Keurig K-Elite vs K-Duo: Which is Better?

When it comes to coffee, Keurig has become a household name for many good reasons. 

If you’re considering adding a Keurig to your home, the Keurig K Elite and Keurig K Duo are two great models. So how do you choose between them?

In this guide, we’ll compare the Keurig K Elite vs K Duo. We’ll dish the details on both the coffee makers so you can choose more easily.

We’ll go over the following:

• What the K Elite and K Duo have in common
• What features make these coffee makers different from each other
• Our recommendation on how to pick the one that’s right for you

Quick Summary 

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With iced options, temperature control, and tons of drink sizes to choose from, the Keurig K Elite is the perfect coffee maker if you want to provide more variety.

Pick this one if you need a machine for a house full of coffee fans.

Able to brew up to 12 servings at once in its beautiful glass carafe, the Keurig K Duo is ideal at brewing for groups of people.

This is the coffee maker for you if you have to be able to brew for a lot of people at the same time, or want to make large batches to enjoy over time. 

Similarities

Ground Coffee Or K-cup Pods

Not everyone is an experienced coffee brewer, and with these Keurigs, you don’t have to be. 

Both of them are compatible with K-cups. Just choose the flavor you want, set it in the Keurig, and wait for your cup to brew.

For those with a specific taste or more experience, either of these coffee makers can use your favorite ground coffee. This lets you use those special blends you know and love while providing you a fresher cup when you need it. 

Whether you’re an aficionado or making your very first cup, you’ll have no problems figuring out how to use the K Elite or K Duo. 

Coffee Strength Adjustment

Do you ever crave a stronger cup of coffee? 

That’s no issue for the K Elite or the K Duo. Both of them come equipped with Strong Brew buttons that you can use to heighten the coffee flavor in your cup.

When you need a little extra strength to get through the day, simply press the Strong Brew button and let these Keurigs take care of the rest. 

Single-serve Cups

Like how using smaller tools can be more precise, making single servings per person makes sure everyone gets what they want.

With large batches of coffee, there may be those who don’t drink any because they want a different kind. This leads to a greater amount of waste as cold leftovers are dumped down the drain.

But with the K Elite and K Duo, everyone can brew one cup for themselves with all the adjustments they need to really make it their own. 

What’s the end result? Everyone gets their personalized drink, and there’s less to get thrown out. 

Travel Mug Compatibility 

Need to take your coffee on the go with you?

On the K Elite and K Duo, you’re able to fit a travel mug beneath the brewer. Once the mug is in place, these coffee makers will pour directly into the travel mug for you – no need to transfer the drink by hand to the mug yourself.

This is also great for those who just prefer the convenience of a travel mug to protect from spills. 

Differences

Number Of Drink Sizes

It’s usually better to have more options, especially when more people are going to be using the coffee maker. 

The K Elite has an extra-small 4-ounce serving size available on demand. People who are looking for just a bit of coffee will appreciate having the option to brew smaller portions.

It also works to reduce waste. Anyone who wants only a modest amount won’t need to pour out any left over, as they can brew the small cup they want.

For comparison, the K Duo can brew 6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces. All those sizes are also possible with the K Elite, but the K Elite has the extra-small size, as well. 

Water Tank Capacity

Nothing is quite as annoying as running out of water while you’re in the middle of brewing your hard-earned coffee.

Keurig provided a solution to this problem when they made the humongous 75-ounce water tank on the K Elite. You’ll be able to make approximately 8 cups of coffee in a row before you have to deal with pouring more water in. 

Set side by side, you’ll notice that the K Duo’s 60-ounce water reservoir is slightly smaller. It’s still a very generous size, however, and you won’t need to stop very often to replenish its tank, either. 

Keurig K Duo Carafe

The Keurig K Duo is particularly adaptable. 

Not only can it make single portions, but it can brew carafes. Each carafe can hold 6, 8, 10, or even 12 cups of coffee depending on the size you choose. 

 The ability to choose the amount of servings in each carafe is especially helpful for cutting down on waste – you can estimate how many people will need drinks at the time, and brew accordingly. 

Keurig K Elite Temperature Control

The perfect drink for you is likely different from the perfect drink for someone else.

Temperature is one thing many have varying preferences for – some would rather have a cooler drink that doesn’t burn them, and others prefer a hotter drink to warm them up.

The K Elite can handily cater to both ends of the spectrum. It allows users to set the temperature for hot drinks to be anywhere between 187-192 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Anyone who’s craving a cooler drink and anyone who needs something as hot as possible will each meet their match in the K Elite. 

Keurig K Duo Programmable Auto-brew

Do you ever wish you could just walk into your kitchen and find fresh, hot coffee waiting for you? 

That wish is a reality with the K Duo’s programmable carafe auto-brew. You can tell this coffee maker to brew an entire carafe of coffee at a specific time up to 24 hours in advance. 

At the end of the day, you can set the grounds in place, fill the tank, and program the K Duo so that you wake up the next morning to find aromatic coffee ready to drink. 

Keurig K Elite Iced Coffee

When it’s hot out, the last thing you want to drink is a scorching cup of coffee.

If you’re in need of a cold, invigorating drink, the Keurig K Elite has got you covered. It comes with a built-in iced drink button. 

When you push the iced button, the K Elite will brew your beverage of choice over a cup of ice. You’ll end up with a perfectly refreshing cool drink instead of having to add ice yourself later.

Keurig K Duo Heating Plate

No one likes a lukewarm or, even worse, ice-cold coffee that’s been sitting out for hours.

To combat cooling, the Keurig K Duo has a heat plate built right under the carafe holder. This keeps your pot of coffee warmer longer.

You won’t need to rush to finish up a batch, nor will you have to dump out as much cold coffee. It’s kind of a two-for-one deal that keeps your drink hot and also reduces the amount you have to throw away.

Keurig K Elite Dispensable Hot Water

When you can use an appliance for more than one function, it’s more valuable. 

This is what makes the Keurig K Elite’s dispensable hot water so nifty. With the touch of a button, you can add hot water for teas or even instant food, like oatmeal or noodles.

With dispensable hot water, the K Elite can become a vital part of any kitchen.

Which One Should You Pick? 

Like with many other Keurig coffee makers, although the K Elite and K Duo have a lot in common, they have features that make either one perfect for different situations.

Because of its carafe, the Keurig K Duo is adept at serving groups of people. This makes it perfect for providing refreshments when you have several guests.

The heating plate below the carafe means pots of coffee can stay hot for much longer. Because of this, you don’t need to necessarily hurry up to finish a carafe off, and you could even brew a pot for yourself to enjoy alone over the course of a morning.

But if you’re looking for a coffee maker that can brew a wider variety of drinks, then you’ll want to look at the K Elite. It has more choices, including an extra-small size, iced coffee, and temperature control.

This extended menu makes it a wise decision for situations where people with a variety of tastes will be using it, such as large households. 

Its large water tank also means it’s user-friendly for those who are not as familiar with coffee maker maintenance. Users won’t need to deal with frequent refills very often on the K Elite.

Here’s our recommendation:

With its heating plate and carafe, the Keurig K Duo will do better in situations where you frequently entertain guests. Get this coffee maker if you need to serve groups of people often.

The expansive drink menu provided by the Keurig K Elite leads to it being the better choice for circumstances where people with differing preferences will be using it. Choose this machine for a home full of coffee fans. 

If you’d like to learn more about the Keurig K Duo or Keurig K Elite, read about them here on Amazon:

Interested in really taking your morning cup of java to the next level? Consider adding an espresso machine to your home.

Check out Majesty Coffee's home espresso machines here.