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Keurig K-Cafe Detailed Review! Makes those tasty Lattes and Cappuccinos at home!

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Sasha Pavlovich

Sasha Pavlovich is a coffee expert with years of experience as a barista, and she knows quite a bit about caffeine and coffee. She manually curates every single page on CaffeineStats.com to make sure that you are getting the right information at your fingertips.

Sasha's expertise is backed by a strong foundation of credentials. She is a certified Coffee Roast Master, specializes in Green Coffee Analytics, and is a certified Sensory Cup Taster.


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Updated on 27 February 2023

I love coffee. I used to make a pot of coffee in the morning and heat up additional cups in the microwave throughout the day. Yes, it didn’t taste great, but the caffeine did what it was supposed to do.

The more I learned about what coffee was supposed to taste like, the less I was willing to do that. But I hate dumping out half pots of coffee, and brewing small batches in my coffee maker didn’t work well. My solution was a single-serve coffee maker! In this Keurig K Cafe review, we’ll talk about all the perks of this single-serve brewer and why it might be a good choice for you.

Keurig K-Café

Keurig K-Café

The K-Cafe is a top-of-the-line single-serve coffee brewer. What sets it apart from most other single-serve brewers is its ability to heat and froth milk. It can also make a 2-ounce shot of coffee similar to a shot of espresso. It's as close to a Keurig espresso machine as you'll get. With these special features, you can create cafe-style drinks at home with no fuss.

This coffee maker is also for anyone who loves freshly brewed coffee. Do the people in your household like different types of coffee? No problem. You'll find K-cups in a wide variety of coffee brands and varieties. You can also get K-cups for teas, including chai, and hot chocolate. Want to use your own specialty coffee? This machine is compatible with the My K-Cup universal reusable coffee filter. With this filter, you can use any fresh-ground coffee.

The Keurig K Cafe is also good in a variety of business situations. Car dealerships, doctor's office, or anywhere you want to create a welcoming environment for your guests or clients. It also works well in break rooms, dorm rooms, and anywhere you have an outlet. For added impact, you can get the Keurig K Cafe Special Edition. It comes in a premium nickel-colored finish.

Pros:

  • Heats and froths milk
  • Variable cup sizes
  • Brews concentrated 2-ounce shot
  • Smart Start means no waiting for water to heat up
  • Easy touch-button operation

Cons:

  • Does not make true espresso
  • Can't brew a whole carafe
  • No temperature control
  • Large countertop footprint
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Features & Benefits

You’ll find tons of single-serve coffee makers on the market. The K-Cafe has a number of features that most brewers can’t match.

Milk Frother

What makes a latte so creamy? It’s all about the milk froth, and the K-Cafe has a built-in milk frother.

Just heating up milk won’t give the same results. Frothing milk introduces tiny air bubbles. This not only makes the drink feel creamier but it also makes it sweeter!

If you like the airy foam on top of your cappuccino, this brewer can do that too. The milk frother also heats the milk. But what if you prefer iced coffee drinks? This machine can froth cold milk too.

Once you froth your milk, you can try your hand at making latte art. They recommend any cow’s milk, soy, or almond milk. Low-protein milks like rice milk might not produce foam. An added benefit of this frother is that the milk pitcher is dishwasher safe.

Keurig K-Cafe Review

Smart Start

Many single-serve coffee makers make you wait for the water to heat before you make your drink selection. With Smart Start, press the buttons and walk away. The machine will heat the water and then start brewing your beverage just the way you like it.

Multiple Cup Sizes

This brewer can deliver a 6-, 8-, 10-, or 12-ounce beverage. You can choose your setting based on how strong you like your coffee. You can also brew the 2-ounce shot that tastes similar to a shot of espresso.

Removable Drip Tray

Many single-serve brewers only offer a few inches of clearance under the spout. When you remove the drip tray on this model, you can fit travel mugs up to 7.2-inches tall. This eliminates the need to brew into one cup and then transferring the coffee into your travel mug. This saves time and you don’t have to wash an extra cup.

Large Water Reservoir

This machine has a 60-ounce water reservoir. That means you can go almost a week before having to refill the water, which simplifies your morning routine. When it is time to refill, the reservoir is removable. Just take it to the sink and fill it. With other machines, it’s easy to soak the counter from pouring water into the reservoir too quickly.

Keurig K-Cafe Review

Maintenance Reminder

When mineral deposits build up, it can affect the taste of your coffee. It can also shorten the life of your brewer. Have trouble remembering when you last descaled the coffee maker? The K-Cafe alerts you when it’s time to perform this basic maintenance.

Save Money!

You may wonder if the expense is worth it for this coffee maker. Ask yourself this question: How much do I spend on buying a latte, mocha, or cappuccino on the way to work every day?

With the K-Cafe, you can eliminate the need to stop at the coffee shop. By brewing the concentrated 2-ounce shot and using the milk frother, you can brew your own beverage that is just as satisfying as you get at your favorite cafe.

This machine is also energy efficient. Many single-serve coffee and espresso makers will keep the water constantly warm. That’s great when you’ll have several cups in the morning, but can waste electricity, costing you extra money. This brewer will automatically shut off after two hours. If you want to keep water hot longer than that, you can disable the auto-off feature.

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Things to Consider Before Buying the Keurig K Cafe

No one machine can solve the needs of everyone. While the K-Cafe has unique features, it may not be for everyone. Here are some things to think about before pulling the trigger on a new coffee brewer.

Fresh Ground Coffee

As it comes, you must use pre-packaged K-cups with this brewer. While convenient, that limits what types of coffee you can brew. It also means that you won’t have freshly ground coffee. Fortunately, there is a solution. Check out the Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter. They are not expensive. You can put your fresh ground specialty coffee in and still get the benefits of the single-serve or shot functions.

Counter Space

This brewer takes up a considerable amount of counter space. The base measures 12.5 inches wide, 11.7 inches deep, and 12.5 inches high. When the lid is open, the brewer needs 16.7 inches of clearance. Many single-serve brewers take up half or less that amount of space. If you want the K Cafe, be sure to measure how much available space you have.

Keurig K-Cafe Review

Not True Espresso

While the K-cafe can produce drinks very similar to your favorite cafe beverage, it is not a true espresso maker. Espresso requires pressure to force hot water through finely-ground coffee. A proper shot takes 20-30 seconds. This brewer does produce a concentrated shot of coffee, but the qualities will be different. If only true espresso will do, look for a machine that exerts at least 9 bars of pressure.

How Much Coffee Do You Want?

If you like to brew a full pot of coffee, this may not be the best brewer for you. The maximum it can brew at a time is 12 ounces. You might like the option of single-serve coffee, but you also want to be able to brew a whole carafe. If this is you, you can find single-serve brewers that have a full-carafe option.

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Alternatives

We hope this K Cafe review has helped you understand this versatile machine a bit more. While we do recommend it, we understand it might not be the best solution for everyone. Here are some alternatives you might want to consider.

1 Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Trio

 
Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Trio
 

This coffee maker serves as a single-serve brewer and can also make a 12-cup carafe of coffee. For the single-serve side, you can use either a K-cup or regular ground coffee. The drawback is that you have to refill the water for the single-serve every time. The size of the cup and strength of your brew depends on how much water you put in the reservoir.

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2 Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker

 
Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker
 

If you're tight on space, this is the coffee maker for you. This machine is only 4.5 inches wide! It measures 11.3 inches deep and 12.1 inches high when the lid is closed. You can make any size coffee from 6- to 12-ounces. It fits cups up to 6 inches tall.

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3 DeLonghi EC155 15 Bar Espresso and Cappuccino Machine

 
DeLonghi EC155 15 Bar Espresso and Cappuccino Machine
 

If only real espresso will do for your latte or cappuccino, then this budget-friendly espresso maker may be for you. It exerts plenty of pressure to get the crema you crave. It has a built-in steam wand to froth and foam your milk of choice. With its compact size, it will fit in almost any kitchen.

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FAQs

  1. Is the Keurig K-Cafe worth it?

    How much do you spend on fancy coffee shop drinks every month? This machine produces cafe-style drinks at home. You don’t need any prior skills or knowledge. If this brewer means you can slash your coffee shop budget, it should pay for itself fairly quickly. It also saves you time, and you don’t have to leave home to have your favorite beverage on the weekend.

  2. What is the main difference between Keurig K Cafe Special Edition and the regular K Cafe?

    The difference is in the finish. The regular K-Cafe has a charcoal body with silver-tone accents. The entire Special Edition has a nickel finish. The Special Edition would look at home in modern kitchens with stainless-steel appliances.

  3. Does the Keurig K-Cafe make regular coffee?

    Yes. This machine can make a 6-, 8-, 10-, or 12-ounce ounce cup of coffee in a couple of minutes. It can also make a concentrated 2-ounce shot of coffee similar to a shot of espresso. It does not make a full carafe of coffee.

  4. What Pods are compatible with K-Cafe?

    Any K-cup pods will work in this machine It also works with a universal reusable coffee filter to use your own freshly ground coffee. It cannot use K-Carafe pods, K-Mug pods, Vue pods, or Rivo pods.

Get Your Motor Running

We know how much you love coffee. But are you tired of overspending on cafe drinks? With this version of a Keurig espresso machine, you can make lattes and cappuccinos at home for a fraction of the cost. It will save you money on your coffee budget, but will also save you time. No more having to stop on the way to work and waiting in line. With the K-Cafe, you’ll have your drink in just a few minutes. And you don’t have to leave the house when you want a fancy coffee.

This machine is great for everyone who loves a cup of freshly brewed coffee. No more heating up that cold coffee that’s been sitting around half the day. And no more dumping out partial pots of coffee. When you’re ready to be your own barista, click here to discover the Keurig K-Cafe brewer.

Review Keurig K-Café
Latte and Cappuccino Maker