Single- or Multi-Cup Thermal Coffee Maker?

December 10, 2006 8:13 AM

I'm looking for a drip coffee maker that can make a single cup, preferably in a thermal mug, or make several cups at a time in a thermal carafe. I've searched the internets without success so far. Any suggestions?
posted by cahlers to Food & Drink (19 answers total)

Try these.

I can especially recommend the AeroPress.
posted by dance at 8:15 AM on December 10, 2006

by which I mean, does the drip coffee machine featured fit the bill, and if not, you're probably better off with an AeroPress anyway! ;-)
posted by dance at 8:16 AM on December 10, 2006

The Cuisinart "Two To Go" has always served me well. Makes up to 28oz really qiuckly.
posted by thetenthstory at 8:17 AM on December 10, 2006

black & decker's Brew n' Go
posted by umlaut at 8:23 AM on December 10, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions so far, but none address the ability to make *either* a pot of coffee *or* a single cup. Is there such an appliance? This is my actual question.
posted by cahlers at 9:27 AM on December 10, 2006

I would just get a set of filter holder and carafe. You can just put the grounds according to the amount you need in the filter, and pour in water just off the boil. It's better than automatic drip 'cause automatic drip doesn't get the water hot enough.

I have also heard good things about the AeroPress (mostly here).
posted by lackutrol at 9:28 AM on December 10, 2006

I own the Hamilton Beach Stay or Go and I recommend it highly. Comes with an eight cup thermal carafe and two thermal travel mugs. Pre-heat the carafe (fill with boiling water before filling brewing your pot) and coffee stays hot pretty much all day.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 9:33 AM on December 10, 2006

Couldn't you make a single cup with any drip coffeemaker? Just put in one scoop of coffee and 8 oz water?
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 9:35 AM on December 10, 2006

Thanks for the suggestions so far, but none address the ability to make *either* a pot of coffee *or* a single cup.

The way your question is worded, people are going to think you are looking for a machine that does either, not necessarily both, which is why you are getting the suggestions you are getting.

SSF's suggestion sure looks good, though.
posted by kindall at 10:06 AM on December 10, 2006

Your solution, and what I use as a coffee maker for one to two people, but enough for twelve cups (carafe is removable). Fantastic coffee; much better flavour than more expensive machines and by far better than your local Starbucks.
posted by Blue Buddha at 10:24 AM on December 10, 2006

we had the delonghi thermal coffee maker but it had a few annoyances. It was great for a while, but we traded it in for an awesome kitchen aid thermal coffee maker.

You can make a full pot or press the 1-4 cup button. Beeps when it's done brewing (awesome!) and has a time indicator telling you how long the coffee has been sitting (also beeps when it's past 2 hours). I'm hooked on the thermal's since we had the delonghi. But the kitchenaid is a much better coffee maker IMO. Plus ours is a cool red one!
posted by freudianslipper at 10:33 AM on December 10, 2006

BTW, we got these coffee makers at Starbucks. You may not know, but Starbucks has a policy of never turning down a return or exchange. So, if you bought it but didn't like it months later (keep the receipt, just in case) they'll allow you to exchange.
posted by freudianslipper at 10:35 AM on December 10, 2006

The cheapest and most useful coffee maker I've ever bought is the one that I use the most often.

$4 at my local grocery store, I've used it to make 8oz of coffee into a styrofoam cup, 12oz into my thermal mug or even 32oz into a thermos.

Despite the simplicity of the design, its the best coffee maker I've used. I've had french presses, electronic coffee pots, and stainless steel stovetop espresso pots. This one has outlasted them all, and at the practically disposable price, it doesn't hurt to give it a try.

It WILL make a pot of coffee with a little more effort than making a cup. (i.e. you need to keeping adding water)
posted by gregschoen at 11:07 AM on December 10, 2006

aeropress is definitely the coolet thing I've ever used, so I'll third that suggestion.
posted by sunshinesky at 12:10 PM on December 10, 2006

Seconding gregschoen's suggestion. Simple is better in this case.

I think you can probably even get a larger size for the days you want to make a full pot. So you can have two of them for a grand total of < $10 I think.
posted by jclovebrew at 12:47 PM on December 10, 2006

Seconding the Melitta one-cup linked by gregschoen, and Melittas in general. If you can boil water, you can easily make coffee that perfectly matches your tastes, whatever they are. I use a #4 Melitta every morning, and the coffee is so much better than what comes out of the high-tech German gizmo at work that I take a bottle from home and never drink the stuff at work.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 3:47 PM on December 10, 2006

I second the Black & Decker Brew n' Go. I use it in my office. It comes with the travel mug and is nice and compact.

Two design issues: (1) There is no heating plate and (2) the lid on the mug can be a pain to get off because the tab is ridiculously small.
posted by puritycontrol at 4:03 PM on December 10, 2006

I have a Keurig and I love it.
posted by tastybrains at 4:50 PM on December 10, 2006

I have a Zojirushi. Excellent coffee, the thermal carafe is great, and it makes 1-12 cups. DISCLAIMER: I have never tried to make anything other than a full pot, so I don't know well it will perform doing less than the max. You'll probably be in for a little of experimenting.
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 9:27 AM on December 11, 2006