Keurig K-Cafe Single Serve Coffee Maker Review 2024

Nope, it’s all about jump-starting the day with a delicious cup of java- a fast, effortless cup of java.

That’s where single-serve coffee makers are stealing the spotlight. Keurig’s K-Cups streamline the brewing process by cutting out measuring, tamping, and pulling shots.

Instead, you pick your K-Cup, pop it into the pod holder on the machine, and hit the Brew button.

It’s as simple as it gets, and while the quality can’t compare to the real mastery of a world-class semi-automatic, it’s better than waiting in line at the cafe every day. Plus, it costs considerably less.

In this review, we are looking at the Keurig K cafe coffee maker. It offers more freedom than other Keurig machines because it comes with a milk frother to make lattes and cappuccinos along with coffee.

The ability to brew milk-based drinks without having any frothing knowledge is a benefit that makes mornings all the sweeter. Better yet, you can use any type of milk, including nut milk.

The design is straightforward to use, which is another bonus with this coffee maker. You don’t have a bunch of knobs and levers to fiddle with.

It comes with everything you need to assemble the brewer in a few steps, including a frother, frother whisk, frother lid, and funnel.

But do beware that it’s a large, bulky machine. The K Cafe dimensions are 11.7 x 15.3 x 12.5 inches, and it weighs 10 pounds.

Also, it’s not narrow and streamlined like other Keurigs. It’s long, with the milk frothing system protruding from the side. Therefore, finding a cozy nook for the K Cafe might be difficult, especially if you are an apartment dweller.

Difference Between K Cafe and Special Edition

There are two models in this series, the original Keurig K Cafe machine and Keurig Cafe Special Edition. So what’s the difference between the two?

Not much, to be honest. The features and sizing are all the same. The only difference is in aesthetics and the fact that the K Cafe Special Edition is slightly more expensive.

That’s because it’s finished in premium nickel with metal accents. Meanwhile, the K Cafe single serve is made with plastic parts.

Metal outlasts plastic, and plastic coffee makers get a bad rap for wearing out or breaking quickly. But Keurig products are touted for durability, and many Keurig K Cafe reviews are happy with the performance of this machine, plastic or not.

What it comes down to is what looks stylish in your kitchen. Some people prefer the polished finish of a silver coffee maker to complement their interior design, while others want the most cost-effective system with plastic.

Overall, these two models operate the same with identical features, so you can rest assured that one does not outperform the other.

Keurig K Cafe Coffee Maker Features

Moving on to the features, the Keurig K-Cafe latte maker isn’t complicated– even the milk frother is a breeze.

Don’t expect professional barista results, though, as pods can only do so much. But for a casual coffee drinker who wants to save time and money? The feature set on the K Cafe will get you to your happy place.

60-oz Removable Water Tank

The K Cafe water reservoir size is large enough for a household, but we wouldn’t recommend it for an office setting.

The rule of thumb is, the bigger the tank, the fewer refills you have to make. The K Cafe can brew six cups before a refill is needed, so refills could become an everyday chore depending on your crew of coffee drinkers.

The reservoir is removable, which makes it easier to clean and fill up. This is always a nice touch, but we really liked the K Cafe because it’s compatible with Keurig charcoal filters.

Using filtered water to brew coffee is essential for cutting down on mineral build-up in the parts and reducing your need to descale. It also improves the overall flavor of the coffee.

Unfortunately, you’ll have to purchase the K Cafe charcoal filters separately, and added costs are never fun, but in our opinion, it’s worth it.

Pro Tip: If you don’t want to buy a charcoal filter, you can opt to fill the tank with distilled water or filtered water from another source.

Milk Frothing System

If you love lattes and cappuccinos, then you’ll probably love the highlight feature- the Keurig K Cafe coffee maker frother.

It’s attached to the brewing unit on the side of the machine, but all of the milk-frothing parts can be removed and cleaned in the dishwasher. This is a huge perk since it can be complicated to clean dried milk out of tubes.

The quality of the froth is just OK. It’s a nice starting point for amateurs to get their milk fix, but don’t expect microfoam art.

We do love the versatility offers for the price, though, including a COLD option for frothy iced lattes. And as we said before, you can also use any type of milk, such as soy, oat, skim, and almond.

Note that some Keurig Cafe reviews mentioned having trouble achieving a thick milk foam, but placing the lid on the Keurig K cafe milk frother before frothing seemed to solve the problem.

Brewing Capabilities

The brewing process for the Keurig K Cafe single-serve coffee maker is designed to be effortless. You don’t have to grind the coffee beans beforehand or deal with measuring out the grounds because it’s already done for you.

It’s compatible with any type of K-Cup, giving you hundreds of roast options to choose from.

And if you don’t want to contribute to plastic waste with single-use pods, you can also grind your coffee beans (which arguably offers the best aromas and flavors anyways) and use the K-Cup universal reusable coffee filter. This is another separate purchase!

As we mentioned, you can brew hot or iced coffee, lattes, and cappuccinos. There is also a button for a 2-oz shot of strong coffee, but note that it isn’t espresso. Still, it’s a nice option when you want to add a shot to your milk-based drinks.

You can brew four different cup sizes, including 6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces. It even accommodates 7.2” tall travel mugs.

Use the Smart Start to heat the machine quickly, then place the K-Cup in the holder and let er’ rip. There’s no waiting around; the machine is hot and ready to brew as soon as you select your cup size and adjust the strength of your coffee.

One of the features we like that we don’t see very often on other machines is an AUTO-Off energy saver mode. This will automatically shut down the K Cafe maker after it has been sitting idle for two hours.

Keurig Cafe Coffee Maker Setup & Operation

Before brewing coffee for the first time, it’s important to run a rinse cycle to prep your machine and dust off the cobwebs. Here’s what to do:

1. Choose a Safe Spot

Start by placing the Keurig Cafe Special Edition on a flat countertop and plug it into a power source.

2. Clean the K Cafe Water Reservoir

The water tank is located on the left side of the machine. Remove it and rinse it out under the faucet for a few seconds.

Use filtered water and fill the tank to the MAX line. Snap it back into place on the machine.

3. Clean the Frother

Remove the frother lid and whisk, then wash them with dish soap and water. You can also wash these parts in the dishwasher. Once dry, the whisk and lid go back on the frother.

4. Warm-up

Hit the POWER button, and the Keurig K Cafe latte and cappuccino maker will take around three minutes to heat up. You will be able to hear the system warming up. Once the sound stops, it’s ready to cleanse.

5. Initiate the Cleansing Brew

Now you are going to flush the system with water by choosing the 6-oz cup size and hitting the BREW button. Note that you should NOT place a Keurig K Cafe pod in the holder at this time.

Empty the hot water into the sink. Now you’re ready to initiate the Brew cycle again, but this time with your coffee pod in the holder!

K Cafe Coffee Maker Cleaning Process

Cleaning the Keurig K Cafe machine is simple, fast, and convenient when you’re on the go. You can utilize the brew cleansing cycle without placing a K-Cup and regularly rinsing out the drip tray, needle, and water reservoir.

Keurig K Cafe cleaning instructions suggest washing the milk frothing system thoroughly after each use to ensure dried milk doesn’t cause issues. Luckily, you can wash the whisk, lid, and frother in the dishwasher.

Descaling is another essential task that will need to be done to remove calcium deposits from the parts. The K Cafe cappuccino maker will alert you when it needs to be descaled, which is one less thing for you to remember.

As we mentioned before, a charcoal K Cafe water filter can also help reduce mineral build-up and the need to descale.

Overall, the Keurig K Cafe cleaning process isn’t as automated as a superautomatic, but we can’t argue with the minimal work you have to do for the low price.

Keurig K Cafe Single Serve Pros vs. Cons

When considering the Keurig K Cafe Special Edition or the original, you can’t compare it to a semi-automatic or superautomatic– the coffee quality of single-serve pods just aren’t on the same level.

But the price is excellent if you’re on a budget, love specialty drinks, and aren’t a coffee snob.

Hot or iced lattes and cappuccinos at home? With the push of a button? It doesn’t get any better than the Keurig K-Cafe. For rookie and seasoned milk frothers, it’s an easy system to use, and it whips up a worthy milk foam in no time.

The Keurig brew process is straightforward, which doesn’t leave room for manual maneuvering. They make up for this by giving you plenty of variety.

Unlike some other Keurig models, we love that you can adjust the coffee strength for a bolder taste. And the fact that the Keurig machine K Cafe is compatible with any K-Cup opens the door to hundreds of possibilities.

You can still use your own ground coffee with Keurig’s reusable filter, which will boost the quality of your coffee drinks, but this is a separate purchase.

The drawbacks are minimal, the main one being the size and shape. It’s large and sort of awkward, so you’ll want to ensure you have plenty of space for it.

But for a single-serve, this is a fantastic choice for great-tasting milk coffee drinks without the time-consuming prep work.

We Recommend the Keurig K Cafe Special Edition for…

Casual coffee drinkers who want an easy and affordable way to enjoy specialty drinks at home
Beginners who have never used a milk frother before
Small to large households with multiple coffee drinkers
Busybodies who need decent coffee fast

Keurig K Cafe Single Serve Coffee Maker Warranty

Keurig offers a One-Year Limited Warranty from the date of purchase. You can read the fine print here.

Comparable Products

If you’ve gotten this far in our Keurig K Cafe Special Edition review, then you’re either about to hit the BUY button, or you’re not sure it’s the coffee maker for you.

Not to worry, we’ve compiled a shortlist of comparable products that offer a similar feature set in the same price range.

If you love your espresso, then this is a similar single-serve machine that applies pressure to pull a shot from an espresso pod. Nespresso Pixie also comes with a milk frother to make hot/cold lattes, cappuccinos, and coffee.

If you’re not big on milk-based drinks, then the K-Select is a standard model that brews regular coffee using pods. It’s tall and narrow to slide neatly into a small space, and it’s affordable at under $100.

If you’re willing to pay a little bit more, this Nespresso machine is a high-quality product with variety to spare. Choose from five cup sizes and brew lattes and cappuccinos using the easy, automatic Aeroccino milk frothing system. The design is also more compact than the K-Cafe if you’re limited on counter space.

Keurig K Cafe Review Conclusion

The Keurig K Cafe black and the Keurig K Cafe Special Edition nickel give single-serve coffee drinkers more variety by brewing specialties like lattes and cappuccinos. Its highlight feature is the milk frother, which is suitable for beginners to achieve a thick, velvety milk foam.

The brewing system is also straightforward, just pop the K-Cup into the holder and hit the brew button. This model is compatible with any K-Cup, adding to the convenience and variety of flavors for you to savor.

To conclude this Keurig K Cafe review, don’t expect barista-level drinks. But for the price and what it can do, the quality is above average. You can brew drinks fast and save money at the cafe. This is ideal for households, casual drinkers, and busy individuals who want a fast cup of joe.

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Official Manufacturer Support

References & Resources:

• Keurig, Official Brand Website
• Keurig K Cafe User Manual