Single-Cup Coffee Makers

[JungleMan1]

With a coffee shop just around the corner, I've kind of picked up a bit of a coffee habit and I want to make good coffee at home

Honestly having a big 10 cup coffee machine just doesn't make sense since I am the only one drinking it and I might have 1, maybe 2 cups. So I heard a lot about these single-cup coffee makers and I want to know if anyone here has any experience with them or could point me in the right direction. Are they just as good as the regular makers?

I really don't have very high expectations other than the fact that I want to make a straight cup of coffee in the morning, and a machine that is big enough to fit a travel mug underneath it would be nice too.

Any and all input on the topic is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

I've got a 4-cup Mr. Coffee coffee maker that I keep in my room, it works great and I've never had a problem with it.

$19.99 at Walmart, I believe.

 

[Heisenberg]

Try www.coffeegeek.com.

 

[JungleMan1]

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon
I've got a 4-cup Mr. Coffee coffee maker that I keep in my room, it works great and I've never had a problem with it.

$19.99 at Walmart, I believe.

Thanks but I am referring to single cup coffee machines such as the Senseo, Tassimo, Home Cafe, etc. These are the types of machines that utilize pods or discs for a single cup hence the title.

 

[JungleMan1]

Any more input?

 

[Colt45]

http://www.1st-line.com/images/laspaziale/S1.jpg

 

[JungleMan1]

Relevant input would be nice.

 

[KMFJD]

Phillips makes a great 1 cup coffee maker as does Mellita, they both use coffee pods, very good coffee , takes about 1 minute to brew a cup.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon
I've got a 4-cup Mr. Coffee coffee maker that I keep in my room, it works great and I've never had a problem with it.

$19.99 at Walmart, I believe.

I have that one. $20 at Fry's, no need to support Wal Mart. Keep in mind, each up is only 6oz, so 4 cups is 24oz. Fry's also has one that makes 2 mugs, but you have to use the ones that come with it I think.. and they don't seal.

 

[Ausm]

I wouldn't get a Tassimo machine. It costs 170 bucks for a water heater

Ausm

 

[Mr N8]

Get a French Press. You can make 1-2 cups, you never have to buy filters for it, and the coffee tastes much better when made that way.

 

[badmouse]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon
I've got a 4-cup Mr. Coffee coffee maker that I keep in my room, it works great and I've never had a problem with it.

$19.99 at Walmart, I believe.

I have that one. $20 at Fry's, no need to support Wal Mart. Keep in mind, each up is only 6oz, so 4 cups is 24oz. Fry's also has one that makes 2 mugs, but you have to use the ones that come with it I think.. and they don't seal.

I also have the 4-cup Mr. Coffee. It has the cutest little tiny coffee pot - if you're into that kind of thing. Works fine. I got it at Kohl's in one of their halfprice sales, if anybody cares. No actual profit I'm sure.

My daughter has the one with the 2 mugs (wedding present) but they lost one of the mugs the first day and it costs a fortune to replace.

One of the places I work has a Senseo but I don't like the coffee it makes - merely okay. That's only my opinion!

However, for one cup of coffee what I actually use (less work than the cute little Mr Coffee) is the Melitta plastic cone thing, 2.99 at Pathmark, I put it on top of my travel mug and use good quality coffee. Yum.

 

[Gravity]

mmmmm.....french press!!

Starbux is supposed to french press for samples upon request.

"I'm considering purchasing a lb of mexican shadegrown, can you french press me a cup for tasting please?"

The answer, according to the Starbux training, should always be "yessir!!"

 

[DaveSimmons]

pods can cost a lot more than fliters + ground coffee, something to keep in mind

 

[MrBond]

Consumer Reports said the pod machines made mediocre coffee - I'd go with either the little MrCoffee machine or a French Press as someone already said.

 

[JungleMan1]

Thanks for the input guys!

Fill me in a bit more on this whole French Press thing. How much do they cost? How do you make coffee using one (is it easy? I'm a big novice)? Links to some good ones?

Thanks

I'll keep the 4-cup Mr. Coffee in mind, I could definitely see myself having 2 cups, so a leftover 2 cups that sits there and doesn't get consumed isn't a huge waste...

 

[iotone]

starbucks has a single cup french press... actually, it's the press built into a travel mug... i use it everyday for work, and with some fresh ground coffee it's way better than the machine in our office...

i got it as a bday present, but i think it was somewhere around 25 bucks??

the mug french press works this way: you basically have a sieve (sp?) attached to a plunger that is part of the screw-on cap... you put some coffee grounds into the cup with some hot water, stir gently, then i usually screw the cap on with the plunger sticking up. i let it brew on my car ride to the office, but it really shouldn't take more than 5 minutes. then gently push the plunger down. i pushes all of the grounds to the bottom of the cup. then you can pop the spout lid and drink directly.

best way to make coffee by far.

edit: pm me and i can take some pics of it when i get home

 

[totalcommand]

Originally posted by: iotone
starbucks has a single cup french press... actually, it's the press built into a travel mug... i use it everyday for work, and with some fresh ground coffee it's way better than the machine in our office...

i got it as a bday present, but i think it was somewhere around 25 bucks??

the mug french press works this way: you basically have a sieve (sp?) attached to a plunger that is part of the screw-on cap... you put some coffee grounds into the cup with some hot water, stir gently, then i usually screw the cap on with the plunger sticking up. i let it brew on my car ride to the office, but it really shouldn't take more than 5 minutes. then gently push the plunger down. i pushes all of the grounds to the bottom of the cup. then you can pop the spout lid and drink directly.

best way to make coffee by far.

edit: pm me and i can take some pics of it when i get home

cool, never seen it built into a travel mug.

 

[ssvegeta1010]

Keurig K-cup coffee makers are good too. The price may be an issue, but they make single cups and have a travel mug size. They are a bit pricey though, but if you like flavored coffee, it would be worth it.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: Mr N8
Get a French Press. You can make 1-2 cups, you never have to buy filters for it, and the coffee tastes much better when made that way.

:thumbsup:

 

[Jeraden]

I just discovered a great way to make a single cup of coffee - one of those secrets out there that go very unadvertised since I guess they all want you to buy expensive machines. A Melitta Cone Filter...
Here's what it is on amazon, though they don't actually have them in stock:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000C...020014?n=507846&s=home-garden&v=glance

They are less than $2 at my grocery store. You also buy #2 filters for them, which are very cheap. Then you just spoon in a few tablespoons of coffee and pour hot water over them. Voila, instant cup of coffee. Quick, easy to clean up, and it actually tastes incredibly good. Much better than my pod maker that I was using previously and better than the drip machine I have at home. Nice smooth flavor, not bitter or burnt tasting. Plus it doesn't get much cheaper!

Someone at work used one and told me about it. I was skeptical at first, but its a cheap investment and after trying it out, I'm a convert!

 

[everman]

The pour-over method is great because the coffee grounds are not exposed to water for too long, and generally a good brew temp.