You can remove the reservoir for easy filling on the Plus, while the original is locked onto the machine. Maintaining the K-Mini relies on Keurig’s descaling solution, which you need to use every three to six months to clean your machine. The K-Mini is a breeze to use and eliminates some of the flashy lights on other Keurigs for the sake of a two-button operation. You simply fill the water reservoir up to the 6-, 8-, 10-, or 12-ounce line, turn it on, insert a K-Cup, and press the large glowing button to start brewing.
For many, that’s enough to justify its buying price. The machine is made mostly of plastic, which can be concerning to some in terms of quality. However, the plastic allows for six different color options so you can match your unique style and kitchen decor. Considering the small size of the K Mini Plus, we have to give the brand credit for the convenient features it includes.
The two machines perform identically for regular brewing, meaning you can expect the same coffee using the same K-Cup pods. So, the K-Mini’s poppy red is more vibrant than the K-Mini Plus’s calmer cardinal red. The K-Mini is also available in pink, while you can only get the K-Mini Plus in beautiful evening teal. Therefore, if you’re not too concerned about other differences, your choice of which coffee maker to buy may come down to aesthetics. If you’re looking for a solution to long brew times and complicated processes, then you’ll get your money’s worth for this machine.
This range of drinks options is one of the main reasons that Keurig machines are second only to drip coffee makers in popularity in the US. Overall, the K Mini Plus is an excellent design from a well-trusted and beloved brand in the world of coffee. It’s the ideal solution for anyone who has minimal space, lives on their own, and just enjoys a good, old-fashioned cup of coffee.
It takes just over two minutes for the K-Mini to warm up and brew a single cup of coffee. While testing, the shortest recorded brew time was two minutes flat, and the longest two minutes and 30 seconds. This is lightning quick, but it may be the culprit of why K-Cups don’t always taste all that great.
Even a water reservoir will get dirty after a while, and being able to remove that and clean it is worth a few bucks. The water reservoirs of both machines are the same size, offering a minimum of 6oz and a maximum of 12oz. There are water level marks on the side to determine the volumes, making filling the water tank straightforward. The Keurig K-Mini and K-Mini Plus designs are minimalist, with a large, circular brew button at the top. The latter also has the “Strong Brew” button we mentioned earlier.
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 Keurig K-Mini is a small step toward full caffeine intake. Overall, we prefer the K-Mini Plus, as it offers better value for money and brews better-quality coffee. However, if you prefer a larger water reservoir, the K-Slim may still be the best option for you.
While that might sound like a detriment, it helps speed up the brewing process since the coffee maker only has to heat up a small amount of water. This gives you a fresh, hot cup of coffee in just a couple of minutes. Even though it’s small in size, it has a big opening for larger coffee cups, allowing you to use a mug or travel mug up to 7 inches tall with no problem. If you’re comfortable investing a few extra bucks, the K-Mini Plus is clearly the better of the two machines. The “Strong Brew” function makes all the difference for coffee enthusiasts who enjoy a strong drink. Meanwhile, the removable water reservoir cuts out a lot of hassle while cleaning the coffee maker.
The drip tray is removable, so you can take it out to make room for your favorite travel mug up to 7 inches tall. Makes the hottest coffee of this bunch and can brew fresh grind with third-party reusable k-cups or Keurig’s universal My K-Cup. Lower needle can be removed hamilton beach dual coffee maker for cleaning but not the upper and the water reservoir isn’t removable for cleaning although it’s big enough to get water into easily from a coffee mug. With such a small water reservoir and no way to control cup size, you’ll have to add water every time.