What Is a Keurig Coffee Machine? Do You Need One?
Table Of ContentsA lot of coffee lovers know that you cannot have a conversation about coffee without the name Keurig popping up once or twice. In case you have never heard of Keurig before, I am here to tell you everything you need to know about this. This guide takes a closer look at what a Keurig is and what you should know about it before getting one.
There are millions of people who drink coffee every day, several times per day. Coffee is one of those beverages that can help you have a more effective day and be more energetic. I bet that everyone has tried it at least once, but only a few have tried a really good cup of coffee.
When talking about good coffee, one must mention Keurig. There is so much that you should know about Keurig, such as what it is and what you can expect from it. So before going out to purchase your first Keurig, I suggest you read this guide through and through!
What Is a Keurig?
The first thing that you should know about Keurig is that this is the name of a popular company that creates coffee makers as well as coffee pods. Their coffee pods are also called K-Cups and are the only pods suitable for Keurig coffee machines.
If you are wondering what type of coffee maker the Keurig is, I can tell you more about it! Keurig machines are nice brewing machines that you can get for quite an affordable price. On the company’s website, you can learn more about the models available for purchase at the moment, but keep in mind that there are a lot of coffee makers to choose from!
Another important detail about these brewing machines is that they are all single-serve, meaning that you can only get one coffee at a time. That is not a big setback, considering that the brewing process takes only a few seconds.
Yes, you heard that right! Thanks to the well-thought-out design, the Keurig coffee maker can brew coffee in only a few seconds using pre-heated water and a K-Cup. This makes it a great choice for people who are constantly in a hurry or do not want to wait all day for their coffee to brew.
Different Keurig machines come with different features, so that is also something to think about. The older models are not as advanced as the new ones. The new ones come with many helpful features to make the brewing process that much easier.
I do not doubt that the Keurig is a great choice for anyone looking for a quick coffee maker that brews great coffee. However, before you decide to get a Keurig, I want to share some of the pros and cons of the machine. Hopefully, this will help you decide whether you want a Keurig for yourself or not.
Pros
What better way to learn more about a coffee maker than to go over all of its strong sides! That is exactly what I am going to do now as I give you all the pros of the Keurig brewing machine. Let’s see what makes this brewer better than others!
Coffee Flavor
As mentioned previously, Keurig coffee machines only work with K-Cups. This is not a setback as there are more than 200 flavors currently being sold on the company’s website, so you will never get bored with the K-Cups.
Also, the coffee made using this coffee machine always has a strong taste and rich aroma. You will enjoy your cup of coffee even more than you can imagine, which is why you have to give this coffee maker a chance!
Versatile
Aside from the regular brew, many Keurig coffee makers can also be used for cold brew, tea brewing, and some other brewing methods. Instead of having to buy multiple brewing devices, you can buy one and use it for various brewing methods. So go with Keurig if you want to save some money!
Quick
One of the reasons why so many people love the Keurig is its ability to brew coffee within a few seconds. That is because of the way the coffee maker works.
When turned on, the Keurig keeps the water hot at all times. So when you add the K-Cup and start the brewing process, the machine uses the pre-heated water to brew the coffee at that same moment. This means less time making coffee and more time for doing other productive things!
Adjustable Settings
With most modern Keurig coffee makers, you can tailor the brewing process according to your preference. You can set your preferred brew size, set the auto shut-off option, and also let the machine tell you when it needs to be cleaned. What is better than that?
Cons
I would have loved for there to be no weaknesses to talk about, but the Keurig has a few cons that you should know before purchasing it. For some people, these make or break their decision to get a Keurig, so I strongly suggest you go over them before making your final decision.
Only Single-Serve Machines
One of the biggest problems with Keurig coffee makers is that all of them are single-serve. This is great for people who live alone, but if you have a big family or live with roommates, this can be a problem. You have to consider whether you want to go with the single-serve machine or if you would be better off getting a dual coffee maker.
K-Cup Problems
I have already mentioned that these machines only work with K-Cups. If you are someone who drinks coffee several times per day, it might be a bit pricey to use K-Cups all the time.
You should also know that K-Cups are non-recyclable. This means that you will have quite a lot of trash if you use several K-Cups per day. If you want to be more eco-friendly, you might want to go with something else rather than K-Cups.
Cleaning Problems
Another big issue that you should know about is the fact that Keurig machines are quite difficult to clean. Yes, you can give the machine a rinse or run a descaling process now and then, but deep cleaning all the parts is not as easy.
This means that there will be grounds and residue all over those parts. They will contribute to the machine malfunctioning, and they can affect the way your coffee tastes. That is something to consider before getting the machine.
FAQs on Keurig Machines
Even though I have already given you a lot of information on Keurig coffee makers, I want to finish up this guide by mentioning some FAQs that you might have even thought about before. The extra information will surely come in handy at some point, so make sure to go over it!
How long does a Keurig last?
With proper maintenance and thorough cleaning, you can expect a Keurig machine to last anywhere from three to five years. If you use it several times per day every day, you might need to replace it sooner.
How often should you clean your Keurig?
When using a Keurig to brew coffee daily, you should rinse the water container every few days. You can run a thorough cleaning or descaling of the machine every three to six months. However, if you do not use the machine that often, you can put off the descaling for a couple of months.
I recommend that you use the Keurig descaling solution to clean the machine. You might come across people that recommend using vinegar and water, but the descaling solution is designed specifically for this purpose and is, therefore, the best option.
That’s all the information you need on Keurig coffee makers for now. I hope that after reading everything, you have a clear idea of what a Keurig is and if you should get one for yourself. The pros and cons I gave you should also come in handy when making that decision.
Let me know in the comments below if you are going to give the Keurig coffee maker a try after reading the guide. I cannot wait to read all your comments on the topic!
Owen is a writer and editor at Caffe Streets who considers himself a coffee fanatic. He spends his time researching and testing different coffee beans and brewing methods and sharing what he learns with others.