Keurig Coffee Machines
Julien Raby January 18, 2021
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When talking about K-cups, Keurig is the first thing that comes to mind. This company began manufacturing K-Cup brewers in 1998, and since then, it’s become a dominant producer of coffee machines.
But how can you choose the best Keurig machine one among its wide range of products?
Check this best Keurig models review to see which one is a perfect match for your budget, preferences, and coffee needs.
In general, Keurig coffee machines fall into two categories of commercial and home-use brewers.
Their significant difference is that commercial brewers have a more heavy-duty engine. Plus, they come with other office-friendly options such as an instructive display, vending machine, and automatic maintenance. While in-home brewers have a water tank, commercial brewers usually connect to the plumb lines.
Although both commercial and household Keurigs are single-serve and use K-Cup technology, you can find models with carafe-style brewing or bean-to-cup mechanism.
Here’s an overview of the five top Keurig machines for home use:
| Home-use Keurig machines | Dimensions (H.W.D inches) | Serving options | Tank capacity | Strong brew | Temp Control | Specialty beverages | Best for |
| Keurig K-Select | 12.5 x 9.2 x 11.5 | 6, 8, 10, 12 oz. | 52 oz | Yes | No | No | Coffee Newbies |
| Keurig K-Elite | 13 x 10 x 12.7 | 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 oz | 75 oz | Yes | Yes | No | Most customizable option |
| K-Mini Plus | 12 x 4.5 x11.3 | 6, 8, 10, 12 oz. | – | Yes | No | No | Smallest and best portable |
| K-Duo Plus | 14.2 x 8.2 x11.7 | 6, 8, 10, or 12 oz. | 60 oz. | Yes | No | No | Best for k-cup and carafe seekers |
| K-Cafe Special Edition | 12.5 x15.3 x11.7 | 6, 8, 10, 12 oz. | 60 oz. | Yes | No | Yes | Best for cafe-style drinks |
And these are the four best commercial Keurigs for your small to large offices.
| Commercial Keurig machines | Dimensions | Serving options | Water supply type | Strong brew | Temp Control | Specialty beverages | Best for |
| K150 | 14 x 10.5 x 13.5 | 4, 6, 8, 10, 12oz | Tanked (90 oz) | No | Yes | No | Small offices |
| K3000SE | 12 x 18 x 17 | 4, 6, 8, 10 oz | Plumbed -in | No | Yes | No | Medium to Large Businesses |
| K4000 | 18.5 x 15 x 20.5 | 4, 6, 8, 10, 12oz | Plumbed -in | Yes | Yes | Yes | Milk-Based Beverages |
| Eccellenza Touch | 28 x 20 x20.2 | 8, 10, 12 oz | Plumbed -in | Yes | No | Yes | Ground coffee and specialty drinks |
Read our full Keurig K-Select here
As a low-budget brewer, the Keurig K-select is a perfect choice for beginners, regular coffee owners, and those who need an average coffee maker in their home.
First, it’s got a simple control panel with physical buttons, so you don’t need to deal with complicated menus to make your morning coffee. The indication lamps also guide you on when to add water or descale the reservoir.
Second, the machine works with ready-made K-Cup capsules. It means you don’t need to measure coffee grounds, deal with espresso tampers, or have any barista skills to prepare coffee.
The Keurig K-Select pours coffee in four different sizes to increase its personalization, including 6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces. For those who prefer a more potent dose of coffee now and then, it also includes a Strong Brew button.
With a 52-ounce reservoir, it can hold about five cups of water, so you won’t need to bother refilling every single day. The removable vessel also means easy refilling and cleaning.
Read our full Keurig K-Elite Single-Serve here
For those who need more customizable options, the Keurig K-Elite can be the best coffee maker.
It’s a single-serve, K-Cup brewer with individual settings for regular, iced, and bold coffee. It also boasts a temperature control to adjust your coffee warmth to your liking and a timer that automatically turns on the brewer. So, if you’re used to drinking coffee at 5 pm. every day, you don’t have to put time and effort into running the machine.
The Hot Water Button is another feature extending the K-Elite’s flexibility. With this option, you no longer need a kettle to boil water. You’re only a click away from your hot cocoa, tea, instant soup, and oatmeal.
The 75-ounce detachable reservoir holds enough water for anywhere from one to two weeks, and the descaling reminder notifies you whenever it’s time to refill the water tank. The K-Elite also comes with a water filter to purify your machine and minimize descaling efforts.
It brews as many as five cup sizes, ranging from 6 to 12 ounces. Unlike many brewers, the K-Elite doesn’t make you wait before it starts brewing, and it operates quietly.
If you don’t mind spending a few extra dollars to buy a highly adaptive coffee maker, the K-Elite may be your answer. But make sure you have enough space to fit the device. When you flip up the handle, the K-Elite becomes 17 inches in height and about 10 inches in width.
Read our full Keurig K-Mini Plus here
As the name implies, the K-Mini is the smallest K-Cup brewer you can find among the Keurig series. It’s not only small enough to fit your dorm room and office desk but also features cord storage to save more space.
The pod storage is another portable feature that holds about nine K-Cups when you’re traveling. Weighing as little as 4 pounds, it’s also easy to carry and transport.
Despite its modest dimensions, the machine doesn’t compromise on performance. It brews fast and works without disturbing noises. The serving options range between 6 to 12 ounces. Besides, it provides tasty coffee just like larger machines and doesn’t reduce quality after a couple of months.
The auto-off feature cuts off the electricity after two minutes of inactivity to save energy.
Remember that a reservoir is not an option with this product, meaning that you have to add water each time you want a cup. So, you have to decide if you’re willing to give up convenience for a space-saving design.
One complaint about the machine is that it cools down very quickly. Besides, the coffee doesn’t come out at boiling temperature. So, if you’re a fan of hot drinks, you may need to run a preheat cycle.
Read our full Keurig K-Duo Plus here
As the name might suggest, فاث K-Duo is a dual coffee maker that allows you to brew using both K-Cups and coffee beans.
As for the carafe side, the machine comes with a jug, so you won’t need to buy it separately. It holds up to 12 cups of drip coffee and prepares the whole pot in only ten minutes.
When brewing a single cup, you’ll be able to brew four different portions: 6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces. What’s more, when you detach the drip tray, there will be enough space for travel mugs as tall as 8 inches.
The brewing period for single cups is about 90 seconds, offering enough water/coffee contact to produce a tasteful drink. Not only that, the K-Duo Plus has a strong brew button to increase your coffee strength further.
The 60-ounce water tank can hold 12 cups of water. And, since it’s removable, it’s easier to refill. With a multi-position design, you can set the reservoir to sit in the back or either side of the body—depending on your counter space.
Within a 24-hour timeframe, you can set a time, so the machine automatically starts brewing. It also shuts off after five minutes of being idle, reducing your energy bills and electrical risks.
Another appealing feature is the durable stainless steel carafe. Its only downside is that the jog doesn’t have a heating element to keep the coffee warm for hours. Also, there’s only one spout for both single-cup and drip coffee. So, you need to remove the pot each time you want to brew a K-Cup.
Read our full Keurig K-Cafe Special Edition here
Similar to most Keurigs, the K-Cafe Special brews your coffee from K-Cup pods. However, what makes it stand out among other home-use brewers is its ability to brew specialty beverages such as lattes, cappuccinos, and iced coffees.
The machine comes with five serving options: a 6, 8, 10, and 12-ounce option for regular and bold coffee, plus an additional 2-ounce shot for making espresso-style drinks.
With a built-in frother jug, it stirs, steems, and heats a desired portion of milk so you can top your espresso shot. And if you hit the cold button, it just skips the heating step.
The frother has two separate filling marks for lattes and cappuccinos, which means you don’t have to guess the milk-coffee ratio to prepare specialty beverages. So, the result will be something close to what you pay for in a coffeehouse.
This frother contains a rigid stainless steel body with a long, easy-to-handle grip. The metallic drip tray is another advantage adding to K-Cafe’s durability.
You’ll get a 60-ounce removable reservoir, enough to make thirty espresso shuts, or five to ten regular cups before refilling. All detachable parts, including the tank, are safe to put on your dishwasher’s top-rack.
As for the downsides, the machine lacks the temperature setting, timer, or hot water dispense you can see on other models.
Read our full Keurig K150 here
This K-Cup brewer is suitable for commercial use, large households, and those who host many guests every often.
It has the biggest reservoir among the Keurig models—90 ounces—and prepares up to 22 cups of coffee with each refilling. It also features an interactive LCD monitor that gives you instructions on how to make coffee. The three-language display makes it an excellent fit for multinational offices.
Compatible with all types of K-Cups, this brewer satisfies your employees’ various tastes and offers several cup size selections, including 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces. Although it lacks the Strong Brew feature, you can control your coffee boldness by switching between serving options.
The Temperature Setting lets you regulate the heat from 188 to 193 degrees. With a programmable clock, you can set a time to turn on the device automatically. You’re also able to preset a cup size when auto-operating.
Being Ul-listed and NSF-certified means it’s safe to use the machine in public places.
As for the downsides, the brewer’s got a heavy casing, and you can’t see through the reservoir since it’s not transparent.
Read our full Keurig K3000SE here
This brewer features a self-ejection technology that automatically throws your used pods into an inbuilt waste bin. Besides, you can pair it with a coin machine to charge employees for coffee and balance its electricity and k-cup costs.
It can distill your K-Cup into four different portions, offering four levels of density. Also, the lift-up tray clears space for your large mugs.
The hot water button allows you to make instant hot chocolate, noodles, and soups in the office and wash out the previous user’s coffee flavor. And the intuitive touchscreen can display settings in English, French, and Spanish.
With all the bells and whistles, the machine’s not a low-budget option. So, only consider it if you need a high-demand brewer. Also, remember that it’s not the quietest brewer you can find on the market and that the hose and plumbings don’t come pre-assembled.
Read our full Keurig K4000 here
The Keurig K400 is an advanced version of the K3000SE. It has a three-language touchscreen, an auto K-Cup ejection system, and direct water line plumbing. But it also comes with extra settings to make milk-based beverages.
You can make bold coffee, lattes, and cappuccinos at the click of a button with this brewer without barista skills or professional knowledge. You’ll also get a digital clock, temperature control, and an auto on/off feature for more personalization.
Its regular serving options range between 4 to 12 ounces, but it’s limited to only three choices: 8, 10, and 12 ounces for specialty beverages.
If budget isn’t a concern for you and you enjoy more flexibility, pick this one over the K3000.
Read our full Keurig Eccellenza Touch here
Designed for heavy use, this commercial brewer meets the various coffee needs of up to 150 employees a day.
Unlike other Keurig models, it works with coffee beans rather thanK-Cups, giving your coffee a more genuine taste. Besides, it has three powder milk hoppers to add a dab of milk foam on top of your coffee and prepare specialty beverages.
No matter if you want bold, light, or regular coffee or prefer a latte, cappuccino, or macchiato, this brewer has about 20 beverage options and opens up a full coffeehouse menu. Since it has pre-planned recipes, you don’t have to do anything but touch a few tabs to get your favorite drink.
Not only does the Eccellenza Touch brew under a minute, but it also gives you three choices in terms of coffee size and boldness.
It has an advanced touchscreen, a programmable timer, a USB drive, and a WiFi interface to upgrade the settings and maximize your customizability.
The direct water line plumbing allows for automatic refiling, and the smart diagnostic technology notifies you whenever it’s time to maintain or repair the machine.
It has as many as three safety marks, including NFS certification, NAMA approval, and ETL license. So you won’t need to worry about electrical issues, device health, and safety considerations.
According to manufacturer guidelines, Eccellenza needs a great deal of daily, weekly, and annual maintenance. But If you don’t mind spending time and money, this can be the best brewer for your office.
Not all coffee lovers can satisfy their needs with the same coffee maker since everyone has a different taste. Here are a few factors to consider before buying a brewer.
Keurig machines are known for their unique K-Cup dispensing mechanism, which means they mostly rely on coffee pods to brew a single cup of coffee rather than coffee grounds. So, if you’re looking for a traditional drip coffee maker, you may not find a wide variety among Keurig models.
Among home-use brewers, the K-Duo Plus is the only device with a drip brewing mechanism. You can also find one commercial brewer—Eccellenza Touch—that uses actual ground beans.
A Keurig machine passes water through your K-Cup, extracts coffee, and brews it into the mug. So, more than anything, you need a water source to keep the machine running.
Home-use Keurigs and a few commercial ones come with an inbuilt water tank that needs refilling now and then—anywhere from once a day to twice a month, depending on capacity.
Keurig reservoirs range from 12 to 90 ounces. The Keurig K150 commercial brewer has The biggest water tank, and the smallest one belongs to the K-Mini Plus, which only supplies one cup of coffee per filling. Also, if you’re looking for a home-use brewer with a large tank, the 75-ounce K-Elite is your best option.
Plumbed-in brewers such as K4000, K3000SE, and Eccellenza Touch get their water from the indoor plumbing, so they’re perfect for crowded places.
Not all coffee makers produce the same type of coffee. While some are only capable of making regular coffee, others give you iced, dark, and milked-based beverages.
When searching for Keurig models, look for features such as the Strong Brew option, Brew Over Ice button, and specialty beverages.
Keurig K-Cafe Special Edition, for example, allows you to make espresso shots, iced coffee, lattes, and cappuccinos, as well as regular K-Cup coffee. K-Elite has separate settings for iced and strong coffee. K4000 can make milk-based drinks, and Eccellenza Touch offers as many as 20 cafe-inspired drinks.
The coffee portion you drink every day depends on many factors such as your habits, caffeine intake, and tolerance for coffee’s bitter taste.
As a rule of thumb, the smaller the cup size, the stronger the taste. Conversely, the bigger the serving, the more diluted your coffee will be.
But other than coffee strength, you should manage your coffee size if you want to brew over ice cubes or add some foam. If the brewer gives only one cup size, these options are no longer possible.
While most Keurig versions offer six to twelve-ounce cup size variability, the K150 and K4000 boast an additional 4-ounce option. K-Cafe Special also has a 2-ounce option for an Espresso-like taste.
An easy-to-use control panel is another important element to finding the right brewer.
All home-use models on our best Keurig review have simple physical buttons that let you control different settings.
On the other hand, the commercial ones use touchscreen technology. That’s because frequent use of buttons can cause wear and tear. Besides, office workers don’t have enough time to puzzle out how the brewer works. So, an interactive digital interface that guides them on each brewing step enhances their experience.
Some brewers are more flexible than others, and obviously, more expensive. If you don’t mind paying extra for flexibility, look for features such as a programmable clock, temperature control, and hot water dispenser.
You can regulate your coffee warmth with the K150 and K-Elite, access instant hot water with the K-Elite and K3000SE, and set an auto-on time with the K-Elite, Eccellenza Touch, K-Duo Plus, and K150.
As for other customizable features, you can also consider the K-Cup variability. Fortunately, all Keurig K-Cup brewers can accept different types of capsules. Since they don’t have a pod scanning system, they don’t differentiate between Keurig and third-party pods. So, you can choose from a wide price range and flavor options.
Keurig offers a wide range of models. If you want to own the best, you should consider your budget, preferred features and customization, the type of coffee you want, and the number of users.
For those looking for a commercial brewer, Eccellenza Touch is our top suggestion, and for in-home coffee drinkers, K-Elite has the most features.
Still, if you have limitations in terms of space or budget, other options may be better. After all, it all depends on your conditions and preferences.
