12 Best Single

May 16, 2023

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Unlike most of the other pod brewers we tested, its compact design makes it easy to keep on your countertop or store if space is limited. Read More

The Keurig K-Café Smart brews coffee and makes lattes, and you can customize it all from your smartphone with a fun and easy-to-use app. Read More

This coffee maker combines all the best parts of Keurig and Nespresso. It brews tasty coffee with several types of single-use (or reusable) pods. Read More

The slim design of this Nespresso machine makes it great for busy countertops, but it has some faults when it comes to water tank size and longevity. Read More

This petite pod coffee maker is easy to use and delivers consistent results. We also love that it comes with its own reusable pod. Read More

Updated July 31, 2023

The best single-serve coffee makers are a convenient way of quickly brewing a quality cup of coffee that rivals what you can find in your local coffee shop.

Our favorite single-serve coffee maker, the Nespresso VertuoPlus by Breville (available at Amazon for $149.25) , has a sleek design and is simply the best at what a pod coffee maker does—brew a strong, hot cup of coffee without any fuss. Its 40-ounce water reservoir is not the largest in our roundup, but its swivel bottom handle allows you to detach the tank for storage, depending on your counter space.

If your caffeine demands also include espresso drinks and iced coffee beverages, we recommend the Keurig K-Cafe (available on Amazon), the most versatile single-serve maker we tested. And if you just can't decide between Nespresso and Keurig brews, we'd opt for the Instant Dual Pod Plus (available on Amazon), which excels with K-cups, Nespresso capsules, and compostable pods.

The Nespresso VertuoPlus by Breville is the best pod coffee machine we've tested.

The Nespresso VertuoPlus by Breville delivers a dense, rich, and aromatic coffee. Our coffee had a foamy crema on top, and this single-serve coffee machine also brews espresso capsules, so you can make espresso, double espresso, and regular coffee.

Coffee drinkers will love its compact design; it can live on your countertop or be easily stored if your space is limited. The motorized head opens with a light lift, and used coffee pods are ejected into a hidden container, saving you from burning your fingers.

The Reviewed office has been personally using this machine for several years—and it still performs just like new, delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees every time.

If you’re interested in lattes, cappuccinos or steamed milk in your coffee, a milk frother is available if you opt for a bundled package.

Read our full review of the Nespresso VertuoPlus by Breville.

Compact

Fast brewing

Option for double espresso drinks

Water tank is relatively small

A sleek design with a small footprint earns this machine a spot on the counter.

The latest Keurig K-Café Smart is an upgrade to any previous Keurig we’ve tested. It comes with a well-performing milk frother, and the connected app guides you through any recipe you can think of—from iced coffee to mocha lattes.

From the app, you can control the machine, adjust your brew settings, set schedules, and get reminders about cleaning. You can also shop for pods and accessories, making purchases directly through the app. In the Café Creations section, you can select a recipe for any kind of beverage you can think of, and get step-by-step directions.

We also love how convenient the machine is to use overall; the water tank is a breeze to remove and refill (thanks to the provided handle) and the design is sleek and space-saving.

Unfortunately, this machine doesn't come with a reusable pod, so if you're fussy about your coffee beans, you'll have to buy one separately. We also didn't love the espresso that came out of this machine; the shots were lacking any distinctive crema and that strong, espresso-like flavor. So if you're fussy about espresso shots, you might better off with our Nespresso winner (or a traditional espresso machine).

Read our full review of the Keurig K-Café Smart.

Space saving, attractive design

Remote-controlled through fun app

Large water reservoir is easy to fill

Milk frother works very well

Doesn’t come with a reusable pod

Espresso shots are underwhelming

Sub-par pods still make bad coffee

We definitely recommend this machine for pod coffee loyalists.

If your household is undecided on which pod coffee maker is best (i.e. the endless debate between Keurig and Nespresso), this machine might be the answer to your prayers.

The Instant Dual Pod Plus Coffee Maker is compatible with an array of different pods: K-cups, Nespresso Original capsules, Instant compostable pods, and even a provided reusable pod (which can be filled with your go-to coffee grounds).

During testing, we found that there's a lot to love about this machine—even beyond its obvious versatility. The coffee that we brewed in it was surprisingly rich and flavorful; we almost couldn't believe it had come from a pod. Nespresso shots came out with a delightful layer of crema, and Instant's compostable pods resulted in cups that were tasty and full bodied, especially when pressing the "Bold" button beforehand.

We also love that this machine has a spacious water tank with 68 ounces, so we didn't have to refill it as often as with other machines.

It might not be the fastest brewing machine (average time for an eight-ounce cup of coffee took about 80 seconds), but it's certainly the easiest way to make tasty coffee that'll satisfy the whole family.

Read our full review of the Instant Dual Pod Plus.

Streamlines pods

Makes tasty coffee

Spacious water tank

Takes a while to brew

Doesn't accept Nespresso Vertuo capsules

If you love the convenience and flavor that comes with Nespresso coffee machines—but are short on counter space—the Vertuo Next is a great option.

This is the slimmest to come from Nespresso's line of coffee machines, with a small footprint and a variety of attractive colors to match any kitchen's palette. During testing, we loved how intuitive this machine was to use and how easy it was to upkeep. It can brew anything from a single espresso shot to a full cup of coffee and even an 18-ounce carafe.

The Vertuo Next can be paired with the Nespresso app to notify you when it's time to fill the water tank, remove the used capsules, or run the descaling function.

Bu the app doesn't allow for any remote functions, like brewing coffee from another room, for example. And we ran into a few other problems during testing, like the smaller-than-average water tank that calls for frequent refills. And a few long-term owners claim that the machine often develops functionality issues over time, which means that it may not be the longest-lasting option on this list.

Read the full Nespresso Vertuo Next review.

Slim, sleek design

Quick brewing

Easy upkeep

Limited app compatibility

Small water tank

Possible longevity issues

If you’re looking for a simple single-serve pod coffee maker that won't take up a lot counter space but will deliver consistent results, the Instant Solo is for you. With an exceedingly straightforward control panel on the top, and easy-to-fill water reservoir, using this single-serve coffee maker is seamless.

You can brew with traditional K-cups as well as Instant's own compostable pods. Best of all, the machine comes with an easy-to-use refillable pod so you can grind your own coffee for a premium experience. The control pad gives you the option to brew eight, 10, or 12 ounces, and if you prefer a stronger coffee, there's also a "bold” button to intensify the brew strength.

Our only complaint is that the way this machine communicates is solely through a series of beeps. The tones to alert when brewing is complete are easy enough to recognize, but other trills, such as those for low water or cleaning needed, are a bit harder to decipher.

Small footprint

Easy-to-fill reservoir

Comes with reusable pod

Beeps can be hard to decipher

The Moccamaster Cup-One by Technivorm lives somewhere between automatic drip coffee machine and pour-over coffee maker. You fill it with your choice of ground coffee; it sports the ease of a drip machine, but with the technique and taste of a pour-over brew.

When you switch on the Cup-One, it draws the water down to heat it then the wand releases an initial burst of 205°F water to bloom the grounds, just like pour-over. It then releases a steady stream of water with some steam bursts to agitate the grounds while brewing.

Due to this significantly different brewing method, the Moccamaster Cup-One takes longer than typical single-serve pod coffee makers, but we can excuse the lengthy brew time of four to five minutes—at least that’s five minutes we can go do something else rather than standing over the Chemex with a gooseneck kettle in hand.


The only thing we didn’t like about the Cup-One is having to keep track of a very tiny cleaning brush that is absolutely necessary to keep the drip running smoothly. If you don’t ensure that the tiny hole at the base of the brew basket is clear before brewing, it could clog and prevent water from draining, creating a potentially messy situation.

While the Cup-One isn’t zero-waste, the paper filters can go in the compost bin, which is better than endless plastic pods going to landfills.

Pour-over style water temperature and brewing method

Compostable filters

Simple and very easy to use

Auto shut off

Requires small cleaning brush that can be very easy to lose

If you’re not ready to shell out hundreds of dollars on an Italian-made espresso machine but still crave the ability to make cappuccinos, lattes, and macchiatos, this machine might be right for you.

The control pad of this K-cup coffee maker gives you the option to brew espresso shots or six ounces to 12 ounces of regular coffee. If you like your coffee more intense, there’s also a “strong” button to intensify the brew strength.

Another highlight is the dishwasher safe milk frother positioned directly on the side of the machine. To make a latte, you only need to fill the frother with skim, whole, nut, or lactose-free milk and press a button.

We love this machine’s hands-free design and intuitive control panel. A stainless steel drip tray makes it easy to clean.

Brews coffee, latte, and cappuccino

Large water reservoir

Features milk frother

May require large countertop space

The K-Elite boasts a large 75-ounce reservoir that allows you to brew more cups of coffee at once than any other model in this roundup.

It brews five different cup sizes and comes with a button to adjust the brew strength of each cup. The K-Elite also features an iced coffee option, but it is not to be confused with brewing ice-cold coffee. It just makes the coffee more concentrated so ice won’t dilute the flavor.

The drip tray can be removed to accommodate most travel mugs.

A huge 72-ounce water tank

Option to brew strong coffee

Iced coffee

May require large countertop space

The Nespresso VertuoLine Evoluo by De’Longhi is an excellent choice for people who want the convenience that comes with a pod brewer, but aren’t willing to compromise on flavor.

The Evoluo is capable of creating both espresso and regular coffee, but it can't make cocoa or iced coffee. In our tests, it brewed better tasting coffee than anything made by a K-cup brewer, and it puts a nice crema in your cup.

The Evoluo is constructed from high-quality materials and sports a one-touch brewing system. It also is considerably more expensive than many single-serve options, and its pods also are priced higher and can be more difficult to find.

Auto-ejects used pods

Brews both espresso and coffee

Pods are recyclable

Control panel is slightly confusing to use

Considerably higher cost

The design of this Nespresso Vertuo is almost identical to its De’Longhi model. However, we noticed extremely loud noises during brewing tests and that knocked this model down the roundup a couple of spots.

As with other VertuoLine machines, it automatically reads the barcode on the capsules to determine the brew time, size, and temperature. Also like other machines in this line, it has a one-touch brewing system. Its 40-ounce reservoir can make about five cups of coffee before it needs to be refilled.

Compact

Fast brewing

Options such for double espresso drinks

Water tank is relatively small

The K-Select is bulky, but without the brewing functionality of its high-end sibling, the K-Elite. It works fine if you’re a big Keurig fan, and you’re expecting a standard cup of brew every time you hit the button. It also features a strong brew button designed to increase the strength of your coffee.

The 52-ounce water tank can make up to seven cups of coffee, and the drip tray can be removed to accommodate most travel mugs. The machine also features an auto-off programmable button if you’re worried about your appliances zapping energy. The maintenance reminder will also alert you when it’s time for descaling.

Auto turn-off to save electricity cost

Water reservoir is easy to fill

Bulky design

The K-Classic, which has three brewing sizes, doesn’t have any special features, and its price point makes it much less appealing than other Keurigs that do more.

Also, let’s talk about the noise. The loud machine brews average-at-best coffee—but is it really worth enduring a soul-killing sound? My answer is no.

Like the K-Select, you can program the machine to automatically shut itself off to save energy. It doesn’t feature a carafe option for filling a large mug, but the drip tray is removable for larger travel cups.

Auto shutoff saves on electricity

Water reservoir relatively small

Bulky design

We tested nine single serve coffee makers to find the best one.

I’m Valerie Li, Reviewed’s cooking and kitchen staff writer—and I’m an avid coffee and tea drinker. For me, a day officially starts when I take my shot of espresso, brewed by my beloved De’Longhi machine. From moseying to 7-Eleven for a quick caffeine fix to traveling to Blue Mountain plantation in Jamaica, I’ve sampled coffee of many different origins and varieties.

We set up top-rated single-serve pod coffee makers and brewed at least 10 cups of coffee in each, assessing how long they took to brew, how easy their reservoirs were to fill, and how versatile they were for brewing tea, iced coffee, and hot chocolate.

We repeated this process with all machines over a week, also analyzing how simple each unit was to descale, how comfortable they were to use, how portable and well-built they were, and how effortless they were to store. We also took note of safety concerns and special features.

Other qualities we looked for included the taste of the coffee and other beverages, the speed (all options we tested averaged one cup per minute), the temperature of the brew, how easy it was to disassemble parts for cleaning, and how easy it was to recycle the pods.

It's easy to insert pods into the Keurig pod coffee makers.

The launch of in-home Keurig machines in 2004 quickly shook up the entire coffee world and changed Americans’ daily caffeine habits.

Scientifically speaking, the mechanism behind Keurigs is similar to drip coffee makers, but much faster: Pour hot water over coffee beans and pressurize it to extract juices in under one minute.

After the K-cup technology patent expired, many more pod coffee manufacturers jumped into the game to break Keurig’s short-lived monopoly. Nestle’s Nespresso soon unveiled its more advanced VertuoLine of single-serve coffee makers with centrifusion technology, which can improve the taste tenfold.

Now, the two companies are the biggest players in the pod coffee industry.

A pod coffee maker is undeniably the most convenient alternative to fiddling with a French press or waiting for a drip coffee maker. Here are some things to consider when looking for a single-serve coffee maker.

The convenience of single-serve coffee makers comes at a price, especially once you factor in the cost of pods. Before purchasing any single-serve coffee maker, you should also consider the long-term cost of pods.

K-cup pods are widely available and don’t cost as much as pods for Nespresso machines. However, K-pods can be difficult to recycle. In contrast, Nespresso pods cost more and there are fewer flavors of coffee available. Nespresso pods are recyclable if mailed back to the company with pre-paid shipping labels, or delivered to a collection site.

Another option is reusable filters. They are more eco-friendly and can be purchased in brick-and-mortar stores and online, including on Amazon. There are a variety of types available, including silicone. If you choose a reusable mesh filter, be aware that it may be more difficult to clean.

The water reservoir capacity for pod coffee makers can vary greatly. The capacity of brewers we reviewed for the roundup ranged from 40 ounces to 75 ounces. Smaller machines can brew just a few cups, but take up less space on your countertop.

However, if you drink a number of cups of coffee each day, you likely want a machine that has a larger reservoir so you aren’t refilling it as frequently.

Like the water reservoir, the size of pod coffee makers can vary greatly. Since the larger machines will most likely live on your countertop, you should make sure you have enough space. Smaller machines can be more easily stored and can still deliver a great cup of coffee.

No matter which coffee pod brand you decide to purchase, it is important to properly care for your single-serve coffee maker.

Descaling your coffee maker regularly will keep your coffee tasting fresh.

Aside from routine cleaning, such as wiping and rinsing, you should descale your machine once every six months. Why is descaling important?

Water we use to brew coffee contains minerals, commonly calcium and magnesium. Minerals can build up over time and gradually accumulate as limescale. This can affect the brewing temperature and taste of your coffee. Eventually, it could cause your machine to malfunction.

Valerie Li Stack

Senior Staff Writer

Valerie Li Stack is a senior staff writer for Kitchen & Cooking. She is an experienced home cook with a passion for experimenting with the cuisines of countries she's visited. Driven by an interest in food science, Valerie approaches the culinary scene with a firm grasp of cooking processes and extensive knowledge of ingredients. She believes food speaks to all people regardless of language and cultural background.

Monica Petrucci

Editor, Kitchen & Cooking

Monica is Reviewed's Kitchen & Cooking editor and an avid home cook; she's been testing a wide range of kitchen products at Reviewed for over a year. Previously the Digital Editor at Culture Cheese Magazine (and a former barista), she's also had her work published in The Boston Globe, Modern Luxury, Boston Magazine, and more.

Danielle DeSiato

Managing Editor, Kitchen & Appliances

Managing Editor, Kitchen & Appliances. Danielle has a B.S. from Syracuse University and a AAS in Culinary Arts from Newbury College. Previously, Danielle was a Test Cook and Associate Editor at America's Test Kitchen, as well as a freelance recipe developer and food writer. She’s the mom of two boys and loves making pizza on Friday nights.

Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.