Keurig Vs Mr Coffee: Comparing Single Serve And Cappuccino/Latte Makers

By Shabbir
Last update:

In the world of coffee, you have countless choices when it comes down your coffee maker. Two prominent names in the industry are undoubtedly Keurig and Mr Coffee. But in the battle of Keurig vs Mr Coffee, who takes the win?

We attempt to find out today with this comprehensive review of quality, design, versatility and other denominators that make up a decent coffee maker.

Keurig Single Serve Vs Mr Coffee

To find out who takes the win in the battle between Keurig and Mr Coffee, we take a closer look at similar coffee makers from their range. For Keurig, we evaluate their Single Serve. The same applies for the Mr Coffee, as we take a closer look at the Mr Coffee Single Serve.

Build quality and design

Both Keurig and Mr Coffee have a good reputation where build quality and design are concerned. But which of the Single Serves scores best?

Keurig

Keurig K-Elite Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, Brushed Silver

The Keurig Single Serve has quite the modern and sleek design. The single serve coffee maker is quite streamlined, meaning there are few nooks and crannies that can make maintenance difficult.

Operation is also fairly simple because of the single button on the top of the device.

Since the Keurig has quite a small and compact design, it is perfect for smaller kitchens. However, since this is one of the most popular coffee makers for K cup coffee, I was a little disappointed with the materials used.

The materials for the casing are not the most durable, but that immediately explains the sharp price. Still, with proper maintenance, the Keurig single coffee cup maker could last for a considerable time in the future.

Mr Coffee

Mr. Coffee BVMC SC100 2 Single Serve Coffee Maker, Black With Silver Panel

Even though the Mr Coffee single cup coffee makers all have a similar streamlined design, compared to the Keurig, there are more small buttons and little nooks and crevices. Obviously, this means that there might be a little more maintenance involved.

On the flipside, the Mr Coffee does seem to be sturdier in terms of overall construction. While the Keurig has a bit of a flimsy look, the Mr Coffee single server proves to be a bit more durable.

Verdict

The Mr Coffee scores best in terms of overall build quality and durability. However, it does have more small pieces alongside its streamlined design, which means it could involve more maintenance.

In conclusion, if you want a more durability over the course of time, then the Mr Coffee is the best choice. If easier maintenance is your main concern, then the Keurig single serves coffee machines are the recommended option.

Versatility

Versatility is another important factor for coffee machines, even a coffee maker single cup option. Between the Keurig and the Mr Coffee, which both use K cups, it is not an easy decision.

Keurig

The Keurig does have a number of interesting features. One of this is the energy efficient function, which means your coffee maker will turn itself off after you made your cup of coffee.

Of course, versatility is not just about energy efficiency. It is also about the coffee you can make with it. Since most K cups are compatible with the Keurig, you can get a cup of coffee even if you have very versatile tastes.

The Keurig is also travel-friendly, as it is compatible with the average travel mug. To make it fit your travel mug, simply remove the drip tray at the bottom of the coffee maker.

Mr Coffee

Like the Keurig, Mr Coffee’s coffee maker works with most K cups, as well as some other generic brands. It also contains a water reservoir, which means you do not have to refill it every time you want to brew an additional cup of coffee for yourself.

Like the Keurig, the Mr Coffee also allows you to move the drip tray, enabling you to fill up your travel mug. Removing the drip tray also makes maintenance easier for both models.

Verdict

Both models score about the same where versatility is concerned. Both Keurig and Mr Coffee cater to different cups of coffee, from a small cup to a big travel mug. They also have a removable tray that makes the maintenance of both coffee makers a true delight.

Ease of use

For beginners, general operation can be a big deciding factor. So, we were curious to see which of these two coffee machines scored best in terms of operation for beginners.

Keurig

When you take one look at the design of the Keurig, there is a minimal amount of buttons. In fact, the only thing you have to consider is the power button at the top. In other words, you cannot get more user-friendly or straightforward than that.

Mr Coffee

The Mr Coffee has a few more buttons than the Keurig, but that does not make it difficult to operate. The overall operation of the Mr Coffee is fairly simple and is not a hindrance for beginners.

Verdict

If we had to be extremely critical, we would put the Keurig is the easiest one to operate. After all, it can not get much simpler than a single button.

That being said, Mr Coffee’s coffee maker is still a suitable choice for beginners. So, it is definitely not something that should put you off.

Cost

Another big factor for anyone looking to purchase a new coffee maker is the price. To ensure you have a full overview of the most important factors, we also compared the features and price of both Keurig and Mr Coffee devices.

Keurig

Keurig brewers have a good reputation and that is usually accompanied with a decent price. This is also the case for this single serve, which is even affordable for students on the tight budget.

While the cups would usually be a denominator in our decision, they aren’t in this overview. After all, both Keurig and Mr Coffee use K-Cups. And while other brands can be used instead of K-Cups, we base our review on both coffee makers using K-Cups.

Mr Coffee

The Mr Coffee is in the same price bracket as the Keurig, which is really important for this review. So, all it really comes down to is features.

So far, we have seen that that both machines score similar in terms of versatility, ease of operation and build quality, so the price for this one is definitely on point with what we expect.

Verdict

Much like the other factors in our overview, both Mr Coffee and Keurig score similar. Where cost is concerned, I would say both machines are well-worth the cost and definitely not overpriced.

Keurig K-Cafe vs Mr Coffee Espresso and Cappuccino Maker

To continue the battle between the Keurig and the Mr Coffee, we take a look at another two of their releases, the Keurig K Cafe and Mr Coffee Espresso and Cappuccino Maker. Will there be a clear winner this time.

Build quality and design

To find some differences between both brands, we had to compare two other popular coffee machines from their range. So, how did they do in terms of build quality and design?

Keurig

Keurig K-Cafe Special Edition Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee, Latte and Cappuccino Maker, Nickel

With a premium nickel finish and metal handles, it is clear that the Keurig K was made for durability. The design is quite robust on its own as well, because there are no small parts detected in the entirety of the design. Obviously, this makes breakages a lot less likely.

Mr Coffee

Mr. Coffee Espresso and Cappuccino Machine, Programmable Coffee Maker with Automatic Milk Frother and 15-Bar Pump, Stainless Steel

The Mr Coffee looks very different from the Keurig K Cafe. The brand opted for a more traditional design and it does have more smaller parts. While it is made from materials that are just as sturdy as the Keurig, the smaller parts on the device could make it a little more susceptible to breaking.

Verdict

For build quality and design, the Keurig takes the win this time around. The design is a lot more robust and the lack of small parts certainly speaks well for its durability over time.

Types of drinks brewed

Because of the advanced nature of these coffee machines, we also need to look at the amount of drinks that can be brewed with each on this time around.

Keurig

The Keurig sports a good versatility in terms of drinks, ranging from latte and cappuccino. However, one thing does stand out, the fact that this machine does not make a genuine espresso. Obviously, this could be a problem for the more experienced coffee enthusiasts.

Mr Coffee

Contrary to the Keurig, the Mr Coffee can make a genuine espresso. It also comes with an automatic milk frother which makes more advanced drinks a breeze. Like the Keurig, this machine also provides cappuccino and latte with the greatest of ease.

Verdict

The Mr Coffee takes the win during this round. After all, the Keurig does not make a genuine espresso.

Ease of use

Ease of operation is also important in this instance, especially with coffee makers that are more advanced like these two models.

Keurig

Even for beginners, the Keurig is easy to operate. Considering the streamlined design and the minimal amount of buttons, I give the win to the Keurig hands down.

Mr Coffee

As mentioned earlier already, the Mr Coffee does have more buttons and small parts, including the milk frother. For beginners, this machine may come with a bit of a learning curve.

Verdict

The Keurig most definitely takes the win where ease of use is concerned. Of course, the more complicated operation of the Mr Coffee does provide an option to make proper espresso which the Keurig does not.

Cost

The cost for an advanced coffee maker is always higher than that of a single serve. So how did our models score in terms of price.

Keurig

Considering the features you are getting with this model, I was quite surprised at the relatively low price. However, be aware that the nickel model costs more than its charcoal alternative. For durability reasons, you should always go for the nickel.

Mr Coffee

The Mr Coffee is in the same price range as the Keurig. However, it does come with more features than the Keurig and makes espresso to boot.

Verdict

For cost, the Mr Coffee wins hands down. After all, it is packed with a lot more features and can deliver an espresso.

Conclusion

Both Keurig and Mr Coffee are providing solid coffee machines. However, some models can be more suitable for you as a coffee lover than others.

For example the Mr Coffee Espresso Maker is a better option for advanced coffee aficionados, while the Keurig K is a better option for beginners. So, while both brands provide a solid product, always look at your personal requirements first and foremost.

Related Articles:

Last update on 2024-04-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Coffee Brewster is completely reader supported. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support!
About Shabbir

Shab is the Chief Caffeine Officer at Coffee Brewster. When he's not weighing out coffee beans for his next brew, you can find him writing about his passion: coffee.