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Keurig is one of the most recognizable brands out there when it comes to single serve coffee. Keurig is constantly working to improve their single serve coffee machines and the super popular K575 has now been replaced with a newer, modern and stylish, upgraded model – the Keurig K-Elite coffee maker.
Basic Features of the K-Elite
Like all Keurig coffee makers, the K-Elite is a single serve brewer that uses Keurig K-cups to quickly brew single cups of coffee. It has a sleek and modern look and is available in silver, gold or brushed slate. Coming in at 13.1 x 9.9 x 12.7, it doesn’t take up too much counter space either.
Customization and Brew Capacity
When the K-Elite replaced the K575, it became the most customizable single serve coffee maker on the market. You can adjust the brew strength between regular and bold. The water temperature can be adjusted and has a range of 187℉ – 192℉, and it can accommodate 5 different serving sizes ( 4 oz, 6 oz, 8 oz, 10 oz, and 12 oz.).
Unlike many of the other Keurigs, the K-Elite also offers an iced coffee feature. This feature allows you to brew hot coffee over ice and still get a refreshing, full-flavored, iced coffee to enjoy in those hot summer months.
It also provides hot water on demand for hot cocoa, tea, instant soups, and oatmeal.
Water Reservoir
The large 75 oz. water reservoir will brew up to 18 cups before needing to be refilled saving you time and inconvenience. Even if you prefer a 12 oz. pour, you can still get 6 cups before you need to refill the reservoir. The water reservoir will also accommodate the Keurig water filters, and better quality water means better tasting coffee.
Convenience and Ease of Use
The K-Elite has a button interface rather than the touch screen of some of the older models. This button upgrade is a definite plus. No more scrolling through menus, this model features a button of each of its major brew settings making brewing simple and foolproof.
It also comes with a programmable on/off feature that allows you to program a set time for the machine to turn itself on and off, saving you time and money. It also means less of a wait before your first cup of coffee.
Finally, the K-Elite offers a high altitude setting that really sets it apart from other premium single serve coffee makers.
Iced Coffee Options
Nothing is better than an iced coffee on a hot summer day. There is nothing worse than going to the fridge to discover someone finished the last of the iced coffee and now you have to wait for the fresh pot to cool or end up drinking watered down coffee.
The K-Elite will come to your rescue. With a touch of the iced coffee button, this machine will brew coffee over ice, creating the perfect cup of iced coffee in less than a minute.
Short Brew Time
Do you ever desperately need a cup of coffee but don’t have time to wait around for it to brew? The K-Elite can speed through the brewing cycle and have your drink ready to go in less than a minute.
This speedy brewing technology is especially great for home use when you have a line of family members waiting for coffee, and it’s quiet brew technology means you won’t wake up the entire house brewing that early morning cup.
The Extras
When you purchase a K-Elite, it comes with a 6 count K-cup variety pack, a water filter handle, and a water filter.
Why choose a Keurig?
The popularity of Keurig coffee makers has exploded in recent years. With a wide variety of machines to choose from, Keurig coffee machines have found homes in kitchens and offices across America and for good reason.
The Keurig brand
Keurig was created in the early 1990s and was initially marketed as a machine for small offices and company break rooms. Soon however, they expanded into the home market. The exposure to the home market exploded the brand.
The result of this explosion was the development of a wide variety of coffee machines designed for both home and office use. As the machines grew in popularity, other brands got on board creating K-cups of their own to be used in the popular Keurig brewer.
Now the Keurig brand offers coffee machines to suit every budget, from bare bones “makes a cup of coffee” brewers, to single serve coffee machines loaded with bells and whistles.
Ease of use
Keurig gets five stars when it comes to ease of use. You simply add water, pop in your coffee pod of choice, close the lid, and press the button of your desired brew size. Your freshly brewed coffee will be ready in a matter of minutes. You don’t even have to clean up the leftover grinds in the brew basket, you simply remove the coffee pod and you are ready to brew your next cup.
Variety
With the explosion of the Keurig coffee machine, other brands wanted to claim their place in the market producing coffee for these machines. The result: K-cups took over the coffee aisle at the grocery store. You will be hard pressed to find a grocery store that doesn’t offer a wider variety of K-cups than bagged coffee. Whether you prefer regular coffee, flavored coffee, or Kona coffee, there is a K-cup for you. You can even find tea and hot cocoa in K-cup form to please every member of the household.
Convenience
Keurig also gets five stars when it comes to convenience. Whether at home or in the office, Keurig machines make brewing your morning…or afternoon…cup a breeze. Please a wide variety of guests with the coffee of their choosing in a matter of minutes. If the office doesn’t stock the brand or flavor of coffee you prefer, just pop a couple of pods in your purse or briefcase. Keurig has taken the work out of modern coffee making and made it a quick and easy part of everyday life.
Taste
Lets face it, you simply aren’t going to get the same coffee flavor from a K-cup than with freshly ground artisan beans brewed in a traditional coffee maker, french press, or pour-over, but with thousands of K-cups to choose from, you will definitely find a coffee that works for you. If you aren’t sure where to start, check to see if your favorite brand offers a K-cup version or test out a variety of flavors with the convenience of a sampler pack. With K-cups the flavor possibilities are endless and you should be able to find a coffee pod to please even the most discerning palates.
Disadvantages of a Keurig 2.0 Model
The first Keurig coffee makers that came out are now informally referred to as the Keurig 1.0 models. When the Keurig 2.0 model came out, a number of brands not associated with Keurig found that their cup design no longer worked in the new Keurig models. The Keurig 2.0 is designed to reject any unlicensed K-cup and many coffee lovers found that their go to coffee pods were no longer compatible with the new machines. There are still some third party K-cups out there that work with the Keurig 2.0 but be sure to read reviews carefully before purchasing.
Luckily, if the roast you love is not compatible with the Keurig 2.0 there are a couple of workarounds. Pod adapters like the K2V-cup will allow you to use a non-compatible pod in Keurig 2.0 machines.
Another option is to bypass K-cups altogether and opt for a reusable K-cup filter. These filters allow you to use any coffee you like in your Keurig.
How is the C K-Elite Different?
Don’t let the name fool you, the Keurig C K-Elite is the exact same machine as the K-Elite. The only difference is the welcome package you get with this bundle. The K-Elite comes with the coffee maker, six coffee pods, and a water filter. The C K-Elite comes with the coffee maker, 15 coffee pods, a water filter kit, and a reusable coffee filter. If you intend to use your own coffee grounds from time to time, the C K-Elite package is a good deal because the bundle is less expensive than purchasing every component separately. However, if you plan to only uses K-cups, save your money and go with the less expensive bundle since the machine are exactly the same.
Reasons NOT to Buy the K-Elite
You Want to Have the Option to Enjoy Drip Coffee Too
If you love the idea of having a single serve coffee maker but also want the option of having drip coffee, the K-Elite may not be the best choice. It only brews single serve coffee so you would need to have a separate drip coffee maker. If you want the convenience of having both a single serve and drip coffee maker you may want to consider a dual coffee maker instead.
You Have a Tight Budget
The K-Elite is top notch when it comes to customizability, however, Keurig makes some great coffee maker like the K-50 or the K-55 that are less expensive but still brew a great cup of coffee.
K-cups can be pricey too and the K-Elite does not work with third party K-cups since it is part of the 2.0 series so you will have to shell out the money for Keurig brand cups as well. You may want to invest in their reusable My K-cup. It will allow you to save money by using your own coffee grounds.
You Prefer to Have Complete Control of the Brewing Process
The point of a Keurig is to do all of the work for you. Simplifying the coffee brewing process is their specialty. If you prefer to have complete control over your coffee, you probably want to consider one of the Keurig K-Duo that also takes ground coffee or a similar dual coffee maker, or look into a home espresso machine instead.
Alternatives to the K-Elite
Keurig K-Classic
The K-Classic is a less expensive version of the K-Elite but iit too offers all of the necessary functions of a single serve machine without the high price tag of some of the fancier models.
As a member of the classic 1.0 Keurig family, it can read pods manufactured by brands not associated with Keurig, making it a desirable option if you want a wide variety of coffee to choose from. You can also use your own coffee using reusable K-cups, which allows you to still enjoy your artisan small batch roast and eliminates the waste produced by the plastic K-cups.
The K-Classic offers three cup size settings (6oz., 8oz., and 10oz.) to allow you to choose the strength of your brew.. It also comes with a removable drip tray to accommodate larger mugs and travel cups.
This machine is fast! It takes 3 minutes to heat up but then brews each cup of coffee in under a minute so you can enjoy your first cup of coffee in less than 5 minutes.
It comes with a 48 oz. removable water reservoir that is easy to fill at the sink and the K55 includes a charcoal water filter to further improve the taste of your morning brew. The K-Classic also added a flashing “add water” light to alert you when the reservoir needs to be refilled.
The number one issue with single serve coffee machines is calcium build-up. The build up of mineral deposits can clog the needle on your machine and prevent your coffee from brewing properly…or at all. A clogged needle can also result in coffee grounds in your brew or all over your kitchen counter. Keurig addresses this issue head on by including a maintenance reminder feature on the K-Classic that gives you a flashing light when it’s time to descale your machine. You can use your own solution of white vinegar and water or you can simply buy the descaling solution that Keurig manufactures. Either way, regular cleaning will leave each cup of coffee tasting just as great as the last.
Keurig K-Select
The Keurig K-Select is similar to the K-Classic in looks and features. One of the biggest differences is the K-Select can brew an additional 12 ounce cup size. It is the only 1.0 model that offers this cup size.
Like the K-Classic, the K-Select is compatible with all K-cup brand coffee pods as well as third party pods, allowing you to choose from a wider variety of coffee brands and flavors.
The K-Select has a user friendly interface and offers 4 different coffee sizes (6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces). There is also an option for strong brew and the three lights under the power button indicate auto off, add water, and descale. The auto off feature is nice because it helps you save energy without having to remember to power the machine off.
The large water reservoir holds 52 ounces, meaning you can bre 5-9 cups between refills and it is removable for easy cleaning and filling. The K-Select also comes with a water filter handle and charcoal water filter. Better quality water means better tasting coffee.
If style is what you are looking for, the K-Select comes in four different colors (Navy, Matte Black, Matte White, and Vintage Red) to match virtually any kitchen decor.
Other features include a removable, dishwasher safe drip tray and a clean indicator light.
The K- Select is an upgrade to the K-Classic in many ways but if you regularly use a travel mug you will need to brew into a smaller cup and pour it into the mug if you go with the K-Select.
Ninja Hot and Cold Brew
This one is not a Keurig but we had to mention it. If you are looking for a coffee maker that gives you many different options then the Ninja Hot and Cold Brew with Auto-IQ may be the way to go. This machine stands out because it doesn’t actually look like a dual coffee maker because it doesn’t have two separate sides. It does however have the full functionality of a dual coffee maker and then some.
The easy to use control panel comes with the Ninja’s Auto-IQ one touch intelligence that allows you to brew great coffee or tea with very little effort.
You can brew easily brew a single cup all the way up to a full carafe and customize the strength of each brew cycle. It offers 6 different brew sizes (cup, cup XL, travel mug, travel mug XL, half carafe, and full carafe) and 5 different brewing styles including classic, rich, over ice, cold brew, and specialty. This is definitely the most versatile dual coffee maker on our list.
The 50 ounce thermal carafe will keep your coffee warm but some users who bought the glass carafe version reported that the coffee did not stay hot enough. We suggest you spend a little extra for the thermal carafe.
The Ninja comes with separate tea and coffee baskets to keep flavors from intermingling and the reusable permanent filter preserves the natural oils in the coffee, and thanks to its smart basket recognition, it knows which you are about to brew.
It also comes with 24 hour programmability so you can prepare your coffee in advance and schedule it to brew at a certain time and it will automatically shut itself off after one hour.
On those mornings that you just can’t wait for your first sip, an automatic brew pause feature will allow you to sneak your first cup before the brewing cycle completes.
Single serve brewing is made simple with the fold away cup platform. This platform allows you to easily switch between smaller mugs, travel mugs, and the thermal carafe without splashing.
If you love milky coffee drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, or macchiatos, this dual coffee maker even comes with a fold away milk frother so you can make your own coffee house style brews at home. You can even make your own iced coffee drinks in those hot summer months.
Other features include an easy to fill water reservoir and a smart scoop that stores right inside the machine.
Should I upgrade from the K575?
The main difference between these two machines is the electronic controls. The K-Elite uses a simplified button system while the K575 used a high-tech touchscreen. The other big difference is the iced coffee feature that has been added to the K-Elite. If you are a big fan of iced coffee or hate the touchscreen on your K575, then we would definitely recommend the upgrade.
However, if Iced coffee is not your thing, and your K575 is still working well, you are probably fine to stick with what you have. By the time your K575 crosses the rainbow bridge, Keurig is bound to have a newer and better machine out.