Best Keurig Alternatives For Your Single Serve Coffee Maker

Keurig is the leader in the world of single-serve coffee, but it isn’t the only presence in the market. Plenty of other companies have offerings geared for the single serve coffee maker segment. So there are pretty amazing options when you don’t want a Keurig machine.

Our candidates for the best Keurig alternatives are reliable and loved machines. Most of these are compatible with the K cups, while some provide single-serve coffee through other methods.

K cups call the shots in the single-serve world. Even most non-Keurig single-serve machines use K cups to brew coffee.

Top Keurig Alternatives To Consider

Editor’s Choice: Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Single-Serve Coffee Maker

Hamilton Beach FlexBrew series makes all kinds of sense for single-serve goodness. FlexBrew Maintains the same easy to operate principles that have made Keurig so famous. Plus, it comes with the confidence of a brand we’re all so familiar and comfortable with. It sure helps that the coffee maker is fit for the job and can brew a great (K) cup of coffee!

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Reviews For Top Keurig Competitors

1. Mr. Coffee BVMC SC100

Mr Coffee BVMC SC100

A dependable machine with excellent value for money, the Mr. Coffee BVMC SC100 is an excellent pick as a single-serve coffee maker. Even by single-serve standards, this machine is remarkably easy to operate. The reservoir takes up to 10 oz of water and brews it all at the touch of a button.

There is no brew-size selection or other features. You place the cup and the machine brews the whole reservoir. It can be useful in the sense that you can measure the water using your coffee cup. Since the small reservoir is going to need a refill every time you brew, this is a straightforward solution. 

The lack of control can be a problem and it can get tiresome. However, for those who brew a quick cup occasionally, the Mr. Coffee BVMC SC100 is a great pick. In terms of handling its water reservoir and brewing, it is very similar to single-serve grind and brew coffee makers.

Pros

  • Very easy to operate
  • Good temperature control
  • Well-priced
  • Auto shut-off after brewing
  • Very compact design

Cons

  • No brew-size control – the coffee maker will brew the full reservoir every time
  • Machine construction can feel shabby at some points
  • Could use better looks

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2. CHULUX Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer

CHULUX Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer

CHULUX Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer is an excellent value pick. Its design is not very sleek – at least I’m not a fan of the knob at the top of the machine and the overly prominent and wavy brand label at the front.

To be fair, those aren’t glaring shortcomings and can be forgiven in favor of the usability of this machine. Chulux Single-Serve Coffee Maker offers a single button operation. You power it on, and the machine will brew the entire reservoir.

The water reservoir size here accommodates a maximum of 12 oz. Brew-size options are absent, but the machine will work with 5-12 oz water in the reservoir. So your brew-size pick is whatever you pour into the reservoir. 

As I said, the issues with the design are forgivable. But, it is the three minute brew time that is the biggest problem with this machine. Single serve brewers ought to be quicker, especially when their competitors can get the coffee out in seconds.

Pros

  • Easy to use, single button operation
  • Excellent value for money
  • Auto shut-off after brewing
  • Brews 5-12 oz cups depending on the water in the reservoir

Cons

  • Takes 3 minutes to brew a single cup
  • The looks could be better
  • No convenient brew-size control

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3. Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Single-Serve Coffee Maker (49948)

Hamilton Beach FlexBrew 49948 Single-Serve Maker

Our top choice for this category, Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Single-Serve Coffee Maker (49948) is an excellent single-serve brewer. It’s easy to use controls and good brewing make it a solid pick amongst Keurig type coffee makers. The coffee maker is competitively priced and yet they’ve managed to include a variety of features and options.

Hamilton Beach FlexBrew 49948 Single-Serve Maker has a 40 oz reservoir so there’s no need to refill after each brew. It also offers precise brew-size control options. Users can pick from 8, 10, and 14 oz brew sizes. Of course, the drip tray can be removed to accommodate taller cups and travel mugs.

You can also manage the brew-strength by choosing between regular and bold options. The biggest drawback for this coffee maker is that it can take up to 3 minutes to brew a single cup. It isn’t too much, but again, it’s reasonable to expect single-serve brewers to be quicker.

Pros

  • Excellent value for money and competitively priced
  • Offers brew-size control
  • Two brew-strength control options
  • Well-sized 40 oz water reservoir
  • Auto shut-off after brewing

Cons

  • Can take three minutes to brew a single cup
  • Struggles with maintaining the right brewing temperature
  • Questionable longevity

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4. Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Machine by De’Longhi

Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Machine by De'Longhi

Nespresso might not rule the single-serve market, but it is the biggest Keurig competitor. Making a choice can be difficult in a serious Nespresso vs Keurig comparison. Nespresso focuses more on espresso rather than coffee, though the Vertuo Coffee and Espresso machine can do both. And it does a fantastic job at either brew!

Pair it with a milk frother and you open the door to a number of delicious beverage possibilities. It’s worth noting that Nespresso Vertuo machines use their own pods and aren’t compatible with K cups or similar single-serve systems. 

Nespresso Vertuo offers five brew sizes Espresso (1.35 oz.), Double Espresso (2.7 oz.), Gran Lungo (5 oz.), Coffee (7.7 oz.) and Alto (14 oz.). The machine also makes it easy to customize these brew sizes to your will. 

The machine is remarkably fast at brewing and can have your espresso ready in just 15 seconds. This machine doesn’t use a pump to generate pressure for brewing espresso, which is a significant feature of the Nespresso VertuoLine.

Pros

  • Very quick to brew (espresso can be ready as quickly as 15 seconds)
  • Brews espresso and coffee
  • Easy brew-size customization
  • Several brew-sizes available

Cons

  • Only compatible with Nespresso pods
  • Slightly more expensive than its competition

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5. Cuisinart SS-10P1 Premium Single-Serve Coffeemaker

Cuisinart SS-10P1 Premium Single-Serve Coffeemaker

Successor to the beloved Cuisinart SS-700, the Cuisinart SS-10 is an excellent single-serve coffee maker in its own right. I still think that the SS-700 was better. Even so, given the current competition, Cuisinart SS-10P1 Premium Single-Serve Coffeemaker is the cream of the crop.

It comes with a large 72 oz water reservoir, making it best suited for use in a family setting or small office. Several cups can be brewed before you need a reservoir refill. Compatible with K cups, the machine offers five brew sizes. These are 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 oz, all of which can be easily selected through the available interface. A hot water dispenser option is also available. 

Pros

  • Convenient to operate and use
  • Well-built machine
  • Large and crisp display
  • Several brew-size options
  • Auto cleaning
  • 72 oz water reservoir

Cons

  • Slightly more complex than its competition

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6. Mixpresso – Single Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker

Mixpresso - Single Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker

Mixpresso – Single Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker takes its role as a coffee maker like Keurig quite seriously. The coffee maker strikes a good balance between ease of use and available features. It tries to cover its bases and does a good job at that. 

It works with K cups and claims to have the coffee ready in just about 30 seconds. Practically, it takes more than those 30 seconds, but it’s a small difference that can be ignored. It’s quick and way better than having to wait several minutes for your coffee to pour.

Mixpresso – Single Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker has a 45 oz removable water reservoir. It’s easy to refill, though you won’t have to do that often due to its sizable volume. You get to choose between three brew sizes – just touch a button and the coffee maker will get into action. The auto shut-off function kicks into action if the machine stays idle for two hours.

Pros

  • Convenient and easy to use
  • Quick – claims a 30 second time to start pouring coffee
  • Has a 45 oz removable water reservoir
  • Three brew-size options

Cons

  • Questionable longevity

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7. Dnsly Coffee Maker Single Serve

Dnsly Coffee Maker Single Serve

Dnsly Coffee Maker Single Serve is a compact machine that won’t hog precious counter space. Like other small machines, it will use the entire water reservoir for the brew. So the relevant brew-size adjustment here is pouring an exact amount of water. The machine can work with 6-14 oz of water in the reservoir.

It works with Keurig K cups and includes a filter basket for when you want to brew ground coffee. However, it doesn’t accept reusable K cups, which is a disappointment. Dnsly Single Serve Coffee Maker takes about three minutes to brew a cup of coffee.

A good aspect here is the presence of an auto-clean function that runs hot water through the machine to keep it in top shape. It’s also useful when you brew different types of K cups. For example, it makes sense to use auto clean after using hot chocolate K cups before you brew a cup of coffee.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Compact design
  • Auto shut-off after brewing
  • Auto clean function

Cons

  • Doesn’t work with reusable K cups
  • Slightly expensive than similar machines
  • Takes three minutes to brew a cup

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8. Sboly Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer

Sboly Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer

Sboly Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer is pretty much the better-known sibling of the Dnsly Coffee Maker, which also features on this list. The compact coffee maker will brew its entire reservoir, though you can manage brew-size by adding the right amount of water. The coffee maker works with 6-14 oz of water and has markings on the reservoir to measure the volume.

It can work with K cups and includes a filter for coffee grounds. However, it won’t work with reusable K cups. Sboly Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer also includes an auto-clean function that makes maintenance and switching K cup flavors more convenient.

Pros

  • Compact coffee maker
  • Good temperature control
  • Auto shut-off after brewing
  • Auto clean function

Cons

  • Doesn’t work with reusable K cups
  • Slightly expensive than similar machines
  • Takes three minutes to brew a cup

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9. Mueller Single Serve Pod Compatible Coffee Maker Machine

Mueller Single Serve Pod Compatible Coffee Maker Machine

Mueller Single Serve Pod Compatible Coffee Maker Machine could very well be making an effort to be better than Keurig at the single-serve game. The machine does seem to have precise temperature control that ensures better extraction and quality brewing.

Once you choose the preferred brew size from the three options, the coffee maker jumps into action and prepares the brew in about a minute. It’s quick, precise, and makes great-tasting coffee. 

Mueller Single Serve coffee maker has a 45 oz removable water reservoir. It also includes a removable drip tray and auto shut-off functions.

Pros

  • Good temperature control
  • Three brew size options
  • Large, 45 oz removable water reservoir
  • Easy to use
  • Auto-off function

Cons

  • Consumer reviews suggest that some machines can have a rather persistent plastic smell

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10. Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker (49981A)

Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker (49981A)

Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker (49981A) is a unique pick and representative of an entirely different set of Keurig alternative coffee makers. This coffee maker doesn’t use pods. Instead, it works as a classic drip coffee maker and uses ground coffee and filter for brewing.

The “Scoop” in its name represents the filter that’s shaped like a, you guessed it, scoop. You fill it with coffee grounds, put it in the machine, and let it do its thing. It will brew the full water reservoir, but you can adjust the amount of water. The coffee maker brews 8-14 oz of coffee, depending on the water in the reservoir.

Brewing controls are placed at the front of the machine. Both of these are intended for brew-strength control. Depending on the button you choose, the coffee maker will brew regular or bold coffee. 

Pros

  • Works with ground coffee (no K cups)
  • Easy to use
  • Brew strength adjustment (regular and bold)
  • Quick to brew – 90 seconds for 8 oz, 2.5 minutes for full 14 oz
  • Good value for money
  • Auto shut-off after brewing

Cons

  • Requires more effort than K cup style brewers

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A Quick Buying Guide For Choosing Keurig Alternative Coffee Makers

To Pod Or Not To Pod

Are you looking for a non-Keurig coffee maker or a non K cup coffee maker? Most single-serve machines accept K cups, even if they’re not Keurig coffee makers. You’ll have to look a bit deeper for non K cup machines, though there are several high-quality options available.

In case you pick the non K cup route, the best bet for drip coffee makers is machines that work with ground coffee. I’d suggest staying away from random K cup competitors – they rarely last in the market. And it’s terrible getting stuck with a coffee maker for which no longer has pods available.

There are exceptions, and I think Nespresso machines are a pretty good pick if you don’t want to use K cups. Nespresso uses their own pods and the machines are reliable and make good coffee.

Keep in mind, some coffee makers that work with K cups don’t accept reusable K cups. I’d suggest favoring machines that can work with K cups and their reusable counterparts.

Brew-Size Selection

Do you prefer brew-size selection on the fly or would you rather push a button on the machine? Smaller single-serve machines with water reservoirs just big enough to hold a cup tend to favor manual brew-size picks. You add the amount of water you want, and the machine brews it all. 

There is a minimum and maximum limit for the amount of water added, but the adjustment within the limits remains manual. 

Coffee makers with larger reservoirs tend to offer push-button brew-size selection. The available options and sizes can vary with individual models, so it’s always a good idea to take a closer look before you buy. 

Brew Times – How Patient Can You Be For Coffee?

Do you prefer to have your brew ready within seconds of hitting the button, or are you fine waiting for a couple of minutes? This simple question can guide your choice of the coffee maker. Many of the entry-level coffee makers can take three minutes to brew a single cup. There are also a few faster ones that will have your coffee ready in a little over 30 seconds. 

Beyond Keurig — The Alternative Coffee Maker Selection

There is a healthy range of non-Keurig coffee makers. They can vary substantially in features and pricing, but these single-serve coffee makers fit quite well into their specific niches. 

Keurig may have the lion’s share of the single-serve market, but picking the best Keurig alternative isn’t difficult. As we see here, several capable and high-quality coffee makers can take on that role.