Does it make sense to use a single serve coffee maker?

There's no doubt that single cup coffee makers are very convenient.

You still get a real cup of coffee, made from ground coffee, but you don't have to deal with coffee beans or grinders.

You buy the coffee in sealed pods, cups or discs, and then place the pod, cup or disc in the brewer. Press one button and you're done. Then throw away the used pod, cup or disc.

It's super convenient, and there's no mess.

BUT...it can be an expensive way to make fresh coffee.

First, the single serve brewers themselves are generally more expensive than regular coffee makers.

But the real price issue comes when you calculate the cost per cup of coffee. Buying K-Cups, coffee pods or T-Discs is significantly more expensive than buying whole beans or ground coffee.

All that said, just because the price per cup of coffee brewed is more expensive doesn't ALWAYS mean you are going to end up paying more for your coffee each month.

How come?

Answer this simple question – how much coffee do you pour down the drain each month?

Many of us make a full carafe of coffee with a regular drip brewer, drink a few cups of coffee and then pour a certain amount down the drain at the end of the day.

If this sounds like you, then using a single serve coffee maker to make just one cup of coffee at a time may actually end up saving you money. Simply because there is zero waste.

But even if using a single serve brewer does cost you a little more each day, you still get a big advantage in terms of convenience.

Our advice? If you want one, get one.

Reviews of the best one cup coffee makers:

The Keurig B60
The Senseo SL7810

The Tassimo TA 1400