Whoever said happiness is homemade must have been referring to the Keurig K-Cafe brewer. With the ability to home brew delicious coffee, lattes and cappuccinos at the press of a button, it is no surprise that the K-Cafe is a Keurig fan favorite! Today Cozy provides you with a Keurig K-Cafe review.
Features | Keurig K-Cafe |
Drink Sizes | 6, 8, 10 and 12 Ounces |
Water Reservoir | 60 Ounces |
Milk Frother | Yes |
Coffee Shot Option | Yes, 2 Ounces |
Auto Off | Yes, 2 hours after last drink is brewed |
Dimensions | 12.5” H X 15.3” W X 11.7” D |
Colors | 2, Charcoal and Nickel |
Contents
Similar to other popular Keurig models, the K-Cafe offers a simple solution for those who want the ability to easily brew a wide variety of coffee drinks using minimal steps. It also is the only Keurig Coffee Brewer on the market that comes equipped with a built in milk frother!
The K-Cafe offers several handy and unique coffee brewing options so you can truly make the most out of all of your home brews.
Keurig K-Cafe Review
Keurig K-Cafe is an innovative single serve brewing machine that creates coffee shop quality drinks at the press of a button. With multiple drink brewing options, the sky is truly the limit when it comes to crafting your favorite drink. In fact, the K-Cafe offers more features than any other Keurig model available on the market.
Keurig is often known for convenience, and the K-Cafe upholds this reputation. In addition to multiple brewing features, the K-Cafe also offers one touch brewing, an integrated milk frother and dishwasher safe components. Brewing drinks and cleaning up have never been so easy!
Like any kitchen appliance the K-Cafe has pros and cons to consider. Below Cozy tells you all about what we like and what you should be aware of when looking to purchase a K-Cafe:
Pros
- One touch brewing
- Built in milk frother
- Hot and cold milk frothing options
- The ability to brew multiple drinks and drink sizes
- K-Cup compatible
- Easy to use, despite many features
- Easy to clean including a dishwasher safe milk frother
Cons
- Does not brew “real” espresso
- Larger machine, may not work well in small spaces
- No programmable options
Keurig K-Cafe Buyers Guide
Brewing Options
Like all Keurig machines the K-Cafe is easy to use and creates coffee quickly at the push of a button. What sets the K-Cafe apart from other Keurig brewers is the wide variety of brewing options that are available while still being one of the easiest machines on the market to use.
In Cozy’s coffee drinking opinion, the versatility in drinks that you are able to brew with the K-Cafe, is the largest selling point as to why you should consider buying this Keurig brewing model.
Strong Brew Button
With the K-Cafe you have several basic drinks you can brew and then customize to meet your flavor, size and strength preferences. With the K-Cafe, you have the option to brew classic coffee or you can opt for a stronger brew by selecting the Strong Button on the K-Cafe.
The strong brew feature slows down the brew cycle, keeping the hot water in contact with the coffee grounds for a longer period of time. This results in a stronger, more robust and flavorful cup.
Latte and Cappuccino
If you are craving a drink that requires espresso for the base such as a latte or cappuccino, the K-Cafe comes with a shot button option as well. The shot feature brews 2 ounces of concentrated coffee that can be used to craft any milk based coffee drink you are craving. However, if you are wanting a real espresso experience with the same convenience Keurig provides then check out the top Nespresso models.
The 2 ounce shot is also a great feature to use when brewing a drink over ice, such as an iced coffee drink. In addition to the 2 ounce shot, the K-Cafe also offers 4, 6, 10, or 12 ounce brew sizes. The K-Cafe also has a removable drip tray that makes room for larger cups or travel mugs.
Brewing a latte or cappuccino is very user friendly and foolproof with the K-Cafe, and consists of three easy steps. First, brew a coffee shot using your preferred K-Cup. You will then froth your preferred milk in the integrated milk frother (more on that feature below). Then add the frothed milk to the coffee shot and the process is complete! A hot and foamy drink is in your hand in a matter of minutes, no barista required.
It is important to note that the K-Cafe coffee maker does not brew traditional espresso. Instead, it brews espresso style drinks. This is because the Keurig does not have the ability to pressure brew espresso, so instead it utilizes Keurig brewing technology to brew a stronger more concentrated coffee that mimics a classic espresso flavor.
For those who want the occasional espresso drink, the K-Cafe can satisfy your espresso needs. However, if you are looking for a more serious and traditional espresso brewing machine with a one touch brewing design, Cozy recommends you consider a Nespresso Machine.
Milk Frother
The integrated milk frother on the K-Cafe is a feature that makes purchasing this machine worth every penny. Its simple design makes it easy to use and allows you to create delicious barista level drinks at home.
Like the Keurig K-Cafe, the milk frother works with a push button. To use you simply add in your preferred milk and select your froth option. The milk frother has a hot froth option for warm drinks and a cold froth option for making iced drinks. The frother is designed to froth a variety of fresh milk types including skim, soy and almond.
The kind of milk that is used in the frother will determine the kind of foam you get. Some Keurig users have logged complaints regarding the frother not working properly but this may be largely due to the large variety of milk available on the market. You may need to try a few varieties to find the one that produces froth to your liking.
The integrated milk frother has two components: a heating element and a frothing cup. The frothing cup has two measuring lines to aid in adding your desired amount of milk. The frothing cup also comes with a lid to ensure no messes are made while the milk is frothing. To make clean up as easy as possible, the cup is dishwasher-safe.
Keurig K-Cup Pods
The K-Cafe is compatible with all K-Cups and pods. With over 400 different varieties and 60 different brands of K-Cups there is an endless selection of drinks that can be created.
The K-Cafe is also compatible with the K-Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filter which is the only Keurig approved reusable filter. The K-Cup Universal Coffee Filter allows you to utilize your own coffee beans when brewing with your Keurig and is more environmentally friendly than traditional K-Cups which are thrown away after one use.
Not sure which K-Cups to try first? Be sure to check out our top picks for the strongest K-Cups, Kona K-Cups, and Hot Cocoa K-Cups.
Water Reservoir
The K-Cafe comes equipped with a large 60 ounce water reservoir. This is a great feature for those who do not want to have to constantly refill the water reservoir between brewing cups. The water reservoir is fully removable and has a handle for easy transport.
Design
The overall design of the Keurig K-Cafe is modern, however, with the built in milk frother it is oddly shaped when compared to traditional Keurig brewers. With the built in water reservoir on the left, the pod brewer in the center and the frother on the right the overall design is slightly asymmetrical. This can present a challenge in smaller kitchens.
If you prefer a smaller, more streamlined design, we recommend you check out the Keurig Mini Plus.
Cozy’s Bottom Line
If you are in the market for an easy to use machine that gives you versatility in drinks at the press of a button then Cozy’s Keurig K-Cafe review shows this is the perfect option for you! The built in milk frother allows you to take any coffee creation to the next level, while still maintaining the convenience and functionality Keurig is known for. Dishwasher safe components make cleaning up as easy as possible, so you can spend your time enjoying your drink versus cleaning up after you brew.
For those who wish to brew traditional espresso and espresso drinks the K-Cafe may not meet your needs. If looking for a single serve brewer that can make a classic shot of espresso that more closely mirrors the stronger taste espresso is known for then you should check out a Nespresso brewer instead. Cozy recommends you start with the Nespresso Creatista.
EIther way, Cozy is confident the perfect brewer is out there for you. Happy caffeinating!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What types of drinks can I brew with the Keurig K-Cafe Coffee Brewer?
A: The K-Cafe coffee maker brews coffee, lattes and cappuccinos using any K-Cup pod.
Q; Can I adjust my brew size with the K-Cafe?
A: Yes, you can. The K-Cafe has four cup sizes: 6, 8, 10 and 12 ounces. The K-Cafe also brews a 2 ounce shot that can be used to make cappuccinos and lattes.
Q: Can I use the Keurig Universal Reusable Coffee FIlter with the K-Cafe?
A: Yes, the K-Cafe is compatible with the Keurig Universal Reusable Coffee Filter.
Q: What type of milk should I use in the K-Cafe Milk Frother?
A: The Keurig K-Cafe is designed to froth fresh milk. Whole milk will produce a thick creamy foam, whereas low-fat and skim milk will create a higher volume of foam with large air bubbles. Soy milk and almond milk will also froth and can be used in the K-Cafe milk frother as well.
Q: Can I fill a large travel mug when brewing with the K-Cafe?
A: Yes, you can. The K-Cafe is designed with a removable drip tray that allows room for brewing in bigger mugs.
Q: Does the Keurig K-Cafe have auto shut off?
A: Yes, the Keurig is programmed to shut off automatically two hours after the last brew. You can opt to turn this feature off on the machine.
Q: Does the Keurig K-Cafe brew traditional espresso?
A: No, the K-Cafe coffee maker does not brew traditional espresso. Keurig brewers do not have the ability to pressure brew espresso, so instead utilizes Keurig brewing technology to brew a stronger more concentrated coffee that mimics a classic espresso.
Q: What is the difference between a latte and cappuccino?
A: A cappuccino is a layered drink that contains an even amount of espresso, steamed and foamed milk. A latte is a blended drink that has more steamed milk than a cappuccino and a light layer of foam.
Final Thoughts
The Keurig K-Cafe combines convenience and versatility into a machine that can brew it all! For a complete review of Keurig Coffee Brewers be sure to visit Cozy’s Comparison of Keurig Models.
Happy Brewing!