Buying guide for Which Keurig coffee maker is best?
If you're looking to make hot drinks as quickly and easily as possible, you’re in the right place. Using prefilled pods, known as K-cups, you don't need much time or much skill to brew coffee with a Keurig. It's this ease and convenience that draws many people to these coffee makers, but for a machine so simple, it’s surprisingly complicated to find the model that’s the right one for you and your family.
Simply put, different models of Keurigs suit different households. There are slim, compact options that are great for single-person use or small kitchens. Then, we have larger models with bigger reservoirs and more settings that work well for larger households and people who want more control over their brew.
To find the best Keurig coffee makers, we checked out every currently available version, tested three popular models and spoke to coffee expert Tim Hopfinger Lee, the founder of Tim’s Coffee. Based on all this research, our top all-around model is the versatile Keurig K-Classic for its easy-to-use design, large water reservoir and consistent brew temperatures.
Our top picks
Product specifications: Dimensions: 9.8” D x 13.3” W x 13” H | Material: Plastic | Water Reservoir Capacity: 48 oz | Cup Size Options: 6, 8 and 10 oz
The K-Classic was a favorite during testing. We found it easy to set up and a breeze to use. We liked that there are just five buttons on the body of the unit. Three control the cup size, one turns the machine on and off, and the last enables or disables the auto-off function. We appreciate the auto-off function for saving power, but it's nice to be able to disable it when you want drinks throughout the day without waiting for the machine to warm up.
Speaking of warming up, it took four to five minutes for this Keurig to reach the correct temperature for use, which can be frustrating when you want your morning coffee. However, once at temperature, it only took around a minute to brew coffee.
Overall, this is a great mid-range choice that will suit most buyers. While some might be willing to pay more for a larger reservoir for brewing back-to-back coffees or others might prefer a cheaper, more compact model, this ticks all the right boxes for the average user.
Best bang for your buck
Product specifications: Dimensions: 11.3” D x 4.5” W x 12.1” H | Material: Plastic | Water Reservoir Capacity: 12 oz | Cup Size Options: 6 to 12 oz
Anyone without much counter space will appreciate that the K-Mini is just 4 and a half inches wide. It's a little deeper than others, but it's still a great space saver. During our testing, we found it extremely simple to use. You just add as much water to the reservoir as you want in your cup (up to 12 ounces), slot the pod into place, close the top and it starts brewing.
We found it took anywhere from one minute and 45 seconds to two minutes and 15 seconds to brew a drink. This includes the warm-up time, since this machine has a single-cup reservoir and needs to heat the water every brew. The time differences are likely due to the quantity of water or its temperature when it hits the reservoir.
All told, this is a solid Keurig coffee machine for an affordable price. Cleaning it was easy, taking just a couple minutes. Though we thought it felt slightly flimsy, the coffee was decent and the same quality we'd had from other Keurigs.
Best Keurig coffee maker for heavy use
Product specifications: Dimensions: 9.9” D x 13.1” W x 12.7” H | Material: Plastic | Water Reservoir Capacity: 75 oz | Cup Size Options: 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz
While this is one of the more expensive Keurig machines on the market, it's worth it for anyone who wants more control over their brew. You can pick from five cup sizes between 4 and 12 ounces, which offers you more flexibility than cheaper alternatives. There's also a Strong setting for those who find regular strength too watery. There’s even an option to brew iced coffee.
We love that you can adjust the brew temperature on the K-Elite between 187 and 192 degrees. This lets you brew lighter roasts at a higher temperature to get the most out of their flavors while choosing a lower temperature for dark roasts so they aren't over-extracted and bitter.
This is our top choice of Keurig for heavy use or multiple users. The 75-ounce water reservoir holds enough for six 12-ounce cups or 18 4-ounce cups, and the machine had no problems brewing multiple cups of joe back to back. If you’re willing to spend extra, this option makes better-tasting coffee than other Keurigs we tested.
Best Keurig coffee maker for tight spaces
Product specifications: Dimensions: 13.2” D x 8.2” W x 12.5” H | Material: Plastic | Water Reservoir Capacity: 36 oz | Cup Size Options: 6, 8 and 10 oz
The K-Compact fills the gap between the K-Classic and the K-Mini. It's larger than the Mini but smaller and more affordable than the Classic. Unlike the Mini, it can hold enough water in its reservoir for multiple cups: between three and six, depending on your chosen cup size.
This coffee maker delivers coffee that tastes and smells as good as coffee from a multicup brewer, according to our tests with various pods. While it takes two and a half to three minutes to warm up initially, it brews quickly afterward: 25 seconds for a 6-ounce cup, 32 seconds for an 8-ounce cup and 42 seconds for a 10-ounce cup.
When it came to cleaning, the whole process took us around five minutes and was straightforward. Overall, it was one of our favorites from testing and deserves a spot in your kitchen!
Best Keurig coffee maker for milk drinks
Product specifications: Dimensions: 14.1” D x 17.3” W x 14.4” H | Material: Plastic | Water Reservoir Capacity: 60 oz | Cup Size Options: Shot and 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz
The K-Cafe is your gateway to specialty drinks at home. Beyond brewing classic cups in sizes from 6 to 12 ounces, it packs an extra punch with its strong brew setting, making it ideal for folks who prefer their coffee black. Paired with the built-in milk frother, it's capable of making specialty drinks like lattes as well.
Whip up creamy foam from dairy or your favorite non-dairy alternatives, such as oat or almond milk, to create barista-worthy drinks in a flash. Cleanup is a breeze, too, thanks to the dishwasher-safe frother cup.
While it won't replace a fancy espresso machine, the K-Cafe offers impressive versatility and convenience. It brews drinks quickly and with minimal mess, making it a perfect choice for busy coffee enthusiasts who crave variety and a sweeter taste.
What to expect from a Keurig according to an expert
We interviewed Tim Hopfinger Lee, founder of Tim’s Coffee, to get his perspective on what makes a great Keurig machine. "I’m one of those lucky people who managed to mix their love for coffee with my job and created a business using my coffee expertise," Lee says. "While there are controversies surrounding how Keurig machines are not environmentally friendly, I have my reasons for liking them," he adds.
Price and environmental impact
It's important to think about whether the price associated with K-Cup coffee makers is worth it for you. As Lee says, "Buying K-cups can be expensive. Some people are just paying for the convenience." It's fine if the speed and convenience make the extra cost worth it for you. However, Lee notes that "you can try to make similar-tasting coffee using other equipment without spending as much money."
Then there's the question of environmental impact. This "was making people change to other coffee machines," Lee says. "But there is actually a solution to this," he adds. "As long as you get a reusable K-cup or get biodegradable K-cups, you should be fine!"
Ease of use
Convenience is king when it comes to Keurigs, according to Lee. While the coffee quality might not match freshly ground beans for coffee aficionados, Lee sees K-Cups as a "major improvement over traditional bagged coffee." The biggest draw? Ease of use. "Each brew is a single, fresh cup just for you, whenever you want it," Lee says, "and it's so simple it makes the coffee experience itself enjoyable." He adds that Keurig models, like the K-Elite, are “quite easy to clean” and maintain.
Using a Keurig to its fullest
Once you invest in a Keurig, Lee recommends experimenting with your machine to unlock its full potential. "Explore the different brew sizes, strength options and vast selection of pod flavors," he advises.
While Keurig machines are undeniably convenient, Lee says that achieving the ideal taste might require some tweaking. So, experiment away until you can brew a better-tasting cup of joe quickly and easily.
Keurig coffee makers features
What makes Keurigs so popular is each machine’s ease of use and ability to brew just a single cup of coffee. With classic coffee makers, you often need to brew coffee for a crowd.
My K-Cup compatible
Most Keurigs are My K-Cup compatible, including the K-Compact, K-Classic and K-Elite. These machines accept the reusable coffee cup, the My K-Cup. This is a cup filter that allows you to add your own coffee, or other ingredients, as opposed to buying prepackaged coffee (K-Cups). It’s a great option for those who want to use their own coffee or tea blends. Grinding your own beans will always give you fresher, better-tasting coffee. Plus, you can choose from any coffee beans rather than simply from coffees available in K-Cup form. My K-Cups are also perfect for those who are concerned about staying green since they don't produce the waste associated with single-use K-Cups.
Programmable features
These are settings that you adjust on the machine such as temperature control, brew size, brew strength and clock time.
- Temperature control: In some cases, you can adjust the brew temperature, which helps you control the extraction of your coffee. Some models also have an iced setting. This is great when you want your coffee over ice. All you need to do is press a single button on your machine. The Keurig K-Elite offers both these features.
- Brew size: One thing that all Keurigs have in common is the ability to change the brew size. Available sizes vary depending on the model, but can range from 4 to 12 ounces. For instance, the K-Classic has three sizes — 6, 8 and 10 ounces — while the K-Elite has five sizes — 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 ounces.
- Brew strength: Some Keurig machines let you pick your brew strength. For instance, the Keurig K-Cafe brews at regular strength as standard but also has a "strong" setting for a more robust cup of coffee.
- Clock time: Some models, such as the K-Elite, have a small screen to display the time. You can set this using the buttons on the body of the machine.
Quiet brew technology
This feature is what it sounds like: Certain models are designed to make little noise while they brew. Larger machines like the Office Pro varieties tend to not come with this technology since they use a heavier pump for large-scale uses. However, the majority of the machines are pretty quiet. But exactly how loud are different types of Keurigs? The K-Mini is, perhaps surprisingly, one of the louder Keurig brewers, producing around 80 decibels during brewing. The K-Classic is much quieter, producing roughly 66 decibels.
Water filtration
Some Keurig machines come with a water filter feature, such as the Keurig K-Elite. This is a good feature to have if you have hard water or otherwise poor water quality. Hard water can leave mineral deposits in coffee makers, which reduces the machine's lifespan. Not to mention that hard water can impact the flavor of your brewed coffee. The filters are usually replaceable charcoal filter cartridges.
Energy-saving mode
These features turn off the machine when not in use. For instance, the machine may shut down after sitting idle for two hours or more.
Types of Keurig coffee makers
The Keurig machines come in many types. Rather than listing every specific model, here are several of the main Keurig categories.
Keurig Classic series
These are basic models that take up little space on your countertop and brew the single-serve coffee that the brand is known for. They work with K-Cup pods. If you’re looking for a machine that just provides your cup of coffee fast, this is that machine.
Keurig Plus series
The Keurig Plus machines are more advanced home models that can brew a full four-cup carafe. These also have touchscreen controls with more customizable brew options, like strength control.
These work with K-Cup pods and K-Mug pods as well as the K-Carafe pods.
Keurig Mini models
For coffee connoisseurs that have very minimal room on their countertops, Keurig makes compact models that are ideal for small spaces. The Keurig K-Mini, K-Mini Plus and K-Slim work just like their larger cousins but boast a trim, space-saving design.
Commercial models
Meant for use in offices, the commercial models are much larger machines and, therefore, take up a lot of counter space. They may be for employees, or they might be available for customers in a waiting area.
They typically have very large water reservoirs and are built all around for high-yield use. Some even come with complete Keurig-brand kiosks.
These are available through authorized distributors and don’t list prices online.
Cost of Keurig coffee makers
$100 to $120
This price range contains home-use Keurig Classic Series and Mini-Series machines. However, these machines can drop under $100 when on sale. The machine at the bottom of the price range does not have a water reservoir, whereas the one at the top of the price range does. Programmable features start appearing at the top of the price range.
$130 to $190
This price range includes the current Keurig Plus Series and Elite Series. The K-Cafe, with its milk frother, is also available at this price point.
The size of the water reservoir goes up as the price gets higher, going from 40 ounces to 80 ounces.
How we tested
We tried out three of the models on this list: the Keurig K-Classic, K-Mini and K-Compact. During testing, we assessed them in a range of ways to see how they performed. These were some of our test parameters.
Test the warm-up time and brew time
We started by testing how many minutes the machines took to warm up. Once warm, we measured how long they took to brew different amounts of coffee.
Assess the controls
Keurig machines can have a range of control types and special features. We assessed all of them and noted whether they were easy to use.
Pod compatibility
During testing for some models, we tried a range of coffee pods to assess pod compatibility. We wanted to find out if they worked with a range of off-brand pods, as well as official Keurig K-cups.
Cleaning
We cleaned each of the machines as instructed in the manual to see how easy it was to do. We noted the amount of time it took and effort involved.
FAQ
Q. Keurig has gotten a bad rap for its environmental impact. Is the company doing anything about this?
A. Keurig has gone out of its way to address these environmental concerns. One of its environmentally related mission statements, found on the Keurig website, is to use all recyclable materials by the year 2025. By that year, the company has also committed to using 100% of its electricity from renewable sources and to replenish all of the water used for its beverages in certain high-risk communities. Further, the company has pledged to forgo using landfills for waste by 2025.
Q. I like coffee, but I’m not huge on it. Is a Keurig machine even worth the investment for someone like me?
A. Keurigs aren’t just for coffee. They can also make tea, cider and hot cocoa. The wide array of flavored coffee is also a good option for people who just don’t like plain black coffee. K-Cups come in hundreds of flavors, many that you’d find in speciality coffee shops. People have found other uses for their Keurig machine as well. Some even use it just to brew hot water for pasta and oatmeal. Plus, machines with cold settings can make tasty cold coffee recipes with creamer, sugar and ice.
Q. Are Keurig machines hard to clean?
A. Not at all. The main problem is scaling from hard water. To fix it, you can either run diluted vinegar or a cleaning agent like Dezcal through the Keurig system. Many models even have a descaling light that tells you when to descale the machine.
Q. How long do Keurigs usually last?
A. This can vary depending on a range of factors, including which model you choose, how often you use it and how well you care for it. However, you should generally expect your Keurig to last around three to five years.
Our expertise
Lauren Corona has been writing for BestReviews for six years. Food and drink is among her areas of expertise, both for BestReviews and other outlets. She's written dozens of coffee-related reviews for BestReviews, including for Keurig coffee makers. She's a former barista and a coffee lover who's used a wide range of coffee machines in her time, so she knows what to look for and what to avoid.
Sources
- We tested four Keurigs firsthand
- Interview with Tim Hopfinger Lee, founder of Tim’s Coffee
- How Long Does a Keurig Last? Heather Cuellar
- How Water Can Make or Break Your Coffee, Clive Coffee
- Water and Coffee: Understanding How Temperature Affects Your Cup, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf blog
