The Keurig K Duo Plus is advertised as being a brewer for any occasion- and this really describes the latest innovation in the Keurig lineup- versatile coffee makers that can brew a range of drinks to cater to everyone. The Keurig duo plus can brew both single serve cups or full carafes of coffee.
In this article, we will take a look at the features of the K duo plus to help you decide whether this coffee maker would be a good investment.
Keurig K Duo Plus
The Keurig K Duo plus is a flexible brewer and not just in the type of drinks it can brew. It also has a convenient swivel water reservoir that can be adjusted to fit your counter space. The brewer allows you to brew single-serve cups with k-cups or a full 12 cup carafe using ground coffee. All in all, this is a compact but capable brewer.
Keurig K Duo Plus
Specs
Design
The Keurig duo plus has a sleek, modern look. It will complement any kitchen or coffee bar with a black body and silver accents. But perhaps its best feature is the unique design. Unlike other Keurig coffee makers, which are often bulky and unsightly, the K Duo Plus is remarkably slim. This primarily comes down to how it has been designed. This single serve carafe coffee maker utilizes a single spout for both brewing methods. In addition to this, there is an adjustable water reservoir that can be set at the back, left, or right of the machine. This ingenious design means the K Duo Plus has the flexibility to fit any counter configuration.
One downside of the design is that the pod holder does require a large clearance when it is open. The Keurig K Duo Plus single serve carafe measures 17.5 inches tall with the lid open. So if you are planning on storing this coffee maker under a cabinet, make sure there is enough space for this to open.
The coffee maker comes with a few accessories, including a reusable gold-tone mesh filter for brewing carafes of coffee. It also comes with a 12-cup stainless steel carafe capable of keeping your coffee piping hot for 2 hours.
Ease of Use
As mentioned above, the Keurig K Duo Plus is a versatile coffee maker. It brews single cups of coffee with the option of 6, 8, 10, or 12 oz brew sizes. It can also brew pots of coffee with either 6, 8, 10, or 12 cups. The ability to brew both single-serve and carafe coffee means that the K Duo has replaced older Keruig models like the Keurig 2.0 series.
The coffee maker is very straightforward to navigate. Pressing the power button turns the machine on. You can then select either the pod or carafe function to choose your brewing method. Following that, you choose the brew size and press the Keurig symbol in the middle to initiate brewing.
If you are brewing a single cup, place your mug on the drip tray, insert the single serve k cup pod into the k cup holder, and lower the handle. The Keurig Duo Plus is able to brew with both Keurig K cup pods, third party pods or a k cup universal reusable pod. The taste of the coffee will depend on your chosen pod, but in general it produces a basic cup of coffee similar to drip coffee.
To brew a carafe of coffee, you fill the water reservoir to the max fill line. Pull out the filter basket drawer and add the desired amount of ground coffee to the reusable coffee filter (Keurig recommends one tablespoon of ground coffee per cup). Reinsert the drawer and place the carafe under it. To brew with the carafe you use ground coffee and the mesh filter. The coffee produced is similar to drip coffee albeit a bit weaker.
This coffee maker also comes with a strong brew option for those who like bolder coffee. This function can be selected by pushing the strong button before brewing. The strong brew function increases the time it takes to brew by pumping the water through the grounds slower. In theory, the longer contact time should result in a more robust coffee. But in practice, many users report there is little difference in taste between this and a regular brewed coffee.
Extra Features
The Keurig Duo Plus has a few extra features, with the main event being its Auto Brew function. This function allows you to set a time (up to 24 hours in advance) for the coffee maker to automatically turn on and brew a carafe of coffee. Perfect for those bleary-eyed mornings where you can barely stumble out of bed, let alone brew a pot of coffee!
The other handy feature is the Pause and Pour, where you can pull out the carafe and pour fresh hot coffee mid-brew. The machine automatically pauses for 20 seconds before resuming.
Finally, this coffee maker has an auto-off after 5 minutes of inactivity to save energy.
Ease of Cleaning
The Keurig K Duo coffee maker requires regular cleaning to ensure it performs at its best.
If you are brewing a carafe of coffee, you will need to rinse and clean the filter basket, mesh filter, carafe, and carafe lid after each use. Periodically, you should also remove the filter basket drawer and wash that.
If you are brewing a single serve of coffee, less clean-up is required. You may just need to empty and clean the drip tray.
Keurig also recommends wiping down the exterior with a damp cloth to keep your machine looking tidy. You also need to clean the water reservoir, K cup pod holder, and exit and entrance needles now and then. As a side note, to remove the K-cup holder, you need to pull out the basket drawer and push it up from underneath. In addition to this, they recommend you descale the brewer every three months. See our guide on how to descale a Keurig for some tips on this.
Keurig K Duo vs Keurig K Duo Plus
If you have done your research, you may have come across the Keurig K Duo. The K-Duo is the basic model that performs very similarly to the Keurig K Duo Plus coffee maker but has a few differences. Both brewers are single-serve carafe coffee makers with identical size options. They both have a 60 oz water reservoir and a strong brew option. Both brewers also allow you to use Keurig K Cup pods or third-party pods.
The main differences come down to the design. The Keurig K Duo has a side-by-side layout, with the carafe brewing on one side and the single serve on the other. The K Duo has a heating plate and glass carafe rather than the stainless steel one. It also doesn’t come with a reusable gold filter, so you have to use flat-bottom paper filters. The K Duo offers all the same extra features, but the design means that it is bulkier and not as aesthetically pleasing.
In contrast, the K Duo Plus has an adjustable reservoir and single spout for both single-serve and carafe brewing. This makes it a lot slimmer and easier to slip into a small space. It comes with the complementary reusable gold-tone mesh filter and stainless steel carafe. The price difference between these two brewers is about $40, so we recommend paying the extra and investing in the Keurig K Duo Plus single-serve carafe, the superior brewer.
Alternatives to the K Duo Plus Coffee Maker
If you are not sure about investing in one of the Keurig models, you may want to consider a Keurig alternative. While the Keurig K Duo Plus offers convenience, the taste of the coffee can be lacking.
Breville Precision Brewer
The Breville Precision Brewer is a step-up in price, but it will outlive and outbrew a Keurig any day. This brewer offers the ability to brew anywhere from 1 to 12 cups of coffee. It is very versatile in the range of drinks it can brew, including filter coffee, pour-over, cold brew, or iced coffee. In addition to this, it is highly customizable, allowing the brewer to adjust water temperature, bloom time, and flow rate. The Precision Brewer is a better option for the coffee enthusiast looking to make a hobby of brewing coffee.
Nespresso Vertuo Plus
The Nespresso Vertuo Plus is another similar coffee maker that utilizes capsules to produce single serve cups of coffee. The Nespresso Vertuo Plus can produce both espresso-style or drip-style coffee depending on the capsule you insert. It offers five different brewing sizes ranging from 1.35 oz to 14 oz. While the Vertuo does not allow you to make full carafes of coffee, the coffee produced is a step up from the K Duo Plus Single Serve Carafe. In addition, the Vertuo comes bundled with a milk frother allowing you to produce cafe style drinks.
Keurig K Duo Plus- The Verdict
The Keurig K Duo Plus is a good option for someone looking for the flexibility to brew both single serve and larger batches of coffee. The coffee maker is well designed and simple, and convenient to use. If you like Keurig coffee, you will find the Keurig Duo Plus will brew a decent pot. Overall, the K Duo Plus single serve carafe coffee maker is a good step into coffee at an affordable price.
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