The Best Single Serve Coffee Makers

Single serve coffee makers are my favorite. I can make a cup of coffee whenever I need one and they really only take about 2-3 minutes to make. Now, the downfall with your regular based coffee makers is that you're going to find out that you're going to have to wait 20 minutes and half the time, you're going to have to let the pot go to waste.

You will want to just think about this one for a second. Think of the times when you have wasted, say 6 cups? You could have had 6 cups of coffee in the future. We all know that coffee grounds and filters cost a few bucks, so why think of saving?

They are great for dorm rooms, apartments, and even homes. Sure, if you're going to be feeding the whole office, you're going to have to get a commercial based one, but if not, let me give you the upsides, as well as the downsides.

The Upsides...

• Quick and easy: Most of them are going to make your pot within 5 minutes.
• Very clean: Many use a permanent filter where you don't even have to worry about replacing them. It's going to ease the waste.
• Solo cups: Instead of measuring the grounds and doing things such as that, you're going to find that some come with individual pods, making it super easy to measure out.

The Downsides...

• Not enough cups: If you have a party and people want to drink some coffee, this won't do the trick.
• Not as many features: Some have all the features that you want, but they are going to cost an arm and leg, but many complain that they want more. This is a personal choice though.

Now, onto the top 5. There are many brands that make individual coffee makers. You're going to find some such as Black and Decker, Cuisinart, as well as a few others make great makers that are going to work for you. Check out a few mentioned below, as they may be what you're looking for.

1. Keurig B40 (around $120)
2. Black and Decker DCM18S (around $20)
3. Keurig B70 (around $170)
4. Delonghi Drip Maker (around $50)
5. Brew N' Go by Black and Decker (around $27)

Making Delicious Coffee with French Press Coffee Maker

The history of the French press coffee maker may give you an idea of the reasons for its growing popularity. The French press pot has a history of brewing the richest coffee most people have ever enjoyed.

Starting in the mid 1800's balance brewers and vacuum pots were introduced. Although plunger or press brewing systems existed, the ability to make a tight enough plunger/filter was not there. Consequently the coffee was brewed accompanied by grounds in the cup. It wasn't until the 1900's that the press pot started to increase in popularity and show up in stores. Later in the 1900's stainless steel pot and filter were introduced.

The best press pot coffee is made with freshly ground coffee. Your choice of coffee grinder can make the difference between a superb cup of coffee and a so-so cup of coffee. With the coffee press pot, you want large chunks of coffee as opposed to the fine grind of espresso. The proper grinder will give you an even grind and will make the coffee the same size, consequently each morsel will react in the same way to the water and the process.

If the coffee is too finely ground, the press is much more difficult to operate. Most coffee reviewers will recommend a cone type grinder to achieve the even course ground coffee you will enjoy in your French press pot. Other types of grinders will produce uneven grounds and ultimately cause grounds to be the last swallow of that cup. That is not what you are trying to achieve. Sludge free coffee is much more enjoyable. If you don't mind a little sludge in the bottom of your cup, you can purchase a less expensive grinder. Don't buy cheap, buy quality.

Another consideration is the filter that you use. There are nylon filters and metal filters. The metal filters will require a course grind of your coffee, similar to coarse pepper from a pepper mill. The nylon filters can better handle an uneven grind or one that is actually too fine for the best taste from the French press coffee maker.

While shopping, consider the coffee you purchase and the water you use. The coffee you use should not be freshly roasted. Because of the carbon dioxide present in early roasted coffee beans, the amount of foam will be larger and therefore go over your filter causing a bit of sludge in your cup of coffee. The larger your pot, the more foam will be produced and consequently the more grounds you will have in your finished product. Not good.

If the water coming out of your faucet tastes terrible to you, so will your coffee. Areas of the country with strong sulfur taste or other undesirable tastes will want to use bottled water to achieve the best tasting coffee that has ever traveled over their lips and taste buds. You would not invest in a French press coffee maker and fine coffee beans and ultimately skimp on the quality of water that you use to brew the pot.

Making Delicious Coffee with French Press Coffee Maker

The history of the French press coffee maker may give you an idea of the reasons for its growing popularity. The French press pot has a history of brewing the richest coffee most people have ever enjoyed.

Starting in the mid 1800's balance brewers and vacuum pots were introduced. Although plunger or press brewing systems existed, the ability to make a tight enough plunger/filter was not there. Consequently the coffee was brewed accompanied by grounds in the cup. It wasn't until the 1900's that the press pot started to increase in popularity and show up in stores. Later in the 1900's stainless steel pot and filter were introduced.

The best press pot coffee is made with freshly ground coffee. Your choice of coffee grinder can make the difference between a superb cup of coffee and a so-so cup of coffee. With the coffee press pot, you want large chunks of coffee as opposed to the fine grind of espresso. The proper grinder will give you an even grind and will make the coffee the same size, consequently each morsel will react in the same way to the water and the process.

If the coffee is too finely ground, the press is much more difficult to operate. Most coffee reviewers will recommend a cone type grinder to achieve the even course ground coffee you will enjoy in your French press pot. Other types of grinders will produce uneven grounds and ultimately cause grounds to be the last swallow of that cup. That is not what you are trying to achieve. Sludge free coffee is much more enjoyable. If you don't mind a little sludge in the bottom of your cup, you can purchase a less expensive grinder. Don't buy cheap, buy quality.

Another consideration is the filter that you use. There are nylon filters and metal filters. The metal filters will require a course grind of your coffee, similar to coarse pepper from a pepper mill. The nylon filters can better handle an uneven grind or one that is actually too fine for the best taste from the French press coffee maker.

While shopping, consider the coffee you purchase and the water you use. The coffee you use should not be freshly roasted. Because of the carbon dioxide present in early roasted coffee beans, the amount of foam will be larger and therefore go over your filter causing a bit of sludge in your cup of coffee. The larger your pot, the more foam will be produced and consequently the more grounds you will have in your finished product. Not good.

If the water coming out of your faucet tastes terrible to you, so will your coffee. Areas of the country with strong sulfur taste or other undesirable tastes will want to use bottled water to achieve the best tasting coffee that has ever traveled over their lips and taste buds. You would not invest in a French press coffee maker and fine coffee beans and ultimately skimp on the quality of water that you use to brew the pot.