Is A Keurig Worth It – An Honest Analysis By A Coffee Lover

Last updated on May 22nd, 2024 at 14:11

Before many people buy their K-Cup machines they are often asking themselves, “is a Keurig worth it?” It is an important question to ask and get the right answer.

And to be honest, few coffee brewing methods and machines are as polemic and polarizing as a Keurig single serving coffee maker.

Some people love them, others hate them.

So, is a Keurig worth it?

Keep reading to find out!

Is A Keurig Worth it?

Keurigs, as a quick brewing coffee machine that offers unparalleled convenience in brewing coffee and the coffee experience, is worth it in my opinion.

Guilty as charged, I own one! And yes, I love the convenience of brewing gourmet coffee in around 60 seconds.

However,

the machines can be expensive, significantly more than a drip coffee maker. The ongoing coffee pods. On the fair side, the cost per cup of coffee is cheap when compared to going to a coffee shop.

It all depends on what you want and what you value. If you love convenience, you will love a Keurig and a Keurig will be worth it for you.

If not,

Well, to put it plainly, it will not be worth it for you.

Read: How long do K Cups last?

Is The Keurig Starter Kit Worth It?

The Keurig starter kit is their loyalty program that offers you the opportunity to get your hands on a Keurig coffee maker for a big discount or even for free if you are committed to buying a minimum of four boxes of Keurig coffee K-cup pods every six weeks for a whole year.

That’s 96 Keurig K Cups every 42 days at a cost of US$45 to US$60 every 6 weeks. The price varies depending on which coffee pods you purchase. The price makes it cheaper than buying online at Amazon.

It works out as a good deal if you drink 2 or more cups of coffee daily. Also, you are saving around 25% on the cost of the coffee pods as well as getting 50% off or your Keurig machine for free.

The free offer is for the Keurig K-Select Brewer or the Keurig K-Mini. The other option is 50% off any other Keurig machine.

Considering they are heavily discounted I’d say the Keurig Starter Kit is worth it. It is a very good way to get started if you want a Keurig and you are into capsule based coffee.

Read: Can you use K Cups without machine

Is Keurig A Good Investment?

It depends on why you want a Keurig. If you want one to save you money on the gourmet coffee that is burning a hole in your pocket, then yes, it can be a good investment, but you will need to be disciplined and give up those Starbucks and in around 2 or 3 months, depending on your coffee consumption you will find a Keurig to be a good financial investment as it will save you money.

If saving time is why you want one, then yes, it will be a good “time investment” as a Keurig can brew coffee in around a minute at the push of a button.

The Convenience Of Keurigs

The main appeal of Keurig coffee makers is simply the ability to get great quality gourmet coffee but doing little other than pressing a button and getting it ready in only 60 seconds or less without the need for grinding coffee, figuring out the coffee to water ratio and all the technicalities of getting barista quality coffee at home.

Just pop in your capsule of choice, press a button and viola, a minute later, getting a hot coffee that is (almost) instantly ready.

Note: Keurig and K Cups are not instant coffee nor have instant coffee in the pods.

It is almost as easy (if not easier) than ordering a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

A Variety Of Coffee Drinks And Flavors

Keurig has a strong position in the market for single serving coffee makers in America with a 30% share. Thus, a number of coffee companies and brands have jumped aboard the bandwagon and have their coffee available as Keurig coffee pods.

• 1. Starbucks. 
• 2. Green Mountain Coffee Company. 
• 3. Peets.
• 4. Dunkin’ Donuts. 
• 5. Folgers
• 6. Angelino’s. 
• 7. Caribou Coffee

These are just 7 of the well-known companies and brands that are among the 60+ brands that offer 600+ different types and flavors of Keurig coffee makers.

You are not limited to only coffee, as hot chocolate, teas, herbal infusions and even fruit and berry type drinks are available also.

The Sustainability Problem Of A Coffee Pod Machine

Coffee pods, at one point, were not disposable and not at all environmentally friendly. Thankfully, this has changed a lot and continues to get better as time passes. Keurig as well as Nespresso have recycling programs that you can take advantage of and often use biodegradable materials.

K-cups and other coffee pods don’t make bad coffee; coffee snobs simply turn their noses up at them for reasons of coffee snobbery and the environmental issue, which is not something that you will get with a regular coffee maker be it a Chemex, a Siphon coffee or a pot of coffee made with a good old-fashioned dripper or percolator.

They simply don’t have issues related to wastage associated with the plastic body and foil lid. It was Cameron’s coffee that were one of the first to come out with compostable K-cups, which is an almost perfect sustainable option. Quickly after that, innovative companies started to develop reusable K-cups that permit coffee lovers to use their own coffee grounds and are a cheaper option.

It is, in my opinion, as you can use your own freshly ground single-origin specialty coffee beans and enjoy the kind of coffee that a coffee purist would make in your Keurig machine.

You can also adjust your coffee and enjoy stronger coffee by using more ground coffee beans and if you want, you can even make adjustments and start to get coffee shop quality coffee right at home.

Keurig Vs Home Espresso Machines

When you are brewing coffee with a Keurig when compared to a home espresso machine there is literally no contest when it comes to the quality of the coffee.

With a home espresso machine you a much better tasting coffee, and notably so. This is not to say that a Keurig or K-cups makes awful coffee, far from it as they are tasty. It is just a home espresso machine makes coffee that is significantly better.

Home espresso makers require a lot more effort and make you a whole range of coffee drinks absolutely perfectly, home barista skills permitting. A cappuccino, cortado, flat white, mocha, macchiato, espresso, and lattes are just some examples of what can be made with an espresso machine.

Keurig vs Drip Coffee

The debate about Keurig Vs Drip Coffee maker is one that is comparing the fastest coffee maker with the slowest. It is also a comparison of old-fashioned “boring” and average coffee with tasty, gourmet coffee of the new millennia!

Just about the only area where a drip coffee can beat a Keurig is volume. Drip coffee is great when you are brewing coffee for guests or a large group of people and you can have a batch of 10 to 12 cups ready and kept warm for refills.

The clear winner here for taste, quality and the simple one minute per cup brewing time is the Keurig.

Finally, let’s say you’re using a drip coffee maker. Drip coffee makers are the slowest of the lot, but their main advantage is being able to brew a large volume of coffee at once.

Keurig Vs French Press

The debate about Keurig Vs Drip Coffee maker is one that is comparing the fastest coffee maker with the slowest. It is also a comparison of old-fashioned “boring” and average coffee with tasty, gourmet coffee of the new millennia!

Just about the only area where a drip coffee can beat a Keurig is volume. Drip coffee is great when you are brewing coffee for guests or a large group of people and you can have a batch of 10 to 12 cups ready and kept warm for refills.

The clear winner here for taste, quality and the simple one minute per cup brewing time is the Keurig.

Finally, let’s say you’re using a drip coffee maker. Drip coffee makers are the slowest of the lot, but their main advantage is being able to brew a large volume of coffee at once.

Keurig Vs French Press

For the sake of clarity and honesty, I love French press coffee and, to be absolutely clear, it is by far the best manual coffee brewing method ever invented.

However,

the use case for a French press and a Keurig are two completely different. A French press coffee tastes perfect as you have full control over all the variables that influence the flavor of your brew. It is a brewing method that is really designed for single-origin coffee beans and specialty coffee beans.

The coffee tastes excellent and rich; you have full control. While the clear winner here is a French press, there is absolutely no reason why you should not and cannot own both.

A French press is not expensive to own and does take your coffee to the next level.

Is Keurig Losing Popularity?

Yes,

this does appear to be the case. There was once a time a couple of years ago that it felt like they were going to take over the coffee world and capsule coffee was going to see the end of instant coffee. Then, they decline slightly.

This always happens with fads the peak and trough. Sort of like fidget spinners a few years ago. Sales are said to be down some US$2 million per week.

Is Keurig Cheaper Than Buying Coffee?

No,

Keurig coffee machine (and Nespresso too) cost more up front and on an ongoing basis for your coffee capsules. On a per-cup basis, brewing coffee with a Keurig is more expensive.

Who Is Keurig’s Target Market?

Keurig’s target market appears to be the office user and middle class family that are hard-working and enjoy Starbucks coffee. It is those that enjoy that quality of coffee and want to experience it at home.

Frappé-Ing it All Up – Is A Keurig Worth It?

Ultimately, deciding if a Keurig is worth it for you is a decision that only you can make as it depends on your own circumstances and what you want a Keurig coffee maker for.

If it is to make that Starbucks quality coffee quickly and at home, then the answer is undoubtedly yes.

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