The best single serve coffee brewer cup coffee maker (view publisher site)

If speed and convenience are your top priority, a single-cup coffee maker may be the ideal choice for you. These machines take up less counter space and are more simple to use than drip counterparts.

You can pick from models that use K-Cups Original Nespresso pods or reusable aftermarket ones. Certain models can also make espresso-style shots, or iced coffee.

1. Cuisinart Grind & Brew

This well-designed machine from a reputable manufacturer can grind and brew a single cup or a whole pot. It's smaller than other coffee makers that include a grinder which means it frees the space on the countertop to accommodate other appliances. The Grind & Brew's burr grinder is designed to crush beans to a specific size. This results in a more uniform ground coffee.

The Grind & Brew has an automatic shut-off, and showerheads that evenly distribute water evenly over the grounds. This ensures consistency between the brews. It can be programmed to start making coffee up to 24 hours in advance, and provides multiple control options such as a custom clock display and coffee strength (mild, medium, or strong), and a brew pause feature that lets you pour out a cup without interrupting the cycle.

One of the most interesting aspects of this model is that it can brew from whole beans as well as K-Cups. The choice between them is based on your personal preference. The machine can hold 12 K-Cups or you can fill it with whole beans ground. The timing of brewing is a bit slower than our top choice, but it's still fast enough for most people to have their coffee ready before they get up.

Overall, the Grind & Brew performed well in our tests, but it was not able to achieve our best overall score. The brew temperature was the most unstable of the models we tried. It shifted from the first brew to the fifth by nearly 5 degrees, and never achieved the 195-degree target set by the SCAA for excellent coffee.

It's worth having a dedicated grinder/brewer to use for your mornings. The machine is easy to operate and clean with all of its components slipping into place and closing with a satisfying clunk. It's also lightweight and compact and is a nice feature for those who don't have lots of extra counter space.

2. Smeg Drip Coffee Maker

If you are looking for a sleek and compact single cup coffee brewer single cup maker to add to your kitchen, this model from SMEG is a great choice. This drip filter coffee maker by the Italian brand is known for its retro-styled appliances from the 1950s. It is elegant in its design and blends function and form. The auto-start feature allows you to get up to fresh coffee. It can brew up to 10 cups at a time. You can also choose between two different aromas, Intense or Delicate, to adjust the strength of your brew. Set an alarm to when it's ready.

This coffee maker programmable comes with a large 1.4-liter water tank, which means you do not have to worry about running out of water. The reusable filter helps reduce waste, and it has an indicator that shows the water level to let you know when it's time to refill. This coffee maker can also be used to brew hot chocolate or herbal tea. The brewing cycle is relatively fast, and it comes with an insulated plate that keeps warm to ensure that your coffee is kept warm until you're ready to drink it.

The streamlined controls on this SMEG drip filter coffee maker are simple to use using four buttons that can be pushed, and the LED clock display shows the current settings. The dishwasher-safe permanent filter and reusable filter help reduce waste, while the drip spout is designed so that it will not cause spills. If you live in a region that has hard water and you have hard water, your SMEG drip-filter coffee maker may require regular descale. There is a symbol for descale on the front of the machine, and you can easily remove the scale by pouring descaler powder or solution into the reservoir of water and pressing the on/off and auto-start buttons for five seconds.

Another benefit of this drip filter coffee maker that can be programmed is that it is compatible with ESE pods that are a green alternative to K-Cups and other single cup coffee machines-serve pods. The only downside to this coffee maker is that it doesn't have a brew timer, so you'll need to manually adjust the start time every morning.

3. Oxo Brew 12-Cup Thermal Carafe

If you're looking for an espresso maker that can make a whole pot of coffee or just one cup, the Oxo Brew 12-Cup Thermal Carafe is worth a look. It comes with a stainless steel thermal carafe, with double walls and vacuum insulation that keeps coffee hot for many hours. It also comes with a handy, easy-to-use interactive display screen and a mixing tube that can be removed. The machine can be programmed to 24 hours ahead of time and the backlit LCD display shows the time remaining until your coffee is ready.

The coffee maker comes with two different sized brew baskets for large or small batches which makes it perfect for households that require different sizes and quantities of cups. It's certified by the Specialty Coffee Association to brew Gold-standard coffee. The BetterBrew Precision system and Rainmaker shower head evenly distribute the water over your grounds to ensure fullest flavor extraction.

Contrary to the majority of pod-based coffee machines, this one makes use of whole or regular ground beans (not proprietary ones) instead of prepackaged, single-serve capsules. The use of regular coffee grounds minimizes waste and saves money. The machine is also fast, brewing a cup in less than six minutes. The only downside to this machine is that it's more expensive than many other drip coffee makers we tried however, its sleek design and high-end construction make it a great option.

This drip coffee maker is a fantastic alternative to multi-functional kitchen appliances that are designed to be gadgets. It's quiet, well-built and has an easy-to-use interface that makes it easy to determine the exact amount of water that you want to brew. We found the Brew Barista Brain to be a very reliable machine and it handled our most difficult test coffee (Costco House Blend, medium grind) very well.

This model makes use of a spray of brewed ice instead of the traditional method of immersion. The result is much more drinkable than if you use infusion. It also has a programmed setting that begins the brew exactly five minutes in the future, saving you the hassle of waiting for the coffee to be brewed.

4. Bruvi Brewer

This sleek single cup brewer from Bruvi is the perfect option for those who are willing to spend a little more than a regular K-cup. It utilizes "B-Pods" from Bruvi, that contain 40 percent more than a standard K-cup pod. They are made of treated polypropylene and are designed to break down over time in composters and landfills without releasing microplastics (although it's not certified for organic waste). The B-Pods allow for hygiene-conscious brewing, with every individual cup being sealed inside the pod to avoid flavor cross contamination between cups. The Bruvi is also notable because of its sleek, modern design. The touch screen comes to life when you insert the pod. It displays the options available depending on the type of beverage you're looking for.

The Bruvi has a range of options for cold brew coffee as well as Iced coffees, which include hot and iced americanos as well as espresso. The machine is also designed to use less water than a traditional single-serve brewer. This can reduce dilution when you add the ice.

The Bruvi also comes with an embedded camera that scans each B-Pod's individual code and optimizes the brewing parameters for the particular type of coffee. You can be assured that your Bruvi will consistently produce a delicious cup of espresso.

Finally, the drip tray of the Bruvi can be adjusted to minimize splashing when pouring the beverage into a small glass or mug or even be removed completely for large travel mugs. The Bruvi also has a few extra features like the ability to remove the reservoir of water and an automatic cleaning cycle that keeps it functioning efficiently and effectively.

The pod coffee maker Bruvi is more expensive than other pod makers, however it's well worth the cost for its exceptional coffee flavor and less environmental impact. It's a great choice if you're someone who regularly shifts between espresso and coffee, since its hygienic system of brewing allows for quick and simple change to cold brew or iced coffee without the need for a separate machine. It also comes with a milk frother, which is a welcome addition at this price point.