What is the difference between keurig mini and mini plus

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Keurig

There was a time, a moment, in your adult life that found you standing in the small appliance aisle. Your attention was focused on the two boxes that appeared to contain the same product but had a gap in price that would imply that one is different than the other. The point is that sometimes the differences are minute, and it comes down to price and how that affects options.

Such is the case with the Keurig K-Mini and the Keurig K-Mini Plus. As the Plus would indicate, the latter has a few more features that set it apart from its predecessor, but are those features something you need? For the quick convenience of a Keurig machine, especially a single-serve coffee maker, sometimes less is actually more.

Regardless of the differences, both these machines are great Keurig options for those with not much counter space or who want a device at work. I'm buying one for my college-bound child (the cheapest one, because he also wants a mini-fridge and books), because the dorm room is another great scenario. If you’ve chosen to live that pod life, a Keurig K-Mini is a small step toward full caffeine intake.

Here’s how the Keurig K-Mini and the K-Mini Plus compare:

Keurig K-Mini

Keurig

Keurig K-Mini

The Keurig K-Mini is less than 5 inches wide, which is perfect for a small coffee machine in small spaces. It brews either 6- or 12-cup sizes and has a one-cup reservoir that needs to be refilled each time you brew. You can remove the drip tray to fit a travel mug, and it has cord storage. You can also use refillable K-Cups with this machine.

The Keurig K-Mini retails for $59.99 in matte black or my favorite, Oasis blue. It seems like a refreshing color for a coffee machine. Other than that, it’s affordable, it functions as intended and makes a basic cup of coffee for people in a hurry.

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Keurig K-Mini Plus

Keurig

Keurig K-Mini Plus

Let’s get right to it—what makes the K-Mini Plus so much Plus? Why does it have a higher price point at $99.99? And does it come in red?

It does come in red—oddly a few dollars cheaper—Evening Teal and black. The differences are slight but important. The one-cup reservoir still needs to be refilled after each cup, but it’s removable. The drip dray has a chrome accent. It has a strong brew button, which is an important feature for a pod machine. It also has built-in pod storage that keeps up to nine K-Cup pods to be disposed of later. Those are the differences. Are they worth an additional $40?

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The Verdict

Yes, they are worth that extra $40. If you are going to buy a single-serve Keurig machine then you may as well spend the extra money to get one with removable parts that make it easier to clean. Even a water reservoir will get dirty after a while, and being able to remove that and clean it is worth a few bucks.

Additionally, the used K-Cup storage and strong brew options in the K-Mini Plus are features you’ll probably want in a machine that is built for convenience. Those K-cups are hot, and your tender little hands don’t want to remove them one at a time. You want to dump a bucket of them. With the same footprint as the K-Mini but with those extra features, buy the K-Mini Plus.

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As far as coffee machines go, Keuring is one of the most well-known brands and easily wins the single-serving coffee-making popularity contest. Not only are their machines perfect for office or at-home use, but with the K-Mini or K-Mini Plus, they also make ideal traveling companions.

If you have been considering getting a Keurig for the first time or upgrading your K-Mini to the new K-Mini Plus, you may be wondering what the heck the differences are between these two twin-like machines.

I can assure you, there are differences. But, you may be surprised to know the differences are rather subtle. That doesn’t mean one won’t sway you over another. It just means, well, the differences aren’t huge.

Let’s get into it.

Keurig K-Mini vs. K-Mini Plus – The Final Comparison

Features

K-Mini

K-Mini Plus

Travel Friendly

Serving Sizes

6, 8, 10, and 12 oz

6, 8, 10, and 12 oz

Dimension

11.3 x 4.5 x 12.10 inches

11.3 x 4.5 x 12.10 inches

Build Material

Plastic

Plastic

Strong Brew Options

Removable Water Reservoir

Pod Storage

Weight

~ 1 kg

~ 3 kg

Price

 View Price on Amazon  View Price on Amazon

Aesthetics – K-Mini Plus Wins with Its Silver Accents

The Keurig-Mini and the K-Mini Plus are almost identical as far as aesthetics go.

They both come in an array of colors, some of which are Black, Dusty Rose, and even Oasis Blue. They are also both compact and cute with the same sleek and modern look.

The one major aesthetic difference between these two cuties is the K-Mini Plus comes with a matte finish and has silver detailing on both the handle and drip tray.

Life-altering? No. But it does make the K-Mini Plus a tad more attractive than its counterpart.

The silver addition gives the K-Mini Plus that upgraded feel, so for aesthetics, the K-Mini Plus is the winner here.


Dimensions

As far as size goes, there is no longer a difference between these two machines.

The K-Mini at one time was a bit bigger, but it now can boast the same measurements as the K-Mini Plus: 11.3 x 4.5 x 12.10, which definitely evens the playing field.

With each of these machines being less than 5 inches wide, they are easy to store in any kitchen, any bedroom, or even in the back of your car.


Serving Size

As coffee lovers, and at times, addicts, we know the size of our coffee matters.

The K-Mini and K-Mini Plus can each handle between 6 oz, 8 oz, 10 oz, and 12 oz coffee cups.

They are also taller machines, making them capable of handling 7” travel mugs when the drip trays are removed.


Energy-Saving

Energy-saving modes are a popular feature of coffee-making gadgets because they are environment friendly.

Both the K-Mini and K-Mini Plus are considered energy-saving machines, with each having an auto-off feature that turns them off 90 seconds after your last brew.

You don’t have to do anything to make this happen. It is a completely automatic process.


Water Reservoir – Win for the K-Mini Plus

The water reservoir is one of the biggest differences between these K-Minis.

While each requires the water reservoir to be refilled for every cup of delicious java you brew, the K-Mini Plus has a removable water reservoir.

Not only does this addition make it more convenient to fill with water, but it also gives the K-Mini Plus a step up on being easier to clean.


Cord Storage

Cord storage is just plain convenient. Both these babies have places where their cords can be tucked away nicely.


K-Cups

As far as K-Cups are concerned, the Mini and the Plus can both use K-Cup pods and the K-Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filter (sold separately).

While they will brew the same tasting coffee…because they use the exact same pods, there is an additional feature of the Plus that does add to its coffee-making game: The strong brew option.


Additional Features of the K-Mini Plus

There are two other features of the K-Mini Plus that gives it an edge over the K-Mini:

  • The Strong Brew option may be an extra button, but the strong brew option is essential if you like your coffee stronger. It is also a bonus feature if you like having an extra button to push, as well as having minor control over your coffee brewing process.
  • The pod storage unit can hold up to 9 K-Cups which makes it a tad more convenient to travel with. Instead of throwing K-Cups in a bag, you can just stack them up in the storage unit and head out.

Final Verdict – K-Mini Plus is Worth It

Sometimes there are extra features on machines that just don’t make much sense and certainly don’t make up for any price differences.

The K-Mini Plus is not one of those machines.

While there is something to be said about the simplicity of a coffee maker that only requires one button to be pressed, the strong brew option is definitely enough to warrant a slight price increase on two already budget-friendly machines.

Not to mention, if you love toting your Plus around, the pod storage unit is just downright nice.

However, if you aren’t someone who needs a couple of extra bells and whistles and you don’t really care if your coffee is stronger than usual, the K-Mini is the machine for you.

Recommended: Pick The K-Mini Plus for its strong brew button, pod storage container, and removable water tank. Convenient, easy-to-use, and completely travel-friendly.


You may also be interested in:

  • Best Single Serve Coffee Makers
  • Best Keurig Coffee Makers
  • Keurig K-Elite Review – Does it Worth The Money?

What is the difference between Mini and Mini Plus?

Aside from the chrome accents on the Mini Plus, there are really only two differences between these models. One is that you can use the strong brew function on the K-Mini plus. The other differences are the removable water tank and 9 pod storage.

What is the difference between Keurig and Keurig plus?

Differences. The Keurig K-Mini Plus offers 4 features not found on the regular K-Mini: Removable water reservoir (vs the K-Mini's fixed reservoir) which is much easier to refill. Strength Control not found on the K-Mini.

Is the K

It is perfect for people who want a quick and easy way to make coffee for themselves but isn't well suited to brewing large batches for a group. The K-Mini Plus excels at being an everyday machine for people who like plain coffee and don't want to venture into espresso or other specialty coffee drinks.

Does the Keurig Mini Plus use regular K cups?

A: Thanks for your question. The K-Mini Plus Coffee Maker is compatible with all K-Cup Pods, including our hot chocolate varieties.