Each quarter, I pick out the best k-cup coffee maker among dozens of best k-cup coffee makers. I filter out marketing gibberish and misleading verbiage, so you can truly understand functionality, compare between the models. Whether you are looking for the best drip coffee maker or best single serve coffee maker, selecting the best k-cup coffee maker will be FAST and EASY.


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Best k-cup coffee maker ranking

Rank Model Manufacturer Made in Price range Score Learn more Shop now
1 K-Elite Keurig China $$$$ 85/100
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2 SS-10 Cuisinart China $$$ 83/100
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3 MCU Bunn China $$$ 80/100
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4 K-Cafe Keurig China $$$$ 75/100
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5 K475 Keurig China $$$ 68/100
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6 505k Aicok China $$ 67/100
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7 BVMC-SC100 Mr Coffee China $$ 65/100
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8 GCM6000 Gourmia China $$ 64/100
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9 MU-KCUP Mueller Austria China $$ 63/100
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10 1128B Oda Kitchen China $$$ 57/100
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Best k-cup coffee maker reviews

Position #1: K-Elite by Keurig

I am proud to announce that in our ranking, K-Elite reached the best score thus gaining the title of the best k-cup coffee maker in 2020!

This product is available for purchase online on Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Bed Bath and Beyond.

Owly Rating

85/100

Appearance 20
Features 20
Performance 19
Health 7
Price to value 19

General thoughts

K-Elite is a superb k-cup coffee maker with a superior feature set. It is a great choice for singles and families who enjoy deep fragrant coffee. Brews really delicious, rich and fragrant coffee. I don’t like that it is primarily plastic, and Keurig does not seem transparent about the chemicals and materials used in manufacturing. Though K-Elite may seem a little bit expensive, I find the price-to-value ratio of this k cup coffee maker to be absolutely extraordinary.

PROs

  • Elegant, sturdy and elite-looking
  • 5 beverages sizes (4 to 12oz)
  • Fully programmable (auto on/off)
  • Temperature control
  • Strength control
  • Iced-coffee option
  • Delicious coffee at the almost perfect temperature
  • Great price-to-value ratio
  • Excellent for singles and families who enjoy truly delicious coffee, alone or in company

CONs

  • Plastic
  • Insufficient transparency on materials and chemicals
  • Can hear some squeaky noises from water pump
  • Expensive but great price-to-value ratio
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K-Elite k-cup coffee maker steals the show with its elegance and elite appearance. I saw it at my friend’s house for the first time, and I fell in love with it almost instantly. I was impressed with the K-Elite’s quality. Not only was it elegant, but it looked like a high-performing k-cup coffee machine I wanted to have.

I entertain family and friends with coffee from K-Elite. They always rave how handsome and appealing this coffee maker is. Some of my friends purchased the same unit after seeing it at my place!

K-Elite comes in two color options: brushed silver and brushed slate. Either option exudes a stainless-steel look and feel, though it actually is made of plastic.

K-Elite is similar in size to most other coffee makers that made on our rank. It is about 13 inches tall, and about 17 inches when the upper lid is completely open. It fits on my countertop, but I need to pull it out to place coffee inside the k-cup.

To my surprise, this unit is rather light, weighing about 7 pounds. I found it very easy to lift, move and clean. From this perspective, I would not hesitate to give K-Elite to my grandma.

Voltage: K-Elite is made for 120V, and can be used in Canada and the US only.

Beverage size: K-Elite k-cup coffee machine offers a handsome selection of 5 beverage sizes: 4oz, 6oz, 8oz, 10oz and 12oz. I can drink a small cup of coffee Sunday morning, while enjoying a larger mug on the way to work on Monday. Unlike some other k cup machines, Keurig’s K-Elite can accommodate a 7-inch tall travel mug underneath a brewing segment. I was able to accomplish this by removing the drip tray. Very easy, and this proved to be extremely useful on my morning commute routines.

Weight: This handsome k-cup coffee maker weighs about 7 pounds. I find it rather easy to lift and move around, and I imagine others would have little to no problems doing the same. From this perspective, I imagine most people would find this machine easy to operate.

Unit size:  Though regular size, I find K-Elite to be rather compact. It is about 10.5 x 7.5 x 13 inches, and 15 x 9 x 17 inches when the upper lid is open. Though it fits perfectly on my countertop, I need to pull it out from underneath the cabinet to re-fill coffee in the k-cup.

Additional perks: K-Elite offers a superior feature set, much better from other k-cup coffee makers. This feature set, which contributes to brewing a jaw-dropping cup of coffee, is what truly differentiates K-Elite.

First, it is fully programmable. Though a lot of people are not familiar with this functionality, let me tell you: it made my life 100X easier. I am able to set a specific time to start brewing coffee within a 24 hour window. I do not need to wake up too early to start the morning routine. I wake up to delicious fragrance of freshly brewed dark coffee.

Second, K-Elite is equipped with a temperature control. The controls allows to heat up water even more to reach what is considered a perfect temperature to brew coffee. Unlike other kcup coffee makers, K-Elite is able to brew coffee that’s hotter, thus yielding much deeper, richer and fragrant flavors.

Third, K-Elite is equipped with a strength control. The control allows the coffee to be even deeper and more flavorful. I use this feature for an extra kick to my coffee on some mornings. It works miracles simply by touching one button.

Fourth, K-Elite offers a separate feature for iced-coffee. Iced coffee that comes out of this k cup coffee machine is perfect for a hot summer day (or evening!).

In addition to those features, K-Elite offers some “standard” perks, such as a large 75oz removable water reservoir. Thanks to that, I do not need to make frequent trips to refill water. I can also entertain several guests with coffee at the same time. Further, a charcoal water filter purifies water. I feel like those charcoal filters enhance coffee flavor quite a bit.

Brewing time: K-Elite took a little less time to brew coffee than some of the other best k cup coffee makers. From heating water to seeing the last drop of coffee fall into my cup, it took between 2.5 to 3 minutes. This time was largely contingent upon the beverage size.

Flavor: Among k cup coffee makers that I have tested, K-Elite yielded an absolutely delicious, fragrant and rich coffee flavors. Now, I can welcome each morning with a tasty cup of joe, day after day.

Temperature: K-Elite model seems to solve some of the problems that other k cup coffee makers seem to suffer from. The temperature control allows to brew significantly hotter coffee. In my tests, freshly heated water reached between 185 and 190 Fahrenheit degrees, which is almost on par with the recommended brewing temperature (195 to 205 Fahrenheit degrees). This temperature allows for the coffee grounds to permeate, thus yielding much richer and deeper flavors.

Noise levels: I found K-Elite to be less noisy than some of the other k cup coffee machines. Again, there are some noises (squeaking form the water pump), but this seems to be less bothersome than with some other k cup coffee makers.

Though Keurig seems more transparent with its other coffee makers, I did not find useful information for the K-Elite k cup coffee maker. Keurig does not say much about materials from which the k cup coffee maker is made.

There is no information whether K-Eite includes chemicals such as lead. Some users reported that K-Elite indeed contained led and other chemicals, but Keurig did not make it easy for me to confirm or refute that concern.

Keurig states that all of its k cup coffee makers are BPA-free. This should include K-Elite.

However, K-Elite is made primarily of plastic. Whether it is BPA-free or not, this plastic comes into direct contact with scorching hot water. As you may know by now, I am personally very concerned about using products in which boiling water touches plastic.

The BPA-free status is helpful to know, but it typically does not guarantee that there are no other potentially dangerous substitutes used in the production process.

Reports show that many manufacturers replace BPA with other types of plastic. These types include but are not limited to  BHPF (fluorene-9-bisphenol), TPP (triphenyl phosphate), and bisphenol S (BPS). The exact health effects of the BPA substitutes, such as BHPF, TPP and BPS, are unknown at this point.

Keurig does not publish information what kind of materials or chemicals are used, so I am not able to verify.

Some users have reported just a couple of issues with the K-Elite k cup coffee maker. Those issues seem to be an exception rather than the norm. In fact, K-Elite is doing much better overall than other k cup coffee machines.

While I do not believe those reports are a reason for a major concern, I’d like to flag some of them:

  • Leaking water
  • Pumping cold-water

Depending on the store, K-Elite sells for anywhere between $$$ and $$$$ price point. Given the feature set, which is much more superior to that of other k cup coffee makers, I find the price-to-value ratio to be extraordinary. I realize that $$$$ price point could be a substantial investment. However, it is my firm belief that with its strong functionality, high performance and amazing feature set, K-Elite is the best k cup coffee maker. I am very pleased with this product.

I am not going to lie: I am bothered by the plastic, and I hope Keurig will address this issue with an updated model.

K-Elite manual by Keurig


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Position #2: SS-10 by Cuisinart

In addition to being a strong k cup machine, SS-10 is the 2nd best k cup coffee maker in the ranking for 2020.

This product is available for purchase online on Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Bed Bath and Beyond.

Owly Rating

83/100

Appearance 19
Features 19
Performance 19
Health 7
Price to value 19

General thoughts

SS10 is a top-notch k cup coffee maker with a superb feature set AND compatible with K-cups. It is an awesome pick for singles and families who enjoy flexibility, convenience and delicious coffee. Brews fragrant, rich and deep coffee in 5 different sizes. I found SS10 to be comparatively quieter than other k cup machines. I don’t like that it is primarily plastic, and Cuisinart does not seem transparent about the chemicals and materials used in manufacturing. Great price and a phenomenal price-to-value ratio.

PROs

  • Elegant and sturdy
  • 5 beverages sizes (4 to 12oz)
  • K-cup compatible
  • Fully programmable (auto on/off)
  • Temperature control
  • Brews delicious coffee
  • Very solid price-to-value ratio
  • Excellent for singles and families who enjoy truly delicious coffee, alone or in company

CONs

  • Plastic
  • Insufficient transparency on materials and chemicals
  • No strength control
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SS10 is a gorgeous k cup coffee maker with a fantastic feature set. Though made primarily of plastic, SS10 looks as though it had some stainless steel accents. SS10 is a rather modern and intuitive model, with a large digital screen.

SS10 is a regular-sized k cup coffee maker, though I found it to be a bit shorter than other coffee makers. SS10 is about 12 inches tall, and about 15 inches when the upper lid is open. It fits very nicely on my countertop!

Cuisinart’s k cup coffee maker has a lot of functionality (more on this below). I expected it to be very heavy, but was pleasantly surprised how light it was. It weighs around 5 pounds. This is a great weight given the size and functionality! I imagine most people would find this model easy to lift or move around.

Voltage: SS10 is made for 120V, and can be used in Canada and the US only.

Beverage size: The SS10 k cup coffee maker offers a very generous selection of 5 beverage sizes: 4oz, 6oz, 8oz, 10oz and 12oz. I appreciate the flexibility of brewing anything from a small cup to a larger mug. Like some other k cup coffee makers, SS10 can accommodate a 7in tall travel mug to directly pour coffee into. Thanks to this smart feature, I was able to enjoy coffee on the way to work countless times!

Weight: This is an unexpected but welcome advantage of Cuisinart’s SS10. It weighs about 5 pounds, and I found it very easy to move around, lift and clean, when needed. I would not hesitate to give this k cup coffee maker to my grandma to operate!

Unit size: SS10 is a regular sized k cup machine, about 11 x 9 x 12 inches when the lid is closed, and about 11 x 9 x 15 inches when the upper lid is open to refill coffee. While other coffee makers require me to pull them from underneath a cabinet, this one fits perfectly on my countertop.

Additional perks: Let me say this. Even though Cuisinart does not have such a diverse portfolio of k cup coffee makers like Keurig, Cuisinart invests in high quality and high functionality of their k cup machines.

SS-10 comes with a couple of features that I absolutely love. First, SS10 is fully programmable, with an auto on/off feature. In essence, I can program this k cup coffee maker to start heating water and brewing coffee at a specific time within a 24-hour time period. This is a total life savior in the mornings. I do not need to wake up at a crack of dawn to begin my morning chores. Instead, I can wake up with delicious fragrance of coffee permeating my apartment.

Second, SS10 is equipped with a temperature control to heat up water even more. This allows to achieve more optimal brewing temperature. Choosing between temperature and strength controls, I would always go with temperature control. It is more useful and yields in better coffee flavor.

Third, though not a Keurig machine, SS10 is K-cup compatible. This means that I can enjoy k-cups and k-pods in a variety of flavors.

SS10 k cup coffee machine comes with some additional standard equipment. This includes a charcoal filter, which, in my opinion, improves coffee flavor thanks to purified water. A 72-oz removable water reservoir is a really big help. I do not need to refill water so frequently, and I can host larger parties!

Brewing time: I found the brewing time to be comparable with other k cup coffee makers. Depending on the beverage size, SS10 can takes up to 3 minutes to brew from start to finish. As I mentioned above, the brewing time does not really matter to me so much because I can program SS10 to automatically start brewing at a specific time.

Flavor: I loved coffee beverage from SS10 k cup coffee maker. It was rich, deep and diverse. I feel like 8oz size is much better than any other larger size. But, perhaps, this is just a personal preference!

Temperature: YES! This is why I considered SS10 to be the best k cup coffee maker on my list. I felt that coffee was hotter than in some of the other k cup coffee makers. This could be due to a temperature control functionality. When I measured, freshly heated water was between 180 and 190 degrees, which is quite high in comparison. Coffee experts suggest the water should be between 195 and 205 for a perfect coffee cup.

Noise levels: I have found Cuisinart’s S-10 to be relatively quieter than other k cup brewers. It was noticeably louder with a K-cup, but still noise levels were much better.

I did not find Cuisinart to be very transparent about the chemicals and plastic included in SS10. I searched multiple websites, including Cuisinart’s, and found very little information about materials or chemicals included. I was not able to find information about any particular chemicals, such as lead. Hence, I cannot confirm or refute.

Cuisinart makes it clear that SS10 k cup is BPA-free.

However, SS10 is made primarily of plastic. Whether it is BPA-free or not, this plastic comes into direct contact with scorching hot water. As you may know by now, I am personally very concerned about using products in which boiling water touches plastic.

The BPA-free status is helpful to know, but it typically does not guarantee that there are no other potentially dangerous substitutes used in the production process.

Reports show that many manufacturers replace BPA with other types of plastic. These types include but are not limited to  BHPF (fluorene-9-bisphenol), TPP (triphenyl phosphate), and bisphenol S (BPS). The exact health effects of the BPA substitutes, such as BHPF, TPP and BPS, are unknown at this point.

Cuisinart does not publish information what kind of materials or chemicals are used, so I am not able to verify.

Some users have reported just a couple of minor issues with the SS10 k cup coffee maker. Those issues seem to be an exception rather than the norm. In fact, SS10 seems to have a rather clean record when it comes to technical difficulties.

While I do not believe those reports are a reason for a major concern, I’d like to flag some of them:

  • Difficulty descaling
  • Some units flawed and not operational

The SS10 k cup coffee maker has WOWed me from the start. I find the price-to-value ratio of SS10 to be extraordinary. Depending on the retailer, this k cup coffee maker typically retails in the $$$ price point. It is extremely unusual to get such a well-equipped and well-performing coffee maker with a wonderful feature set. All of this contributes to richer, more enhanced and more flavorful coffee. In my opinion, SS10 has a potential to become the best k cup coffee maker.

Just like with Keurig, I  hope Cusinart will begin looking into implementing some metal or stainless steel to avoid direct contact between scorching water and plastic. Further, it is also difficult to find SS10 in many retailers. It seems like distribution is limited to a certain set of retailers.

SS-10 manual by Cuisinart


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Position #3: MCU by Bunn

Bunn’s MCU is a new item on our best k cup coffee maker ranking. It has performed strongly in our tests, thus reaching the podium, just behind K-Elite and SS10.

This product is available for purchase online on Amazon.

Owly Rating

80/100

Appearance 19
Features 17
Performance 19
Health 6
Price to value 19

General thoughts

Bunn’s MCU is a very solid 4-in-1 k cup coffee maker. Thanks to 4 separate drawers, it can brew k-cups, coffee grounds, k-pods and tea, without mixing the flavors! A great pick for individuals and families who can appreciate deeper coffee flavors. Versatile appearance and a perfect brewing temperature (195-200 F).  I do not like that it’s primarily plastic, including the drawers.  Though a bit more expensive than others, it offers a extraordinary price-to-value ratio due to great performance.

PROs

  • Elegant and versatile
  • Versatile from 4 to 14oz
  • 4 “drawers” to brew k cups, coffee grounds, k pods and tea, without mixing the flavors
  • Brews coffee at a perfect brewing temperature (reached 195-200 F in our tests)
  • Strength control (known as Pulse Brew)
  • Excellent for those who can appreciate deeper coffee flavors

CONs

  • Not programmable (no auto on/off)
  • No temperature control, but reaches perfect brewing temperature without it
  • Plastic
  • Insufficient transparency on materials and chemicals
  • Simple features
  • Some gurgling noises
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Bunn’s MCU k-cup coffee maker is visually stunning, giving a beautiful industrial look and feel. I really enjoy the stainless steel in the front. My friends rave how handsome and appealing this coffee maker is. In my opinion, as one of the best k cup coffee makers, MCU can fit very nicely into many different styles and spaces.

Bunn’s MCU comes in just one color option: stainless steel with plastic top and sides. Though some parts of the unit’s exterior are made with plastic, stainless steel gives an impression of sturdiness and reliability. In my opinion, this model looks very good!

MCU is also unique in its design. Unlike other k cup coffee makers where coffee grounds and k-cups are replaced by opening up a top segment, Bunn’s MCU replaces k-cups and coffee grounds by detaching so-called “drawers,” which are the bottom part of the brewing element. This saves significant amount of space, and makes MCU fit very nicely into a LOT of kitchens.

Consequently, Bunn’s MCU is much smaller than most of the best k-cup coffee makers on our rank. MCU measures about 12 inches in height. I did not have any problems placing this coffee maker on my counter, and I do not need to pull it out to refill coffee, k-cups or water.

Given stainless steel, this model seemed rather heavy, weighing about 10 pounds. I found it doable to lift, move and clean. However, I do not want to do it after every single use.

Voltage: MCU is made for 120V, and can be used in Canada and the US only.

Beverage size: MCU k-cup coffee machine offers a handsome selection of beverage sizes, spanning between 4oz and 14oz. Because there’s no removable water reservoir, I can control directly how much coffee I would like by filling the tank with a desired amount of water. Unlike other best k-cup coffee makers, Bunn’s MCU can accommodate a 6.5-inch tall travel mug underneath a brewing segment. This can pose some difficulties for some mugs.

Weight: Given the stainless steel elements, I expected MCU to be a little heavier than a plastic single cup coffee maker in the same size. This beautiful k cup coffee maker weighs about 10 pounds. Though it was not an issue for me to lift it occasionally, I would not want to do it every day.

Unit size: MCU is very compact. It is about 10.1 x 7.2 x 12.5 inches. Because this model has a very smart design, it should fit into most kitchen spaces. Why? Unlike other best k cup coffee makers, MCU replaces coffee grounds and k cups by detaching the bottom of the brewing element. This design, thus, makes it much more convenient to use, without taking up a lot of space.

Additional perks: For such a compact k cup coffee maker, MCU offers some unique functionality and features.

First, Bunn’s MCU can brew 3 different types of coffee thanks to 3 different drawers (attachments for the brewing element). I could brew coffee from k-cups, coffee grounds and coffee pods. The process of using a drawer is very simple. When I felt like having a k-cup coffee, all I had to do is to put a k-cup into a k-cup drawer, and attach the k-cup drawer to the brewing element on the MCU. The process was very easy, and took me about 10 seconds.

Second, Bunn’s MCU can also brew water. In the fourth drawer, I was able to brew hot water alone. There was no coffee flavor in the water as the fourth drawer is specifically designated for water only. In addition to my predilection for delicious coffee, so MCU replaced my electric kettle!

Third, this k cup k cup is equipped with what Bunn terms as “Pulse Brew.” Pulse Brew works exactly like a strength control, allowing coffee to be deeper, stronger, and more fragrant.

Interestingly, Bunn’s MCU does not come with some of the “standard” features that traditional best k cup coffee makers got us used to. Specifically, Bunn’s MCU is not programmable. I am not able to set a specific time to start brewing coffee. Further, it does not come with a charcoal filter to purify water. Additionally, there’s no water reservoir to store water.

Brewing time: Bunn’s MCU takes noticeably less time to brew coffee than some other best k-cup coffee makers. From heating water to seeing the last drop of coffee fall into my cup, it took between 1 to 2 minutes. This time was largely contingent upon the beverage size.

Flavor: In many ways, Bunn’s MCU is the best k cup coffee maker. Among k cup coffee makers that I have tested, MCU yielded an absolutely delicious, fragrant and rich coffee flavors. Further, the 3 separate drawers for k-pods, k-cups and coffee grounds keep flavors from mingling. Pure goodness!

Temperature: Bunn’s MCU is the best k cup coffee maker and the best k cup coffee maker when it comes to water temperature. It substantially overperformed other k cup coffee makers that I have tested over the last months. In my tests, the water brewed in Bunn’s MCU reached between 195 and 200 Fahrenheit degrees, which is on par with the perfect coffee beverage temperature.

Noise levels: I found MCU some noise. It gurgles and vibrates. This model is perhaps a bit louder than other best k cup coffee machines. It was not excessive and it did not bother me too much.

I found it extremely difficult to find any information on health and safety of the product. I’ve read through the user care manual, done tons of research, and I was not able to find some official statements from Bunn.

Bunn has published a page dedicated to commercial products safety (http://www.bunn.com/commercial-support/resource-center/proposition-65), which specifies whether a product contains BPA. I was not able to find a similar website for home products, which include Bunn’s MCU.

I was not able to find information whether MCU includes chemicals such as lead, or whether MCU is BPA-free.

Despite this, MCU is UNFORTUNATELY primarily plastic. Whether it is BPA-free or not, this plastic comes into direct contact with scorching hot water. As you may know by now, I am personally very concerned about using products in which boiling water touches plastic.

The BPA-free status is helpful to know, but it typically does not guarantee that there are no other potentially dangerous substitutes used in the production process.

Reports show that many manufacturers replace BPA with other types of plastic. These types include but are not limited to BHPF (fluorene-9-bisphenol), TPP (triphenyl phosphate), and bisphenol S (BPS). The exact health effects of the BPA substitutes, such as BHPF, TPP and BPS, are unknown at this point.

Again, I am not able to verify as I have not been able to find any official statements from Bunn on materials or chemicals used by Bunn in the manufacturing process.

There were very few users who have reported just a couple of issues with the Bunn’s MCU k cup coffee maker. Those issues truly appear to be an exception rather than the norm. In fact, MCU is doing much better overall than other k cup coffee machines.

While I do not believe those reports are a reason for a major concern, I’d like to flag some of them:

  • Problems expelling water
  • Water remains heated for 6 hours
  • Machine quits working

Depending on the store, MCU sells for anywhere in the $$$ price point This unit has some pretty amazing features. Most importantly, coffee flavors are much more superior to those of other k cup coffee makers. While $$$ can be a big investment, I see the price-to-value ratio to be extraordinary. It is my firm belief that with its strong performance and absolutely delicious coffee, MCU is the best k cup coffee maker of its kind.

I would love Bunn to fix the plastic from which the drawers are made. The less contact with plastic, the better!

MCU manual by Bunn

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Position #4: K-Café by Keurig

K-Café is a very strong k cup coffee maker, but relinquishes a position to Bunn’s MCU on the best k-cup coffee maker ranking.

This product is available for purchase online on Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Bed Bath and Beyond.

Owly Rating

75/100

Appearance 19
Features 17
Performance 17
Health 7
Price to value 15

General thoughts

K-Cafe is a great k cup coffee maker that also brews lattes and cappuccinos. A great choice for individuals and families who love delicious coffee. This k cup coffee maker offers a good feature set, and brews delicious coffee beverages (lattes are amazing!).  I don’t like that it’s primarily plastic. Given its features, it seemed a bit heavy and bulky, and did not have some standard features. There was a beeping noise off, which I could not deactivate.  This single cup coffee maker is expensive, but I found its price-to-value ratio to be rather solid.

PROs

  • Elegant, sturdy and elite-looking
  • k cup coffee, lattes and cappuccinos
  • 4 beverages sizes (6 to 12oz)
  • Auto-off feature
  • Strength control
  • Delicious hot coffee
  • Good price-to-value ratio
  • Excellent for singles and families who enjoy truly delicious coffee, alone or in company

CONs

  • Plastic
  • Insufficient transparency on materials and chemicals
  • Heavy and bulky
  • Not fully programmable (no auto on)
  • No temperature control
  • Expensive but great price-to-value ratio
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Keurig’s K-Café is one of the best-looking k cup coffee makers I have seen. It looks like a personalized coffee bar, which brews not just regular coffee, but lattes and cappuccinos! Black matte colors contribute positively to its elegance and prestige. There is a special silver edition of K-Café. I have not seen it personally, but it looks astonishing on the pictures.

Though K-Café may seem a bit bulky at first sight, it does have some amazing functionality (on that below). The k cup is rather large (in width), but its height is comparable to other coffee makers. It’s around 14.5 inches tall, and around 17 inches when the upper lid is open. The unit is heavier than other k cup machines, weighing roughly 13 pounds.

Voltage: K-Café is made for 120V, and can be used in Canada and the US only.

Beverage size: The K-Café k cup coffee maker offers 4 size beverages: 6oz, 8oz, 10oz and 12oz. Just like K-Elite, K-Café can accommodate a travel mug measuring 7 inches in height. I was able to fit a 7 inch mug under the brewing segment simply by removing a drip tray. It was an easy and quick process.

Weight: Because K-Café is more robust in its functionality, it is also a little bit heavier than some other k cup coffee makers. It weighs about 12lbs. It is ok to lift for a strong healthy individual, but I would not want my older family members to lift or move it often (at all?).

Unit size: 11.7 x 15.3 x 14.5 inches when the lid is closed, and 11.7 x 15.3 x 17 inches when the lid is open. This unit is rather similar to others when it comes to height, but is much wider to accommodate a milk frother! I have a relatively small kitchen, so this unit takes up substantial amount of space. Further, because of its height, I need to pull it out from underneath the countertop to refill coffee grounds, or insert a k-cup. I’d imagine K-Café being perfect for larger kitchens.

Additional perks: K-Café comes forward with an a unique offering. While its feature set is very good (not superior), K-Café does something very few other k cup coffee makers can do. It also brews absolutely delicious lattes and cappuccinos, with perfectly frothed milk!

For the feature set itself, I find K-Elite and SS10 a lot more compelling. However, K-Café comes with a couple of really nice and useful perks.

First, K-Café is equipped with a strength control. I am an occasional user of this control, which truly adds stronger coffee flavors. Second, K-Café is not just a regular k cup coffee maker. It makes some of the most delicious lattes and cappuccinos. The stainless steel in a milk frother is a nice accent, which limits my plastic-oriented health concerns. Third, this k cup coffee maker is partly programmable, with auto-off.

Further, K-Café comes with a 60oz removable water reservoir. Like with K-Elite and SS10, I find it really helpful to just store water in the water reservoir. I do not need to make very frequent trips to refill the tank. I can also accommodate a couple of coffee requests from my guests.

However, I found some things to be missing in this elite k cup coffee maker. It appears that the k cup coffee machine does not automatically come with a charcoal filter. Keurig states that a separate compatible “Keurig Side Reservoir Water Filter Kit” is available for purchase online.

Keurig would do a great service by including a temperature control and making K-Café fully programmable. Though temperature seems to be alright, being able to heat up water even more would yield much stronger and better flavors. In addition, I would really love to be able to pre-program my K-Café to run in the morning, so I can wake up to the fragrance of freshly brewed coffee.

Brewing time: K-Café did not beat K-Elite with the brewing time. However, it is on par with other best k cup coffee machines. Brewing from start to finish took me between 3 to 4 minutes. Smaller beverage sizes came out much faster, larger beverages took a bit longer.

Flavor: K-Café earned my heart with rich and fragrant coffee flavors. I loved my regular coffee beverages (regular coffee, cappuccino and lattes), and they were much more superior to those at any coffee shops I have been to.

Temperature: While K-Café k cup coffee maker does not have a temperature control, coffee comes out rather hot. Keurig states that regular coffee brews at 170-190 degrees Fahrenheit, while cappuccino or latte at 150-165 degrees Fahrenheit. I found these numbers to be slightly lower, by about 10 degrees, in my tests.

Noise levels: K-Café makes some noise, but nothing unusual for a k cup coffee maker. Unlike some other k cups, K-Café has a beeping noise off, which cannot be disabled. When frothing, there’s some noise involved, too.

Though Keurig seems more transparent with its other coffee makers, I did not find useful information for the K-Café k cup coffee maker. Keurig does not say much about materials from which the k cup coffee maker is made.

There is no information whether K-Café includes chemicals such as lead.

Keurig states that all of its k cup coffee makers are BPA-free. This should include K-Café.

However, K-Café is made primarily of plastic. Whether it is BPA-free or not, this plastic comes into direct contact with scorching hot water. As you may know by now, I am personally very concerned about using products in which boiling water touches plastic.

The BPA-free status is helpful to know, but it typically does not guarantee that there are no other potentially dangerous substitutes used in the production process.

Reports show that many manufacturers replace BPA with other types of plastic. These types include but are not limited to  BHPF (fluorene-9-bisphenol), TPP (triphenyl phosphate), and bisphenol S (BPS). The exact health effects of the BPA substitutes, such as BHPF, TPP and BPS, are unknown at this point.

Keurig does not publish information what kind of materials or chemicals are used, so I am not able to verify.

Some users have reported just a couple of issues with the K-Café k cup coffee maker. Those issues seem to be an exception rather than the norm. In fact, K-Café seems to have a rather clean record when it comes to technical difficulties.

While I do not believe those reports are a reason for a major concern, I’d like to flag some of them:

  • Water pump issues
  • Frother issues

K-Café is among the best k cup coffee makers with the price-to-value ratio. Depending on the store, K-Café sells for anywhere between $$$ and $$$$ price points Given the functionality and feature set, I found the price-to-value ratio to be outstanding. I am able to brew not just regular coffee, but make my favorite lattes and cappuccinos day after day. K-Café comes with a really, really strong feature set, awesome functionality and high performance.

I praise Keurig for starting to implement some stainless steel parts in the milk frother. However, just like with the K-Elite model, I am bothered by the plastic in some of the most critical parts. I hope Keurig will address this issue with an updated model. Further, I hope that Keurig will implement a temperature control for this model.

K-Cafe manual by Keurig


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Position #5: K475 by Keurig

K475 is a beautiful digital k cup coffee maker, reaching position #5 on the ranking in 2020.

This product is available for purchase online on Amazon.

Owly Rating

68/100

Appearance 16
Features 18
Performance 15
Health 6
Price to value 13

General thoughts

K475 is a digital k cup coffee maker equipped with some unique features. A great pick for individuals and families who value a reliable brand, modernity and prestige. It’s fully programmable and has strength control. Unlike K575, K475 does not have temperature control and does not yield perfect brewing temperature. This k-cup coffee maker yielded decent flavors for the coffee on the go. I do not like that it’s primarily plastic. While there are some other equally good k cup coffee makers at much more affordable prices, K475 is worth considering given its strong brand and feature set.

PROs

  • Modern and digital
  • 5 beverage sizes (4-12oz)
  • Fully programmable (auto on/off)
  • Strength control
  • 70oz removable water reservoir
  • Awesome for a quick cup of joe

CONs

  • Plastic
  • Rather heavy (around 10 pounds)
  • Insufficient transparency on materials and chemicals
  • No temperature control
  • No strength control
  • No temperature control
  • Discontinued features (K-carafe)
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Keurig’s K475 is a very beautiful digital k cup coffee maker. It is extremely similar to K575, which I have reviewed earlier. The only two differences between K575 and K475, which I was able to detect, is that K475 has a slightly smaller water reservoir (70oz) than K575 (80oz).

K475 comes in just one color option: awesome black with silver sides. The unit is plastic, and while this plastic is not cheap looking, it does not look prestigious and luxurious, as it should in the price point.

K475 is a regular sized k cup coffee maker, similar to others on the list. It is about 13 inches tall, and 17.5 inches when the upper lid is open. It can get pretty tall pretty quickly. I have to pull it out from underneath my top cabinet to refill coffee and k-cups.

Given so much plastic, I expected the unit to be rather light. However, it was about the same weight as MCU (which has so much stainless steel), weighing about 10 pounds. I found it doable to lift, move and clean. However, I do not want to do it after every single use.

Voltage: K475 is made for 120V, and can be used in Canada and the US only.

Beverage size: K475 offers a handsome selection of 5 beverage sizes: 4oz, 6oz, 8oz, 10oz and 12oz. With this, I was able to brew anything from a small cup to a larger mug, which was enjoyable. Further, Keurig advertises larger beverage sizes with K-Carafe (22oz-30oz), but those are discontinued. I personally find it misleading to advertise features that are not usable anymore.

Weight: I was surprised to discover that a plastic K475 was just as heavy as plastic/stainless steel Bunn’s MCU. Granted, K475 is larger, but it contains a lot of plastic, weighing about 10 pounds. Though it was not an issue for me to lift it occasionally, I would not want to do it every day.

Unit size: K475 is standard in size, measuring 10.5 x 13.6 x 13.4 inches and 10.4 x 13.6 x 17.5 inches when the upper lid is open. This can be a little large for some kitchens. I need to pull out my unit from underneath a top cabinet to refill coffee.

Additional perks: K475 has most features of a high-end Keurig k cup coffee maker.

First, K475 is fully programmable. This essentially means that I was able to program K475 in advance to start heating water and brewing coffee. I oftentimes do that the night prior, so I can enjoy fragrant scent of coffee in the morning. There’s always an auto-off feature, which turns off the k cup coffee machine after the use.

Second, K475 comes with a strength control. This feature makes coffee a little stronger.

K475 does not have a temperature control, which would heat up water even more. However, it comes with a 70oz reservoir (it will last for 8-12 larger cups of coffee), and a charcoal filter, which can improve coffee flavor.

Brewing time: Keurig is proud to advertise 1-minute brewing time. In my own tests, it took anywhere between 2-3 minutes to heat water and brew coffee from start to finish. Again, the brewing time was largely contingent upon the cup size.

Flavor: While Keurig typically does quite well with coffee flavors, I did not detect full and rich flavors in my coffee. Don’t get me wrong: coffee was quite decent, but I expected a bit more from a k cup coffee maker in this price point.

Temperature: Like some other k cup coffee makers, K475 seems to suffer from the same problem: brewing water is not hot enough. While the recommended minimum is 195 F degrees for a perfect coffee beverage, K475 yielded about 175-180 F degrees. It was alright, but my coffee was lukewarm.

Noise levels: Some noise, but comparatively nothing out of ordinary.

In its manual, Keurig states that the unit includes chemicals such as lead. Though more research is needed, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) that includes National Institutes of Health, CDC and FDA, states that lead compounds are “reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens.” The International Agency for Research on Cancer classify inorganic lead compounds as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” And the Environmental Protection Agency classifies inorganic lead compounds as “probably human carcinogens.” Therefore, it appears that some of the major agencies cautiously link lead, which Keurig reports to be included in K475, to some carcinogenic effects on human health.

However, I was not able to find any information whether or not K475 is BPA free.

Regardless of the official statement, the plastic in K475 comes into direct contact with scorching hot water. I am personally very concerned about using products in which boiling water touches plastic.

The BPA-free status is helpful to know, but it typically does not guarantee that there are no other potentially dangerous substitutes used in the production process.

Reports show that many manufacturers replace BPA with other types of plastic. These types include but are not limited to BHPF (fluorene-9-bisphenol), TPP (triphenyl phosphate), and bisphenol S (BPS). The exact health effects of the BPA substitutes, such as BHPF, TPP and BPS, are unknown at this point.

Keurig does not publish information what kind of materials or chemicals are used, so I am not able to verify at this time.

There are some issues reported by consumers. I want to believe that this is not a norm, but I would like to flag a couple of most commonly reported concerns:

  • Plastic flavor
  • Breaking touchscreen
  • Coffee grounds in the cup

Depending on the store, K475 sells for anywhere in the $$$ price point. I find the price-to-value ratio to be mediocre at best. For me, coffee lacks flavors and is not sufficiently hot. Though this k-cup coffee maker has some nice features, I feel like I am paying here a lot for the brand, and not the actual quality.

CM618 manual by Black and Decker (clicking on the link will download a PDF file from the Black and Decker’s website)


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Position #6: 505k by Aicok

A little known brand, Aicok, came forward with a good k cup coffee maker 505k. With its sharp design and neat functionality, it placed #6 on the ranking of the best k cup coffee machines in 2020.

This product is available for purchase online on Amazon.

Owly Rating

67/100

Appearance 17
Features 16
Performance 14
Health 6
Price to value 14

General thoughts

Aicok’s 505k is a new arrival on the best k cup coffee maker ranking. 505k is compact, light and colorful, brightening kitchen space. An excellent choice for a very solid feature set at an affordable price. 505k offers a wide variety of beverage sizes (from 4oz to 12 oz). Coffee flavors were surprisingly very good! I don’t like that it’s primarily plastic. Though coffee is very good, I would prefer it to be hotter. The price-to-value is actually very decent, given its performance and good feature set.

PROs

  • Intuitive, compact and elegant
  • 5 beverage sizes (4 to 12oz)
  • 2-touch operation
  • Auto-off only (after 30 minutes)
  • 45oz removable water reservoir
  • Brews tasty coffee
  • Affordable

CONs

  • Plastic
  • Not fully programmable (no auto on)
  • No temperature control
  • No strength control
  • Coffee may be not hot enough
  • Made by a little-known brand
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I was really excited to review Aicok’s 505K k cup coffee maker. I found it to be one of the most modern-looking k cup coffee makers available in the market!

505K is a sharp k-cup coffee maker with a rather contemporary design. It is black, with a silver top element, and a water reservoir illuminated in navy blue on the side. The unit itself comes in just one color option.

505K is a regular size k cup coffee maker, though a bit smaller than other machines. It is about 14 inches tall, and 15 inches when the upper lid is open. With this size, it fitted perfectly into my kitchen! I did not need to pull it out from underneath the top cabinet to refill coffee or water.

The unit is mostly plastic. It looks sturdy, though upon closer inspection, it can feel and look a bit cheap. However, this coffee maker is rather light, weighing about 7 pounds. It was not a problem to lift it or move it around.

Voltage: 505K is made for 120V, and can be used in Canada and the US only.

Beverage size: Unlike the Gourmia’s single cup coffee maker, Aicok came forward with a much better beverage differentiation. In my opinion, 505K is on par with some of the best k cup coffee makers, like Keurig, Cuisinart and the like. It offers 5 beverage sizes, from 4oz to 12oz.

Further, because of how this k cup coffee is designed, 505K can accommodate a 7.5 inch tall mug. I was able to accomplish this very easily by removing a drip tray (took me a second). Overall, I was very pleased.

Weight: Aicok’s 505K is on a lighter side, weighing about 7 pounds. I found it fairly easy to move around and lift to clean.

Unit size: As I mentioned earlier, 505K is more compact among other standard size k cup coffee makers. It measures roughly 11.5 x 7.5 x 14 inches and 11.5 x 7.5 x 15 inches when the upper lid is open to refill coffee. It fitted on my countertop perfectly. I did not have to pull it out from underneath the top cabinet.

Additional perks: The feature set is rather limited in this coffee maker, though there are some positives that make this unit more competitive than the Gourmia’s model.

First, this k-cup coffee maker is very easy to use. There are 2 steps to begin brewing coffee, in addition to filling water reservoir. The first step is to select a beverage size. The second step is to begin brewing (which heats up water and brews coffee).

Second, 505K seems to be partially programmable, with an auto shut-off. It shuts off after about 30 minutes. Not only does it save energy, but it serves to prevent any potential fire hazards.

However, I found the description of the product to be a little bit misleading on Amazon. The listing on Amazon advertises features, such as programmability or strength, which 505K does not seem to have.

It does, however, come with some of the more standard features such as a removable drip tray, removable 45-oz water reservoir.

Brewing time: Aicok’s 505K is a rather fast k cup coffee maker. I found it to be a bit faster than competitive Keurig’s machines. For me, the brewing time was anywhere between 1.5 to 2.5 minutes. The actual time depended on the beverage size.

Flavor: Given that the brand is not very well known in the market, I was quite surprised with the flavors. 505K yielded some delicious flavors. The coffee was rather fragrant, but lacked some depth (due to temperature). Overall, I found flavors to be better than some of the Keurig’s coffee makers (e.g. K15 or K55).

Temperature: Like most other k cup coffee makers, 505K does not heat up water sufficiently. It yields about 170-175 F degrees. It was alright, but my coffee was lukewarm. Coffee specialists recommend 195-205 F for a perfect coffee beverage.

Noise levels: I found this unit rather quiet and smooth! Very enjoyable.

I was not able to find much information regarding the inclusion of chemicals, plastics and other materials in this model.

505K is made primarily with plastic, and an authorized seller of Aicok’s appliances claims that it is BPA-free.

However, as I mentioned with other units, while the BPA status is helpful to know, it does not guarantee anything beyond the inclusion of BPA. For instance, it typically does not guarantee that there are no other potentially dangerous substitutes used in the production process.

Reports show that many manufacturers replace BPA with other types of plastic. These types include but are not limited to BHPF (fluorene-9-bisphenol), TPP (triphenyl phosphate), and bisphenol S (BPS). The exact health effects of the BPA substitutes, such as BHPF, TPP and BPS, are unknown at this point.

Because I was not able to find any Aicok’s publications regarding materials, plastics or chemicals used, I am not able to verify anything here.

There are some individual issues reported by consumers. From what I have seen, these troubles seem to be exceptions rather than the norm. Regardless, I would like to flag a couple of most commonly reported concerns:

  • Coffee grounds in the coffee
  • Leaking water

From what I have seen, the Aicok’s 505K sells primarily only on Amazon, anywhere in the $$ price point. I find the price-to-value ratio to be decent. Though Aicok is not a widely recognized brand, 505K is a very neat and decent unit for starters. I am impressed with some of its features and capabilities, though they are far less impressive than some of the best k cup coffee makers. There are several improvements that I encourage Aicok to make. Those include but are not limited to much hotter brewing temperature, strength control and programmability.

505k manual by Aicok [clicking on link will download a file]


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Position #7: BVMC-SC100-2 by Mr Coffee

Mr Coffee is another interesting position for those who value solid brand. Mr Coffee belongs to Newell Brands, the same company that owns Crock-Pot, Oster and Food Saver. Mr Coffee’s BVMC-SC100-2 placed #7 as the best k cup coffee maker.

This product is available for purchase on Amazon.

Owly Rating

65/100

Appearance 17
Features 15
Performance 13
Health 6
Price to value 14

General thoughts

Mr Coffee’s BVMC-SC100 is a fantastic k cup coffee maker. It’s perfect for smaller spaces (apartments, miniature homes, dorms, offices). Mr Coffee has a very smart design. It is a very simple machine brewing single cups up to 10oz. Mr Coffee yields a great quick cup of coffee on the go. In my opinion, it took a bit too long to brew (around 3 minutes from start to finish). I don’t like that it’s primarily plastic, and it is not a very elaborate k cup machine. I personally find the price-to-value ratio ok.

PROs

  • Compact and smart design
  • Intuitive
  • Light and easy to lift
  • Beverage size up to 10oz
  • Brews great quick cup of coffee
  • Affordable

CONs

  • Plastic
  • Not programmable
  • No temperature control
  • No strength control
  • Coffee not hot enough
  • Does not store water in water tank
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Mr Coffee’s BVMC-SC100-2 is an updated version of the old k-cup coffee maker. The unit looks rather small and VERY compact. Though it comes only in one color option: black with a combination of shining silver (aluminium?), it is rather cute.

As I mentioned, it is a very compact k-cup k cup coffee maker. While not the smallest, it is merely 14 inches tall. It fitted on my countertop. I also enjoy the design of this coffee maker. Instead of opening up, I was able to replace k-cups simply by opening the drawer with the k-cups horizontally. It saved an enormous amount of space.

It seems that most of the best k cup coffee makers are made with plastic. This is also true for Mr’ Coffee’s BVMC-SC100-2 k-cup coffee machine. I am not in love with the quality, as it seems rather cheap upon closer inspection.

Voltage: BVMC-SC100-2 is made for 120V, and can be used in Canada and the US only.

Beverage size: Mr Coffee’s k-cup coffee maker brews up to 10oz of beverages. The actual size depended on how much water I poured into the water tank, which is located behind the main segment of the coffee maker.

Weight: This k-cup coffee maker is rather light weight. It weighs about 5 pounds. I found it rather easy to lift or move around on the countertop as I was cleaning. I imagine a lot of people would find it easy weight-wise.

Unit size: BVMC-SC100-2 is a compact k cup coffee maker suitable for a lot of different kitchen spaces (from small dorm rooms to larger kitchens at the mansions). It is 7.5 x 12 x 14.5 inches. I really enjoyed the design of this coffee machine. I was able to refill k-cups simply by pulling a drawer out horizontally. This saved me enormous space and time! In comparison, most Keurig machines open up to re-fill k-cups, thus taking a lot of space. Further, Mr. Coffee is small enough that I was able to pour water into the water tank without any issues.

Additional perks: BVMC-SC100-2 is a very simple k-cup coffee maker. I feel there are no elaborate feature set or functionality.

From the features that I find worth calling out is the automatic shut off. This k-cup coffee maker automatically turns off after the coffee has been brewed. Otherwise, this machine is lacking temperature and strength controls. It is not fully programmable. The water tank is not removable, though drip tray is.

Brewing time: I was surprised how long it took to brew my coffee. Though it merely was 10oz, it took about 3 to 3.5 minutes to brew from the beginning to the last droplet of coffee fell into my mug. This was a rather consistent finding across multiple brews. Typically, I would say that the longer it takes to brew, the tastier the coffee. Now, onto the flavors…

Flavor: In my opinion, I found BVMC-SC100-2 to be a great choice for a quick coffee on the go. Coffee was alright. However, I would not expect elaborate, rich and fragrant flavors. Additionally, the coffee was not hot enough for me.

Temperature: Mr. Coffee suffers from the same issue as most other best k cup coffee makers suffer from. The brewing temperature is not high enough. In my tests, water reached about 165-170 degree. Thus, I was not able to reach a perfect coffee beverage temperature, which should be between 195 and 205 degrees.

Noise levels: I noticed gurgling noises while water was heating up. The noise faded off over time.

Though I found a manual for this k cup coffee maker on Mr Coffee website, I only found the manual for the older version 1.0. I have not been able to find a 2.0 version.

Mr. Coffee claims that BVMC-SC100-2 is BPA-free. However, there is no further information about other plastics, chemicals and materials used in the manufacturing process. I would like to know what is used in lieu of Bisphenol A.

As I mentioned with other k cup machines, while the BPA status is helpful to know, it does not guarantee anything beyond the inclusion of BPA. For instance, it typically does not guarantee that there are no other potentially dangerous substitutes used in the manufacturing process.

Reports show that many manufacturers replace BPA with other types of plastic. These types include but are not limited to BHPF (fluorene-9-bisphenol), TPP (triphenyl phosphate), and bisphenol S (BPS). The exact health effects of the BPA substitutes, such as BHPF, TPP and BPS, are unknown at this point.

I am not able to independently verify what Mr. Coffee k-cup coffee machine contains, and what it does not contain.

It appears that there are some customer complaints about this product. Most frequently, users complain about water leaks from the unit.

BVMC-SC100-2 typically sells in the $$ price point If you are able to find a great promo, (prime day, black friday or cyber monday), it may sell in the $ price point. Ove all, I find the price-to-value ratio to be ok. I found it difficult to accept that there are no basic features such as strength or temperature control, or charcoal water filters. In my opinion, this coffee maker does what it it supposed to do: brew a quick coffee from k-cups. However, I am personally not sure I would pay $60 for that ‘perk’ alone.

BVMC-SC100 manual by Mr Coffee


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Position #8: GCM6000 by Gourmia

Gourmia is another little well known brand. However, Gourmia’s GCM6000 made it on the list of the top k cup coffee makers.

This product is available for purchase on Amazon.

Owly Rating

64/100

Appearance 17
Features 15
Performance 14
Health 5
Price to value 13

General thoughts

Gourmia’s GCM6000 offers a FANTASTIC design with a diverse functionality. This k cup coffee maker can brew coffee grounds, k cup, cappuccino, latte, milk foam, and tea. GCM6000 k cup coffee maker offers a 2-touch operation. It is a simple coffee maker, and it NOT programmable, no temperature control, no strength control and no removable water reservoir. I don’t like that it is made primarily with plastic. Gourmia offers a strong price-to-value ratio. Perfect for a robust feature set at an affordable price.

PROs

  • Cute and fashionable
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Intuitive: 2-touch operation
  • Robust feature set: brews k cups, coffee grounds, latte, cappuccino, tea and milk
  • 1 beverage size of about 9oz
  • Good coffee flavors
  • Perfect for 1 cup of coffee at a time
  • Affordable

CONs

  • Plastic
  • Not programmable
  • No temperature control
  • No strength control
  • Coffee not hot enough (on par with other k  cup coffee makers)
  • No removable water reservoir
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Gourmia’s GCM6000 is a multi-functional k-cup coffee maker, which also brews cappuccinos, lattes and leaf tea. Gourmia launched this product quite recently, I believe sometime in 2018. When I found out about this coffee machine, I was really excited to review it. It offers a really nice counterbalance to Keurig, which dominates the k cup coffee maker space.

GCM6000 is a very beautiful k-cup coffee maker, with some stainless steel on the top. Right now, there’s only one color option: black. However, the combination of black plastic, stainless steel and controls, which are located on the front, make this machine visually very good looking.

GCM6000 is a regular size k cup coffee maker, though a bit smaller than Keurig machines. It is about 12.5 inches tall, and 14.5 inches when the upper lid is open. With this size, it fitted perfectly into my kitchen! I did not need to pull it out from underneath the top cabinet to refill coffee or water.

The unit is mostly plastic, and upon closer inspection, it can feel a bit cheap. However, this coffee maker is rather light, weighing about 7.5 pounds. It was not a problem to lift it or move it around.

Voltage: GCM6000 is made for 120V, and can be used in Canada and the US only.

Beverage size: GCM6000 offers only one beverage size, which is about 9oz

Weight: Gourmia’s unit is on a lighter side, weighing about 7.5 pounds. I found it fairly easy to move around and lift to clean.

Unit size: GCM6000 is slightly more compact among other standard size k cup coffee makers. It measures roughly 7.5 x 9.25 x 12.25 inches and 7.5 x 9.25 x 14.5 inches when the upper lid is open. It fitted on my countertop perfectly. I did not have to pull it out to refill coffee, water or tea leafs.

Additional perks: Though the unit is very simple with respect to features, GCM6000 offers a very unique functionality among k cup coffee makers. Not only does it brew k cups, but I was able to make pretty good cappuccinos, lattes and teas.

The unit is extremely simple, which I was able to operate with two touches. After selecting my beverage (coffee, tea, cappuccino, late, milk tea), all I had to do is press one button to start brewing to get the beverage of my choice.

There are 4 drawers, or “adaptors,” which come with this machine. Each of them is for a different kind of beverage: coffee pods, ground coffee, loose leaf tea and espresso. I found this extremely useful and valuable not to mix beverage flavors. After having brewed coffee, I was able to enjoy some delicious tea, which did not have a typical coffee flavor!

The unit is not programmable and it does not have temperature or strength controls. There’s a reservoir for milk to froth. I found it extremely difficult to clean, as the reservoir is not removable.

Further, water reservoir is not removable. This single cup coffee machine does not use up entire water from the container before beeping for additional water (some kind of safety setting). This means that water is not fresh at all times.

Brewing time: Gourmia’s GCM6000 performed quite well for brewing time. It brew my entire 9oz cup of coffee in about 2-2.5 minutes.

Flavor: Given that this product is not very well known in the market, I was positively surprised about the flavors. This machine produced clean flavors due to 4 separate drawers, or “adaptors.” As mentioned earlier, each of these drawers serves to brew a different kind of beverage: coffee pods, ground coffee, loose leaf tea and espresso. The flavors were rather good, though because the temperature is too low, coffee lacked depth.

Temperature: Like a lot of other k cup coffee makers, GCM6000 seems to suffer from the same problem: brewing water is not hot enough. While the recommended minimum is 195 F degrees for a perfect coffee beverage, GCM6000 yielded about 170-175 F degrees. It was alright, but my coffee was lukewarm. Since I like my coffee warmer, I typically put it for 15-20 more seconds in the microwave.

Noise levels: This unit seems a bit noisier than other k cup coffee makers. It did not bother me very much, and rather afforded this k cup coffee maker some personality!

I was not able to find any information regarding the inclusion of chemicals, plastics and other materials in this model. Gourmia claims that the product is ETL-certified, which means that it meets at least the minimum safety requirements. For me, this is not sufficient, as the government imposes bare minimum safety requirements.

GCM6000 is made primarily with plastic. I am not sure whether it is BPA-free or not. However, this plastic comes into contact with boiling water. I do not find this appealing at all.

Even if this unit does not include BPA, independent reports show that many manufacturers replace BPA with other types of plastic. These types include but are not limited to BHPF (fluorene-9-bisphenol), TPP (triphenyl phosphate), and bisphenol S (BPS). The exact health effects of the BPA substitutes, such as BHPF, TPP and BPS, are unknown at this point.

I was not able to find any official information from Gourmia on chemicals, plastics and materials, so I am not able to verify at this time.

There are some issues reported by consumers. Though these seems to be exceptions rather than the norm, but I would like to flag a couple of most commonly reported concerns:

  • Leaking water
  • Lukewarm coffee

From what I have seen, the Gorumia’s GCM6000 sells only on Amazon, anywhere in the $$ price point. I find the price-to-value ratio to be mediocre at best. I am excited that Gourmia came out with such a great alternative to Keurig with a multi-functional machine that brews different types of coffee AND tea. However, in my opinion, this unit would benefit tremendously from the improved convenience (for cleaning, refilling water and refilling milk), and actual brewing capabilities. It was an extremely smart move of Gourmia to include 4 separate drawers, or “adaptors,” not to mix up flavors. The unit would benefit very strongly from much hotter water.

GCM6000 manual by Gourmia


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Position #9: MU-KCUP by Mueller Austria

Mueller Austria’s MU-KCUP is an interesting choice for those who want reliable but value k cup coffee maker. Reaching position #9 on the ranking of best k-cup coffee makers, it is a solid choice!

This product is available for purchase online on Amazon.

Owly Rating

63/100

Appearance 17
Features 15
Performance 14
Health 5
Price to value 12

General thoughts

Mueller Austria’s MU-KCUP is a compact and colorful k cup coffee maker that brightens many different kitchen spaces. Offers a neat feature set and performance. 5 beverage sizes from 4oz to 12 oz, excellent for a cup of coffee on the go. It has simple on/off button, which many k cup coffee makers don’t have (they remain idle for some time after brewing). I don’t like that it is plastic. I found it to be a nightmare to clean. Given that it’s a very simple unit, I find the price-to-value ratio to be mediocre. Gourmia’s GCM6000 seems to be a much better option!

PROs

  • Compact and lightweight
  • Colorful and cute
  • 5 beverage sizes (4 to 12oz)
  • Intuitive 2-touch operation
  • Very quick (around 1.5-2 minutes)
  • 45oz removable water reservoir
  • Perfect for 1 cup of coffee at a time

CONs

  • Plastic
  • Not programmable
  • No temperature control
  • No strength control
  • Coffee not hot enough
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MU-KCUP by Mueller Austria is a good looking k cup coffee maker. It comes only in one color option, which combines gray and white. There are nice bright and simple buttons to operate the machine.

This k cup machine is made with plastic. I was actually impressed that the plastic looked and felt quite sturdy and reliable. In my opinion, I felt that the plastic was of higher quality than Keurig has recently started to use in their own k cup coffee makers.

The machine does not include clocks or any other digital “perks” that I never use, but I have to pay for, given that they are there.

The k cup coffee machine is very compact. It fits nicely under my kitchen cabinets with plenty of room to refill coffee or water tank without moving the unit. It is roughly 11.5 inches tall.

Voltage: MU-KCUP is made for 120V, and can be used in Canada and the US only.

Beverage size: Mueller Austria’s MU-KCUP can compete with some of the best k cup coffee makers with respect to beverage sizes. It brews 5 coffee sizes: 4oz, 6oz, 8oz, 10oz and 12oz. Further, the unit comes with a 45oz removable water reservoir. That said, I was able to use one tank for 4-8 brews of cups of coffee (depending on the size of my cups!)

Weight: This k cup coffee maker is rather light. Given that it’s made primarily with plastic, it weighs about 7 pounds. Though not the lightest, I found it fairly easy to move and lift. While some elderly people may have a bit of difficulty given the weight, I think it should not be a major problem overall.

Unit size: Mueller Austria’s k-cup coffee maker is rather small and compact. It is 14 x 7 x 11.5 inches, and 14 x 7 x 14 inches when the upper lid is open to refill coffee grounds or k-cup. Overall, this unit gave me a plenty of room to refill water without having to move this k cup coffee maker from underneath the top cabinet.

Additional perks: Mueller Austria’s k cup coffee maker is simple but functional. It does not have a robust feature set, which I would expect from a high end coffee maker. However, MU-KCUP comes with a couple of standard features that I’d expect from k cup machines in this price point.

First, Mueller Austria offers k-cup compatibility. When I tested the MU-KCUP, I found it compatible with several k-cups. I know that some users reported issues with the fit, but I did not experience those problems.

Second, MU-KCUP has an on/off switch. Interestingly, this is not the case with most other k cup coffee makers, which are programmed to be on “idle” after brewing.

However, the Mueller Austria’s k-cup coffee maker does not seem robust. Unlike Keurig or Cuisinart competitors, it lacks programmability, temperature control or strength control. Further, it does not have charcoal filter to purify water before brewing.

I found Mueller Austria’s k cup coffee maker extremely difficult to clean. There are very few removable pieces from the brewing element, and I was not able to identify an easy or convenient way to clean.

All in all, it is a very simple k-cup coffee maker.

Brewing time: Mueller Austria is proud to advertise a “1 minute rapid brew.” I tested this product, and found that the entire brewing process took me between 1.5-2 minutes. This is definitely very quick, but may have an impact on the coffee flavors.

Flavor: In my opinion, I found MU-KCUP to be a great choice for a quick coffee on the go. Coffee was tasty, but it lacked depth and richness. This is primarily due to its structure and design.

Temperature: MU-KCUP does not have a temperature control to heat up water even more. In my tests, water reached about 170-175 degrees to brew coffee grounds. Thus, I was not able to reach a perfect coffee beverage temperature, which should be between 195 and 205 degrees.

Noise levels: Noise levels are similar to other k cup coffee makers.

I was not able to find a manual or user guide for MU-KCUP. Therefore, I was not able to figure out details about this product, which I wanted to pass on to you.

However, Mueller Austria claims the following about MU-KCUP, “BPA-free material for water tank.” This means that water tank should be made of BPA-free plastics.

However, what about the brewing element where boiling water comes into contact with plastic? What about the pipes through which hot water is pumped upwards in this k-cup coffee maker? Based on the statement alone, I do not have the confidence that this k cup coffee maker is BPA-free in all elements where water/coffee comes in contact with boiling water.

Further, there is no information regarding other chemicals, plastics and other materials.

Overall, I appreciate the efforts to make the water tank BPA-free. In my book, however, this is insufficient.

It appears that there are only very few customer complaints about this product. From what I have seen, they have to do mostly with the following:

  • Grounds leaking into coffee
  • Water leaking from the k-cup

MU-KCUP typically sells for anywhere in the $$ price point. I find the price-to-value ratio to be mediocre. It is a very simple and basic k cup coffee maker. While good, MU-CUP is by no means among my favorite k cup coffee machines. In my opinion, this machine looks better than it actually may be. I found the feature set and quality of coffee similar to CHULUX or Black and Decker, both of which tend to be cheaper, as well as Keurig’s K15, which is much more expensive.

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Position #10: 1128B by Oda Kitchen

Oda Kitchen came forward with a simple but functional k-cup coffee maker. 1128B placed #10 on the best k cup coffee maker ranking in our reviews.

This product is available for purchase online on Amazon.

Owly Rating

57/100

Appearance 16
Features 14
Performance 15
Health 1
Price to value 12

General thoughts

Oda’s Kitchen 1128B k cup coffee maker deserves an honorable mention on our best k cup coffee maker ranking. It is a compact and cute k cup coffee maker with a great design. 1128B offers a very generous beverage size selection from 6oz to 16oz, with the strongest and most fragrant flavor at 6oz. 1-touch operation. Comes with a 50oz removable water reservoir. Made primarily with plastic, not programmable, no temperature control, no strength control.

PROs

  • Compact and lightweight
  • 6 beverage sizes (6 to 16oz)
  • Simple and intuitive: 2-touch operation
  • Auto-off only (turns off after 10 minutes)
  • 50oz removable water reservoir
  • Perfect for 1 cup of coffee at a time

CONs

  • Plastic
  • Not sufficiently transparent on the chemicals, plastics and materials used
  • Not fully programmable (no auto on)
  • No temperature control
  • No strength control
  • Water not hot enough
  • Expensive
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Oda Kitchen’’s 1128B is a cute and elegant k-cup coffee maker. It reminds me a whole lot of Keurig’s Mini K k cup coffee maker. 1128B currently comes in one color option. It is matte black with a silver handle.

This coffee machine is quite compact. Because it is merely 12 inches tall, it fits perfectly on my countertop. I do not need to pull it out from underneath the top cabinet.

1128B is made primarily with plastic. This is no different from most other coffee makers, including best k-cup coffee makers. Upon closer inspection, plastic does not look to be of highest quality.

Voltage: I was not able to identify suitable voltage for 1128B. I am fairly certain that it is compatible with 120V, and can be used in Canada and the US only.

Beverage size: To be honest, 1128B is mesmerizing in terms of the beverage size variety. For such a small and compact k-cup coffee maker, 1128B competes ferociously with Keurig, Cuisinart and Black and Decker. Oda Kitchen offers 6 beverage sizes: 6oz, 8oz, 12oz, 14oz and 16oz. This is very generous. Because of the structure, this k-cup coffee maker can accommodate a 5.5 inch tall mug.

Weight: Along with its entire compact structure, the 1128B is fairly light-weight. It weighs about 7 pounds. I found it easy to lift or move on the counter. It shouldn’t be a problem for most people.

Unit size: Oda Kitchen’s 1128B is small and compact, and I LOVE it. It measures merely 11.5 x 6 x 12.5 inches. It fits into my counter space very nicely. Because of a special design, the k-cups are replaced simply by pulling out the drawer horizontally. There’s no need for extra space, as it is the case with most Keurig machines. Further, a removable water reservoir can be easily re-filled, without the need of pulling the entire unit from underneath the top cabinet.

Additional perks: For such a compact k-cup coffee maker, Oda Kitchen offers a couple of features that I find quite useful. Though there’s no match with the best k-cup coffee maker, 1128B offers an interesting set for some consumers.

First, 1128B is a largely one touch operation. I found it extremely easy to use. All I had to do was select a brewing size, followed by powering it on. I can imagine this might be a great feature for a lot of folks out there.

Second, 1128B comes with a 50oz removable reservoir. Unlike Mr Coffee’s BVMC-SC100-2, I can make my water refills less frequent by storing water in the removable reservoir.

Third, Oda Kitchen is partly programmable, with an auto-off only. Though not as ideal as fully programmable units, I find it quite useful that this k-cup coffee machine turns off shortly after the brewing comes to a complete stop. I noticed that other coffee makers take anywhere between 30 minutes to 60 minutes, which, in my opinion, simply wastes energy. 10 minutes seem quite optimal for me.

While 1128B is compatible with most K-cup coffee makers, I was not able to make environmentally conscious k-cups work. For instance, I tried San Francisco Bay One Cup, which did not seem compatible with 1128B.

Again, Oda’s Kitchen 1128B is a simple, small and handy k-cup coffee maker. I think this model would thrive in college dorms, for active individuals and some elderly people.

Brewing time: I noticed that the brewing time understandably depends on the coffee size. For larger beverage sizes, it took me between 2.5 to 3 minutes, while smaller 2 to 2.5 minutes.

Flavor: 1128B does the trick with coffee flavors. I think that coffee was refreshing, strong and flavorful. Though not as rich or deep as with the best k cup coffee maker, I was rather satisfied with flavors!

Temperature: Temperature is one area where Oda Kitchen can make some significant investments in. In my repeated tests, water reached merely 165-170 Fahrenheit degrees. This is well below the minimum for the perfect coffee beverage, which is between 195 to 205 degrees. With such a low brewing temperature, coffee comes out more bland.

Noise levels: I did not notice any unusual noises. I was able to hear a sound letting me know the water was heating up, but other than that, there were typical k cup coffee maker sounds.

I feel that Oda Kitchen has a lot of room for improvement in terms of transparency. I have not been able to find manuals or any information regarding health and safety of 1128B k-cup coffee maker.

That said, I am not able to verify what plastics, chemicals or materials are used.

When it comes to safety and health, I prefer being cautious. I am going to assign 1 out of 20.

Users have reported just a couple of issues with the CM17005 k cup coffee maker. I want to believe that those issues seem to be an exception rather than the norm.

I’d like to flag some of those issues:

  • Stop dispensing water
  • Pump issues

The CM17005 k cup coffee maker offers an ok price-to-value ratio.

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Keurig® and K-Cup® are registered trademarks of Keurig Green Mountain Inc.

2020 Buyer’s guide for best k-cup coffee makers

The good in the k-cup coffee maker space

I continuously search for the best k-cup coffee maker on some of my favorite platforms, such as Wayfair, Amazon, Walmart or Bed Bath and Beyond. I found that there are just a couple of solid, reliable and high quality brands in the space. These brands include Bunn, Keurig, Cuisinart, Black and Decker, and Hamilton Beach. With years of experience under their belt, they have mastered the art of designing and manufacturing truly top k-cup coffee makers.

These brands typically focus on quality in product development. They have come up with strict policies to ensure perfection in development, engineering and quality. These products go through nearly endless cycles of testing before final designs are put together and sent to China for production.

Additionally, these brands have put in place a rather solid quality assurance. Through quality assurance, brands verify whether customer-ready products comply with the expected standards. This way, they ensure that the products made in Chinese manufacturing factories are flawless and ready for shipment to American customers. Though not every single unit is subject to quality assurance, this practice allows customers like you and I enjoy (mostly) reliable, long-lasting and functional single cup coffee makers.

The bad in the k-cup coffee maker space

Despite such a vast array of products available, I found a couple of issues in current product offering. My hope is that at least some of the brands will eventually solve some persistently re-occurring problems.

First and foremost, I have found that a vast majority of k cup coffee makers available in the market is NOT worth the money. When I searched for the best k-cup coffee machines, there was hundreds (if not thousands) of products to choose from. However, most of these products were not suitable to review, recommend or use. I found some of them to be unsafe, unhealthy, overpriced or simply trashy to use.

Second, most k cup coffee makers are made of plastic. Unfortunately, in most cases, this plastic comes into direct contact with boiling hot water. This is also true among some of the best k cup coffee makers. Though most of them are BPA-free (as specified by respective brands), it really does not matter to me. I’d personally rather not use products where boiling water comes into contact with plastic. Ever.

Why do I say that? Well, a BPA-free status does not guarantee that there are no other potentially dangerous and toxic plastics or chemicals. BPA must be somehow replaced by other types of plastic, right? Those alternatives to BPA may include, but are not limited to, BHPF (fluorene-9-bisphenol), TPP (triphenyl phosphate), and bisphenol S (BPS). Those types sound scary, and the government officials (hello, FDA!) likely get a lot of money from lobbying groups (on this in a separate post at a later date). The exact health effects of the BPA-substitutes, such as BHPF, TPP and BPS are unknown at this point. More independent research needs to occur.

Third, China. All of our top k-cup coffee makers are manufactured in China. We have tried to find single cup coffee makers made in the US or European countries, but that has proved to be impossible. While we are happy that the prices are lower (thanks to manufacturing in China), we would love to see some top k cup coffee machines manufactured in the West world.

Fourth, even the best k cup coffee makers struggle with heating up water sufficiently for a perfect coffee cup. The best brewing temperature of water for coffee should be between 195 F and 205 F. Unfortunately, a lot of single cup coffee machines are between 10 and 20 degrees lower than the recommended minimum. Only a handful of k cup coffee machines, especially those with temperature controls, got close to the perfect brewing temperature in my tests.

Price prognosis for single cup coffee makers in 2020

In 2020, retail prices of k cup coffee makers will likely go up by 10%-20%. What is going to cause this unfortunate price spike for end customers?

First, those famous tariffs on China will affect our pockets. From history lessons we know that neither manufacturers nor retailers are going to absorb costs of tariffs. The policy is not yet in effect, but stores like Amazon, Walmart or Kohl’s will slowly adjust prices, passing on additional costs to you. Since the vast majority of k cup coffee makers is produced in China, it will be end customers like you and I, who will pay for this new policy.

Second, manufacturers are margin-pressured. Manufacturers from the small kitchen appliance space struggle with very thin margins to make k cup makers fairly affordable for end customers. Additional pressures come from market dynamics, retailers (like Amazon or Target) and investors. Margins become thinner and thinner due to unfair competition from Chinese brands (more on this in a separate post at a later date), increasing manufacturing costs and pressures from retailers. The only way for manufacturers is to make slow yet gradual price increases.

The beginning of the year might be the best time to find out the best k-cup coffee maker for you or your family.

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