Choosing the Perfect Coffee Maker Without Carafe: Top 7 Picks

Drip coffee makers in offices and home kitchens have a bad reputation for carafes that sit full of stale coffee for hours. It can lead to wasted coffee and conflict between people who share the coffee maker about when to brew the coffee. After all, everyone wants their coffee hot and tasty.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if there was a coffee machine where each person could get their cup of fresh coffee exactly when they wanted it? Surprisingly, a dispensing coffee maker without a carafe is easier to find than you might think.

Why choose a coffee maker without a carafe?

Dispensing coffee makers without carafes, also called on-demand coffee makers, can solve many problems that get in the way while trying to enjoy your coffee drinking experience. Some of these might be issues you didn’t even know you had if you have long taken for granted that a carafe coffee maker is the only way to brew coffee.

There are a few different styles of on-demand coffee makers on the market. One of the more well-known types of on-request coffee makers is the Keurig machines that use K-Cups. However, there are more options for solving the problems of carafe coffee makers than you might think.

Coffee quality and hassle factor

Anyone who has worked in an office knows that the communal coffee pot gets gross as the day goes on. The longer the coffee sits in a carafe, the worse it tastes. While the heating plates of carafe coffee machines help to keep the coffee hot, it leads to burning your coffee and causing a bitter flavor.

Bad coffee can cause a lot of conflicts, and the ways people try to get around it are sometimes worse. For example, when people arrive at work or wake up at different times at home, it can be hard to find the right moment to brew coffee that suits everyone’s schedule.

If a large amount of coffee is brewed in a carafe coffee maker, often quite a bit of it is wasted. Though you can try to brew small batches of coffee, sometimes it’s still hard to figure out exactly the right amount.

An on-demand coffee maker can ensure that only the amount of coffee needed is brewed. It might also reduce squabbles between co-workers (or family members, if the coffee maker is used at home) regarding when to brew coffee and how much of it to make.

Durability

A carafe is simply one more item to clean and take care of. Unfortunately, carafes are commonly made of glass, which can break. If you have a carafe coffee maker and the carafe breaks, it can be hard to find a replacement for it. You might find yourself shopping for a new coffee maker just because one part broke!

Easier cleaning

Though rinsing the coffee carafe is not necessarily difficult, it must be done regularly. However, there’s no carafe to wash with dispensing coffee makers, which results in an easier cleaning process. You simply brew or dispense coffee directly into your mug, and then you only wash the mug as you normally would.

Single-serve coffee makers like Keurig can benefit from a regular vinegar cleanse, but so can coffee makers with external coffee carafes. Your daily duties for maintaining your coffee equipment should lessen if you switch to a model without a carafe. Many single-serve coffee makers also have a removable water reservoir and drip tray, so you can easily wash these parts as needed.

Easier dispensing

Pouring coffee from a carafe can be annoying, as it may spill and drip. However, a coffee maker without a carafe will dispense or brew coffee directly into your mug, reducing the potential for a mess.

Versatility

Sometimes, a coffee maker without a carafe can be used as a hot water dispenser. This feature is valuable if you stay somewhere like a dorm room or work in an office that doesn’t have kitchen facilities. You can use the hot water for tea, ramen noodles, or instant soup. While you can utilize a 12-cup coffee maker with a carafe to heat plain water, it will take more time and might be less convenient.

Ongoing expenses

Most coffee makers without a carafe do not use a paper filter, which is a nice bonus. Instead, they either use pods or have a built-in filter basket. If you choose an on-demand coffee maker that uses K-Cups or similar pods, that can add ongoing expenses. Still, most of those coffee machines also give you the option of using reusable coffee pods.

Best coffee makers without carafe reviewed

As you decide which on-demand coffee maker best meets your needs, you may want to have a few of your criteria thought through in advance. Generally, the higher-priced machines have the benefits of added functionality and adjustable settings. So be realistic about how important it is for you to have your coffee the way you want it.

Another thing to be aware of as you consider coffee makers without a carafe is that some have an internal carafe hidden inside. Often double-walled insulation will keep coffee warm in an inner tank. It will not get scorched like it can when an external carafe sits on heating plates for a long time. These on-demand coffee makers, or dispensing coffee makers, administers coffee when you push a button. The coffee that comes out is both hot and fresh.

A dispensing coffee machine with an internal carafe and keep-warm function is usually the most similar to the 12-cup coffee maker you may be accustomed to at your workplace. Like the standard coffee pot, they make it easy to get refills, and they are often programmable. However, if you usually brew only one serving of coffee, the capacity of a coffee maker with a built-in carafe is probably more than you need.

Image	Product	Features	Price
Top Pick	Cuisinart DCC-3000 Coffee-on-Demand 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker	Dispenses one cup at a time Holds up to twelve 5oz cups of coffee 24-hour advance brew start	Check Price
Most Versatile	Keurig K-Café Single Serve Coffee Latte & Cappuccino Maker	Compatible with any brand K-pods Simple button controls Large 60oz water reservoir	Check Price
	Hamilton Beach BrewStation 12 Cup Coffee Maker	Dispenses hot coffee directly into a cup Internal warming heater keeps coffee warm Easy filling and cleaning	Check Price
	Cuisinart SS-10W Premium Single-Serve Coffeemaker	Compatible with any brand K-pods Includes reusable filter cup for ground coffee or tea Fully programmable	Check Price
	Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker	Slick minimalistic design Durable, easy-to-clean stainless steel Automatic shutoff after brewing	Check Price
Best Value For Money	Krups Simply Brew to Go Single Serve Drip Coffee Maker	Large permanent coffee filter basket No pods required Compact design	Check Price
	Instant Solo Single-Serve 2-in-1 Coffee Maker	Compatible with K-Cups and ground coffee Adjustable brew strength Pre-infuse cycle for more flavor	Check Price

Cuisinart DCC-3000 Coffee-on-Demand 12-Cup Coffeemaker

The Cuisinart DCC-3000 Coffee-on-Demand 12-cup coffee maker is the type of on-demand coffee maker that has an internal carafe. In addition, it has generous reservoirs for both ground coffee and water. The coffee reservoir holds enough to make 12 five-ounce cups of coffee.

This carafe-free coffee maker with a keep-warm function for the coffee reservoir is similar to drip coffee makers. It could be a good choice for those who only want to change their coffee routine slightly. It also has programming options that include the ability to schedule brewing 24 hours in advance, an auto-off function, and a self-cleaning function.

Once the coffee is brewed, you can have a dispensed cup of coffee ready in less than a minute. An accurate coffee gauge on the front shows you how much coffee is still inside the internal heater.

Another strength of this coffee maker is its filters. No paper filters are necessary because this machine has a permanent gold-tone filter. The machine also has a built-in charcoal water filter, which is a nice feature because better water makes better coffee.

This coffee maker brews only coffee, not espresso or other fancy drinks. Some might consider it too pricey for black coffee. However, the advantages of high-quality coffee are worth it.

The Cuisinart DCC-3000 Coffee-on-Demand 12-Cup Coffeemaker is best for someone who wants to ditch the carafe but otherwise stay close to the standard drip coffee maker experience.

Keurig K-Café Single Serve Coffee Latte & Cappuccino Maker

Keurig is a prominent leader in single-serve coffee machines. Still, its K-Café Single-Serve Coffee Maker goes far beyond what people typically associate with Keurig. This machine makes black coffee, lattes, and cappuccinos. In addition, it comes with a dishwasher-safe milk frother and has a Shot function to brew espresso shots.

You must use a K-Cup for each beverage you want to prepare, though you can get a refillable K-pod to minimize waste.

A unique feature of this machine is the ability to make iced coffee, including iced espresso drinks. An iced coffee feature involves making coffee strong enough to handle ice melting and diluting it.

Less unique features of the K-Café include an auto-off function and a 60-ounce removable water reservoir.

The Keurig K-Café Single-Serve Coffee Maker is the best for someone who loves espresso but isn’t ready to buy a home espresso machine.

Hamilton Beach BrewStation 12 Cup Coffee Maker

While some options for a coffee maker without a carafe brew a single serving of coffee to order, the Hamilton Beach BrewStation is more like a standard 12-cup coffee maker. It brews the coffee into an internal tank that keeps it hot and fresh. So when the coffee is already brewed, it doesn’t scorch it as it happens with a carafe.

When you’re ready to have coffee, press the button to dispense coffee from the internal heater that holds brewed coffee. It may be faster than an on-demand coffee maker that brews the cup to order, so the Hamilton Beach Brewstation is one to consider if speed is a priority for you.

It is a programmable coffee maker set up to brew 24 hours in advance. The digital display also provides convenient reminders when the machine is due for a cleaning.

It won’t take long if you wait for the BrewStation to brew. The removable water reservoir holds 12 five-ounce cups, brewing about a cup per minute.

Another advantage of the BrewStation is that it is relatively inexpensive for a model with a built-in carafe. Its features also include the ability to make iced coffee.

The Hamilton Beach BrewStation is the best coffee maker for someone who wants hot coffee in a hurry!

Cuisinart SS-10W Premium Single-Serve Coffeemaker

The Cuisinart SS-10P1 Premium 72-Ounce Single-Serve Coffee Maker is a high-end machine that can get you a lot of variety and convenience. Its well-placed controls include the ability to adjust the temperature of the water. There’s also an auto-off feature.

Its removable water reservoir holds 72 ounces and has a charcoal water filter. The drip tray is also removable, so you can use it with a travel mug.

It comes with a reusable filter basket that you can fill with a single serving of your preferred ground coffee. However, it is also compatible with K-Cup pods and other single-use coffee pods.

You can choose whether your single serving should be 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 ounces. You can easily use the hot water dispenser for tea, instant soup, and coffee. It might be an excellent machine in an environment where you don’t have access to a kitchen. You can also adjust the temperature of the water that gets dispensed.

The Cuisinart SS-10P1 Premium 72-Ounce Single-Serve Coffee Maker is best for someone who wants a lot of options and is willing to pay to get them.

Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker

The Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker is named after the mesh filter brew basket that doubles as a scoop to measure just the right amount of coffee for a single serving. This unique design is intended to reduce the mess of pouring ground coffee.

The Hamilton Beach Scoop is also known for its fast brew times. An eight-ounce cup takes less than 90 seconds to brew. You can choose between regular and bold brew strength.

A potential challenge with the Hamilton Beach Scoop is that the scoop might get wet during the brewing process, as it serves as the brew basket. In addition, a wet scoop might make it difficult for you to scoop additional coffee grounds if you need a refill.

Also, while the brushed metal body of the machine has a great look, some users have reported a plastic taste in their coffee from the machine’s internal parts. However, the Hamilton Beach Scoop is toward the inexpensive end of the price range if you don’t want to spend a lot.

The Hamilton Beach Scoop is the best coffee maker for someone who likes to brew one cup of coffee at a time and doesn’t want to spend much money.

Krups Simply Brew to Go Single Serve Drip Coffee Maker

The Krups Simply Brew to Go Single Serve Drip Coffee Maker is a simple and economical on-demand coffee maker. It includes a matching stainless steel double-walled travel mug.

The machine has a compact, space-saving design that is perfect for small kitchens. It does not use coffee pods. Instead, you pour ground coffee into the built-in filter basket. You then push one manual button to start the machine. It is not programmable and only brews one 12-ounce cup of coffee. However, it is a solid choice if you only need a small batch of brewed coffee.

The Krups Simply Brew to Go is the best coffee maker for someone with simple preferences which don’t want to spend much money.

Instant Solo Single-Serve 2-in-1 Coffee Maker

The Instant Solo Single-Serve 2-in-1 Coffee Maker serves a single cup of coffee at a time. The name 2-in-1 refers to its ability to use either K-Cup pods or ground coffee. If you use your preferred coffee grounds, they go in a refillable pod that the machine comes with.

This coffee maker has a black plastic body and a 40-ounce water reservoir. You have three options for brew size: 8 ounces, 10 ounces, and 12 ounces. However, you can remove the drip tray to brew into a taller 16-ounce travel mug.

You can also adjust the brew strength if you want a stronger brew. The brew time is about 90 seconds. The compact design is intended to save space in your kitchen.

The unique thing about the Instant Solo coffee maker is its pre-infused brewing process. It extracts more coffee flavor from your grounds or pod by gently soaking the coffee before brewing. While it is not a programmable coffee maker, some users may appreciate the uncomplicated controls.

The Instant Solo Single-Serve 2-in-1 Coffee Maker is best for someone who wants bold coffee flavor with minimal hassle.

Buying a coffee maker without a carafe is a small change you can make that will potentially remove a lot of frustrations from your daily life. This convenient approach to coffee brewing will protect you from over-extraction, wasted coffee, and other problems you didn’t even realize you had. When you let go of the standard carafe coffee maker and try something new, like an on-request coffee maker, you can look forward to enjoying your coffee warm and fresh.