This Single-Serve Coffee Maker Puts My Keurig to Shame

I’ve tested more than a dozen single-serve coffee machines, including several Keurigs and Nespressos. After making my morning cups with the Bruvi Brewer for more than four months, I’m ready to crown this relative newcomer as the best push-button coffee machine to buy in 2025. 

The Bruvi excels at making consistently great coffee, both hot and cold, and the machine’s digital interface is easy to operate, even with blurry eyes. You’ll also get more than 20 touchscreen options to adjust for size, strength and brewing style, which makes it a great pick for households with varied coffee demands. 

The on-demand machine acts as an elevated and more earth-conscious brewer for people who would rather press a button than learn how to bloom ground beans.

Bruvi entered what appeared to be a crowded market in 2018 yet is one of the rare alternatives to the K-Cup or Nespresso single-serve capsules. I was won over by the brand’s bio-enzyme infused coffee capsules said to decompose in a matter of years without leaching microplastics. Bruvi promotes B-Pods as crafted using ethical labor practices, transparent sourcing and biodegradable packaging. B-Pods are a game changer for no-guilt tossing or concern over dubious recycling practices.

Bruvi’s largest hurdle toward brand recognition might be its $338 price. Even when the brewer is reduced to $218 bundled with at least three boxes of B-Pods (about $21 each on average), it is one of the more expensive single-serve capsule machines I’ve tested. The L’or Barista system increases to $219 with metallic accents and the cold brew-only Cumulus Machine at $695. Bruvi manages to outperform both in terms of features and overall value.

A coffee machine that delivers the simplicity of a touch-screen brewer paired with the versatility of seven beverages styles means the Bruvi stands out among the competition.

Bruvi BV-01 Brewer performance 

Bruvi Bv-01, the brand’s only available model, delivers features warranting its mid-tier price point. Just less than 6.5 pounds, the machine is rather light. I find at 10 inches across and 12.6 inches deep it does demand a decent span of counter space. The brewer makes seven styles of hot and cold coffee and teas, including a 15-bar high-pressure espresso, passable iced coffee and concentrated cold brew. Water takes only five seconds to heat, resulting in true on-demand beverages.

Bruvi at a glance

• What it makes: Coffee, espresso, iced coffee, cold brew, tea, low-acid coffee
• Pod type: Biodegradable B-Pods
• Dimensions: 12.6″ D x 10.2″ W x 11.5″ H
• Cost: $338 or $218 when you purchase a B-Pod bundle

Settings including hotter temperature, low-acid extraction and, my favorite feature, a stronger extraction necessary for many of the roasts I tasted from the variety pack. Its removable water tank holds an impressive 70 ounces but I dislike that the tank has to stay about one-third full or the brewer beeps demanding more water. Used pods are dumped into an internal waste bin that holds up to six and a clever latch on the waste bin makes for easy disposal when the time comes.  

I find Bruvi’s “hygienic extraction” notable for anyone who has attempted to make tea or get hot water from a standard single-serve system. You can heat up to 12 ounces for water without worrying about loose grounds at the bottom of your cup. As a heavy tea drinker, I was surprised to learn the machine fits even my extra tall mug. The three-level drip tray adjusts to fit an espresso cap or a 6.5-inch-tall cup.

A 60-day “no questions asked” return policy might ease the hesitation to purchase a direct-to-consumer coffee machine. Customers will pay for return shipping costs, however. The brand’s one-year warranty is standard for most machines, although underwhelming.  

Bruvi Brewer is a surprisingly pleasant user experience

Overall, I appreciate the obvious attention paid to the aesthetic and touch-screen capabilities for a more pleasant experience interacting with the brewer. Cheerful is the best way I can describe the tones emitted by the machine, including a series of chimes to indicate the machine has turned on and when your drink is complete. The entire machine is curved lines and smooth surfaces, a bit reminiscent of a robot from a Disney movie. I even prefer its matte finish for a more tactile grip when refilling the tank or adjusting the drip tray.

Blinking lights are common with single-serve coffee brewers but I often couldn’t remember if blinking meant ‘wait’ or ‘ready to brew’ because it changes depending on the machine. Bruvi’s almost comically large “stop” and “start” button is a circle that flashes (the words are separated by an elegant teardrop at its center) avoiding any confusion on how to proceed. Bruvi fills in minimalist flashing LED bars around the button in what is an obvious count up to my finished brew.

All of the testers expressed how much they enjoyed the touch-screen interface that pairs simple icons with labels. Lift the large bar to drop in a pod and the screen flashes all of its symbols like its waking up from a nap. Automatic sensors recognize whether a B-Pod is espresso, coffee or tea, lighting only the digital icons that apply to the specific pod after insertion: A coffee pod illuminates a thermometer with ‘hotter’ to increase the temperature, for example. Select the outline of person with a heart emoji for a ‘low acid’ pour. Four size icons start with a mug with the number six then adapt into a travel cup encasing the number 12 for a foolproof understanding of ounces per pour.

Design choices include a large handle to drop the coffee pod sideways into the machine head and the hole matches the exact form of the capsule. The bulky cord doesn’t retract, which would be a nice touch if the cord wasn’t so girthy. A smart app also allows for remote brewing and scheduling in advance but those features seem like overkill when the process to brew is so simple.

Bruvi Brewer vs. Nespresso Vertuo

Nespresso Vertuo Plus often reaches the top of the list for single-serve coffee machines as the brand’s main brewer in its line of combination coffee and espresso makers. Bruvi bridges the divide between the versatility of a K-Cup and the elevated aesthetic of a Nespresso brewer. Nespresso’s Vertuo brewers also retail for $199 for its chrome model meaning there is an $18 gap when the Bruvi is bundled for first-time buyers.

Nespresso Vertuo Plus also scans its capsules to brew according to its specific needs. Beyond which coffee or espresso capsules you purchase, Nespresso doesn’t enable any modifications with its one-button brewer. Bruvi in many ways is the antithesis of a Nespresso Vertuo because its major appeal seems to be personalization. I still find it foolproof when bleary-eyed first thing in the morning compared to the one-touch competitor.

The long-term maintenance of a Bruvi BV-01 is more cost effective with B-Pods costing on average $1.05 per capsule compared to Nespresso’s $1.34 per capsule.

B-Pods Coffee Testing 

I won’t pretend coffee pods can rival fresh ground coffee but people devoted to the one-button Nespresso Vertuo know that’s not the point. The brand’s proprietary B-Pods deliver a consistency that I’ve yet to find with a multitude of even the best K-Cups roasts. I’ve also come to appreciate the ability to drop in a pod of Equator Blend coffee, one of our picks for the top coffee subscriptions, without grinding, measuring or cleaning out a grounds basket after hitting snooze enough times to be running late for the train. On that note, I recommend skipping the De La Casa blend.   

Bruvi B-Pods are available in about two dozen coffee and espresso roasts, at the time of testing. I needed to use the stronger setting for the more affordable Wonderland brews to reach a robust flavor that isn’t too weak and forgettable. The machine also delivers seven styles of coffee, including infusions and matcha, although I can’t speak to the taste of B-Pod coffee alternatives.

Bruvi cold brew is slow extracted in phases. I selected the 6-ounce recommended setting, which took more than six minutes to brew. It’s not the almost instantaneous cold brew of The Cumulus but it’s a much faster option than the overnight brewing option. The result is a concentrated and lukewarm extraction meant to pair with ice. It tastes comparative to the Keurig K-Brew + Chill, one of the few single-serve brewers with passable cold coffee.

My go-to coffee order when at a café is an espresso or drip coffee. The reality is the quality of straight espresso is often beholden to the skill of the person at the machine. Bruvi B-Pods manages to take away the guesswork by delivering a balanced shot straight from a coffee pod. Nespresso has dominated the international market with its crema-heavy espresso, so I find it refreshing to enjoy a standard crema you might find from a commercial machine.