Which Keurig Is Right For You? A Complete Guide To The 8 Best Models

Buzz Feed

05-02-2025

Since Keurig first launched its at-home brewing systems in 2004, the brand has created a not-so-modest reputation as the gold standard for single-serve coffee makers that are affordable, foolproof, and incredibly easy to use.
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Also, since 2004, there have been tons of different models and versions of the Keurig that have come to market, each one at different price points and with different capabilities. It can be overwhelming to choose which option will suit your needs best, which is why we created this extensive buying guide highlighting all the key features and distinctions of each one.
Spoiler alert: Our favorite pick from the list ahead is the K-Elite Keurig, a bells-and-whistles model that can rapidly brew a variety of strengths, five different cup sizes, and cold coffee straight over ice.
But no matter which Keurig you land on, here's what you can expect from this budget-friendly coffee maker brand: it will make a single serving of your java beverage of choice quickly (in most cases less than a minute), and will use signature K-cup pods — of which there is a nearly endless variety to choose from — for a consistent and single-step operation that doesn't require any futzing with loose coffee grounds.
Keep in mind that if you don't want to use K-cup pods, there are reusable filter cups available that are compatible with Keurigs and use your favorite loose coffee grounds of choice.
1. If you want the overall favorite
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Highlights: The highest-rated option on Amazon with a 48-ounce water reservoir (enough for 6 cups) and the classic one-touch and rapid brewing functionality that Keurig is known for.
Based on Amazon's ratings, the Keurig K-Classic is the overall favorite choice, with 4.6 out of 5 stars and over 83,000 5-star reviews. Like all Keurigs, the Classic promises a foolproof and user-friendly operation and an auto-off feature so the appliance will safely shut off after it's been idle for a designated amount of time. It offers one of the largest removable Keurig reservoirs of 48 ounces, which is enough to brew up to six single-serve cups of coffee per fill. It can brew up to three different coffee sizes in a minute or less and can even accommodate taller to-go coffee mugs when you remove the drip tray at the Keurig's base.
Drawbacks: Brewing options and cup sizes are limited compared to other models.
Get it from Amazon for $127.49.
2. The one to get if you're on a budget
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Highlights: A budget-friendly and size-conscious coffee maker that quickly makes three different cup sizes and offers two brew strengths, including a strong setting that intensifies the coffee's flavor.
The Keurig K-Express is one of the brand's most economical makers, with a 42-ounce water reservoir that's removable for easy filling and fairly sizable for the appliance's compact size. Despite its affordable price, the K-Express can still brew three different cup sizes and has a strong brew option that intensifies the bold flavor of your coffee. It has a removable drip tray to allow you to brew your morning coffee directly into your travel mug, and don't worry about accidentally leaving the Keurig on thanks to the auto shut-off feature that turns off the maker five minutes after your last brew.
Drawbacks: A smaller reservoir compared to the previous model.
Bottom line: The most affordable option for anyone who wants just the basics
Get it from Amazon for $89.99 (available in four colors).
3. The one to get if you don't have a lot of space
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Highlights: This is the most compact and slimmest model that Keurig has to offer, with the most color options and one of the lowest price points. It's great for anyone who has the most basic and straightforward coffee brewing needs, only drinks a cup at a time, and has limited kitchen space.
Measuring less than five inches wide and 12 inches high, the Keurig K-Mini is the brand's slimmest and space-conscious model that still manages to accommodate travel mugs that are up to seven inches tall. This single-serve maker has just one brew setting for the easiest operation possible and can make either a six- or a 12-ounce cup of coffee at a time. The non-removable reservoir is equally minute and just requires a simple fill with fresh water before each brew cycle. The K-Mini also comes in the most color options, including fun hues like pastel pink and forest green.
Drawbacks: Can only brew one cup at a time and needs to refilled more frequently, offers only one brew strength.
Bottom line: Space-saving, affordable and the best option for those who typically only drink one cup of coffee at a time.
Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in five colors).
4. The one for people who liked iced coffee
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Highlights: The best choice for anyone who likes an iced cup of coffee as much as a hot one but still wants the low-effort and straightforward functionality and affordability that a Keurig is known for. It has a decent-sized removable reservoir and can make three different cup sizes and different brew strengths.
With the K-Iced Keurig's iced coffee setting, the maker manages to instantly brew a temperature-regulated stream of coffee that starts hot to extract the most flavor and then rapidly cools so that the coffee can be made directly over ice without melting and diluting your drink. Aside from this special feature, the K-Iced offers a strong brew setting for a more pronounced coffee flavor and can make up to three different cup sizes while also accommodating taller tumblers and travel mugs thanks to the removable drip tray. It uses a removable 42-ounce reservoir.
Drawback: For some, the icing functionality will be unnecessary.
Bottom line: The K-Iced is essentially just like the very popular K-Express (mentioned above), but with the added feature of brewing cold coffee directly over ice.
Get it from Amazon for $75.99+ (available in two colors).
5. The one to get if you want all the bells and whistles
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Highlights: Our personal favorite Keurig because it offers some of the best brewing features out of all the brand's single-serve coffee makers, has the largest water reservoir, the fastest brewing time, and five cup sizes.
The K-Elite is the best pick for anyone who wants the most from their Keurig coffee maker and doesn't mind this appliance taking up a little more space on their countertop. It offers the largest reservoir capacity of all the Keurigs, featuring a removable 75-ounce container so it only needs to be refilled after the eighth cup. You can choose from five different cup sizes and three different brew settings, including a strong brew and iced, which makes a temperature-regulated and perfectly extracted stream of coffee that can be made directly over ice, all of which take less than a minute to brew. On top of the K-Elite's user-friendly dashboard, there's a light-up time display, which many of the more basic models don't have, and a "hot water" button for on-demand boiling water, perfect for instant soups, teas and more.
Drawbacks: Higher price point (but not by much).
Bottom line: Although not the most affordable of all the Keurigs on this list, we think it offers the greatest value because of all the brewing options, including an iced coffee setting and a strong brew setting.
Get it from Amazon for $129.99 (available in three colors).
6. The one when you also want lattes and espressos
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Highlights: In addition to standard single-serve coffee brewing, the K-Cafe K-Duo also crafts single-serve lattes and cappuccinos, hot or iced, utilizing the same signature Keurig K-cup method that's always user-friendly. It even features a dishwasher-safe frother for whipping up all kinds of creamy milk.
Just when you thought Keurig only made coffee makers capable of brewing your standard cup of Joe, the brand releases the K-Cafe K-Duo, a fully outfitted appliance that not only crafts regularly percolated single-serving cups of coffee, but also espresso-based drinks like lattes, cappuccinos or just shots of espresso. You can even enjoy iced versions of your favorite cafe drinks using a temperature-regulated brew setting that extracts the right amount of flavor, without diluting your drink. In addition to the large 60-ounce removable reservoir, it has an integrated milk frother that makes creamy milk for hot drinks as well as cold foams for iced ones.
Drawbacks: One of the highest price point in the bunch; has a large footprint.
Bottom line: It's one of the more expensive Keurigs on our list, but worth it if you want the most brewing options available and can spare the counter space.
Get it from Amazon for $179.99+ (available in two colors).
7. A dual model to brew drip and K-cup coffee
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Highlights: A dual-sided Keurig that offers not just single-serve cups of hot coffee with a K-Pod, but can also brew a pot of coffee using a filter and loose coffee grounds of your choice. It has a large 60-ounce reservoir and several convenient brewing functions.
Keurig understands that single-serving cups of coffee are not for everyone and the K-Duo Pod and Carafe maker is the brand's versatile solution. One side of this appliance features a traditional coffee maker with a 12-cup glass carafe, a heating plate and a classic filter brewing system. The other side is a classic Keurig that uses a K-cup for single-serving cups of coffee that can be made in four different sizes. Other functions of the K-Duo are an auto-brew function where you can program your maker to automatically brew a carafe up to 24 hours in advance, and a pause and pour setting that allows you to stop mid-brew to pour yourself a cup before it continues brewing.
Drawbacks: The larger size means it may not be suitable for small spaces.
8. The one for when you want hot and iced
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Highlights: It's a dual-sided coffee maker that can make a 12-cup carafe for traditional brewing, plus single-serving cups of coffee, iced or hot, and in four different cup sizes. It features an updated "multistream technology" for a more enhanced flavor and intense aroma from each brew.
The Keurig K-Duo Hot and Iced coffee maker is very similar to the K-Duo Pod and Carafe listed above but with the capacity to make iced single-serve coffee beverages as well as hot. Another key difference is that it uses a "multistream technology," a brand-exclusive system that claims to evenly saturate coffee grounds to extract the most flavor and aroma, whether you're making something hot or iced. In addition to the temperature-regulated iced setting, you can choose to brew coffee with a strong, more intense-flavored brew, and an extra hot setting.
Drawbacks: Some reviewers say the reusable K-cups aren't compatible with this machine.