To help you find the best Keurig coffee maker for your morning routine, we have tried out many of the top models, testing them for, first and foremost, for taste, preferring items that produce delicious cups of coffee quickly and efficiently. We also loved products that were compatible with a wide variety of K-Cup Pods and those that brought a little something extra to the table, like the ability to make espresso-style beverages.
The best product we tried was easily the Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker, which brings all kinds of bells and whistles to the standard Keurig experience, including the ability to make iced beverages, a quick brewing method that produces a cup of coffee in under a minute and a maintenance alert, which lets you know when you need to remove calcium deposits. We also liked the 75 ounce water reservoir, which allows for eight full cups of coffee before needing a refill. Keep reading to learn more about the Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker and the other items on this list.
Top 6 Best Keurig Coffee Makers
#1 Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: Brews delicious beverages, both iced and hot, in under a minute, with a 75 ounce water reservoir, allowing for eight cups before needing a refill, and the ability to brew ground coffee via reusable filters.
[su_row]
[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″]
[su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]
- Coffee in under a minute
- Integrates with reusable filters for ground coffee
- 75 ounce water reservoir
[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Cons” box_color=”#B2B9C3″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=”#B2B9C3″]
- No touchscreen, like some models
- Does not brew espresso
- Not the cheapest model
[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]
The Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker is a fantastic product, creating delicious coffee in under a minute, with a quiet operation and a large 75 ounce water reservoir, allowing for the brewing of eight cups before needing a refill. We loved the universal design, which can brew via K-Cup Pod or reusable ground coffee filter, and the specialized functionality designed to make iced beverages. It also features a maintenance alarm, which lets you know when it is time to remove calcium deposits.
Related: Check out our best coffee creamer dispenser.
Though this does a great job with standard coffee and tea drinks, it does not brew espresso-style beverages. For that, you will want to choose the K-Cafe model. Additionally, it lacks a touchscreen, using old school buttons, which may not suit the aesthetic needs of every consumer.
#2 Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: The efficient and simple design that, essentially, started it all, with the ability to brew beverages in a variety of sizes, up to 10 oz, and a programmable clock that allows you to have your morning brew waiting when you wake up.
[su_row]
[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″]
[su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]
- Brews multiple sized beverages (6, 8, 10 oz.)
- Can be programmed ahead of time
- Budget-friendly
[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Cons” box_color=”#B2B9C3″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=”#B2B9C3″]
- Much heavier than top pick, at over 10 lb
- No temperature control
- No functionality for iced beverages
[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]
This Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker is a beloved piece of hardware, with a simple design that recalls the original Keurig machines from yesteryear. It can brew beverages in a variety of sizes, as little as six ounces and as large as ten ounces, and can be programmed ahead of time, so you can have your morning coffee hot and ready when you wake up. We also loved the budget-friendly price point, which allows easy access to the Keurig ecosystem.
Though this product excels at creating delicious and hot beverages, it does not boast any additional functionality for iced beverages. Also, there is no temperature control on offer, unlike our top pick.
#3 Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker
Award: BEST BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: Features an extremely small footprint, less than 5 inches wide and 2 pounds, with a budget-friendly price tag, compatibility with reusable ground coffee filters and an automatic shut down feature, which helps to conserve energy.
[su_row]
[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″]
[su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]
- Great for small homes
- Compatible with reusable filter for ground coffee
[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Cons” box_color=”#B2B9C3″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=”#B2B9C3″]
- Automatic shut down to save energy
- Must add water after every brew
- Not programmable for getting ready ahead of time
- Slightly slower brew than top pick
[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]
Slightly slower brew than top pick
#4 Keurig K-Cafe Coffee Maker
Award: BEST FOR LATTES
WHY WE LIKE IT: Excels with the creation of lattes, cappuccinos and other espresso-style beverages, thanks to an included milk frother and the ability to create a “shot” that features 2 ounces of ultra-concentrated brew.
[su_row]
[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″]
[su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]
- Creates ultra-strong brew
- Compatible with reusable filter for ground coffee
- Large 60 oz water reservoir
- 6, 8, 10, 12 ounces cup sizes
[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Cons” box_color=”#B2B9C3″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=”#B2B9C3″]
- Heaviest item on list, at over 14 lb
- Not programmable, other than auto off functionality
- Drip tray is on the smaller side
[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]
The Keurig K-Cafe Coffee Maker is intended to be used to create espresso-style beverages, such as lattes and cappuccinos, though it can also handle regular cups of coffee, as it functions nicely with both K-Cup Pods and reusable filters. The included milk frother does a fantastic job and this coffee machine can brew an ultra-strong two ounce “shot” of coffee that is perfect for the aforementioned beverage types.
This is an extremely heavy item, weighing more than 14 pounds, so you are likely to not want to move it once you’ve found a good spot for it. Also, this is not a programmable unit, so you cannot have a cup of coffee waiting for you when you wake up, though it does allow you to program when it shuts down.
#5 Keurig K155 Office Pro Commercial Coffee Maker
Award: BEST FOR HOTEL OR OFFICE
WHY WE LIKE IT: High quality product intended for office use, with a reliable and gorgeous color touchscreen interface, the largest water reservoir on this list, at 90 ounces, and a design that produces a complete brew in under a minute.
[su_row]
[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″]
[su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]
- Biggest water reservoir on list, at 90 oz
- Fantastic touchscreen interface
- Brews in under a minute
[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Cons” box_color=”#B2B9C3″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=”#B2B9C3″]
- No iced beverage functionality
- Many cup size options, but no standard 12 oz brew size
- Cannot be plumbed to a water line
[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]
The Keurig K155 Office Pro Commercial Coffee Maker is a great choice for a busy office setting, thanks to an extremely large water reservoir, at 90 ounces, which allows for numerous cups of coffee before having to refill. The touchscreen interface is efficient and aesthetically pleasing and the model does a fantastic job at creating delicious hot beverages in under a minute, a functionality in line with our top pick, with the ability to adjust the temperature.
Though this is intended for use in an office setting, it cannot be plumbed to a water line, which may disappoint certain consumers. Additionally, the product does boast the ability to produce a wide variety of different-sized drinks, but there is no option for a 12 ounce beverage, which is considered to be the standard size for a cup of coffee.
#6 Keurig K-Duo Coffee Maker
Award: BEST FOR GROUND COFFIE
WHY WE LIKE IT: Multi-functional unit that contains a standard Keurig brewer that uses K-Cup Pods and a side brewer that handles ground coffee, with an included 12 cup glass carafe and heating pad.
[su_row]
[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″]
[su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]
- Also works with K Cups
- Can be programmed up to 24 hours in advance
- Large water reservoir shared by both brewers
- Different cup sizes
[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Cons” box_color=”#B2B9C3″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=”#B2B9C3″]
- Takes up a lot of counter space
- Heating pad must be reset every 2 hours
- No temperature regulation
[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]
The Keurig K-Duo Coffee Maker is, as the name suggests, a pair of coffee brewers in one, containing both a K-Cup Pod coffee brewer and a standard ground coffee brewer. To the latter, it ships with a high quality 12 cup glass carafe and heating pad. The unit can be programmed in advance, up to 24 hours, so hot coffee will be waiting when you wake up and the large 60 ounce water reservoir, shared by both brewers, is fantastic. We also loved the multiple beverage size options on offer, from six to 12 ounces.
Though this is, essentially, two coffee makers in one, it does take up a lot of counter space, so be sure you have room to spare. Also, the heating pad for the carafe shuts off after two hours, requiring a manual reset, which could be an issue for those who like to drink coffee all day.
How We Decided
To help narrow down to the above list, we tried all of the top models, ensuring that they reliably brewed delicious cups of coffee efficiently. To that end, we made sure each and every product we picked produced a hot beverage in under two minutes, with some models, like our top pick, performing this feat in under one minute.
We also liked models that produced a wide variety of different-sized beverages, as little as two ounces and as large as 12 ounces, and those that allowed the use of reusable filters, which are filled with ground coffee and placed in a Keurig-style filter bracket. Programmable models, which get coffee ready ahead of time, were also appreciated, as these are especially useful for hectic mornings. And models that offered a sufficient water tank/reservoir were also preferred.
As far as additional features go, we liked items, such as our top pick, that includes specialized options for iced beverages, and multi-use items such as our number six pick, which includes two coffee brewers in one package. We also made sure to include a number of different items to suit different tastes, including products that specialize in espresso-style beverages. Finally, we made sure to comparison shop to ensure you received the best prices on Keurig coffee makers.
Another popular option that just missed our list is the Keurig K250 Single Serve Coffee Maker. Capable of brewing beverages as little as 4, 6, 8 oz, the K250 offers a range of K-cup pod brew sizes (4, 6, 8, 10 oz.), a 40oz water reservoir, strength control, touch screen display and a removable drip tray.
Best Keurig Coffee Maker Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Taste and Brewing Speed
Keurig coffee makers provide a level of convenience that simply was not present in the market before their entrance. The convenience factor, however, would not be worth much if the end result did not taste good. To that end, we made sure each product on the above list produced great tasting coffee, tea and additional beverages. We also made sure that they produced results rather quickly, with no product taking more than two minutes to create a single brew, and several taking under a minute. - K-Cup Pods
A few years back, most of the Keurig coffee machines included some form of digital rights management (DRM) that disallowed the use of third party pods or filters that could, in turn, be filled with ground coffee. This has changed, however, and most of the top models, including our top picks, allow the use of both third party pods and a variety of filter brackets for ground coffee. The latter is especially useful as you can pack these filters more densely than the K-Cup Pods that are available in stores, producing a stronger cup of coffee. - Additional Features
Modern Keurig coffee makers include all kinds of bells and whistles that go above and beyond simply making a cup of coffee. Our top picks, for instance, can be programmed ahead of time to ensure you’ll be drinking a hot cup right as you wake up. Other models on the above list excel with the creation of espresso-style beverages and iced beverages. Some products boast snazzy touchscreen interfaces while others brew coffee via two methods, using ground coffee and K-Cup Pods.
The best coffee maker means a good start to your day. That’s why it is one of the best kitchen appliances. Whether it is the best single serve coffee maker or the best Hamilton Beach coffee maker, you need your java fresh and reliable.
