One Cup Coffee Maker: A Holiday Shopper's Guide
The one cup coffee maker is the latest, most exciting innovation in the coffee world.
With the holiday season upon us, you may be thinking about purchasing a single serve machine for yourself, or as a gift. Here are five key points you should consider when buying a one cup coffee maker.
1) Price
You'll find a wide range of prices among single cup brewers.
You can get a simple machine such as Mr. Coffee Home Cafe for less than . Other, more elaborate machines, such as the Braun Tassimo Hot Beverage System, run around 0.
I suggest setting your budget from -0. This will get you a quality machine, with lots of features.
2) Appearance
Single serve coffee machines are some of the most attractive kitchen appliances out there. Why not get a model that will look fabulous standing on the kitchen counter top?
Senseo one cup coffee makers are known for being stylishly designed. They're available in white, black, blue, red, and chrome.
Most other one cup coffee makers are available in a black finish.
While you're looking at appearance, pay attention to the dimensions of the machine, too. Most single cup machines tend to be compact, but you'll want to make sure that it will fit under the kitchen cabinet, or wherever you or the gift recipient will likely store it.
3) Features
Pod coffee makers often include a bewildering array of features, but there are a few fundamental areas to consider.
Check out the capacity of the water reservoir. In general, look for a coffee maker that holds enough water to brew at least 5 cups of coffee. If it holds less than that, you'll have to refill the tank often, slowing down the brew cycle.
Examine the brew size options. If it brews only a 6oz cup, will this be sufficient? For versatility, look for machines that brew larger sizes.
Is there a brew temperature control? How about a programmable clock?
Can the single serve machine brew other hot beverages, such as tea, hot chocolate, espresso, and lattes? This is a very nice feature to have, so don't overlook it.
4) Ease of use
Get a coffee machine that offers little initial set up, and easy daily operation. To get your daily cup of coffee, the system should not be any more complicated than filling the water reservoir, adding a coffee pod, T-disc or K cup, positioning your mug on the drip tray, and pressing the start button.
5) Variety and availability of coffee pods
Look for a one cup coffee maker that offers a good selection of coffee pods that will be readily available.
For example, the Keurig kitchen brewer uses only their K Cups, but there are over 70 varieties of coffee, tea, and hot cocoa K Cups available.
Other single cup machines, like the Senseo and Melitta, can use any 62mm coffee pod, which is the industry standard. You can often find Senseo coffee pods in your local supermarket.
A one cup coffee maker is a wonderful holiday gift. With these shopping tips, you'll hopefully be prepared to make the best choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
i want a coffee machine - too much choice!?
i want a new coffee machine and there are soo many and most have mixed reviews. basically i enjoy filter coffee, not too keen on espresso as its to strong. i like frothy milk. i only use 2 mugs of coffee a day but i like it rich and nice like what you get in costa or starbucks!i don't know which to choose. i have had pod coffee machines before and the pods are soo expensive. i had a coffee duck with a senseo but the coffee was never piping hot. i was recommened a moda mio but thats pods again and the reviews are mixed.
dolce gusto are on special offer and so is the new senseo latte machine.. but again they are both pod.
i have seen the kenwood kmix, which is only 6 cup/3 mug size and i could possibly buy a bodum frothy milk maker. but thats a steam coffee maker and not a pump and i was told steam burns the coffee??
AHHH HELP!
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ANSWER:
Sounds like you might enjoy a personal coffee maker. Here's a great site that has good info about the different coffee makers and how to choose the right one. They also have some good prices on lots of coffee makers.
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QUESTION:
A good coffee maker? Not costing the earth?
My coffee maker has given up. I want to replace it with something that makes filter and espresso and froths. I've looked at reviews, but everything that's well reviewed is over £200, I want something that performs better than OK, but at the sub £75 mark, not impossible surely? and not something that uses proprietary pods or capsules. just good Italian coffee grounds.
Any suggestions out there?
Ok... my last coffee maker cost under 100. made excellent filter and acceptable espresso. Granted the milk steamer wasn't great.
The espresso was way better than what normally arrives in restaurants, certainly better than anything I've had from a mocha pot, and I tried plenty over the years.
I've travelled extensively in Italy, France and Spain, all renowned for their love of coffee, and I've been to South America, the motherland, so to speak.
Nothing I tasted would have broken the back of the filter my apparently unacceptable machine turned out, the espresso wouldn't have looked to out of place, though I admit it wouldn't have drawn compliment.
I use Illey or Lavazza, I've tried premium coffee's, but I always get the taste I associate with Italian cafe Coffee from these brands, so I always return. Even I have to admit that yes; coffee freshly ground tastes better. But it's not going to happen, Life's short. Bearing this in mind, any realistic, snob free advice?
Oh yeah, I'll give up coffee altogether and stick to tea rather than drink french press. I loath the coffee from these.-
ANSWER:
Your price for a good espresso machine is impossible. Any all-in-one machine in your price range will be terrible. But there is hope.I have an espresso machine (Rancillio Silvia) and it's great, but I also use a stovetop moka pot which is almost as good and better than any cheap machine. A cheap hand mixer with a whisk attachment and a pan is all you need for frothed milk (I use that for larger groups).
For straight coffee, I use a French press (press pot) or a Chemex manual drip (just pour water over the grind) You could buy all three for around your price.
As Reiss stated, fresh ground is the only way to get fresh taste. Invest in a good burr grinder. For coffee, they're good at about and for real espresso you really need one at least 3x as much or more. Otherwise the grind won't be fine or even enough & it matters in espresso.
Update: I'm sorry if you consider this snob advice. I love coffee, but I do plenty that snobs would hate. I've given you the "correct" information, but as I've told many others; Unless it's your business & you have to please customers, the best coffee is the one you enjoy.
If you've found what works for you, that's the right answer.
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QUESTION:
Would you be disappointed if... (gift question) PLEASE help, I'm stuck and confused lol?
My aunt has been wanting a single serve coffee pot for her office at work. She wanted a Keurig but then decided against it because she doesn't want to spend the money. Then she was talking about an off brand of a Keurig but just isn't sure she likes that one or wants to pay for it either. She likes the idea of the k-cups, easy clean up.But then she was talking about just using a tea pot which is more messy than any coffee maker!
I found a Hamilton Beach brand that uses "senseo" type coffee pods that got even better reviews than the Keurig powered ones. It's cheaper and it brews a bigger mug full, the only thing is, senseo doesn't have the variety of the K-cups and it has a brew basket that needs occasional cleaning.
I don't really have the money for a Keurig powered one, myself but I do have it for the Hamilton Beach one. Would you be disappointed if you got a brand you weren't expecting to get ?
My reasoning is, if she is willing to make a mess with a tea pot then I'm pretty sure she wouldn't mind the very SMALL mess of the hamilton beach brew basket.-
ANSWER:
No, I would not be disappointed. I would be grateful for any gift. I use a single cup coffee maker similar to the Hamilton Beach one you describe, and sometimes I use regular coffee grounds in the basket, and sometimes I use the Senseo pods,and I like it better than the Keurig. I used the Keurig at my daughter's a few weeks ago, and to be honest, I was not impressed. If your aunt is a little older - 50+ - I think she might like the Hamilton beach better.
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QUESTION:
Would you be disappointed if... (gift question) PLEASE help, I'm stuck and confused lol?
My aunt has been wanting a single serve coffee pot for her office at work. She wanted a Keurig but then decided against it because she doesn't want to spend the money. Then she was talking about an off brand of a Keurig but just isn't sure she likes that one or wants to pay for it either. She likes the idea of the k-cups, easy clean up.But then she was talking about just using a tea pot which is more messy than any coffee maker!
I found a Hamilton Beach brand that uses "senseo" type coffee pods that got even better reviews than the Keurig powered ones. It's cheaper and it brews a bigger mug full, the only thing is, senseo doesn't have the variety of the K-cups and it has a brew basket that needs occasional cleaning.
I don't really have the money for a Keurig powered one, myself but I do have it for the Hamilton Beach one. Would you be disappointed if you got a brand you weren't expecting to get ?
My reasoning is, if she is willing to make a mess with a tea pot then I'm pretty sure she wouldn't mind the very SMALL mess of the hamilton beach brew basket.-
ANSWER:
No, I'd be happy just getting one and knowing my nephew/niece cared about me enough to get me one. Does your aunt love you? If yes, then mostly likely she'll be happy with what you give her.
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QUESTION:
Would you be disappointed if... (gift question) PLEASE help, I'm stuck and confused lol?
My aunt has been wanting a single serve coffee pot for her office at work. She wanted a Keurig but then decided against it because she doesn't want to spend the money. Then she was talking about an off brand of a Keurig but just isn't sure she likes that one or wants to pay for it either. She likes the idea of the k-cups, easy clean up.But then she was talking about just using a tea pot which is more messy than any coffee maker!
I found a Hamilton Beach brand that uses "senseo" type coffee pods that got even better reviews than the Keurig powered ones. It's cheaper and it brews a bigger mug full, the only thing is, senseo doesn't have the variety of the K-cups and it has a brew basket that needs occasional cleaning.
I don't really have the money for a Keurig powered one, myself but I do have it for the Hamilton Beach one. Would you be disappointed if you got a brand you weren't expecting to get ?
My reasoning is, if she is willing to make a mess with a tea pot then I'm pretty sure she wouldn't mind the very SMALL mess of the hamilton beach brew basket.
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ANSWER:
If it's a better buy, take it. I'm sure she won't be disappointed you bought her something better than that expensive Keurig thing.
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