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Keurig Coffee Makers Aren’t for Everyone, But These 2 Won Our Tests

Staff Reporter

Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger

I have a confession to make: I’m not a coffee expert. Don’t get me wrong—I love the craft of it, and I appreciate it when I can enjoy a cup brewed by someone who knows what they’re doing. Still, I find it hard to remember the intricacies of pulling a decent shot on our espresso machine, and I have to look up the ideal coffee-to-water ratios for each method every time. My ineptitude is particularly embarrassing because I pride myself on being a perfectionist in the kitchen—my probe thermometer has its own carrying case, and baking by the gram gives me a thrill. But when I’m staring down the barrel of a French press or trying to remember how many tablespoons of grounds to add to a drip machine filter—poof! My mind goes blank.

What I am profoundly familiar with, though, is the need for coffee. I might be a morning person, but I’ll fade by noon if I’m not adequately caffeinated. That’s where the Keurig brewer comes in. Although we at Serious Eats have been critical of these machines in the past for their grind quality and single-use plastics (all valid arguments), Keurigs can still brew an acceptable cup for many coffee drinkers. Plus, they do it with speed and ease.

To find the best Keurig coffee makers, I tested seven models ranging from $60 to $200. Some only brewed cups of hot coffee, while others had unique features like built-in milk frothers or internal chilling systems for freshly brewed iced coffee. I assessed how much counter space each machine took up, the quality of coffee it brewed, and any extra functions it had. While all the Keurigs did well, I found two I’d recommend for their intuitiveness and affordability.

The Winners, at a Glance

The K-Supreme had a modern design and can brew six- to 12-ounce cups of hot coffee. It also had an option for making extra-strong coffee and a mode for brewing directly over ice. I liked that its water tank could be adjusted to sit on the side or in the back of the brewer to suit my counter space.

The straightforward K-Mini brewed hot coffee with the push of a button. It saved counter space by forgoing a water reservoir; instead, it could be filled with just the water needed for your cup before each brew. At under $100, it was also the most affordable Keurig I tested.

The Tests

Some Keurigs had fancier features like built-in milk frothers (like the one shown here). I made to evaluate these too if the model performed well in my initial tests.Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger

What We Learned

Keurig Machines Aren’t for Connoisseurs, But They Were Consistent

The Keurig machines all brewed fairly identical coffee.Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger

Keurig brewers work by pumping pressurized water through enclosed pods of ground coffee, cutting brewing times from around five or six minutes (the time it takes for our favorite drip coffee makers) to less than three. Coffee expert Jesse Raub has covered the process in more depth, including some criticisms of single-cup brewers. As he explains, Keurigs will never be able to provide the quality of skillfully roasted beans that have been freshly ground right before brewing. The coffee in K-Cups tends to be oxidized since it’s ground weeks or months before use. Plus, it is ground too finely, portioned too low, and brewed too quickly, making it prone to bitterness. Keurigs are also programmed to brew at 192°F, just under the ideal range (194º to 205°F) determined by the Specialty Coffee Association. This can prevent some of the flavors of sweetness and caramelization in the grinds from reaching the cup.

There are hundreds of different kinds of K-Cups. All the major coffee brands have gotten into the game, as well as some independent roasters (not to mention tea and hot chocolate producers). During testing, I found that an eight-ounce cup of coffee brewed from the same type of pod tasted identical whether it came out of the modest K-Mini or the souped-up K-Cafe SMART. Although Keurigs can extract unwanted flavors from some coffee, I found the medium and dark roast pods I tried were light- and medium-bodied (respectively) and not overly bitter or acidic. Overall, they were perfectly drinkable and even enjoyable, if a tad unexciting.

Brew Sizes and Features Varied

The milk foam the Keurigs made was disappointing and far too pillowy.Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger

Given that pods came out the same regardless of which model was used to brew them, I based my comparison of the machines on their brewing capabilities. While all the other brewers could produce six- to 12-ounce cups, the K-Classic could only brew up to 10 ounces. It and the K-Mini were also the most limited in other features. Neither model had a Strong brew mode, which increased the extraction time of the pod to yield a more robust flavor.

Not having a Strong brew feature also meant the machines could not brew over ice. The Over Ice setting meant other models like the K-Elite could start hot on Strong mode, then switch to a lower temperature at the end of brewing to reduce ice melt (albeit only slightly). I was skeptical of the Over Ice feature (no one likes a watery coffee), but I was pleasantly surprised. The more potent brew wasn’t noticeably bitter and held up well after some initial ice had melted (at least while it was reasonably fresh). The K-Brew + Chill was explicitly designed for making iced coffee. It maintained a chilled tank of water to rapidly cool freshly brewed coffee before dispensing it into the glass. It did this job well and would be suitable for people who like their coffee cold without needing to add ice, but it was one of the priciest models of the lineup and took up about 70% more countertop space than the winning K-Supreme (which had an Over Ice setting).

Additional features weren’t just geared toward iced coffee lovers. The K-Cafe and K-Cafe SMART had built-in milk frothers to make latte- and cappuccino-style drinks. They couldn’t make true espresso, but they did have the ability to make two-ounce strong-brewed coffee “shots,” which could be bolstered by using an espresso-roast K-Cup. I found the milk frothers disappointing, though. Instead of a fine microfoam, they both created thick, meringue-like foam that was hard to pour. It would be impossible to use for latte art and seemed more suitable for making spoonable, bone-dry cappuccinos than sippable, velvety coffee drinks (even when used in latte mode). The K-Cafe SMART did have an extra adjustable frother level, but my testing didn’t yield a good middle ground between barely and overly frothed. For cafe-style drinks, I would recommend one of our favorite milk frothers to use on the side rather than a built-in one.

The Cost of K-Cups Can Add Up

Using Keurig pods isn’t actually cost-saving.Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger

Buying coffee in pod form can be more costly in the long run. For example, the medium roast K-Cups I used for my testing cost about $0.51 per pod when bought in bulk online at the time of writing. Comparatively, an 18-ounce bag of the same ground coffee would cost about $0.34 per cup (if brewed with the Specialty Coffee Association’s recommended 14 grams of coffee for eight ounces). Of course, the actual costs for your situation would vary depending on what kind of coffee you prefer and how much you drink, but in this instance, one cup a day would add up to about $61 more per year using K-Cups. Although not a deal-breaking difference for many, it’s one aspect to consider when choosing your go-to brewing method.

Coffee Pods Aren’t Very Recyclable

Just because a Keurig pods says it can be recycled doesn’t mean it will be (sadly).Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger

It’s also important to consider the environmental impact of Keurig machines. All K-Cup pods have been made out of number five polypropylene plastic since 2020, which is technically accepted by many single-stream recycling programs if they’re peeled and emptied first. Unfortunately, it’s an increasingly open secret that plastics recycling in the United States falls shockingly short of what consumers are led to believe. Also, acceptance at a facility does not mean they will even be recycled. A 2022 report from Greenpeace calls the actual recycling rates of these kinds of pods “low to negligible” at less than 2%. Keurig was also penalized $1.5 million by the Securities and Exchange Commission in September 2024 for making misleading statements about the recyclability of K-Cup pods, an issue that Keurig resolved by adding an advisory to consumers to check directly with their local recycling facilities to see if their used pods can be accepted (or recycled). For those who want the ease of a Keurig without the waste, consider a reusable filter. They can be filled with any ground coffee, allowing you more control over the quality, price, and plastic use of brewing with a Keurig.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Keurig Coffee Maker

Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger

Even given K-Cups’ increased cost, varying quality, and recyclability (or lack thereof), Keurig was still estimated to be the go-to for 40 million households worldwide at the end of 2023. The “why” is no surprise; during testing, all the machines could brew a cup of coffee in about two-and-a-half minutes or less with virtually no cleanup, wasted dregs, or effort beyond choosing the pod and brew size. While alternatives like single-serve coffee makers or reusable filters can be cheaper and produce less waste, Keurig brewers and their compatible K-Cups can provide unmatched convenience for people with limited mobility, time, and energy. Since pods come out about the same in each Keurig brewer, I recommend finding a model that is within your budget and can brew in sizes that match your favorite mugs, then consider additional features to suit your preferences. Look for models with Strong and Over Ice brewing if you like extra bold or iced coffee. Consider brewers in the Plus or SMART line for more temperature and strength customizations and add-ons like app connectivity.

Our Favorite Keurig Machines

What we liked: I appreciated the clean aesthetic of the K-Supreme and preferred it over the hulking designs of the K-Classic and K-Elite machines. I also liked the intuitiveness of this model, which had buttons that listed the brew sizes in ounces and clear indicator lights for when the machine needed to be refilled or descaled. It had a dual-position water tank that could be placed on the left or in the back of the machine to fit your counter space better.

What we didn’t like: While this machine was only $100 at the time of writing, the price fluctuated by about $40 during the course of my testing. If you are on a budget, it may be worth waiting until it goes on sale, or choosing a comparable brewer like the K-Elite.

Key Specs

What we liked: This streamlined model covered the basics without any extra frills. It had a single-brew water reservoir on top that was designed to be filled with just the right amount of water (between six to 12 ounces) before each use. It took up about half the counter space of other models, making it a fantastic choice for small kitchens, dorm rooms, and people who don’t drink coffee regularly and want to store the machine between uses. The K-Mini was super affordable, too; it was well under $100 at the time of publishing.

What we didn’t like: The K-Mini took about two-and-a-half minutes to brew its cups during testing, about a minute longer than other models. It also didn’t have options for Strong or Over Ice brewing. Since its water reservoir was stationary, it couldn’t be removed for cleaning.

Key Specs

The Competition

FAQs

Are K-Cups recyclable?

While K-Cups, which are made from number five polypropylene plastic, are technically accepted at many recycling facilities if they are peeled and emptied, most of them are not processed for post-consumer use. Even if a facility accepts number five plastics in general, it may be unable to process K-Cups because of their size. Check with your local recycling center to determine if they accept—and recycle—K-Cups before placing them in your blue bin.

How do you descale a Keurig?

It’s recommended that you descale your Keurig brewer every three to six months or every 250 brews for machines that are used heavily. Some brewers have an indicator light that will tell you when it’s time to perform maintenance. You’ll need a bottle of descaling solution, but consult Keurig’s website for specific instructions about your model because the steps vary depending on the water reservoir type and brewing modes.

How do you make iced coffee from a Keurig?

Fill a large cup halfway with ice and brew your desired coffee pod over top. Use a non-glass cup, as untempered glass may shatter from the temperature changes. Many Keurig machines, like our winning K-Supreme model, offer a distinct Over Ice brew mode that lowers the heat partway through brewing to minimize the amount of ice that melts, keeping your coffee colder and more robust.

Does a Keurig make espresso?

No. Keurig machines use some pressure to push water through coffee pods and brew faster than drip coffee makers, but they don’t exert enough force to recreate true espresso. Still, there are espresso roast K-Cups, and the models in the K-Cafe line can mimic traditionally brewed espresso with two-ounce “shots” of extra-strength coffee. If you want a machine that automatically brews espressos rather than coffee, consider a Nespresso machine instead.

Why We’re the Experts

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