Remember when single serve coffee makers first came out? They were huge behemoths with large water tanks, and they took up a lot of counter space. Not only that, but before Keurig’s competitors began to surface, you were pretty much stuck with paying their high prices for K-cups.

Welcome to the new generation of single-serve coffee makers! Today’s models take up less space, but they brew the same delicious coffee. You can buy generic single-serving pods for less money, and you even have the option of using a refillable pod with your own coffee blend.

Which Single-Cup Coffee Maker is the Best?

We examined the details about several one-cup coffee makers and narrowed it down to four brands that offered particular features we thought were important. These picks also got great customer reviews – it’s nice to know that someone else tried each one first and liked it. Here are our main requirements for the needed features of a single serve coffee maker:

• Compactness
• Adjustability (brew strength, cup size)
• Ease of use
• Brew Time
• Bonus features

Here are our picks, in no particular order:

Nespresso VertuoLine Coffee and Espresso Maker Review

The Nespresso VertuoLine Coffee and Espresso Maker is an interesting coffee maker and it stands out from the rest in a couple of ways. It can make coffee or espresso just by using the right kind of coffee pod. Not only that, but it has an available automatic hot-and-cold milk frother for creating lattes and cappuccinos. Like the Keurig, it uses sealed cartridges of coffee, and the Nespresso will only work with its own original brand of coffee pods, which are pricey.

The machine comes in black only, and you can get a ‘bundle’ deal that includes the frother for much less on Amazon.com than in department stores. Similar to the Keurig described below, the Nespresso has advanced technology that reads the code on the coffee pods to determine whether to brew coffee or espresso. And this model takes 15-20 seconds to heat the water, compared to one to five minutes for all of the others. It also has an auto-shut-off feature.

One unique feature is that coffee capsules are ejected into a storage container after use. The removable container holds 13-20 used coffee pods. Brew strength cannot be adjusted, but the maker claims that the patented system makes “the perfect cup of coffee.” The coffee-maker uses the code on each coffee pod to automatically adjust brewing for different blends of coffee, and some pods are a stronger brew than others are. The Nespresso is compact at 11.93″ D x 11.91″ W x 8.3″ H and the water reservoir holds 40 ounces.

This deluxe coffee-maker has a rating of 4.3 stars on Amazon.com and we had a hard time finding any negative feedback. The only drawback mentioned a few times is that the coffee it brews is not as hot as coffee from some other brands of coffee-makers. And of course, this is the most expensive model by far.

>>click here to see Amazon’s price

Keurig 117644 2.0 K200 Brewer Review

Starting with the classic Keurig brand, we have the advantage of easy-to-use disposable coffee pods, or K-Cups. The variability of brew strength goes hand in glove with the great variety of cup/carafe size settings in this model. One good thing to know about all K-Cups is that they often go on sale at department stores.

The K200 comes in several different colors including classic black or white. Some of the whimsical shades available are turquoise, orange zest and violet. There is a black and white touch display for choosing from nine different settings for water, including enough to make a 40 ounce carafe of coffee. With ‘My K-Cup’ you can make your own brew, but this little piece of plastic costs $15 and the carafe costs around $25.

The technology on the K200 is advanced, as it reads an imbedded code on each pod for optimal brewing directions. All you have to do when you want to brew a 40-ounce carafe is insert the special pod designed for that purpose. If the water reservoir is full, the machine will brew an entire pot of coffee. This coffee-maker has a 40 ounce water reservoir, and it takes up a fair amount of counter space at 13.7″ D x 15″ W x 9″ H.

Drawbacks are that it takes a full minute to preheat the water for each cup of coffee, and there is no auto-shut-off. The nozzle tends to clog with off-brand coffee cartridges and, without the carafe, you can only make up to 10 ounces of coffee at a time. Finally, this is not a quiet coffee maker. It ticks when heating up and the brewing cycle is loud.

>>click here to see Amazon’s price

KitchenAid KCM0402CU Personal Coffee Maker Review

This is another brew-basket model with a permanent filter, and it takes the same five minutes to heat the water as the previous one, but brews more quickly. We really liked the rich, metallic ‘espresso brown’ color, but the KitchenAid Personal Coffee Maker is also available in silver, red and black. The removable water tank holds up to 18 ounces, and the coffee-maker comes with an 18-ounce ‘twist-and-pour’ thermal mug.

Having a brew basket adds to the cleanup chores, but it also gives you complete control over brew strength. This is a compact single-cup coffee maker at 12.5″ D x 8.8″ W x 14.6″ H. The modern, sleek design was a draw for some users. Feedback from several people mentioned that the coffee it brews is hot, and the removable water reservoir is a plus for many.

The most often mentioned drawback to this coffee-maker is that it’s hard to see how much water is in the reservoir. In addition, the on/off button is at the front, making it easier to turn it on by accident. Finally, this model does not seem to have a long lifespan, often giving out after a few months or a year. On the other hand, the company is good about providing replacements.

>>click here to see Amazon’s price

Hamilton Beach Grind-and-Brew Single Serve Coffee Maker Review

This is the only one of the four coffee-makers we selected that grinds the coffee beans as well as brewing them. The brew strength is completely up to you since this model uses a brew basket instead of coffee cartridges. If you want to use pre-ground coffee, just fill the basket and press ‘Brew’ instead of ‘Grind/Brew’. This Hamilton Beach Grind-and-Brew takes five minutes for the water to heat for coffee. There is no carafe option with this coffee-maker, but it does have automatic shut-off.

With a 16 ounce water reservoir, this model makes coffee strictly by the cup, although you can brew up to two cups at one time. There are dual brew spouts for setting two mugs under the brew basket, but the adjustable platform looks a little flimsy for holding two mugs of coffee. The ‘Grind and Brew’ comes in a silver and black finish and it includes a 16 ounce travel cup. Dimensions are 16.54″ D x 9.45″ W x 11.81″ H.

Drawbacks mentioned by users include the grinder making a lot of noise. However, a bonus is that the grinder has an automatic rinse feature. Although the filter basket works very well, like most permanent filter baskets it takes effort to clean it. The Hamilton Beach is a good model for the one-or-two-cup drinker but probably not a good choice for a houseful of coffee drinkers.

>>click here to see Amazon’s price

Which Single Serve Coffee Maker is Right for You?

All of these single-cup coffee makers are of good quality and reasonably priced for what you get. We have reviewed the one-cup-only makers by Hamilton Beach and KitchenAid. These simpler models are less expensive, but they both include brew baskets that have to be cleaned. They are great when it comes to controlling brew strength but not as convenient to use as the coffee pod models. The Hamilton Beach Grind-and-Brew has an edge when it comes to coffee freshness.

Both of the cartridge users are easier to operate and have bonus features that are reflected in the higher prices. They are also proprietary machines that need original brand-name coffee cartridges. The Keurig has a lower purchase price, however, and comes with the option of purchasing a multi-use basket. It also has a carafe option that converts it to a full-pot coffee maker when needed.

If price is no object, then the Nespresso coffee and espresso maker is the best choice for convenience and for a good-tasting cup of coffee. However, you still won’t be able to make a whole pot at once. Choosing the best single-cup maker is a subjective task since different characteristics matter depending on the coffee-lover. Use this convenient chart to quickly scan the relevant features and decide for yourself which one suits you best:

	Nespresso	Keurig	KitchenAid	Hamilton Beach
Photo
Brew Strength	N/A	✔︎✔︎✔︎	✔︎✔︎✔︎	✔︎✔︎✔︎
Cup Size	✔︎	✔︎✔︎✔︎	✔︎✔︎	✔︎✔︎
Ease of Use	✔︎✔︎✔︎	✔︎✔︎✔︎	✔︎✔︎	✔︎✔︎
Brew Time	✔︎✔︎✔︎	✔︎✔︎	✔︎	✔︎
Reservoir	40 ounce	40 ounce	18 ounce, removable	16 ounce
Brew Style	Disposable pod	Disposable pod	Brew basket	Brew basket
Bonus Features	Travel mug, espresso	40 oz. Carafe-brew	Pourable thermal mug	Grinds beans, dual brew spout
Colors	3	7	4	1
Weight (pounds)	6.5	7.5	8	7
Footprint	12" x 12"	14" x 15"	12.5" x 9"	16.5" x 9.5"
Height	8"	9"	14.5"	12"
All Features	More Info	More Info	More Info	More Info

There is no such a state as too many coffee shops, but most U.S. cities do at least have a sufficient supply. Whether you like to grab a standard cup of joe, or prefer your morning espresso frothed and sweetened, you can find your satisfaction in and around the city limits. Once outside those metro areas, though, pickings can be dreadfully slim. If you’re lucky, you might happen upon one or two local shops with espresso on tap. More likely, though, you’ll be relegated to a lackluster stream of diners and chains for your coffee fix. Stale Dunkin’ Donuts Express at a gas station, anyone?

To avoid that painful moment of being forced to consume whatever coffee is available on the road between destinations, true coffee aficionados always travel prepared. While some people have been known to carry a full-size coffee maker in the back floorboard of their SUV(guilty as charged!), portable makes more sense to more java-addicted people like you and me. Plus, you can find one for any occasion. We’ll give you great options for:

• making coffee in your car
• making coffee when camping
• battery-operated options for when the power is out
• and, the best any time portable option

So, whether you’re a frequent roadtripper, a camper, or you make your living on the road, these best portable travel coffee makers are the right fit for those who take their coffee truly to go. Check out our reviews below for our top rated picks.

Best Portable Travel Coffee Maker for Your Car

Not every car can be a Fiat with its built-in coffee maker and dashboard light that gently coddles one’s coffee addiction by reminding the driver when it’s time for a caffeine-fix. Unless you’ve had it souped up coffee style, in any other ride, you’re the one responsible for the coffee creation.

When you plan to roll through out of the way places in a car without its own coffee maker, you need coffee equipment that works equally well at making straight-up coffee or perfect espresso, and you’ll find that combination in the Aerobie AeroPress.

The AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker is small, it’s lightweight, and it’s pretty much a godsend for coffee addicts on the road. Carry your coffee and AeroPress filters with you, and all you need is hot water, which any gas station can supply. And it will save you a lot of money when traveling (if you drink as much coffee as I do!) since the price is around the equivalent of three or four large Starbucks lattes. For me, this thing would pay for itself on the first day of a road trip!

It only takes about a minute to take your coffee scoop to pour, and in my opinion the flavor produced by the AeroPress is so impressive, even restaurants like Urban Angel in Edinburgh, Scotland and praised U.S. coffee chain Stumptown Coffee Roasters have AeroPressed coffee on the menu.

In my opinion, the only downside to this piece of powerhouse coffee equipment is that it has multiple pieces, so find a case to carry its components in or buy it with its official tote bag if you don’t want to be searching for pieces all over your car. More detailed information is available on the official site, however that it may not be the cheapest place to buy it. We suggest checking prices at the following online stores:

• Amazon
• Aerobie
• Prima Coffee
• Bed Bath & Beyond

Best Portable Travel Coffee Maker for Camping

When it comes to camp portability, backpackers and backcountry campers are most limited in their space for coffee equipment, but even campsite campers benefit from keeping their supplies light. The GSI Outdoors Collapsible JavaDrip Slim Drip Coffee Maker is an ideal coffee apparatus for any camper.

For me, it meets the two most important criteria (in my opinion) – it is cheap and it works as advertised.

Where to buy:

• REI
• Amazon
• GSI Outdoors

According to the manufacturer, it is designed so that it holds a #4 filter, which means that you can make anywhere between one cup and 12 cups of coffee at camp. This is great because you can easily adjust depending on how many people are out with you. Great for car camping, tent camping and glamping. Also good for java addicts like me who need that fix every few hours when hiking or backpacking.

Weighing less than 5 ounces, the coffee cone collapses down to a one inch disc that can easily be slid into a small pocket or the leftover space in a pack. The base of the cone is specially designed to fit on cups and bottles with wide mouths without moving. And, unlike many collapsible coffee cones, the JavaDrip Slim Drip is built with sturdiness in mind, so those incidents you might have had with collapsing cones of boiling water are a thing of the past.

As you can see, it is made of plastic and has a bit of a latex smell when new, however this does not affect the taste of the brewed coffee. One thing to note is that it does make coffee slowly (in my opinion), so you’re looking at about two minutes or so to get two decent size cups of joe from it. It’s not really that long, but if you’re used to using a Bunn then it might seem like an eternity!

Inexpensive, and free of protruding pieces that can easily be snapped off in a pack, this is a simple coffee maker for your nature getaway. It is easy to store and easy to clean – what more do you need?

Best Battery Operated Travel Coffee Maker

If you want the best battery-powered coffee maker in the world, you’d better be willing to jump on a plane and buy an adapter. The Trisa Coffee to Go espresso maker is hands down the world’s best (and kind of the only) truly battery-powered coffee maker. Unfortunately, the Trisa Coffee to Go is available to a limited European market, so in the U.S. you’ll have to settle for the next best thing.

Unfortunately, the choices of battery powered coffee makers in the U.S. are sadly slim. Not truly battery-powered, the coffee makers in the U.S. run off 12-volt batteries, which means they have to be hooked up to your car’s power supply and they have a reputation for being real battery-suckers.

If you find yourself in desperate need of a 12-volt coffee maker, your best option is the Roadpro Quick Cup. In my opinion, it has its share of issues, including a spill-happy cup, so it’s best used for brewing only, with coffee poured into another container to drink. You can buy it online at:

• Camping World
• Amazon

Of course, it’s not all bad as this little gadget has an affordable price and my experience shows that in just 15 minutes it can deliver up 16 piping hot ounces of coffee for your drinking pleasure. Just be careful not to spill it on your lap while driving!

The wrap-around band on the Roadpro that holds the cup in place, though, puts this battery operated coffee maker a cut above the rest. Just make sure you have an extra car battery on hand. Or, better yet, skip the battery powered coffee maker and go for a 12-volt electric kettle instead. While it might not be ideal, in my opinion the SZHuibang Car Electric Kettle is fastest, and you can use it in conjunction with any one of the coffee-making tools on this list. You can buy it from:

• Amazon
• Pure Coffee Shop
• Sears

Vietnamese Coffee Filter for Any Occasion

Camping, at the office, or traveling by car, a Vietnamese coffee filter set is a top-notch solution for portable coffee making, at least in my opinion. Simplistic, small and lightweight, the stainless steel components of this coffee maker come in under half a pound total.

Somewhere between the GSI collapsible drip and the AeroPress, the Vietnamese coffee filter has become a go-to coffee maker for anyone who wants to make great coffee, regardless of location.

In my opinion, it seems to have the most affordable price compared to the other options and it is ultra portable. You can even use it at home on a regular basis.

Where to buy:

• Amazon
• eBay

When you buy one of these sets, you get several stainless steel pieces. It includes the saucer, the brew chamber, the insert press, and the lid. It also has rubber handles so you do not have to worry about burning yourself when trying to make coffee.

For the best results using this, I suggest that you go with coffee with a medium to thick grind. Based on my research, most people who use this on a regular basis stick with Trung Nguyen coffee for optimal brewing results. The video below can give you some tips on brewing the perfect cup o’joe with one of these.

In my opinion, the best thing about each of these coffee makers listed above is how interchangeable they can be. While the GSI Outdoors Collapsible JavaDrip Slim Drip Coffee Maker listed at the top is most compact, for instance, there is nothing stopping a truly dedicated joe-master from finding a spot for an AeroPress in his or her hiking pack.

Once you find the portable coffee maker that suits you best, stick with it. You will always be able to brew up the perfect cup of coffee, no matter where you are or how you’re traveling.

 

If you’re shopping for a fancy new coffee machine for your kitchen, then there is a good chance that you’ve narrowed the options down to the illy iperEspresso coffee capsules or the Nespresso home coffee capsules. Making a decision between the two can be a bit of a challenge since they are each great coffee pod options. To help you select one, let us help you compare the two coffee capsule systems to determine which is the better purchase.

About iperEspresso Coffee Capsules

If you do any traveling at all, then there is a pretty good chance that you’ve come across some cafes and coffee shops that serve illy espresso and coffee. In case this familiar red logo is not so familiar to you, here’s what you should know about illy – it is an Italian brand known for making high quality coffees since the 1930s. In recent years, the brand has been making a dent in the American market and is ready to take over your kitchen now. Keep reading for my mini illy Iperespresso review.

The mission of illy is to help you be your own barista and make the best coffee at home as you possibly can. The coffee capsules come in a pressurized, sealed canister or cube that locks in the ultimate freshness level. In fact, once you open the canister, you have to refrigerate the remaining capsules.

Using the illy iperEspresso coffee capsules requires the use of one of the home pod coffee machines made by one of the manufacturers that illy is working with, such as Gaggia and Francis Francis. Using these coffee capsules takes only around 30 seconds to get your cup of coffee. What appears in your coffee mug is a nice, rich espresso with a crema that is long-lasting. This perfect cup of espresso is the result of the two-phase extraction process that you get with this coffee capsule system.

You can order these in either a canister, cube or single capsule packs. If you opt for the canister, then you get 21 capsules with a retail price of $18. In the cube, you get 18 coffee capsules at a price of $16.50. For the single capsule packs, you’re looking at a retail price of $13 for 14 individually wrapped capsules.

To give you an idea of how much the coffee capsule machine will cost you, here are some popular options that you can use:

• Francis Francis for illy X7.1 iperEspresso Machine
• Francis Francis for Illy X1 iperEspresso Machine
• Illy Caffe Y1.1 Touch Espresso Machine
• Gaggia for Illy Espresso Machine

Want to check the current prices on these at Amazon? Click Here. Please note that prices vary.

About Nespresso Coffee Capsules

Of the two, I would guess that Nespresso coffee capsules are the more widely recognized brand. It helps that they have been on the market in the US a bit longer than illy. An interesting thing about the Nespresso coffee pods is that you have two different lines that you can buy. Their Original line has the traditional coffee cup pod design. Their VertuoLine are rounded coffee capsules in two different sizes.

Probably the best thing about Nespresso is that you have a lot of choices of both coffee and espresso roasts with both of the lines of coffee capsules. This is great for small offices as well as people who like a little variety in their coffee routine.

When you go to order their capsules, you can just buy them as a single capsule purchase for most flavor varieties, with a few multi-packs available. See what I mean by looking at their site here. Prices are low too, with $1.10 per capsule being the highest price right now.

What’s unique about Nespresso compared to illy is that they have their own line of Nespresso branded coffee pod machines, as well as those by other manufacturers, like KitchenAid. To see all their machines at once, check out their official website here. You may need to shop around for the best price.  Click here to look on Amazon now.

Prices for the Nespresso coffee pod machines vary. It’s quite the price range, which leaves something for everyone.

Conclusion – Which is Better?

After comparing the iperEspresso and Nespresso coffee capsules, it is clear that each offers great tasting coffee to the serious or casual java drinker. In fact, it is hard to find fault with either of them. But, overall I think that the Nespresso coffee capsules are better for most people. Here’s why:

• cheapest coffee pods = Nespresso
• cheapest coffee pod machines = Nespresso
• most coffee varieties = Nespresso
• richer cup of coffee = illy iperEspresso

As you can see, the illy iperEspresso only wins at one thing when comparing to the Nespresso – coffee yumminess. Of course, the Nespresso has a good flavor too.

Bottom line – if you’ve got the extra money to spend, then you are better with illy iperEspresso due to its richer and smoother coffee. If you’re on a budget or want the best value coffee pod system, then go with Nespresso. Either way, you get a great cup of coffee.