The 3 Best Single-Serve Coffee Makers of 2024 Rival Our Favorite Keurigs

We tested models from Ninja, Cuisinart, and Instant to see how they stack up against our favorite Keurig models

Speed and quality are paramount when it comes to brewing a morning cup of coffee. That’s why single-serve, pod-style brewers are increasingly popular. And though certain brands — ahem, Keurig — seem to dominate the space, they’re not the only ones in town. We tested three top-performing single-serve coffee makers to find the best cup of java without the Keurig brand name.

To find the best Keurig alternatives, we brewed several cups of coffee in each coffee maker and compared them side-by-side with two of our favorite Keurig models: the K-Duo Plus and K-Express. Testers noted how long the brewing process took, how the coffee tasted, and its temperature. We also considered how easy each machine was to set up, operate, and clean, and if it had any extra features, such as specialty brewing or milk frothing.

After brewing dozens of cups of coffee, we found the best non-Keurig pod-style brewers for every home — and they’re all under $100.

This multipurpose coffee maker from Ninja does more than even our favorite Keurig models, including brewing both pods and grounds, storing coffee beans, and frothing milk. Plus, it brews pod-style java that’s just as tasty — if not tastier — than coffee from Keurig machines. The Ninja Single-Serve Coffee Maker is a highly versatile but pleasantly compact and sleek-looking appliance that’s straightforward and blessedly quiet for early-morning operation.

Ninja Win: Easy Interface

Compared to our two favorite Keurig models, the Ninja was more intuitive and straightforward to use, with an easy-to-interpret interface.

Ninja Win: Better-Tasting Coffee

Coffee from the Ninja tasted better. The Ninja brew was smoother than Keurig's, and the "rich" setting produced slightly bolder-tasting coffee for those who like an extra jolt in the morning.

Ninja Win: Sleek Design

The Ninja has a more aesthetic design compared to the boxier Keurig models. It also has a smaller footprint, despite offering more functions.

Ninja Win: Handy Features

The Ninja's range of brew sizes makes this a great option for larger households that enjoy both full pots and individually brewed pods. The Ninja Single-Serve also has a handy feature for those looking to play barista at home. A fold-away frothing arm produces light, airy milk foam that’s adjustable to your preferences.

Ninja Win: Large Water Reservoir

The Ninja coffee maker has a larger water reservoir (56 ounces) than our other two non-Keurig picks, so it needs less frequent refilling, which is a bonus for larger households.

Brew Options: Pod or grounds | Brew Sizes: 6 to 12 ounces (pod); 6 to 24 ounces (grounds) | Brew Time: 1:24 (single pod) | Frother: Yes | Removable Water Reservoir: Yes | Reservoir Capacity: 56 ounces

The Instant Solo Coffee Maker looks great on the counter and is both easy to use and easy on the wallet. Though the coffee it produced didn’t necessarily taste better than that of the Keurigs we compared it to, the machine got the job done, and the coffee was tasty enough to satisfy the average non-aficionado.

The snappy brew and straightforward interface make this a budget-friendly choice for households with several coffee drinkers. It has a large 40-ounce removable water reservoir that doesn’t need constant refilling and is easy to clean in the dishwasher. It also comes with a reusable pod that users can fill with their favorite grounds.

It's important to note that the Instant machine made more of a mess than the Keurig models when dispensing coffee into a wide-mouthed mug. Our tester reported that the spout spits coffee on the counter, which is annoying to clean up.

If you find a tall cup that contains the splatter, however, the Instant Solo is an uncomplicated, reliable pod-style brewer. It does away with the waste of single-use K-cups and accommodates a range of coffee drinkers whenever the caffeine craving strikes.

Brew Options: Pods | Brew Sizes: 8, 10, or 12 ounces | Brew Time: 1:33 (single pod) | Frother: No | Removable Water Reservoir: Yes | Reservoir Capacity: 40 ounces

The Cuisinart Soho Single-Serve Coffee Maker is an attractive, compact option that does one job and does it well with just a few extra steps compared to our two top picks.

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he machine's water reservoir is smaller than the competition (12 ounces) and can’t be removed for filling or cleaning, which is a drawback. You have to fill the reservoir before every brew, adding enough water to meet your preferred coffee strength — less water produces a stronger cup, and more water will dilute the flavor.

This coffee maker has a single button, so there’s no messing this one up. Press "brew" and watch as your java is dispensed in less than 90 seconds — the fastest time of any brewer we tested for this article. It's efficient, quiet, and takes up minimal countertop space, so it can easily be tucked out of the way in a crowded kitchen. 

Brew Options: Pods | Brew Sizes: 8, 10, or 12 ounces | Brew Time: 1:24 (single pod) | Frother: No | Removable Water Reservoir: No | Reservoir Capacity: 12 ounces

Eliminate the pile of empty K-cups in your recycling bin by filling reusable pods using this perfectly-portioned coffee scooper and mess-free funnel.

These stainless-steel reusable pods are dishwasher-safe, plastic-free, and won’t leave a trace of plastic flavor in your coffee. Plus, you can fill them with your favorite grounds.

Keep your coffee nook organized and easy to access with this storage solution designed specifically for K-cups.

Unless you’re using the grounds setting on the Ninja Single-Serve Coffee Maker, you’ll need individual pods to brew coffee in these machines. All three models are compatible with K-cups from Keurig, so you’ll have your choice of caffeinated and non-caffeinated drinks, including tea and even hot chocolate. But if you’d rather use grounds from your favorite local roastery instead, reusable pods work in all three machines. The Instant Solo even comes with one reusable pod to get you started, but if more than one person is using the machine, it might be nice to have a few backups.

Two of the coffee makers on this list, the Ninja and Instant models, have large removable water reservoirs. This is a handy feature in households with multiple coffee drinkers. A large water supply eliminates the extra step of filling the machine for every cup, and a removable container makes cleaning significantly easier, too. The two reservoirs on the machines tested here are also dishwasher-safe.

Our three favorite non-Keurig single-serve coffee makers range in price from $60 to $100. They’re comparable to some of our top Keurig picks, including the K-Slim and K-Express, which are less than $100 right now.

To find the machine that produced the best coffee with the least effort, we tested the two best-selling and top-rated single-serve coffee makers not made by Keurig. We also tested one new-to-market machine from Cuisinart. Our testers, all of whom are regular coffee drinkers with experience using a variety of coffee makers, tested these models against two of our current Keurig winners, the K-Express and K-Duo Plus.

Our testers brewed standard K-cups in the machines and tested any additional features, such as brewing grounds and frothing milk. They also cleaned all the parts and scored the machines on the following attributes:

Lizzy Briskin is a lifestyle, food, and travel writer and PEOPLE contributor. She has a culinary degree and is the former food editor at Real Simple and Food Network Magazines. For this article on the best single-serve coffee makers, she analyzed the insights from our panel of real-world testers who put each of these machines to the test against leading Keurig models tested in our lab.

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

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