The Best Single-Serve Coffee Makers for Every Budget (Starting at $18)
Whether you’re living alone, or with roommates who don’t drink coffee, or with a whole house of coffee-lovers, everyone should have at least one single-serve coffee maker in their culinary arsenal. For those of us who are the sole coffee drinkers in the house, that’s self explanatory — but even if everyone you live with is on the java hard, it still behooves you to keep a one-cup coffee machine of some sort in arm’s reach. Maybe you woke up late one day and everyone else killed the pot, or you need an afternoon pick-me-up and nobody else is home, or maybe you’ve gone full coffee nerd (nice) and don’t want anyone else sucking down cups of your freshly roasted Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. (You get my point.) That’s why we put together this short list of some of the best single-serve coffee makers for every budget, starting at just under 20 bucks.
KT Single-Serve Coffee Makers
OXO Brew Single Serve Pour-Over Coffee Maker OXO Brew Single Serve Pour-Over Coffee Maker
For fans of pour-over coffee who can’t be bothered to deal with the (slightly) tricky technique, OXO makes this nifty little gadget that’s essentially a single-serve, analog drip machine. Pop your filter and grounds in the basket, pop the top on, then fill it to the appropriate line with hot water and watch as the shower-style head evenly soaks your coffee, giving you a perfect pour every time.
Hario V60 Pour Over Set Hario V60 Pour Over Set
This is the gold standard of single-serve coffee makers: the Hario V60 Pour Over. This set includes a carafe, filters, a measuring spoon, and the ceramic pour over itself. Just pop the filter in, add your ground coffee, and then pour hot water over the grounds until your cup is full. (Check out our tutorial for a more in-depth guide.)
Hario V60 Immersion Dripper 02 Hario V60 Immersion Dripper 02
French press lovers will dig this Hario Switch Immersion Brewer. It takes the best part of French press brewing (the rich flavor and extraction level) but uses a pour-over style filter to make sure your end result contains no grit or grinds.
Aeropress Aeropress
The Aeropress is a single-serve classic that combines pressure brewing (think: espresso) with immersion brewing (think: French press) in a unique, portable brewer that’s garnered a cult following since its release years ago. It brews espresso-style coffee, American drip coffee, and even cold brew.
Bialetti Moka Expresso Espresso Maker Bialetti Moka Expresso Espresso Maker
Takin’ it back old-school, we have the moka pot, which if you’re Italian (or a coffee nerd) you’ll already be familiar with. This brewer uses pressure and heat to make a unique cup of coffee that’s similar to espresso, so if you like dark and bitter brews, this is a great choice.
Keurig K-Slim Coffee Maker Keurig K-Slim Coffee Maker
If you’re a pod person, you can’t go wrong with this Keurig K-Slim single-serve coffee maker. It makes both hot and iced coffee, and is so slim (hence the name) that it’s perfect for dorm room kitchens and tiny apartments alike.
DeLonghi 15 Bar Espresso & Cappuccino Machine with Advanced Cappuccino System DeLonghi 15 Bar Espresso & Cappuccino Machine with Advanced Cappuccino System
Love espresso, but don’t want to shell out for a machine that costs hundreds of dollars? This De'Longhi 15 Bar Espresso Machine is the one for you. It’s a great entry-level machine in you’re new to espresso, and it still produces great cups of coffee — plus, it has a built-in steamer wand so you can make all the cafe drinks you know and love.
Nespresso Vertuo Next Premium Espresso Machine by Breville with Aeroccino Nespresso Vertuo Next Premium Espresso Machine by Breville with Aeroccino
We couldn’t make a list of single-serve machines without including the Nespresso Vertuo Plus, which is an editor-favorite brewer here at The Kitchn. This one-touch brewing system makes both regular coffee and espresso, with blend-specific brewing that ensures each cup tastes like something you’d get at a cafe.
