Are you a slave to your single serve coffee maker but sick to the back teeth of pod coffee?
Perhaps, you have tried everything that Nespresso and Keurig have created and to be honest, you just want to try something different?
Or, is it the cost of a new set of capsules which is grinding you down?
Whatever your reasons, you will be pleased to know that there are some top quality alternatives for you to look at.
Single serve coffee makers that make great coffee just using ground coffee.
There are three different kinds of single cup brewers that I want to look at in this post
- coffee makers that can brew single cups with just coffee grounds.
- coffee makers that can brew a single cup with coffee grounds and K Cups
- single serve brewers that decant into a travel mug.
And some of these single serve coffee makers give you the flexibility to use either coffee grounds or a K- Cup.
For those of you in a hurry, let me show you my top three picks.
Before I take you through all nine of these machines, let’s go through a few definitions…
So, what is a single-serve coffee maker?
In short it is any machine that allows you to brew a single serving of coffee (anywhere from a small cup to a travel mug), saving you the waste, time and headache of an entire pot.
And how do they work?
The overwhelming majority of these machines use coffee pods or capsules. These are plastic containers that contain enough ground coffee (or tea or hot chocolate) for a single drink.
The two most famous varieties are Nespresso and K- Cups.
The capsules are placed in the single serve coffee maker which combines them with hot water to produce a great cup of coffee.
But as this post will go onto explain in more detail, there are alternative coffee makers out there that use ground coffee and not capsules.
3 advantages of a single cup coffee maker
This method of brewing coffee is for anyone who does not need an entire pot of coffee and could benefit from the saved time.
Whether that time is used to help ease your busy schedule or to enjoy a little personal time… or if you live alone and just need a friend!
The single-serve method will soon become your best friend.
The main benefits to a single-serve machine over a conventional, pot-style brewers are:
More coffee variety
Single cup coffee makers allow us to drink a wider variety of coffee without having to store big bags or jars of coffee.
Pod coffee is much easier to store
Faster Brewer
Single serve coffee makers brew a cup of coffee in less time than a drip coffee maker brews a whole pot
Less coffee waste
Brewing and drinking single cups of coffee for most people will lead to less wasted coffee than those people who make pots of coffee.
No coffee grounds = less clean up
Pod coffee is easier to clean up. There is not large and delicate pot to clean and no coffee grounds to put down the sink.
The pros and cons of coffee without pods
So, why would you use a podless machine instead of a coffee maker that requires K Cups or Nespresso capsules?
Pros of no pods
Podless coffee makers offer a variety of advantages, including;
Coffee grounds are compatible
Any ground coffee can be used in any pod-less machine. You don’t have the compatibility issues related to coffee capsules.
Coffee grounds and brew strength
Using ground coffee, you have lots more control over the strength of the coffee you make
Podless coffee is greener
Ground coffee is more planet friendly because there is no plastic involved.
- Cost: Ground coffee is far, far cheaper than using coffee pods.
- Fresh: You can use freshly grounded coffee in a podless machine. Do you really know how fresh the coffee is in that K Cup?
The cons of no pod coffee
Yes, I can’t lie.
There are some disadvantages to podless coffee makers and here they are.
Not So Easy: Pods are the easiest way to make coffee, bar none. You don’t have to be a trained barista to brew a great cup. Just pop in the pod and you’re all set!
Lack of Variety: With pods, you don’t have keep using the same bag of beans you don’t like or are growing bored of.
There are lots of variety packs for you to buy.
In the next section, I will explain what some of the key features are that you should look out for when hunting for your new single serve coffee maker without pods.
10 Top Features of Single Serve Coffee Makers With No Pods
In order to make the reviews as easy to read as possible I thought that I should summarise the top features or the most common features that you will find amongst all of the coffee makers that I review.
And there are 10 features that I think that you should keep a special eye on.
And don’t worry a chart containing each of these is included in each individual product review.
Brew Size
Most of the coffee makers in my comparison can brew a 14 oz. cup of coffee.
Auto Off
This feature means that after a cup of coffee has been brewed, the machine will automatically switch off.
And when you think that a key target audience for single serve coffee makers are busy people, a safety feature such as this is perfect.
One Button Brewing
Well, the great news here is that all of the models in my comparison have one button brewing. By this, I mean that you only need to turn the machine on (well you need to have filled it with water and loaded it with coffee) in order to start making coffee.
Compatibility
Some of the models in my comparison are able to make coffee using coffee grounds or using coffee pods (such as K- Cups.)
Permanent Filter
No need for paper filters here.
All of the models in my comparison use plastic filters.
Although plastic filters are not as efficient as papers one, plastic filters can be used repeatedly whereas paper filters are single use only.
Travel Mug
This is a growing trend.
Not so long ago there was a push from manufacturers to make their single serve machines, travel cup friendly.
But now there are a growing number of models which are being designed to brew directly into a travel mug.
Drip Tray
These are simple but very important features.
All of the coffee makers in my selection have removable drip trays- which make cleaning so much easier and some of the brewers that I review have adjustable drip trays.
These are drips trays that are height adjustable depending on whether you are brewing a shot of coffee, or a cup or a mug.
Brew Strength
Instead of adjusting the strength of your cup of coffee by adjusting the amount of coffee grounds that you use, some of the machine in my round up will make you a stronger cup at the press of a button.
Self Cleaning
This feature means at the press of a couple of buttons, the coffee makers will flush itself with hot water.
No need to unplug the machine and run it under a tap.
It is another time- saving feature which meets the needs of the target audience perfectly.
Dimensions
This will be an important consideration for some people but not for others.
It seems to me that manufacturers are more aware that some of their models need to be as small as possible.
Why? Because on average people are living in smaller spaces.
And so the pressure is on to manufacture increase the quality of products whilst making them smaller.
Now that we have discussed the best features look out for in your search for your next single serve coffee maker without pods…
4 features that you don’t get with a single serve coffee maker no pods
Single serve coffee makers with no pods do come with a range of powerful features.
But, there are also some important features that they don’t come with.
These are features that you might find with other more expensive coffee makers but you won’t find on any no pod single serve makers.
Or not any that I came across!
LCD Touch Display
If you like your kitchen gadgets to have built in color touch screens, then in your search for a no pod single serve coffee maker, you will be disappointed.
None of the machines in my comparison or that I could find anywhere had touch screens.
Funnily enough, very few of them have more than one button!
They are plain and simple machines which helps to keep their size and cost to a minimum.
Removable Water Reservoir
None of the no pod coffee makers that I review have removable water reservoirs.
Instead, all of them just have an internal chamber that you pour water into.
Removable water reservoirs are easier to fill up than internal chambers and they are easier to keep clean.
But they tend to machines slightly bigger and more expensive.
Temperature Control
On some high end single serve machines, you have the option of controlling the temperature that your coffee is brewed at.
After all, we know that a perfect cup of coffee is brewed using water that is between 195 – 202 °F.
None of the machines in my comparison offer this feature, although this model brews the coffee at an “optimal temperature.”
Programmability
It is one of the most charming features of a coffee machine…
…the ability to programme it so that it turns on automatically and brews you a cup of coffee just as you wake up in the morning, or return home in the evening.
And if that is an essential feature of your no pod coffee maker then I am going to have to disappoint you.
I could not find any models that had this feature.
…let’s take a look at some of the best products.
[1] Hamilton Beach Single Serve Coffee Maker (The Scoop)
Quite simple, this device is one of the most popular single serve coffee makers for sale: period.
| Compatibility | Grounds | | Drip Tray | Yes |
| Auto Shut Off | Yes | Brew Strength | Yes |
| Brew Size (oz.) | 14 | Self Cleaning | No |
| Travel Mug Friendly | Yes | Dimensions | 13.5” H x 9.8” W x 7.6” |
| Travel Mug Included | No | Permanent Filter | Yes |
| Brew Time | 2.5 minutes | One Button Brewing | Yes |
Features
It’s a perfect machine for a grab-and-go cup of coffee in the morning with no waste.
My favourite feature is the adjustable base – a lot of these single serve machines can’t accommodate the height of a travel mug.
And being pod-less I can use freshly ground beans without wasting half the pot (that no one in my family seems to drink).
It’s a great alternative to K-cups with the versatility to pick your own beans.
I would definitely recommend!
Unique/ Outstanding Features
Most single cup coffee makers are made of cheap black plastic and so the sleek stainless steel design of this machine is something that makes it stand out from many of it’s competitors.
And that this machine is just so highly rated.
[2] Hamilton Beach Flexbrew Single Serve
The main difference between this model and the previous one, is that this coffee maker comes with its own sleek stainless steel travel mug.
And even though there is a fair amount of black plastic on this machine, I think that the way that the travel mug looks when it is sitting on the drip tray makes it look very smart.
A full list of specs can be seen below:
| Compatibility | Grounds | K Cup | Drip Tray | Removable |
| Auto Shut Off | Yes | Brew Strength | No |
| Brew Size (oz.) | 14 oz | Self Cleaning | No |
| Travel Mug Friendly | Yes | Dimensions | 13.4” H x 6.5” W x 10.2” D |
| Travel Mug Included | Yes | Permanent Filter | Yes |
| Brew Time | 3 minutes | One Button Brewing | Yes |
Unique or Outstanding Features
There is nothing unique about this coffee maker in my round up.
It is another highly rated single serve coffee machine from Hamilton Beach though.
And it gives you the flexibility to brew a coffee from loose grounds or with K Cups.
Comparing this to the Scoop model above, this model has a slightly slower brew time and you cannot control the brew strength.
[3] Bella BLA14485 One Scoop One Cup Coffee Maker
Features
I mean, for the price it’s an awesome little machine.
It’s very small, compact and easy to use – just plug it in, add water, grinds and turn on.
This coffee maker only works with ground coffee, it doesn’t allow you to use any K Cups.
Let’s have a look at it specs in more details:
| Compatibility | Grounds | | Drip Tray | Removable | Adjustable |
| Auto Shut Off | Yes | Brew Strength | No |
| Brew Size (oz.) | 14 | Self Cleaning | No |
| Travel Mug Friendly | Yes | Dimensions | 10.3” H x 5.1” W x 8.3” D |
| Travel Mug Included | No | Permanent Filter | Yes |
| Brew Time | No details | One Button Brewing | Yes |
Unique or Outstanding Features
I think that the most outstanding feature of this coffee maker is its color.
The vibrant red makes it unique in my round up.
As well as having a removable drip tray, the height of the tray can also be adjusted to accommodate cups of different heights.
It is a shame that there are no details about how quickly this machine can brew a cup of coffee.
And something else to bear in mind, in terms of size, this Bella model is one of the smallest that I review- which is great if you are looking for a space saving device but not so great if you want to use it with a full height travel mug!
[4] Black+Decker DCM18S
Looking like a cheaper version of the Hamilton Brew, the DCM18S is another single serve coffee brewer that is designed to be used first and foremost with a travel mug- and a 15 oz. cup is included in the purchase.
Let’s check out the specs:
Compatibility | Grounds | | Drip Tray | Yes |
| Auto Shut Off | Yes | Brew Strength | No |
| Brew Size (oz.) | 14 | Self Cleaning | No |
| Travel Mug Friendly | Yes | Dimensions | 9.75” H x 7” W x 6”D |
| Travel Mug Included | Yes | Permanent Filter | Yes |
| Brew Time | No details | One Button Brewing | Yes |
Unique or Outstanding Features
There is nothing about this coffee brewer that is going to blow you away apart from its price and how highly rated it is.
There is too much black plastic on show for this to be called good looking, but if you are short on space and are looking to spend as little as possible in order to get a reasonable cup of coffee, then this model might be for you.
[5] Mixpresso Single Cup Coffee Maker
Another coffee maker which is made of black plastic, how unique?!
But before we judge it too harshly, let’s take a look at the specs:
| Compatibility | Grounds | K Cup | Drip Tray | Removable |
| Auto Shut Off | Yes | Brew Strength | No |
| Brew Size (oz.) | 10 | Self Cleaning | No |
| Travel Mug Friendly | No | Dimensions | 9.1” H x 4.7” W x 8.2” D |
| Travel Mug Included | No | Permanent Filter | Yes |
| Brew Time | 3 minute | One Button Brewing | Yes |
This Mixpresso has most of the key features that you would want from a brewer of this type.
What this coffee maker does offer is the flexibility to use ground coffee or K Cups.
This brewer is the smallest model in my comparison in a couple of ways.
Firstly, height wise it is the shortest.
Secondly, the brew size is small- only 10 oz.
And if height is a concern, this Mixpresso might be your perfect choice.
And in terms of a smaller maximum brew size, not all of us want a 15 oz cup of coffee.
[6] Mixpresso Single Cup Coffee Maker With Travel Mug
Your Mixpresso fan but you like to brew and go- grabbing your cup and rushing to the car for the school run or the exasperating commute into the office.
You might want to seriously consider this model if you are a Mixpresso fan but otherwise I think that this model is not as highly rated or as cheap as the Black+Decker nor as good looking as Hamilton Beach’s Flexbrew.
[7] Sboly Single Serve Coffee Maker for K Cups and Ground Coffee
The Sboly single serve coffee maker is very rated and has a couple of features which many of its competitors don’t have.
These include the ability to make a cup of coffee from grounds or K Cups, the ability to brew a stronger cup at the touch of a button and a self cleaning function.
And self cleaning brewers are very attractive for single serve coffee makers because it is another time saving feature.
Here are the specs in full:
| Compatibility | Grounds | K Cup | Drip Tray | Removable |
| Auto Shut Off | Yes | Brew Strength | Yes |
| Brew Size (oz.) | 12 | Self Cleaning | Yes |
| Travel Mug Friendly | Yes | Dimensions | 11.6 H x 5.4 W x 7.3 D |
| Travel Mug Included | No | Permanent Filter | Yes |
| Brew Time | 3 minutes | One Button Brewing | Yes |
And if you would like a brewer that is designed from the bottom up for travel cups and includes one with your purchase, then read about another Sboly model next.
Pros
- Affordable price.
- Auto-clean function keeps your machine in tip-top condition with no user input required.
- Designed for both K cup pod and ground coffee brewing options.
- Compact design, does not take much space on the counter.
- Water heats up fast and comes out very hot.
- No stagnation of water in coffee maker.
- Lightweight and easy to carry.
Cons
- Makes a little bit of noise when brewing
- Sometimes leaks coffee through the filter.
[8] Sboly Single Serve Coffee Maker With Insulated Coffee Tumbler
This is exactly the same as the Sboly model described above, but this comes with an insulated travel mug, which looks very sleek in black.
But before you commit to buying the model that comes with the travel mug, quickly compare the price difference between the two Sboly brewers.
[9] Dnsly Single Serve Coffee Maker for K Cups and Ground Coffee
If you are thinking that this looks exactly the same as the Sboly, I think that you have a point.
To look at they are identical twins with different names tags.
And a quick look at the specs will just confirm our suspicions:
| Compatibility | Grounds | K Cup | Drip Tray | Removable |
| Auto Shut Off | Yes | Brew Strength | Yes |
| Brew Size (oz.) | 14 | Self Cleaning | Yes |
| Travel Mug Friendly | No | Dimensions | 11.6” H x 5.4” W x 7.3” D |
| Travel Mug Included | No | Permanent Filter | Yes |
| Brew Time | One Button Brewing | Yes |
Yes they are the same machine- the dimensions are identical- as is the price.
Let me cut to the chase. If it is a toss up between the Sboly single coffee maker and the Dnsly model, opt for the Sboly model of its ratings.
Pros
- Lightweight and portable design is suitable for travel
- Trays, filters, and holders can be easily removed for cleaning.
- Very easy to use.
- Auto cleaning option is great.
Cons
- Not compatible with reusable K-cup filters
- Leaves lot of residue in the bottom of the cup
- The opening to fill water is too small.
But remember to double check the current price for both models.
