Keurig’s K-Elite and K-Supreme coffee makers are both high-end machines that offer a range of features and benefits. While they use the beloved k-cup, the two models represent different approaches to coffee making.
Years ago, I was gifted a Keurig as a wedding present. My wife and I loved it. As newlyweds, we both had jobs, and I needed to get out of the door on time every morning. With my Keurig, I could make a fast cup of coffee and be off in a hurry.
We even got into the habit of getting specialty K-Cup flavors that we couldn’t find at any store. It was like having something special to look forward to each day just by making our morning coffee routine that much more enjoyable.
I still recommend them to my friends with busy households and active lifestyles.
The K-Elite is designed for ease of use and flavor extraction while the K-Supreme leans toward a full-featured luxury machine with an array of customizable options that will give coffee lovers more control over their morning cup. Let the battle of Keurig K-Elite vs K-Supreme begin!
Keurig K-Elite
The Keurig K-Elite is an excellent coffee brewer with plenty of features to make your coffee experience convenient and enjoyable. I like that the Keurig K-Elite can brew up to ten cups in a row before needing a refill. Anytime I can delay having to do small routine chores like refilling a coffee maker, I’m happy.
It also has an iced coffee setting which is great for hot summer days when you just don’t want to drink hot coffee. The design of the brewer is sleek and modern. It looks great on any kitchen countertop and blends in well with other appliances.
The K-Elite can brew four, six, eight, ten, and twelve-ounce cup sizes. Plus, the hot water button makes it easy for my kids to create hot cocoa, which they love.
The strong brew setting brews a bolder flavor that will endure even after you add milk or creamer. Included with the machine, you’ll find a water filter that removes up to 97% of chlorine. Keurig machines are prone to scale buildup, so having a filter will ensure your machine lasts longer. Plus, you’ll always be sure that your coffee is free from chlorine and other impurities. Enjoy a clean cup of delicious coffee every time!
My favorite feature of this coffee maker is the temperature control option. Being able to set the machine from 187°-192°F allows for a more personalized coffee experience. The K-Elite is a high-quality brewer with more features than most other Keurigs on the market.
Keurig K-Supreme
The Keurig K-Supreme has a number of features that make it a great choice for coffee lovers. I’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Keurig’s Multistream technology, which extracts more flavor and aroma from every brew. Unlike other Keurig machines, the brew head has multiple penetration points that spread out the water flow to prevent channeling in your K-Cup pods. Channeling is when water flows through a single point and can over-extract certain grounds while under-extracting others. This means that you’ll get a delicious cup of coffee every time.
You can also adjust your brewing to be a stronger cup if you like to add milk and creamer. Or select the option to brew over ice if you’re a year-round iced coffee drinker like my wife.
Multiple brew sizes also let you choose the perfect cup size, allowing you to fill a regular coffee mug or a travel mug. The 66 oz. Dual-Position Reservoir lets you select the perfect position for optimal counter space, and it’s removable, so refilling is easy. If you need a larger water reservoir, you can grab the K Supreme Plus. The Keurig K-Supreme is also fast, with coffee made in minutes, and is friendly for travel mugs up to 7″ tall.
Quick Summary of Coffee Makers
So, which machine is right for you? If you are looking for a premium brewer with all the bells and whistles, the Keurig K-Elite is a great choice. If you are looking for a more unique brewer that can fit anywhere and brew a full-flavored cup, the Keurig K-Supreme will be the better option.
Personally, I usually go for a more full-featured machine. But the size of the K-Supreme is hard to beat.
Whichever machine you choose, you can be sure that you will enjoy delicious, freshly brewed coffee each and every time.
| Specifications | Keurig K-Supreme | Keurig K-Elite |
|---|---|---|
| Water Tank Capacity | 66 oz | 75 oz |
| Cup Sizes | 6, 8, 10, and 12 oz | 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 oz |
| Iced Coffee Brew | Yes | Yes |
| Strong Coffee Brew | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Temperature Control | No | Yes |
| Multi-Position Water Tank | Yes | No |
Cup Size
Both machines can brew a variety of cup sizes. The notable difference here is that the K-Elite is able to brew a small four oz. cup, while the K-Supreme starts at 6 oz. This is really only relevant if you drink a lot of iced coffee and add milk. If you drink your coffee black or with cream, this won’t matter much.
Brewing Options and Iced Coffee
Both the K-Elite and K-Supreme offer a variety of brewing options. The most obvious difference is that the K-Elite automatically selects the ideal water temperature for each blend, while the K-Supreme has manual temperature controls that allow you to change the temperature. These are nice extras if you have specific tastes when it comes to coffee (especially useful if you grind your own beans to use in the reusable filter).
Both machines offer a strong brew setting along with an iced beverage option. Making iced coffee with a traditional hot brewer can be complicated, but the K-Elite and K-Supreme have you covered. Just add ice cubes and ground coffee before pressing the button to brew coffee.
Programming
Both machines are easy to program, allowing you to set your brew time up to 24 hours in advance. This is great if you like waking up to a freshly brewed pot of coffee or prepping your machine before going to bed so that it’s ready for you when you get up.
The notable difference here is that the K-Elite has an Auto Off setting while the K-Supreme does not. If this feature matters, the K-Elite may be worth spending more on.
Brew Speed
The K-Supreme takes about 90 seconds longer than the Keurig Elite to brew from a cold start. If you are always in a rush, this could make the difference between hitting the road on time and waiting for your coffee.
Temperature Control
Only the Keurig K-Elite features customizable temperature controls, with the option to heat water to either 187˚F or 197˚F. This is extremely relevant because different roasts require different temperatures – and some brands even recommend custom settings according to the specific roasts.
The temperature control setting allows you to easily make adjustments and ensures that you will get the best flavor possible from whatever brand (or blend) you decide to use.
I like medium and light roast coffee, which requires a higher brew temp, compared to when I switch over to brewing dark roast for my wife. Of course, she takes her coffee with a bit of sweetener. So getting a strong flavor is key.
Brew Strength
Both models provide a strong brew option – and I love that. If you like to make lattes(I DO) or other specialty drinks, then you will get a lot of use out of either machine. Older models didn’t provide a brew strength option, so it’s a great feature to have on these newer models.
Size and Placement of Water Reservoir
As we mentioned earlier in this article, both machines offer a removable water reservoir. The Keurig K-Supreme’s water reservoir is slightly smaller at 66 oz. compared to 76 oz. for the Elite model – however, they are both relatively large and easy to fill and clean.
In terms of placement, these two models have different designs when it comes to holding the water tank. With the K-Elite, the standard side tank design leaves enough room in the front to fit a taller cup under the nozzle. The K-Supreme has a unique design that allows the tank to be either on the side or located behind the nozzle at the top. This gives you more flexibility in terms of placement for your machine.
Brewing Time
Time is money, and if you are looking for a quick cup in the morning then you will be happy to know that both models are made to brew k cup coffee in a matter of minutes. They also come with an auto Off feature that turns the machine off after two hours of non-use.
The K-Elite can brew a fresh cup in under 1 minute while the K-Supreme takes about 20 seconds longer. Not a big difference, but it is noticeable.
Cleaning and Care
Both machines should provide you with coffee for years to come if they are regularly cleaned and cared for. Bot Keurig coffee makers have removable parts that are dishwasher safe, but the K-Supreme has more parts to keep track of. The Keurig K-Elite requires you to clean the drip tray, nozzle, and small parts regularly. Both have a removable water tank that you need to clean regularly after so many hot coffee brews.
Both machines are relatively easy to take care of, but this is an area where the K-Elite excels slightly since it has fewer loose parts.
Moving Parts
The K-Supreme’s dual position reservoir is a great feature that allows you to place the water tank behind the machine or on the side. Like any moving part, it’s an additional point of failure in the design. The K-Elite only has the one side tank design. So in this area, if you are looking for something that will work without potential breaking or leaking that could be worth remembering.
With that said, the K-Supreme coffee maker has a similar issue, the k-cup holder folds out from the machine to make inserting coffee grounds easier. Some people have reported malfunctions with this feature including jams, clean-up issues, and broken hinges.
Colors and Design
Both machines offer a variety of colors and designs as well as some bells and whistles such as extra hot water settings and digital clocks. The Keurig K-Elite is more expensive than the K-Supreme because it has customizable temperature controls and an auto Off feature.
Both machines come in a few select colors along with the classic black that all Keurig machines sport.
Ease of Use
If you are looking for an easy machine to use, either option will work well because both brewers come with clearly labeled buttons and simple programming options. The major difference is that the K-Supreme has the temperature control button on the main panel while the K Elite has the multi stream technology.
Long-Term Cost of Ownership
Keurig models are usually cheaper to own in the long run because you can use all kinds of different coffee blends without worrying about additional accessories or filters. The K-Elite will usually cost you more, but that is due largely to its added features and customizable options. Long term, they will be about the same. They use the same k cups and you can use a reusable coffee filter if you want to use your own ground coffee.
Size
Even though both brewers are designed to fit under most cabinet spaces, the K-Elite is slightly larger (12.7″ H x 9.9″ W x 13.1″ D) compared to the K-Supreme model (12.1” H x 7.9” W x 12.0″ D).
When it comes to size, however, you will probably have more flexibility if you go with the Keurig K-Supreme because of its unique dual position tank design that can be placed on either side or behind the main assembly (depending on your space needs) as opposed to having to deal with a bulky water tank that sits on one side like previous models.
Keurig K-Elite vs K-Supreme: Final Verdict
This Keurig K-Elite vs K-Supreme comparison comes down to your coffee maker needs. I like the K-Supreme because of the Multistream Technology and dual position water reservoir. The added technology to ensure a more even coffee grounds extraction is a big plus for me. However, the K-Elite also has some of the best custom brewing options of any Keurig on the market.
Either way, you can’t go wrong with either coffee maker since they both have their pros and cons depending on what your priorities are for your home brewer.
If you want more options or simply don’t think either of these brewers fit into your lifestyle, check out some of our other coffee gear reviews! And don’t forget the beans!
