Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker Review

Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker Review Summary

The Keurig K-Mini coffee maker is small enough to fit into all your kitchen’s nooks and crannies — an underrated feature that matters if you have limited space. Although the K-Mini is compact, its features are surprisingly cool and nifty and more than justifies the price, in case you’re hesitant to spend on a mini coffee maker.

A highlight is an auto-off function that kicks in just 90 seconds after your last brew. Especially handy if you’re in a rush, it also makes for an energy-efficient machine. As a K-Cup coffee maker, the K-Mini takes all K-Cup-branded pods, or reusable filters if you prefer your coffee grounds.

Maintenance is minimal and the machine can fit seven-inch travel mugs, great for those who enjoy their coffee on the go and don’t want to waste time cleaning.

Overall, it’s an excellent coffee maker, but there are a few caveats. Firstly. it has a single-cup reservoir so you’ll have to refill it every time you make a brew.

Buyers should also note that the upgraded K-Mini Plus model boasts features missing in the original K-Mini model reviewed here. The Plus version is more compact, has a removable reservoir, and a brew-strength control mechanism. But these features do mean the Plus will cost you more.

Overall, the K-Mini is proof that Keurig — the seventh-largest food and beverage company in the USA — means it when it says Keurig products are designed to satisfy all customer needs.

If all you need is a simple, small coffee machine, the K-Mini is a great choice.

Features and Benefits of the Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker

As a compact coffee maker, the Keurig K-Mini may be somewhat limited in its functionality, but that doesn’t mean you should disregard it. The K-Mini is a great choice, with features above and beyond its diminutive size. 

Let’s take a look at where this mini coffee maker shines.

Energy Saving Design

K-Cup coffee makers have a bit of a bad rap because they use plastic pods. The K-Mini goes some way toward compensating for this by being one of the most energy-efficient coffee makers on the market. And this translates to energy bill savings too.

Just 90 seconds after your last brew, this little machine will turn itself off. That’s some impressive energy conservation. Its auto-off function deploys faster than many other coffee makers, including hits from Keurig itself. Compare it to the K55 which only shuts off two hours after your last cup.

Good For Those On The Go

As a compact machine, the Keurig K-Mini is easy to transport. If you can’t bear to be without your coffee maker while away from home, taking this little guy with you on trips won’t be a hassle. Its size works in its favor here, of course, but so does its mere 4.6-pound weight.

The K-Mini also works quickly for a compact machine. Depending on your brew size, you could have a cup of coffee ready in under two minutes. Most reports mention an average brew time of 1.5 minutes, ideal if you’re rushing out the door.

Prefer to take your coffee with you when you leave the house? If so, the K-Mini is travel mug friendly. In fact, if you remove the drip tray, travel mugs as large as seven inches tall will fit. You won’t have to waste time transferring your coffee from a standard mug or compromise when it comes to size — and everyone knows coffee size matters.

Single-Button Operation

Some coffee makers are downright confusing to use, or near-impossible to operate without poring over an instruction manual. The Keurig K-Mini is not one of those machines. To get coffee fast, all you have to do is add water, insert your K-Cup, and push the button.

The K-Mini’s incredibly simple single-button operation makes it a great gift for those who love coffee but aren’t tech-savvy. There’s little room for error when using this machine, and its design is eminently user-friendly. So go ahead and buy your parents a K-Mini, we promise you won’t have to spend hours explaining how the unit operates!

Maintenance Is Easy

Sure, there are extra steps because the only removable part is the spill tray, but cleaning this machine is still extremely easy because there’s so little of it to clean. Although you’ll have to go in with a cloth, maintenance isn’t difficult and won’t cost you much time either.

Outside of making it shine, the most effort you have to put into the K-Mini is discarding your K-Cup once it’s used.

Another nifty feature is that a cord storage slot is built into the machine, so when your K-Mini is idle or packed away, you won’t have an unsightly cable in the way.

You Get Variety

Since the K-Mini is a K-Cup coffee maker, you can brew all the K-Cups that fit in the unit. It’s worth noting that the K-Mini doesn’t have an iced function, but you can brew tea and cocoa K-Cups with this machine.

If that doesn’t suit your fancy, remember that the K-Mini accommodates K-Cup Reusable Filters, meaning you can brew fresh grounds if you prefer.

Just because this coffee maker is mini doesn’t mean that it can’t keep up with larger, more advanced models.

Style Options

There are quite a few color options for you to pick from, including black, dusty dose (pink), dreamy blue, oasis (teal), and studio gray. Coffee machines tend to have generic designs because of their mechanics, so it’s always a nice touch when the aesthetics are jazzed up.

The color options look great and are bound to fit into any kitchen’s style, be it modern, classic, minimalist, or country.

Choice In Brew Size

A shared trait with many other Keurig machines, the K-Mini coffee maker can make different brew sizes, ranging from 6 to 12 ounces. Remember that your brew time is affected by this — a bonus if you prefer small drinks as your coffee is ready faster.

A trick I learned is that the larger the brew, the less concentrated the coffee. Even though you don’t have any strength options with the K-Mini per se, you can work around it by choosing smaller doses for a flavor boost.

Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker FAQs

Does the Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker Use Regular K-Cups?

Yes, the Keurig K-Mini can take all K-Cups, including those for tea and cocoa. Note that this does not include K-Carafe or K-Mug pods.

How Long Will My Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker Last?

The average lifespan of all Keurig machines is five years, with proper maintenance and use. Your K-Mini comes with a one-year limited warranty upon purchase.

Can the Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker Brew Espressos?

Unfortunately not but it does make concentrated coffee from pods. You can also use tea and cocoa K-Cups or brew coffee from fresh grounds using a K-Cup Reusable Filter.