The Best Keurig Coffee Maker for Small Office
Remember back in the day when offices used to brew coffee that would sit on the burner all day? With every passing hour, that coffee would become more burnt and bitter. And then it would be offered to clients and visitors. Yeah, not a good first impression.
Fortunately, Keurig coffee makers came along and revolutionized office coffee. Now, fresh cups of coffee and other drinks can be brewed on the spot, and Keurig machines are in offices worldwide. Nevertheless, with so many different models available, finding the best Keurig Coffee Maker for small offices is no easy task.
That said, we’ve done our research and put this guide together to help you decide on which Keurig coffee maker is right for your small office. Let’s dive right in! In this article, we will be reviewing the following Keurig coffee makers:
IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
---|---|---|
Our Top Pick |
| VIEW LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON → |
| VIEW LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON → | |
| VIEW LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON → | |
| VIEW LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON → | |
| VIEW LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON → | |
| VIEW LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON → |
Things to Consider When Buying a Keurig Coffee Maker
Before we get into the Keurig coffee makers themselves, let’s talk about what to look for. There are many different Keurig models available and many key features to consider, including speed, size, user-friendliness, and drink types.
What Size is the Coffee Maker?
For starters, size is important. If your business is small, there’s a good chance your office space is not very big either. For this reason, it’s critical to think about the size of your break room, waiting area, or office where you intend to put your new Keurig.
If you have plenty of space, then this may not be anything to worry about. Nevertheless, think about how much workspace you’re giving up if you plan on setting up the best coffee maker on your desk or allowing employees to brew their own coffee.
How Fast Can the Keurig Brew?
Many times, breaks may be structured, or employees may only have a few minutes to brew their coffee before an important conference call. When this is the case, the last thing you want is to spend your entire break waiting for a slow coffee maker.
It’s vital to find a coffee maker that can brew as quickly as possible, so you don’t end up with a bottleneck of thirsty employees all trying to get their required morning joe. That said, all Keurigs are pretty fast, but it’s still a factor worth considering. Some Keurig coffee makers can brew a cup in under 60 seconds.
Is the Coffee Maker User-Friendly?
You and other employees in the office may not be coffee experts. That’s okay; no one is expecting you to be. However, choosing a coffee maker with too many buttons and features can be confusing for everyone involved.
Fortunately, there are simple Keurigs available with only one or two buttons. Of course, the customization options are also nice to have, such as adjustments for the coffee temperature and strength. It’s up to you to decide what you think your office can handle.
What Kinds of Drinks Can the Keurig Brew?
Just like Starbucks and other coffee shops, Keurig offers much more than coffee. You can get K-cups for hot chocolate, tea, and other drinks as well. This is a fantastic feature because it doesn’t leave any of your employees out, even those who don’t drink coffee.
What’s more, some Keurigs can even make iced drinks and specialty beverages like cappuccinos. Picking a Keurig coffee maker with some of these features can add something extra to the office environment.
Where Does the Keurig Get Its Water Supply?
Another thing to consider is where the water for your new coffee maker is coming from. Some have plumbing hookups, so they don’t need to be refilled all of the time, but this may not be an option for many offices.
Most Keurigs use a water tank, but it’s worth thinking about how you’re going to fill it up, especially if you don’t have a sink readily available in the break room. Too small of a tank could mean you’ll be dropping everything you’re doing to fill it back up all of the time. That said, some Keurigs have large tanks and reservoirs to help with this situation.
Can the Coffee Maker Brew Single Cups or Carafes?
Back in the day, it used to be the first person’s job to arrive at work to brew up a pot of coffee for the office. Many Keurigs can do that same thing, but you may end up pouring leftovers down the drain if you brew too much coffee at once.
Because of this, brewing single cups to order is an excellent option to consider. When everyone has the freedom to brew their own coffee or other drink to their exact preference, everyone’s happy—including visitors, meeting attendees, or anyone on break.
Does the Keurig Take Coffee Grounds or Pods?
The cup pods or K cup pods used to brew coffee with a Keurig are its big selling point. The K-cups offer flexibility not seen on other types of coffee makers, enabling you to make coffee, tea, cocoa, and more.
That said, you may be a couple of coffee connoisseurs in your office who prefer freshly-ground coffee. If this is the case, most Keurigs will take coffee grounds using the My K-Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filter. Here are some great tips to know about Keurig coffee makers.
Choosing the Best Keurig Coffee Maker for Small Offices
Okay, now that we have a little better idea of what we’re looking for, let’s examine some of the best Keurig coffee makers around. The following are some of our favorites.
1. Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker – Our Top Pick
The Keurig K-Classic is a simple and small coffee maker. It brews a single cup ranging from 6 oz. to 10 oz. It has a large, 48 oz. reservoir that can brew six or more cups of coffee back to back.
The K-Classic is perfect for your personal office. Its small size enables you to put it on the corner of your desk or any small table, and you’ll be able to brew cups as you need them. It’s straightforward to control and does what it says on the tin.
That said, the K-Classic doesn’t have options for customization, so you can’t control the temperature or the strength of the coffee it brews. For the most potent brew, you can use the 6 oz. size, but other than that, it simply brews coffee one cup at a time.
Basically, if you like simplicity and want your coffee maker to work without all of the frills, the K-Classic is perfect. You can’t brew a carafe of coffee with it, so it’s not ideal for the break room, but it’s still excellent for personal use or one-on-one meetings. Plus, it has descaling functionality to keep it clean.
Pros
- Simple and easy to clean
- Large (48 oz.) water reservoir
- Easy to use button control
- Brews different sizes of K-cups
- Works with a 7″ travel mug
Cons
- A bit noisier than some coffee makers
- Does not have a “strong” coffee mode
2. Keurig K250 Coffee Maker
The K250 is a classic Keurig model with the functionality you might expect. It’s versatile and can brew different cup sizes, from 6 oz. to 16 oz. or an entire carafe of up to 30 oz. It also dispenses hot water for making oatmeal or instant noodles, which is nice to have.
The Keurig K250 has touch screen control to adjust brewing sizes and pick your coffee’s strength. It’s easy to figure out how to use, even if it’s your first time trying it out. Plus, it has a removable water tank, so it’s easy to refill.
That said, the K250’s water tank holds 40 ounces of water, which is enough for about 4 cups. That’s not bad, but you’re still going to need a readily available water source nearby to refill it if your office drinks a lot of coffee or is hosting a big meeting, and everyone’s thirsty.
Still, the Keurig K250 can brew K-cups, and ground coffee is not overly broad (9 by 15 inches, with a height of just under 14 inches), and comes in a bunch of different colors so you can snazz up the office. Personally, I like the turquoise, but that part is up to you.
Pros
- Brews coffee in under a minute
- A good reservoir of water
- Makes a variety of different sized drinks
- Simple LCD touchscreen
- Removable drip tray
- Descaling feature for cleaning
Cons
- No temperature control feature
- Doesn’t have auto-on
3. Keurig K575 Coffee Maker
If you like the K250, but it isn’t quite big enough for you, the K575 may be just what you’re looking for. It has a large 80 oz. tank capable of brewing 10 or more cups of coffee before it needs to be refilled, which can be a lifesaver in the mornings or when everyone rushes the break room at once.
On top of that, it can brew single cups and carafes of many different customizable sizes. It has an extra-large color touch screen control panel with various settings for brewing each cup to someone’s personal preference, including strength control and five different temperatures to choose from.
Like most Keurigs, it provides hot water on demand for instant noodles or oatmeal. It takes all sizes of K-cups and K-carafe cups. Plus, it comes in several different nightlight colors to choose from for dark offices and as a convenient light source.
Overall, the Keurig K575 is sleek, reasonably easy to use, and versatile. It has programmable controls that are made simple by its large 2.8″ color touch screen. Its size is compact and can easily be placed in a corner or even on a filing cabinet.
Pros
- One of the quietest Keurig coffee makers available
- Large water reservoir for 10+ cups
- Brewing preferences can be customized
- Sleek, stylish appearance
- 2.8″ color touchscreen controls
- Brews high-quality coffee
Cons
- It takes close to 3 minutes to brew the first cup
- Not compatible with Keurig 1.0 pods (need 2.0)
Here is a list of comparison articles between Keurig models which you may find interesting.
4. Keurig K-Duo Coffee Maker
No matter how small your office is, you’re still bound to be busy. Being able to brew coffee quickly and efficiently is a must. The good news is that the Keurig K-Duo enables you to brew both a carafe and a single cup simultaneously.
The K-Duo is a good choice if you plan to have your coffee maker in your office. That way, you can brew a carafe and your own personal cup first thing when you get to work. Early morning meeting? No problem. The coffee is brewed and ready to share.
While the K-Duo does not have touchscreen controls like the K250 and K575, it more than makes up for it with simple controls that anyone can use. The buttons on the top of the coffee maker are pretty self-explanatory, and two different chambers take K-cups and K-carafes, fed by a reasonable 60 oz. reservoir.
Personally, this is one of my favorites as the single-cup feature can be programmed to brew an extra-strong, more-intense cup of joe. You can also set a timer up to 24 hours in advance to begin brewing even before you get to the office. So, if you don’t like to wait, the K-Duo offers you some options and can provide you with a solid jolt to get you moving.
Pros
- Single-cup (K-cup) and carafe functionality at the same time
- Variable beverage sizes
- Programmable 24 hours in advance
- Elegant design
- All about convenience
Cons
- No temperature controls
- Plastic feels cheap
5. Keurig K155 Office Pro Commercial Coffee Maker
The Keurig K155 is specifically designed for the office, meaning it can accommodate multiple single cups frequently, one after the other. It has an impressive silver design that will fit right in with your modern office, and a touchscreen interface for customized settings.
The K155 can brew different sized cups up to 10 ounces and has a nice, large water tank that holds 90 oz. of water and brew up to 18 cups before it needs to be refilled. The tank is easily removable and can be filled up anywhere that’s convenient for your office.
The touchscreen interface enables people to control the coffee’s temperature and strength, which is a nice touch for the office. What’s more, it brews each cup in less than a minute. So, even if there’s a line of thirsty people hoping to get their cup of morning coffee, they won’t have to spend their entire break waiting.
Another good thing about the K155 is that it has a draining feature for the reservoir and the internal tank and tubing. This feature enables you to drain your coffee maker so that you can move it to a different part of the office, such as into a meeting room, or even take it with you somewhere else.
Pros
- A stylish look for any office
- Makes a variety of drinks (not just coffee)
- Brews each cup in under a minute
- Very quiet
Cons
- The water reservoir needs to be cleaned frequently
- Sometimes needs to be reset after prolonged use
6. Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker
Last, but certainly not least, we have the Keurig K-Elite. This coffee maker can do just about anything you want it to. It offers a lot of different choices and customization settings, including a dedicated iced coffee option.
Over the years, Keurig has slowly tweaked and edited its technology to make its controls suitable for everyone, and the K-elite nails it. Foregoing the touchscreen controls for standard buttons makes even the most technologically-challenged among us able to use it. And, despite its lack of a touchscreen, it keeps its functionality.
The K Elite has a classic Keurig style and a water filtration system for making the best Keurig coffee. It’s an elegant machine that can brew a cup of coffee in under a minute. Plus, it has a 75 oz. water reservoir so it can brew up to 8 cups before it has to be refilled.
The K-Elite also has a removable drip tray, an automatic reminder to let you know when it needs cleaning, and quiet brew technology so you can hardly hear it when it’s working. All in all, the K-Elite is one of the best Keurig for office.
Pros
- Large (75 oz.) water reservoir
- Dedicated iced coffee button
- Auto on and off
- Easy to use button controls
- Don’t have to wait for the machine to warm up
Cons
- A little large, so it takes up a fair amount of space
- Offers so many choices that your coworkers may spend too much time fiddling with it
- Does not brew carafes
Conclusion
The truth is, I used to be a tea guy. It wasn’t until 2004 or so that I got into coffee and never looked back. Since then, it’s become a bit of an obsession, and getting my coffee both at home and in the office is crucial, which is where Keurig comes in.
Keurig offers convenient, freshly-brewed coffee at the office. To find the best Keurig coffee makers for small offices, seriously consider any of the ones above. That said, our winner is the Keurig K-Classic.
The reason the K-Classic is our favorite is its versatility and ease of use. Not only can it brew iced coffee (which I love), but it enables you to control the temperature of your coffee and its strength. On top of that, it can brew up to eight cups back to back. It’s efficient, convenient, user-friendly, and it does exactly what your next office Keurig should.
Alternatively, you might want to check out the Nespresso machines which are also suitable for small offices.