Bunn Single Serve Coffee Maker Review
My Café is the registered name for this bunn single cup coffee maker. Originally founded under the name Bunn-O-Matic, this company offers a large variety of coffee brewers for commercial use.
The Single Cup My Café® MCU is the manufacturer’s response to a growing segment of single serve coffee makers. It has an undeniable lean design, is easy to use and offers many brewing options to provide all kinds of hot beverages.
This can definitely be a great gift idea to add to a wedding registry list too. But before you do so, make sure these characteristics are the ones you are looking for.
Let’s dive into the details right away.
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Characteristics
- Includes 4 drawers each respectively used for brewing K-cups, ground coffee, soft pods or tea bags and the last one used as a hot water dispenser.
Each drawer offers a different function providing versatility to your coffee maker.
- Pour-in bowl with measurement indicator (oz.)
- Brews any size from 4 to 14 oz.
- Pulse button
- High altitude programming available
- Removable drip tray
- Dimension: 9.2 x 13.5 x 16.5 inches
- Weight: 12 lbs
- 2-year warranty
- Customer service located in Springfield, IL for the US customers and in Aurora, ON for Canadian customers.
Energy Saving Pre-programmed Settings
Remaining water inside the tank is kept at 200°F for 6 consecutive hours after the last use. Then the temperature drops to 140°F. Finally, it enters sleep mode after 26 hours.
Also, My Café unit is automatically turned on and starts heating up if any button is pushed or when a drawer is removed or inserted.
Pros
- Provides any quantity of water between 4 oz. to 14 oz. There is no preformatted cup size like other single serve units. Therefore you can pour in the amount of water to brew the exact cup size you want.
- Avoids taste contamination. Unlike other brands, Bunn provides 4 separated drawers for specific beverages types with a clever side benefit.
As an example, if you intend to make different types of beverages you will probably enjoy not having the aftertaste of your spouse’s previous french vanilla k-cup flavor transferred to your next ground coffee brew.
Also, using different drawers for coffee and plain hot water ensures the water is really tasteless. I personally don’t want an aftertaste of coffee in my kid’s hot cocoa.
- Internal water warming system keeps water at 200°F degrees (93,3°C). In case you wonder, water boils at 100 °C (212 °F) at sea level so it’s pretty close to boiling point.
In fact, the water has to be very hot, but not boiling, to extract the coffee’s full range of flavors.
Another benefit is that the Bunn single cup coffee maker can brew faster as the water is kept at the right temperature. The promotional video mention it takes less than a minute while some reviewers say it’s more between 1 to 2 minutes.
- Pulse brew option for a longer brewing. Essentially, this makes the coffee come out slower so that it stays in the brewing chamber longer and extract more flavor for a bolder, stronger coffee.
Cons
- Has to be refilled at each serving. The internal tank holds a small amount of hot water. However, you will need to fill the tank with the desired cup size you want to brew and refill for each following cup.
- Cannot be used with distilled water. Bunn does not recommend using distilled or mineral free water, unlike other manufacturers who actually suggest using mineral free water.
Interestingly, the vendor explicitly mentions that the water used with the Bunn single cup coffee maker needs to have some mineral content. This means avoid using bottled or filtered water like Brita and other brands.
It’s a surprising characteristic since the logical reason to use distilled water is to prevent mineral deposits to build up and reduce the descaling routine.
Could this be a benefit for those using hard water? I wouldn’t bet on that. As far as I know, Bunn recommends performing a descaling procedure in a timely manner as all other brands do.
Unfortunately, there is no further information provided. Bottom line if you use purified water to make hot beverages this coffee maker is not for you.
- Extra room needed to store unused drawers. It’s important to keep in mind that although drawers are stackable, they are somewhat bulky. Therefore you’ll need to make room in your cabinets to store them.
Bunn Single Serve Coffee Maker Conclusion
This multi-use coffee brewer offers many brewing options which sets them aside from the plain k-cup single serve coffee maker counterpart.
Also, My Café coffee maker has no large size reservoir or pre-programmed cups size but allows you to brew just enough coffee to fill your favorite cup.
One of the most important aspect when buying any appliance is customer service.
Although Bunn is a company that’s been around for 60 years and has stood the test of time, it’s always good to read past customer reviews. This will help you determine how customer inquiries are handled and the overall customer satisfaction.
On the downside, the warranty period is not as long as some of their competitor’s that offer 3 and even 5 years warranty periods.
What is the Best Single Cup Coffee Appliance?
Have a look at the following Cuisinart Single Cup Coffee Makers Review if you’re interested in learning about other similar products available on the market to compare with Bunn’s.
In fact, it’s the best way to determine what single serve coffee brewer is best for you.
Cuisinart Single Cup Coffee Makers
This brand has 3 different models that have a single serve functionality.
There are many aspects that diversify them from each other. Furthermore, each model is intended for a specific type of consumer. Besides I will explain how these options can be useful (or not) depending on your actual needs.
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Products Reviewed
The models described here are:
- Single Serve Brewer (model SS-5NC)
- Premium Single Serve Brewer (model SS-10)
- 12 Cup Coffee Maker and Single Serve Brewer (model SS-15)
Other Discontinued Models and What You Should Know
The following single-serve models are still available on some retailers websites and possibly in storefronts. Just keep in mind they are no longer manufactured by Cuisinart.
In other words, you may possibly get it at a good price but be aware that it can be complicated to get replacement parts in the future.
Also, make sure that the product is sold with a valid manufacturer warranty.
- DGB-1
- SS-300
- SS-700
- SS-1
The Right Coffee Maker for Your Needs – Quick Answers
«I want a coffee machine that makes coffee. Period.»
You need the Single Serve Brewer (SS-5). It’s a small and light appliance with the basic coffee brewing functionalities.
«I want a coffee maker that I can use for different coffee flavor.» Ok, so you don’t want to taste the previous hazelnut coffee flavor in your next Colombian brew coffee. Got it.
You need the Premium Single Serve Brewer. This unit has a rinse button to avoid the taste of the last brewed beverage to transfer to the next one.
It also has a hot water button to provide hot water for any particular needs like dehydrated soups or instant coffee.
«I take a coffee in the morning before going to work but like to have a carafe brewer for the weekends when friends and family come over.»
Simple, you need the 12 Cup Coffee Maker and Single Serve Brewer. Basically, this is an all-in-one coffee maker that includes a regular coffee maker and a single serve brewer. Use one or the other according to your current needs.
Let’s have a look at the details of all three Cuisinart Single cup coffee maker options.
Common Features
All of these models are compatible with K-cups from any coffee brand. They also include a removable reservoir with a charcoal filter and appropriate support.
Other noteworthy features are the 30-minute auto-off to avoid paying electricity on an unused appliance and the practical removable drip tray.
This is a nice addition that allows you to fill taller containers like coffee mugs.
All models are compatible with Cuisinart’s HomeBarista™ which is a reusable filter capsule to add your favorite fresh grounded coffee or tea leaves.
Also, all three units have a 3-year limited warranty.
A Note on Charcoal Filters
SS-5, SS-10, and SS-15 come with a charcoal filter and the required support to use them.
This is important to use if the water you are filling the reservoir with is highly concentrated in minerals also called hard water. In fact, minerals will eventually build up and prevent your coffee maker from working properly.
Some regions in the US are known to have hard water so it’s best to be aware of this to avoid damaging your coffee maker.
Main Differences Between Each Model
In brief, the SS-5 model (Single Serve Brewer) is the smallest of all 3 with a 40 oz. water dispenser and 3 different beverage size (6, 8, and 10 oz.) to choose from.
The SS-10 model (Premium Single Serve Brewer) has the largest single-serve reservoir capacity with 72 oz. of water. It can brew 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz. It also has additional functions like a hot water and a rinse button.
Finally, the SS-15 model (12 Cup Coffee Maker and Single Serve Brewer) offers single serve unit with 3 options for beverage sizes alongside the 3-liter carafe.
All models are compatible with Cuisinart’s HomeBarista ™. However, it’s not included when purchasing the Single Serve Brewer – SS-5.
Single Serve Coffee Maker Differences Chart
Model Beverage Size Reservoir Reusable Cup Rinse
SS-10 5 72 oz. included yes
SS-5NC 3 40 oz. not included no
SS-15 3, – 12 cup 40 oz, – 60 oz. included no
Cuisinart Single Cup Coffee Maker Characteristics
Single Serve Brewer (SS-5)
The Single Serve Brewer is a minimalist version of the Cuisinart Premium Single Serve Brewer (SS-10). It has all basic functions to make a tasteful coffee. You can brew a 6 oz, 8 oz or 10 oz coffee cup.
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Pros
- It’s the lightest and smallest of all three. This coffee maker weights less than 9 pounds and measures 10 x 12.8 x 14 inches.
This is the perfect option for small counter spaces. It’s definitely a good alternative if you plan to move it around to store it in a cabinet or a shelf after use to make additional space available.
Cons
- It lacks versatility in terms of ways you can use it. The SS-5 is intended only for brewing beverage with the preprogrammed temperature and 3 quantities.
- The reservoir can only contain 40 oz of water. This can or cannot be a problem. In this case, it’s best to estimate your needs to know if this will become a hassle. You will most likely need to refill it more often depending on how many people are using it simultaneously.
- Does not include capsule module. Although it is compatible with the Cuisinart’s HomeBarista™ reusable filter capsule you will need to purchase it separately.
If you’re looking for a single serve coffee machine that offers more beverage sizes and a larger reservoir capacity you may find the next models better suited to your needs.
Premium Single Serve Brewer (SS-10)
This enhanced Cuisinart single cup coffee maker is meant to better accommodate your daily hot beverage needs.
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Pros:
- Programmable on and off time to save time and money. You can program the unit to be turned on in the morning so that the water is warm when you’re ready to brew and turned off when you’re done automatically at the desired time.
- Largest reservoir. With 72 oz. of water available this single serve brewer can accommodate many people without having to refill the tank in between.
- Rinse between each serve. This is useful if you like to drink different coffee flavors as it prevents the last coffee taste from transferring to the next one. This can be the case for some strong flavors that tend to «stick» to the brewing chamber like cinnamon, hazelnut, and french vanilla.
- Quick hot water dispenser. Useful if you need hot water for recipes, hot cocoa or some household needs. It’s especially great to avoid cluttering your counter space with small appliances like a boiler if you don’t use it often.
- The HomeBarista™ reusable filter capsule storing compartment. A great conception idea to store such a small accessory that can easily be lost in the confine of a kitchen cabinet.
Cons:
- Only 2 water temperature settings available. You can choose to brew with hot or extra hot water. This is not a problem in itself if you use it only brew coffee blends and most hot beverages.
However, it’s tempting to buy a Cuisinart single cup coffee maker thinking they can brew delicate tea leaves.
While it’s possible to do so with the reusable filter cup (as suggested by the manufacturer) you will be deceived by the taste of it. Tea usually requires brewing with very specific temperatures to develop their full flavor.
- The more rinse you make the faster you consume water. Logical isn’t it? Rinsing between each brew does consume water faster. If you bought the SS-10 model instead of the SS-5 to have a bigger tank you may find that the benefits of it are not so obvious.
- Cannot be programmed to start brewing at a specific time. I’ve seen contradictory info here and there about this. This coffee maker can only be programmed to be turned on or off at a specific time. You will still need to press the brew button to start making a coffee cup.
That being said, the SS-15 offers the best of both worlds. The 12 cup carafe offers a large capacity to accommodate everyone when you have friends and family over.
Still, you have the option of a single serve brew for a quick morning coffee without the hassle of cleaning the carafe.
12 Cup Coffee Maker and Single Serve Brewer
This complete coffee maker comes with a built-in single serve brew.
Note that it has the same features as the SS-5 Cuisinart single cup coffee maker reviewed earlier in this article. For that reason, I won’t go into further details concerning this functionality.
For more information on the carafe functionalities, have a look at the products sheet on the manufacturer’s website.
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Cuisinart Single Serve Brewers Conclusion
Breville, Hamilton Beach, Keurig, and many others offer similar products. What I like about Cuisinart is that you can choose between 3 different coffee makers with single serve brew functions that have nonetheless very specific uses.
In fact, many companies don’t offer as many alternatives and only provide the same unit in different colors. The 3 -year warranty is another good surprise.
Is Bunn Single Serve Coffee Maker the One for You?
Hope you enjoyed your reading and that you are now able to make an advised buyer choice.
If you still have unanswered questions or would like to tell other readers about your favorite single serve coffee brewer please leave a comment in the section below
Happy Brewing!
♥
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