Keurig K-Cafe Review: A Hassle-Free Barista Experience

Keurig isn’t just about quick cups of drip coffee. Were you hoping to unleash your inner barista by crafting frothy drinks, too? With the Keurig K-Cafe, you absolutely can!

But is it the right coffee machine for your needs?

Read our Keurig K-Cafe review to find out.

Milk frother

Let’s start with the most obvious difference from most Keurig models: the K-Cafe is one of the very few allowing you to make frothy drinks (currently, only two Keurig brewers do).

On its right, the K-Cafe includes a milk frother with three intuitive buttons (latte, cappuccino, and cold for iced coffees) that works with both milk and other dairy-free alternatives.

Most importantly, making frothy drinks with the K-Cafe is super easy! (1)

“What’s important for a cappuccino is that you produce a highly concentrated coffee.” Perfect Daily Grind 

Unlike Nespresso machines, Keurig doesn’t actually brew espresso. However, the K-Cafe has a very special ‘shot’ button. While it’s not technically espresso since it isn’t brewed under pressure (2), it’s a much stronger shot that will give you better results than pouring frothy milk over a large glass of drip coffee.

Your usual Keurig brew

Let’s be clear: the Keurig K-Cafe is famous for its frothy drinks, but that’s most definitely not all it brews! You can still enjoy the traditional K-Cup coffee that you’re used to.

In fact, the Keurig K-Cafe offers you exciting levels of customizability by including 4 cup sizes (6, 8, 10, and 12 oz) and even a strong brew feature.

PRO TIP: Should you prefer a more environmentally friendly alternative to K-Cups, we thought we’d let you know that the Keurig K-Cafe is compatible with the My K-Cup reusable filter. Yay!

Practicality

Like most Keurig coffee makers, the K-Cafe is quick and practical.

It includes a programmable auto-off feature (usually 2 hours after your last brew) to help you save energy and not have to worry about whether or not you’ve switched it off yourself. However, it isn’t programmable nor does it include an auto-on feature.

While you must remember to rinse or wash the frother after each use, it won’t be too much of a hassle since it’s dishwasher-safe, just like the removable drip tray.

For added practicality, the Keurig K-Cafe includes a brewer maintenance reminder to let you know when it’s time to descale your coffee maker.

Design

The Keurig K-Cafe is currently available in two finishes—the traditional charcoal or the special nickel edition—so it’ll be easy for you to match your other kitchen appliances.

While it isn’t too tall, keep in mind that, by having the frother on the side, this Keurig coffee maker is fairly wide: it wouldn’t be a bad idea to measure your available countertop space before purchasing it.

Its practical design also includes a wide 60 oz water reservoir which won’t force you to refill it every day. Plus, the front lets you brew directly into a travel mug or taller glasses for your lattes and iced coffees, too.

Who should buy the Keurig K-Cafe

As you’ve probably figured out by reading our Keurig K-Cafe review, we mainly recommend this machine to coffee lovers who can’t choose between a quick brew and the occasional frothy drink, especially those who aren’t ready to invest in an espresso machine or spend time learning how to froth milk with a steam wand.

Thanks to its versatility and customizability, it’s also a great choice for larger households with different coffee preferences. No more arguing first thing in the morning!

Who should NOT buy the Keurig K-Cafe

What differentiates the K-Cafe from most Keurig models is obviously its milk frother: if you’re not actually planning on making the most of it on a regular basis, then there’s probably no need to spend more money for it. Instead, you’d probably be better off buying the traditional Keurig K-Classic.

As we mentioned in our Keurig K-Cafe review, this coffee maker doesn’t include an auto-on feature: if you were hoping to save even more time by having your machine wake up before you do, consider the Keurig K-Elite instead. You can always buy a separate milk frother, after all.

Finally, if you want to use proper espresso to make your frothy drinks, you should probably look at one of the best Nespresso machines (especially the Lattissima models) or, even better, a traditional espresso machine with a steam wand, such as the Breville BES870XL.

THE GOOD

• 4 drink sizes
• Shot and strong brew option
• Frother with settings to make different types of coffee drinks
• Easy to use

THE BAD

• Not actual espresso
• Fairly big on the countertop
• Not programmable

Final verdict on the Keurig K-Cafe: is it a good option for lattes & cappuccinos?

Yes, we think that the Keurig K-Cafe is a great option for quick frothy drinks. 

It’s fast, easy to use, and offers plenty of customizability, from 4 drink sizes to different frothing settings and stronger brew options.

Unless you were hoping for traditional espresso, the Keurig K-Cafe is one of the best coffee machines to make both drip coffee and simple lattes and cappuccinos.

FAQs

1. Is the Keurig K-Cafe worth it?

Yes, the Keurig K-Cafe is definitely worth it if you’re planning on using both its drip side and the milk frother fairly regularly. It’s a more budget-friendly alternative to espresso machines when it comes to obtaining lattes and cappuccinos at the touch of a button. 

However, keep in mind that Keurig coffee makers don’t actually brew espresso: you’ll be relying on a stronger shot of drip coffee instead.

2. What is the difference between the K-Cafe and the K-Cafe Special Edition?

The only difference between the Keurig K-Cafe and the K-Cafe Special Edition is from an aesthetic point of view: the former has a matte charcoal design, whereas the latter features a premium metallic finish.

As for the actual brewing and frothing side of things, these Keurig machines are absolutely identical.

3. Does My K-Cup work with K-Cafe?

Yes, Keurig’s reusable My K-Cup works with the K-Cafe and it’s actually a great alternative to K-Cups as it doesn’t involve any single-use plastic, allowing you to make the most of your fresh grounds.

References 

1. Mani SanMax, I. (2020, July 17). Recreating A Coffee Shop Cappuccino At Home. Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2020/07/recreating-a-coffee-shop-cappuccino-at-home/ 

2. Mohammad, A. & Miller, E. (2016, August 24). Retrieved from https://www.freshcup.com/under-pressure/