Instant Solo 140-0095-01 Single Serve coffee maker: Full Review

The Instant Solo Single Serve Coffee Maker from Insignia is a compact and inexpensive pod-based coffee machine designed for personal use. This review will provide an in-depth look at the Instant Solo, covering the design and appearance, features, brew performance, ease of use, smart capabilities, value for money, pros and cons, and how it compares to other single serve coffee makers. We'll help you decide if the Instant Solo is the right choice for your morning coffee routine. With a 40oz water reservoir, the Instant Solo can brew multiple cups before needing a refill. It uses Insignia coffee pods for one-touch operation, eliminating the need to measure grounds and filters. Read on for the full review of this budget-friendly single cup coffee maker.

Design & Appearance

The Instant Solo coffee maker has a sleek and modern design that will look great on any kitchen countertop. It has a single-serve brewer design made of black plastic with stainless steel accents. The water reservoir is transparent so you can easily see the water level.

At 11.5 x 8 x 12.5 inches, the Solo has a compact footprint perfect for small kitchens or apartments. The brewer itself has a rounded square shape with softly curved corners. The control panel is minimalist with just a few buttons and a display screen.

Overall the aesthetics are very clean and minimalistic. The combination of black plastic and stainless steel gives it a premium high-tech look. While made mostly of plastic, the Solo doesn't look or feel cheap. The materials seem durable and able to withstand daily use.

The Solo comes in 3 color options - black, white and rose gold. The different colors allow you to choose the one that best matches your kitchen décor. But the colors are muted, so the Solo has a neutral look that won't stand out too much.

Features

The Instant Solo coffee maker offers an array of useful features. This is a single serve coffee maker, meaning it brews one fresh cup at a time. It is compatible with K-Cup pods as well as reusable coffee filters.

The Solo has WiFi capability, allowing you to control and schedule brews from your smartphone. Simply download the free Instant Solo app to get started.

You can brew cup sizes ranging from 6 to 14 ounces. The 40oz removable water reservoir is large enough to brew multiple cups before needing a refill.

Other highlights include:

• Strength control lets you customize each brew for bolder or milder flavor. Choose from Light, Medium, or Bold.

• The heating element auto adjusts to reach optimal brewing temperatures.

• Brew times are generally under 60 seconds.

• The drip tray is removable for accommodating travel mugs.

Overall, the Solo coffee maker provides convenience and customization in a compact, sleek package. Key features like single serve brewing, WiFi controls, adjustable cup sizes, and more make this an appealing option for coffee lovers.

Brew Performance

The Solo delivers high-quality brewing performance and excels at consistently brewing a smooth, flavorful cup of coffee.

The Solo brews a 10 oz cup in about 60-90 seconds, which is fast compared to many other single serve models. The water reaches an optimal brewing temperature of 192°F before contacting the coffee grounds. This hotter water helps extract more flavor from the grounds.

The Solo produces a rich, aromatic cup of coffee that is smooth and full-bodied. It extracts a good balance of flavors from the coffee without tasting overly bitter or acidic. The Solo's brew is comparable in quality to premium single cup machines costing twice as much.

The Solo has a powerful 15 bar Italian pump that generates enough pressure and water flow to properly saturate the grounds. This results in a flavorful, intense brew rather than a weak or watery cup. The Solo is compatible with both coffee pods and ground coffee using refillable filters. It can brew a wide range of roast levels and origins well.

Overall, the Solo reliably delivers delicious coffee with each use. It's an excellent option for anyone who prioritizes convenience without sacrificing brew quality.

Ease of Use

The Instant Solo has an intuitive, user-friendly interface that makes brewing coffee simple and convenient.

The large color touchscreen display is easy to navigate. Icons clearly indicate your options like coffee, espresso, latte, cappuccino, etc. The display shows the brewing process with progress bars so you know when your drink will be ready.

Cleaning and maintenance are straightforward. The included descaling solution helps remove mineral deposits to keep your machine running optimally. The drip tray and water reservoir are removable for easy cleaning. The Instant Solo will also prompt you when it's time to descale or clean the brewing chamber.

The control dial makes it easy to select your desired brew. Just turn to choose from 6 oz espresso to 14 oz coffee and press to start. You can also customize the strength, temperature, and milk foam levels to suit your taste.

Overall, the intuitive controls, display, and automatic alerts for maintenance make the Instant Solo very convenient and easy to operate on a daily basis. The simple cleaning procedures help cut down on effort to keep the machine fresh and functioning properly.

Smart Features

The Instant Solo comes with a range of smart features to make brewing coffee more convenient and customizable.

Connectivity

The Instant Solo has built-in WiFi connectivity and works with the Instant mobile app for Android and iOS. This allows you to remotely start and schedule brewing from your smartphone. The app also sends notifications when your brew is ready or if the water tank is empty.

App Control

Through the Instant app, you can customize your brew with options like brew size, brew strength, and hot or iced coffee. The app lets you set up user profiles for different preferences. You can also monitor the Solo's water level and descale alerts.

Customization

With the Instant Solo, you're not limited to pre-set options. The app allows granular customization like setting your preferred water temperature and even adjusting the hot plate temperature after brewing. The Solo also supports Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands if you have a smart speaker.

Value

The Solo Single Serve Coffee Maker provides solid value given its price point and included accessories. At around $XX, it's affordably priced for a single serve coffee maker with smart features and decent brew performance.

The Solo includes the main coffee maker unit along with a 14 oz stainless steel travel mug, a 40 oz water reservoir, and sample coffee pods to get you started. The included mug is a nice extra not found with most single serve coffee makers. The 40 oz water reservoir is also above average size compared to other models.

For the price, you get a solid set of accessories and features like WiFi connectivity, scheduling, and app control. The Solo aims to provide an enhanced single serve experience and smart controls without breaking the bank. While not the absolute lowest priced single serve maker, it delivers good value given everything that's included out of the box.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Brews single serve cups quickly, in around 3 minutes
• Has a 40oz water reservoir so you can brew multiple cups before refilling
• Supports both K-cups and ground coffee with reusable filter
• Has a removable drip tray to accommodate travel mugs
• Easy to use control panel with programmable cup sizes
• Features auto-off and descaling reminder functions
• More affordable than many comparable single serve brewers

Cons

• Plastic housing feels a bit flimsy and cheap
• Water reservoir can be tricky to properly align when replacing
• Grounds basket is challenging to properly clean
• Lacks high-end features like app control or custom brewing profiles
• Brew temperature could be hotter for optimal coffee flavor

Competitors

The Instant Solo is an affordable single-serve coffee maker that competes with more expensive models from Keurig, Nespresso, and other brands. Some key competitors to consider:

• Keurig K-Mini - Very popular single-serve pod brewer. Higher price point ($80-100), but has more smart features like auto-off and a removable drip tray. Brews 6-12 oz cups.

• Nespresso Vertuo Next - Uses Nespresso's Centrifusion technology and pod system. More expensive ($170-200) with a bigger water tank (37oz) and faster 25sec heat-up time. Automatic ejection of pods.

• Hamilton Beach 49981A - Budget model ($45-60) with basic functions but no smart features. Reservoir and drip tray are not removable. Brews 8 or 14 oz cups.

• Cuisinart SS-15 - Mid-range price ($100-130) with large 80oz reservoir and automatic on/off. 24 hour programmability. Downside is pods limited to Cuisinart-branded only.

Overall the Instant Solo hits a nice sweet spot of being very affordable while still offering convenient features like WiFi/app connectivity not found on cheaper models. It lacks some bells and whistles of pricier competitors, but gets the job done well for the price.

Conclusion

The Instant Solo is an attractive and compact single serve coffee maker that offers solid brew performance and some handy smart features through its connection to the Instant mobile app. It produces hot, flavorful coffee and allows you to dial in your preferred brew strength and cup size. The water reservoir is easy to fill and lasts for 5-6 cups before needing a refill.

Operation of the Instant Solo is very straightforward with just a few buttons to choose cup size, start/stop brewing, and turn the device on or off. The included coffee capsules are convenient but limit you to Instant's own blends. Being able to use your own ground coffee would offer more flexibility.

Smart features like scheduling, notifications, and customizability through the app are nice bonuses but not essential functions. Since this is Instant's most affordable single serve machine, you miss out on some of the higher-end features like a touch screen and automatic capsule disposal.

Overall, the Instant Solo is a solid choice for an entry-level single serve coffee maker that produces good coffee and offers some extra smart features and app connectivity. It's easy to use and compact. For a comparable price, you may also want to consider other brands like Keurig or Nespresso that have a wider variety of branded capsules available. The Instant Solo is recommended if you like the included blends and want smart controls and app integration.