Dual coffee makers, also known as two-in-one or two-way coffee makers, typically produce full carafes of coffee along with single servings of drip coffee, instant coffee, espresso, and tea. They’re a great solution for households with a variety of coffee preferences. Much like cleaning your laundry vents and polishing hardwood floors, maintaining your small kitchen appliances is essential to their well being. The machine even has a built-in feature to let you know when it needs to be descaled, so you won’t have to remember to clean it regularly. Just keep in mind you’ll want to hand wash the water reservoir, capsule holder, and drip tray rather than running them through the dishwasher. Plus, Nespresso recommends their descaling cleanser instead of vinegar or other traditional cleaning methods.
She holds an apparel and textile design degree as well as mechanical engineering. By itself, the Nespresso Essenza Mini is a reliable and easy-to-use espresso maker. A member of our team tested the item over several weeks and said the espresso consistently had strong flavor and a rich crema. Throw in an Aeroccino3 keurig single cup drip coffee makers Milk Frother and the bundle becomes highly versatile, allowing users to whip up lattes, cappuccinos, and more right from home. “The Coffee Gator Espresso Machine may not have the features of pricier, more automated options—no grinder and users have to pull the shots manually—but it excels at what it does offer.”
But price is unique here since small coffee makers can vary from $10 pour-over brewers to $300 machines. A favorite among outdoor enthusiasts and coffee experts alike, the AeroPress is the best travel companion you can find. It’s small enough to toss in a backpack or suitcase, and all it takes is access to hot water to make a tasty cup of coffee or even a richer, espresso-like brew. Our expert product tester compared the flavor and smoothness to pour over coffee. 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.
Of course, when using grounds, a little experimentation needs to take place in order to get the flavor to your liking depending on the size you choose. We found the recommended amount resulted in coffee on the weak side, so we added more the next time to get it to our liking. We also noted that coffee brewed in our 14-ounce travel mug tasted keurig single cup drip coffee makers the same — and was just as hot — as that brewed at the smaller cup sizes. The coffee maker equips the brand’s BrewID to detect the type of K-Cup pod you’re using and adjusts the brew settings accordingly. You can also manually change brew settings, choosing between five cup sizes, five strength settings and six temperature settings.
Users can program brewing up to 24 in advance and choose between regular and bold strength. It also includes a pause and serve feature so you can sneak a cup before the carafe is full, and a 2-hour automatic shutdown provides peace of mind. Made of ABS plastic, this brewer features two separate baskets so as not to compromise the final taste, one for ground coffee and one for loose or bagged tea. Thanks to the smart basket recognition, it will automatically know which one you’re about to brew. Additionally, the K-Café has Smart Start and Auto-Off functionality.