Keurig has become a popular brand for its easy and efficient coffee-making process. While a latte or cappuccino from Starbucks is undoubtedly delicious, it can be an expensive habit to indulge in every day.
The Keurig K-cafe coffee machine offers a convenient way to brew lattes and cappuccinos using K-cup pods, making it an effortless and enjoyable experience.
In this comprehensive review guide for the Keurig K cafe, I’ve reviewed the product and sourced reviews from other users to match my experience. So, this review guide covers everything ranging from design to customer review, a compiled list of pros and cons to make it easy for you to make an informed buying decision.
Keurig K Cafe Review | Our Verdict
Overall, Keurig k-cafe is an impressive single-serve coffee maker that brews fair a cup of Latte and cappuccino, is quick and easy to use, and comes with a fair price. It comes with an advanced set of controls like strength control, brew size, and high altitude setting, and some handy features like low water and maintenance alert.
Although a larger footprint doesn’t make it suitable for small kitchens, but this is the only Keurig model that comes with a built-in milk frother that has the ability to brew concentrated, espresso-like shots used in lattes and cappuccinos.
On the negative side, since this is not an espresso machine so don’t expect cafe-styled Cappuccino or Latte prepared with an authentic Espresso shot.
Keurig K-cafe review | Brief Overview of the only Keurig with a Milk Frother
| Product Type | Single Serve Coffee maker with a milk frother |
| Dimensions | 17.32 x 14.17 x 14.41 inches |
| Weight | 10.6 pounds |
| Water reservoir | 60 oz removable water tank |
| Brew Sizes | 6 oz, 8 oz, 10 oz, 12 oz |
| Temperature control | No |
| Display | Button control panel with buttons for Brew Size, Coffee or Latte/Cappuccino, and Brew Strength |
| Other Features | Maintenance remainder, high altitude setting, Milk frother, one-push specialty beverages, Auto shut off feature. |
Previously, Keurig Rivo is the only model in the Keurig lineup that can brew espresso-like shots and milk-based beverages like latte and cappuccino, but now they have discontinued and replaced it with an upgraded version, the Keurig K-cafe.
Remember, there are two variations of Keurig: regular Keurig K-cafe and k cafe special edition, so in this review guide, we are talking about the standard k- cafe Keurig machine.
Pros
✔️ Prepare Latte and Cappuccino at the touch of a button
✔️ Four different brew sizes and the option for a strong brew
✔️ Prepares 2 oz espresso-styled shot of coffee for cappuccino and latte
✔️ Milk frother with a convenient design and ability to froth both hot and cold milk
✔️ Quick and easy to use
Cons
❌ Don’t prepare the best cappuccino and latte as it doesn’t have the pressurized brewing system like an Espresso machine
❌ Very large footprint – Not perfect for small kitchens
Why Trust Us
I have taken an in-depth look at all of its top features and analyzed the pros and cons to help you make an informed buying decision. With our expert review, you can discover whether the Keurig K Cafe is the right choice for you or not.
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Keurig K-cafe review | A detailed Go THrough
Keurig K Cafe is your best option if you want a quick and easy machine for making lattes and cappuccinos. Here’s a detailed review of this machine.
1) Design and build quality of Keurig K cafe
Although the Keurig K-cafe coffee machine’s dimensions of 17.32 x 14.17 x 14.41 inches may not be ideal for those with limited kitchen space, however, the design is quite modern and looks exquisite on your countertop.
Although it is wide, the machine is not much taller, so you can easily fit it under the cabinet.
This machine features a simple and minimalist design, while still maintaining a modern and attractive appearance. Unfortunately, it only comes in charcoal. This limits your options to match your kitchen aesthetics.
A majority of the body is made of plastic, but it is made of high-quality plastic, which ensures the durability of the machine. Additionally, it comes with one year warranty, so in case of any malfunction or breakage, you can contact Keurig to seek their professional support.
The Keurig K-Cafe Special Edition version has a nickel-colored finish and a metal handle on the water reservoir, and the drip tray is also made of metal.
There is a simple button display on the Keurig K-cafe, where you can choose between 6 oz and 12 oz of coffee. Moreover, there is a shot button for making Espresso-styled concentrated shots that pair well with milk-based drinks.
Overall, the appearance of the Keurig K-cafe is impressive. The sleek line on the exterior portion gives it an elegant look. The only downside is its large footprint, which is problematic for people with small kitchens.
2) Taste and Quality of the drink
If you have been using K-cup coffee makers for a while, you’ll enjoy the taste and quality of coffee drinks from Keurig K-cafe.
As for cup sizes, you can choose between 6, 8, 10, or 12 oz. In my experience, I’ve found that the 6 oz. cup size produces the most flavorful coffee.
Additionally, the Keurig K-cafe coffee machine features a “strong brew” option, which allows for a longer brewing time to produce a more robust and intense cup of coffee.
There’s a shot button for preparing a small shot of coffee for Lattes and Cappucino. This 2 oz shot of coffee is similar to a shot of espresso, but not exactly the same.
The taste of Latte and Cappucino you will get with this machine will not be strong and deep as prepared with authentic Espresso but it is perfectly hot and tasty for a machine of this kind.
3) Performance of Keurig K cafe
Performance-wise, I found it incredibly amazing. The 60-ounce water reservoir gives you the freedom of brewing 8 cups of coffee without the need of refilling it again. Personally, I found this really helpful, especially when you have visitors at home.
The machine heats up quickly in 25 seconds (pretty fast I guess) and gives a flat brew in 30 seconds. While after pressing the stronger brew option, it took longer (quite obvious), around one minute for an intense, concentrated cup of coffee.
Keurig’s milk frother is also fairly quick, heating and foaming the milk in just about a minute and a half, and producing cold froth in only about 30 seconds.
There is no temperature control functionality in K-cafe. The machine only functions at its preset temperature. While testing the temperature of coffee drinks, they are found to be between 170 and 175 degrees, which is quite hot.
The Keurig K-cafe coffee machine consumes 160 kWh of energy. Furthermore, it’s worth mentioning that this machine operates loudly during brewing, producing a noise level of more than 75 dB (Which is expected as frothers are usually noisy)
Keurig K Cafe features Smart Start, which allows you to pop in your desired K-Cup and select your desired cup size before the machine is ready to brew. The Maintenance remainder and low water alert are some handy features. Overall, I am quite satisfied with the machine’s performance.
4) User experience
User-friendliness is the trademark of Keurig machines and k-cafe is not an exception. It follows up the tradition of being simple despite having many advanced features like a milk frother.
The best thing is that K-cafe is the only Keurig model that comes with a built-in milk frother and has the ability to brew concentrated, espresso-like shots used in lattes and cappuccinos.
The 60-ounce water reservoir gives you the freedom of brewing 8-10 cups of coffee or 30 lattes and cappuccinos before the need of refilling. Even though the water reservoir is not dishwasher safe, it is relatively easier to clean as it is detachable.
Auto-off feature, adding water alert, and descaling alert are some handy features that make it most user-friendly.
The machine is compatible with all types of k-cup pods and also My K-cup reusable filter, so you have the freedom of using your own coffee grounds.
The frothing pitcher is removable and dishwasher-safe and it must be cleaned after every use.
This machine can accumulate a mug as tall as 7.2 inches which makes it travel mug friendly.
Overall, the machine is quite efficient, user-friendly, and simple to operate.
5) Milk Frother of Keurig K-cafe
The unique feature of Keurig K-cafe is a milk frother. You can prepare cappuccinos and lattes easily by frothing almond milk, soy milk, fresh milk, and skimmed milk.
The Milk Frother has three buttons. The “Cappuccino button” froths milk for Cappuccino; the “Latte button” froths milk for Latte; and the “Cold button” froths milk for Iced Latte.
The frother has two fill lines, one for cappuccino and one for a latte, making it more convenient to use. In addition, it has a very user-friendly plastic handle for easy pouring.
The level of froth this machine produce is just exceptional. Yes, Keurig K-Cafe is not capable of preparing Espresso shots but it is definitely capable of making excellent Latte styled milk froth.
Overall, Keurig Cafe’s milk frother is the best. It’s easy to use and prepares a great froth with both hot and cold milk.
6) Value for money and Customer Reviews
The Keurig K-Cafe is not the cheapest Keurig model, but it comes with a milk frother, which makes it worth the extra money.
Under 200 dollars K cafe is the best single-serve Latte and Cappucino maker in the market.
Keurig K-cafe has almost 20,000 reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5. More than 85% of users are completely satisfied with the machine. Honestly, It is not possible to find any coffee machine in the market with that many positive reviews.
Customers are very satisfied with the machine’s performance and appreciate its efficiency, ease of use, and user-friendliness.
Nevertheless, some customers have expressed frustration with larger footprints, limited brew sizes, and a loud brewing process.
Also, there are a few complaints claiming that almond milk does not froth well in the milk frother.
What I like in Keurig K Cafe
- love milky-based beverages: Keurig K-cafe is the only Keurig model with a built-in milk frother and prepares Cappuccinos and Lattes at the touch of a button.
- Compromise on taste: Keurig does not produce espresso, so the latte and cappuccino you get do not taste exactly like what you get at the coffee shop, but still, the taste will be fair considering the convenience this machine offers.
- You want a quick Latte: Preparing lattes and cappuccinos is quite a time-consuming process, so if you are limited on time and just want your brew in quick time, this machine will serve a tasty and hot cup of latte in under 2 minutes.
- Those with large space: As the machine is quite bulky and takes up considerable space on the counter, if are comfortable with the space it occupies then definitely you should choose the Keurig K-cafe.
What i Dislike in Keurig k Cafe
- You have a limited space: The dimension of 17.32 x 14.17 x 14.41 inches makes it bulky and also the footprint of 1 square foot is too larger for a single-serve coffee maker. So if you have limited counter space, this machine isn’t for you.
- Not willing to compromise on taste: It’s not an espresso machine, so Keurig K cafe doesn’t prepare the best Latte and Cappuccino, but it’s convenient.
- You want more cups at a time: Keurig K-cafe is a perfect single-serve coffee maker suitable for 2 or 3 servings only at a time. While this machine can heat up quickly for the second brew but you have to clean the pod holder and milk frother after every brew which is a mess.
Considering whether to buy Keurig or not and in a decision-making phase? This article can help: Are Keurigs Worth it
Looking for a better alternative? Check Keurig K cafe smart
Keurig K Cafe Smart is the latest edition with more advanced features. I’d recommend you go with the smart edition if budget is not the concern.
The K Cafe Smart Edition offers the following additional features
Multi-stream Technology: Have five needles to enrich the K cup more thoroughly and extract more flavors from coffee grounds
Adjustable Settings: It offers five different strength options from mild to robust and six different temperature options from lukewarm to extra hot.
LCD Display and Wi-Fi: Have Wi-Fi technology so you can connect it to your phone and brew from anywhere.
Iced Coffee setting: Have a dedicated “Brew Over Ice” button that optimizes the brewing process for iced coffee, resulting in a better taste experience.
Slim Design: The design of K Cafe Smart is also much more slim and stylish compared to simple K Cafe.
All these additional features come at the extra cost of just 60 bucks so I think it definitely worth it.
Final Thoughts on Keurig K cafe
You’ll surely love this machine if you prefer convenience over taste. It’s true that Cappuccino and Latte are not as strong as those prepared using an authentic Espresso machine, but I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
Keurig K cafe is the only Keurig model with a built-in milk frother and is available at a fair price.
So that’s it I hope you find this Keurig K cafe review helpful and if you want to check reviews of other Keurig models they are linked below.
Faqs
What’s the difference between K-Cafe and K-Cafe Special Edition?
Keurig K-cafe special edition has a premium design with a matte finish while the simple Keurig K-cafe is completely made of plastic. There’s no difference in functionality, and both serve great cafe-style drinks whenever you want
Can Keurig K Cafe make espresso?
No Keurig K cafe doesn’t make an authentic Espresso. Basically, it prepares a small shot of espresso-like coffee that is quite strong and intense.
