The morning alarm goes off. You overslept, and now you’re rushing to the kitchen to get a jolt of caffeine from your coffee mug that reads: “No Talkie Before Coffee”.
We understand that sometimes you just need a quick cup of coffee! If you prioritize speed when it comes to consuming coffee, then you may want to consider buying a Keurig-type single-serve brewer.
The Keurig, known for its ease of utilisation, speed and convenience, has become a popular feature in homes everywhere. What type of expedient coffee maker should you get, given the wide selection provided by the brand over time?
Let us examine the established Keurig 1.0 and the newer, sleeker Keurig 2.0, and make a decision on which one to choose.
What Is Keurig 1.0?
The Keurig K-Classic is the original Keurig machine designed for home-use, which was first released as the Keurig 1.0. It can still be purchased today.
Keurig 1.0 machines boast a basic display and are operated through a limited number of buttons.
These coffee makers have the capability to produce 6 ounce, 8 ounce, and 10 ounce servings of coffee. They work with all K-Cups, permitting not just company products but also pods produced by third parties, as well as refillable versions (which is great news for the planet).
The Keurig 1.0 is not especially impressive and lacks a lot of bells and whistles. But it’s straightforward and practical to employ, exactly the features many Keurig customers are hoping to find.
What Is Keurig 2.0?
The Keurig 2.0 was released in 2014 as an updated adaptation of the well-known Keurig.
The 2.0 product range provided a great number of extra features and greater power over the brewing procedure. Every 2.0 model featured a touchscreen, which was much more sophisticated than the simple displays of the K-Classic.
There were 4 distinct models of the Keurig 2.0 series, each of which incorporating the ability to adjust the strength. Three of the four also offered temperature control.
The Keurig 2.0 series of models had the capacity to produce a variety of different pot sizes. K-Mug pods were created to make individual cups of coffee that could fit in a travel mug, and K-Carafe pods could produce a whole pot of coffee that amounted to 30 oz.
The downside of the Keurig 2.0 range was its ability to scan the pods.
Keurig’s objective for this function was to allow the brewer to distinguish the pod and adjust the brew size and heat level suitably.
However, this blocked the use of all capsule alternatives made by someone other than Keurig, made it so the 1.0 pods were not suitable for the 2.0 machines, and prevented using reusable coffee pods until the My-Cup reusable container arrived.
It is likely you have seen the way we have used the past tense in this part. This is because Keurig 2.0 series was ended in 2019. The Keurig Duo has all the same sophisticated functions, albeit with a couple of slight alterations.
Similarities Between Keurig 1.0 vs 2.0
The Keurig 1.0 and Keurig 2.0 have a lot of common features.
This coffee machine was a revolutionary concept three decades ago, and though certain updates have been added, its core concept has stayed intact and proven successful.
The Keurig 1.0 and 2.0 both have the same mechanism; water is drawn from an external source, heated, and then forced through the device through the action of an air and water pump.
This mechanism facilitates speedy brewing for both of these coffee makers. The quickness of their brewing process makes them desirable to rushed coffee enthusiasts in residential and commercial settings.
Both product lines are also highly convenient. If you’re after convenience, nothing can match the uncomplicated process of dropping a pod in the appliance and pushing a button.
The downside to having these products that are convenient is that they are not good for the environment, and the coffee grounds in the pods are typically not very fresh.
The auto-on/auto-off feature of both Keurig machines is convenient if you need to get your coffee quickly in the morning.
Despite the extra abilities that come with the Keurig 2.0 variety, both types of machines are suitable for people who prize rapidness, ease of access, and simplicity of use.
Differences Between Keurig 1.0 and Keurig 2.0
The Keurig 2.0 has a variety of modern configurations and characteristics that differentiate it from the simpler Keurig 1.0.
All the Keurig 2.0 coffee makers feature a touchscreen, whereas the Keurig 1.0 just features a basic display and is operated by pressing buttons.
The Keurig 1.0 machines are able to make 3 types of coffee, but the leading Keurig 2.0 device can create 11 distinct sizes, ranging from travel mugs all the way to thirty ounce carafes.
Every Keurig 2.0 device offers the option to adjust the potency of the coffee, except for the most basic model. Hence, fans of coffee can tailor their drink exactly to their preference, including with temperature control on each device except the base one.
A substantial distinction between the Keurig 1.0 and the Keurig 2.0 is that the Keurig 2.0 came armed with DRM (digital rights management) technology, supposedly to examine the pod to recognize the finest brewing abilities.
This software was actually responsible for stopping coffee pods from outside sources from functioning correctly in Keurig 2.0.
The Keurig 2.0 range is compatible with previously out of production K-Mug and K-Carafe cups, providing the opportunity to create larger servings. It is only rational to use a pod that has a bigger quantity of coffee grounds if you wish to make a 4-cup pot of coffee on the Keurig 2.0.
The Keurig 2.0 is a preferable selection if you’re seeking the expediency of a single-cup coffee maker, but with the added benefit of being able to modify temperature, intensity of the coffee, and amount of liquid produced.
Best Keurig Coffee Makers for Your Home & Office
After assessing various Keurig coffee machines, we chose the following to be the top selections. We chose items that are the optimal choice for everyone, and ones that do especially well among people specializing in coffee drinks, having limited counter space, and those who think one-cup makers won’t meet their needs. Further information about our testing practices as well as its standards can be obtained after picking a product.
Keurig K-Elite
We selected the K-Elite model because it gives users the power to customize their drinks without making the simple Keurig brewing process too difficult. We found the K-Elite to be the top choice as it had just the right combination of a reasonable cost paired with Keurig’s latest advances.
The K-Elite provides the utmost accuracy while still offering the trademark simplicity associated with top-quality Keurig machines. You can set it up to make coffee in advance, so you can enjoy a freshly made cup of java right when you wake up in the morning. Don’t fret if you forget to arrange your morning cup of coffee. Despite feeling exhausted and disoriented, this device remains simple to operate. This Keurig machine is the easiest to use, yet still includes the option to personalize. You can make eight cups of coffee without having to fill up the reservoir again, affording you eight mornings of nonstop brewing.
For hot summer days, you can brew iced drinks. For the holiday season, you can make hot cocoa. When you don’t really feel like having coffee, you have the choice of having a pleasant cup of warm tea. You may need to run hot water through the tea a few times to ensure that no particles of tea grounds come out in the pour.
If you don’t like to spend time cleaning your smaller appliances, then the Keurig K-Elite is just the thing for you – it will remind you when it needs descaling. In the course of our trial, we discovered that utilizing and programming this Keurig coffee machine was incredibly simple.
Keurig K-Supreme Plus SMART Single-Serve Coffee Maker
We picked this K-Supreme PLUS SMART Single Serve Coffee Maker as it offers a great degree of personalization, and it can also be set up to brew remotely with a compatible smartphone, so it saves time and is incredibly practical.
Why does the K-Elite come out ahead of the K-Supreme PLUS SMART, even though it has the most features of any of the Keurig coffee makers? The price and ease of use of Keurigs make them popular, but the upscale price tag and advanced features aren’t appealing to everyone. If you’re using your Keurig with more than one person, then this is definitely the one for you due to the BrewID feature – it allows you to store up to 10 tailored brewing options.
The K-Supreme PLUS SMART has MultiStream technology that brings out all of the flavor and scent of a K-cup and adjusts the brewing system depending on the kind of pod being used. This machine made the most delicious coffee of all the ones we tested, but it may require more time than other Keurig brewing machines.
Although you have to take time to learn how to use the app and every setting, it doesn’t change the fact that this coffee machine remains straightforward to use as compared to the regular Keurig models, which feature a simple push-button operation. The app enables you to quickly make coffee from your mobile device. It’s possible to plan a brew ahead of time for the next day, though we ran into some issues with its availability while examining it. Once you start using the app, you should enable notifications sent to you through the app, otherwise it may be hard to schedule the brewing.
Keurig K-Cafe
We picked this K-Cafe because it lets you make tasty specialty beverages right in your own home.
If lattes and cappuccinos are your favorite drinks, then the Keurig K-Cafe is the top-of-the-line Keurig coffee maker for you. The milk frother can make hot or cold milk foam that can be used in your special coffee drinks. If there is any food remaining, you can put it away in the refrigerator with the cover. The bonus is that it’s convenient to clean the frother since it’s safe to put in the dishwasher. If regular coffee fails to meet your expectations, this choice featuring a frothy milk top is the best alternative.
This top-of-the-line Keurig appliance’s adaptability can be a downside if you want something that only requires a single press of a button. The majority of individuals do not purchase a Keurig for the purpose of obtaining drinks similar to espresso drinks made by a barista. People are not in search of complicated things, rather they want something basic and to enjoy coffee for what it is. If you enjoy having a selection and the ease of using a Keurig, then this is the best machine for you.
K-Select
We chose it because it is inexpensive yet reliable, which is why it earned a spot as one of the top Keurig coffee machines.
If you’re looking for a cup of coffee and more size choices than what is offered by the K-Classic, then the K-Select is a great alternative. The K-Classic makes getting your caffeine fix easier with four different cup sizes and two options – regular and strong – when it comes to strength. It’s the perfect blend of simplicity and variety.
This Keurig coffee machine is very similar to the Elite and K-Cafe options in that it will inform you when it’s necessary to descale it, so that you can carry on drinking satisfactory and yummy coffee. In addition, similar to the well-known and retired Keurig K-250, the K-Select provides extra exciting color choices to coordinate with your culinary area.
Keurig K-Supreme 12-Cup Coffee Maker
We prefer this Keurig coffee maker because it has a slim build and an advanced MultiStream Technology.
Although there are many decent Keurig models on the market at the moment, one can’t help loving the older model of the K-Supreme Plus SMART – the Keurig K-Supreme. The K-Supreme has a sleek look that is typical of the modern Keurig machines, which require little counter space.
This device features Keurig’s MultiStream Technology, guaranteeing that you will be able to get the full flavor and aroma out of any pod you select. We discovered that this technology is effective in creating tasty results during our testing. In addition, the K-Supreme features a 66-ounce water tank that can be kept either up or down, making it an ideal choice for those who lack the room for a bulky appliance. The machine also offers a “Strong Brew” setting.