In the grand scheme of things, Keurig is a relative newcomer to the home coffee maker market. Keurig has only recently risen above the competition to become the go-to choice for personal coffee machines and office caffeine hubs. Drip coffee makers reigned supreme before Keurig became a household name, and could be found everywhere from college dorms to your parents’ kitchen counter.
Keurigs and drip coffee machines share a lot of similarities. They both make regular cups of coffee rather than espresso, are automatic brewers, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to better or worse suit different people’s coffee needs. We’ll cut through the fluff and explain the basics of Keurig and drip machines, as well as assist you in deciding which is best for you. In this article, we examine two titans of the at-home coffee world, leaving no stone unturned as we weigh the pros and cons of each against the other. You do not want to miss out on this.
Keurig: A Quick Overview
First and foremost, there’s Keurig, the new kid on the block. These machines are well-known for their ease of use. We’re not exaggerating when we say that using a Keurig is the simplest way to make a cup of coffee. The Keurig business model is based on making coffee brewing as easy as possible. Many brewers refer to themselves as automatic, but there is no better word to describe a Keurig.
Everything Revolves Around The K-Cup.
The K-Cup is the key to Keurig’s unparalleled convenience. K-Cups are the coffee pods that are used in all Keurig machines to make coffee. Each K-Cup is sealed and contains a predetermined amount of coffee. To make coffee, simply remove the K-Cup from the package, place it in the machine, and press a button; that’s all there is to it. It doesn’t get much simpler than that.
When you’re finished, simply open the machine, remove the used K-Cup, and throw it away. One of the major disadvantages of Keurigs is waste. K-Cups are made of plastic, and if you drink as much coffee as we do, you might be concerned about the environmental impact of your coffee habit. There are reusable K-Cup adapters that you fill with coffee yourself that are excellent alternatives, but fiddling with a filter basket takes away a lot of what makes the Keurig so great in the first place.
Variety
Keurig has been releasing new models on a regular basis in recent years, so there’s bound to be one that appeals to you. There are models with multiple cup size settings, pre-heat and stay-warm modes, and pretty much anything else you can think of. There are ultra-lightweight Keurigs that make a single cup and nothing else, as well as full-fledged coffee stations that, if we asked nicely, might even make us dinner. The bottom line is that if you want something in a coffee maker, chances are a Keurig can do it.
How Much Do Keurigs Cost?
It depends, which is a vexing and unhelpful answer. Because there are so many different Keurig models to choose from, the price range is also quite broad. Keurigs, in general, are on the pricey side. Even for some of the more basic models, you can expect to pay a premium for the game-changing convenience and streamlined brewing that the Keurig brand is known for.
That isn’t to say they aren’t worth the money, but for those on a tight budget, you might be better off looking elsewhere.
Pros
- The ultimate in convenience
- There are numerous models to choose from
- As well as numerous K-Cup options.
Drip Coffee Maker Overview:
On the other hand, there are drip coffee makers. We should point out that this is a large category, so we’ll make some assumptions to keep things simple. We’ll only look at drip machines that make regular coffee. Some automatic coffee makers are included with a 2-in-1 espresso and coffee maker. We will not consider this style because those machines are truly unique.
“Regular” Coffee Maker
If someone told you they had a “regular” coffee maker, we’re sure you imagined a drip coffee maker. For decades, automatic drip machines have been a fixture on kitchen countertops. They’re dependable, simple to use, and produce good coffee.
There are many different types of drip coffee makers available, similar to Keurigs. There appear to be an infinite number of brands to choose from, and some brands even have multiple drip machine models. However, there are only a few features to look for in a drip machine; everything else is unnecessary noise.
Once you get used to it, a brew timer is a great feature that many people can’t live without. Waking up to fresh coffee is a treat, and the good news is that most drip machines now have one.
Another useful feature is the automatic shutoff. Some days are so crazy that we’re surprised we leave the house with our keys, let alone remember to turn off the coffee maker. This is a game changer for us because it could literally save your or your family’s life.
We don’t think there’s much else you need in a drip machine besides those two options.
Filters
The coffee in automatic drip machines must be filtered in some way. Historically, machines used single-use paper filters. Paper filters are inconvenient and inconvenient when compared to Keurig, and they are even more wasteful than K-cups.
Some drip coffee makers include permanent filter baskets, which we prefer. Unfortunately, the time you save by not having to deal with paper filters will be spent cleaning the filter basket. We’re willing to make this sacrifice, but it’s more complicated than the Keurig. You’re probably starting to notice a pattern.
Value
You’re probably thinking it’s a done deal and that Keurig is the clear winner because drip machines make similar quality coffee and are more inconvenient to use than Keurigs. The price is the final consideration that complicates matters. Drip coffee machines are less expensive than Keurigs, even for small, single-serve machines. We purchased the cheapest eight-cup machine we could find at our local big box store, and it worked perfectly. We’re not sure how long it will last, but it’s a fraction of the price of even a cheap Keurig.
Pros
- Very low cost
- The no-frills design is reliable.
- Auto-start and preheat functions are usually standard.
Cons
- Keurig is far less convenient.
- Choose between paper filters and difficult-to-clean filter baskets.
Conclusion
That’s all there is to it! We hope this comparison has helped you decide between Keurig and drip coffee machines. They fill a similar niche, but due to several key differences, which is best for you depends on how much money you’re willing to spend and how you intend to use your coffee maker.
If money is tight and price is a major consideration, a drip coffee machine is probably a better option. Automatic drip coffee makers are almost always less expensive than Keurig models, and any extra money you spend will go toward more features. On the other hand, if you value convenience and ease of use above all else, a Keurig is a no-brainer. We’ve only had one true one-button coffee-making experience, and it came from a Keurig.
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