Tips On Buying A Single Cup Coffee Maker

Coffee makers come in all shapes and sizes. There are serious coffee drinkers and those who like to indulge once or twice a day. For the latter, the single cup coffee maker is ideal as the need to brew a whole pot is eliminated. But is one single cup coffee maker better than another?

Advantages For The One Cup A Day Coffee Drinker

Obviously the need to brew and waste a five or six cup pot is not required thus cutting down on the expense of continually purchasing coffee.

The cost of a single cup maker is a lot less than a multiple machine and in this age of "watch what you eat and drink," those cutting down on their caffeine intake will appreciate their limited production capability. Minimal mess is another advantage with these machines.

The one cup machine is ideal for those people travelling to work in the morning. Simply place a pod into the coffee maker and add the water and within seconds, it begins to pour into a thermal travel mug.

Many machines are also designed with the ability to cater for specialty coffees and come built with dual pod holders.

Single Serve Coffee Maker Features

Depending on price, the features you receive with a machine can be important in determining which coffee maker best suits your needs. Some machines come with pre-packaged pods which can be an advantage given they are designed for use with a particular maker but be sure to check whether those pods are readily available when you are ready to purchase more.

A disadvantage with pre-packaged pods could be their lack of variety so ideally, a machine that offers the flexibility of using a different range of pods might be a better choice than one which is limited to using custom pods.

Efficiency is another determining factor in choosing the most suitable maker for your needs. The time it takes to brew a cup of coffee is one thing but a machine that is capable of evenly extracting coffe through the pod is very much a preferred option particularly if you have discerning tastes. There is nothing worse than a brew which is either too strong or too weak.

Many drinkers prefer an even layer of froth on their coffees. This is achieved due to the pressure exerted in the brewing process and again, this could be something you are either diligent about or are not too concerned with.

Other features to look out for include an automatic shut off time ability and also a standby facility. For people who detest mess, then you'll prefer a machine that comes with a tray to catch those unwanted spills.

Single Cup Coffee Maker Prices

There is quite a gap between the cheapest machine on the market and the most expensive. The cheaper models can cost as low as $20 while the "rolls royce" of makers will set you back in excess of four figures.

Obviously budget will determine how much you spend and brand choice will play a factor. In all honesty, there are some excellent bargains to be had with single cup coffee makers which fall under the banner of lesser known brand names. This is where you'll need to be a little diligent. Machine reliability is another important aspect to consider when purchasing so make sure you are happy with the warranty time provided with your choice.