There’s no shortage of single-serve coffee makers on the market. And while the Chefman Caffeinator doesn’t have the name recognition of a Keurig machine for instance, it can brew a hot, tasty cup of Joe in under two minutes.

The Caffeinator is compatible with any K-Cup pod, and you can also brew ground coffee with the included reusable filter. This is a bonus if you didn't want to splurge on pricey pods, and the reusable filter is much more eco-friendly than disposable ones. But one of the Caffeinator’s most standout features is a simple one: a movable mug lift that lets you raise or lower your cup while brewing, reducing splatter and eliminating clean-up.

I drink at least two large cups of coffee daily, so I was more than ready to put the Chefman Caffeinator to the test. After using it at least twice a day, I can easily recommend this machine for anyone looking for a mid-range single-serve coffee maker. Here's everything you need to know.

Chefman Caffeinator review: Price and availability

The Chefman Caffeinator currently retails at $129.99 on Amazon, and also available at Walmart, Kohl’s, Costco, and Best Buy, as well as Chefman’s website. The machine comes in two color choices: Midnight, a classic black, and Concrete, a stylish matte off-white.

The Caffeinator is compatible with your favorite K-Cup pods and ground coffee, thanks to the reusable single-serve filter included in the box.

Chefman Caffeinator review: Design

The Chefman Caffeinator arrived neatly packed. When I removed it from the packaging, my first impression was its size — it’s larger than I expected, but still smaller than a traditional coffee maker. The machine is well-made and sturdy, though not bulky. It was easy to move around my kitchen while I searched for the best testing location.

The box also includes a removable water reservoir, a water filter with a replaceable cartridge, two receptacles (one for capsule pods and one for coffee grounds), a reusable coffee filter, and a removable drip cup and trivet for easy clean-up.

The most unique aspect of the Caffeinator’s design is the adjustable mug lift, which lets you lift and lower the mug. That way, if you’re making a 4-ounce cup, you can adjust the lift and prevent splatter. When lowered, the mug lift will fit up to a 16-ounce travel mug.

Apart from this neat feature, the Caffeinator has five size settings (4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces), three strength options (light, classic, and strong), and three brew temps (warm, hot, and piping hot). There’s also a setting called “over ice,” which lowers the brewing temperature to chill your cup of iced coffee without melting the ice.

Finally, there are four programmable “favorites” settings, so you can brew your preferred cup of coffee with one touch, without having to adjust the settings each time.

Chefman Caffeinator review: Performance

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I put the Chefman Caffeinator to the test over a week to see how it would perform. To do this, I noted the brewing time and the temperature of the brewed coffee. I then tested each size and temperature setting and programmed a favorite to test that function.

This is slightly less than the average Keurig machine; for example, the Keurig K-Slim takes between one minute 12 seconds and one minute 46 seconds to brew a cup of Joe.

What's more, I did need to refill the water tank quite frequently, which could be an issue if you’re brewing several cups in a row.

Now for the important part: the taste. I brewed several cups of coffee, using Kroger-brand peppermint mocha K-Cups and my own Costco French roast coffee grounds. I was surprisingly impressed by the coffee's flavor profile, having been a little underwhelmed in the past when drinking coffee from a single-serve machine.

The ground coffee, which I brewed using the Caffeinator’s reusable filter, tasted the same as it does when brewed in my everyday drip coffee maker. The K-Cup was a little bland, but I prefer coffee on the stronger side, and I’ve always found K-Cup coffee to be weak.

Using the 'over ice' setting

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The “over ice” feature uses hot water to extract flavor from the coffee grounds, then reduces the temperature to minimize ice melt. When I tested this feature, I noticed that most of the ice in my glass melted, while the coffee coming out of the machine remained very hot.

Despite that, once the brewing cycle ended, the liquid in the glass was cold, with some ice still remaining. However, the coffee was a little watered down. Overall, I was impressed by the Chefman Caffeinator. I found it brews flavorful coffee quickly — especially if you save your preferred brew as a favorite.

Brew temperature

How about brew temperature? The Caffeinator has three temperature settings (warm, hot, and piping hot) so you can brew your cup at your desired hotness. I tested each brew size with the three temperature options.

The 'warm' setting was 160 to 167 degrees F, 'hot' was 161 to 173 degrees F, while 'piping hot' was 173 to 178 degrees F. Experts say that the optimal temperature for a cup of coffee is 195 to 205 degrees F.

Although the Caffeinator doesn’t quite measure up to a hot cup of coffee from a drip coffee maker or espresso machine, it does nicely for a single-serve coffee maker.

Noise

Noise-wise, I also measured the Caffeinator's noise level. It’s not whisper-quiet, but definitely not as loud as some other kitchen appliances. During a brew cycle, the noise level ranged from 43 to 52 decibels, which is comparable to that of a household refrigerator.

How does the Chefman Caffeinator compare?

There’s no shortage of single-serve coffee makers on the market. Let’s explore how the Chefman Caffeinator compares to several of our top picks: the Keurig K-Mini Mate, the Keurig K-Cafe, and the Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima.

Each of these options brews a single cup of coffee in minutes. The Keurig K-Mini Mate is a more basic option for those with a limited budget or counter space. It’s the slimmest Keurig and can even come along on your travels. But its features are much more limited than those of the Chefman Caffeinator.

The Keurig K-Cafe costs more than the Chefman Caffeinator, though it comes with a milk frother that the Caffeinator lacks. The K-Cafe can also brew smaller, 2-ounce shots of coffee with a similar flavor profile to espresso. But the Caffeinator has many of the same features, as well as a more budget-friendly price point.

Finally, the Nespresso Vertuo Lettissima is the priciest option but includes a milk steaming unit and a milk frother for cappuccinos, lattes, and other coffee drinks. If you want to break your habit of buying fancy coffee out, this machine could be a great pick. But at over $500, it’s a much bigger splurge than the Chefman Caffeinator, which costs less than $200.

Should you buy the Chefman Caffeinator?

If you’re in the market for a single-serve coffee maker, the Chefman Caffeinator is a smart choice. With five brew sizes, three temperature choices, and three strength options, it’s a versatile machine in a small package.

Additionally, you can brew a full 12-ounce cup in less than two minutes, and a 4-ounce cup in less than one. The flavor is similar to that of a regular drip coffee maker, with the added option to brew a “strong” cup if you need that extra boost.

Overall, I would recommend the Caffeinator as a solid mid-range option — it’s fancier than your most basic Keurig but much less fancy than a Nespresso machine. If you enjoy coffee but don’t need to brew an entire carafe, the Caffeinator will more than meet your needs.