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CNET
a day ago
- Business
- CNET
Save on Your Morning Coffee With $30 Off This Bella Pro 12-Cup Machine
There are a few things to consider when choosing the best coffee maker for your needs. But right at the top of the list should be whether it's big enough to get the job done. With a 12-cup capacity, this Bella Pro drop coffee maker has enough room for all the family and then some, and right now, you can put one in your kitchen for just $30. That saves you $30 off the original price, but you'll need to act fast -- we can't promise that this deal will last for long. The Bella Pro 12-cup machine is programmable, which means that you can set it up to get the job done on its own -- so you can have a steaming cup of coffee waiting when you wake. You don't have to make a full pot if you don't need it, and the large LED display is easy to read even at a distance. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Not a fan of waiting for your coffee? You can pause the brewing process and pour your cup while the rest of the pot is still brewing. The other main features include a permanent filter and dishwasher-safe parts, so cleaning couldn't be easier. Why this deal matters Those with large families will know how much of a pain it can be come morning coffee time. Putting the machine on multiple times is a farce nobody needs when they're only half awake, and this 12-cup machine is the answer. Whether you're waking a big family or just want to have hoit coffee ready when you need it, that 12-cup capacity could be a real life-saver.
CNN
4 days ago
- Business
- CNN
The best single-serve coffee makers in 2025, tested and reviewed
The best single-serve coffee maker we tested Best single-serve coffee maker: Bruvi BV-01 Brewer There are many ways to save money by brewing coffee at home, including using one of the best single-serve coffee makers. Of course, you could also use a pour-over machine for making a single cup for yourself or a drip coffee maker to serve multiple guests at a time. Some folks love their coffee from a French press, while others swear by their daily cold brew or espresso. Even when not at home, many savvy travelers pack a portable coffee maker on trips to avoid having to drink hotel room coffee. But here I'm focusing on the best single-serve coffee makers that help you save money by letting you brew fresh coffee at home, one cup at a time. You may even be able to avoid those expensive coffee chains that can quickly drain your wallet. I recently tested five single-serve coffee makers and found one that can brew great-tasting coffee quickly and easily every time. Bruvi BV-01 Brewer I loved the Bruvi BV-01 Brewer for its large touchscreen control panel and for how easily it brews coffee. Unlike other single-serve coffee makers I tested, it requires the purchase of biodegradable B-Pods from Bruvi, but you can also purchase reusable coffee pods that you can fill with ground coffee. The Bruvi BV-01 Brewer impressed me with its great-tasting coffee and easy-to-use touchscreen panel. It uses proprietary, biodegradable B-Pods from Bruvi, which, admittedly, limits where you can buy the coffee, as you can only purchase them via Bruvi. But if you want to save money long term, you can buy reusable coffee pods and fill them with store-bought ground coffee or your own freshly ground coffee. The Bruvi easily holds an 8-ounce mug, and its cup base detaches to allow you to brew into a taller mug. The machine brews four different size cups: 6, 8, 10 or 12 ounces. The reservoir was very easy to lift off and refill, and its large capacity let me go several brewings without needing to refill it. The coffee maker comes with an optional companion app that allows you to brew coffee remotely from another room, schedule your brewings in advance and view a dashboard that shows your coffee consumption habits. You can also order additional B-Pods through the app, either as a one-off delivery or by setting up an auto-delivery schedule. My favorite feature is the Bruvi's comprehensive touchscreen control panel. It lets me choose between settings for hot water, tea, coffee or espresso, and I can even brew stronger or hotter coffee, or iced or cold brew coffee. The machine uses a 70-ounce removable water tank. Its attractive design includes a wood-grained cover that lifts so you can fill the tank with water and easily slide it back into place on the maker. The Bruvi uses biodegradable B-Pods (like K-Cups from Keurig), and it also accepts reusable coffee pods, which you need to buy specifically for the Bruvi machine. While testing, I brewed cup after cup of great-tasting Arabica coffee by using the 20 B-Pods in the House Party Variety Pack from Bruvi. The Dancing Spoon medium roast coffee turned out to be my favorite option, but they all had their strong suits; it just depends on your personal preference. I searched the web for the most popular and highly rated single-serve coffee makers, ultimately choosing five machines to include in my testing pool. I placed each single-serve coffee maker on a kitchen counter to brew multiple cups of coffee. During the testing process, I evaluated each brewer based on things like its durability, ease of setup, coffee taste, value and more. Each coffee maker was tested at least four times, using the same grounds for reusable pods in some machines or by using the same K-Cups, B-Pods or Nespresso pods for their respective machines. I evaluated each single-serve coffee maker according to the following criteria. Durability Ease of setup: I noted how easy each maker was to set up and how durable it felt while brewing multiple cups of coffee. Build quality: I observed the material of each brewer and noted whether it was constructed shoddily or seemed sturdy. I also noted the materials the machine was made of, whether metal, plastic, wood or a combination. Brew function Optimum temperature: The optimum temperature for freshly brewed coffee is typically 180 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Using that standard, I measured the temperature of each cup using a food thermometer, rating each machine on its ability to hit that temperature. Quality of brew: I considered how the coffee tasted after being brewed, including whether it was overly bitter or weak, if flavors or acidity existed that shouldn't be there and whether too much or not enough heat impacted its taste. Ease of cleanup Filters and pods: I noted how easy it was to clean the filters or remove and dispose of the used coffee pods. Drip trays and water reservoirs: I removed the drip trays and water reservoirs after using each machine and noted how easy it was to clean the trays and empty the reservoirs of unused water. Overall aesthetic Attractiveness: Aesthetics are, of course, subjective, but I judged each single-serve coffee maker on its overall attractiveness. Considerations: Would I want this single-serve coffee maker sitting on my kitchen counter? Does it look classy and elegant, or does it look cheap and low quality? Value Price: I took each machine's price into consideration, factoring in the overall money saved by first investing in the maker versus how much money can be saved over the long run by avoiding coffee shops and retailers. I also considered whether what you get from each machine is appropriate for its price. To choose the best single-serve coffee maker, you'll want to consider four factors. First, think about what kind of coffee you like to drink. Second, do you want to grind your coffee or buy premade pods or capsules? Third, consider the number of times you usually drink coffee each day, as the machine's brewing speed and water reservoir size can impact how fast you'll go from brewing to drinking. Finally, keep in mind how much counter space you have, which affects the size of the machine you should buy; some makers have a larger footprint than others. Coffee type You'll want to think about the kind of coffee you like to drink. I'm not talking about brands or flavors, I'm referring to coffee types. For instance, do you like coffee, or is espresso more your game? Are you a fan of drinking cold brew? Some single-serve coffee makers only brew coffee, while other machines can brew espresso as well. There are also machines that make cold brew for those summer cravings, and many let you heat water quickly to brew hot tea or cocoa as well. It's important to think about how you'll want to use the machine to create the type of drink you desire, as not all machines can do all things (or do them well). Grind or buy Are you someone who has the time and desire to grind your own coffee? Or do you prefer a grab-and-go scenario where you just pop in a pod and start brewing? Some single-serve coffee makers only let you use proprietary capsules or pods, like my winning pick, the Bruvi, so using ground coffee isn't possible with those standard pods. With these machines, you can either use pods that work across a variety of machines (like K-Cups) or you can use proprietary pods that only work on that machine (like B-Pods). If you like to buy ground coffee, consider a single-serve coffee maker that lets you use reusable pods. Just fill a reusable pod with your favorite ground coffee, brew a cup, wait for the pod to cool off, dispose of the grounds however you choose and wash it for later use. You can also use a coffee grinder to grind your beans just before brewing, which can often produce a fresher-tasting cup of joe. Brewing speed Do you like to brew a quick cup of coffee to go before leaving for work? Or do you spend the majority of the day at home, either at your computer or watching little ones? If you are at home often, do you usually drink more than two cups of coffee per day? If you don't live alone, are there others at home who also want a cup of coffee on demand? All these considerations can influence the single-serve coffee maker you should buy, as most machines can brew cup after cup fairly quickly, but there are some limitations. This is especially important if you and your loved ones want to fill tall travel mugs with coffee, which requires longer brew times. Water reservoir Every single-serve coffee maker has its own unique water reservoir. Some can hold enough water for multiple brew cycles, while others require you to fill them more often. Consider the number of times you drink coffee each day; if it's more than once, you'll want to look for a larger size reservoir, unless you're happy with filling the reservoir each time you want a cup. Most water reservoirs are detachable from the maker's main unit and can be easily removed to fill with fresh water. The larger the reservoir, the heavier it will be once it's almost full with water, though, so keep that in mind if you lack the hand strength to lift and carry a reservoir full of water. If you don't want to lug the reservoir back and forth from the sink, you can keep the maker on the counter next to the sink and stretch the sink's hose, should you have one, over to fill the reservoir. Footprint Counter space is an important consideration since it directly impacts how big a machine you can keep on it. Some single-serve coffee makers are slim, but others I tested are quite wide and have a much larger footprint, some requiring 12 inches or more of counter space to comfortably fit. The size of the maker not only affects the amount of counter space it takes up but its portability. If you plan on keeping the machine in one place, you can likely afford a larger model. But if you need to move it to make room to prepare dinner, then you might want to opt for something smaller that can be moved out of the way. Keurig K-Classic Single-Serve Coffee Maker The Keurig K-Classic is a durable, reliable machine that is easy to use and makes decent-tasting coffee time and again. It uses standard K-Cups, or you can fill reusable pods with ground coffee to save money on brewing at home. This machine from Keurig can brew cup after cup of coffee without a break. It doesn't take up too much counter space, so you can leave it out for easy access. It can make 6-, 8- and 10-ounce cups in under a minute each, or you can detach the drip tray and place a 7-inch-tall travel mug so you can fill your cup and take it on the go. Its 48-ounce water reservoir means you can brew multiple cups of coffee before needing to refill it, a plus for those who like to drink multiple cups in a row. I don't think it's the most attractive coffee maker I tested, but it makes decent-tasting coffee for about half the price of our winner. Hamilton Beach The Scoop Single-Serve Coffee Maker The Hamilton Beach The Scoop is a budget-friendly machine that can save you money since it doesn't require paper filters or K-Cups; it uses ground coffee you place directly in a metal basket. It gets the job done for both 8-ounce cups and 14-ounce travel mugs. This single-serve coffee maker from Hamilton Beach doesn't use paper filters or K-Cups; you just scoop ground coffee directly into the Scoop's wire mesh basket. This is something that can save you money in the long run, if that's an important consideration for you. This unit reminds me a bit of those classic parlor milkshake makers with its simple design, and it has options to brew regular strength or bold coffee. It automatically shuts off after a few minutes of non-use, so you don't need to worry about whether you turned it off or not. It can brew good-tasting coffee when you use a coffee grinder for freshly ground coffee, in particular. Overall, it's a decent, lightweight machine with a tiny footprint that won't take up much space on your counter. Instant Pot Pod 3-in-1 Espresso, K-Cup and Ground Coffee Maker We like the Instant Pot Pod 3-in-1 coffee maker because it is simple to use and is versatile. It can use K-Cups, Nespresso pods or reusable pods filled with ground coffee. This single-serve coffee maker from Instant Pot is a sturdy unit that won't take up much counter space. It is simple to set up and use. You just insert either a K-Cup, a Nespresso pod or a reusable pod filled with ground coffee. Using K-cups, it brews 8-, 10- and 12-ounce cups, and using Nespresso pods, it can brew 2-, 4- and 6-ounce cups. If you remove the drip tray, you can even brew coffee in a 16-ounce travel mug. It has a large 68-ounce removable water reservoir that lets you brew multiple cups of coffee without needing to refill it. I like that it has a 'Clean' alert light that lights up to indicate when it's time to clean the unit; this starts flashing after roughly 300 brew cycles. Nespresso Vertuo Plus by Breville Coffee and Espresso Maker The Nespresso Vertuo Plus by Breville brews both coffee and espresso, and uses pods specific to the machine. This single-serve coffee maker and espresso machine by Breville and Nespresso was great at brewing both coffee or espresso, and only takes 25 seconds to heat up enough to be ready to brew. It also features an automatic shutoff like the Hamilton Beach machine I tested. This unit can brew 5-ounce and 8-ounce coffee cups as well as single and double espressos. Though it comes with a large 40-ounce water reservoir that can be moved from one side of the unit to the other, I found the design to be a bit odd. I prefer the water reservoirs on the other single-serve coffee makers I tested, which are part of the unit and do not move. How do I clean a single-serve coffee maker? How do I clean a single-serve coffee maker? To clean a single-serve coffee maker, first make sure it's unplugged. Then remove the water reservoir, pod holder, drip tray and any other component that is detachable. Use warm, soapy water to hand-wash and dry thoroughly before assembling the maker again. How do I descale a single-serve coffee maker? How do I descale a single-serve coffee maker? First and foremost, always follow the manufacturer's instructions on cleaning and descaling your machine. But in general, to descale a single-serve coffee maker, you should mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a separate pitcher. Then empty the maker's water reservoir, remove any pods and pour the white vinegar and water mixture into the reservoir. Run one brew cycle into a cup and then discard the liquid. Then empty the reservoir, fill with fresh water and run a few more brew cycles to rinse the vinegar completely out of the system. CNN Underscored editors thoroughly test all the products in our testing guides and provide full transparency about how we test them. We have a skilled team of writers and editors who have many years of testing experience and ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when relevant to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. This guide was written by our testing editor, Suzanne Kattau. She has tested some of the best cordless stick vacuums for us as well as many other home, sleep and kitchen products, including the best dehumidifiers, best robot mops, best leaf blowers, best mattresses for side sleepers and best nonstick pans. For this guide, Kattau tested five single-serve coffee makers by brewing many, many cups of coffee over several days.
