Looking for an easy way to get your morning coffee? Of course, you are! Coffee makes the world go ’round, and while there’s nothing quite like sitting down at your favorite cafe with a barista-level cup of coffee, sometimes you just don’t have the time, the energy, or the money. Keurig has made a whole line of simple and effective home coffee makers, and having one in your kitchen will really speed up your morning and put a pep in your step.
Of course, if you’ve already started looking into a Keurig machine for your home, you’ve probably come across two of their products - the Keurig K Duo, and the Keurig K Duo Plus. As the names would imply, these two coffee makers are from the same line of products. If you’re wondering which one is a better fit for your coffee, then you’re in luck. We’ve made this article specially for you to help you decide which Keurig coffee maker is just right to wake you up in the morning.
Keep reading to find out who wins in a battle of Keurig K Duo vs K Duo Plus!
Which One Is Bigger?
Coffee makers can take up a lot of room. If you have limited counter space, every inch counts. That’s why you might be wondering which of our two Keurig coffee makers is bigger. Surprisingly enough, despite its name, the Keurig K Duo Plus is actually smaller (in width) than the standard K Duo. The Keurig K Duo Plus features measurements of 14.19 inches tall x 8.2 inches wide x 11.7 deep while the larger K Duo dual coffee maker checks in at 12.92 inches tall x 10.94 inches wide x 12.76 inches deep. Since horizontal space is (usually) at more of a premium than vertical space, the K Duo Plus is going to be the more convenient option for most customers.
The reason that the K Duo Plus manages to be smaller than its counterpart is that it features a more multifunctional design. The standard Keurig K Duo, as a dual coffee maker, has two different filling stations - one for single-serve mugs and one station for carafe brewing. On the other hand, the Keurig K Duo Plus comes with just one filling station that’s compatible with both single-serve mugs and cups as well as larger carafes.
Plus, the movable water reservoir that’s exclusive to the K Duo Plus means you can arrange your kitchen however you want. You’re getting all of the pros without the cons. If you want to save space, either because you have or smaller counter or because you just hate clutter, you have to go with the Keurig K Duo Plus for your kitchen.
Which Is Better for Hosting?
If you want to host a little get-together, then the K Duo Plus is probably, once again, superior to the “regular” Keurig K Duo. This is not because of the actual coffee makers, but because of the carafes that they come packaged with. The Keurig K Duo dual coffee maker comes with a glass carafe that’s been known to spill a little, so if you’re going to be serving coffee to a lot of people, you might not want to rely on it too much.
On the other hand, the premium-grade Keurig K Duo Plus comes with a stainless steel thermal carafe. On top of not having the same spillage problem as the standard K Duo’s glass carafe, this thermal carafe naturally holds heat in longer. So if you’re going to have one pot of coffee out for a while, this is definitely the better option.
Obviously, the carafe only really makes a difference if you’re going to be doing a lot of carafe brewing. If you’re going to be sticking to single-serve brewing, then you really don’t need to fuss over the difference between a glass carafe and a stainless steel thermal carafe. But if you plan on having guests, or if you just prefer to prepare a lot of coffee at once, then you’ll probably want to use your carafe and avoid preparing too many single-cup servings of coffee over and over again. And if you’re going to be using the carafe, then the K Duo Plus is the coffee maker that will make you the host with the most.
Which Is More Convenient?
This time around, it’s a tie! Both the Keurig K Duo and the K Duo Plus dual coffee makers are incredibly easy to use, whether you’re using your coffee maker for single-serve brewing or carafe brewing. The buttons are all clearly labeled and very intuitive, and both of our dual coffee makers support multiple single-cup sizes from 6 ounces up to 12 ounces.
But perhaps best of all, both of these Keurig dual coffee makers boast a 24-hour timer that lets you set everything beforehand and have your coffee exactly when you want it without lifting a finger. Just set the timer the night before and you can have the perfect cup of coffee hot and ready for you the second you wake up. What’s a better alarm than that?
If your big concern is convenience and having a coffee maker that’s easy to use, then you’ll have to go to a tie-breaker to make your decision, because both the K Duo and the K Duo Plus are just about as convenient and easy to use as they come. Other coffee makers simply pale in comparison.
Which Is Cheaper?
Unsurprisingly, K Duo Plus is the more expensive option of our two Keurig coffee machines. For that extra money, you’re getting a smaller and more flexible machine and a thermal carafe instead of a flimsier glass carafe. On top of that, the K Duo Plus also comes with a mesh filter, so you can say goodbye to single-use paper filters. Of course, if you don’t plan on using the mesh filter, then it doesn’t really add to the value of the Plus coffee maker.
Though the K Duo Plus is more expensive than the standard K Duo, most customers will probably find that the price is close enough that it’s worth it to splurge and go for the Plus. Of course, if the perks of the Plus just don’t speak to you, you might as well save a buck or two and stick with the default K Duo.
If you have some extra room on your counter and don’t really mind the glass carafe or using paper filters, then go with the K Duo. But if you want a compact machine and a reusable filter - you’ll probably save money (and the environment) down the line cutting out paper filters - then spring for the K Duo Plus.
Do I need K-Cup pods for the Keurig machines?
Anyone who’s familiar with a Keurig machine probably also knows about the K-Cup pods that a lot of Keurig products use. These little pods take care of just about everything for you, and they’re one of the easiest ways to make coffee. Of course, it’s a rather specific item for your grocery list, and you might not be able to easily find the pod you’re looking for. On top of that, they’re more expensive and wasteful than other types of coffee.
Luckily, it’s okay if you’re not a fan of the K-Cup pods. Both of our Keurig coffee makers are compatible with both coffee pods and standard ground coffee. This means you can pass on those pods and just make your coffee the old-fashioned way. No more combing the shelves or going out of the way to that specific grocery store that carries these pods. You can just pick up your favorite ground coffee - or even grind your own beans - and you’re good to go. As soon as you open up your Keurig coffee maker you’ll probably be able to figure out where to put the filter and the coffee, and you’ll be drinking piping hot coffee before you know it.
What filter do I need for my Keurig coffee maker?
As we mentioned earlier, the K Duo doesn’t come with any filter, while the K Duo Plus comes with a mesh reusable filter. However, both Keurig coffee makers are compatible with either the mesh filter or standard paper filters. The decision of which to use is up to you, and it really just comes down to pros and cons. A mesh filter will save you some trips to the store as you won’t need to buy more filters any time soon, but you may feel that a paper filter gets the job done just a little better. If you’re not sure, you can try both out and see for yourself which one you want more.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve learned everything you need to know about both the Keurig K Duo and its counterpart the K Duo Plus, it’s time to start splitting hairs and decide which one is best for you. We’ve done the dirty work for you and broken everything down into neat categories.
If you want the best value for your money, pick the Keurig K Duo Plus.
The price gap between these two products is just not that big. A few extra bucks for a better carafe, a mesh filter, and, most importantly, a superior machine is a pretty easy sell for most customers. If you’re more concerned with getting your dollar’s worth than saving every penny possible, then the K Duo Plus is the best choice for you.
If you need the smallest coffee maker, pick the Keurig K Duo Plus.
I’ve lived in big cities almost my entire life. I know what a tiny Brooklyn apartment looks like, and I know how important it is to have a good cup of coffee to get you through a busy city day. If you need a coffee maker that will fit on your already-cramped kitchen counter, you need to get the K Duo Plus.
On top of actually being the smaller machine (in width) out of our two Keurig products, the fact that the water reservoir moves on a swivel really goes a long way to helping you find a creative place to put this coffee machine. With a little thinking and effort, you won’t even notice this machine is there when you’re not using it.
If you want to keep the spending cheap, pick the Keurig K Duo.
We all have a lot of different expenses on our plates. If you really want to simply keep things cheap and you don’t mind a bulkier machine, then the K Duo is the right choice for you. The bottom line is that you’re getting the same easy-to-use design and great coffee no matter which coffee maker you buy. Isn’t that what really matters? Everything else is just a detail.
That brings us to the end of our comparison. It’s pretty easy to see why the Keurig brand name has almost replaced the generic term “coffee maker.” Both of these products are a fantastic addition to any kitchen. At the end of the day, I’d definitely recommend the K Duo Plus to most customers, as it just offers too much more for too little extra. The only reason to get the standard K duo is if you’re really focused on saving every dollar possible. Whichever product you decide to buy for your kitchen, we hope you enjoy the machine and the delicious coffee!
Click here to grab a Keurig K Duo at Keurig.com
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