Top Single Serve Coffee Makers
Tuesday February 17, 2009
They're becoming more and more common, with a number of new models to choose from. Single serve coffee makers brew one cup at-a-time so you always have the freshest coffee. They usually take pre-packed pods or capsules, which makes their use a snap. By adding pressure, you don't have the wait time of a typical drip machine. I have listed some of the best ones for you to try.
Comments
Can you make your own pods for the coffee maker you rated at number one???
I can’t, can you?
Thank you for sending me this article on contemporary single cup coffee makers. I was however surprised to find only pod/kcup coffee makers in your guide. Over the past year we have performed and expensive and exhaustive search for electric single cup coffee makers and settled on one that did not make you ranking. We selected the Breville Gourmet single cup brewer (see it at the link below). While the reasons are many there are two outstanding facts that made this brewer the clear winner. First it makes an exceptional single cup of coffee whether your tastes range from the classic espresso/moka to the “American” coffee strength. Next we considered flexibility of use. While the Breville uses K-Cups it also includes a “My K-Cup” allowing users to brewer any coffee they have on hand. Considering we sell a highly exclusive line of single origin coffees available only in whole bean form… this was a must have. Similarly we suspect that when buying a coffee maker one does not purchase the “coffee format.” The personal “My K-Cup” gives users access to a world of coffee possibilities in single cup form.
Hope this helps in future reviews. If you are curious about the Breville Gourmet single cup brewer you can learn more at the link below:
http://www.jamaicabluemountaincoffee.com/jamaica%20blue%20mountain%20coffee%20makers,%20grinders,%20cups%20and%20more/shop%20electric%20coffee%20makers/gourmet%20single%20cup%20brewer/index.html
Warm Regards,
Jerry Delince
Managing Partner
Jamaica Blue Mountain Traders, LLC.
717 SE 2nd Street, Suite 201
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
1-877-90COFFEE toll-free
1-954-793-4467 telephone
www.jamaicabluemountaincoffee.com
I would like to dispel the notion that you get what you pay for. I have purchased a wide variety of coffee makers. It is a family joke that I purchase coffee makers like some purchase shoes. I confess to for some odd reason the need to buy anything that looks interesting and holds the promise of a good cup of coffee.
I have owned at least 5 different pod and single serve coffee machines, all good gadgets and produce a decent cup of coffee but not exceptional enough to be bound by the different pods or cuplets.
I have settled (don’t laugh) on the black and decker to go for my single cup coffee maker. I use whatever coffee I desire, can vary the strength and it brews an very good cup of coffee.
Next to that machine currently sits a Braun with a integrated replaceable water filter which has now occupied a spot in the kitchen for 3 months. I will replace that when something catches my eye, but for now the black and decker has won a spot.
The “desktop coffee maker” looks interesting but to date only available in the UK.
The bottom line is price is not always an indicator of quality. I do however drive a BMW.
While single serve coffee makers greatly lessen the work & clean up required they are a little more limited than most standard espresso machines.
Obviously, the variety of coffee that is available to you is the first shortcoming. Yet, most of these single serve manufacturers do make a decent pod of coffee.
The greater detriment is that you have no idea about the grind of the coffee. As many of us coffee geeks & freaks will tell you its not really the machine, its the grinder that makes the biggest difference. As these units rely on pre-packed pods you not only don’t know the quality of the coffee used, but its grind is also carefully hidden. But I guess that is a valuable sacrifice to many who just want a quick cup and less mess.
Eldad Y.
www.top100espressomachines.com
You can make pods for the Senseo. Don’t see why pods can’t be made for other coffee makers as well. Use coffee filters and a 1/4 cup measuring cup. Tamp the filter into the measure cup with a small juice glass (we use a small tupperware plastic glass), fill the pod with the correct amount of your favorite coffee (we use two of the scoops that came with the Senseo) and fold over the edges of the filter to cover the coffee. Now take the small glass or other implement that you pressed the coffee filter into the measure cup and tamp down the coffee package. Make sure it is fairly well pressed together and tamped down and Voila! You have a pod!
We’ve been doing it for years now with our Senseo and enjoy our favorite coffees instead of the overpriced pods they put on the market.
I was first introduced to a single serve coffee maker in the workplace. We had it as a trial and it was great being able to select different flavors. I know someone who has one in their house and they love it - I liked it too when I was visiting. I have thought about it, just haven’t done it yet. “Geek”, funny story on the coffee makers you buy.