An apparatus for brewing coffee, the apparatus including: a reservoir; a filter basket for receiving and steeping coffee grounds therein; the filter basket having an output opening with a valve; and a processor means; wherein the processor means includes: means for receiving a user input of a single serve brew task; means for controlling, according to the user input, dispensing of ground coffee into the filter basket; means for controlling, according to the user input, delivery of a single serve quantity of water into the filter basket; and means for controlling operation of the valve for selectively dispensing a single serve of brewed coffee from the filter basket; characterised in that the apparatus also includes: a coffee grind chute for dispensing coffee grounds to the filter basket; a level detection mechanism operatively associated with the reservoir and arranged to provide a level signal to the processor means, wherein the processor means further includes means for determining if there is enough water in the reservoir to complete the single serve brew task; and the means for controlling operation of the valve is arranged to delay opening the valve relative to a time of delivery of water into the filter basket. a reservoir; a filter basket for receiving and steeping coffee grounds therein; the filter basket having an output opening with a valve; and a processor means; wherein the processor means includes: means for receiving a user input of a single serve brew task; means for controlling, according to the user input, dispensing of ground coffee into the filter basket; means for controlling, according to the user input, delivery of a single serve quantity of water into the filter basket; and means for controlling operation of the valve for selectively dispensing a single serve of brewed coffee from the filter basket; characterised in that the apparatus also includes: a coffee grind chute for dispensing coffee grounds to the filter basket; a level detection mechanism operatively associated with the reservoir and arranged to provide a level signal to the processor means, wherein the processor means further includes means for determining if there is enough water in the reservoir to complete the single serve brew task; and the means for controlling operation of the valve is arranged to delay opening the valve relative to a time of delivery of water into the filter basket. means for receiving a user input of a single serve brew task; means for controlling, according to the user input, dispensing of ground coffee into the filter basket; means for controlling, according to the user input, delivery of a single serve quantity of water into the filter basket; and means for controlling operation of the valve for selectively dispensing a single serve of brewed coffee from the filter basket; characterised in that the apparatus also includes: a coffee grind chute for dispensing coffee grounds to the filter basket; a level detection mechanism operatively associated with the reservoir and arranged to provide a level signal to the processor means, wherein the processor means further includes means for determining if there is enough water in the reservoir to complete the single serve brew task; and the means for controlling operation of the valve is arranged to delay opening the valve relative to a time of delivery of water into the filter basket. a coffee grind chute for dispensing coffee grounds to the filter basket; a level detection mechanism operatively associated with the reservoir and arranged to provide a level signal to the processor means, wherein the processor means further includes means for determining if there is enough water in the reservoir to complete the single serve brew task; and the means for controlling operation of the valve is arranged to delay opening the valve relative to a time of delivery of water into the filter basket.