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The Keurig isn’t the only way to enjoy fresh, tasty coffee at the press of a button. The best Keurig alternatives offer state-of-the-art features.
When Keurig isn’t satisfying you, it’s natural to wonder if there could be better out there. For example, some drinkers don’t like the flavors Keurig has on tap. Others may be worried about their carbon footprint. The best Keurig alternatives come with a slew of features to fill in your coffee gaps.
We have the best Keurig alternatives below sorted by categories such as user-friendliness, environmental impact, size, color, and cost. Of course, we’ll look at how good the coffee is, too!
If you want a quick look at our top picks, check out these ten alternatives to Keurig below:
at a glance: Best Keurig Alternatives
What to Look For in a Keurig Alternative?
Keurig alternatives give you the ability to mix and match your features. While all of the models on this list won’t have every option, they usually have several!
Eco-Friendly Features
Some coffee fans have grown frustrated with Keurig’s lack of eco-friendliness. Simply put, Keurig capsules aren’t always easy to recycle and contribute to mounting global coffee waste.
A major reason why Keurig capsules are difficult to recycle is because of the cross-contamination of materials. Eco-friendly capsules keep things simple with materials like recycled plastic, paper, or pure aluminum. Other eco-friendly features include less water waste or less electrical output.
One of the most common ways to reduce your carbon footprint is with reusable capsules. These can last for years if you clean them regularly (and they let you choose your coffee grounds, to boot!).
While coffee capsules are sold separately from machines, we’ll note which Keurig alternatives use eco-friendly capsules.
Capsule Compatibility
Following the previous section, you should look for a wide variety of capsules. While capsules look similar to each other, they’re not always cross-compatible between machines.
The coffee pods you need to look out for are:
- 1.0, the coffee pod size from the original Keurig line-up
- 2.0, the coffee pod size from the updated Keurig barcode line-up
- Reusable pods, which you can add your grounds or tea leaves into
- Nespresso pods, coffee pods made for the Nespresso line-up
- Nespresso Vertuo pods, coffee pods made for the new Nespresso Vertuo line-up
Ease of Use
Do you feel weary at the prospect of fiddling with settings and learning new brewing methods? Look for Keurig alternatives with user-friendly features.
These features can include:
- Automatic shut-off
- An interface with bright buttons and easy instructions.
- Programmable cup size
Cost
The Keurig is pretty cost-friendly, ranging from $50 to $300. Not to be outdone, Keurig alternatives still provide flexible costs with the benefits of more unique features.
Our picks below are in the $40 to $200 range.
Size
Nothing’s more disappointing than finding a coffee maker that won’t fit on your shelf or desk. The best Keurig alternatives provide several sizes that seamlessly slot into your coffee-making routine.
Consider both height and width before purchasing. For example, a standard 12” height by 7” or 8” width fits onto most small kitchen counters.
Maintenance
If you don’t want to spend several minutes per week cleaning your coffee maker, put maintenance in your must-have feature category. Alternatives to Keurig still have many convenient options that let you extend the life of your machine.
Keep an eye out for time-saving maintenance accessories and features such as:
- Easy-to-clean water container
- Automated cleaning protocol
Coffee and Tea Quality
The definition of coffee quality varies from person to person. There are still a few ways to gauge how delicious a Keurig alternative can make your next cup.
Do you like to try lots of different blends and recipes? Look for a Keurig alternative that accepts many different kinds of pods. If you prefer to grind your coffee or provide your leaves, get a Keurig alternative that accepts reusable pods.
Other quality-based features that enhance the flavor of your cup include:
- Programmable heat
- Built-in water filters
- Fast warm-up time
Quick Overview: Our Top Picks for Best Keurig Alternatives
The Best Keurig Alternatives by Category
We want you to brew the most convenient and delicious drinks imaginable. Our top selections provide fantastic drink quality for a smart price as well as several useful features.
1. Best Well-Rounded Model: Mecity Coffee Maker 3-in-1 Single Serve Coffee Machine
Keurig alternatives sometimes have the strength of letting you make more than one style of coffee. The Mecity Coffee Maker lets you do K-Cups, ground coffee, and tea.
Everything about this model is easy to use. For starters, the sleek user interface is incredibly user-friendly. The Smart Flow Management system saves you time measuring water by providing pre-programmed 6 oz, 8 oz, or 10 oz sizes. You can also clean your coffee maker with its handy Descale Mode. Just remove the pods, hit the button, and let it do its job.
When you want good coffee pain-free, try the Mecity. This model delivers hot drinks in a matter of seconds and makes it easy to clean up afterward. You can also use reusable pods to reduce your carbon footprint!
Compatible Coffee Pods
- 1.0
- 2.0
- Reusable pods
We Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Beginner drinkers who want an easy brewing experience
- Fans of convenient coffee as well as ground coffee and tea
We Don’t Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Drinkers who need a larger water reservoir for an office or large family
- Anyone who wants more color options
2. Best Price and Size For Tight Budgets: CHULUX Coffee Maker
With a low price and small size, this Keurig alternative is a great fit for many lifestyles. You can easily slot the CHULUX Coffee Maker onto a cramped desk, small counter, or side table. It’s so small you can take it with you on trips.
This coffee maker is compatible with 1.0 and 2.0 coffee pods as well as reusable ones. While you won’t get pods with your purchase, CHULUX provides reusable pods separately.
Despite the small size, you can still make between a 5 oz and 12 oz cup of coffee. In just a few minutes, the water heats up and pours directly into a mug or carafe. There are several safety features built-in to protect your machine, such as an overheat shut-off and a heat indicator to keep you from touching a hot surface.
To top things off, you have plenty of charming colors to choose from such as periwinkle, brick red, and ginger orange. When you need to save money and save space, you’ll be well taken care of with CHULUX. If you need bigger sizes for higher volumes of coffee, keep on reading.
Compatible Coffee Pods
- 1.0
- 2.0
- Reusable
We Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Coffee drinkers on tight budgets
- Anyone who needs to save space or travel frequently
- Drinkers who want to choose several colors
We Don’t Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Drinkers who want to make larger volumes of coffee
3. Best Continuous Coffee Brewer: Chefman Instabrew Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer for K-Cup Pods
Do you continuously brew coffee throughout the day? The Chefman Instabrew makes it easy to indulge in your habit without constantly waiting for the heater to warm up.
This Keurig alternative provides Rapid Brew technology for constant brewing throughout the day. This feature is useful if you’re a regular drinker or have family members who want to join in. The sleek design and tiny size make it a seamless addition to kitchens, office spaces, and studios. You can also pack this away for travel and still have room to spare.
If you’re worried about being limited on coffee options, this brewer accepts all coffee pods as well as a reusable filter. The one-touch operation and water adjustment feature makes experimenting with your coffee incredibly easy. You can change the consistency of your brew by adjusting the amount of water used.
While drinkers who need large volumes may not be satisfied here, this model is fantastic for continuous coffee drinkers with limited space.
Compatible Coffee Pods
- All K-Cup pods, including reusable
We Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Coffee or tea drinkers who brew throughout the day
- Travelers who want a compact model
- Drinkers with limited space
We Don’t Recommend This Keurig Alternative For:
- Drinkers who need larger volumes of coffee
- Anyone who wants some color or pattern options in their coffee makers
4. Best Ease-Of-Use Model: Sboly Single Serve
Do you hate fussing with buttons and poring through manuals? The Sboly Single Serve is one of the easiest Keurig alternatives to use by a landslide.
You have just two buttons on this machine for brewing and self-cleaning. Coffee takes just three minutes to brew from a 14 oz water reservoir and…you’re ready to go! You don’t even have to turn it off once you’re done thanks to the automatic shut-off feature.
Sboly can use all K-Cup pods as well as reusable versions. This model comes with a K-Cup pod holder and basket filter, though you’ll have to buy coffee and tea separately.
Tiny spaces such as studios, home offices, and hotel rooms will adore the Sboly. If you want a larger size or color options, we have more options on the list to consider. We also don’t recommend the Sboly if you prefer more variety in your brewing settings.
Compatible Coffee Pods
- All K-Cup pods, including reusable
We Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Fans of easy-to-use coffee makers
- Anyone who needs to save on space
- Drinkers who want broad coffee capsule compatibility
We Don’t Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Drinkers who want more coffee and tea settings
- People who want larger sizes to brew for friends or family
5. Best Energy Conservation: Breville-Nespresso Essenza Mini
If you keep a close eye on your energy expenses, check this brewer out. The Breville Nespresso Essenza Mini ensures you can brew without racking up your monthly bill.
The energy conservation feature kicks in after three minutes of idling to help you save money. Even better, the automatic shut-off feature kicks in after nine minutes. If you’ve ever slapped your forehead after leaving your coffee maker on, this model’s peace of mind is priceless.
This speedy machine has a heating feature to match. The internal boiler takes less than thirty seconds to heat up, then gives you two cups of coffee with the press of a button. Experimental drinkers will still be able to enjoy the ability to switch between espresso and lungo settings.
For quick reference: espresso comes in smaller quantities with less water, while lungo uses more water. Espresso is more bitter and rich, while lungo is softer and a little nuttier.
While the visual variety isn’t much to write home about and the price is on the higher side, the eco-friendly settings are fantastic.
Compatible Coffee Pods
- Nespresso pods
We Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Fans of espresso-style coffee who don’t want a traditional espresso machine
- Drinkers who sometimes forget to turn the coffeemaker off
- Anyone who wants to save more money on electricity
We Don’t Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Drinkers who want to use a wider variety of pods
- Anyone who wants some visual variety in their coffeemakers
- Coffee fans on a tighter budget
6. Best Coffee Quality: Nespresso Vertuo
The Nespresso Vertuo is rather similar to the Nespresso Essenza Mini. What makes it stand out are the Nespresso Vertuo pods, a new line-up of high-quality coffee.
Nespresso Vertuo pods differ from their Nespresso pod cousins by their unique barcode. When you slot one of these pods inside, your machine scans the code to choose the ideal settings. This handy feature saves you time fiddling with temperature or grind levels. Your cup of coffee will taste better than ever!
We’ve explored before the incredible complexity and variety in the Nespresso Vertuo pod line-up. You have a peak selection of origins such as Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Colombia. There are roast levels on every end of the spectrum and an impressive array of flavor notes. Bitter dark chocolate, soft pastry, ripe fruit – just about every drinker will walk away happy. There are even several decaf and half-caf options!
Nespresso releases new entries in their line-up on a rolling basis, so there’s even more variety to enjoy. If you prefer to grind your coffee or use your coffeemaker for tea, consider the other options on this list.
Compatible Coffee Pods
- Nespresso Vertuo pods
We Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Drinkers who enjoy variety in flavors, origins, and mouthfeels
- Decaf and half-caf drinkers who want some variety to choose from
We Don’t Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- People who want to use K-Cups or reusable pods
- Drinkers who prefer to tweak the settings on their own
7. Best Beginner Friendly Alternative: EZBASICS Single Serve Coffee Maker
With a name like EZBasics, how can you go wrong? This coffee brewer makes it clear immediately how easy it is to make good coffee.
This well-rounded model hovers between a Keurig alternative and a home coffee pot. While it’s able to use most K-Cups on the market, you can also grind up your coffee. The water reservoir holds up to ten ounces, a suitable amount for most mugs. You can shift around the drink tray to fit cups or thermoses of different sizes.
The safety features make this model even easier to use, such as its overheat protection that kicks in after it’s done brewing. There’s also a concealed needle to prevent you from pricking yourself when installing or removing pods.
This model also makes a great gift for people just starting their coffee journey.
Compatible Coffee Pods
- 1.0
- 2.0
- Reusable
We Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Beginner coffee brewers who want a no-fuss machine
- Drinkers who like to use K-Cups and reusable pods
We Don’t Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Drinkers who want more variety in their brewing settings
- People who want a larger size to brew for friends or family
8. Best Size for Families or Offices: Cuisinart Single Serve 72-Ounce Reservoir Coffee Machine
If all the previous options were too small for you, Cuisinart has a powerhouse ready. This hefty coffee machine comes in a whopping 72 ounces for your entire family or office.
This is the kind of model you buy when you want everyone satisfied. It goes beyond coffee! This coffee machine also can make tea, hot chocolate, and even soup. The cup sizes vary from 6 oz to 12 oz to let you adjust to your heart’s content. The built-in charcoal water filter ensures your water is crisp and clean enough to bring out every brew’s flavor.
This machine isn’t complex to use, either. The adjustable temperature control settings are simple to navigate and the auto rinse quickly takes care of the inner chamber.
If you enjoy a one-stop shop for all your hot drinks and meal cravings, then give Cuisinart’s Reservoir Coffee Machine a try. If coffee’s all you need, you might find all the variety unnecessary.
Compatible Coffee Pods
- 1.0
- 2.0
- Reusable pods (Cuisineart or HomeBarista)
We Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Anyone with large families or home offices with regular activity
- People who like to make soup or hot chocolate, too
We Don’t Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Drinkers who need smaller sizes
- Anyone who just wants to drink coffee
- People on a tight budget
9. Best Iced Coffee Alternative: Famiworths Iced Coffee Maker Machine
Do you shift between hot and cold coffee regularly? This alternative to Keurig makes it easy to embrace all of your coffee tastes with this cleverly designed machine.
The Famiworths Iced Coffee Maker Machine takes into account the temperature and flavor of iced coffee. Instead of sticking a mug of hot coffee in the fridge, take a faster route with its Over Ice button. This coffee setting uses a stronger setting for mugs filled with ice so you don’t lose flavor. Instead of losing taste to oxidation or watered-down ice cubes, you’ll have a drink fit for a cafe.
Hot coffee isn’t left behind, either! This machine can heat up a drink in just 60 seconds. The adjustable tray lets you place several kinds of mugs, glasses, or thermoses without splashing. If you don’t feel like grinding your coffee into a reusable pod, this machine is compatible with K-Cups.
The 30 oz reservoir is a solid size for solo brewing or making cups for friends. Even better, you can stay green with its reusable pods. Keep in mind this coffee comes out in a classic black style, so skip this option if you’d rather get more concentrated brews.
Compatible Coffee Pods
- K-Cups
- Reusable pods
We Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Fans of both iced and hot coffee
- Drinkers who want a larger reservoir for bigger cups or brewing for others
We Don’t Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Drinkers who don’t care for iced coffee
- People who prefer a more espresso-like result
10. Best Coffee Pot Alternative: Wamife Coffee Maker 12 Cup Programmable Drip Coffee Machine
Now for something a little bit different! If you’re torn between choosing a Keurig-style coffee maker or a traditional model, try Wamife. This coffee maker is compact, tidy, and gives you the appeal of both.
The Keurig-style qualities come from the small design and almost futuristic-like interface. The coffee pot-style qualities are apparent in the design and the large carafe. Overall, this model takes ease of use to another level. You can program your coffeemaker to start brewing a day in advance!
This model comes with a large enough carafe able to hold up to twelve standard mugs of coffee. A built-in heater keeps the pot warm for up to two hours before automatically shutting off. The bright blue, retro-style design will also be highly appealing to drinkers with old-fashioned tastes.
Compatible Coffee Pods
- This is a standard coffee pot that uses paper filters.
We Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Fans of traditional coffee pots
- Busy people who need extra convenience or timing features
- Drinkers who love retro-style coffee brewing supplies
We Don’t Recommend This Keurig Alternative For
- Drinkers who prefer pods for making coffee
- Anyone who wants more color options
