As a coffee enthusiast, I know the importance of having an easy-to-use, quality coffee machine at home. Yes, I occasionally like a cold brew from Starbucks, but that can quickly add up. That said, coffee makers like the Keurig are suitable for in-home use. I’ve been using a Keurig for as long as I can remember, but they’ve come a long way and are now considered a household name. I love my Keurig K-Select, but I decided to try something new. Enter Keurig K-Duo.
The Keurig K-Duo is exactly what it sounds like — it can brew both ground coffee and coffee cups in its two-in-one system. Without spilling too much, this coffee machine can be programmed to brew simultaneously every day and has options available for different-sized cups depending on your daily caffeine needs. So it can fill a carafe or operate as a single-serve coffee maker.
Without further ado, keep reading to see our full review of the Keurig K-Duo, as it may be one of the best Keurig coffee makers out there. Want the machine like, now? You can find it on Amazon, which has nearly 18,000 five-star ratings, so you know you'll be on to a winner already.
Casey Clark is a freelance writer from NYC who covers shopping, food, and lifestyle content. She has bylines in The Wall Street Journal, Huff Post, INSIDER, TIME, and more. She’s tested many products, from coffee machines to mattresses, and loves giving readers the inside scoop on what’s worth the purchase.
I drink coffee nearly every day and prefer it bittersweet and more earthy. I tested the Keurig K-Duo for two weeks and can keep it for ongoing use.
Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker: Setup
Upon opening the pod coffee maker from the packaging, I immediately noticed how lightweight, sleek, and polished it was. It’s not super fancy. However, it is more elevated than my K-Select. It is a bit larger than a standard Keurig because of the additional carafe, but it’s still small enough to keep on my kitchen counter in my tiny apartment.
Each part of the Keurig K-Duo was individually packed. As a Type A person, it was ideal for me to keep track of everything during the initial setup process. It came with the machine, a water filter, a reservoir, and a separate carafe, which were super easy to assemble using the instructional booklet.
It didn’t come with K-Cups (these can be bought from Amazon) or ground coffee beans, so I had to supply that myself. I first went through setting it up, which involved setting up the time and doing a “cleansing brew.”
I set the LCD digital clock using the buttons “H” and “M” and selected the brew button to solidify. Next, the cleansing brew involved running water through the filter as if you were making a cup of coffee. I filled up the 60 oz reservoir, stopped at the MAX fill line, waited for the water to heat up, and then selected the 8-ounce button as instructed in the directions. The “cleansing brew” was a seamless process lasting less than five minutes. I followed the same process for the carafe to ensure it was thoroughly rinsed and ready for use.
What stood out to me was the LCD screen and buttons. They were easy to read and set up in an intuitive way so that you could figure out how to use the machine even without directions. I appreciated how they lit up for easy indication to let you know when it was time to brew and to highlight the number of ounces and the type of brew selected.
I was a bit bummed that it only was available in one color, but black is always a solid choice for a kitchen appliance as it blends right in.
Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker: Key specs
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Row 0 - Cell 1 |
| Type: | Pod / drip |
| Dimensions (in): | 12.92 (H) x 10.94 (W) x 12.76 (D) |
| Settings: | Brew size, buttons for brew strength, and auto-on and digital clock display |
| Type of coffee needed: | K-cups, ground coffee beans |
| Heating Time: | 4 mins |
Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker: Price & availability
At the time of writing, you’ll find the Keurig K-Duo on the Keurig website for $98.99 - it’s on sale from its standard price of $189.99, and you can choose/add on other options - and on Amazon for $78.14.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker: Design
The Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker features a 60-ounce reservoir to hold water, a glass carafe, and a heating plate. Its sleek and contemporary design makes it suitable for any modern kitchen while remaining functional. The buttons are big enough to see from far away, illuminating with light when selected for ease of use.
Score: 5 out of 5
Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker: Performance
Like other Keurig machines I’ve used, I’ve found the K-Duo to be easy to use. It’s slightly more complicated since there’s both a carafe and a single-serve option, but in the end, that just gives you more variety than hassle.
I started the testing process by using the single-serve option. I filled the reservoir, put it in the pod, selected 6 ounces, and let it work magic. I followed the same process with different pods for 8, 10, and 12 ounces over the week. It was a pretty seamless experience. My only note is that I needed to use a bit of force to get down the handle to get the K-Cup into place — think about it – it has to puncture the cup for the water to go through. I also brewed a cup once and clicked the ‘strong’ button to see if I could get a strong, darker cup.
Over the two weeks, I also played around with the different program settings, like the brew and pour and pause and pour. Since I like my coffee hot, I appreciated the pause and pour setting because it dispensed hot water mid-brew without waiting longer. As someone forgetful, I also thoroughly appreciated the Auto-Off button because it let me leave the house worry-free in the morning without guessing whether I unplugged the coffee machine. There was a bit of excess dripping after the brew (1-3 drops max), but nothing too noticeable.
As for the carafe, I used one tablespoon of my favorite ground coffee beans (as noted in the instructions) and put a filter into the designated area. I put the carafe on the heating plate, and in less than five minutes, I had a nice, hot, fresh cup of joe. I appreciated how the heating plate stayed on for two hours after brewing, so it wouldn't be cold if I wanted to go back for a second cup.
My favorite part about this coffee machine was not just the coffee but also the reservoir. I didn’t find myself having to refill it constantly. Before refilling, I got a solid 2-3 days' worth of coffee. If I drank less than two cups a day, it would last 5-6 days.
The only setting I couldn’t use was the high-altitude button since I don’t live at about 5,000 feet. However, to enable it, you have to hold down the pod and carafe buttons and then select the mountain icon.
That said, both the pod and the carafe settings made a bit of squeaking noise when heating, but nothing too extreme — 52 dB, to be exact. Also, I found both sides very easy to clean. I’d put the reservoir in the washing machine and then would do a hot water brew to clean out the inside of the pod and filter holder. It was also easy to clean the drip tray with a damp cloth. You’ll want to do this after the machine has cooled down a bit, so don’t injure yourself. Check out our guide on how to clean a Keurig for more top tips.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker: Taste Test
Now that you know how to use the coffee machine and all of its features, let’s talk about arguably the most important part: the taste.
As I mentioned above, I like my coffee bittersweet and nutty. This machine brewed me a cup that was up to par with coffee shop quality—not too bitter and not too acidic. I will say that I preferred the flavor of the carafe over the pod. I think it was a bit more flavorful and aromatic, enhancing the overall experience. The pod was still a really good option, but if I had to choose a favorite, it would be the carafe.
If you like a stronger cup, I suggest selecting the ‘strong’ button before brewing. This will give you a more earthy and strong taste than a regular brew.
How does the Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker compare?
I’ve tried the Keurig K-Select before, and it’s similar to the K-Duo. However, the latter is a step up from the former by adding the carafe. In terms of taste, both machines make a high-quality, tasty cup of coffee in less than five minutes. The K-Select is slightly cheaper, but that makes sense, given its size and functions.
If you’re looking for a slightly more elevated version minus the carafe, you’ll want to check out the Keurig K-Supreme Smart Coffee Maker. It’s very close in price when the K-Duo is not in sale, and you get a few more features.
Should you buy the Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker?
| Attribute | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price & availability | It’s a great value considering you can choose from two preparation methods. In terms of availability, it’s only available on Amazon and the brand’s website. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, however, if you’re looking to other retailers like Bed Bath & Beyond or Target, you might not be able to find it. | ★★★★½ |
| Design | I gave this coffee machine a 5 / 5 rating because there’s nothing that it lacks. It’s small enough for kitchen spaces either large or small and boasts a chic modern design justifies the price point. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | From heating time to delivering rich, flavorful coffee, this machine hits the nail on the head. Although it may leave a drop or two behind, that easily falls into the drop tray for a mess-free experience that’s complete in less than five minutes. | ★★★★½ |
Buy it if...
Don’t buy It if…
How I tested the Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker
- Used the machine to make a cup of coffee (or two) every day for two weeks
- Brewed cups with both the pods and coffee beans
- Followed the instructions carefully for set up and assembly
I reviewed the Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker at my apartment in Florida. I also had other people (friends and family) taste the coffee to see what they thought about third-party credibility.
Read more about how we test.
- First reviewed: November 2023
