We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. What to Buy Coffee, Tea & Espresso The 7 Best Single-Serve Coffee Makers, Tested and Reviewed Get your morning going with manual and electric options from Bialetti, Keurig, Ninja, Nespresso, and more. By Bernadette Machard de Gramont Bernadette Machard de Gramont Bernadette Machard de Gramont is a writer specializing in food, wine, and kitchen products, specifically cookware. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 6, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews How We Tested Single-Serve Coffee Makers Factors to Consider FAQ Other Single-Serve Coffee Makers We Tested Our Expertise Photo: Food & Wine / Will Dickey If you like to start your day with a cup of coffee, sometimes brewing an entire pot in drip coffee maker or big thermal carafe machine is simply too much work — or too wasteful for a small household. Luckily, the best single-serve coffee makers allow you to quickly and efficiently brew individual servings, which is perfect if you’re limited on space and time, or just want to a make a different cup for everyone in the house. “Small coffee makers that make one cup at a time, like Nespresso, Keurig, Aeropress, and Bialetti, are easy to use,” says Lukas Van Vyve, founder of Emergent Brew. With his advice and our years of expertise, we tested dozens of single-serve coffee makers, espresso machines, and small coffee makers, evaluating them on their ease of use, design, maintenance needs, and more. Here areour picks to kickstart your morning. Our Top Picks Best Nespresso: SALE Nespresso Coffee and Espresso Maker at Amazon $169 $92 Jump to Review Best Combo Machine: SALE Ninja DualBrew Pro System Coffee Maker at Amazon $230 $180 Jump to Review Best Keurig: SALE Keurig K-Supreme Plus at Amazon $220 $150 Jump to Review Best Stovetop: Bialetti Moka Express at Amazon $40 Jump to Review Best for Pour-Over: Chemex Funnex Coffee Maker at Amazon $40 Jump to Review Best French Press: SALE Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker at Amazon $32 $25 Jump to Review Best Portable: SALE AeroPress Original Coffee Maker at Amazon $50 $40 Jump to Review Best Nespresso Nespresso Coffee and Espresso Maker PHOTO: Amazon $169 $92 at Amazon $140 at Target $119 at Wayfair Pros This machine is incredibly easy to use, with options for drip coffee or espresso. Cons It's only compatible with Nespresso Vertuo pods, which can get expensive. There are several excellent Nespresso machines available, but the Vertuo Plus line topped our test thanks to its updated, sleek design and double-duty capabilities. This machine can you make you drip coffee or espresso in seconds at the touch of a button. There are four size options — a small or large cup of coffee and single or double shot of espresso — and a 40-ounce water tank that can make eight or more separate servings between fillings. (For even higher capacity, there's also the 60-ounce Vertuo Plus Deluxe.) Nespresso machines are renowned for their speed, ease of use, and simple cleanup, but the downside is that they'll only work with special single-serving Nespresso pods — specifically, the Vertuo style of Nespresso pods. There are lots of options available, but the pre-packaged pods will almost always be more expensive than bulk beans, and the selection is more limited. Brew Size Options: 2 drip, 2 espresso (up to 8 ounces) | Water Capacity: 40 ounces | Dimensions: 5.59 x 16.88 x 12.79 inches PHOTO: Food & Wine / Siobhan Wallace PHOTO: Food & Wine / Siobhan Wallace PHOTO: Food & Wine / Siobhan Wallace Best Combo Machine Ninja DualBrew Pro System Coffee Maker PHOTO: Amazon $230 $180 at Amazon $180 at Target $180 at Wayfair Pros This was the most versatile and comprehensive coffee maker we tested; we especially loved the milk frother and iced coffee setting. Cons It's also most expensive option on our list. If flexibility is important to you, the Ninja DualBrew Pro covers all the bases — it can function as a single-serve machine or a larger-capacity carafe brewer. There are four brew styles: classic, rich, over ice, and specialty (for use with select grounds and coffee pods). But the extra features on this machine, including a hot water system that you can use for tea or oatmeal, and a foldaway milk frother, make it the ultimate multitasker. We also loved the iced coffee setting, which solves a common issue by brewing slowly to keep the ground saturated, so you don’t end up with watered-down coffee. Just be aware that all the bells and whistles come at a price: The DualBrew Pro is the most expensive machine on this list. Brew Size Options: 5 cup, 4 carafe, 4 pod (up to 14 ounces) | Water Capacity: 60 ounces | Dimensions: 9.13 x 11.39 x 15.54 inches Best Keurig Keurig K-Supreme Plus PHOTO: Amazon $220 $150 at Amazon $220 at Wayfair $184 at Walmart Pros The straightforward design makes it easy to use and we loved the versatility of multiple brew-size options as well as a setting for iced coffee. Cons The coffee tastes somewhat weak if you don't use the bold setting. Not all Keurig coffee makers are created equal: This model is one of the brand’s higher-end offerings. It has better extraction than its predecessor, the K-Classic, thanks to multiple streams of water that help saturate grounds more evenly. During our Keurig tests, we loved how straightforward and easy to use this machine was — no fussy settings to deal with in the morning before you've had your coffee. It gives you the option to customize brew strength (including an iced option) and also has multiple brew size choice. In our tests, it brewed the perfect cup in just about a minute, and we didn't have to refill its 78-ounce reservoir through the entire test. Our complaint is that it brews a bit weak: For a more well-rounded flavor we recommend using the bold setting. Brew Size Options: 5 (up to 12 ounces) | Water Reservoir: 78 ounces | Dimensions: 13.3 x 8.3 x 12.2 inches PHOTO: Food & Wine / Isaac Nunn PHOTO: Food & Wine / Isaac Nunn Best Stovetop Bialetti Moka Express PHOTO: Amazon $40 $38 at Amazon $38 at Target $40 at Williams Sonoma Pros This is a classic and very simple way to make strong coffee with no electricity or fancy machinery. Cons The metal body and handle get very hot, and it's not induction-compatible without a special adapter. Bialetti's classic Moka pot is made in Italy and uses a percolator-style brewing method that results in a deliciously strong cup of coffee. Available in several sizes, this manual coffee maker requires only grounds, water, and heat. (It's popular among coffee-connoisseur campers as it doesn't need a separate filter and can brew over a campfire.) In our tests of the best small espresso machines, we found the Moka pot to be very straightforward to use — fill the reservoir with water and grounds, screw on the top half, and place on the stove. The coffee we made tasted great, without any bitterness or burnt notes, really somewhere between drip coffee and espresso. Overall cleanup is trouble-free since all the pieces come apart to rinse away the used grounds. The Moka pot is made entirely of aluminum, which is strong but light and heats up quickly. That also means that the entire thing, handle included, gets very hot, and you'll want to use caution around it. It's not compatible with an induction cooktop, though Bialetti sells a special steel adapter plate that works with any of the sizes. Sizes Available: 6.5 ounces, 12 ounces, 18.5 ounces, 25 ounces Best for Pour-Over Chemex Funnex Coffee Maker PHOTO: Amazon $40 at Amazon $45 at Target View on Chemexcoffeemaker.com Pros The Chemex is easy to set up and use for perfect coffee, brewed directly into your cup Cons Its special filters are more expensive and harder to find than the standard kind. Pour-over is a favored brewing method for serious coffee aficionados as it enhances all the subtle flavor nuances in high-quality coffee. Even if you’re not brewing a specialty roast, you can still coax the best characteristics from any grounds with the Chemex Funnex. Made of super-strong borosilicate glass, it's a one-piece device to brew coffee directly into your preferred mug. We really liked the quality of the coffee the Funnex produced in our tests of pour-over makers — wonderful, full-bodied flavors and aromas, with zero sediment. The silicone gasket prevents the brewer from moving and protects both it and the mug from impacts. Because of the design, it’s also very easy to keep clean — just rinse when necessary. Our one caveat is that you'll need special Chemex half-moon filters that are more expensive and can be harder to find than the ubiquitous round ones used in drip machines. Capacity: 15 ounces | Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 6 inches PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Best French Press Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker PHOTO: Amazon $32 $25 at Amazon $60 at Target $25 at Williams Sonoma Pros This fuss-free French press is easy to use and delivers excellent, consistent brew quality. Cons We wish this came with a finer filter to keep sediment at bay. This French press from Bodum is a combination of straightforward design and excellent value. Made of heat-resistant borosilicate glass, this classic coffee maker doesn’t require any disposable filters or pods, making it eco-friendly and adaptable to any beans (or teas) that you like. Since it’s fairly compact and doesn’t require an outlet, it’s ideal for anyone limited on counter space. During our best French press tests, we raved about the coffee the Chambord produced: bold, smooth, and flavorful without too much acidity. The lid stayed on securely while pressing the plunger, and it even held heat better than other models we tested despite its lack of insulation. One drawback is that there was a small amount of sediment in the finished coffee that the wire mesh filter didn't catch. You really have to nail the right level of not-too-fine grind for best results. Capacity: 12 ounces | Dimensions: 4.38 x 6.63 x 3.25 inches PHOTO: Food & Wine / Fred Hardy PHOTO: Food & Wine / Fred Hardy Best Portable AeroPress Original Coffee Maker PHOTO: Amazon $50 $40 at Amazon $32 at Target $40 at Williams Sonoma Pros This compact device can live in a backpack or purse to make professional-level espresso on demand. Cons The plastic pieces cool down quickly so the coffee doesn't stay hot. We tested the Aeropress and found it to be fairly user-friendly, and easy to control the strength of the brew. The mechanism is surprisingly simple: You mix grounds and hot water in the main chamber, then insert the plunger and push down, varying the amount of pressure you use to get more- or less-intense coffee. Paper microfilters ensure a smooth texture (or you can buy reusable metal microfilters to be a bit more eco-friendly). The combination of pressure, agitation, and filtration produces a clean, rich, low-acidity brew. The whole set up is very compact and easy to stow away in a backpack or suitcase, and the three plastic pieces all rinse off in the sink. The tradeoff is that the plastic has no heat retention and can give you lukewarm coffee. Capacity: 10 ounces | Dimensions: 1.87 x 1.87 x 4.63 inches How We Tested Single-Serve Coffee Makers We've tested hundreds of coffee makers, including electric and manual, pour-over and drip, and multiple brands of pod-based machines, of all shapes and sizes. We pulled data from several of the tests to create our list of the best single-serve coffee makers. Each category required its own procedure to best test how it works, but we brewed and tasted multiple batches of coffee, looking for bitterness or burned flavors, sediment, or other textural inconsistencies. We also noted how long the devices took to make coffee, whether they required separate filters, and how easy they were to clean after use. Aroma, taste, and mouthfeel were our chief concerns, but we also took into account design features, portability, and level of control over brewing. Factors to Consider Coffee Preference When selecting a single-serve coffee maker, you’ll want one that can make the type of coffee you want to drink. If you like the convenience of a pod-based machine, Nespresso and Keurig are the way to go — they typically have many coffee flavor and roast options, and their convenience is unmatched. However, if you prefer to select your own beans and adjust the level of strength, a more manual machine with more extensive control options could be a good choice. Some single-serving coffee makers brew basic drip coffee, while others try to recreate the more intense flavor of espresso for straight shots or lattes and other coffee drinks. For iced coffee fans, some machines have specific iced settings and others, like the Aeropress or a French press, can be used with cold water — just brew longer than you would with hot. Design If you’re short on storage or counter space, you may want an option that can be easily tucked into a cabinet when not in use, like a French press or stovetop model. But if you plan to keep your coffee machine in a dedicated location, you’ll want to ensure that it fits — features like a rotating or moveable water reservoir can make all the difference. The design of the filter or pod must be taken into considerations as well. “It’s crucial to know that the machine you choose is compatible with specific coffee capsules, pods, or filters you have easy access to,” Van Vyve says. Convenience Manual coffee makers like pour-overs and the Moka pot take some time to set up and require active work to make a cup of coffee. If you find that taking a little bit of effort to make your coffee in the morning is not for you, look for a programmable coffee maker you can load up and set the night before. There's nothing like waking up to a steaming carafe of coffee you didn't have to make. Frequently Asked Questions Is a single-serve coffee maker worth it? If you find yourself pouring half a pot of coffee down the drain or buying expensive espresso drinks every morning, a single-serve coffee maker is probably for you. Like other styles of coffee maker, there's a certain amount of upkeep involved. “Most of these machines are easy to clean and maintain but you should look for features like removable parts and dishwasher-safe components because it will help you to clean it more easily,” says Van Vyve. But if you're already a coffee drinker, the convenience of a single-serve coffee maker will be worth the maintenance. Which single-serve coffee maker is best? It boils down to individual preference. If you like a small, strong coffee to sip on and savor the nuances of your specialty beans, an Aeropress or Moka pot is best. For those who want to replicate the coffee shop experience at home, a machine with a milk frother and the ability to create espresso or drip will hit the mark. If you just can't decide and like lots of options, consider a pod coffee maker with different brew volumes so you can experience a variety of roasts and flavors at various brew strengths. What's the difference between a Nespresso and a Keurig? Both Nespresso and Keurig use pre-measured, pre-ground packages of coffee sized for individual servings. (Nespresso has dome-shaped pods and Keurig uses straight-sided K-Cups, and they aren't intercompatible between brands.) The machine heats water and forces it through the pod to brew a small amount of coffee quickly and efficiently. Most models have some options for brew strength and cup size, but you have less control than with a more complicated coffee machine.In general, Keurig offers a wider selection of coffee than Nespresso, with K-Cups available from Starbucks, Dunkin', and lots of other mainstream brands along with smaller specialty roasters. You can find flavored coffees, teas, hot chocolate, and more. Nespresso doesn't have as large a variety of pods, but its advantage is that it makes more espresso-like coffee, brewed at higher pressure for bold flavor and a nice layer of crema. Other Single-Serve Coffee Makers We Tested Strong Contenders Keurig K-Cafe Single Serve Coffee Maker ($190 at Amazon) We liked this machine because it gave us the ability to make specialty drinks, thanks to a built-in frother. But in our tests, the flavor of the coffee was lacking compared to the less-expensive K-Supreme. Keurig K-Slim + ICED Single-Serve Coffee Maker ($100 at Amazon) The K-Slim's space-saving design still gives you three brewing sizes and an option to brew iced coffee, but we didn't like that there was no option to customize temperature or brew strength. Nespresso Vertuo Next ($180 at Nespresso) We found the Next delivered espresso with a lovely thick crema, but this model was noisier and less user-friendly than other Nespresso machines. Melitta 1-Cup Porcelain Cone Coffee Maker ($32 at Amazon) We loved how easy this was to use and clean up, but found that it required a little more ground coffee than other models to produce a single cup. Miir Pourigami ($30 at Amazon) This pour-over maker has a smaller chamber than most, so you’ll have to be cautious about not causing it to overflow, but the resulting coffee was smooth and balanced. What Didn’t Make the List In addition to our top picks and strong contenders, we tested hundreds of coffee makers across many categories, like drip coffee makers and espresso machines. Within those categories, there were a few other single serve models that didn't make the cut. Our rigorous testing filtered out models that were too difficult to set up or use, produced low-quality coffee, made too much noise, or were just too expensive for mediocre output. Our Expertise Bernadette Machard de Gramont is a Los Angeles–based writer specializing in food, wine, and kitchen products. After a two-year stint at Williams Sonoma headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit