The big selling point of any pod machine is convenience so we looked for machines that were easy to use and considered the following: How many buttons does a user have to push before brewing a cup of coffee? Is the interface intuitive or too complicated? If the machine offers options for different brew types and sizes, do they feel overwhelming or still convenient? Is the water reservoir sufficient for making multiple cups of coffee or does it need to be refilled for each use?
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Coffee taste and textureWe won’t pretend that even the very best pod machine can compete with the flavor of coffee from a pour-over or French press, but within this category there’s a broad spectrum that ranges from “quite good” to “godawful.” We gave preference to machines that could produce a well-balanced cup of coffee with a smooth finish.
SizeThese machines are made for use in residential kitchens and since not everybody has unlimited counterspace, we looked for machines that didn’t have a huge footprint. Even better if they could tuck under upper cabinets.
QualityWhile most single-serve coffee makers aren’t prohibitively expensive, they’re still an investment, so we looked for machines that felt like they were built to last. We also considered whether the manufacturer offered any sort of warranty.
Cleaning and maintenanceDaily maintenance would kind of defeat the purpose of these quick-and-easy coffee makers so we considered the following: Does the machine require any sort of daily cleaning? If so, is it easy? Is there a receptacle for pods or do they need to be manually removed after each use? How often does the machine need to be descaled? Are the instructions for cleaning and descaling clear and easy to follow? Is there a disposable water filter that needs to be regularly replaced or a reusable filter that requires special care?
Look and feelIf something is going to take up semi-permanent residence on your countertop, you want it to look good. With that in mind, we paid attention to the style and finishes of each machine.
We’ll note here that we limited this test to automatic single cup brewers because we think that’s what most people are looking for in a single-serve machine. We didn’t try brewers like Aeropress or the Clever dripper, both of which make coffee we like, but have brewing methods that take much more work than pod machines. We also really like the Spinn Coffee Maker, but since it’s closer to a super-automatic espresso machine than a Nespresso or a Keurig, we left off this list.
BruviEpi’s reviews editor, Noah Kaufman is a big fan of the Bruvi single-serve coffee brewer—and for good reason. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, it has a lot to offer in terms of functionality. The touch-screen control panel allows users to choose between eight cup sizes and it features a selection of one-touch brewing options including buttons for low acid, americano, iced coffee, and cold brew. Of course, any single-serve coffee maker can be used to brew coffee or espresso-style shots over ice, but the Bruvi’s cold brew setting takes a few more minutes than a hot drink and uses cooler water, too. Similar to the Nespresso Vertuoline, the Bruvi reads data on the proprietary pods and adjusts a variety of brewing factors accordingly, but the user still can pick the highlighted default cup size or select another—and there’s always the option to make manual modifications by tapping the screen for “stronger,” “hotter,” or “low acid.” When brewed in eight ounce sizes without any additional settings, the light- and medium-roast coffees were well-balanced and nuanced—especially for something from a pod machine. That said, there was always a little sediment in the bottom of my cup and we were far less impressed with the espressos. One very nice environmental plus of the Bruvi though is that the brand promises that the treated polypropylene cups it uses, which are unlike any others on the market, will mostly break down in a landfill. That means no worrying about whether something is recyclable or what type of composter you should send your pods to (Bruvi also has a refillable pod for those who want to use their own specialty coffee). If you want the convenience of a pod machine with the kind of versatility and functionality you’d get from a high-end drip coffee maker, the Bruvi is a great choice—though it may be too robust and pricey for some coffee drinkers who just want something quick and easy in the mornings.
Nespresso Essenza MiniThe Essenza Mini is a compact single-serve espresso maker that’s part of Nespresso’s Original line. Unlike the VertuoLine’s centrifuge extraction, the Original machines use pressure-driven extraction and smaller, more angular pods. This mini brewer uses 19 bars of pressure to extract one of two cup sizes from Original pods: a 1.35-ounce single espresso shot or a 3.7-ounce Lungo. (It should be noted that while 19 bars of pressure is more than double the standard nine bars required of a professional espresso machine, the experts at Home Grounds advise against reading too much into that number because a lot of the pressure is actually diminished within the less-powerful brewing mechanisms of a plug-and-go machine.) Though the Essenza Mini technically doesn’t make regular coffee, it’s certainly worth considering if you want a high-quality compact machine and prefer to drink lattes, cappuccinos, or americanos over a standard cup of drip-style coffee. The removable drip tray and water tank also make this small machine super easy to travel with or store.
L’or Barista Coffee & Espresso SystemThough L’or machines have been available in France since the 90s, the L’or Barista Coffee & Espresso System is only starting to gain popularity in the US. Like the Nespresso Vertuo, it brews both coffee and espresso-style drinks, but the process is slightly different. The L’or accepts both the brand’s proprietary coffee capsules as well as Nespresso Original espresso pods (you can use L’or espresso pods in an Original Nespresso machine and vice versa). Operating the machine is simple; for either drink style, you can choose between three brew sizes and coffee or espresso is extracted under 19 bars of pressure through two dispensing spouts—which produce a crema that rivals Nespresso’s. In the final round of testing, we brewed the same pods at the same size (3.7 ounces) in this machine and the Nespresso Essenza Mini and while the differences were subtle, we consistently found that the espresso from the Nespresso machine was ever-so-slightly more balanced with a smoother finish. Overall, this is one of the only single serve coffee makers that feels like a true competitor to Nespresso, but the system would benefit from printing cup size recommendations on the pods (e.g. “this pod tastes best when brewed small”).
Instant Dual Pod PlusOf all the single serve coffee makers we tested, the Instant Dual Pod Plus was the most pleasant surprise. From the maker of the do-it-all Instant Pot, this machine has the ability to brew a good cup of coffee or espresso-style shot from K-Cups, Original Nespresso pods, and the brand’s own compostable pods (NOTE: they require an industrial composting environment rather than a regular old backyard compost pile). Additionally there’s an included refillable pod for brewing single servings of your favorite coffee, as well as a hot water button for tea. This brewer delivered on all fronts and even produced a nice crema on the espresso shots. The regular coffee was far better than anything we got from a Keurig, too. If you like really hot coffee, the Dual Pod Plus brews slightly hotter than the Nespresso and most other machines we tried, but not so hot that it scorches the coffee. While we wouldn’t want replace a Vertuo Plus with this (it’s pretty big and we prefer Nespresso capsules to K-Cups), we'd be happy if our hotel or vacation rental had this on the counter. Because it’s so versatile, it’s also a great option for a home with both Nespresso and K-cup devotees, as well as small offices and teachers’ lounges.
Nespresso Vertuo NextThe Vertuo Next is another machine from Nespresso’s Vertuoline and while it brews just as beautifully as the Vertuo Plus we recommend above, it has a few features that set it apart. First, the pros: Though this is smaller than the Vertuo Plus, it can brew bigger coffee sizes. Where the Plus brews four sizes and can make a maximum of eight ounces of coffee from one pod, the Next has five brew size options and accepts pods that brew 18 ounces at a time (there’s a compatible carafe that can be used with the larger pods, too). If you love the quality and ease of a Nespresso but want the ability to brew more than a single cup at once, this is a good option. But because the Next is a smaller machine, it has a slightly smaller water reservoir than the Plus, and the top of the Next doesn’t open automatically, either. Instead, you have to lock and unlock it via a lever on the lid. It feels like it takes a little too much force to make it happen, especially until you get used to the mechanism. Finally, it has Bluetooth and Wifi connectivity—which seems kinda gimmicky, but some users may appreciate receiving maintenance alerts and firmware updates, as well as capsule tracking so you can remember to order more before you run out. Overall, using this machine was a less pleasant experience than using the Vertuo Plus, so if you don’t need the 18-ounce pour or the app connectivity, you may want to pass on this model in favor of the Plus.
Nespresso Vertuo Pop+Nespresso’s space-saving, colorful follow up to our reigning favorite, the Nespresso Vertuo Plus comes with a slightly lower price tag and produces the same quality coffee. The Vertuo Pop+ has the same smart tech as the Vertuo Plus—it can read each pod to determine how much water to use, though there is an option to top up your beverage with additional water if you don’t like your coffee as strong. Unlike several other machines we tested (including some other Nespresso machines), the Vertuo Pop+ won’t accommodate a standard pint glass for iced coffee, even with the cup shelf removed. We found this a problem using the Iced Leggero pods, that brewed 7.7 ounces of coffee, which overflowed smaller ice-filled cups. Also, unlike some other Nespresso machine models, the water reservoir on this one is fixed in its position at the left rear of the machine. You can’t pivot it to make it more streamlined or shift its position to the other side. The reservoir is also smaller than the Vertuo Plus. Vertuo Pop+ machines offer options of 25.4 ounces on the standard model and 32 ounces on the deluxe. But because Nespresso uses precise brewing amounts ranging from shots to full cups of coffee, we could go several days without a refill. Still the Vertuo Plus has more convenient features, so we continue to recommend that machine unless one of the nine colorways of the Pop+ strikes your fancy.
Cuisinart Premium Single Serve BrewerThe Cuisinart Premium Single Serve Brewer is a popular one-cup coffee maker that works with K-Cups and also comes with a reusable mesh pod you can fill with your favorite ground coffee. It’s billed as fully programmable, and the simple control panel allows users to pick one of five cup sizes and two brew temperatures (other features, like the auto-on and shutoff seem somewhat unnecessary for a single cup coffee brewer). The removable 72-ounce water tank means you won’t have to fill it too often, but it does require a charcoal filter insert that needs to be replaced every 60 days or after 60 uses. While this machine can’t compete with the Nespresso, it’s certainly an upgrade if you’re used to using a Keurig. In multiple rounds of testing using the same K-Cups in both, the coffee from the Cuisinart consistently had more depth of flavor and was less murky. (One thing to note about the reusable pod: We initially had issues getting the machine to register it and only got it to work after rotating the adapter about 5 degrees clockwise from the supposedly proper alignment.)
Cuisinart Grind & Brew Single-Serve Coffee MakerThe Grind & Brew takes the Single Serve Brewer and adds the option to use fresh coffee beans instead of the pre-ground stuff, which we are always in favor of. Like the Single Serve Brewer above you can chose to use Keurig-style pods or the built-in conical burr grinder. The grinder grinds beans into what Cuisinart calls a HomeBarista cups, which acts as a sort of reusable pod. It comes with three preset brewing volumes — eight, ten, and twelve ounces — though it used 10 grams of coffee grounds regardless of the size if you chose the freshly ground option. This freshly-ground option beat out the K-cups in taste and complexity (though was still not as good as Nespresso capsules). Using the eight-ounce brew option produced the best results with both the pods and fresh grounds, however the fresh grounds fared better than the watered-down pods when opting for ten- and twelve-ounce pours. The mesh filter did leave a bit of silt at the bottom of the cup so the last couple sips were gritty. Another disappointment: The grinder lacks any settings, so it’s impossible to change to a coarser or finer grind for different beans. It also retains some loose coffee grounds in the dispenser, so when the machine is knocked or jostled, it creates a bit of a mess on the drip tray. While the 48-ounce water reservoir is big enough to keep refills to a minimum, dumping, rinsing, and emptying and refilling the HomeBarista cup every single time we wanted another cup of coffee was tedious, especially in a two-coffee-drinker household like the one we tested in.
Ninja DualBrew ProNinja’s DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System is a modular brewer centered around a 12-cup drip coffee maker with a detachable milk frother and K-Cup adapter. While this machine has a lot going for it—including a bevy of options for brew size and strength—if you’re looking for the convenience of a pod machine, you’ll likely find this too big and too complicated. It’s a drip coffee maker first; the frother and K-cup capabilities are add-ons and the whole thing has to be reconfigured to switch between carafe mode and single-serve mode. That said, if you mostly make pots of coffee but want the ability to pop in a pod every once in a while, this could be a good choice if you have the counter space to spare. It brews K-cups better than a Keurig machine and while the model we tested came with a few starter paper filters for brewing into the carafe, you can also get a reusable mesh filter if you want to cut down on waste. We didn’t find Ninja brand refillable pods but there are some compatible aftermarket options that look promising.
Keurig K-MiniWhen we first published this story the Keurig K-Mini is Amazon's top-selling single-serve brewer. And it's clear why: It's incredibly compact, it comes in a variety of pretty colors, it has a price point around $100, and K-Cups dominated the market long enough that they became the default for tens of millions of American households. If we didn’t know anything about coffee or just wanted something to have on hand to offer guests a cup, we might pick this machine too. But we do know better and after trying a wide variety of pods, we didn’t get one decent cup of coffee out of the K-Mini or the more expensive Keurigs we tested. There was no depth of flavor, and the coffee was consistently watery and overly bitter at the same time. Additionally, the internal water reservoir in this machine only holds enough for one cup and needs to be refilled with every brew.
Keurig K-Supreme SmartThe K-Supreme Smart Single Serve Coffee Maker seems to be Keurig’s attempt to compete with the Nespresso Vertuo line. It is not a close second. Even if you ignore the fact that it makes bad coffee, the technology doesn’t live up to the marketing claims and the machine itself can’t seem to handle some of its own features. It does have options for brew strength and temperature, and you can save up to 10 of your favorite settings as presets, but the whole system leaves a lot to be desired. One of the main selling points is that the K-Supreme Smart is supposed to recognize what K-Cup pod you put in it and customize the brew settings accordingly, though you do still need to choose your brew size (6, 8, 10, or 12 ounces) and you can adjust the brew temperature if you’d like, too. App connectivity allows for remote brewing (a feature that seems pointless for a single-serve device) and K-cup pod inventory management (possibly helpful), but the machine froze when we tried to brew back-to-back cups of coffee. We actually had to unplug it a few times to get the “please wait” message off of the display. This Keurig does have a 66-ounce water reservoir, but no pod receptacle; the used K-cups need to be removed by hand after each brew.
Keurig K-Iced EssentialsWe haven’t liked Keurig hot coffee, but this newer machine offered the option to try it cold. Unfortunately a drop in temperature couldn’t save the flavor of the K-cups. Even the most concentrated 6-ounce size was weaker with less aroma than a pot brewed with the same brand and roast of beans in a drip coffee maker, and it came with a metallic aftertaste. The iced setting also only reduces the finished coffee by nine degrees, dropping it from 165℉ to 154℉, so we still got a watered down drink as much of the ice melted into the coffee (and then required more ice to properly chill, to boot). It does brew quickly if you’re in a hurry, it takes just 72 seconds, but fast brewing can often run counter to quality brewing as speedy flavor extraction is usually weaker flavor extraction, so your coffee may benefit from a little more patience. One nice thing about this machine, though, is that the pour spout is high enough to accommodate a pint glass—the kind you’d probably want to drink iced coffee out of. But if we’re comparing apples to apples, or, rather, capsules to capsules, it still produced lackluster coffee compared to the whole line of Nespresso machines
Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Single-Serve Coffee Maker (DISCONTINUED)The coffee from the Keurigs was not great. The Hamilton Beach FlexBrew unfortunately went under that low bar. It is a versatile single-serve coffee maker that allows for brewing three cup sizes and two brew strengths, comes with a reusable pod for brewing your own ground coffee, and has a removable 40-ounce water tank. It also has a hot water button for tea, instant ramen, and the like. On paper, it looks pretty good. Unfortunately, it makes a lot of noise when it’s working, and worse, brews noticeably hotter than the other machines we tested. It brewed so hot that it scalded the coffee. Even locally-roasted, freshly-ground beans couldn’t redeem this thing. If you’re looking for an affordable alternative to the Keurig that also lets you use whatever type of coffee you want in a reusable pod, this is not it.
Amazon Basics Compact Dual Brew Single Serve Capsule Coffee MakerThe Epi product testing team has been pleasantly surprised by a handful of Amazon Basics gadgets (Exhibit A: the kitchen scale) so we were curious to see if the single-serve coffee maker was worth considering. It is not. When we brewed the same K-cup pod in this machine and a Keurig, the dark liquid that came out of the Amazon house brand’s coffee maker was worse in every way (taste, texture, and temperature). The only thing we can compare it to is what you'd drink out of styrofoam and desperation while waiting all day for a car repair. Sadly, the freshly-ground, high-quality coffee we put into the reusable pod wasn’t much better. This one is a hard pass.
Additional testing and reporting by Adam Campbell-Schmitt
Why should you trust Epicurious?The Keurig K-Supreme Plus Smart is the best Keurig coffee maker we've tested. Its excellent features make for a highly adjustable machine that is still simple and intuitive to use. There are six temperature settings, five brew sizes, and an iced coffee option. You can also choose how strong you want your coffee to be or rely on BrewID, which scans the K-Cup you insert and adjusts the strength and temperature settings automatically based on the manufacturer's recommendation. The Keurig app lets you start the machine remotely, schedule your caffeine intake, or adjust brew settings. It also includes step-by-step recipes and lets you automate your pod deliveries. This machine also makes the best-tasting coffee we've tried from a K-Cup.
Though the K-Supreme Plus Smart is the best we've tested, the coffee it makes can't compete with our favorite Nespresso machine or with a number of other coffee makers that aren't much harder to use. This machine also has a few glitches that get in the way of Keurig's “effortless coffee” reputation. It splashes occasionally and doesn't seem to have dishwasher-safe components, taking a bit longer to clean than other models we tested. It's not onerous, though, and we usually got by with a quick wipe-down. Still, if cleaning capabilities are a concern, another Keurig option we appreciate for its straightforward cleaning process is the Keurig K-Elite. The only cleaning required for this machine is a descaling process that is recommended every 3-6 months to clean built-up minerals. The initial setup of the K-Supreme Plus Smart isn't as streamlined as we hoped either, and we had issues pairing the machine to the app. Once connected, it worked great, and we had a hot cup of decent-tasting coffee waiting for us at the touch of a button (when we remembered to load the machine in advance).
The Keurig K-Mini is extremely simple and convenient to use. Just pour 6 to 12 ounces of water into the non-removable tank, insert the K-cup, and press the machine's single, large button to start the cycle. We haven't found a coffee maker that's easier to use. It's also the smallest and lightest of the bunch, making it great for compact spaces like college dorms or apartments. Given its unintrusive design, this machine can easily be stored after every use rather than left on the countertop permanently. This machine is also available in seven fun colors. Best of all, it won't break the bank.
The K-Mini's simplicity might be a drawback for anyone who enjoys customizing their caffeine. Most Keurig machines let you select your cup size with the touch of a button. With this machine, you must decide how much water to pour into the 12-ounce tank. We aren't overly impressed with the quality of the coffee produced in our tests. It is often watery and weak. For those looking for more consistent performance out of their coffee, an alternative we like is the Keurig K-Classic. While this machine offers little to no customization, it provides a straightforward, respectable cup of coffee. The K-Mini also splashes quite often, and the machine's light colors do little to conceal the mess. Though we found the machine easy to wipe down in our tests, we had to do so after almost every use. Otherwise, this is a quick and easy way to get a caffeine jolt.
The Keurig K-Cafe provides the convenience of traditional Keurig coffee makers while offering specialty drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and iced coffee. The K-Cafe makes this possible with pre-programmed settings, an espresso shot option, and a frother. It's the only Keurig we tested that includes this feature, and our mornings feel a lot more luxurious when topping our coffees with roughly two inches of foam. Even if you opt for black coffee, you can customize it by choosing your brew strength, water temperature, and cup size. The K-Cafe brewed some of the best-tasting coffee in the Keurig test, keeping a consistent temperature throughout the process. The brewer is straightforward and pleasant to use, with a large 60-ounce reservoir that is easy to refill and replace.
That spacious reservoir comes at a price, though. The brewer has a large footprint and is on the heavy side, making it a tough fit for small spaces. If counter space is limited, an alternative worth looking at for its compact size is the Keurig K-Slim. The K-Cafe also struggles to consistently pour the right amount of coffee. Its cup sizes varied more than the other Keurigs in the test. And while we love the experience of creating specialty drinks with this brewer, we weren't impressed with its espresso. It tasted more like concentrated coffee rather than a proper shot. If you're not picky, though, and you're just hoping for an easy latte at home, this machine could be right for you.
We dedicated weeks and a mountain of K-cups to determine which Keurig stood out. Before we took our first sip, we laid out an in-depth plan to analyze each product. We purchased the most appealing options at full price to maximize our objectivity. Then we put each of these brewers through a series of comprehensive tests. These results represent hours of analyzing each brewer to the fullest.
Our Keurig coffee maker test focuses on four rating metrics:Leading our testing process is Genaveve Bradshaw. Over the years, Genaveve has acquired a refined taste for coffee. She is no novice when it comes to kitchen appliances. She has tested everything from coffee grinders to blenders and is a true kitchen expert. Joining Genaveve in this process is Becca Glades. Becca has also reviewed our top coffee makers and deeply understands how crucial a good cup of coffee can be. With these two coffee connoisseurs leading the team, you can rest assured that each of these Keurig coffee makers has been tested thoroughly.
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Clark Tate joined the team to scrutinize pod coffee makers from an environmental perspective. With a master's degree in environmental science and a decade working in journalism, Clark spends a lot of time thinking about how to make our habits and routines more sustainable.
A good cup of coffee has been an essential part of the morning routine for many, many decades. To make yours the best it can be, we thoroughly examined each Keurig coffee maker, noting each model's strengths and weaknesses. We focused on how well these coffee makers performed while brewing three cups of coffee in a row. We also carefully considered each model's user experience, its customizable features, and how easy it is to clean.
If you're in the market for a Keurig, you probably value convenience. We define value as a good balance between performance and price. The Keurig K-Supreme Plus Smart is one of the brand's most exceptional products, but it doesn't come with a premium price tag.
If you're shopping on a tight budget, the Keurig K-Mini is a straightforward, inexpensive machine that will work for those willing to forego adjustable features. Its minimalist design might be intriguing to some. The K-Slim offers a similar simple design but includes features the Mini lacks.
We found that more expensive options usually offer more features. If you're looking for ultimate adjustability and customization, it is worth shelling out the extra cash for one of these machines, like the K-Cafe. These machines also tend to brew more flavorful coffee, thanks to more consistent brewing processes.
We rated each machine's performance based on how consistently it brews the types of coffee it offers, and how good that coffee tastes. We started by weighing our mugs and then brewing three cups of coffee with each machine while timing the process. We re-weighed each full mug to determine the volume accuracy and, thus, the consistency of its concentration of coffee. We also measured the temperature of each cup. After that, we tasted every cup, noting the body and flavor profile. We also assessed additional features like milk frothing, cold brew options, and adjustable settings.
The K-Elite earned top scores in this metric, remaining incredibly consistent throughout our tests. Its brew temperatures varied minimally and were among the highest we measured. Its volume output didn't vary at all. This machine brews 200 grams of steaming hot coffee time and time again. We expect a decent-tasting cup of coffee to have consistent temperature and volume, and the K-Elite had no trouble delivering.
The Elite includes a water filter to remove 97% of chlorine. Though it was difficult to tell if this changed the coffee's flavor, it was among the tastiest cups in the Keurig tests. This was also the fastest coffee maker tested, with a total brew time of less than 30 seconds.
The K-Supreme Plus Smart also performs well in this metric, brewing the best-tasting and most robust cup of any Keurig machine. Its adjustable temperature and strength settings led to noticeably different flavor profiles. The K-Supreme includes Keurig's BrewID feature. It recognizes which K-Cup you insert and automatically adjusts its settings to match manufacturer recommendations. You can override the presets, but we find that they work well. We are impressed with how quiet this machine is, as many of its competitors are quite loud.
Most Keurig machines puncture each K-Cup with a single needle to add water to the grounds. The K-Slim and K-Supreme Plus Smart both employ the company's relatively new MultiStream Technology, which uses multiple needles to saturate the coffee grounds more evenly and brew a more flavorful cup of coffee.
Keurig coffee makers are known for making convenient, hassle-free coffee. We devised tests to make sure each machine meets this expectation, focusing on key aspects like how loud they are and how long it takes the water to heat and the coffee to brew.
We measured the footprint of each machine to see how much counter space they demanded and assessed how much water their reservoirs could hold and how easy they were to fill. Unsurprisingly, a well-designed reservoir can prevent spills and minimize cleanup hassle. We also noted how easily K-Cups could added, removed, and replaced.
Due to its versatility and user-friendliness, the K-Supreme Plus Smart earns top scores in this category. At 78 ounces, it has one of the largest reservoirs in the test. Since that much water can be quite heavy, we appreciate that the tank resembles a water pitcher with a helpful side handle. This seemingly minor detail prevents spills and makes it easy to insert the reservoir back into the machine.
The K-Supreme also has a simple interface and an intuitive app. The app isn't necessary to run the machine, but we find it makes it easier and more enjoyable to do so. The coffee maker also has a small screen that gives you nearly the same options that the app does.
The Keurig K-Slim is one of the most effortless machines to use while still allowing you to adjust a few key settings. It has three cup size options and reminders to descale and refill the machine. The brewer is also among the smallest in the test, with a 46-ounce reservoir that's easy to fill and replace. The water heating cycle is incorporated into the brewing process, so there is no need to preheat the machine. Simply pop a K-Cup in, choose a size, and press start. The entire process takes roughly a minute and a half. We aren't impressed with the K-Cup housing, however. It feels finicky and is difficult to remove.
The K-Elite and K-Cafe both have intuitive interfaces with clearly labeled buttons. The K-Elite is similar in size and shape to the K-Classic, but includes a wider range of settings. It is also the fastest to heat the water and includes a sizable 75-ounce reservoir. Both of these features are great for those planning on sharing the machine, and the K-Elite will have no trouble brewing back-to-back cups of coffee.
The K-Cafe is similar in functionality with its hefty 60-ounce reservoir. However, this machine includes unique pre-programmed buttons to create specialty coffees like lattes and cappuccinos.
Keurig machines are often highly customizable. While most include cup size options, some have the ability to adjust additional settings like brew strength and temperature. Others include auto-on, auto-off, and iced coffee settings. To judge this metric, we assessed how many features each machine had and how well they worked. We also considered each Keurig's maximum mug size and available colorways.
The K-Supreme Plus Smart is easily the most customizable Keurig we've tested. Though the app is not necessary to run the machine, it increases the brewer's functionality, allowing you to choose from five sizes and strengths and six temperatures. You can also create a brewing schedule by choosing dates and times to begin brewing.
The app allows you to favorite and name up to 10 setting profiles, which we found convenient for multiple users or variable tastes. The program will also track your brewing activity and give you recommendations based on your tastes. The K-Supreme is available in two colors: black stainless and stainless.
We were particularly impressed with the K-Cafe as it offers more features than the rest. Though it doesn't have auto-on or temperature controls, it froths milk, includes a shot setting, and makes specialty drinks. The shots aren't as strong as we prefer and don't compete with a dedicated espresso machine, but we appreciated the option to make hot or cold specialty drinks.
Because water boils at lower temperatures at higher elevations, Keurig includes a high elevation mode on both the K-Elite and K-Slim models. This mode lowers the max temperature to 187 °F above 5,000 feet to avoid over-extracting the coffee grounds, providing a better-balanced cup of coffee.
Though the K-Mini doesn't have adjustable features, it does come in the largest selection of colors. We found this colorful opportunity delightful and an excellent way to celebrate your style. These compact brewers can fit almost anywhere and, with this many color options, can easily blend into any room.
All of the brewers tested can accommodate a 7-inch mug with the drip tray removed. The K-Elite and K-Cafe can accommodate slightly larger mugs, with a max size of 7.2 inches.
We understand the inconvenience of cleaning a coffee maker constantly. That's why we inspect each brewer to see how much it splashes while brewing our coffee. We also meticulously cleaned each machine, including the reservoir, drip tray, and K-Cup housing. We deduct points if the components aren't dishwasher safe or if fingerprints are visible.
The K-Elite and K-Classic were the easiest to clean. Both machines minimize splashes and show no visible fingerprints, so we don't need to wipe down the machine constantly. When it came to deep cleaning these machines, the descaling process was straightforward. The K-Classic drip tray is machine washable, which makes it easier to clean.
Most of these brewers splash a bit during brewing but are easy enough to wipe down. Light-colored machines showed coffee spots more readily. Likewise, some of the machines with metallic finishes showed fingerprints. Every machine we tested has a removable drip tray and K-Cup holder that are easy to hand wash. The K-Cafe had the most dishwasher-safe components, including the frother, reservoir, and drip tray. The K-Supreme has no dishwasher-safe parts.
Like traditional drip coffee makers, Keurig machines need to be descaled regularly. Most need to be descaled every three to six months, though this can depend entirely on how often it is used. All of the brewers we tested have a descale indicator light.
The K-Supreme Plus Smart has the most intuitive descale mode. It walks you through the entire process on the Keurig app and will notify you when the process is complete. The K-Slim also has a fairly straightforward descaling process. Though there is no app to walk you through this, the brewer's simple interface includes a descaling light that indicates where you are in the process.
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