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A single-serve coffee maker makes it easy to brew a cup in minutes with just a few button presses. I test all kinds of coffee and espresso makers year-round in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, where I’ve brewed countless coffee pods. The Bruvi Brewer is newer to the market than Keurig and Nespresso, but it makes one of the best cups I’ve tasted from a single-serve machine.
If you’re considering a new coffee maker, this may be the time: The Bruvi is currently 43% off for Prime Big Deal Days, October 6 and 7, saving you $150. Here’s an in-depth review of our experience testing this coffee maker over the past couple of years, both in our Kitchen & Cooking Lab and in consumer testers’ homes.
What is the Bruvi Brewer?
The Bruvi Brewer is a single-serve coffee machine that uses the brand’s B-Pods, which resemble Keurig K-Cups, to make a range of drinks, including coffee, espresso, and matcha. Its touchscreen lets you adjust the drink’s temperature, strength, and volume.
Pros
- Makes delicious coffee using high-quality ingredients
- Offers a variety of drinks such as espresso, coffee, and matcha
- Modern design with wood and metal accents
- Pods are sustainable, according to brand
Cons
- Machine and capsules are pricey
- Capsules are not as readily available in retail stores
- Only one option for tea
| Brew options | Coffee, espresso, Americano, cold brew, iced coffee, infused coffee, and matcha latte |
| Brew sizes | 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 oz. |
| Water tank capacity | 70 oz. |
| Dimensions | 12.6" x 10.2" x 11.5" |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs. |
What to know about Bruvi’s B-Pods
To make drinks, you’ll need Bruvi’s capsules, called B-Pods. The brand says it works with a curated group of coffee roasters and that its B-Pods contain “super premium, verified sustainable, craft coffee.” Bruvi also says the machine scans each pod and automatically adjusts settings—including brewing temperature, water bypass (which affects the strength of the coffee brewed), and brew time—to make a cup just as the roaster intended.
Bruvi offers over 25 B-Pods, including coffee, espresso, and matcha, plus organic and decaf options.
Our testing experience
At-home testers and Lab experts praised the Bruvi for its convenience, ease of use, and delicious coffee. In Lab testing, it earned top marks for its intuitive interface and ability to brew hot coffee. Like other single-serve machines, it’s easy to use: Insert a pod, make a few selections, and you’ll have a hot drink in minutes. It starts brewing within seconds of pressing the start button, with virtually no preheat time.
Customization options
Our experts and at-home testers like the range of settings, including hotter, stronger, and low-acid coffee, as well as iced and cold brew options. The machine also makes drinks like espresso, matcha, and Americano, with drink sizes ranging from 1 to 12 ounces, depending on the pod and drink type.
One tester said, “It made it very easy to make a coffee or latte in about a minute or so while getting ready for work in the morning.” The presets limit which settings you can adjust for each pod, but one staff member appreciated the guidance. “I don’t have to think much because it immediately senses the specific type of pod and gives me tailored options to customize it to my liking.” The “low-acid” setting also stood out to me as someone who prefers a less acidic brew.
Quality and taste
We’ve kept the Bruvi in our Lab for over a year, where some staff use it regularly. It has held up well, and our experts were impressed with the coffee quality. At-home consumer testers also praised the coffee and espresso. One said, “The B-pods we used were all good-quality coffee products. The coffee is great quality for a pod-based system.” Another preferred the Bruvi to their espresso machine, citing more consistent results, easier cleanup and great-tasting coffee.
Design
My first impression of the Bruvi was its sleek, modern look, with light wood accents and an illuminated touchscreen panel. Staff also complimented the design. One said, “I really like the way this looks on the countertop. The touchscreen makes it feel super futuristic.” Another liked how nicely the color and wood accents work together.
Bruvi app
The app lets you schedule or start brews remotely, reorder B-Pods, track brewing history and consumption, and get maintenance reminders. Testers liked its convenience and ease of use. One said, “I like that it shows details about each cup so I can remember which settings I liked best.”
Take note
Some staff found that the capsules occasionally needed to be repositioned in the machine to brew properly. Plus, the detachable parts—the drip tray, pod waste bin, water tank, and lids—must be washed by hand.
Testers had few other complaints. One wanted more coffee options, since the machine is only compatible with Bruvi capsules. You can use Bruvi’s reusable pods with your own medium-coarse ground coffee, though they aren’t intended for espresso or tea. Some testers said B-Pods are harder to find in small towns, but liked being able to order them through the app, online, or on Amazon.
How does Bruvi coffee compare to other brands?
Our experts and at-home testers rated the Bruvi highly for its coffee, and most preferred its flavor compared to other single-serve coffee makers. One of our Test Kitchen pros gave the Wonderland Dancing Spoon coffee a top score, noting its complex aroma with fruity notes, very little bitterness, and a smooth finish. Another consumer who tested it at home shared that their son and daughter-in-law said it tasted better than their Keurig.
Bruvi and Nespresso can both make coffee or espresso, depending on the capsules you use. I found that Bruvi brews a lighter-bodied but flavorful coffee, while Nespresso makes a fuller-bodied, stronger cup with a rich foam or light crema, depending on the capsule. Testers also gave Bruvi’s espresso high marks. Kitchen Reviews Analyst Eva Bleyer says the brand’s partnerships with top coffee roasters come through in its flavorful espresso. I prefer Bruvi’s cleaner-tasting coffee, while those who like a bolder cup with crema may prefer Nespresso.
Bruvi has expanded its drink selection since launch, but it still doesn’t offer as much variety as Keurig. Testers had mixed reactions: One liked the selection, while another wanted more choices, especially for tea, since matcha is currently the only tea option.
Cost is another consideration. Bruvi’s B-Pods cost more than K-Cups and are comparable to some of Nespresso’s pricier pods. One at-home tester found them expensive and noted that each box includes 20 pods, though a subscription offers a discount. Bruvi also sells a reusable pod, which lets you brew your own medium-coarse ground coffee instead of buying pods.
How we tested
We evaluated the Bruvi in our Kitchen & Cooking Lab using the same testing methods we apply to other single-serve coffee makers. We also kept the machine in the Lab for over a year of regular staff use, allowing for ongoing feedback.
✔️ Ease of use: We assessed how easy it was to set up and operate the Bruvi coffee machine, noting how clearly the control panel is labeled and how intuitive it feels to use. We evaluated the overall design, how easily capsules can be inserted and removed, and how simple it was to remove and refill the water tank. For cleaning, we noted whether parts are dishwasher-safe or need to be washed by hand. We also considered pod cost and availability.
✔️ Performance: When making coffee, we recorded the preheat time and measured the brewing time, volume, and temperature of three consecutive cups to check for consistency. We also noted any usability issues, such as coffee splashing out of the mug during brewing.
✔️ Taste: Multiple testers, including consumer testers at home and experts in our Lab and Test Kitchen, tasted a variety of the B-Pods. Each cup was evaluated for a well-balanced combination of flavor, acidity, and body, with minimal bitterness.
The bottom line: Should you buy the Bruvi coffee brewer?
A capsule coffee maker can't beat freshly ground beans brewed in a top-notch machine or at a great coffee shop, but Bruvi comes impressively close. It partners with top roasters and adjusts brew temperature and time to suit each coffee, making it a standout choice for a flavorful cup with single-serve convenience.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Jamie Ueda has tested and written about dozens of coffee and espresso makers. She tests coffee products year-round and has completed rigorous coffee courses from the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) in coffee brewing, barista skills, and sensory tasting. She regularly shares her expertise as a judge for the Good Housekeeping Kitchen Awards.
Nicole Papantoniou is the senior director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, where she oversees all the content and testing relating to kitchen and cooking appliances, including coffee makers. She has tested numerous models over the years and continues to road-test coffee makers daily.
Nicole (she/her) is the senior director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab. She oversees all content and testing related to kitchen products, food, and recipes. She has worked at GH since 2019, and is a trained cook, published recipe developer, and seasoned product tester with nearly 15 years of experience. She has worked in test kitchens for national magazines and kitchen appliances brands, where she also helped develop products for the home cook. She earned a degree in journalism from SUNY New Paltz, graduated with a Grand Diplome in Classic Culinary Arts from the French Culinary Institute, and studied culinary nutrition at the Natural Gourmet Institute (both now part of the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City.)
