Gets a Workout at My House

Author's Rating:

Pros: Simple, fast, and works great.

Cons: Not so easy to clean, only fits shorter cups.

The Bottom Line: 
Great for anyone who only consumes a cup or two a day.

Author's Review
I'm the only one in my house who drinks coffee. For a long time, I was using a 4 cup coffee maker that was great when I had guests over, but not so great for just me. One day, my husband came home with this as a surprise for me. He'd got it for free from a friend in the office who was moving. It was barely used. Strangely, I didn't even know there was such a thing as a single cup coffee maker.

What Is It?
This is a coffee maker that makes a single cup of coffee. It doesn't come with a carafe. You use one of your own coffee cups. It can make up to 12 ounces at a time. It comes with a permanent filter and if you buy one of these new, you'll pay about $20 for it.

How it Works
It couldn't be more simple. Take a coffee mug and check to make sure that it fits in the machine (taller mugs do not). Then, fill that mug with water and poor the water into the reservoir of the coffee maker. Place however much coffee grounds you like in the machine. I usually use a little less than 1/8th of a cup, adjusting a little for the size of the mug. Close the lid on the reservoir, plug the machine in, and press the start button. In just a few minutes, your coffee will be ready. Right in the cup you'll drink it in.

The Good

Fast
Because you're only making a cup at a time, it only takes a few minutes to have your coffee. Honestly, I haven't timed it, but I would guess it's less than five minutes. Of course the timing will vary if your cup is smaller or larger. I always use the largest mug that will fit.

Simple
I just described how simple it is to use this coffee mug. Coffee makers are generally simple, but this one is really exceptionally slow.

Permanent Filter
Using a permanent filter suits my environmentally concerned side.

No Pot to Wash
I like that I'm brewing right into my cup. No messes to make while pouring the coffee, and no pot to wash separately.

Durable
This coffee maker came to me used, and during the 2 years it's been in my possession, it's had quite a work out. I usually use it at least once per day. It's never been any trouble to me at all. At $20, if this thing dies on me, I will happily go out and get another knowing it will definitely last long enough to get my money's worth.

Can Be Used for Hot Tea, Hot Chocolate, etc.
As advertised, this machine can be used to quickly make hot water for tea, hot chocolate, or whatever else you have in mind. You should get another filter though, as those things will all have a slight coffee flavor to them if you don't

The Not So Good

Not That Easy to Clean
Neither the machine nor the permanent filter are particularly easy to clean. Also, you have to be pretty gentle with the filter while cleaning it. The mesh can be torn.

No Tall Cups
Not all of the coffee cups I have will fit in this thing. You need to use a short to medium-sized mug. Most mugs will fit, but I have a few that are not particularly tall that still will not fit.

Final Thoughts
If you're the only one in your house who drinks coffee, and you only drink a couple of cups a day, this is a really good purchase.