Best Keurig Coffee Makers

What’s the best way to get a great-tasting cup of coffee at the touch of a button?

Purchasing the best Keurig coffee makers.

Out of all the coffee maker machines claiming to provide the utmost convenience in brewing delicious coffee, Keurig takes the cake. It’s one of the most recognizable brands of coffee machines around, thanks to the wide acceptance.

Whether you’re hosting a small gathering, keep your employees energized, or just want to make your own cup of joe every morning, a Keurig coffee maker will give it to you.

Since its launch of homebrewers in the year 2004, Keurig coffee makers have been a staple in most kitchen. Today, you are pampered with various Keurig machines, making it confusing to choose the right one for you.

Not to worry, we listed the top and best Keurig coffee makers for you!

Top 10 Best Keurig Coffee Makers

Keurig: A Brief History

Keurig is a Dutch term that means “Excellence”.

And it is one of the leading manufacturing brands of coffee makers in the US. It has become a household name since it provides a broad range of office and home-use machines.

Keurig, Inc is owned by Keurig Dr. Pepper and is based in Burlington, Massachusetts. Its main products include the K-pods, single-serve coffee cups, beverage pods, and the K-machines that brew these various pods.

Its beverage varieties are hot and cold coffee, tea, cocoa, fruit-based drinks, dairy-based beverages, cider, and lemonades. All machines are compatible with the K-cup pods from the brand. Read Here: Best 4 Cup Coffee Makers

These pods are loaded on the machine to brew amazing coffee easily and quickly and are available in various flavors and sizes.

Keurig Pepper established the company in 1992. But it took 6 years before they can launch their first K-cup pods and brewing machines.

The company currently owns over 60 brands and up to 400 varieties of coffee and other beverages.

What Are K-Cups?

K-cups are the small nitrogen-flushed plastic cups containing measured amounts of coffee, tea, or other flavorings and a paper filter.

A food-safe adhesive seals the lid of the K-cup, resisting light, moisture, and heat to prevent its content from getting moist or stale.

After loading these cups in the best Keurig coffee makers, it draws water from the reservoir, heating it and passing the water through the chamber of the cup.

The brewing process then starts when the needle punctures the cup on its lid, filling it with heated water.

After that, another needle punctures the bottom of the cup to release the brewed coffee to the drain. The main advantage of K-cups is that they offer a broad range of flavors. Plus, they are so convenient to use and rather easy to clean up.

The problem, however, is that you don’t have control of the brewing process and they tend to be expensive. And since they are one-time use products, they also contribute to more wastes.

Fortunately, Keurig now also offers the reusable K-cups where you can use your own ground coffee.

Why Would You Get One?

Keurigs are so popular thanks to their ability to brew hot coffee in just a few minutes without sacrificing too much flavor. The best Keurig coffee makers are rather simple to use and highly reliable, they are pretty low maintenance and most are programmable.

Although it will not give you the same precise control over your brews like a French press or drip machine give you, the best Keurig coffee makers can guarantee speed, convenience, and consistency. In addition, there are over hundreds of flavors to choose from!

All Keurig coffee makers can brew great-tasting coffee in a few minutes. In addition, most of them are fully programmable, allowing you to set it up at night and you wake up with a freshly-brewed coffee.

Another benefit of the best Keurig coffee makers is that they are rather easy to use and maintain. In addition, the design of Keurig coffee makers exudes elegance and style to any setting with appealing aesthetics.

In addition, the option of brewing single cups helps eliminate wasted coffee left in a carafe or pot for hours. Every coffee enthusiast knows that coffee is at its best flavor when freshly brewed, thus, single-serve coffee makers ensures fresh and consistent cup of coffee every time.

Lastly, Keurig Inc backs all its coffee makers with an excellent warranty. This is because they trust the reliability and durability of the coffee makers they produce.

With proper maintenance and care, these coffee makers can offer you fresh cups of coffee for years to come.

Why Local Coffee Shops Don’t Use Keurig?

As we mentioned before, Keurigs can be a great machine if you need an energizing cup of joe fast with minimal cleanup.

However, there are some things that you’re trading for such convenience— and it is mainly the flavor and taste of your coffee.

A good drip brewer or a super-automatic espresso machine is going to make a much better coffee than Keurigs. However, some of those can go up to 10 times the price of the best Keurig coffee makers.

Choosing The Right Keurig Coffee Maker For You

1) Purpose

Keurig coffee makers are actually designed for home use, where you can brew a quick cup of coffee. Still, there are a few exceptional Keurig coffee makers that offer enterprise-level quality and performance.

Thus, when choosing the best Keurig coffee maker, you need to consider its intended purpose. Do you need it for home use? Or are you a boss looking to purchase a coffee maker to energize your team?

2) Speed

Every model of Keurig only has single-serving options. Thus, it’s necessary to look out for the speed of brew delivery.

If you overlook this feature, then you might be waiting for a single cup of joe when you would have gotten two,

In general, Keurig coffee makers can brew great-tasting coffee in just a few minutes— some in 2 minutes, other in less than a minute. So, evaluate your level of patience and pick one with minimum brew time.

3) Cup Size

Every Keurig machine has the option to serve various cups sizes. Basically, their cup sizes range from 12 – 4 ounces.

Remember that, changing the cup size can change the strength of the brew as well as affecting the number of brews it can produce at the same water level.

4) Water Reservoir

Water makes 98% of your coffee and its freshness can affect the taste of your brewed coffee.

You might not be lazy, but surely you do not want to get a Keurig machine that requires frequent refills. Similarly, you don’t want the water to stay for long in the tank before refilling.

Thus, you need to consider how frequently you take coffee or if you need to brew coffee for the whole family.

Regardless of the capacity you choose, you’ll love the fact that Keurig coffee makers offer a removable water reservoir that makes it easier for refilling as well as cleaning. Read Here: Best Espresso Machines Under $500

5) Size, Design, and Portability

Other than considering if it looks great in your kitchen counter, you also need to consider the space it will take from your countertop. Fortunately, most Keurig coffee makers offer a compact and space-saving design that should be able to fit most countertops.

In addition, portability is another factor you might want to consider. This is especially true if you like to take your coffee maker with you when traveling or going on weekend trips.

6) User Interface

Most Keurig coffee makers feature an LCD touch screen while others use button control that makes it easier for you to brew your cup of coffee. Keurig coffee makers have user-friendly interfaces, but you can always read the manual if you’re unsure of what to press.

7) Filter Adaptability

Some Keurig models feature a built-in filter. This feature offers you the advantage of using tap water on your machine without compromising

the taste of your coffee. Plus, it eliminates the hassle and cost of buying a separate filtering device.

In addition, you might not be able to buy K-cups all the time. Sometimes, you might want to use your favorite ground coffee. For this, you need to look for the best Keurig coffee makers compatible with reusable K-cups or Ekobrew filter that allows you to brew your own ground coffee.

If you are one of those who love to experiment on your coffee taste, then make sure that you get a Keurig coffee maker that allows you to choose the filter of your choice.

8) Budget

Keurig brings you some of the best $100 single-serve coffee makers on the market. The best Keurig coffee makers work with various K-cup pods and usually come with a price tag of less than a hundred dollars.

In addition, you could even get these machines for a nice discount if you’re buying them online on platforms such as Amazon.

Common Features of The Best Keurig Coffee Makers

Scheduled Brewing Time

If you like to wake up with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, then look for Keurig coffee makers that have the Scheduled Brewing Time feature. These coffee makers feature a programmable timer that you can set, automatically turning on the coffee maker and brewing your coffee on schedule.

Descale Alert

Most of the Keurig machines feature a descaling alert that notifies you when it is time to give your device a deep clean.

Temperature Control

The best Keurig coffee makers come with the preset temperature of about 192 degrees Fahrenheit to brew a cup of coffee.

However, there are some models that allow you to control the temperature. This would be an excellent feature for those who like to control the quality of their brewed coffee. This is because water temperature during the extraction process can determine the coffee quality.

Strength Selection

Some Keurig machines do not have the option to select the strength of the brew. If you want to control the strength and flavor of your coffee, then go with the Keurig machines that allow you to select the strength of your brewed coffee.

Auto-Off

This is a convenient and energy-saving feature that is found in most Keurig coffee makers. Some models will automatically turn off the coffee maker after brewing, while others can be programmed to automatically turn off after a few hours of idling.

Removable Drip Tray

This is basically a convenient feature, ensuring less mess when operating the machine since it catches drips or spills. In addition, since it is removable, it provides extra space to accommodate your travel mugs or tumblers.

Quick Brewing

Most of the coffee maker machines available now take longer to brew. However, if you’re looking for a few-minute brew option, then Keurig coffee makers are your best choice.

While other machines usually need to heat up first before brewing, the Keurig coffee makers usually take no longer than a minute or two to brew your coffee.

Quiet Brew Technology

Another common feature of the best Keurig coffee makers is the Quiet Brew Technology. It minimizes noise during the brewing process, allowing you to brew a cup of coffee without taking you out of your sleepy trance early in the morning.

Troubleshooting The Best Keurig Coffee Makers

1) Not Brewing

If your Keurig coffee maker is not properly brewing, then you need to first clean it properly. A coffee maker that has not been cleaned for a while usually stops working altogether.

Thus, you need to clean the coffee maker and descale it before you can use it again. This should solve your brewing issues with ease.

In general, it is recommended to descale your Keurig coffee maker every 6 months. However, if the water in your area is harder, then you can descale it every 3 months.

If the machine is still not brewing, then you need to clean the filter of the machine and switch it on. It should work just fine.

2) Shutting Off

Most Keurig coffee makers usually come with the auto-shutoff feature. They usually shut off after 90 seconds of idling, but some shut down after brewing, in order to save energy.

So, if your coffee maker shuts down automatically, you can just turn it on once again. However, if the machine is not having a problem with its auto shut off feature and randomly shuts down, for instance, shutting down in the middle of brewing, then you might want to talk to the manufacturer.

Just call the manufacturer or the seller, and they can help fix the machine or even replace it for a new one.

3) Getting The “Add More Water” Error Message

This is a common issue with Keurig machines, but there’s nothing to worry about this.

More often, it is just that the reservoir is not properly filled. Just add more water in the tank or reservoir and the coffee maker should start working again.

However, if the problem still persists, then you might need to give your machine a deep cleaning. This is especially true if you have not descaled your coffee maker for a while.

Sometimes, calcium buildup in the coffee maker could be responsible for the error message.

Generally, just filling the water reservoir or giving it a thorough wash before filling will do the trick. However, if neither method works for you, then you can just call their customer helpline number and follow their instructions.

4) It Says Prime

If your Keurig coffee maker is giving you the message “Prime” it is actually a red alert that you need to restore some parts properly into your machine.

The Prime error could be caused by improperly attaching the water reservoir or the K-cup into the machine.

Sometimes, this message is just a matter of switching off, unplugging, and plugging.

5) Not Pumping Water

When the Keurig coffee maker stops pumping water properly, then it means that there is a clogging. The major reason for this water flow clogging is because you have not yet descaled the machine.

The best way to descale your Keurig coffee machine is to use vinegar. You only need to pour white vinegar and water into the water

reservoir. Run the brew cycle and let it drain. After that run the brew cycle again, this time with clean water to rinse off the moisture properly. Do this several times until the taste of vinegar is gone.

6) Not Heating

If the Keurig coffee maker is not heating, then the heating mechanism of the coffee maker is probably turned off. The main reason for this is a malfunctioning water pump.

When water is not pumped through the brewer, the heating mechanism shuts off in order to prevent overheating.

Similarly, if the water pump is not properly working, then the heating device is forced to shut off. In order to solve this, you need to clean and reset the water reservoir and try again.

7) Coffee Taste Is Bad

This is a common problem if you’re not cleaning your Keurig coffee maker on a regular basis. You need to clean the coffee maker thoroughly once in a while.

This way, you can be sure that there’s no water clogging or debris in the machine. You can get rid of possible issues with the metal parts by using vinegar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why do I need to descale my Keurig coffee maker?

A: Descaling is the process of removing minerals from the water. Since the heating elements of a coffee maker can’t be seen, mineral build-up can happen after months of use.

With this build-up, it would have a negative impact on your Keurig coffee maker including clogging of water flow or the Keurig machine not reaching the optimal temperature when heating water.

Q: What can I use instead of a descaling solution?

A: Do not use softened water to clean your Keurig coffee maker. Bottle water or spring water works best for cleaning purposes.

Remove the water tank and the lid as well as the stand where the coffee cup rests on. Open the top, then remove the K-cup holder. You can wash these pieces with soapy water, rinse well, and allow to dry.

In addition, you can also try cleaning the entry and exit needles of the machine if it’s not working properly.

To unclog the needle of the machine, you need to get a paperclip and unbend it partially. With the top of the coffee maker open, insert the free end of the paper clip in each of the 3 holes along the needle which pierces the K-cup.

Scratch the paperclip around then remove it. Do not worry about harming the coffee maker since there are no working parts here— just holes that tend to get clogged with debris and scale.

In addition, you could also force the water with the help of a straw, dislodging any debris or build-up.

Q: When should I descale my Keurig?

A: It is advised that you clean and descales the machine after 3 – 6 months of use.

Final Thoughts

Keurig is one of the leading names in the coffee maker category, thanks to its excellent single-serve coffee makers. Not only that, but the company also brings you K-cups of various strengths, sizes, and flavors.

In addition, Keurig coffee maker tries to bring simplicity, not only to their designs but also to their functioning, making one of the most user-friendly coffee makers available.

Lastly, although they don’t offer the greatest control and coffee taste like French press coffee makers or traditional coffee drips, they boast of great consistency in their brews as well as the convenience of brewing coffee in just a few minutes