Buying guide for Best Keurig coffee makers
Keurig machines are not just for brewing hot coffee. You can use this little miracle appliance to whip up hot chocolate and other beverages as well. There's even a baby formula Keurig available. But seriously, you know you'll be using it mostly for coffee, so you'll want one that has the best coffee-making features, like being My K-Cup compatible so you can create your own brews.
For the coffee connoisseur, a Keurig should have a programmable brew temperature, water filtration, and an energy-saving mode. If you desire a wider selection of coffee, get a model that accepts third-party cups. But there are plenty of options available that are fully compatible. All Keurig coffee makers feature easy cleaning, but some are larger in size for more demanding use.
Top considerations when buying a Keurig coffee maker
Single-cup use
First, let’s walk through the Keurig machine basics. Keurig captured the public interest as a one-cup-at-a-time coffee maker. The coffee comes in individual serving coffee pods filled with fresh-ground coffee or other beverage mixes, like hot cocoa mix. These are the Keurig K-Cups. They’re a great way to sample different types of coffee and unique flavors. The cup itself is made up of a plastic layer, a filter layer, and a foil layer to keep the coffee fresh.
The K-Cup coffee makers themselves keep water in a reservoir, also often referred to as a water tank, which comes in different sizes depending on the model. When someone wants a single cup of coffee, they add the K-Cup, press the button, and get no-fuss coffee. Once the brewing process is complete, the auto shutoff function turns off the machine so it’s ready for the next use.
Longevity
According to Keurig, their machines should last for years. Of course, as with many products, how well you take care of your machine impacts its lifespan.
A Keurig machine needs regular maintenance in the form of cleaning. Luckily, this is an easy process.
Cleaning requirements
When a Keurig needs cleaning, a descale indicator light pops up in the message center on many models. That means that calcium and other mineral buildup is high enough to require cleaning. When the indicator activates, you need to run diluted vinegar through the system.
Although diluted vinegar acts as a natural descaling solution, you can also buy products like Dezcal to descale the brewer. However, refer to your owner’s manual for specific and proper use.
The machine also has pins that poke through the K-Cup to access the coffee grounds or other ingredients. These may need cleaning to get rid of any coffee grounds or drink mix buildup. They’re sharp, so clean them with a toothpick, releasing any residue.
When researching Keurig coffee machines, we look at three types: the Classic series, the Plus series, and Keurig commercial models.
We appreciate Keurig coffee machines that use quick brew technology and make as little noise as possible.
We take note of the settings each Keurig coffee machine offers and how they’re displayed. Most models display controls via LEDs and buttons, while others have digital screens.
Some Keurig coffee machines fit the reusable coffee cup, the My K-Cup. When this is offered, we note it in our research, as it’s an environmentally friendly option many people appreciate.
We take note of Keurig coffee machines with removable drip trays. These trays are useful for helping keep your space clean.
We look for Keurig machines with an energy-saving mode that automatically shuts the machine off when it sits idle for a certain amount of time.
We assess how easy it is to clean each Keurig coffee maker on our research list. Some models have a descale indicator light that lets you know when it’s time for a cleaning.
We assess how much water reserve each Keurig coffee maker holds. Many of our preferred models hold between 46 and 66 ounces.
We consider Keurig machines with a water filter feature. Although not all models offer this, consumers who have poor water quality can greatly benefit from it.
We investigate how long it takes each Keurig model to brew coffee. Many of the best models can brew within one to two minutes.
Keurig coffee makers features
What makes Keurigs so popular is each machine’s wide array of features. With classic coffee makers, you simply brew coffee. And that’s it. But Keurig offers functions that take your beverage experience to the next level, which makes them some of the best coffee makers on the market.
My K-Cup compatible
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 pre-packaged coffee. It’s a great option for those who want to use their own coffee or tea blends and those who are concerned about staying green.
Did you know?
You must be careful about which cups you use with which machines. Some K-Cups are not compatible with the Keurig 2.0 system, for instance.
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Programmable features
These are settings that you adjust on the machine such as language, temperature control, and clock time. You can also set the brew size and auto-on/auto-off features.
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.
Water filtration
Some Keurig machines come with a water filter feature. This is a good feature to have if you have hard water or otherwise poor water quality. 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.
Digital displays
While the controls on some models consist of only LEDs and buttons, others boast full digital display screens. These allow full control via touchscreen, like managing hot versus cold water dispensation.
The machine may also have a digital clock or even a nightlight setting that illuminates the kitchen at night.
Some Keurigs boast an onboard filtration system.
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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.
Did you know?
Keurigs were first used in offices until they hit homes in 2004.
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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.
Keurigs are generally very quiet, especially the smaller, home-use models. Larger office models may be more noisy, as they employ stronger pumps.
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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.
Keurig accessories
In addition to the My K-Cup, Keurig also offers a few accessories to accompany their machines. The popular brand makes a milk frother, travel mug, and maintenance kit.
Did you know?
At one point there was a Keurig Kold model that could make cold drinks like soda. It was pulled after less than a year.
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Cost of Keurig coffee makers
$100 to $120
This price range contains home-use Keurig Classic Series machines. 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.
Between all the brands that hopped on the trend, estimates state that companies make over 500 different K-Cup beverage varieties combined.
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$130 to $180
This price range includes the current Keurig Plus Series.
The size of the water reservoir goes up as the price gets higher, going from 40 ounces to 80 ounces.
This price range also includes the touch display model.
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 resolved to use 100% of its electricity from renewable sources and to replenish all of the water used for its beverage 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.
