Keurig K-Duo Review

Keurig K-Duo
Overall Rating
86
Coffee Quality (40%)
85
Design & Features (20%)
85
Durability (20%)
85
Ease of Use (10%)
90
Brand Reputation (10%)
85
The Bottom Line
A replacement for the discontinued K200-K575, the K-Duo brews both K-Cups and full 60 oz carafes with the reusable Gold Tone filter. This version is base version of the 3 K-Duo machines with no 6 oz brew or Strength Control.
The Coffee Maven's editors select and review products independently. We may receive a commission if you purchase through one of our links at no additional cost to you.

Key Features of the Keurig K-Duo

Key Features of Keurig K-Duo

  • Product Line/System: K-Duo
  • Brew Sizes: 6 oz, 8 oz, 10 oz, 12 oz (single serve) and up to 60 oz (carafe)
  • Water Reservoir: 60 oz
  • Display: Button control panel with buttons for Brew Strength, Brew Size, and Auto-On plus digital clock display
  • Temp Control: No
  • Strength Control: Yes
  • Dimensions: 10.9"W x 12.8"D x 12.9"H
  • Weight: 10.7 lbs
  • Other Features: Auto-On/Off, comes with 60 oz glass carafe and heating plate, Auto-On/Off for carafe, pause and pour for carafe

Keurig K-Duo Overview

In August 2014, Keurig unveiled their new Keurig 2.0 brewers that expanded the single-serve giant's reach by allowing users to brew up to 30 oz carafes of coffee.

Customer reaction was mixed as Keurig's 2.0 brewers, numbered from K200-K575, featured pod-scanning system ("DRM" or Digital Rights Management) that locked out unlicensed K-Cups and wasn't compatible with the original My K-Cup. (Keurig would later unveil a 2.0 My K-Cup.)

Keurig also found it challenging to support their 2.0 brewers, which brewed 10 different sizes from 4-30 oz using 4 different types of pods: K-Cup, K-Mug, K-Vue, and K-Carafe.

Ultimately, Keurig scrapped the 2.0 system and went back to the basics: single-serve brewing with K-Cup pods.

But they still wanted to offer a dual-use brewer that brewed everything from single cups to full carafes.

Enter the Keurig K-Duo series with 3 similar brewers.

The K-Duo is the middle of those 3 brewers. How do they differ?

  • K-Duo Essentials: Lose the K-Duo's 6 oz brew size and Strength Control feature
  • K-Duo Plus: Add a thermal carafe (instead of glass carafe) and a swivel reservoir for left, right, and rear positioning

Regardless of which K-Duo model you choose, all of them brew up to 60 oz carafes (double the volume of the discontinued 2.0 brewers) using a reusable Keurig Gold Tone mesh filter and ground coffee.

Pros
  • Includes Keurig's upgraded system for richer coffee and quieter brewing
  • No pod-scanning technology so brews both licensed and unlicensed K-Cup pods
  • Brews both single-serve pods and 60 oz carafes
Cons
  • Full 60 oz carafe isn't as robust as coffee from a dedicated drip coffee maker
  • Carafe pour spout has tendency to drip
  • Compared to K-Duo Plus, water reservoir is fixed in rear of brewer making it harder to access and refill
  • Doesn't come with a water filter kit

Is the Keurig K-Duo for you?

Are Keurig K-Duo for you?

The Keurig K-Duo (not the Essentials or Plus) is a great option if you're looking for the flexibility to brew 6-12 oz cups all the way up to 60 oz pots, especially if you don't mind the stationary, rear-positioned water reservoir and glass carafe.

If you prefer either the ability to position the reservoir to the left or right of the brewer (more convenient to refill) or the thermal carafe, upgrade to the K-Duo Plus.

If you just need the basics and can live without the small 6 oz brew size and Strength Control, go with the K-Duo Essentials.

Also worth noting, the Keurig K-Cafe is a dual-use machine that brews both K-Cup coffee and specialty beverages (espresso, lattes, and cappuccinos) with the push of a single button (in case that's more your speed).

Keurig K-Duo Review: An In-Depth Look

Check out the Keurig K-Duo!

Check out Keurig K-Duo!

Keurig K-Duo
A replacement for the discontinued K200-K575, the K-Duo brews both K-Cups and full 60 oz carafes with the reusable Gold Tone filter. This version is base version of the 3 K-Duo machines with no 6 oz brew or Strength Control.

More Keurig Reviews From The Coffee Maven

Keurig K425

Keurig K425
Overall Rating: 87
With 10 different brew sizes up to 30 oz, a sizable 70 oz reservoir, and an intuitive color touch display, K400 series brewers made K-Cup coffee easy. Now discontinued, we recommend the Keurig K-Duo Plus instead.

Keurig K3000SE

Keurig K3000SE
Overall Rating: 85
Keurig's original, fully self-service commercial machine, the K3000SE is a direct water line brewer with an intuitive LCD touch screen and auto-eject pod functionality. However, we recommend the new-and-improved K3500.

Keurig K79

Keurig K79
Overall Rating: 80
Once Keurig's most feature-rich brewer, the K79 Platinum Plus brews 4-12 oz coffees with a huge 72 oz reservoir and Temp Control. Now discontinued, take a look at the K-Elite. It offers everything on the K79 and a bunch more.
About The Coffee Maven
bryan de luca
Bryan De Luca

I'm Bryan but most people know me as The Coffee Maven. I grew up outside Boston, Massachusetts and received my Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from Providence College. My first introduction to coffee was during my college days, when I used it as a source of caffeine to fuel late-night study sessions, but soon I became obsessed with the chemistry of coffee. How did changes to water temperature or contact time affect its taste? Why do beans from Africa taste fruity while beans from Indonesia taste spicy? I launched The Coffee Maven in February 2017 to explore these questions and help others brew their perfect cup. Welcome to my site, and thanks for reading!

Search