The Keurig Slim and Mini are affordable, compact Keurig machines that make it easy to brew a quick cup of coffee, but they don’t offer many customization options.
Our Choice | Keurig Mini Plus
My recommendation is Keurig K-mini Plus as it offers many additional features.
It has strong brew options that make a more flavorful cup of coffee.
It has a removable one-cup water reservoir that makes filling and cleaning more convenient.
It has storage for both cords and pods and a very portable design which makes it perfect for traveling.
And there is not much price difference. So my recommendation is you must go with Keurig K-Mini Plus.
For this article, I have tested and reviewed Keurig Slim and both the variants of Keurig mini i-e simple and mini plus.
All these are great entry-level single-serve coffee makers but I have found that the K-mini Plus offers the best value in this price range.
Keurig k Slim Vs K Mini and K Mini Plus | Quick Summary
| Specifications | Keurig K-Slim | Keurig K-Mini | Keurig Mini Plus (Our Choice) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brew Size | Three Options 8,10 and 12 oz | Anywhere between 6 to 12 oz | Anywhere between 6 to 12 oz |
| Water Reservoir | Removable 46 ounces | Non-Removable single serve | Non-Removable single serve |
| Travel Mugs | Accommodate up to 7 inches tall | Accommodate up to 7 inches tall | Accommodate up to 7 inches tall |
| Auto-Off | Turns off automatically after 5 minutes | Turns off automatically after 5 minutes | Turns off automatically after 5 minutes |
| Cord Storage | No | Yes | Yes |
| Pod Storage | No | No | Yes |
| Color options | Only black | Multiple Options | Multiple Options |
| Strong Brew Option | No | No | Yes |
| Indicator Lights | Yes | No | No |
If you have a slightly more budget then check out the review of the Keurig Supreme series: K Supreme vs K Supreme Plus
Main Differences in Keurig Mini vs Slim
The main difference between Keurig Slim and Mini is that K-Slim features a large removable water reservoir and multi-stream technology while the K-mini is a very basic Keurig model with a compact travel-friendly design.
1) Water tank (Winner: Keurig Slim)
Keurig K Slim has a 46-ounce removable water reservoir, so you can easily brew 4 to 5 cups of coffee without refilling the machine.
The water tank on this coffee machine is easy to detach and refill, thanks to its convenient holder at the back.
The Keurig K Mini has a single-cup water reservoir that cannot be removed.
This means you must refill the water reservoir each time you want to brew a cup of coffee.
Keurig Mini Plus has a single-cup removable water reservoir.
The Keurig Mini and Mini Plus share a similar water reservoir with a convenient scale from 6 to 12 ounces, so you don’t have to measure the water before filling it.
Overall, Keurig Slim has the largest water reservoir among these machines that is removable and easy to clean. While the single-serve water reservoir in K-mini (s) is also not bad but I hate the water reservoir of Keurig mini which is not removable.
Note: The reservoirs of both models K-Mini can’t accommodate Keurig Water filters
2) Brew Size (Winner: k- Mini’s)
The brew size in Keurig machines is a key factor in determining the intensity of your coffee. A larger cup size will result in a more diluted cup of coffee, while a smaller cup size will produce a more concentrated cup, as the amount of coffee grounds in the pod remains the same.
Keurig K-slim has an option of 8, 10, and 12 oz. You can easily brew a cup size of your choice by pressing only one button.
Keurig K-mini and K-mini-Plus have a single round “K” button at the top for brewing coffee.
The size of the brew depends on the amount of water you fill in the water tank.
Simply fill the water to anywhere between 6 and 12 oz, press “K” and enjoy your coffee.
A standard K-cup has around 9-12 grams (0.3-0.4 oz) of coffee grounds and the ideal ratio of coffee grounds to water for normal drip coffee is somewhere between 1:15 to 1:20 (it’s subjective).
That means a standard K-cup is only capable of producing rich and strong coffee with a serving size of 5 to 7 oz.
Keurig K mini and mini plus offer a minimum serving size of 6 oz while the serving size in K-slim starts from 8 oz (which is quite large for a standard K-cup). So if you are a fan of strong coffee don’t buy K-slim.
3) Strong brew function (Winner: Keurig Mini Plus)
Only the Keurig K-mini Plus has the “strong brew option” among these machines.
In addition to the big “K” button, Keurig Mini Plus also has a “strong” button.
This button slows down the brewing process so the water extracts more flavors from the coffee grounds and you will get a strong and intense cup of coffee.
4) Taste of the coffee (Winner: Keurig Mini Plus)
As I told earlier if you want a strong and bold cup of coffee from Keurig you shouldn’t brew a cup size larger than 6 oz. If you are craving a larger cup of coffee then brew two small ones instead of one 12 oz cup.
So, the reason why I don’t like Keurig Slim is that it doesn’t give the option for a 6 oz cup of coffee.
But there is a plus point in Keurig Slim; it has multi-stream technology which is not present in either Mini or Mini Plus.
While comparing the taste of an 8 oz cup of coffee from Slim and Mini Plus I found that this multi-stream technology does add some extra flavors to the cup.
There are five top needles in Keurig Slim. While Keurig Mini and Mini Plus have only one needle.
As I am a strong coffee lover, so I will give a plus to Keurig Mini Plus strong brew coffee with a 6 oz serving size.
5) Cord and Pods Storage (Winner: Keurig Mini Plus)
All of these machines are compact, slim, and weigh only around 5 to 7 pounds, making them ideal for travel.
It is very convenient to have the storage option for cords and coffee pods for traveling purposes.
Keurig K-slim does not have both the cord and coffee pod storage. Moreover, it has a very large water reservoir which makes it unsuitable for traveling purposes.
Keurig K-mini and Mini Plus have almost a similar design and have cord storage at the back.
The length of the cord is 24 inches for both machines and can easily be packed at the back of the machine.
The Keurig Mini Plus also comes with a pod storage box that can hold up to nine coffee pods, making it easy to keep your favorite K-cups on hand.
6) Color choices (Winner: K-Mini’s)
If you’re picky about the appearance of your kitchen appliances, you must consider the color options available for coffee makers.
Keurig K-slim comes in three colors black scarlet red and white.
The Keurig K-Mini and K-Mini Plus are available in seven different colors, so you can easily find one that fits your style and personality.
Key Similarities in Keurig Slim And Mini
1) Compact design
All of these machines have a sleek and compact design, measuring just 4 inches wide. This makes them ideal for small kitchens or offices, where counter space is limited.
2) Auto-off feature
Keurig K-slim turns off automatically after 5 minutes of the last brew, while Keurig K-Mini and Mini Plus turn off automatically after 3 minutes of the last brew.
This feature saves your machine from deadly electrical shocks and saves you a lot of amounts on the bill of electricity.
3) Compatibility
All these machines are compatible with K-cup pods. There are more than 400 varieties of K-cup pods; you can easily find the one that suits your taste the best.
And also you can buy a reusable My K-cup filter and fill it with the coffee grounds of your choice.
4) Space for cup and Drip trays
All these machines have a removable drip tray beneath the dispenser.
This tray takes care of drops that might fall out of the dispenser after brewing coffee. You can easily remove this tray for cleaning purposes.
Keurig K-Slim has a space of 6.2 inches for the cups and Keurig K-mini and K-mini Plus have a space of 6 inches for the cups.
The drip trays in all these machines are removable. After removing the tray we can get an extra inch. So these machines can easily accommodate travel mugs up to 7 inches tall.
Keurig K-Slim Specs
Portable Machine: This is a perfect portable coffee maker less than 5 inches wide and can fit anywhere in your Kitchen or Office.
Water Reservoir: This machine has a removable water reservoir with a capacity of 46 ounces that fits on the machine’s back.
Easy to use: This is a very quick machine that can brew a coffee cup in a matter of minutes and has a very simple interface.
Auto-Off Feature: This machine has a modern Auto-off feature that automatically turns off the coffee maker after 5 minutes of the last brew.
Cup sizes: This machine has three options 8 oz, 10 oz, and 12 oz for cup size.
Pros
✔️ Easy to use and Quick
✔️ Auto-Off Feature
✔️ 4 Different brew sizes
✔️ Decent design
✔️ Removable 46-ounce water reservoir
✔️ Light Indicators
Cons
❌ No Strength Control Option
❌ No small cup option
Keurig K-Mini Specs
Compact Machine: This machine is less than 5 inches with a modern and sleek design.
Cup size: This machine can brew any cup size between 6 and 12 oz.
Water Reservoir: This machine has a non-removable water reservoir that can hold only one cup.
Auto-off feature: This machine automatically turns off after 3 minutes of the last brew.
Quick and simple: You can easily and quickly brew a cup of coffee with this single-serve coffee maker.
Travel mug friendly: This machine can accommodate travel mugs up to 7 inches tall.
Pros
✔️ Easy to use and Quick
✔️ Auto-off feature
✔️ Compact design
✔️ Has different color options
✔️ Can accommodate travel mugs
Cons
❌ Water reservoir is non-removable
❌ No strength control
Keurig K-Mini Plus Specs
Portable: This machine is less than 5 inches wide and is a perfect portable machine for traveling.
Pod and cord Storage: This machine has storage for 8 pods. You can easily store the pods and the cord within the machine.
Water Reservoir: This machine has a single-cup removable water reservoir that is easy to clean and refill.
Auto-off feature: This energy-efficient feature automatically turns off the machine after 90 seconds of brewing.
Strong brew: This machine has a strong brew feature, which slows down the brewing process and extracts more flavor from the coffee grounds.
Pros
✔️ Quick and easy to use
✔️ Perfect for traveling
✔️ Compact design with multiple color options
✔️ Cord and Pods Storage
✔️ Strong brew option
✔️ Strong brew option
Cons
❌ No iced coffee option
Read a detailed review of Keurig Mini Plus
Final Thoughts
I hope you find this Keurig Slim vs Mini review helpful.
If you have limited space, the K-Mini or K-Mini Plus are the best options, as they are smaller than the K-Slim.
While the Keurig K-Slim is more expensive than the K-Mini and K-Mini Plus, it offers a few useful additional features, such as a water reservoir, a descale alert, and multi-stream technology.
One major drawback of the Keurig K-Slim is that it does not allow you to brew a strong cup of coffee. Additionally, the smallest cup size is 8 ounces, which is relatively large for brewing K-cup pods. Therefore, if you prefer a strong cup of coffee, the Keurig K-Slim is not the best choice for you.
Overall my recommendation is Keurig Mini Plus.
Considering whether to buy Keurig or not and in a decision-making phase? This article can help: Is Keurig worth it
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