As far as coffee machines go, Keuring is one of the most well-known brands and easily wins the single-serving coffee-making popularity contest. Not only are their machines perfect for office or at-home use, but with the K-Mini or K-Mini Plus, they also make ideal traveling companions.
If you have been considering getting a Keurig for the first time or upgrading your K-Mini to the new K-Mini Plus, you may be wondering what the heck the differences are between these two twin-like machines.
I can assure you, there are differences. But, you may be surprised to know the differences are rather subtle. That doesn’t mean one won’t sway you over another. It just means, well, the differences aren’t huge.
Let’s get into it.
Keurig K-Mini vs. K-Mini Plus – The Final Comparison
Keurig K-Mini |
Keurig K-Mini Plus |
|
Features |
K-Mini |
K-Mini Plus |
|---|---|---|
|
Travel Friendly |
✓ | ✓ |
|
Serving Sizes |
6, 8, 10, and 12 oz |
6, 8, 10, and 12 oz |
|
Dimension |
11.3 x 4.5 x 12.10 inches |
11.3 x 4.5 x 12.10 inches |
|
Build Material |
Plastic |
Plastic |
|
Strong Brew Options |
– | ✓ |
|
Removable Water Reservoir |
– | ✓ |
|
Pod Storage |
– | ✓ |
|
Weight |
~ 1 kg |
~ 3 kg |
|
Price |
View Price on Amazon | View Price on Amazon |
Aesthetics – K-Mini Plus Wins with Its Silver Accents
The Keurig-Mini and the K-Mini Plus are almost identical as far as aesthetics go.
They both come in an array of colors, some of which are Black, Dusty Rose, and even Oasis Blue. They are also both compact and cute with the same sleek and modern look.
The one major aesthetic difference between these two cuties is the K-Mini Plus comes with a matte finish and has silver detailing on both the handle and drip tray.
Life-altering? No. But it does make the K-Mini Plus a tad more attractive than its counterpart.
The silver addition gives the K-Mini Plus that upgraded feel, so for aesthetics, the K-Mini Plus is the winner here.
Dimensions
As far as size goes, there is no longer a difference between these two machines.
The K-Mini at one time was a bit bigger, but it now can boast the same measurements as the K-Mini Plus: 11.3 x 4.5 x 12.10, which definitely evens the playing field.
With each of these machines being less than 5 inches wide, they are easy to store in any kitchen, any bedroom, or even in the back of your car.
Serving Size
As coffee lovers, and at times, addicts, we know the size of our coffee matters.
The K-Mini and K-Mini Plus can each handle between 6 oz, 8 oz, 10 oz, and 12 oz coffee cups.
They are also taller machines, making them capable of handling 7” travel mugs when the drip trays are removed.
Energy-Saving
Energy-saving modes are a popular feature of coffee-making gadgets because they are environment friendly.
Both the K-Mini and K-Mini Plus are considered energy-saving machines, with each having an auto-off feature that turns them off 90 seconds after your last brew.
You don’t have to do anything to make this happen. It is a completely automatic process.
Water Reservoir – Win for the K-Mini Plus
The water reservoir is one of the biggest differences between these K-Minis.
While each requires the water reservoir to be refilled for every cup of delicious java you brew, the K-Mini Plus has a removable water reservoir.
Not only does this addition make it more convenient to fill with water, but it also gives the K-Mini Plus a step up on being easier to clean.
Cord Storage
Cord storage is just plain convenient. Both these babies have places where their cords can be tucked away nicely.
K-Cups
As far as K-Cups are concerned, the Mini and the Plus can both use K-Cup pods and the K-Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filter (sold separately).
While they will brew the same tasting coffee…because they use the exact same pods, there is an additional feature of the Plus that does add to its coffee-making game: The strong brew option.
Additional Features of the K-Mini Plus
There are two other features of the K-Mini Plus that gives it an edge over the K-Mini:
- The Strong Brew option may be an extra button, but the strong brew option is essential if you like your coffee stronger. It is also a bonus feature if you like having an extra button to push, as well as having minor control over your coffee brewing process.
- The pod storage unit can hold up to 9 K-Cups which makes it a tad more convenient to travel with. Instead of throwing K-Cups in a bag, you can just stack them up in the storage unit and head out.
Final Verdict – K-Mini Plus is Worth It
Sometimes there are extra features on machines that just don’t make much sense and certainly don’t make up for any price differences.
The K-Mini Plus is not one of those machines.
While there is something to be said about the simplicity of a coffee maker that only requires one button to be pressed, the strong brew option is definitely enough to warrant a slight price increase on two already budget-friendly machines.
Not to mention, if you love toting your Plus around, the pod storage unit is just downright nice.
However, if you aren’t someone who needs a couple of extra bells and whistles and you don’t really care if your coffee is stronger than usual, the K-Mini is the machine for you.
Recommended: Pick The K-Mini Plus for its strong brew button, pod storage container, and removable water tank. Convenient, easy-to-use, and completely travel-friendly.
You may also be interested in:
Leave a Reply