A Single Cup Coffee Maker Vs The Best Drip Coffee Maker. Who Wins?

This is a debate that rages on. While skilled coffee connoisseurs could probably adjust both a drip coffee maker and a single cup coffee maker to produce an almost identical tasting cup of coffee, most of us cannot. And even if we could, who wants to spend that kind of time and energy doing so?

Let’s leave that to the baristas.

For the rest of us, there are some rather discernible differences between single cup coffee brewers and regular drip coffee machines that make it clear which coffee maker we should choose. Once you are presented with those benefits only then should you decide which coffee maker makes the most sense for you.

I Need My Coffee Immediately!!

Don’t panic. Both single cup coffee makers and drip coffee makers can brew you your first cup of coffee faster now than they ever could in the past. Technology advances at the speed of light and demand for fast coffee is at an all time high. Both styles will do the job….but some of us need that first cup of coffee like, yesterday.

Single cup coffee makers have been designed to brew a cup of coffee in about one to two minutes. This does not include the time it takes to warm the machine if you are turning it on for the first time in the morning. In the case of a typical Keurig coffee maker, the at home machines are warm and ready to brew in just under three minutes, assuming you are not using a Keurig coffee brewer with an automatic on/off control.

The cup of coffee itself brews in about one minute. This is true for the single cup coffee machines I own as well as most of the other Keurig home brewers. In total you’ll have a fresh cup in under four minutes at worst, and about one minute at best.

In the case of drip coffee makers, you can expect to receive your first cup of coffee (assuming again that it doesn’t have the automatic power on/off setting) in anywhere from four to seven minutes.

This Bunn coffee maker can brew a cup of coffee in just under three minutes. Don’t forget, almost every drip coffee machine requires you to brew at least four cups of coffee at a time to keep the machine running optimally. Brewing all that coffee takes time and while some drip coffee machines have sensors that will stop the brewing cycle immediately if you pull the coffee pot out to get a quick cup, most drip machines will not.

Advantage: Single Cup Coffee Makers
Best Choice: Keurig B60 Special Edition

I Entertain Large Groups Of People Regularly!

While a single cup coffee maker is designed primarily for speed and convenience, it isn’t made to make coffee in bulk. In fact, an at home single cupper that is used to produce bulk coffee will only damage the coffee maker.

Now, if you read this review I wrote you’ll see that I absolutely love entertaining guests by giving them their choice of after dinner coffee. The groups I entertain are not usually huge, so brewing a single cup for multiple people is easier than doing so for larger groups.

A drip coffee machine is the way to go if you have a huge family or you are constantly entertaining larger groups of individuals. While drip machines brew slower than single cup coffee makers, they are designed to brew up to twelve cups (approximately) at a time. Imagine trying to brew single cups of coffee for twenty five people. It isn’t practical or expeditious. Your guests might not have a say in the flavor of coffee they receive, but they’ll have a cup in their hands quickly.

Advantage: Drip Coffee Makers
Best Choice: Cuisinart CHW-12

(UPDATE: Last I checked Amazon had that CHW-12 at 55% off which is a steal for that brewer)

I Don’t Want To Spend Much Money

You will be hard pressed to find a good single cup coffee maker under $80. They might exist, but in my experience their pro’s always outweigh their con’s. You can find quite a few drip coffee makers under that price though. Even I own a basic drip coffee maker that was great when I used it. Determining their reliability or durability could be painstaking, but if price is your main concern then a drip machine is the best way for you to go.

Single cup coffee makers are relatively new to the coffee brewing market and there aren’t very many manufacturers making these machines. That explains why the prices haven’t bottomed out on the single cup machines. As soon as more companies segue into the single cup coffee machine arena, you’ll see the prices come down. This is different than the drip coffee maker market where there is plenty of competition so prices are set accordingly.

Advantage: Drip Coffee Makers
Best Choice: Cuisinart DCC-1100

I Am Lazy. I Don’t Like To Clean.

That makes two of us. That said, there isn’t a coffee maker around that never needs maintenance. If you never want to touch your coffee maker outside of hitting the brew button you are better off at Starbucks! Drip coffee makers will almost always require more cleanup than a single cup coffee maker, especially if that single cup coffee maker is one that only accommodates K-Cups.

The biggest culprit in cleaning your coffee makers are the coffee grinds. If you spill coffee grinds in your drip coffee funnel, in most instances you can remove the funnel and rinse it but then you have to dig out the remaining grinds from the coffee makers’ funnel holder. Not fun. On a single cup coffee maker you only need to gently wipe grinds from the entry and exit needles. This takes about ten seconds. Surprisingly, some people don’t even take that step and their machines become damaged.

You will always have water spills to absorb, smudges to wipe clean, and pieces and parts to wash but cleaning up coffee grinds will always be more tedious and time consuming in a drip coffee maker. The smaller the single cup coffee maker, the easier it is to clean.

Advantage: Single Cup Coffee Makers
Best Choice: Keurig Mini Plus B31

Your decision to purchase the best drip coffee maker or a single cup coffee maker shouldn’t be difficult. These are a few simple benefits that aid me in my decision making and should benefit you as well. I own both types of coffee makers, and each type serves a purpose. If you own one type and are considering another type just go over the above scenarios in your head first and then make your choice.