5 Best Single Serve Coffee Makers Without Pods

If you too – like me – can’t start your day without a hot cup of coffee, chances are you already have a coffee machine at home. Probably a Keurig of some sort. While popping in your typical Pike Place Roast pods from Starbucks every morning isn’t a bad option, you might want to experience more variety if you’re a coffee connoisseur. And for that, one of the options from this list of best single serve coffee makers without pods is the way to go.

The best part about a coffee maker without pods is you can acquire freshly ground coffee from your neighborhood coffee shop or explore different undertones of coffee with beans from all over the world.

Here’s a list of the best single-serve coffee makers without pods that will help you do exactly that. Note that some of them may require an additional coffee grinder if you have beans. If you plan on using ground coffee directly, you should be good to go.

But, before we get to the best single serve coffee makers without pods for brewing ground coffee, here are some similar recommendations you may find helpful.

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• A smart display for your kitchen can go a long way in digitizing your cooking process.

1. Black+Decker CM618

Simply pop off the top of the CM618 coffee maker and add ground coffee powder along with water. Then, all you have to do is wait for a few minutes while you enjoy the fragrance of fresh coffee. What’s interesting is that the Black+Decker CM618 has enough space to house a small cup or even a large travel mug. So, you can brew just enough coffee for the occasion.

Black+Decker includes a travel mug with the coffee maker which is a great deal for the price. However, the mug is made of plastic so if you have a better alternative already, we suggest using it over the included one.

While users are happy with the coffee maker, Black+Decker mentions that the coffee and water proportions need to be perfect or else you might end up with coffee that doesn’t taste as good. So, ensure you get the quantities right.

2. Hamilton Beach 49933

When we say programmable, the Hamilton Beach 49933 can remember your timing preferences for preparing coffee. What this means is every night before going to bed, all you have to do is add ground coffee into the machine along with water in the reservoir. Then, you can set a time when you want your coffee to be brewed. When you wake up at said time, a cup of hot coffee will be ready for you. This level of automation on a product at this price point is impressive.

Users of the Hamilton Beach coffee maker are mostly impressed by its versatility. If you’re the sole coffee aficionado at home, you can take advantage of the single-serve feature. But when you have guests over, you can brew multiple cups of coffee at a useful time. It’s also simple to operate. One minor niggle is that the opening of the water reservoir is rather narrow so you might end up spilling water most of the time when trying to fill it up.

3. Kotlie Single Serve Coffee Maker

If you’re in a hurry to leave for work and you don’t have the time to measure and add ground coffee into the machine, the Kotlie single-serve coffee maker can use your regular K-Cup pods to brew hot coffee in a matter of a few seconds. You can purchase a few pods and keep them handy for such instances.

But, when you want to experience different types of coffee, or you don’t want to use overpriced pods all the time, the Kotlie espresso machine can also take in ground coffee to brew. You can select different serving sizes from 40ml all the way up to 300ml which is the maximum capacity. It also takes up very little space on your kitchen counter which is a bonus compared to the Hamilton Beach coffee maker. Most of the user reviews mention the Kotlie coffee maker works as intended but the coffee isn’t as hot as one would like at times.

4. Tchibo Single Serve Coffee Maker With Grinder

The biggest differentiator between the Tchibo coffee maker and the products mentioned above is the fact that the Tchibo espresso machine has an in-built grinder. Thanks to this, you don’t have to buy ground coffee or a coffee grinder separately. Just purchase the beans of your choice and the Tchibo machine will do the grinding and brewing for you.

Other useful features include an automatic descaler and magnetic attachments for fitments making it easy to clean the machine. Even with all the extra features, the Tchibo single-serve coffee maker occupies little space in the kitchen. As a bonus, Tchibo includes two packets of high-quality espresso beans to get you started.

5. De’Longhi TrueBrew Drip Coffee Maker

With all the features mentioned above, De’Longhi also aims to offer two unique features on the TrueBrew Drip coffee maker. There are six different brewing sizes depending on how much caffeine you want to consume. Moreover, De’Longhi also claims to brew its coffee using five different styles. There’s Light, Gold, Bold, Over Ice, and Espresso. 

To make all of these choices when preparing your coffee, there’s a large touch panel with a display. Now despite these tall claims from the brand, some reviews point out that coffee from the TrueBrew Drip is often too hot which ends up masking the flavor of the coffee if you plan on drinking it instantly. Waiting for a few minutes solves this issue.

Join the Fresh Brew Crew

Freshly ground coffee has a unique aroma and taste to it that cannot be replicated by pods. Moreover, single-use pods can be expensive over a period of time which is why it’s time to consider getting yourself a single-serve coffee maker without pods. Enjoy a hot cup of coffee the way it’s meant to be enjoyed!