Brew-by-cup coffee makers fail taste test

By Joe Yonan, Globe Staff, 12/11/2003

The concept of brew-by-cup coffee makers first took hold in offices, where it makes perfect sense: Why brew a whole pot of coffee for a dozen people with a dozen tastes?

It wasn't long before manufacturers realized that many modern homes are not so different. Mom may like her medium roast coffee perfumed with hazelnut, Dad might be more of a dark-roast-with-no-flavoring kind of guy, and their teenager might be rebelling by drinking -- perish the thought -- decaf.

Three companies started selling one-cup-at-a-time coffee makers this fall, and while each one has its pluses and minuses, they all work basically the same way: through the use of specially designed, disposable containers that are filled with just enough preground coffee for one cup. Turn the machine on long enough to heat its tank of water, pop in one of the containers, and press a button. Like an espresso machine, the machine shoots water through the container, which has a paper filter built in, and within a minute or two, you've got a hot cuppa joe.

More...