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Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker Review for 2021

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Backed by nearly 30 years of experience, the Keurig K-Elite is a modern brewing system for your daily coffee needs.

It’s a single-serve brewer that uses K-Cups to prepare your favorite coffee. The coffee maker comes with an easy-to-use control panel, 6-count variety pack, water filter, and filter handle.

As an upgrade from the previous K-475 model, this brewer has more longevity, works faster, and offers more adaptive options. It’s also smaller, which is a considerable advantage for those with small kitchens.

After going over many Keurig K-Elite reviews and testing the brewing features, taste, and functionality of this machine, we’ve come up with a list of pros and cons:

Pros

  • Quick servings.
  • Large capacity.
  • Personalized features.
  • Simple buttons rather than a complex touch screen.
  • Enough room for large mugs.

Cons

  • Relatively pricey.
  • May leave a minor plastic taste.
  • Reports of early leakage.

A Few Things to Consider Before Buying a Keurig Machine

The Keurig K-Elite is an ideal option for those who need their cups of coffee quickly. The coffee won’t be too light or too strong, and it’s among the best you can get from a K-Cup brewing system. But before you make a beeline for the product, make sure it’s what you want from a coffee maker. 

First of all, Keurig K-Elite is one of the best single-serve brewers you can find. So, if you tend to host large parties on the weekend, this brewer may not be your best bet. Instead, you should buy a multi-brew coffee maker.

Secondly, it lacks the carafe brewing option and only works with coffee pods. If you’re a big fan of carafe style coffee makers, the Hamilton Beach 49957 may be a better alternative.

Thirdly, because of the many extras and functionalities, this brewer may be a little high-cost. So, if you’re short on money or just want to spend less on a brewer, the Keurig K-Mini and the Keurig K-Slim coffee makers will do the job at almost half the price.
Here’s a list of questions you should ask yourself before investing in any Keurig Machine:

  • Can I afford the upfront and operational costs?
  • Is it easy, safe, and cheap to clean the device?
  • Does it fulfill my serving needs?
  • Does it fit my favorite mug(s)?
  • Can I put it on my countertop?
  • Can I make tea, iced coffee, or other drinks with this device?
  • Is it fast and easy to use?

Why Should You Consider the Keurig K-Elite?

Design

Although not a compact device, the Keurig K-Elite can fit into most countertops. Even when the lid is open, it won’t take more than 17 inches of your cabinet height. And when closed, you can easily slide it under a 13-inches cupboard.

Compared to its predecessors, the Elite K-Cup brewer has a more stylish design. It comes in three lovely colors – brushed gold, silver, and slate – to match your kitchen appliances and interior decors.

The control panel is favorably simple and has 11 accessible buttons that let you choose the cup size, coffee density, and time settings. The blue backlight of the buttons gives the device a dazzling look at night. It also makes it easy to find the switches in the dark. 

The brewer also has a high-capacity drip tray that can hold up to a full cup of liquid. So, in case you choose the wrong serving size, the mixture won’t pour over your countertop.

Cup Sizes

The Keuring K-Elite gives you the freedom to choose from multiple brew sizes – including 6, 8, 10, and 12-ounce coffee mugs. Also, it has a detachable drip tray that, when removed, can provide enough room for tall mugs.

However, a common complaint is that when using short cups, the liquid is likely to splash around and create a mess.

Ease of Use

The most appealing feature of the K-Elite is its quick access. Unlike other brewers with a warm-up period, the Keurig K-Elite starts brewing as soon as you switch it on. So, you don’t need to stand idle before getting ready for work, which is a great bonus for busy people. 

All you need to do is insert the K-Cup, choose the serving size, and go to your morning routines. Your coffee will be ready in less than two minutes. It’s also a blessing for early-birds who don’t want to wake up their family at the crack of dawn.  

Another situation where this feature comes in handy is when you have guests since it lets you serve multiple cups of coffee without having them get cold.

Finally, the addition of Quiet Brew Technology makes the Elite perfect for office environments as well. 

Control Panel

When it comes to the control options, the Keurig K-Elite is one of the most customizable machines you can get on the market.

For starters, it boasts an automatic on and off setting. It allows you to schedule the machine to start brewing at a specific time – 8:00 am, for example – and never miss your morning coffee when you’re on the go.

With the temperature control, you can set the hot water level anywhere from 187 to 192 degrees Fahrenheit, based on how hot you want your coffee.

Besides, the Hot Water Button means you don’t need to wait as long as it takes to boil water in a kettle, pot, or microwave. This brewer gives you instant boiled water for making soups, oatmeal, tea, or Americanos.

The device lets you make your coffee bolder. All you need is to press the Strong Brew button and wait a few more minutes. This is because the machine needs more time to extract coffee and saturate the beverage.

If you fall into the category of iced-coffee lovers, the Keurig K-Elite has again got your back. It includes an “Iced coffee” feature that lets you brew over ice. However, make sure you use a plastic cup rather than a glass mug while using that feature. When you pour hot water over ice, the temperature change could shatter the glass. 

Maintenance

Cleaning isn’t much of a task with this brewer. Both the tank and the drip tray are detachable. So, you can take them off and wash them in your sink. Besides, all the parts are plastic, so they won’t corrode when exposed to water.

If you have hard water, washing isn’t enough to maintain your appliance, and you need to descale the tank every now and then. Fortunately, the K-Elite features a Maintenance Reminder that notifies you whenever it’s time to descale the interiors.

One way to descale your brewer is by vinegar or descaling solution. All you need is to pour a mixture of water and descaling solution into the tank, place a large container underneath, and activate the machine.

You won’t need to do this more than two or three times a year. If you live in a location with hard water, you should also use a water filter to minimize scale buildup in your reservoir. The original packaging contains a water filter, but you need to buy a new one to replace it after two months.

Other than prolonging your device’s lifetime and reducing maintenance efforts, a water filter will enhance the flavor of your coffee as it retains the natural smell of water.

Water Reservoir

Keuring K-Elite’s large water reservoir is another benefit worth mentioning. With a 75-ounce tank capacity, this coffee maker lets you make eight servings of coffee before you have to refill the tank. 

So, if you drink one coffee a day, you won’t need to refill it for a week. For those who tend to drink smaller – four or six-ounce – cups of coffee, the duration can extend up to 15 days, which means less effort and quicker results.

However, it’s not a good idea to leave water in the reservoir longer than a week because it will increase the risk of getting mold and plaque buildup. If you don’t use the machine daily, try to fill it half-way rather than full. Also, empty the tank when you’re not going to be home for a few days.

Besides having a large reservoir, Keurig K-Elite comes with a removable water tank, making it easy to refill and clean. Also, it includes a filter handle that locks the filter inside the reservoir. 

Fit the filter inside the handle and press it to the bottom of the tank. Disassembling is also as easy as lifting the handle.

Taste

As you may know, K-Cup brewers won’t win any taste contests when compared to classic coffee makers. After all, they extract coffee from the possibly fusty ingredients of coffee capsules, rather than fresh coffee beans.

Besides, while brewing, hot water passes through the plastic components of the coffeemaker. As a result, K-Cup brewers often have a plastic after-taste, and this model is not an exception.

The bright side is that the manufacturer has managed to minimize this plastic taste, but it’s not entirely gone. So, buy the machine only if you’ve tried K-Cup coffees before and don’t think that the taste is a big deal.

Value

Sadly, the Keurig K-Elite isn’t the most affordable option out there. It’s much more expensive than previous models and other than the upfront costs, you need to pay a lot of money to buy the disposable coffee pods.

However, with the embedded accessories and gadgets, you’ll get good value for your money. So, if you don’t mind paying for coffee capsules, don’t think twice before investing in the Keurig K-Elite. Compared to other single-serve coffee makers, this device offers the best value.

Things to Know About the Keurig K-Elite

Is the Keurig K-Elite Worth It?

The Keurig K-Elite is definitely worth it, especially if you’ve used a previous model and you’re looking for an upgrade. It has a larger capacity, more brewing options, and faster preparation. Also, with the temperature control, on-demand hot water, iced coffee button, and auto timer, It’s fully customizable with your needs.

How Long Should a Keurig Last?

Keurig products usually last about three years, but if you take good care of the unit, clean it appropriately, and descale it every six months, the time can extend up to six years.

Although some reviewers have reported leakage after a few days of usage, the manufacturer claims they have solved the issue with recent products. Also, they either refunded or replaced faulty units and confessed the shortcoming was on their part.

The one year warranty ensures you can purchase the product with peace of mind. If there are any physical or performance flaws with your machine, the manufacturer will make up for it.

Does Keurig K-Elite Use K-Cups?

The Keurig K-Elite uses K-Cups to produce single servings of tea or coffee, one at a time. It’s compatible with all types and brands of K-Cups, including Nespresso coffee pods and Lavazza capsules. So, you’ll have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of flavors and brands.

How Do I Clean My Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker?

You can clean your Keurig K-Elite coffee maker with almost no effort. Simply use a soapy rag to wipe away the dust on the outer parts and wash the detachable plastic parts the same way you wash your dishes. Make sure you unplug the machine before the cleaning process and never soak the non-removable parts in water as it can harm the control panel, motor, and other electrical parts.

Final Words on Our Keurig K-Elite Review

The Keurig K-Elite is the most convenient, fastest, and most personalizable K-Cup brewer on the market. It has minimal preheat time, brews your coffee quickly, and features a design. From instant meals to iced Frappe, Americano, and Mocha, there’s nothing you can’t make with this machine.

Besides, it addresses some of the most common complaints with the previous models, such as large dimensions, no iced coffee option, and hard-to-use settings.

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