Best K-Cup Coffee Makers of 2024
Some people may prefer the convenience of single-serve coffee makers even if they don’t yield the best-tasting brew
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No brand of pod coffee maker is more ubiquitous than Keurig, which accounts for 73 percent of all single-serve coffee makers purchased by CR members from 2022 through the first three-quarters of 2023, according to our latest member survey. The whole category of single-serve brewers that use the Keurig-style pods is often referred to by the “K-Cup” moniker, even when the appliances are made by other brands.
Despite Keurig’s popularity, our tests show that the best K-Cup coffee makers aren’t always made by that brand. Of our top K-Cup brewing machines listed below, most of them are not Keurig models: These other top-performing models hail from Bella, Cuisinart, and Instant. “Keurig models are a bit slower to brew the second cup of coffee compared to the top-rated pod coffee makers,” says Ginny Lui, who leads testing of coffee makers at CR.
Keep in mind that pod coffee makers don’t yield the best-tasting brew, despite their convenience. On top of that is the environmental cost of the pods themselves. Although Keurig’s pods are recyclable, billions have ended up in landfills over the years.
Below are the best K-Cup coffee makers from our tests, listed in alphabetical order. All of them use K-Cup coffee pods, and some also take Nespresso pods or loose coffee grounds. Check out our complete coffee maker ratings for more top-performing pod machines. If you need help finding the best brewer for your needs, start with our coffee maker buying guide.
The Bella Dual Brew single-serve brewer is the least expensive model among the single-serve coffee makers we tested. The coffee maker receives stellar ratings for its speed in delivering the first cup and for size consistency. This brewer is a good choice if you don’t have to make too many cups of coffee every time, as you’ll have to add water to the reservoir before brewing each cup. The brewer can also use ground coffee, and it comes with auto-shutoff and a height-adjustable drip tray.
One of the best Keurig K-Cup brewers is the Cuisinart Premium Single-Serve Brewer SS-10, which boasts a stellar convenience rating and offers great cup-size and temperature consistency. This machine also packs a ton of features, including an auto-shutoff function, a removable water reservoir, a height-adjustable drip tray, a built-in water filter, and programming.
The Instant Dual Pod Plus is compatible with both K-Cup and Nespresso capsules. It delivers coffee quickly, receiving top ratings for both first-cup speed and repeat speed. It’s also fairly easy to use, clean, and adjust the brew strength. This coffee maker comes with an auto-shutoff function, a removable reservoir, and a height-adjustable drip tray.
This Instant Multi-Pod 68 MB uses built-in K-Cup and Nespresso capsules. Though it receives only one top mark (for size consistency), it performs respectably in every other category—from first-cup speed to temperature consistency. Plus, it comes with an auto-shutoff function, a removable reservoir, and a height-adjustable drip tray.
The Keurig K-Café Smart performs excellently, delivering the first cup of coffee (and subsequent cups) especially quickly and dispensing a uniform amount of coffee across multiple cups. It’s easy to use, too, whether you need to adjust brew strength or refill and clean the machine. This machine also packs a ton of features, including an auto-shutoff function, a removable water reservoir, a height-adjustable drip tray, programming, and WiFi connectivity.
The Keurig K-Express Essentials Coffee Maker offers impressive performance at a low price. This little K-Cup brewer outperforms $200 machines with very good overall performance, including excellent ratings for first-cup speed and size consistency. You won’t get many bells and whistles at this price, though. This coffee maker’s only features are an auto-shutoff, a removable reservoir, and a height-adjustable drip tray.
The Keurig K-Supreme Plus Smart earns excellent marks in first-cup speed, size consistency, and convenience. Plus, it delivers subsequent cups quickly after the first—important if you plan on caffeinating multiple people at once. Its settings allow you to easily adjust the brew’s strength, too. The coffee maker’s features include an auto-shutoff, a removable reservoir, a height-adjustable drip tray, programming, and WiFi connectivity.
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