Your coffee maker might be in need of a replacement. It's true. Did that lacquered coffee bean finish used to be white? Does the basket hang by a single loose peg? Do you smell it, even after it's been cleaned from the other room? It's getting old, and you've used it nearly every day and will continue to do so; why keep beating a dead machine while it's down? Start looking at your options for a new machine.

For those that own a one cup coffee maker or find that their larger brewer is not quite as useful as they thought, brewing a half gallon of coffee every morning, you might be looking into the compact designs of a single cup machine. There are more than a few different options at your disposal when making your decision though? Which one is best for you?

Cuisanart - Cuisanart's Two To Go Coffee maker isn't exactly a one cup coffee maker, because it's a two cup coffee maker, but it's a steal and with two stainless travel mugs to brew into, your options are better than ever. The machine will cost you less than $30 in most instances and offers quick and easy operation with the hassle of too many features or massive amounts of cleanup.

Brookstone - Brookstone strives for elegant household luxury in their models almost always and their Tassimo Hot Beverage System is no different. With a single touch of a button, you and your guests can brew any number of espresso, hot chocolate, or tea beverages in seconds. The machine will set you back nearly $200 in the process, but with these kinds of options, you'll never need to set foot in a coffee shop again.

Toastess - Toastess makes a couple of different one cup coffee makers, easily the cheapest on the market, and it shows. The machines are flimsy and tend to bleed flavor through the filters, but for $15, you're looking at a simple, quick option when you're in a hurry.

Kuerig - At $150, the Kuerig One Cup Brewing System is by far the best single cup coffee only machine available. It boasts not only a strikingly simple procedure - place the cup in and press brew - but offers minimal to no cleanup time, and doesn't require any grinding, measuring, or filtering in the process. This is how single cup coffee brewing should be.

Black and Decker - Black and Decker's single cup offering is a sleek, simple affair, and at only $20 it's the best overall value of the bunch. Complete with a stainless steel traveler's mug, a no filter basket, and one touch brewing, this machine is what the on the go (and on a budget) coffee drinker needs in their kitchen.

When choosing your on-the-go coffee machine, keep in mind what your budget is and alternately what you'll be needing in a machine. If you plan on entertaining often and offering hot beverage options, the higher end models might be what you're looking for. Otherwise, take a look at Black and Decker and Cuisanart's machines.

About the Author

A Chatfield is a contributor for A1 Coffee Makers, where you will find information and reviews over many different kinds of coffee makers, including one cup coffee makers and more.