People are always looking for ways to save more space, more money and more time. This is particularly true in tough economic times when there is a need for fewer input costs and increased efficiency. Although most people wouldn’t turn to their kitchens or appliances for ways to save money, the simple fact is that many people spend several hundred dollars a year on coffee and coffee related beverages. If you think about it, the average coffee beverage costs around $3 .00 each. If you extrapolate this out over a year you’re talking about more than $1,000 spent just on coffee. While the convenience of buying coffee at a shop or drive thru is appealing, it simply doesn’t make much economic sense. Neither does throwing coffee away, which millions of people do each day when they brew an entire pot and consume just 1 or 2 cups. Fortunately, there is a better way – the one cup coffee maker.

One cup coffee makers are designed for people that want to save money, time and resources. Personally, I’ve never liked throwing unused coffee out at the end of the day and I also despise drinking coffee that has been sitting on the burner for more than just a few minutes. For me, these were the two biggest drivers when it came time to make a decision on my latest small coffee maker purchase. The great thing about one cup coffee makers is that they brew a fresh, aromatic cup of coffee every time, and the consistency is just remarkable. I simply place the pod of my choice (French roast, decaf, flavored, etc.) into the machine, place some water in the reservoir, hit the brew button and machine does the rest. It combines the perfect volume of water together with the grounds contained in the pod and produces the most wonderful coffee beverage every time.  Because the grounds are contained in the pod itself, clean up is a breeze – simply remove the spent pod and toss it in the trash. No more worrying about grinding the coffee or cleaning up used grinds with these machines.

So, what are some of the more popular brands of one cup coffee makers available and what makes them so well liked? Read on to discover the answers –

There are several different brands to choose from, each one slightly different from the next. However, when it comes to one cup coffee makers that people like, there are few that are reviewed as positively as the Black and Decker one cup coffee maker line. A simple search on Amazon reveals that 2 of the machines in the top 10 bestsellers are Black and Decker machines. Apart from being a trusted name in the coffee machine market, people also like the ability to use their own travel mugs with the Black and Decker small coffee makers. Don’t have a travel mug? Don’t worry – a sleek stainless steel one is included with the purchase of a machine.

Although these machines don’t use a pod style system mentioned previously, they do come equipped with a permanent filter and auto shut-off feature, both of which come in handy. The permanent filter means that you will never need to buy another paper filter and you will never run out. Another huge benefit is the absence of a glass carafe that requires cleaning. As with all one cup coffee machines, the Black and Decker models don’t let any of that precious coffee go to waste, since each brew session produces just enough coffee to fill a 15oz. mug. The machine itself is very reasonably priced at just $20.00, which is an absolute steal considering you get a stainless steel mug to go along with it. It’s no wonder that these machines are so highly regarded.

Perhaps one of the original single serve coffee makers is the one cup version made by Melitta. The Melitta one cup coffee maker uses a very simple plastic cone design that is mean to be placed directly on top of your coffee mug. Simply place a paper filter inside the cone, pour hot water over top and coffee pours into your mug – doesn’t get much more basic. I’ve used this type of coffee maker for years when camping or backpacking, since it’s highly portable, lightweight, cheap and nearly indestructible. It also produces a fantastic cup of coffee when using freshly ground high quality coffee beans. The Melitta one cup brewer retails for under $5.00, which is cheap enough just to try out for the fun of it.

Dominating the bestseller results for its category on Amazon are the Keurig line of single cup coffee makers. The Keurig one cup coffee maker uses a coffee pod called a K-Cup, each of which contains a measured portion of coffee or hot chocolate in a variety of different flavors. Many of the Keurig machines can be programmed to brew in 1-2 cup increments and the process is extremely simple. I’ve had the pleasure of using this machine on two separate occasions during business travel and it really is astonishing how simple, quick and clean it is to operate. While these machines are typically somewhat higher priced (starting at around $85) than those offered by its competitors, they offer a level of convenience that is unmatched. There is simply nothing quicker and cleaner than a machine of this type and the coffee it produces is impressive.

Sometimes it's difficult to explain using words exactly how these machines operate. The following video demonstrates how a coffee pod brewer (the Keurig) brews coffee.