Last Updated on August 12, 2021 by YourBestCoffeeMachine
Looking for the smallest coffee maker may seem a daunting task. But really, it is not daunting at all! You will be surprised that there are now MORE small coffee machines available in the market today because it promotes practicality and creates more space for other things, whether at home or in the office.
We have looked at 5 of the best but smallest coffee machines for your kitchen below – each slightly different in versatility, design and ease of use. But we made sure that each provides a great cup of coffee!
Versatile, Uniquely Designed Smallest Coffee Machine – Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio Coffee Machine
Dimensions: Models in each country vary slightly –
US (6.5 x 10.8 x 11.7 inches); UK and Australia (27.6 x 12.1 x 27.3 centimetres); Singapore (32.6 x 32.7 x 14.3 cm)
A Popular Small Coffee Machine
This is really one of the popular choices of small coffee machines today. The Dolce Gusto Genio has been very present in the market for many years and is made by both De’Longhi and Nescafe. This review looks at the latest offering available in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore – each model in our view is well worth the price.
Different Countries, Different Models and Color Options
In Australia and Singapore you’ll be looking for the Genio S Plus but in the UK this model is called the Genio S Touch. If you’re in the US this model is sold as a Genio 2 and the only real difference is that in the US you get a toggle joystick as the controller – all other models have a touch screen.
If you’re in the US and touchscreen is a “must have” feature then have a look at the Nescafe Majesto although expect to pay over USD300 and make more room on your counter for it.
With the Genio models we’re looking at, most countries have a choice of colors available including silver or grey/black or if you’re lucky enough to be in Singapore, it comes in an eye catching deep red.
It’s versatility is a winner
The true benefit of this pod capsule machine (apart from its compact size) is that it can produce up to 50 different drinks (both hot and cold). This includes various drinks such as tea, cold beverages, hot chocolate and of course, coffee, with just a push of the touchscreen or toggle of the joystick. And although it’s small, it’s not short on power delivering a whopping 15 bars of pressure to achieve optimal flavor extraction.
This particular Dolce Gusto coffee machine has some sexy curves too – if you’re looking for that in a coffee machine. It comes with the “Play and Select” control that will allow you to choose the amount of water desired – from a small cup of espresso to a larger latte. This small coffee machine also enables the user to use various cup sizes because of its adjustable drip tray.
Do take note that there is also a manual version of this particular model if you want to save some money but if you’re looking to spoil yourself and make coffee making at home as easy as it gets, choose the S Touch/Genio 2 and all the hard work is done for you. From frothy latte Macchiatos to smooth Americanos, you’ll never be bored with over 50 varieties in the Dolce Gusto and Starbucks range of pods/capsules.
Cleaning
One of the best features in our opinion is the descaling alert system which tells you when your machine needs cleaning. No need to guess when this maintenance activity is required and keeping the machine clean will ensure your coffee always tastes as it was meant to.
Conclusion
Overall, we think the Dolce Gusto Genio S Touch coffee machine / Dolce Gusto Genio 2 coffee maker is one of the most efficient coffee machines today. In our opinion, for its size, power and versatility, the S Touch / Genio 2 is worth every penny.
Smallest and Fastest Coffee Machine – Nespresso Essenza Mini Coffee and Espresso Machine
Dimensions: 38.4 x 13.9 x 31 centimetres (4.3 x 12.8 x 8.1 inches)
Weight: Only 2.3 kg (4.35 lbs)
What We Love – It’s Powerful and Quick
Not only is this little machine perfectly compact, but it packs a punch with 19 bars of pressure. It’s perfect for those who are on-the-go as it heats up in less than 30 seconds, which also makes this one of the fastest coffee machines available. If you’d like to see it in action have a look at this quick video.
Different Countries, Different Models and Color Options
In the United States you can pick this machine up in black, red or a startling lime green color. In Singapore you can choose from black … or black. In Australia you also get a white option to match your light and bright kitchen space and in the United Kingdom you can have black, white or grey (so all the colors of your skies!).
This tiny, but beautifully formed machine works efficiently, and has energy saving features such as low energy mode after 3 minutes and auto shut off after 9 minutes. The 19 bar pressure ensures you get the best coffee flavors from it whether you’re making an espresso or lungo (long black). There’s also customisation available to let you choose your cup size and it uses Nespresso’s beloved capsules/pods.
All you have to do is fill up the 20.3 ounce / 600ml removable water tank, add your capsule of choice, and press the programmable button of your choice. And, that’s it! Your coffee is ready, and you’re ready to hit the streets!
Cleaning
Nespresso recommends descaling the Nespresso Essenza every 2 – 3 months. This does depend on the hardness of the water in your area. For a great video showing how to do it – visit Nespresso Essenza Mini Cleaning.
Conclusion
From reading all of the reviews from actual users, we think this is a great choice for those who simply love coffee yet don’t have all the time in the world to utilize a more complicated coffee machine. Plus, you still seem to get the best tasting coffee from this small coffee machine.
Smallest Single Serve Coffee Machine – Keurig K-Slim Coffee Machine
Dimensions: 4.72″ wide x 12.14″ tall x 15.2″ long
Weight: 9 pounds or 4 kg
What We Love – Compact with Options
When we originally wrote this article back in 2017, the Bosch Vivy was on our list as one of the smallest coffee machines. Although that model still sells well in the United Kingdom, a comparable (and in our view better option) is the Keurig K-Slim.
The K-Slim prides itself on being less than 5″ wide which is a great space saver on your bench. It has a removable water reservoir allowing you to brew 4 cups before refilling.
You also have the option of using one of 3 cup sizes at the touch of a button. It will even fit your travel mug for the ultimate takeaway coffee fix. You can use the K-Cup pods but it is also compatible with the K-Cup Universal Coffee Filter so you can use your own favorite, fresh ground coffee.
Cleaning
To also ensure your coffee stays tasting the way it should, make sure you descale it regularly. If you want to know how to do this, have a look at this helpful video from Keurig.
Conclusion
If you’re in the UK, then you might still prefer the Tassimo Bosch Vivy 2 (click the link below to find the latest price of that model). But if you’re anywhere else, then the Keurig K-Slim is a great option if you’re looking for a reliable, quick, small coffee machine that won’t hog your counter tops.
Smallest Portable Coffee Machine – Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker
Dimensions: 6.14″ x 2.8″ x 2.44 ” or 7.1 x 6.2 x 15.6 centimetres
Weight: 0.74 lb or 336 grams
What We Love – 100% Portable
So you’re looking for the smallest coffee machine available? Did you think we’d made a mistake by including this one? It doesn’t look like a coffee machine, and in truth, it’s not designed to sit on your kitchen counter. It also doesn’t heat the water itself – you have to add boiling water if you’re after a hot drink. However we had to include it because what it does do, according to our research, is make a brilliant cup of coffee.
Ease of Use
Overall, the Nanopresso seems pretty easy to use. Some users have reported a build up of internal suction which makes it hard to get the top cap down all the way. But overall, most people report it as being really easy to use unless you had issues with your hands.
This handy little device has a filter basket which is where you put your ground coffee. You then tamp the ground coffee down leaving a 4mm gap at the top (it takes 8g of coffee per serve). If you want to use capsules you will need to buy an adapter kit.
You then screw on the portafilter and add boiling water to the water tank. There is a piston on the front which you release and then slowly press to extract all of that flavor from the ground coffee. This usually takes 20 – 30 pumps to complete the process fully. The smaller model takes 80ml (about an espresso size) but there is a larger model which takes 140ml (the Nanopresso Barista kit).
If you want to see the full “How To” go to the manufacturer’s video below.
What’s the Coffee Like ?
Some users have replaced their counter top machines with this nifty little device which says a lot! Reviews we read suggest that it produces coffee comparable to what you’d get from larger machines with a golden crema and full flavor.
There are reports of inconsistency in the coffee produced although overall most users report getting a “great coffee” or a “great shot”.
Cleaning
The only downside to this nifty device is the cleaning. Some people found that they needed to put a towel down to avoid drips and spills. Others found it hard to get all the grounds out.
But this issue did seem to be user dependent as others reported no difficulty whatsoever – in fact they said it was so simple to clean that was one of the reasons they chose it over a larger counter top machine! Overall, it seems that the majority of people trying it had no issue with cleaning at all.
Would we buy it? Yes.
After reading through thousands of reviews from lots of different countries, we are definitely going to give this a go. Not only is it portable, energy efficient (it doesn’t use batteries or power) and makes a great cup of coffee, but it’s versatile enough to even take pods / capsules. So yes – we’d buy it!
We do love that there are different add ons you can purchase to increase it’s versatility. Click on the images below to check the latest price of each:
Conclusion
Whether you buy the basic Nanopresso or get all the add ons as well (check for bundles for a better deal!), for a quick and relatively easy cup of espresso, we think you’d be hard pressed to find a better option for an effective small coffee machine.
Smallest Coffee Machine for a Crowd – Morphy Richards 162009 Pour Over Filter Coffee Maker
Dimensions: 33.5 cm x 23 cm x 18.8 cm or 13.82 x 10.39 x 7.48 inches
Weight: 2.72kg or 5.3 pounds
First of all, this isn’t the smallest coffee machine we’ve looked at, but for the amount of coffee it produces (12 cups or about 1.8 litres) we just had to include it. Also, you have to admit it looks really sleek and comes in 3 pretty smashing colors (red, black and silver)!
Second, it carries excellent features such as the Pour Over shower head that allows the even dispersal of water over your choice of coffee grounds which gets you a better quality cup of coffee. Through this, you can guarantee that you will get the most flavour and aroma from it.
Its cupcake-shaped filter also promotes an even coverage of grounds, and it can be used even without the disposable filter papers. The machine also comes with a programmable timer, which you can pre-set and have the coffee ready just before you leave the house. Additionally, it allows the user to adjust the strength of the coffee through its coffee strength selector feature. And we love that it automatically adjusts brew volume for small brews of 1 – 4 cups.
Users also commonly say that they love it because it’s so easy to use. Last but not the least, it comes with a Keep Warm function that ensures hot coffee stays hot for up to 25 minutes.
The only negatives users have with the machine is that the lid doesn’t come off the jug. This makes it harder to clean for some although the vast majority of people don’t report this as being an issue. A few people have said the shape of the filter seems to hold coffee grinds making it harder to clean (especially given the flat bottom) but we’d think that a good wash out with the filter upside down would do the trick.
If you’re in the US market, a comparable machine is the Outon Coffee Maker but it does only come in black. It has a slightly smaller carafe providing only 10 cups of coffee. However it is programmable, has variable brew strength and a warmer plate that keeps your coffee hot for up to 2 hours. The Outon does come with a reusable filter too and no one that we know has reported an issue cleaning it.
Did you find the perfect but smallest coffee machine for you?
So whether you’re looking to save some space on your counter top, or you want to get a great espresso wherever you are, we hope that you find something to suit you from the above 5 smallest coffee makers ! If you’ve found something that you think is better, drop us a line in the comments below and we’ll check it out!