In recent years, sales of single cup coffee makers have exploded. Sales of coffee "cups" and "pods" were over $500 million in the US in 2010 - nearly double their sales in 2009. It's always intriguing to watch a new product take over an established market space in such a significant way. There are many good reasons why single serve coffee makers have gained popularity.
They Save Time
Coffee drinkers are often rushing out of the house in the morning, without the available time for waiting for an entire pot to brew. It's especially impractical to wait to brew an entire pot of coffee when you're only going to drink a cup or two before running out the door.
They Save Money
While it's true that single cup coffee cups and pods are more expensive than buying ground coffee in bulk, there' still a significant money savings to be had. When you're brewing only the amount of coffee you're going to drink, you save money in the long run on the amount of coffee you have to purchase.
Single serve coffee machines can save big bucks when compared to buying coffee from one of the famous coffee chains, where a single cup of regular coffee can be well over a dollar, and that latte might cost you three or four.
They Make Great Coffee and other Gourmet Beverages
Let's face it - those giant coffee chains have spoiled us. We're used to being able to get a premium cup of coffee whenever we want. It may be expensive, but it tastes great.
The only coffee you can make at home that rivals a cup from a great coffee shop is with a single brew coffee machine. There are several from which to choose, but all make superior tasting coffee.
They Allow for Multiple Taste Preferences
The single cup coffee maker can solve the long running debate between family members on what kind of coffee to buy. Those who need decaf can live in peace with the partner who requires high doses of morning caffeine. The French vanilla enthusiast can happily co-exist with the man who just wants a regular "cup of Joe". Everybody wins when coffee is brewed one cup at a time. Single cup coffee makers are also great for people who enjoy drinking coffee at home throughout the day. Each cup is made fresh, so that cup you have at 10:00 am is just as fresh as the cup you had at 7:00 am. Try getting that kind of fresh taste from a pot of coffee that's been sitting on the warmer for three hours. And, if you need to switch to decaf in the afternoon, it's not a problem.
There's certainly a place in the world for the coffee maker that brews six or eight cups at a time. In fact, they're perfect for when you're hosting a party and truly need six or eight cups of coffee ready at once. But, for most of us, on most days of the week, single cup coffee makers fit the bill more efficiently, more economically and more deliciously than those big pots.
