After the first Keurig coffee maker hit the market in 1997, hotel rooms, office break rooms, and guest house kitchens received a new default brewer. The frictionless pod design makes them perfect for communal spaces, and today Keurig has a solid grip on the single-serve coffee market, comprising nearly a quarter of all sales.
Keurig’s steady growth has fueled dozens of iterations of the original Keurig machine, and despite what coffee snobs will say regarding the quality, most of their products produce a solid cup of coffee in a pinch.
Is it on par with the premiere espresso machines of Milan? No, but most nights out to dinner aren’t at Le Bernardin. Sometimes you just need fuel, and Keurig will deliver in a pinch. Their selection is extensive, and most of them will meet most folks’ needs, but for those curious and looking for the machine, SPY consulted Java experts about specific specs and features.
The Best Keurig Coffee Makers: At a Glance
What the Experts Say
he right machine can make a huge difference in the user experience of both making and drinking a cup of Keurig coffee. For this story, SPY talked with Lauren Winder Hoar, editor-in-chief of Coffee Hex; Nicholas Jenkins, writer at Morning Coffee Journal; and Kayla Stavridis, head of marketing at Barista HQ to help sort through the best Keurig coffee makers.
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The first consensus is that size matters. “Look for machines that offer multiple brew size options, allowing you to customize the strength and size of your coffee,” says Winder Hoar. Stavridis adds that water reservoir capacity is another factor to consider, as refilling the water reservoir constantly really cuts the legs off of convenience. “For more frequent use or households with multiple coffee drinkers, a machine with a larger water reservoir is ideal,” she says.
The other major thing to consider is how much control a Keurig coffeemaker gives the user over the final product. “Programmable features, such as auto-brew and temperature control, can enhance the overall user experience,” Jenkins says, scratching the surface of what high-end Keurig machines can do. Winder Hoar points out that there are also models with multiple brew strength options, perfect for those who like a stronger or weaker cup of coffee.
The Best Keurig Coffee Makers, According to Brewing Experts
Keurig Supreme Plus
Keurig’s MultiStream Technology has been a game changer according to ex-barista and coffee expert Johny Morrisson of Coffee About. “This innovation ensures an even saturation of the coffee grounds, resulting in a rich and aromatic cup every time.” The Supreme Plus makes these better cups of coffee in five different sizes, at five different strength settings, and at six different temperatures (not including “over ice,” another option on this machine).
All of these customizations can be saved as presets activated with the push of a button or controlled via wifi and the Keurig app that also allows users to look up recipes, schedule brew, and even connect their Keurig to Alexa for voice-activated morning coffee. The 78-ounce reservoir is huge, relatively speaking, but the machine itself is barely over eight inches wide, a foot tall, and 13 inches deep.
Keurig K-Duo Plus
Why It Stands Out: The K-Duo Plus is one of the few Keurigs that can cater both to single serve and make whole carafes of brewed coffee,” says James Hyslop of The Coffee Folk. Single cups can be brewed with K-Cups to 6, 8, 10, or 12 ounces while ground carafes can be made with ground coffee in 6, 8, 10, or 12 cup sizes.
Coolest Feature: The reservoir holds 60 ounces of water and can be placed behind or on either side of the machine itself, a clever feature that can more efficiently utilize limited counter space.
Keurig K-Select
Why It Stands Out: If the idea of a wifi-connected coffeemaker sounds preposterous, the Keurig K-Select coffeemaker’s simplicity will feel like a breath of fresh air. Jenkins calls it “a hassle-free brewing experience.” There’s not even a screen, just a sextet of buttons that satisfyingly light up when activated.
Coolest Feature: Jenkins points out that the K-Select has “a removable drip tray to accommodate travel mugs,” freeing users from dirtying a mug unnecessarily and attempting the always perilous fast full mug pour first thing in the morning.
Keurig K-Elite
Made For: Kelsey Waddell of Roasty Coffee says the Keurig K-Elite is the coffeemaker she recommends for those who “enjoy a variety of coffee drinks.” There are plenty of sizes and strengths available at a lower price than the Supreme line.
Coolest Feature: The K-Elite offers hot water on demand, allowing for instant tea, instant ramen, and oatmeal preparation without a need for a stove. Add that to the sub-one-minute brewing time and 75-ounce reservoir, and it’s easy to see that the K-Elite was designed for convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Keurig Coffee Machines
Can a Keurig Machine Make a Good Cup of Coffee?
It’s true, per Winder Hoar, that “Many coffee snobs steer clear of Keurig because it has a reputation for brewing watery coffee that’s overpriced per pod.” The pods are more expensive than brewing six cups with bargain beans from Costco but cheaper than specialty coffee shops. As for the quality, Winder Hoar says that can be alleviated with the right K-Cups and machine.
What’s a Reasonable Amount to Pay for a Keurig Coffee Maker?
Bare-bones machines can be had for just under $100, but the experts tend to recommend Keurig coffee makers at slightly higher price points with features most people should find useful.
What About Nespresso?
Nestle’s Nespresso line is the Windows to Keurig’s Mac, the Coke to its Pepsi. A similar pod-to-proprietary-machine-to-single-cup-of-coffee system, but one that’s not compatible with the Keurig machines or K-Cups. There are cult followings on both sides, ever at odds with each other. The biggest difference? All those Nespresso ads starring George Clooney.