As an added bonus, the AdirChef Grab N’ Go comes with a stainless steel travel mug that you can take to class or keep in a cupholder during your morning commute. Other travel mugs fit inside the machine too, should you already have a go-to favorite in your cupboard . This slim coffee maker can fit into all kinds of nooks and crannies, whether it’s in a kitchen, dorm room, or RV. The device is terrific personal use since it has single-serve capabilities. It does not take pods, which one might expect given its diminutive size, but instead uses real coffee grounds to brew a fresh cup of joe.
If left untreated, the buildup—also known as scale—can cause issues like the machine not getting hot enough or not working whatsoever. Many brands sell descaling products to make the process easier, but a simple combination of vinegar and warm soapy water also works. Check if the manufacturer of your device recommends how often you should descale; otherwise, the rule of thumb is to perform the task every one to three months.
The base of the blender should have a rating label that features your model number. I’m obsessed with smart home tech and channel my obsession into new stories for Consumer Reports. When I’m not writing about products, I spend time keurig k mini coffee maker either outside hiking and skiing or up in the air in small airplanes. For my latest obsessions, follow me onFacebook andTwitter (@danwroc). The maintenance reminders are great for helping you keep your machine in tip-top shape.
Luckily, this is the standard grind size for bags of pre-ground coffee, so it is very easy to find both in-store and online. Those who use a French press or a cold brew coffee maker should stick with a coarse grind. Finally, espresso makers and moka pots require a very fine grind to produce the rich and bold coffee they are known for.
Single-serve machines also don’t usually allow you to customize brew settings, which Rodriguez said may prevent you from making a strong cup of coffee. Keurig’s K-Elite Coffee Maker is our top pick because of its versatility, attractiveness, and efficiency. It’s a great option for coffee drinkers that like both hot and iced coffee thanks to its variety of brew settings. In addition to regular hot and iced coffee, this machine has a “strong” button for extra bold flavor. The K-Slim lacks some of the extra features of the K-Elite, but is much more affordable and produces a similar tasting cup of coffee. The water reservoir has a somewhat limited capacity of 46 ounces, so if you plan on using this in an office setting, expect to be refilling the reservoir frequently.
One of the longest-lived Keurig models, the Classic does a fine job of brewing K-Cup coffee into one of three different sizes. We were also less impressed with the LED screen, blue-backed instead of full color, and the maximum brew size of just 10 ounces. The old Keurig 2.0 system had half a dozen settings between 4 and 30 ounces. These shortcomings, combined with the lofty price tag of $220 held the Cuisinart back in the larger competition.
There’s a 1- to 4-cup setting for when you need a little caffeine, but don’t want to make a full pot. It’s also programmable up to 24 hours in advance and has a self-cleaning function. That said, some customers mention that cleaning by hand can be a little rigorous, which is somewhat expected considering the built-in grinder. The Keurig K-Mini Plus Coffee Maker won our testers over because of its super slim design and consistent brewing, not to mention the convenience of K-Cups. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, you can’t go wrong with the Black+Decker 5-Cup Coffeemaker—a dependable drip brewer. Kohl’s has you covered, whether you’ve chosen single-brew pods or whole beans.
(That’s a lot of caffeine!) We also measured the temperature of every serving size each Keurig machine produced, and recorded our ratings with regards to the depth and flavor of each K-Cup brewed. However, like many barebones Keurigs that lack a ‘strong’ setting or multistream technology, the K-Mini can’t produce a deep flavor profile. The coffee produced by this machine is just okay, but that doesn’t match up to some of the higher ranked models on our list. The K-Mini makes coffee that tastes flat and burnt, though we did measure the coffee temperature to be 189 degrees Fahrenheit, which, surprisingly, is the hottest cup we recorded. Of course, Keurig offers such a wide range of machines, it can be intimidating to pick one out of the crowd, especially if you’ve got specific needs, such as a milk frother, or space restraints.
The coffee inside must be emptied before you put it in the recycle bin, and each different material within the K-Cup should be separated. Therefore, most coffee brewed with a Keurig machine results in another plastic pod being added to the trash. First, K-Cup coffee is more expensive than buying beans and hamilton coffee Maker using a traditional brewing machine, French press, or percolator. Depending on the particular K-Cup and brand of coffee in comparison, coffee made with the Keurig system is somewhere between three and five times more expensive. Brewing one cup at a time also ensures the mug you’re drinking is fresh.