Mr. Coffee vs Keurig: Which Should You Pick?

Keurig is undoubtedly one of the most popular single-serve coffee maker manufacturers out there today. But did you know that Mr. Coffee also has their own single-serve coffee makers?

If you’re searching for a personal coffee maker, this could leave you wondering if you should go with a Keurig or Mr. Coffee. To answer that question, we’ve created this Mr. Coffee vs Keurig comparison.

We’ll be taking two of each brand’s most popular single-serve models and pitting them against each other. This is what we’ll discuss:

• What’s the same between these models.
• Which features differ between the Mr. Coffee and Keurig.
• What to consider before you pick either coffee maker.

Quick Summary

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Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Coffee Brewer

The Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Coffee Brewer proudly declares that it is the result of a partnership between Mr. Coffee and Keurig. It uses Keurig’s famously easy brewing technology, which means it’s a great pick for coffee beginners new to the world of brewing with pods.

Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker

The Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker is the quintessential Keurig. It has many of the features Keurig has become famous for: an easily refillable water tank, removable drip tray, and pods that are straightforward. This is a great option for anyone in need of a user-friendly personal coffee maker.

Similarities

Single-Serve Brewing

When most people picture a coffee maker, they imagine models that brew an entire pot of coffee at one time. This design works for families or groups of people who will be sharing the coffee, as most or all of each batch will be used.

However, if all you need is a personal coffee maker to make you a cup every day, then a whole pot could be pretty wasteful. More likely than not, you’d just end up pouring out the remainder after you got what you needed.

This is where the Keurig and Mr. Coffee machines excel. Since they both only make a single serving at a time, you get exactly as much coffee as you need when you need it.

Additionally, this is perfect for groups of people who all have different preferences. With a large batch of coffee, everyone gets the same thing, when some may not want it. Using these single-serve machines, however, everyone can brew exactly what they want.

Read Also: Keurig K-Slim vs Classic

K-Cup Compatibility

These days, you can brew your fresh coffee two ways: by using your own coffee grounds or using pods. Using your own coffee grounds is the traditional way, as it allows you to ensure the coffee is as fresh as can be and gives you more choice over the blend.

Pods are a more recent invention. They are small pre-portioned capsules of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate that are compatible with particular coffee makers – including the Mr. Coffee and Keurig in this comparison.

If you’re a beginner, you’ll love using pods. Since both these coffee makers use Keurig’s K-cup pods, you’ll have tons of flavors and varieties to choose. Simply choose the pod you want, place it in the coffee maker, and let it handle the rest for you.

Drink Sizes

More likely than not, you don’t always want exactly the same amount of coffee. This also applies to friends or family who might want to use your coffee maker.

To solve that issue, the Mr. Coffee and Keurig both have multiple drink sizes. On either one, you can brew 6, 8, or 10-ounce cups of coffee to suit a range of cravings.

Want to see how other Mr. Coffee machines hold up in comparisons? We’ve got a guide comparing more traditional Mr. Coffee and Black and Decker coffee makers.

Removable Drip Tray

On either of these coffee makers, there’s a shelf that holds your cup during brewing. It also doubles as a drip tray.

First and foremost, its function is to catch drips from the dispenser, saving your counter from annoying splatters. In addition, though, the drip tray is removable on both the Keurig and Mr. Coffee.

How does that benefit you?

For one thing, it makes cleaning easy. If you couldn’t remove the drip tray and you wanted to clean out residual coffee in it, you’d need to try and scrub it out while it’s still attached to the coffee maker. Since it is removable, however, you can just slide it off and wash it in your sink.

Beyond cleaning, the removable drip tray is useful for making extra room. If you wanted to make an extra-large cup of coffee in a travel mug, you could fit it under the coffee dispenser by removing the drip tray shelf.

Removable Water Reservoir

You simply can’t have coffee without having water. That’s why both these coffee makers have attached water tanks.

The good thing about the water tanks is that, like with the drip trays, they’re removable. Benefits of being able to remove the water reservoir are similar to those of being able to remove the drip tray.

First, it makes it easy to clean. You won’t need to carry your entire Keurig or Mr. Coffee machine to the sink when you want to wash it out.

Second, removing the water tank translates to effortless refills. All you need to do is pull the tank off and bring it to your sink to add water, as opposed to trying to pour some in without spilling.

Differences

Water Tank Capacity

The overall design of the water tanks is similar, but there is one stark difference: their size. With a generous 48-ounce reservoir, the Keurig K-Classic can hold exactly twice as much water as the Mr. Coffee.

At the end of the day, this means fewer water refills. You’ll be able to brew more cups of coffee with the K-Classic before needing water.

Looking for the most compact coffee makers possible? Then you should read our post about the Keurig K-Slim vs Mini Plus.

Availability

Another key difference between the K-Classic and Mr. Coffee is availability. You can still buy brand-new models of the K-Classic online.

This is not the case anymore for the Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Coffee Brewer. Generally, you can only find it used, although it’s certified to be in a condition as good as new.

In other words, if you want to be sure you’re getting a coffee maker that’s never been used or the box never opened before, you may prefer the Keurig K-Classic.

Keurig K-Classic Auto-Off

When you’re busy, it’s easy to forget the small things, like shutting an appliance off. Depending on the appliance, this can be a costly mistake.

While leaving your coffee maker on isn’t likely to be extraordinarily expensive or destructive to your home, it can still potentially cause damage to the coffee maker itself. That’s why the Keurig K-Classic has an auto shut-off design.

If you haven’t brewed a cup with it for two hours, it will turn itself off for you. This preserves its longevity, prevents energy waste, and could save you a bit of money on your electric bill.

Mr. Coffee Sampler Pack

If you end up getting either the Mr. Coffee or Keurig, you’re going to need to consider getting K-Cups. With the Keurig, you’ll have to purchase the K-Cups in addition to the machine.

The Mr. Coffee saves you an extra step by including a sampler pack of five K-Cups. It’s not a lot but will give you enough to enjoy a handful of cups and determine which flavors you like.

Plus, if you happen to forget to purchase K-Cups, you’ll still be able to brew right away with the Mr. Coffee. You can order more K-Cups while you use up the sampler pack in the meantime.

Keurig K-Classic Indicator Lights

The daily use of the appliance is only a part of owning it. In addition, you’ll need to consider how easy it is to care for the appliance in question.

The Keurig K-Classic helps take any guesswork out of maintenance for you. Thanks to its indicator lights, you’ll know exactly when you need to descale or add water to the coffee maker.

On the other hand, the Mr. Coffee does not have any way of notifying you when it needs to be descaled or when it needs new water. You will need to check the water tank periodically to determine if it needs a refill.

Keurig K-Classic Colors

As a small touch, the Keurig K-Classic is sold in two different colors: a refined black and a vivid red. Both are attractive options.

This likely won’t be a big deal for you. However, it’s always nice to have the option to pick a coffee maker that appeals to you on all levels, including visually.

In comparison, the Mr. Coffee is only sold in black.

So, Which Should You Pick?

Now let’s discuss how you can choose wisely between the Mr. Coffee and the Keurig. There are a few factors to consider that make one or the other more suitable for you.

The first thing you can consider is availability. As we mentioned earlier, the Keurig K-Classic is still in production and you can still purchase brand-new models. This is not true for the Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Coffee Brewer, which is easier to find used than new.

Keep in mind, however, that many retailers certify the quality of their used products. This includes Amazon, which is where we located the Mr. Coffee machine for this post. You can be sure if you purchase it that it will work well, but if you’d prefer the certainty that it’s never been opened, you may want the K-Classic instead.

Next, think about how much you’re going to use your coffee maker and if you’re sharing it. If multiple people will need coffee, you’ll want a coffee maker that doesn’t need constant refills. The Keurig K-Classic wins in that regard, as its water tank is twice the size of the Mr. Coffee’s.

You can also consider aesthetics. The K-Classic is available in two different colors, which gives you a bit more flexibility when it comes to looks.

If you’re unsure what kind of K-Cups to get, or you just want to make sure you have everything you need from the get-go, you may prefer the Mr. Coffee. It includes a sampler pack of five K-Cups, which means you won’t need to buy any yourself right away.

Here’s our suggestion:

You should choose the Keurig K-Classic if you want a brand-new coffee maker that could be shared with several people.

Get the Mr. Coffee, though, if you want a personal-sized coffee maker that comes with everything you need to start brewing.

You can learn more about either model by clicking the links below:

Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Coffee Brewer

Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker