No pod coffee maker brand is more ubiquitous than Keurig, which accounts for 73 percent of all single-serve coffee makers purchased by CR members from 2022 through the first three quarters of 2023, according to our latest member survey. The entire category of single-serve coffee makers that utilize Keurig-style pods is often referred to as the “K-Cup,” even when the machines are made by other brands.
Despite Keurig’s popularity, our tests show that the best K-Cup coffee makers aren’t always made by the brand. Most of our best K-Cup coffee makers listed below aren’t Keurig models: These other best-performing models come from Bella, Cuisinart, and Instant. “Keurig models are a bit slower to brew a second cup of coffee than the top-rated pod coffee makers,” says Ginny Lui, who runs CR’s coffee maker tests.
Keep in mind that pod coffee makers don’t offer the best flavor, despite their convenience. Then there’s the environmental cost of the pods themselves. Although Keurig pods are recyclable, billions have ended up in landfills over the years.
