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Keurig K-Select Coffee Maker Review for 2021

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Keurig K-select is one of the most popular offerings of the Keurig company, which provides a quick, delicious cup of coffee, all at an affordable price tag.

Just like other Keurig models, it works with any type of K-Cup and brews different servings. But it has a slimmer body, larger tank, and more straightforward interface compared to the same-range products.

The machine also comes with a 6-count K-Cup package, a water filter, and a filter handle. So you won’t need to pay extra for these tools’at least for the first few batches.

After testing more than a dozen K-Cup brewers, I think the K-Select is the best standard machine for novice coffee drinkers, busy beavers, and typical households. But if you have second thoughts about buying it, stay with our Keurig K-Select review to know more about its features.

Here’s what I like and don’t like about K-Select:

Pros

  • Straightforward buttons.
  • Add-water and descale reminder.
  • High-capacity water tank.
  • K-cup variability.
  • Energy-saving.
  • Low front-cost.
  • Strong brew option.
  • Auto-shut-off feature.
  • Fast.
  • Good taste.

Cons

  • Doesn’t work with grind coffee.
  • Lacks advanced features such as iced brewing and digital timer. 
  • Doesn’t have a silent operation mode.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Single-Serve K-Cup Brewer

It’s getting increasingly difficult to find a brewer that’s easy to use, affordable, and gives you tasty coffee at the same time. Manual brewing tools are very slow-working and demanding, drip coffee makers are expensive, and some K-Cup brewers are lousy when it comes to the taste.

The Keurig K-Select is an ideal option for those who want to add a bit of convenience to their morning routines. It’s a fast, simple, and decently priced coffee maker that offers just enough brewing features for average coffee lovers.

If you enjoy dealing with the grindle, tamper, and all sophistications of drip coffee, this device isn’t for you because it works only with K-Cups.

Before buying a single-serve brewer, make sure you have answers to the following questions:

  • Why do I need a coffee maker?
  • Is it easy to use?
  • Is it stylish in my kitchen?
  • Do I have enough clearance to put it in my kitchen?
  • What does come with it?
  • How and how often should I clean it?
  • Does it taste good?
  • Is it noisy when operating?
  • What brewing features does it have?
  • How much does it take to brew a cup of coffee?
  • What is the capacity of its water tank?

Why You Should Consider the Keurig K-Select

Layout

Although smaller than most grind coffee makers, the K-Select isn’t the smallest device among Keurig models. It’s 12.5 inches high, 9.2 inches wide, and 11.6 inches deep – more compact than the Keurig K-Elite, and larger than the K-Mini.

With its simple button controls and plastic housing, it’s not the most fashionable brewer you can find on the market, but It has a fairly stylish look. So, it can satisfy most homeowners. Also, it comes in various colors, such as matte black, white, navy, sandstone, oasis, and vintage red, making it easy to style with your decor.

Multiple Pod Sizes

Depending on the hour of the day and day of the week, you may want to drink various amounts of coffee. Fortunately, the Keurig K-select has got your back in this matter. It gives you four different serving choices: 6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces.

But remember that the bigger your cup size, the lighter your coffee will be. 

Large Water Reservoir

Compact brewers also have a compact reservoir, but what’s great about the spacious design of the K-Select, is its large water tank.

With a whopping capacity of 52 ounces, this reservoir ensures you won’t need constant refillings between your brewing efforts. More specifically, you can prepare almost 5 cups of coffee before your next refilling.

It isn’t much of a task to refill the tank because it has a removable design. You can detach it from the body with a slight strike, put it under the tap water flow, and place it back on the existing slots. You can also refill it by simply opening the lid and pouring some water from a jar.

The reservoir comes with a max line to ensure you won’t overfill the machine. It also has a filter handle to make things easier for you. Before using it, soak and rinse the filter. Then, put it inside the handle and secure it to the bottom of the tank.

After the 6th refilling – approximately two months if you brew every day – it’s time to change the filter.

Accessories

Inside the package, you’ll get the Keurig K-Select machine along with some extras such as a water filter and six coffee pods. This gives you free coffee for the first few cups and eliminates the need for buying a filter for months.

Brewing Features

Although it’s an average brewer for beginners, the fact that the K-Select can make stronger coffee makes it comparable to advanced coffee makers.

All you need is to push the strong brew button before you choose the cup size. This prolongs the brewing up to two minutes but provides a more flavorful and heavier coffee. Even if you’re not a bold coffee seeker, this option may be helpful because sometimes you just feel a little dizzy and want to drink an extra dose of caffeine.

The lack of an iced coffee feature or adjustable temperature settings – something you can find in the K-Elite series – might be a downside of this brewer. However, it’s understandable when you consider the price tag.

Taste

As far as flavor goes, the Keurig K-Select has nothing less than a traditional drip brewer. In some cases, it even outperforms most single-cup brewers I’ve tested. So, it can please regular coffee drinkers as well as those who have had K-Cup brewers before.

However, if you’re a coffee purist who prefers the strong, genuine taste of espresso shots and super dense coffees, this machine isn’t for you! 
Besides, when using a pod coffee maker, your coffee flavor largely depends on what kind of K-Cup you use, how often you clean the machine, and whether or not you invest in a water filter. 

A dirty or scaled reservoir can pollute your water and take a toll on your coffee. Not using a water filter – or distilled water – can also add a salty, unpleasant taste to your coffee.
To maximize your K-Cup experience, make sure you follow all the maintenance guides in the manual and buy high-quality K-Cups.

Maintenance

With its user-friendly features, the K-Select has an easy-peasy cleaning process. 

First of all, it comes with removable parts that save you a lot of effort when cleaning. You can detach the drip tray, tank, and K-cup pod holder and rinse them in the sink. You’re also free to wash them in a dishwasher. Just make sure you put them on the top rack rather than the lower one.

Next, the K-Select boasts a fingerprint-resistant body. So, you’ll hardly ever need to clean it, and when necessary, it’s as easy as wiping the exteriors with a damp cloth.

The most demanding part is descaling the reservoir. You can skip this process, or at least postpone it as long as you use distilled or purified water. But if you use tap water for one reason or another, descaling will be necessary.

Empty the reservoir and wash it. Then, pour some descaling solution and half-full the tank with water. Activate the machine without putting a K-Cup so it can brew what’s in the reservoir.

Remember that if you follow all the steps above when cleaning your K-Select, it will last longer and offer you more delicious cups of coffee.

Ease of Use

Rather than complex touchscreens, the K-Select comes with six physical buttons – four for choosing the brew size, one for the strong option, and another for switching the machine on/off. So, you won’t have to navigate detailed menus right after waking up.

All buttons are robust, prominent, and easy to spot. Besides, unlike touchscreens, they’re not energy-intensive and will save on your electricity bills.

Just like any other Keurig offering, this brewer works at the flick of a finger. All you have to do is to insert a K-Cup, choose the right brew size, and boom, your coffee is ready in a minute!

The machine has three indicator lights to make your job easier. The Add Water light turns on when your water reservoir gets empty so that you don’t need to bother checking the reservoir every often. The Descale lamp indicates it’s time to maintain the reservoir.

Finally, the Auto-Off light will illuminate as soon as you press the power button. This shows the auto-shut-off feature is activated, and it will turn off the machine after two hours of not working. You can also set the Auto-Off as you like.

Customization

Other than speed and quality, the K-Select adds a few customizations to your experience. For example, by removing the drip tray, you’ll have extra space to fit your travel mugs – up to 7.4 inches.

The brewer also adopts both Keurig-made and third-party K-Cups, which means you’ll have a full range of brands, flavors, and price tags to choose from.

Noise Level

Most coffee makers create a ruckus while grinding or brewing coffee. However, Keurig has offered a new feature – called Quiet Brew Technology – to minimize the noise, and the K-Select has that option.

Although it’s not whisper-quiet, the brewer won’t wake up the household or get on your nerves while operating.

Value

Overall, the Keurig K-Select sells at a reasonable price compared to similar models. Although it may lack one or two brewing features or programmable options, it has enough options to make a good cup of coffee. 

Alternatives

If you think the Keurig K-Select isn’t a perfect choice for your needs, or simply need a smaller, more advanced k-cup brewers, here a few recommendations:

Keurig K-Classic

It’s a lower-priced brewer with one less serving option and smaller reservoir – 48 ounces rather than 52. It also lacks the Strong Brew mode, but other features such as Strong Auto-Off, plastic body, and physical control panel are the same as K-Select.

Keurig K-Elite

As a much more expensive alternative, the Keurig K-Elite boasts better-advanced features than the K-Select. It gives you the chance to brew over ice, control your hot water temperature, and set a specific auto-start time for your machine. Also, it has one extra cup size and a 75-ounce tank – the largest Keurig.

Keurig K-Mini Plus

If you have space limitations, the K-Mini can be the best alternative to the K-Select. The downside is that the tank holds only one cup of coffee. It’s a little pricier, and it lacks the 12-ounce cup size. Other features, such as strength control, energy-efficiency, and removable parts, are no different.

Things to Know About the Keurig K-Select

  1. Which One Is Better, Keurig Classic or Select?

Keurig K-Select is a better bet than Keurig K-Classic. Although both provide almost the same features, K-Select has a larger reservoir and a smaller footprint. Besides, it adds an additional cup-size of 12-ounces, enhancing your customized experience.

The only advantage of the K-Classic over the K-Select is its lower price.

  1. Does Keurig K select Need a Filter?

The Keurig K-Select needs a filter if you don’t have a tap water purifier at home. It helps to eliminate all contaminants and mineral compounds that cause bad tastes or smells in your coffee. 

Since the K-Select features a side water tank, you should buy a side water reservoir filter or  Universal Reusable Coffee Filter for it. Of course, you can buy bottled water instead of using a filter, but that will only add to your running costs. Purchasing a filter is much cheaper and will extend your machines’ longevity. 

  1. How do I Clean My Keurig K Select?

Cleaning your Keurig K-Select is a breeze, but only as long as you know the safety tips. Here are a few ones

  • Don’t wash the body because it’s an electrical device, and its contact with water may cause accidents. A damp rag will suffice to clean the plastic shell.
  • Removable parts are dishwasher-safe, but on the top-rack only. Hand-washing the parts is always better than other methods.
  • To remove the pod holder, simply press it up with your finger. And when putting it back, make sure the white arrow points to the top and push it down to lock.
  • Pull the reservoir up to disconnect it from the slots. When putting it back, make sure you secure the tabs into the slots and use a little pressure to avoid breakage.
  • Don’t forget to put the filter out before washing the tank.

Final Words on Our Keurig K-Select Review

The Keurig K-Select is an affordable single-serve brewer that gives you on-the-go coffee without you doing anything. So, it’s the right choice for those who don’t know all the details of brewing. It has a Smart Start feature, an Auto-off option, and a few reminders to facilitate your experience.

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