for a bit more, you can buy the Aritisan Set from Amazon, which comes with a bamboo tray, filter paper holder, and airtight coffee grounds container too.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor | Light and delicate flavors | ★★★★★ |
| Value | Inexpensive | ★★★★★ |
| Range | Can only make plain coffee | ★★ |
| Cleaning | Hand wash only | ★★★ |
The best portable single-serve coffee maker
Buy it if
✅ You need a portable coffee maker: this is completely cordless and motor-free
✅ You mostly drink espresso: that's the Picopresso's speciality
✅ You need a quiet coffee maker: this is close to silent
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want different coffee drinks: this is single-function
❌ You want a hands-off machine: this is powered by you
❌ You're not a good cleaner: this has lots of parts to attend to
The bottom line
🔎 Wacaco Picopresso: as far as portable coffee makers go, this is the best. It pulls espresso shots to rival machines which are twenty times the price, but can't do any other coffee drinks.
The Picopresso is no bigger than a can of cola. Wrapped in black satin with weighty stainless steel finishes, it feels like a truly premium machine. When it arrives, you'll see that Wacaco includes a smart case and some luxury packaging, making the Picopresso a true treat.
Whilst I wouldn't recommend you replace a home espresso machine with the Picopresso, it's perfect for people who travel a lot. When you're staying in hotels and going on holiday, taking the Picopresso with you guarantees that you'll get a good shot of speciality coffee. Even better, you won't have to leave the house.
I've tested the best espresso machines on the market and, if you closed your eyes, you wouldn't be able to taste the difference between the coffee that this can make and the shots brewed by machines which are twenty times the price. It's remarkable.
However, the reason this is so small and cheap in comparison is that it can't make anything more than an espresso. It's a very simple, manual machine. At $100 it feels expensive for the size and in comparison to bigger models, but you're paying for the quality.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor | Some of the best espresso around | ★★★★★ |
| Value | Expensive for what it is | ★★★ |
| Range | Can only make espresso | ★★ |
| Cleaning | Hand wash only | ★★★ |
The best smart single-serve coffee maker
Buy it if
✅ You like apps: this app is packed with cool features
✅ You use different pods: this adjusts to them all
✅ You're short on space: this is a compact machine
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want fresh coffee: this only uses pods
❌ You want milky coffees: this can't steam milk
❌ You're on a budget: this is expensive
The bottom line
🔎 Morning Coffee Machine: you won't find a single-serve coffee maker that's smarter than this. The app is fascinating and a joy to use, but that might be a bit too techy (and expensive) for some.
Ultra-modern, slick, and smart, the Morning Coffee Machine is designed for those who want to get geeky about coffee. It's compact, so will sit subtly on any countertop, although it might look a little too futuristic in some, more rustic homes.
The reason people love the Morning Coffee Machine is because the app is so smart, but also so simple. It comes with ten presets, allowing each member of the house to tailor the length and temperature of the coffee to their needs. It has links to a range of pod brands, offering tips and details on how each should be brewed.
The flavors the Morning coffee machine extracts are truly exceptional. Even against Nespresso and Cuisinart, it's incredible. However, these delicious cups of coffee come at some cost. Aside from the high price tag, you'll need to be tech-savvy to navigate the app.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor | Easy to change with repeatable results | ★★★★★ |
| Value | Expensive | ★★★★ |
| Range | Extensive range, but no milk | ★★★★ |
| Cleaning | Self-cleans | ★★★★ |
The best single-serve coffee maker for large homes
Buy it if
✅ You live in a large household: this can make five coffees before needing a re-fill
✅ You want control: the temperature and strength are adjustable
✅ You want reusable pods: this is compatible with them
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want high-quality: this feels a little cheap
❌ You're fussy on flavors: this is basic
❌ You have odd mugs: the height platform is fixed, so coffee might get splashed
The bottom line
🔎 Keurig K-Supreme Plus: this is a cheaper single-serve coffee maker with good capacity. Large households will love it, but it's not the best flavor-wise.
Keurigs are firm favorites in most households. The K-Supreme Plus is the brand's top-tier model, offering a more premium take on the ultra-affordable single-serve models for which they're so well known.
This comes with an over-ice function, multiple brew sizes, and the option to set user-profiles. It can make coffees from 5 to 12 oz in size, so has a large reservoir to support that. This means that you can make multiple coffees in quick succession, unlike with most other single-serve machines.
This will brew a decent cup of coffee in under a minute, but the flavors are a little flat. Even with their new MultStream technology, the Morning Coffee maker or Nespresso could easily make a better brew. It also doesn't feel ultra-premium, so if you want a machine which will last, you might be better searching elsewhere.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor | A bit flat | ★★★ |
| Value | Cheap, but feels it | ★★★★★ |
| Range | Works with range of pods | ★★★★ |
| Cleaning | Low maintenance | ★★★★ |
The best single-serve coffee maker for versatility
Buy it if
✅ You like different brew styles: this works with pods and grounds
✅ You froth milk: this is excellent and milk streaming
✅ You drink iced coffee: there are four cold coffee settings
Don't buy it if:
❌ You're short on space: this has a really large footprint
❌ You don't own a grinder: you'll have to buy one
❌ You use plant-based milks: this isn't good with them
The bottom line
🔎 Ninja DualBrew Pro: the DualBrew can handle both pods and coffee grounds. It makes excellent iced and hot coffee, but doesn't come with a grinder and can't texture plant-based milks well.
Ninja might not be coffee giants, but they have mastered the multifunctional machine. The tall and wide machine demands quite some space on the countertop, but it's worth it when you consider the functions which it overs. The DualBrew Pro can switch between lattes, drip coffee, iced coffee, pod coffee and there are settings which will make the coffee taste richer, sweeter, deeper, or lighter.
The frothing tool adds even more versatility to the coffee menu on offer with the DualBrew. However, if you use plant-based milks, you won't have much luck. This makes smooth and glossy dairy milk, but struggled to get anything more than bubbles out of almond milk.
If you don't yet own a coffee grinder, this might be your sign to invest in one. Whilst you can use coffee pods in the DualBrew Pro, it's worth testing it with some freshly ground coffee. This is where the flavors really shine through. You might not need all these functions, so don't waste money or space on a machine which will over cater, but if you like to change things yp often, you'll love this.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor | Great coffees across the board | ★★★★★ |
| Value | Reasonably priced for the versatility | ★★★★ |
| Range | Useful across a range of coffees | ★★★★★ |
| Cleaning | You need to be diligent, but it's easy to clean | ★★★★ |
How to choose
Choosing a good single-serve coffee maker is simple when you know what you're looking for. There are a few key factors to consider:
Brewing method
Single-serve brewers come in all shapes and sizes. The way that coffee flavors are extracted will affect the flavors of your cup. If you like an acidic, bitter brew, the French press will be better. If you wan a smooth, more delicate cup, opting for the pour-over will treat your palette.
Budget
Once you know what you want your coffee to taste like, set a budget. Single serve coffee makers don't need to cost hundreds of dollars. Premium models can cost up to $500, but I'd aim to keep under $200 to be sensible.
Space and style
You'll be keeping your single-serve coffee maker on show, so it needs to match your kitchen aesthetics. If you have a color scheme, choose one which co-odinates, or if you have quite slim countertops, you might need something a little more subtle.
Speed and sound
When you want coffee ready, you probably have a time scale in mind. If you're making it in the morning, you might want it to be quiet too. More artisanal coffee machines might take more time or make a little more news if they're grinding coffee freshly.
Extra features
You might have some other coffee needs, so think about these whilst you shop. If you like frothed milk, look for a machine with a steam wand, or if you like smart features, there are plenty of machines which come with applications and intelligent features.
How we test
At Living Etc, we promise to deliver practical, useful advice to you. That's why we test every product before we recommend them to you. Our team of experts take each single-serve coffee maker to our dedicated test kitchen. There, we put them through a series of rigorous tests, checking how well they make a range of coffees, from espresso to cappuccino. If there are extra features, we'll make sure to test those too.
Aside from taste, we make notes on speed, noise, cleaning, and storage. That way, when the single-serve machine arrives at your door, you'll have no surprises and can jump straight into enjoying your single-serve machine.
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