The Best K-Cup Pods Coffee Makers: Top 10 Tested by Experts

Transform into your own barista with these at-home Best K-Cup Pods coffee machines.

Starting the day with a cup of coffee is unbeatable, and a single-serve coffee maker allows you to quickly brew a cup whenever you want. Whether you crave a simple drip coffee or a latte or cappuccino on demand, single-serve coffee makers are now more capable than ever of producing a delicious, rich brew. They’re often as simple to use as pressing a button. At the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we’ve tested various coffee makers and tasted the results to ensure you’re getting a great cup of coffee every time.

Here are our top choices:

BEST OVERALL Best K-Cup Pods MAKER: Keurig K-Elite

PROS:

• Top-performing in our tests
• Can also make iced brews
• Large water tank

CONS:

• Serving sizes aren’t marked with numbers

Starting the day with a cup of coffee is unbeatable, and a single-serve coffee maker allows you to quickly brew a cup whenever you want. Whether you crave a simple drip coffee or a latte or cappuccino on demand, single-serve coffee makers are now more capable than ever of producing a delicious, rich brew. They’re often as simple to use as pressing a button.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we’ve tested various coffee makers and tasted the results to ensure you’re getting a great cup of coffee every time.

 

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR OUR KEURIG K-CUP PODS

 

The Keurig K-Elite secured the top spot in our tests, consistently brewing the best-tasting coffee that was flavorful, full-bodied, and smooth. Its user-friendly control panel features simple buttons to select from five drink sizes (ranging from 4 to 12 ounces) and options for regular, strong, or iced brews. However, note that the serving size options on the control panel are indicated by pictures of cups at different heights rather than ounce numbers.

The owner’s manual was clear and easy to follow, helping our testers quickly learn how to brew a cup of coffee. Among all the coffee makers we tested, the Keurig K-Elite had one of the largest water reservoirs at 75 ounces (approximately 9 cups of coffee), meaning you won’t have to refill it constantly. Additionally, if you prefer to use your own ground coffee, a reusable filter attachment can be purchased separately.

Our testers also noted that it preheats in under 90 seconds. For those who dislike waiting, this coffee maker has an auto-on feature that allows you to set the exact time you want it to turn on.

 

Feature	Description
Brew sizes	4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces
Brewing options	Regular, strong, iced, and hot water
Water reservoir	Removable 75-ounce capacity
Coffee type	K-Cup or reusable filter filled with ground coffee

 

BEST VALUE SINGLE-SERVE COFFEE MAKER: BLACK+DECKER K-Cup Pods Coffee Maker

Category	Details
PROS	Small footprint Comes with a travel mug Easy to use
CONS	May splatter when brewing in a regular mug

 

If you’re short on countertop space and want to keep your morning coffee routine simple, the BLACK+DECKER Single-Serve Coffee Maker is a compact brewer with a modest price tag. There’s no fuss with this machine since it has just one simple start button and automatically shuts off at the end of the brew cycle. We found the included 16-ounce travel mug useful as a measuring cup to fill the water reservoir. The machine will brew all of the water you add, so be sure to measure your coffee accordingly.

In our testing, we found that the included reusable filter was easy to remove and clean. And all non-electric parts are top-rack dishwasher safe, so it’s extra easy to clean up after making a cup. But beware if you decide not to use a travel mug: We noticed that when using a regular mug, hot coffee would often splatter while brewing.

Feature	Description
Brew sizes	16 ounces
Brew options	Regular
Water reservoir	Attached 16-ounce capacity
Coffee type	Soft pod or reusable filter filled with ground coffee

 

BEST SINGLE-SERVE COFFEE MAKER WITH GRINDER: Cuisinart Grind and Brew Single-Serve Coffeemaker

PROS	CONS
Grinds beans for a single cup of coffee Can also use pre-ground coffee and single cup pods Easy to use	Grinding and brewing is a two-step process

Unlike other single-serve coffeemakers that only offer options to use pods or pre-ground coffee, this compact Cuisinart machine has a built-in grinder that dispenses coffee grounds into a reusable pod for a freshly ground single cup of coffee. The trade-off is that it adds an extra step in the process: grind the beans, put the pod in the machine then brew. We found it was worth the extra effort for the tasty, medium-bodied cup of coffee it brewed in our test.

If you’re in a rush or want to use decaf, the reusable filter pod can also be used with pre-ground coffee, or you can load any single-cup coffee pod such as Keurig K-cups. We also found that this machine was intuitive to use without the instruction manual. The capsule was easy to clean and the water tank is detachable for easy filling at the sink.

 

Feature	Description
Brew sizes	8, 10 and 12 ounces
Brew options	Regular
Water reservoir	Removable 48-ounce capacity
Coffee type	Reusable filter filled with freshly ground beans, pre-ground coffee or single-cup pods

BEST LARGE-CAPACITY SINGLE-SERVE COFFEE MAKER: Cuisinart Premium Single-Serve Brewer

PROS	CONS
One of the fastest brewing machines in our tests Large water tank Brews consistent flavorful coffee	Arrow buttons not intuitive

 

The Cuisinart Premium Single-Serve coffee maker eliminates the need for frequent refills with its large 72-ounce removable water reservoir. It comes with a reusable filter that is brilliantly hidden in a compartment on the right side of the machine. Our testers found it easy to access and use. In our tests, we found it preheats very quickly, brewing a cup of coffee in under 90 seconds. It also consistently delivered a hot cup of coffee at 172º F.

Choose from five drink sizes on an easy-to-read LED-lit control panel. We found the arrow buttons weren’t immediately intuitive but they became easy to use with practice. Its programmable rinse cycle flushes out residual flavors between brews, and our testers liked that it consistently brewed flavorful and well-rounded coffee.

Feature	Description
Brew sizes	4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 ounces
Brew options	Regular and hot water
Water reservoir	Removable 72-ounce capacity
Coffee type	K-Cup or reusable filter filled with ground coffee