Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker K-Cup Pod, Single Serve, Programmable, 6 to 10 oz. Brew Sizes, Black

There are numerous detailed reviews of the Keurig K55 and other models on Amazon and I see no reason to repeat or refute other reviewers’ opinions, so I’ll limit my review to my impressions based on one week’s use and experimentation with various coffees and other beverages that my wife and I have tried and enjoyed.

I don’t consider myself to be a “coffee snob” but I drink a lot of coffee and insist on a good. fresh cup of coffee, properly brewed to my personal taste. For more than 20 years, I’ve used Saeco super automatic espresso/coffee machines such as this one:https://smile.amazon.com/Saeco-Philips-Intelia-Espresso-Machine/dp/B019771XIE/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1481465394&sr=1-1&keywords=saeco+super+automatic+espresso+machine&refinements=p_89%3ASaeco ranging in cost from about $600 to $2,500 depending on the model. These super automatic machines allow you to load whole bean coffee of your choice into a hopper and at the push of a button, it grinds the beans, loads them into the brew unit, dispenses the coffee, then dumps the used grounds and is ready to brew another cup at the touch of a button. They are completely adjustable so you can brew your coffee as strong as you like, from espresso to fairly weak American-style coffee. They also have a steamer which allows you to make cappuccino and other coffee beverages. I love these machines and they make great coffee, but they have disadvantages. First, because you have to load the whole beans in the hopper, it isn’t easy to change to a different coffee if other family members drink decaf, for example, or prefer lighter or darker roasts. Also, they only brew coffees, no other beverages. Lastly, they are complicated and require quite a bit of maintenance.

Enter the Keurig K55, which is their least expensive basic model but does everything I expect. I purchased it for my wife who likes to drink my lighter coffee as well as various teas, hot chocolate, cider, etc. My thought was to let her use the Keurig and to continue making my coffee in my Saeco but I’ve found that the Keurig makes very good coffee and suspect that my Saeco will be retired because the Keurig is so much more convenient to use and maintain and I’m completely satisfied with the coffee I’m brewing in it, perhaps not quite as “great” as that I make in my Saeco more than satisfactory, and far superior to the coffee I buy in restaurants, donut shops and convenience stores.

I won’t recommend particular k-cup coffee brands because there are so many of them and everyone has different preferences. One of the main advantages to the Keurig is that there are so many choices available, with three brew strength/ water level settings, as well as a great variety of other hot beverages such as black and herbal teas, hot chocolates, ciders, and more.

You can also buy reusable k-cup holders and any ground coffee you like. This may save a little money and also allows you to choose your favorite coffee even if it isn’t available in K-cups. I ordered a set of these reusable k-cups and have tried them with several ground coffees, comparing them to the prefilled k-cup versions of the same coffees. The k-cup ones are as good or better than the ones I’ve loaded myself using the reusable k-cups and are SO MUCH easier and more convenient to use. They’re a little more expensive but still reasonably priced, particularly if you buy them in bulk from Amazon, Sam’s Club, etc., or find them on sale at your local supermarket. On average, I’m paying less around 40 cents a pod for mine. Other k-cup beverages such as teas and hot chocolate tend to be less expensive than the premium coffees I buy.

The real advantages to the Keurig are convenience, ease of use and the variety of coffees and beverages you can make with it, including iced teas and other iced beverages. My wife and I can share a single machine and make our own preferred beverages quickly and easily. After she makes a flavored beverage, I simply run a shot of hot water through the machine to remove any off-taste before brewing my coffee.

Although I won’t recommend specific brands due to personal tastes, I will mention that I prefer well-balanced, slightly acidic medium to medium dark roasts. I don’t like breakfast blends or other light roasts, nor do I like really dark roasts such as those typical of some coffee shops such as Starbucks, although I have tried some of the dark roasts from Starbucks k-cups and others and they are fine, just not to my taste. I usually use the medium water level (7.25 oz) setting. Depending on the coffee I’m using, this usually gives me a rich, well-balanced, fairly strong cup of coffee. For some lighter roast coffees I prefer the low (5.25 oz) setting. My wife doesn’t like strong coffee and usually uses the high (7.25 oz) setting. Teas, ciders and hot chocolate usually taste better with the high water level setting.

If you are considering giving the Keurig a try, I recommend that you consider buying one of the many sampler k-cup packs available on Amazon. Some are coffee only and others include assorted flavored coffee, cappuccino, tea, hot chocolate, cider, etc. The one I bought is this one: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KSIE39I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 . It was a good choice and my wife and I quickly discovered our favorites. We’ve also bought a few others to try (on sale) at my local supermarket. All were good, even though some weren’t to my personal taste. Once you decide on your favorites and the brew strength you prefer, you’re all set to make good, fresh coffee and other k-cup beverages easily and conveniently.

I mentioned at the beginning of my review that I’m not a “coffee snob” but I do insist on good fresh coffee, brewed to my personal taste. The Keurig accomplishes this. I realize that many people ARE purists (coffee snobs, in my parlance). If so, you probably won’t like the Keurig but for 95% of all coffee drinkers, the Keurig is great. I’m more than willing to give up my “perfect” cup for one that’s almost as good and so much easier and more convenient to brew, not to mention all of the other beverages it will make.

I can see why the Keurig has become so popular. It fully deserves the five star rating I’ve given it. I highly recommend it to most coffee drinkers. I’m less convinced that it’s the best solution to brew tea. It’s okay but I still think it’s worth the effort to brew tea by steeping it (using the Keurig to dispense hot water for brewing it if you wish). However, K-cup hot tea and iced teas aren’t bad and are certainly quick and easy.

 In the forty years of our marriage, we have owned several well-known brands of coffee makers. However, we feel that the Keurig K55 coffee maker has proved superior to any of our previous coffee brewers.

Last year I invested in our first Keurig coffee maker, and I chose the K15 for individual servings. This worked out so well that a few months later, I bought another for my office and I loved my second Keurig as much as I loved the first one. Then last winter I decided to purchase another Keurig, only a different model that would accommodate several servings.

I bought the K55 model because it has various featured options. This includes offering the choice for different hot beverages without the extra step to refill the tank each time with water, and this is due to the larger 48 oz. water reservoir. In addition, this enables us to make a variety of hot beverages in rapid succession, within a few seconds instead of waiting for all the water to reheat. Furthermore, the Keurig K55 offers a personal ‘custom tailored’ brew by letting us determine the strength of our coffee, and we have a choice of three. The smallest amount for a 6 oz. provides the strongest brew and the other two servings are an 8 and 10 oz.

I like strong coffee, or sometimes I like to have flavored coffee, and my sister-in-law likes the same coffee that I do. My husband prefers a milder brew, and he never drinks flavored coffee. My son drinks tea, and likes to try different varieties and my grandson loves sampling different selections of hot chocolate.

The Keurig K55 has a fast set-up, with easy to follow and systematic directions from the manual. It offers us a variety ways to make coffee, tea or just to heat water and all without any major modifications, because it just goes from one task to another.

Below are some of the general features, and all are well designed and ‘user friendly’.

CONTROL PANEL:

All the controls are on the top right of the coffee maker and I like the flat slope surface that slightly slants down toward my eye level, and therefore, I don’t need to step on my tiptoes to read the buttons.

On the panel, there are 5 press buttons and each one has an LED light to reduce ‘user error’.

Power: Green LED
Auto Off: Green LED – (this is the automatic timer and when activated will automatically power off after 2 hours).
3 Brew Size Servings – corresponding size to the serving size and each with a Blue LED
a. Cup Size – yields 6 oz. – which will provide the strongest brew
b. Small Mug – produces 8 oz.
c. Large Mug – dispenses 10 oz.

Aside from the 5 press buttons to regulate the Keurig coffee maker, there are 3 other LED light indicators.

1. Add Water – a Blue LED will light up
If there is not enough water, the coffee maker will not work, therefore I consider this indicator as a safety feature, as well as a resolution to a possible ‘user error’.

2. Descale – will light up with a Red LED light
This is another handy feature, to indicate necessary cleaning maintenance.

3. Heating – while the water is heating, a red LED powers on, and then powers off when the water is hot and ready for a brew.

WATER RESERVOIR:

Included with the Keurig K55 is a Charcoal Water filter Cartridge Kit with 2 charcoal filters. This will eliminate the unwanted chemical taste that is in some water systems, and good tasting water is essential for a delicious cup of coffee. The recommended life span for each charcoal filter is approximately 2 months or 60 ‘full-tank’ refills. There are several selections for Replacement Charcoal Filter-Pods available on Amazon.com.

The water reservoir attached to the left side is easy to remove with a slight lift up and outward motion. It fits inside a base and the tank is easy to remove and replace without any struggle. Alternatively, remove the reservoir tank cover, and pour water in from a bottle or a container.

DRIP TRAY:
This is much more than ‘just a drip tray’, under the cover is a 1” deep receptacle that will accommodate 8 oz. of a liquid spillover. Therefore, if the user makes an error and pushes the wrong brew amount for a smaller cup, this will save the kitchen counters and the floor from a major flood.
In addition, this coffee maker will accommodate my 7 ¼” coffee thermos by sliding the drip tray out from bottom base, and I can have my thermos filled when placed on the bottom flat tray base.

THE KEURIG K55 ACCOMMODATES REUSABLE COFFEE FILTERS:

My favorite coffee is from fresh beans that I grind myself, and therefore it’s important to me that a coffee maker will accommodate a reusable filter. The K-Cup pod holder on the K55 is very easy to remove and it literally takes less than 10 seconds. Just tap the bottom of the pod holder with a finger and the K-Cup holder slides out with ease. The reusable K-cup filter then slides in place within the groove, and works with perfection for a delicious cup of fresh ground beans, or any ground coffee.

The reusable coffer pod filter that I use is the Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter (Single) – and this is compatible with the Keurig K55 model.

I purchased this from Amazon last spring, and in addition, I use this same filter with my Keurig K15.
https://www.amazon.com/Keurig-5048-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486296530&sr=8-1&keywords=Keurig+My+K-Cup+Reusable+Coffee+Filter+%28Single%29

In conclusion, the Keurig K55 is a well thought-out designed coffee maker, with user-friendly features. This machine comes with a ‘Charcoal Water Filter Cartridge Kit and 2 charcoal pod filters, which guarantees excellent coffee, even though we have ‘hard water’ (which tastes awful) in our water system. In addition, I love that Keurig does NOT use a breakable glass carafe, which was the thing that broke most often with our previous coffee makers.

Tested out the coffee machine…works awesome

gracias a la Keurig K55 mi café es facil de preparar por la mañana o a la hora que se me antoja, la cafetera Keurig me es de gran utilidad, ahorro tiempo . Recibi lo que se me muestró en la foto.