It's 6:40 on a weekday. You need one cup of coffee, maybe two, and you need it before you find your keys. Brewing a whole pot means pouring half of it down the sink later. Your old pod machine is quick, but the coffee tastes thin, and if you pour it over ice it turns into brown water.
That's the gap the Keurig K-Elite coffee maker fills for a lot of people.
It's a single-serve K-Cup pod brewer with a brushed metal finish, a 75 oz removable water reservoir and a few buttons that make a real difference to what ends up in your mug. If you like the speed of pods but want more say over how your coffee tastes, it's worth a look.
What the Keurig K-Elite does differently
You get five brew sizes: 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz, each with its own button. You drop in a pod, close the handle, pick a size, and the K-Elite brews in under a minute once the water is hot.
The button buyers talk about most is Strong Brew. It slows the water down as it passes through the pod, so you get a bolder, more intense cup. One owner uses it on every single cup. Another said it "actually makes a noticeable difference," and that's the main reason they'd buy it again. A couple who pair it with the 10 oz size say that combo gives them the strength they want.
Then there's the Iced button. You fill a cup with ice, press it, and the machine brews hot coffee over the ice in a way that's meant to stay full flavored. A buyer who's used Keurigs for years said it makes better iced coffee than brewing a regular K-Cup over ice, because it doesn't taste watered down. It works with your regular pods, so you don't need special iced coffee pods. (One reviewer points out the coffee comes out less hot, not cold. The ice does the rest.)
There's also a Hot Water button for tea, instant oatmeal, soup or hot cocoa mix, plus temperature control and programmable auto on and auto off. One owner keeps the temperature at the top setting, which they say is 192F, and finds it hotter than their previous Keurig. If you want to use your own ground coffee, it works with the My K-Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filter (sold separately).
It comes in a few finishes, including Brushed Slate, Brushed Silver and Brushed Gold. You can see the color options for the Keurig K-Elite on Amazon.
What a normal morning with it looks like
The 75 oz reservoir is a big reason people stick with this machine. Keurig says it's enough for about 8 cups between refills, so if you live alone you might fill it once or twice a week. If two of you drink coffee daily, you're still not standing at the sink every morning.
If you carry a tall travel mug, you can take out the drip tray and fit it underneath.
A longtime Keurig owner noticed it's quieter than their old machine, and the product page lists a feature meant to cut noise while it brews. If you make coffee while someone else is still sleeping, that helps.
It also tells you when it's time to descale, which most of us forget to do on our own.
A lot of the people buying it are replacing an older Keurig. One reviewer bought the exact same model again after theirs lasted 5 years. Another, who had their previous machine for almost 10 years, summed up the upgrade in their review title: "Less noise, much better coffee." It's an Amazon's Choice pick with a very large number of ratings behind it. Check the current price on Amazon.
A couple of honest drawbacks
The one that annoys people most is the auto shut-off. The machine turns itself off after a short idle stretch, so when you come back for a second cup, you turn it on and wait for the water to heat up before it brews. A related gripe: once the handle is down, the size buttons light up, and if you don't pick one fast enough they go dark and you have to lift the handle and close it again. If you brew one cup in the morning and walk away, you'll barely notice either of these. If you drink coffee in small rounds all afternoon, you will.
The bigger concern is durability. Amazon's review summary notes that some customers say their machine broke after around three months. That's balanced against owners who got years out of theirs and bought it again, but it's real, so keep your receipt and register the warranty. One reviewer in the UK also found the warranty didn't cover them outside the US, so if you live elsewhere, check that before you order.
Who the Keurig K-Elite is a good fit for
It's a great match if you drink one or two cups at a time and like a stronger coffee, or if you want decent iced coffee at home without extra gear. It also suits a small office, a shared apartment where everyone likes something different, or anyone who makes tea and instant oatmeal as often as coffee.
It's probably not for you if you brew a full pot for a crowd every day, or if you want espresso drinks. And if you hate waiting even a minute for a machine to heat up, the auto-off will bug you.
If your current coffee tastes weak, your iced coffee keeps coming out watery, or your old Keurig is starting to act up, the K-Elite is the one many longtime pod drinkers say fixed those problems for them.
Comments
Post a Comment