With this model, keep in mind that the reservoir won’t hold more than 14 ounces of water so you will need to refill it after every cup. This isn’t an inconvenience for those who only want to savor one cup of coffee, but it may matter if you want multiple, quick cups of coffee at home. After brewing three cups of each serving size, we measured the average time it takes for the K-Cafe to hamilton coffee Maker brew a cup at 36 seconds, just behind the slightly faster K-Elite and K-Classic. Meanwhile, the frother is a longer process, averaging about one minute and 35 seconds per pitcher. It must be noted that the K-Cafe cannot brew and froth milk at the same time. The frother is also located on the right side of the machine, which could frustrate those who are left-handed during operation.
If you’re looking for convenience, just be prepared to pay the price for advanced models. Just because a coffee maker is compact doesn’t mean it’s limited to a small capacity. There are plenty of space-saving options that brew upwards of 14 cups . Think about the amount of coffee you consume a day, as well as the number of coffee drinkers in your household. If you primarily brew a cup or two a day just for yourself, check out pour overs, French presses, and pod-based machines. This list covers a number of space-saving alternatives, from mini drip coffee makers to non-electric brewers small enough to store in cupboards.
Keurig coffee makers are much more expensive than regular drip machines or other brewing methods; after the initial outlay, you will also spend more on pods than regular beans or grounds. Clark says if not properly cleaned, “it can become moldy and smelly.” He recommends pouring a half cup of white vinegar into the brewer’s reservoir. From there, run a normal brew cycle, then rinse the coffee maker with water.
This is one of the best Keurig coffee makers that you can buy, though a lack of a frother and an expensive price may deter some from trying its magic. Still, like all Keurigs, the K-Slim can brew a cup in less than two minutes. Every coffee we brewed using the K-Slim produced a tasty cup, providing both depth and flavor. It lacks the hot temperature required for the best tasting coffee, however, as do all Keurigs. The hottest recorded cup was 181 degrees Fahrenheit, while 168 degrees was the lowest. This machine also has mostly dishwasher-safe parts, one-touch operation and an auto-shutoff function reviewers can’t stop raving about.
All the items in our Keurig coffee maker reviews earned a spot on our list by being very good at what they do. Whether you prefer hot or cold coffee, drip or espresso, we’ve tested our fair share of coffeemakers to find the best ones you can buy. Whether you’re looking for a single-serve machine or one that brews a whole carafe, we found the best Keurig machine for you. But the Cuisinart SS-5 eliminates hassle and confusion, all while saving much-needed space in the breakroom. Keep coffee hot on the go with Kohl’s excellent selection of travel mugs.
Of course, when using grounds, a little experimentation needs to take place in order to get the flavor to your liking depending on the size you choose. We found the recommended amount resulted in coffee on the weak side, so we added more the next time to get it to our liking. We also noted that coffee brewed in our 14-ounce travel mug tasted keurig single cup drip coffee makers the same — and was just as hot — as that brewed at the smaller cup sizes. The coffee maker equips the brand’s BrewID to detect the type of K-Cup pod you’re using and adjusts the brew settings accordingly. You can also manually change brew settings, choosing between five cup sizes, five strength settings and six temperature settings.
She’s tried unusual coffees from all over the world and owns an unhealthy amount of coffee gear. Some Keurigs will notify you when it is time to give the system a cleaning. No one is saying that your Keurig will blow the lid off your energy bill. Some Keurigs have an automatic shutoff timer that deactivates the heating element once a certain amount of downtime has passed.
If you’re looking to continue to make drip coffee from freshly ground beans, and you want to manipulate the strength and water-to-coffee ratios yourself, you probably don’t need a Keurig. But, if you’re attracted to the convenience and variety of the K-Cup system, then choosing which one is right for you will require looking at some additional factors. Many of the models we tested came with sample packs of pods to try, and one machine, the Black+Decker Brew ‘n Go, even came with a travel mug that fits perfectly under the spout. Another machine that failed to impress is the Keurig – K-Classic Coffee Maker.
Even our favorite local premium roaster in San Diego, Dark Horse Coffee, sells its Ethiopian Yirgacheffe for $18 a pound, which is still less than half the price of a pound of K-Cup coffee. In our testing, however, we found that the mouth-feel of the espresso is satisfying and the taste is what you’d expect from a $5 espresso at a coffee shop. This can be a positive or a negative depending on your personal coffee brewing preferences. Now, the two companies are the biggest players in the pod coffee industry. The launch of in-home Keurig machines in 2004 quickly shook up the entire coffee world and changed Americans’ daily caffeine habits. Kate is a lifelong coffee enthusiast and homebrewer who enjoys writing for coffee websites and sampling every kind of coffee known to man.