Based on 11,518 analyzed reviews
Table of contents
NerdWallet’s scoring of the best single-serve coffee makers is based on our analysis of the opinions of experts and shoppers like you.
There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a coffee maker. Do you need a single-serve brewer or one that makes 12 cups at a time? Do you like your coffee strong, weak or in between?
Helping you make a decision is where we come in. We analyzed the most popular coffee makers on the market to help you find the right one for you.
To narrow the field, we looked at expert opinions from review sites such as The Sweethome, CNET and Good Housekeeping. We then factored in user reviews to get opinions on each coffee maker’s high and low points.
We recognize that consumers look for different qualities in coffee makers, so we created scores based on user observations of a handful of different features, including ease of use, coffee quality and cleaning.
Our analysis
Our final coffee maker scores run from a low of 1 to a high of 10. Here’s how we came up with the numbers:
Overall score: This score shows reviewers’ overall satisfaction level with the coffee maker as a whole across 11 criteria, including ease of use, coffee quality, coffee maker design, size and durability.
Coffee quality: This score reflects reviewers’ satisfaction with the quality of coffee the maker produces. This includes coffee taste, temperature and brewing.
Ease of use: This score indicates reviewers’ satisfaction with how easy the coffee maker is to use. This includes aspects such as cleaning, setup, design and features.
These coffee makers are our top picks, ranked in order of overall score.
The coffee makers
1. Hamilton Beach Personal Cup One Cup Pod Brewer (49970)
The ease of inserting a pod, pouring in water and then just pushing a button to get a fast, fresh, hot cup of coffee made the Hamilton Beach Personal Cup One Cup Pod Brewer (49970) popular with users, who praised its durability and ease of use.
| Overall score | Coffee quality | Ease of use |
| 8.79 | 7.5 | 7.8 |
Buyers Like
- Brews great-tasting cup of coffee
- Operation and cleanup are easy
- Compact size.
Buyers Dislike
- Too small for many mugs
- Sometimes leaks water and makes a mess.
2. DeLonghi Dolce Gusto Genio
Whether you want a cappuccino, an espresso or just a plain cup of joe, the DeLonghi Dolce Gusto Genio brews your cup quickly and efficiently. Some users complained that the lack of auto shut-off means you can’t walk away while it’s working because it will overflow.
| Overall score | Coffee quality | Ease of use |
| 8.46 | 9.1 | 7.7 |
Buyers Like
- Good coffee-shop-style coffees
- Brews quickly and cleans easily
- Attractive, compact design.
Buyers Dislike
- Lack of automatic shut-off.
- Coffee not hot enough for some.
3. Keurig K40 Elite Brewing System
Users loved that by just inserting a pod and pushing a button, the Keurig K40 Elite Brewing System dispensed coffee, tea, hot cocoa or iced beverages in less than a minute. There are three cup sizes to choose from.
| Overall score | coffee quality | Ease of use |
| 8.34 | 8.7 | 8.8 |
Buyers Like
- Makes a perfect cup every time
- Easy to set up, use and clean
- Easily adapts to fill a larger travel mug
Buyers Dislike
- Not durable enough
- Large footprint for a single-serving machine
4. Hamilton Beach The Scoop Single-Serve Coffee Maker (49981A)
Instead of using a pod, The Scoop Single-Serve by Hamilton Beach uses a scoop of your choice of ground coffee to brew a hot cup of joe. However, some users complained that the coffee was too weak.
| Overall score | coffee quality | Ease of use |
| 8.25 | 7.2 | 8.1 |
Buyers Like
- Easy to use and clean
- Brews hot coffee quickly
- Using ground coffee is more economical
Buyers Dislike
- Brews weak coffee
- Some users complained of a “plastic” taste
- Tends to spatter.
5. Keurig K45 Elite Brewing System
Along with making your choice of coffee, tea, hot cocoa, gourmet coffee drinks or iced beverages in less than a minute, the Keurig K45 Elite also lets you choose the size of your drink. (Note that this machine, although still widely available for purchase, has been discontinued and replaced by the Keurig K55 Elite Brewing System.)
| Overall score | coffee quality | Ease of use |
| 8.21 | 8.3 | 8.1 |
Buyers Like
- Makes perfect, cafe-quality beverages every time
- Works quickly
- Easy to set up, simple to operate
Buyers Dislike
- Inconsistent amounts of coffee dispensed
- Bulky and a bit noisy
- Not durable enough
6. Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer
The Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer lets you make a single cup or a full pot by using a pod or scooping your own coffee. You can even use the timer to program it a day ahead.
| Overall score | coffee quality | Ease of use |
| 8.17 | 7.5 | 8.7 |
Buyers Like
- Brews a hot and tasty cup of joe
- Easy to use and clean
- Well-designed carafe
Buyers Dislike
- Large for single-cup usage
- A little slow
7. Black & Decker Brew ’n Go Personal Coffee Maker (DCM18S)
The compact Black & Decker Brew ’n Go Personal Coffee Maker (DCM18S) is equipped with a permanent filter and automatic shut-off and lets you brew pods or your own ground coffee. It brews directly into a dishwasher-safe, stainless steel 15-ounce travel mug that’s included.
| Overall score | coffee quality | Ease of use |
| 8.01 | 8.2 | 7.1 |
Buyers Like
- Makes hot, delicious coffee quickly
- Cleanup is quick and easy
- Easy to set up and start using
Buyers Dislike
- Badly designed mug
- Not durable enough
8. Cuisinart SS-700 Single Serve Brewing System
The sleek Cuisinart SS-700 Single Serve’s 80-ounce removable water reservoir eliminates the need for frequent refills. The maker offers a choice of five cup sizes; has a fully programmable backlit digital clock, auto on/off and adjustable temperatures; and comes with a K-Cup reusable filter, charcoal water filter and 12-pack of K-Cups.
| Overall score | coffee quality | Ease of use |
| 7.78 | 9.3 | 8.4 |
Buyers Like
- Coffee tastes great
- Customizable temperatures and coffee blend possibilities
- Simple to use
Buyers Dislike
- Tendency to clog
- Can be difficult to clean
9. DeLonghi Dolce Gusto Circolo
Whether you’re craving a cappuccino or a plain old Americano, the sleek, futuristic-looking DeLonghi Dolce Gusto Circolo brews a quick, delicious, cafe-quality cup every time.
| Overall score | coffee quality | Ease of use |
| 7.74 | 8.0 | 5.9 |
Buyers Like
- Brews a delicious variety of cafe-style coffees
- Doesn’t make a mess, easy to clean
- Great design
Buyers Dislike
- Some said coffee didn’t get hot enough
- Uses only Nescafe capsules
- No automatic shut-off
10. Keurig K10 Mini Plus
The cheerful-looking Keurig K10 Mini Plus comes in a variety of colors and brews a perfect 6-, 8- or 10-ounce beverage in less than two minutes.
| Overall score | coffee quality | Ease of use |
| 7.72 | 8.0 | 7.0 |
Buyers Like
- Compact and easy to use
- Brews rich, hot, smooth beverages
Buyers Dislike
- Design doesn’t work with larger cups
- Difficult to clean.
- Tends to break easily.
Attributes you should consider when shopping
Coffee lovers know that a bad cup of java can pretty much ruin a morning. That’s why it makes sense to buy not just the right brand of coffee but the right machine to prepare it in. As you can see from our roundup above, not all single-serving coffee makers are created equal, so here are some factors to keep in mind while you’re shopping:
Pods, capsules or grounds?
Some machines, such as the Hamilton Beach 2-Way and the Black & Decker Brew ’n Go, let you use either grounds or pods. Others, like the DeLonghi Dolce Gusto Circolo, limit you not only to using coffee capsules but to a specific brand of capsule. Of all the coffee makers on this list, only the Hamilton Beach The Scoop Single-Serve limits you to grounds; most of the others use pods or capsules.
Heat
Some coffee drinkers aren’t happy unless their morning beverage practically scorches their mouth, while others are content to ease into the morning with a cozy, warm cup of joe. Heat levels are subjective, so take that into consideration.
Ease of programming
If you’d rather drink day-old coffee than read the instruction manual, you should probably look for a machine that won high marks for its simple programming, like the Keurig K40 Elite or the Hamilton Beach Personal Cup.
Quantity
How much coffee do you drink? Be honest. Although all these machines are single-serving, consumers complained that the Keurig K10 Mini Plus didn’t live up to its 10-ounce claims. If your coffee intake can vary, the Hamilton Beach 2-Way gives you the choice of making it by the cup or the pot, for those days when you need more than one.
Neatness counts
While the Black & Decker Brew ’n Go got high marks in the easy-to-clean department, users complained that pouring the coffee could be messy. Consumers found that the Keurig K10 Mini Plus made delicious coffee but that cleanup was awkward and difficult.
Footprint
If you have an expansive kitchen with miles of countertop, the size of your coffee maker probably isn’t a concern. Otherwise, it’s smart to take out the tape measure before you buy. While users were enthusiastic about the coffee the Keurig K40 Elite Brewing System made, its size made it a no-go for people with smaller kitchens.
Footprint
As the proliferation of coffee houses has shown us, a coffee isn’t just a coffee anymore. So if you prefer a cappuccino over a simple cup of joe, you should look into a machine that gives you that option. Any of the Keurigs or DeLonghis will probably suit your needs.
For more coffee maker roundups, check out:
Compare other popular coffee makers here:
Top image via iStock.
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