If you're tired of plunking down exorbitant amounts of money for a cup of coffee that's more fluff than flavor, consider becoming your own barista. It's easy with one of the many single-serve coffee brewers on the market. Not only will you save some serious coin, but you'll end up with a cup of java exactly as you like it.
We asked Kate Pedrick, buyer at The Cook's Warehouse in Atlanta, what consumers should look for when they purchase a one-cup coffee maker.
"When shopping for a single-cup coffee brewer, consider whether you are interested in one that brews regular coffee, or one that makes espresso, which can be used for a variety of drinks. Features to pay attention to are: heat-up time, water tank capacity, programmable settings, and whether or not you can use your own coffee or if you need to use pods or capsules. Some machines offer the ability to move the water tank in order to fit your space better, milk frothers, and even Bluetooth connectivity," she said.
Check out these three one-cup coffee makers that allow you to customize each cup to suit your taste.
What is it?
Prodigio is Nespresso's first-ever coffee machine that connects to your smart device via Bluetooth and an app.
And if you prefer creamy coffees, Prodigio & Milk comes with a built-in aeroccino system that creates billowy clouds of milk.
Why do I need it?
If you're the type who gets a kick out of letting your smart phone control your life with assorted apps, then you'll love having it whip up your latte. To be exact, your phone or tablet will command Prodigio to pull the shot and froth the milk. Of course, for those times when you're feeling hands-on, you can bypass the app and manually brew a cup of joe. But what's the point?
When you're connected to the Nespresso Club Member services via the app, you won't have to think about the mundane chores that come with owning a coffee maker. For instance, you'll receive alerts that warn you when the water tank is empty, that it's time to descale, and to let you know you're running low on capsules.
Price, please.
Prodigio, $249, Prodigio & Milk, $299
Where Can I buy it?
The Cook's Warehouse, www.nespresso.com, Best Buy.
Bottom line:
Prodigio is for serious sipsters. With or without Bluetooth, Nespresso machines make excellent coffees.
What is it?
Brand new, the Cuisinart Premium SS-10 is a super sleek, stainless steel single-serve coffee brewer that makes a handsome addition to your kitchen. It not only prepares a good cup of coffee, but it also features a hot water button that allows you to enjoy hot chocolate, tea and even soup.
Why do I need it?
Beyond its striking good looks, the Cuisinart SS-10 features a 72-ounce water tank and is compatible with all K-Cups. By the way, Green Mountain is finally rolling out some recyclable K-Cups, which can be ordered online. Cuisinart allows you to brew five beverage sizes from four to 12 ounces. You can program it to turn on and off automatically, and it also has an adjustable temperature control.
The brewer is designed with a rinse function that instantly cleans the inside of the machine.
You won't have to fumble around in semi-darkness as you attempt to find your first cup of morning coffee because the LCD display settings on the Cuisinart SS-10 are backlit in vivid blue.
Price, please.
$149
Where Can I buy it?
Available at Bloomingdale's, Lenox Square.
Bottom line:
You'll get a satisfying cup of coffee from the newest single-serve coffee brewer in Cuisinart's line of solid kitchen appliances.
What is it?
Why do I need it?
The BUNN isn't flashy; it doesn't scream to be noticed on your kitchen counter. However, this single-serve coffee brewer might be your kitchen's ultimate multitasker. It's equipped with four different brewing drawers to satisfy everyone in your household. There's a drawer that accommodates K-Cups; another allows you to dispense hot water for tea, soup, oatmeal; a drawer for ground coffee, and one for soft tea or coffee pods. BUNN brews in under a minute. For those who like to boost their cup of coffee, BUNN offers a Pulse Brew option that extracts more flavor. You can brew four to 14-ounce cups.
Price, please.
$159.99
Where Can I buy it?
Bottom line:
This flexible single-serve brewer has legions of fans who consider it their favorite coffee maker.
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