A personal single-serve brewer is a fast and compact way to brew coffee at home, in the office, or even while you’re traveling.
There are a lot of different options out there, though, and figuring out which are the best isn’t always easy. That’s why we’ve picked out our favorite models and reviewed them here, with options to fit any home or budget.
The CHULUX Single Serve Coffee Maker is our top choice for office desks or dorm rooms because it’s easy to use and mess-free. It has a removable drip tray and water tank, perfect for mess-free filling and clean-up.
Using it couldn’t be simpler. Just pop in a pod, press start, and you’ll have a delicious cup of coffee in about 3 minutes.
The Sboly Single-Serve Coffee Maker is one of the most compact dual-brewers you’ll find. You can switch from K-Cup brewing to using ground coffee at the press of a button. Pressing both buttons starts the automatic self-cleaning function, so it’s just as easy to maintain as it is to use.
Whichever way you brew, you’ll get a hot, delicious cup of coffee in about 3 minutes, with a variable strength control so you can customize it to your tastes.
The Black+Decker Brew ‘n Go system includes both a single-serve coffee brewer and a thermal travel mug, and that makes it our top pick if you’re looking for value. It’s a great long-term value, too, with a reusable filter so you don’t have to waste money on paper filters.
Using it is easy thanks to the one-button operation and it brews straight into the travel mug so you can head right out the door in the morning.
Here’s another compact and convenient option from Black+Decker. Like the Brew ‘n Go, this single-serve coffeemaker comes with a travel mug that’s sized perfectly to fit into the brewer. It also comes with a metal mesh filter that works with soft pods or ground coffee.
Whichever way you brew, you’ll get full flavor extraction and a fast brewing time. It’s just as easy to clean as it is to use thanks to the removable brew basket and dishwasher-safe travel mug.
If you’re looking for a portable brewer, the Mixpresso Ultimate 2-in-1 Coffee Maker is a great choice. The included travel mug has an easy-grip band and spill-proof lid so you can take your coffee on the go.
Everything about the Mixpresso Ultimate is designed for convenience, with one-touch brewing and an energy-saving instant automatic shutoff.
The powerful 800-watt motor of the Mixpresso Single Cup Coffee Maker gets it up to temperature in 2 minutes or less. Once it’s ready, it only takes about 1 minute to brew a full cup.
The programmable brew size also serves as a strength selector—for a bolder brew, just use less water. All the removable components can be washed under the tap, including the drip tray and pod drawer.
The low profile of the Mueller Ultimate Single Serve Coffee Maker lets it fit under low cabinets and in other tight spaces, perfect for small places like RVs and dorm rooms.
It’s compatible with all generations of single-serve cups, including reusable filter baskets if you’d rather use ground coffee. It’s a fast-brewing machine, too, serving up 10 ounces of coffee in 3 minutes or less.
The Casara Single Serve Coffee Maker is one of the few single-serve brewers with a 24-hour programmable timer. Set it up the night before and you can wake up to a travel mug full of hot coffee.
The insulated double-walled travel mug that comes with the brewer has a tight-sealing lid to hold in heat and flavor. The easy-to-read scale markers in the water reservoir help you control the coffee’s strength and size so you’ll get the right brew for your tastes every time.
The Capresso On-the-Go Personal Coffee Maker packs a powerful heating element into a portable housing. It brews coffee in the ideal temperature range for full flavor extraction and does it quickly, about 4 minutes from turning on the machine to enjoying your beverage.
The reusable filter fits up to 6 tablespoons of coffee for those who like a stronger cup.
The Mixpresso Original 2-in-1 Coffee Brewer checks all the boxes for a personal coffee maker. It’s compact, fast-brewing, and works with both pods and ground coffee.
The 1,000-volt heating element gets hotter faster than other single-serve brewers, with a simple one-button operation and a tall brewing area with a removable drip tray to fit tall mugs.
Some people like the taste of black coffee, especially if it’s made using high-quality beans, but others prefer a touch of sweetness or creaminess. The question is how to add that flavor without loading it up with fat and calories.
Here are some healthier alternatives that are just as delicious as sugar and cream without derailing your diet:
#1: Honey.
Honey is sweeter than sugar, so you don’t need to use as much. It’s a more complex sugar, too, and local honey varieties can help build up your resistance to allergies, giving it some bonus health benefits.
#2: Stevia.
This all-natural sweetener has a taste similar to cane sugar but can’t be broken down by the human body, meaning you’ll get the sweetness without any calories. It’s the best choice if you want a healthy sweetener that still tastes like sugar.
#3: Hemp milk.
Hemp milk is both the healthiest and the best alternative milk to use for coffee. It has a similar taste and texture to cow’s milk in brewed coffee. Like cow’s milk, it contains protein, calcium, and iron, along with healthy unsaturated fats.
#4: Xylitol.
This naturally-occurring sugar has no calories but has the same sweetness as sucrose. It comes in a granular form, similar to chemical sweeteners but without the same adverse health effects.
#5: Splenda.
Of all the chemical sweeteners, Splenda tastes the most like sugar and has the least associated health concerns. It’s also readily available in most coffee shops, making it a good alternative for sugar when you’re on the go.
#6: Coconut Milk.
The consistency of coconut milk is similar to cow’s milk. It also adds a unique nutty flavor and a bit of sweetness, making it a good all-in-one flavor enhancer for your daily cup of joe. While its fat content is higher than other milk alternatives, it’s also rich in nutrients like vitamins D, A, and B12.
#7: Maple Syrup.
From a caloric standpoint, maple syrup isn’t any better than cane sugar. It’s more concentrated, however, meaning you’ll use less, and does contain more than 24 antioxidants you won’t find in refined white sugar.
#8: Oat Milk.
Oat milk is naturally sweet and contains soluble fiber, giving it a creamy texture. It also foams better than other alternative milks, making it the best option for lattes and cappuccinos.
#9: Coconut sugar.
Coconut sugar is made from the sap of the coconut palm. It’s unrefined and looks similar to brown sugar but has a lot more health benefits, including loads of antioxidants and minerals like iron and zinc. It’s also a prebiotic, encouraging better gut health.
#10: Almond Milk.
Unsweetened almond milk is lower in carbs and calories than cow’s milk, and is rich in vitamin E. Some brands add sugar so make sure you check the label when you’re picking your variety.
Even people who usually order specialty drinks like caramel lattes from cafes sometimes don’t think to add other flavors to their drip coffee. Here are some outside-the-box ingredients that can take your coffee-drinking experience to a new level:
14 Healthy Ways to Sweeten Your Coffee
https://artofbarista.com/healthy-coffee-sweeteners/
The 7 Healthiest Milk Options
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/healthiest-milk
The 7 Best Substitutes for Milk in Coffee
https://foodsguy.com/best-substitute-for-milk-in-coffee/
33 Simple Ways to Add Extra Flavor to Your Coffee
https://www.homegrounds.co/how-to-flavor-coffee/