Last Updated on August 8, 2021 by YourBestCoffeeMachine
Keurig coffee makers, have you heard of them? Keurig are one of the most popular manufacturers of single serve coffee machines worldwide. One of their more recent models, which is proving to be very popular, is the Keurig K Classic. But here we’ve looked at the top 5 Keurig coffee makers for home or office.
- Keurig K Classic Single Serve Coffee Maker
- Keurig K Duo Filter Coffee and Espresso Machine Combo
- Keurig K250 Single Serve Coffee Maker
- Keurig K Mini Single Serve Coffee Maker
- Keurig K145 Office Pro Single Serve Coffee Maker
Founded in Massachusetts in the early 1990s, Keurig launched their first products primarily targeting the office market. When they discovered how popular their innovative, single cup brewing system became, they began to manufacture products for home use in 2004. Since then, the company has enjoyed considerable success, growing year on year with an impressive and satisfied customer base.
In 2015, the company was reported to be the most popular brand in North America by an independent NPD Group retail tracking survey. An accolade like that doesn’t just get awarded by chance, so the company must certainly be doing something right.
In this article, we will look at what Keurig has to offer the consumer in today’s dynamic marketplace. Examining five of their most popular products, we will consider whether their one-cup brewing system and innovative design can still impress and excite customers in the ever-changing landscape of today’s coffee machine retail market.
Keurig K Classic Single Serve Programmable K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker
Arguably, Keurig’s most popular current consumer machine, the Keurig K Classic Coffee Maker, incorporates a very user friendly and intuitive design with solid construction and consistently good coffee output. For those familiar with Keurig’s products, this affordable machine takes everything that the K45 had to offer and builds on its success with a few extra features.
Keurig K Classic – The Good
Ease of use is something that the folks at Keurig pride themselves on and the K Classic is one of the most intuitive and easy to operate machines on the market. In addition, traditionally, coffee machines produce quite a bit of noise when brewing; however, the manufacturers have developed “quiet brew technology” which while not silent, certainly takes it down a good few decibels compared to a standard coffee machine. With brew time in just under 60 seconds, this machine is about as fast as it gets. The versatility that the Keurig K Classic provides is a welcome bonus. The machine can handle capsules, brew tea and even brew using ground coffee. This makes it ideal for those who like variation in their beverages.
Keurig K Classic – The Bad
Although the machine can use ground coffee, if you are a regular drinker of ground coffee from a traditional filter or espresso machine, you may be slightly disappointed here as the taste is somewhat weak in comparison. Secondly, the machine doesn’t self-descale. This means that every so often you will have to manually descale it yourself to ensure the longevity of the machine.
Our Verdict on the Keurig K Classic
There is a reason for the ongoing popularity of this machine. Its ease of use out of the box, user-friendly design, and ability to consistently produce top quality coffee, far outshine its limited drawbacks. If you’re looking for a solid, affordable and reliable coffee machine, look no further than the Keurig K Classic .
Keurig K Duo Coffee Maker Single Serve Espresso Brewing System
The Keurig K Duo is the latest model of the older Keurig K575. This series was an attempt to revolutionize the company’s single serve coffee brewers. The Keurig K Duo encapsulates the best that Keurig has to offer regarding quality and features. However, the premium features don’t come free, so let’s examine if the upgrade to the Keurig K Duo is worth the investment.
Keurig K Duo – The Good
The Keurig K Duo is perhaps a better choice than the K Classic for those who have larger families or require large amounts of coffee for entertaining. The Keurig K Duo allows you to brew up to 30oz of coffee in one go. The machine also boasts a very useful touch screen display that allows users to customize the strength and temperature of their brew and also allows users to programme their coffee to be brewed at a specific time in the future.
It’s hard to beat a fresh cup of Joe when you fall out of bed in the morning! Like the K Classic the machine offers great versatility, with the options to brew tea, hot cocoa and ground coffee.
Keurig K Duo – The Bad
A glaring drawback of the Keurig K Duo is that these brewers are only compatible with Keurig branded K-cups which limits the potential for switching to cheaper brands or brands offering different flavors/options. To add insult to injury, older K-cups do not work either, so if you have been a long time user of Keurig K-cups and have a stash in your home, they won’t be any use in the Keurig K Duo machine.
Keurig K Duo – Our Verdict
The Keurig K Duo is a wonderful machine with a plethora of features and controls. If you are looking for a larger coffee output and want greater control over the brewing process, then perhaps this is the machine for you.
However, if a greater output is all you after then you may be better advised to opt for the K250, next up in our review.
Keurig K250 Single Serve 2.0, Programmable K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker
The Keurig K250 represents the entry-level model in the company’s 2.0 series and was one of the few models not discontinued in 2020. Utilizing the exact brew technology that is used in the K575, this machine doesn’t offer the high-end frills of its more expensive brother. However, at a more accessible price point the K250 is without a doubt one of the top machines in its class. The bad news is it’s not readily available in some countries especially in the gorgeous denim blue shown above.
Check Price NowKeurig K250 – The Good
One of the big pluses from our perspective is that the Keurig K250 coffee machine allows you to brew varying quantities of coffee. These range from 4oz up to 40oz and mean that there is a size to suit every occasion. Additionally, like the other models in the 2.0 series, the K250 provides users with full control over the strength of their brew from light to strong. It has a removable and ergonomically designed reservoir that is a breeze to use.
Keurig K250 – The Bad
The K250 lacks the temperature control function, color screen and auto-brew settings of the K575 model. However, unless you are a serious coffee aficionado, it’s unlikely that you will miss these features too much. In a similar fashion to all the other models within the 2.0 range, the K250 is not compatible with any other manufacturer’s capsules, nor is it compatible with older versions of Keurig’s own capsules.
Our Verdict on the Keurig K250
The Keurig K250 2.0 single serve coffee machine is more affordable than its related models in the 2.0 series which is perhaps why it survived the cut. How the team at Keurig has managed to retain the essential elements of the more expensive options, and offer them at an affordable price point, is nothing short of a miracle. This machine is hands down the best value for money in single-serve coffee machines available today.
Keurig K Mini Single Serve Compact K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker
Combining Keurig’s renowned convenience with versatility, affordability and compact size the Keurig K Mini coffee machine (the newer model of the K15) is a great mix of value and features. Have a look at the available colors in your country – in the US it comes in grey, black, red, blue and pink.
Keurig K Mini – The Good
Keurig’s K Mini coffee machine is the most compact unit that they currently offer. Its smaller footprint makes it ideal for those who are short on space. Don’t mistake the smaller size for a trade down on quality; the Keurig K Mini houses the exact brewing technology that is in Keurig’s more expensive machines. For a compact machine, its build quality and sturdiness are surprisingly high grade. The machine provides an effortless brewing experience that is so simple even a child could do it! Lastly, the machine has minimal clean up ─ it has no reservoir to be cleaned as it has been designed to save the most amount of space possible.
Keurig K Mini – The Bad
One drawback of the Keurig K Mini is that it is significantly slower when compared to other Keurig machines. At approximately two minutes per cup, it’s by no means slow; however, it does make a small difference when you are in a rush. With no reservoir, it means that brewing more than one cup takes a fair bit of time, which is not a problem if you live alone or in college dorm, but something to consider if you are someone who wants larger volumes of coffee on demand.
Our Verdict on the Keurig K Mini
The Keurig K Mini is a brilliant coffee machine that has taken the best bits of Keurig’s brewing technology and larger models and distilled it down into a wonderfully compact machine that checks all of the fundamental boxes of a quality product. While the K Mini has a slower brew time and inability to produce larger volumes of coffee than its bigger brothers, if you are tight on space and living in a studio apartment or a college dorm, this machine would be a fantastic choice for you.
Keurig K145 Office PRO Brewing System
The Keurig K145 Office Pro has been touted as the holy grail of single cup coffee in the office and commercial setting. Offering both flexibility and convenience, many offices and business owners are opting for the K 145 as the perfect coffee solution for their business. Let’s dive in and see if it’s worthy of the hype.
Keurig K145 Office Pro – The Good
As with most of Keurig’s coffee machines the overarching benefit is convenience, and the K145 does not fail to disappoint in this regard. It boasts a detachable reservoir with a maximum capacity of 48oz. This makes cleaning and refilling a breeze.
Additionally, the machine has a handy “drain” function which allows the user to remove all water from the reservoir. Similar to the other high-end Keurig machines the K145 offers great versatility; with a very large selection of K-cups, you’re sure to find your favorite.
Additionally, the machine can brew tea, lemonade and other chilled beverages in less than a minute. Lastly, the K145 is built with durability in mind. The high-grade construction can handle a fair amount of abuse and will consistently produce quality cups of coffee multiple times per day for a very long time.
Keurig K145 Office Pro – The Bad
The K145 is quite noisy. This is surprising, given that Keurig have developed quiet brew technology for some of their other machines. Why they have neglected to incorporate it into a machine that is target at relatively quiet office spaces is not entirely clear. Additionally, the machine is not compatible with capsules from other manufacturers, so by buying it you essentially are entering into a capsule subscription service with Keurig.
Our Verdict on the Keurig K145 Office Pro
The Keurig K145 Office Pro Coffee Machine offers users a decent and convenient single cup coffee experience. While this machine offers slightly better features than the K45, it also comes with a larger price tag. Its low maintenance and versatility make it a solid choice for an office environment where users may enjoy the selection of drinks available and the high speed brewing process. For those who would like programmable features, perhaps the coffee makers in the 2.0 series would be a better choice.
Final Thoughts on these Keurig Coffee Makers
So, there you have it, a quick look at five of the most popular Keurig coffee makers. The general impression and user experience of Keurig’s machines is overwhelmingly positive. Many users who switched to using Keurig machines doubt if they will ever go back to other manufacturers.
If you are looking for maximum convenience, minimum brewing time, drink versatility, minimum waste, and don’t mind being limited to only Keurig’s K-cup coffee pod range, then the Keurig coffee makers are a quality manufacturer to consider adding to your shortlist. They have a wide range of single serve machines at various price points, so there is something to suit every need and taste.
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