Are you looking for a simple, quick solution to the ever-present need for a single cup of coffee in the morning? Do you find yourself regularly traveling on the road wishing you had a lightweight and reliable single-serve coffee maker at your side?
If a single-serve coffee maker is what you need, then make sure you check out our review of the Keurig K15. We’ll take a close look at this model’s pros and cons–and see how it measures up against a sizable list of competitors.
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Take a look at these other Keurig coffee makers, too!
Things To Consider Before Buying A Keurig K15
Whether you’re new to the world of single-serve coffee makers or a dyed-in-the-wool longtime user, there are some differences to be mindful of when deciding if they are the best model of coffee maker for your lifestyle.
While many other excellent single-serve models are available (have a look at our handy buying guide if you’re curious about the options), the Keurig K15 is unique for a few reasons.
| Keurig K15 | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 10.7 x 6.9 x 10.8 in |
| Weight | 6 lb |
| Water Tank | None (refill for each cup) |
| Brew Sizes | 3 (6, 8, 10 oz) |
| Brewer Type | Pod brewer (K-Cups) |
| Brew Time | 2 min |
| Construction | Plastic |
Pod Brewing With K-Cups
Like most Keurig models, the coffee grounds for the K15 come pre-packaged in K-cups for easy one-press brewing.
There are dozens of K-cup options, but you will be limited to the selection in Keurig’s line-up. So, if you prefer a different brand or type of coffee, this model wouldn’t be ideal.
One Button, One Serving
Single-serve coffee makers are perfect for professionals living alone who need a one-button no-fuss solution to brew coffee one cup at a time. A Keurig might be ideal if your main objective is convenience and speed.
Small and Portable
These are small, portable brewers suitable for just about any space. Their small footprint could make them ideal for use in an RV, on an office desk, or in a dorm room.
Since they don’t have an internal water tank, they’re also easy to move around.
Just don’t expect to be able to share coffee with too many others, as you’ll need to brew a new cup every time.
Keurig K15–The Basics
Keurig K15 Coffee Maker
When space and portability are important, choose the Keurig K15 Coffee Maker. It brews 6 oz., 8 oz., and 10 oz. in under two minutes.
The Keurig K15 is a budget-friendly, undersized machine great for one person. Thoughtfully designed to fit in tight spaces without hogging your counter space, it measures 10.7 x 6.9 x 10.8 inches.
Weighing only six pounds, it’s fair to call the K15 one of the most portable brewers around, and it comes in seven colors.
The K15 coffee maker comes with a user manual and a 12-month warranty. This machine can use a reusable filter, but it must be purchased separately.
The K15 offers three different brewing sizes for customizable cup size options: 6, 8, and 10 ounces. It’s compatible with classic K-Cups but not Keurig’s K-Mug and K-Carafe lines.
The K15 has no water reservoir and must be filled with water before each brew cycle. It’s one of the model’s big space-saving features, but it might be a hassle for some users.
It does include a removable tray for improved cleaning.
Things We Like
- The price is affordable, making it attractive to the budget-conscious.
- The compact design makes it ideal for small counters.
- The refillable K-cup feature lets you use fresh grounds.
- A 2-minute brewing time puts your coffee in your hands quickly.
- A removable drip tray simplifies clean-up.
Room For Improvement
- The 6-ounce cup size provides a strong flavor, but the 10-ounce size is underwhelming.
- Refilling the water tank between every cup makes this a poor choice for larger households or for entertaining.
- Using plastic K-Cups isn’t eco-friendly and can get expensive.
- The brewed coffee isn’t very hot- in fact, it’s often described as lukewarm.
Features & Benefits
Without any further ado, let’s dive into what the K15 has to offer!
We’ll cover some of the most prominent features of this single-serve coffee maker. Along the way, we’ll discuss some of the K15’s drawbacks and why they may or may not be relevant to your unique needs in a coffee maker of this caliber.
Easy to Use
In keeping with Keurig’s reputation as a quality manufacturer, the K15 comes ready to use right out of the box. Its interface is sleek and easy to master.
You fill the machine with water for one cup of coffee, add your favorite K-Cup, hit the brew button, and in about two minutes, your cup is ready. Caffeinating yourself really doesn’t get any easier than that.
While some people might appreciate the greater control with features like Strength Control or Altitude Control, I really like the K15’s pared-down, minimalistic design. Check out this video to see the K15 in action.
For people who don’t need more from their cup of coffee than convenience, caffeine, and consistent flavor, I think the K15 offers a reliable solution.
Compact and Practical Design
The K15’s size has to be one of its biggest selling points. If you want a small and convenient brewer but don’t have much counter space, the K15 fits the bill.
The K15 is a solid option for smaller kitchens, but it could just as well serve as a secondary coffee machine for your home or apartment, such as on an office desk.
Because it only weighs 11 pounds, the K15 can also fit in RVs and camper vans. I found that it also works well when camping (or “glamping”) when there are power sources nearby.
2-Minute Brew Time
Granted, two minutes is an average brew time, but I’ve found the K15 remarkably consistent. If you drink only one or two cups a day, then the two-minute wait time is pretty appropriate.
If you’re a more frequent flyer, then constantly refilling the K15 may get a little tiring.
However, there is a benefit to refilling the machine with every cup. You get fresh water for every brew. If you appreciate a “freshly brewed” smell and taste with every cup, the K15 might excite you.
Guess what? There’s also a hot water option if you want to make hot chocolate or tea on a non-coffee kind of day.
Detachable Drip Tray
Some other single-cup coffee makers are known for being difficult to clean, but the Keurig K15 coffee maker is quite the opposite. Its design allows it to break down for no-hassle cleaning. The removable drip tray goes a long way toward simplifying the cleaning process.
We also found that you can fit taller mugs under the spout when you remove the detachable drip tray. Users can fill a 5.2-inch travel mug or container once the tray is out.
While it’s true that 7-inch mugs still won’t fit in the machine, I find that the customizability the drip tray offers is a nice bonus.
Three Customizable Brew Sizes
The K15 isn’t suitable for coffee lovers who want total control over the blends they brew. For more options, we recommend the Keurig K50 or K55. But the K15 does allow you to control three different brew strengths.
You can pick between 6, 8, or 10-ounce cups. While there isn’t much else customizable with the K15, I liked having the option to control my coffee strength.
However, one downside to using K-Cups is that the amount of grounds is the same, no matter how much coffee you are brewing.
As a result, I found the 6-ounce cup to be quite strong. On the other hand, the 10-ounce size was not very strong at all and might not appeal to coffee drinkers who prefer strong brews.
Brewing Temperature
Another thing to mention about brewing: some customers have reported that the K15 doesn’t deliver the hottest boil. While I didn’t encounter any lukewarm brews, it is true that the K15 won’t boil water as hot as higher-power single-serve coffee makers.
The lack of a water reservoir can limit the temperature at which the machine can heat water. So, keep in mind that you might periodically find your coffee less than hot.
K-Cup Compatibility
By now, the people at Keurig have developed over 250 varieties of coffee blends for their distinctive K-Cup products. One of the big selling points for purchasing a Keurig coffee maker like the K15 is to have access to the vast library of flavors selected just for you.
Despite Keurig’s claim that only K-Cup pods will fit in their brewers, dozens of other coffee makers also sell their blends in cups. These cups will work perfectly well in the K15.
Keep in mind that the Keurig warranty only covers damages to your machine if you’re using Keurig-branded cups. Just a reminder!
Since the K15 has no reservoir, users will not be able to use Keurig’s K-Carafe or K-Mug products. If you’re interested in those blends, look no further than a larger K-Carafe-compatible Keurig coffee maker.
Alternatives
The Keurig K15 is perfect for frequent travelers, students in tight living arrangements, or people who like a no-frills single cup of coffee in the morning.
However, there are plenty of functions that the K15 doesn’t have. If you’re looking for a portable, cost-effective coffee machine, but the K15 isn’t precisely what you’re looking for, never fear! We have many coffee machine reviews that might fit your needs a little better.
Check out the table below for a quick look at a few alternatives, and then read on to learn more.
| Keurig K15 | Keurig K55 Classic | Aeropress | Cuisinart SS-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 10.7 x 6.9 x 10.8 in | 9.8 x 13 x 13.3 in | 5 x 5 x 11.5 in | 11.03 x 9.33 x 12.13 in |
| Weight | 6 lb | 12 lb | < 1 lb | 9.5 lb |
| Water Tank | None (refill for each cup) | 48 oz | None (fill as you brew) | 72 oz |
| Brew Sizes | 3 (6, 8, 10 oz) | 3 (6, 8, 10 oz) | Variable (1-4 cups) | 5 (4, 6, 8, 10, 12 oz) |
| Brewer Type | Pod brewer (K-Cups) | Pod brewer (K-Cups) | Manual | Pod brewer (K-Cups) |
| Brew Time | 2 min | > 1 min (once heated) | 1 min | < 1 min |
Keurig K55 Classic
If you like the Keurig brand and its high design standard but need a machine that can brew four or five cups of coffee before refilling, we recommend the Keurig K55 Classic. It boasts a 48-ounce water reservoir, which allows you to expand your brewing capabilities.
It’s a bigger machine, and the brew time is under a minute once the machine has heated up. We reviewed it recently and found it a convenient, more powerful upgrade from the K15.
Aeropress
In our overview of the fastest drip coffee machines on the market, we put several models to the test. The Aeropress stands out among the competitors for its equally speedy brew time (under two minutes) and low price.
If you don’t like being restricted to K-Cups with a pod brewer like the Keurig, you might prefer the Aeropress, which gives you much more control over your brew.
Aeropress is also extremely affordable if you’re willing to trade the convenience of your pod brewer for this extremely compact and versatile manual brewer.
Cuisinart SS10
Finally, if you absolutely need the speed and convenience of the K15 but are open to purchasing a more premium machine, you might be interested in the Cuisinart SS-10.
This coffee maker would be an excellent upgrade from the K15. It offers more premium features such as superior power (for hotter coffee and no heat-up time), a programmable timer, a hot water button, and an impressively large water reservoir.
Our Final Takeaway
The Keurig K15 isn’t an especially impressive or feature-rich machine, but it could be a good choice for some coffee drinkers. With its relatively low price, small footprint, and one-button brewing, it could be a fit for coffee fans low on space or short on time in the morning.
It might also be a wise purchase for occasional coffee drinkers or as a secondary coffee maker, such as in an office or RV.
After reading our review, we hope you now have all the resources you need to find the perfect single-serve coffee maker!
Happy Сaffeinating!
The Keurig K15 Review and Buyer’s Guide
This Keurig K15 review lists the pros and cons of this compact coffee maker. Also, learn about alternative machines if a compact, single-serve brewer is not right for you.
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