The best Keurig coffee maker in 2023, ranked and reviewed

Pros: 48-ounce water reservoir, brews in under a minute, can brew three different sizes 

Cons: Cannot fit a carafe, largest brew-setting is 10-ounces, no iced or latte settings

The first and best Keurig coffee maker remains a classic, and for good reason. With a 48-ounce water reservoir and coffee that brews in under a minute, this is a reliable machine for families, offices, and more. A travel mug fits beneath the drip tray, and the machine can be used with the company's reusable K-Cup filters. Falling in the middle of the Keurig price range, this comprehensive machine has enough bells and whistles to appeal to the everyday coffee drinker without blowing out the everyday budget. 

The Keurig Classic can be programmed to turn off, has helpful indicator lights, and can brew more than just coffee; this original machine can also serve up hot cocoa, tea, and other specialty beverages from the best K-Cups, making it a flexible and affordable machine that is our pick for the best Keurig for most people. 

Pros: Available in 8 colorways, affordable, great for smaller spaces

Cons: Single-cup reservoir, no programmable settings, only brews coffee

A slim and streamlined coffee maker, this single-cup Keurig costs less than $100 and comes in eight different colors. Built-in cord storage and a 5-inch profile makes this machine as efficient in taking up space as it is in brewing coffee. Although it only brews one cup at a time with its single-capacity reservoir and has no programmable settings, you can expect a great cup of coffee every time at a very affordable price. 

The upgraded version of the K-Mini is the K-Mini Plus, which also includes strength control, the ability to fit a travel mug, and pod storage. But we didn't find that these extras were compelling enough to make up for the bump in price: a nearly 20% increase between the K-Mini and the K-Mini Plus. Those wanting a machine with more options are better off looking at a more comprehensive machine, like some of the other best Keurigs we've highlighted below.

Pros: Multiple cup sizes, hot and cold brewing options, strong brew setting

Cons: Cannot accommodate a carafe, has a smaller water reservoir than some models, no programmable features 

With a similar shape to the K-Mini, the K-Iced model doesn't take up too much space and has a streamlined appearance, but with a few extra features. Not only does it have a strong brew option, it also has a "brew over ice" setting that automatically adjusts the brew temperature. An initially hot brew extracts flavor, and a cooler final brew prevents ice from melting and turning iced coffee into a watery mess. 

The machine's removable drip tray can accommodate a 7-inch tall ice tumbler or travel mug, ideal for those looking to take their hot or iced drink on the go. The machine is also compatible with the My K-Cup Universal Coffee Filter, so you can use it with your favorite ground coffee.

Pros: Multiple cup sizes, carafe brewing, programmable settings

Cons: No iced settings, slightly larger than the single-cup options, only brews coffee

If you're carefully budgeting out kitchen space while still prioritizing coffee, the K-Duo is the best Keurig coffee maker to fit your needs. The Duo is a petite machine that combines a 12-ounce carafe with a pod machine, both fueled by a 60-ounce capacity water tank. It's not the smallest Keurig (see the K-Mini for that), but for five extra inches of width, you get a far more comprehensive machine. And compared to the best coffee makers with carafes, the Duo is much easier to store.

It has a bevy of features, like a pause and pour setting that allows you to remove the carafe mid-brew for 20 seconds without spilling. The programmable setting lets coffee lovers set their preferences up to 24 hours in advance, so coffee is ready first thing in the morning. An energy-saving feature shuts the machine off after five minutes. Ultimately, the Duo is a great medium-sized coffee machine for families in smaller homes or apartment living.

Pros: WiFi- and app-compatible, makes hot and iced drinks, large water capacity 

Cons: Higher price point, ground coffee attachment sold separately, only one colorway

Tech-savvy coffee drinkers will no doubt gravitate to this sophisticated model, which allows you to control everything the best Keurig coffee maker is doing from your phone. The coffee maker's BrewID — a technology platform that allows the machine to read over 900 different pods and recognize what the expert-recommended brew settings are — curates a selection of coffee beverages based on the pod.

The machine can make four coffee sizes and two espresso shots to facilitate drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and iced beverages. Brew strength can also be completely customized via a 5-setting system. A built-in milk frother streamlines the entire process, making it even easier to produce coffeehouse-style drinks in the privacy of your own (WiFi-enabled) home. WiFi is both Android- and iPhone-compatible.

Pros: Multiple cup sizes, makes coffees and specialty drinks, large water reservoir for a single cup 

Cons: Does not include a carafe, cannot make iced drinks, higher price point

A beautiful nickel-plated option, this Special Edition machine will spruce up any kitchen with larger brewing needs. With capabilities for all kinds of coffee — hot, iced, and specialty — the K-Café Special Edition is a machine with flexibility. It's great for families and for those who like to entertain with the 60-ounce water tank, as well as a dishwasher-safe milk frother, and four different coffee size settings. 

This machine features Smart Start, which brews and heats coffee simultaneously: instant gratification for coffee lovers. The coffee shot button is for specialty drinks, so lattes, cappuccinos, and other bespoke beverages are as close as the press of a button. And when it's time to descale, the machine will remind you, another useful feature from this all-encompassing Keurig coffee maker.

Features: Keurig machines are full of extras, but some of the most important features to look for include the cup sizes for brewing, the styles of coffee the machine makes, programmable buttons, and energy-saving power controls. "I personally find that the Keurig machines that allow you to control the brew volume and/or temperature are fantastic for getting the best-tasting coffee," Meister says. The SMART line of machines, she says, are an example of machines that offer this specific control capacity. 

Capacity: The best Keurigs we recommend range in water reservoir capacity from 42 to 60 ounces, aside from the K-Mini which needs to be re-filled every time. The 42-ounce reservoir is enough to produce four cups of coffee without refilling the tank. Larger households may require machines with larger-capacity water reservoirs. Single-serving machines without carafes make only one coffee at a time, and may be better for smaller homes or for people who entertain infrequently.

Brewing style: Although Keurig is best known for its pod-style brewing, some machines are also compatible with ground coffee and can be used with a traditional coffee filter. Additionally, several models we recommend have stronger brewing settings, which are great for coffee aficionados who prefer to control the strength of their brew.

How do I descale a Keurig?

To descale a Keurig machine, turn the machine off, empty the water reservoir, and remove any filters. Add a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar to the reservoir and run a cycle through the machine, allowing it to drain into a cup. After the cycle runs, clean the machine again by running three cycles of water to remove any residual vinegar taste. Keurig recommends descaling your machine every three to six months, depending on how regularly you use it.

"Scale is a buildup of mineral deposits that naturally occur in most tap water, like magnesium and calcium," Meister says. When water is boiled, the deposits stay behind, building up and clogging water lines in the machine. "This can cause lower-quality brews, machine malfunction, and even permanent damage to the equipment."  

Can I use regular K-Cups in all Keurigs? 

All Keurig models now use the same type of pods, and coffee drinkers can choose between hundreds of different types of the best K-Cup coffee and other beverages. If you own multiple Keurigs, pods can be used across machines. (The best Nespresso machines, for example, take different pods depending on which line the machine is from.)

If you prefer a reusable option, Meister says, Keurig offers the My K-Cup Filter, which is compatible with most models. "You can fill it with your own ground coffee and use it over and over," she says. "Standard K-Cup pods are only more recently recyclable, and only in certain places, so the reusable filter also feels good from a waste-reduction standpoint." 

Can I reuse K-Cups? 

K-Cups cannot be reused. These specialized cups contain just enough grounds for a single cup of coffee, so using them more than once would produce a weaker and entirely less delicious beverage.