Coffee for One Please

by Teresa Opdycke

When it's just me and I want a fresh cup of coffee, I have to brew up a pot. Drinking a whole pot of coffee will have me bouncing off walls, jittering my way to the bathroom. And if I let it sit while I sip, it's no longer coffee, but something that vaguely resembles the dark, rich liquid I had earlier.

Coffee drinkers demand a tasty cup of java. Coffee drinkers also want convenience. Add taste and convenience together, and it equals one cup coffee makers.

The current market has one cuppers made by time honored companies such as KitchenAid, Bunn, and Black and Decker. The prices range from a mere $25 all the way up to $300. Finding what works best takes a little time and research, but there's something for everyone out there who wants a one cup coffee maker.

Let's start off with the Melitta Single Serving Pod Coffee Maker. That's a mouthful! It has a great retro look that comes in red, mango, kiwi, white, or black. It brews a decent cup of java in less than 60 seconds and a cup of tea in only 35 seconds or less. The metered tank holds up to five consecutive servings without having to refill. It's perfect for the single on the go who only wants one cup of coffee at a time. The Mellita Single Serving Pod coffee maker can be yours for $59.99 depending on where you purchase it.

Let's stop for a moment to clarify "pod." The pod is the little bag of coffee goodness that goes in the machine that the water drips on and through to the mug below. Almost every single cup coffee maker comes with a sampling of pods for your gulping pleasure.

Next on the list is the Keurig B50 One Cup Coffee Maker. The fast set-up makes your first cuppa only moments away. Unlike most single cups, the Keurig does not utilize pods. Instead, welcome to the world of k-cups. Shaped like the small creamers you find at Denny's, the k-cup has a permeable cover that when dropped into the machine is poked from the top and the bottom. The water drips, and once again coffee makes an appearance in the mug below.

One of the down sides to the Keurig B50 is that you will never be able to use your own freshly ground beans to make a perfect cup of joe. You're stuck using the k-cups. Including shipping, this machine can cost $170.

The Bunn My Café wins the prize for best name and fastest coffee maker in the wild west of kitchens. Within 30 seconds you can go from "I can't start my day without my coffee jitters" to coffee in hand. This machine has a portion/volume control so you can adjust the strength from just a hint of coffee to blast off for Colombia without a jet strength. A really great plus to Bunn My Café is that you can use any pod in it. It shows no discrimination - use a Folger's pod, a Senseo pod, or whatever your favorite pod - Bunn My Café accepts it with pleasure.

There are a lot of machines that will serve you just one cup of coffee at a time. Most are easy to use, most use pods, and each has its own unique qualities. The bottom line is taste when it comes to coffee. With a little research and a few bucks, you will be on your way to one cup coffee paradise. Bon voyage, bon appetit, and here's to a good cup of coffee!