For example, the removable drip tray has a chrome accent, whereas the K-Mini is completely plastic. I wouldn’t recommend the Keurig K-Mini as the dominant coffee maker in any main household. I would never push somebody to go with any machine that uses pods, both for environmental reasons and as a matter of flavour. You would do better to find something that allows you to use proper ground coffee. If you like to holiday in self-catering places, as mentioned above, this will be a very decent, portable machine to take with you. You will be able to make a nice coffee easily and incredibly quickly.
Its taller design is sleek and simple, hence it’s very easy to navigate and use the functions. So, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to finding the home machine to fit your kitchen counter. The Keurig K Mini Plus version also comes in cardinal red and evening teal too.
Regardless of the differences, both these machines are great Keurig options for those with not much counter space or who want a device at work. I’m buying one for my college-bound child (the cheapest one, because he also wants a mini-fridge and books), because the dorm room is another great scenario. If you’ve chosen to live that pod life, a Cuisinart Coffee is a small step toward full caffeine intake.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty specifics of this review, we’ll go through a few of the pros and cons of this coffee machine. Basically I have to pull the new models out from under the cabinet to put water in them whereas the older K15 model didn’t have to be moved for me to use it. Other than these three points the two units are identical. Most importantly the inner workings of the two machines are 100% identical so they should have the same expected lifespan and should make the same exact tasting coffees. For me the storage compartment is annoying but I know full well a lot of people will like this added perk.
With more than 3,500 five-star reviews left by customers who’ve already added it to their kitchens and offices, it’s clear why the machine is a shopper-favorite. While only 5-inches wide, the K-Slim sits a bit deeper into your counter, but offers some advanced elements such as a multi-cup reservoir Keurig K-Mini and multiple brew sizes. It’s a brilliant combination of slender size and high-powered performance. The Sboly is comparable to the K Mini Plus in size, and it actually weighs less. It has both plastic and stainless steel elements with a black and silver design that suits most kitchens.
When you press the strong button the brew flow is slower resulting in a longer brew cycle but a more complete extraction – dare I say strong or bold. Both machines are also very small and take up very little real estate on your kitchen cabinet. I’ve included the K-Mini on my list of smallest k-cup coffee makers. It’s the more expensive option on the list but it’s probably made to a better quality than the others.
This machine also works with ground coffee, so you can use any kind of coffee that you prefer. As you can see from our 5/5 star rating for “ease of use,” the K Mini Plus is extremely easy to use – even if you’ve never used a standard coffee machine before. While the instructions can probably make things pretty clear, we’ll do a quick outline of the simple steps here. The price-to-value ratio on this one is just okay at best, so even if you can afford it, you may prefer to spend the same amount of money on a machine that offers a few more features. The K Mini Plus can brew any kind of 1.0 K-Cup that you prefer, but it can’t help you with any kind of specialty coffee drinks. This machine won’t be able to make espresso or froth your milk for you, so it’s best for someone who enjoys plain coffee.
You won’t find a timer or clock, and there’s no way to program sizes or brew strengths. When we tested it, we also found it to be pretty noisy, which the sleepyheads in your family may not appreciate. The Keurig Mini is compatible with all regularly-sized K-Cup pods. It doesn’t work with K-Carafe, K-Mug, Vue, or Rivo pods.
The machine itself will need descaling every few months, but this is quite standard and easy enough to do. The Keurig K-Mini is intentionally very small, designed as it is to fit smaller spaces and deliver single cups of coffee. It is simple and effective, with no frills, no extras, gadgets or gizmos – just a straightforward way to get a decent brew when space is limited.