There is something truly magical about that first hot cup of jo in the morning. For those of us who like our beverages hot, anything served below “hot” is lukewarm and just doesn’t taste as good. And if you live alone or are the only coffee drinker at home, there’s no point in making a whole carafe of coffee that will slowly get cold. That’s where a single serve coffee maker that either uses pods or takes your preferred coffee grounds is best. You can just make one small or large steaming cup at a time. Not all coffee makers are equally made, so finding the best single serve coffee maker that makes a hot cup of coffee is challenging. Even though there are a variety of coffee makers on the market, which single serve coffee maker makes the hottest coffee?
We’ll look at the best ones that make a single serving that’s nice and hot and also assess how hot an ideal cup of coffee should be (and why).
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How Hot Should a Cup of Coffee Be?
A study published in the Journal of Food Science found that coffee drinkers who drink their coffee with creamer prefer it at an average temperature of 140 ℉; however, those who like their coffee black enjoy it at a slightly higher temperature.
According to the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCA), the ideal temperature you should brew your water for your coffee ranges between 195 ℉ to 205 ℉. This temperature range means that the coffee ground or beans’ flavor will be well extracted.
When drinking your coffee, here are the common temperature ranges and how that will affect the taste of your cup of java:
Thus, the ideal temperature to enjoy your coffee is between 120 and 140 ℉. The best drip coffee makers for the home will brew your coffee a bit higher at around 180 to 205 ℉, so that they dispense the coffee at around 165 ℉ to be ready for you to drink soon after.
What is the Hottest Single Serve Coffee Maker?
Want to know which pod coffee machine makes the hottest coffee? That would probably be the Cuisinart SS-10P1 Premium Single-Serve Coffeemaker, which is available in 5 muted colors. There’s white, silver, matte black, robins egg blue, and cream.
This coffee maker is compatible with most single cup pods including the Keurig K-Cup pods but it comes with a HomeBarista reusable filter cup if you prefer to use your own preferred freshly ground coffee. You can make your single cup of coffee in 5 beverage sizes, from 4 to 12 ounces. The whole brew process takes 1-2 minutes, depending on the size of beverage you choose.
It features a programmable LCD lit display. There is a digital clock, auto on/off button, and a choice of two temperature settings. This makes the machine the most versatile out there. The coffeemaker is programmed to heat water to 192°F or the “XHOT” setting. If you live at a high altitude or prefer a cooler brew, you can select the “HOT” setting. The default Auto-Off time is set for 30 minutes, which will engage only if you select this option.
The 72-ounce water reservoir allows you to just fill it once and let it brew a cup for you throughout the day. It is removable, so you can easily give this a wash and fill it up with water. A charcoal filter is also included to purify your water for better tasting coffee. The drip tray is also removable, so if there are any spills, this can be washed and rinsed too. Plus, if you remove the drip tray, you can make your coffee straight in your travel mug.
You can also press the Hot Water button for convenience if you want instant hot water for your coffee, cocoa, or tea. Then there’s the Brew button when you want to brew your java. The Rinse button cleans the inside of the brew chamber between uses.
The product measures 11.03” x 9.33” x 12.13” (H x W x D) if you want to check if you have sufficient counter space. For a stylish coffee maker that can brew single cup pods, or your own coffee grounds, or just heat up water for tea, hot chocolate, soups, or instant coffee, the Cuisinart SS-10P1 is the best option.
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Technivorm Cup One Coffee Brewer
Available in only two colors (polished silver and matte black), the Technivorm Cup One Coffee Brewer is an easy-to-use, stylish single serve coffee maker for your home or office. If the Cuisinart has too many options for you and not enough oomph to your coffee, then this is the single serve brewer to get.
The appliance’s body is manufactured from high-quality aluminum and stainless steel. The parts that are made from plastic, like the water reservoir, are phthalate, BPA, BPS, and BPF-free. According to the manufacturer, the water is boiled using a copper-boiling element and then as the water heats up, it bubbles up in the glass tube and moves further along to the outlet arm that is above the brew basket. The temperature here is 204 degrees. From there, the heated water pours over the coffee grounds to extract flavor.
A single serve podless coffee maker that is pump-free, the brewer simply heats up the water to the right temperature and extracts flavor from the coffee grounds that you place in the brew basket. Once you’ve pressed the ON button, you only have to wait 4 minutes to brew a 10-ounce cup of coffee, and then you can sit back and enjoy your java.
You can remove the cup holder to fit various size cups under the brew basket, and depending on how strong you like your coffee, you can adjust the amount of coffee grounds you add to the basket. Once your cup of jo has brewed to perfection, the machine auto shuts off, so there’s one less thing on your to-do and have-to-worry-about lists.
If you want to ensure you have sufficient countertop and under-cabinet space for this nifty machine, the dimensions of the coffee maker are 11.75” x 10.25” x 6.5” (H x W x D). As you can see, this is quite compact compared to the Cuisinart.
For an easy-to-use single serve drip coffee maker that auto shuts off after serving you hot and tasty coffee, you can’t go wrong with this Technivorm. The package includes a 10 oz porcelain mug and 80 #1 filters.
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BUNN MCU My Cafe Single Cup Multi Use Coffee Brewer
If you or your family members are not just coffee drinkers and like to venture into the calming taste of tea now and again, then the BUNN MCU My Cafe Single Multi Use Coffee Brewer is the appliance you need. You can brew coffee with K-Cup packs, soft coffee pods, or ground coffee, or make a cup of tea with your preferred tea bags or loose leaf tea. You can even just get some hot water if you need it.
You can brew a small 4-ounce cup of coffee or tea in 1 minute or a large 14-ounce travel mug in a little longer. With the pulse technology this coffee maker uses, pressing the pulse brew button means your tea or coffee brews for longer (around 2.5 minutes) if you prefer something stronger. Your coffee is brewed at a set 200 degrees F.
Like cafe-style coffee? Now you can have it at home. The coffee brewer uses a commercial-style jet action spray head that pre-soaks your coffee pods and then water is evenly sprayed over the pods for flavor that’s an example of extraction to perfection.
There’s a 14 oz stainless steel water reservoir that keeps the water warm for your next brew, so each brewing cycle completes in just 1 minute. However, you do need to refill the reservoir before you start brewing if you want to keep it going. It stays warm in the sleep mode for 6 hours.
The item measures 7.2” x 12.1” x 12.1” (H x W x D). The BUNN MCU is ideal if you want a versatile coffee (and tea) brewer and you prefer stronger flavors that are reminiscent of cafe coffee.
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ADIRchef Single Serve Coffee Maker
The ADIRchef Single Serve Coffee Maker comes with a permanent coffee grounds filter so you don’t need to buy paper filters anymore. The filter is made from metal mesh, is removable along with the brew basket, and is easy to clean, being dishwasher safe.
You can only use coffee grounds but that means both these features makes it very environmentally friendly. You can also use it to get hot water alone by not filling the filter. You only fill the small reservoir with up to 15 ounces of water at a time.
You get a 15 oz tapered insulated travel mug that the coffee maker will brew directly into. It fits in most car cup holders. You just have to add the grounds to the filter, add the required amount of water, depending on how large you want your beverage, close the top, and push the button to start. The automatic shutoff feature ensures the coffee maker switches off once the brewing process is complete, so you can close the mug with the included lid and head out of the door with your coffee in hand.
With a compact design, the coffee maker measures 6.7″ x 5.1″ x 10.1″. It is ideal for small kitchens or offices. For the price point, this easy-to-use coffee maker will serve your coffee needs well.
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Which Keurig Makes the Hottest Coffee?
Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker, Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer
Keurig’s K-Elite Coffee Maker serves a single cup of coffee per brew, and it comes in 3 colors options. There is brushed slate, brushed silver, and brushed gold. This is sure to add an elegant touch to your kitchen!
With this single serve coffee maker with temperature control, you can make your brew in 5 cup sizes, from a 4-ounce to a 12-ounce cup. While this machine is of course made to be used with any of the available K-cup pods, you can also use your own coffee grounds with a Universal My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter. Getting your cup of jo on a busy morning is easy-peasy — simply wait one minute.
If regular coffee isn’t your cup of tea (or should that be jo?), then you can press the Strong Brew button to increase the flavor and strength of your coffee. Either way, you can adjust the brew temperature between 187°F and 192°F. And if you prefer an iced coffee on a hot summer’s day, you are in luck. This coffee machine even brews iced coffee for you at the touch of a button. Simply fill your cup with ice, and the hot brewed coffee will chill once it is poured into your cup.
The 75 ounce water reservoir is removable, so you can easily fill it when it is empty. You also get an alert to let you know when you need to descale the appliance.
This Keurig pod coffee maker measures 13.1” x 9.9” x 12.7” (H x W x D). For a versatile coffee maker that looks stylish in any kitchen, and if you are a Keurig fan, then this coffee machine will make you a hot cup of jo.
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Keurig K155 Office Pro Single Cup Commercial K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker
The Keurig K155 Office Pro Single Cup Commercial K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker is only available in silver but it is a stylish addition to your kitchen countertop or office space. It is also the most expensive option on this list.
The coffee maker features a touchscreen interface in full color so you can easily select your ideal brew temperature and program it to automatically turn on or off. You can also set the time and choose from 3 languages – English, Spanish, or French.
The pour over water reservoir has the capacity to hold 90 ounces of water. It is easy to fill since it is removable, and better yet, you can make 18 cups of jo before you need to refill the reservoir.
There are 4 different brew sizes to choose from to allow you to use any available K-Cup pods, including pods for tea, cocoa, and iced coffee. You can brew your beverage in a 4, 6, 8, or 10-ounce cup, and you have the option to choose between a milder and stronger brew. Its default brew temperature is 193°F and you can adjust this up or down by 5°. You can get your cup of hot coffee in under 1 minute. There’s a removable drip tray to accommodate a travel mug.
The coffee maker measures 14” x 10.38” x 13.8” (H x W x D). The touchscreen makes this coffee maker easy to use, and it is versatile, as you can make tea, coffee, cocoa, and iced coffee.
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Why is my Keurig Not Brewing Hot Enough?
While Keurig is a popular coffee maker brand, any kitchen appliance can experience difficulties. If your Keurig is not brewing your coffee at a temperature that is not very hot, then it may be that unheated water is dispensing. As such, the heating element may not be working.
There are a few reasons this could happen. One, the water pump of your Keurig may be malfunctioning. Two, the heating mechanism may be overheating. Or three, the water line may be clogged with debris, dirt, or dried coffee grounds. This can cause your coffee maker to malfunction by not heating the water and completing the brewing cycle.
There are a few troubleshoots you can try, which we detail in our article about how to get your coffee hotter from a Keurig.