Keurig K50 and K55 models are famous coffee makers that have found favor in most coffee enthusiasts, and I’m glad to join the wagon.
After seeing the hype, reviews, and Keurig K50 vs K55 comparisons on the internet, I decided to try both machines and see what they really deliver in my coffee mug.
Contents
Keurig K55 Single Serve Programmable K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker
Why is it the best?
1. Are They Different In Any Way?
From experience, they are both outstanding coffee makers with slight differences that only those who have compared them can note. In the course of shopping, I have come to realize that some coffee makers are true to what they say while some do not even qualify to be used by an amateur.
With that in mind, it is vital to be informed about the coffee machine you prefer as part of your kitchen paraphernalia.
If you desire to get one of them to ease your morning coffee making schedule, this article will help you clear the confusion fog between the Keurig K50 and the Keurig K55 as you make your final choice.
2. Keurig K50 vs K55 Comparison Table
| Product Specifications | Keurig K50 | Keurig K55 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 7.6 pounds | 12 pounds |
| Brewing Options | Close to a minute | Under a minute |
| What else can you brew? | Cocoa, tea, iced beverages | Cocoa, tea, iced beverages |
| Water reservoir capacity | 48 ounces, removable | 48 ounces, removable |
| Control Panel | Button controls, programmable auto-off, light indicators | Button controls, programmable auto-off, light indicators |
| Drip tray | Removable | Removable |
| Filters | Mesh | Charcoal |
| Dimensions | 9.8 x 13 x 13.3 inches | 13.2 x 10.1 x 13.3 inches |
| Descaling | None | Available |
3. The Design Aspects
I agree with most customers that a suitable coffee maker should have the right looks for the kitchen view. Keurig has done that by providing a modern design that blends with today’s kitchen organization.
You get a product that has a smooth surface, wider at the top, narrower at the bottom, curved edges on the sides, and buttons with familiar signs and illustrations to help you operate. I don’t think there’s more to look for if the design achieves all of this.
K55 Has More Colors and Weight
As for the K50 and K55, they look similar at a glance, but there are few things that the latter has acquired to distinguish it from its predecessor.
First, the K55 is heavier, with more than 4 pounds on it due to the internal improvement that the previous model does not possess. Second, there are more colors on it to choose from – black, coconut white, patriot blue, and maroon.
While the height is the same for both, those who don’t like black can go for the K55 for more colored options. If you want a colored K50 option, check out the red K50 Classic series.
4. How Do They Perform?
I want to point out that the speed you see on the table is meant for the first cup. As you make more coffee cups during the day, variations are bound to occur. In the morning, both coffee makers will operate as new since they are cold and fresh.
Under one minute, you will have a cup of fresh, hot coffee, smelling, and tasting just like what you aspire from your favorite coffee brand. However, as they both become heated with each cup you make, K55 brings you closer to one minute while K50 goes over a minute to make the same cup of coffee.
That is one recommendable improvement from the prior. One of the flaws that I found was that there is no LCD screen to display digits. Most customers like it when you can control the temperature among other settings and see the figures on a visual.
You don’t get that from any of these Keurig models. Since you cannot make such adjustments, the only thing left is to enjoy brewed coffee at 89 degrees Celsius from both coffee makers.
A Large Water Reservoir
They both reserve 48 ounces of water and the reservoir is removable. If you need to be quick in the morning, you can make an average of six cups before refilling. Therefore, some part of your morning schedule is easy if you consume 1-2 cups before kickstarting the day.
K50 Needs Better Filters
Somewhere that a difference kicks in is the filters used. K50 uses mesh filters to purify water. If you are a coffeeholic like me, you’ll know that this is not the best and look forward to replacing it after the first few days of use.
K55 makes it better by using charcoal filters. They are much better at capturing all the chlorine and other water minerals that may not go well with your coffee and health. That is essential if you don’t use purified water. The only thing with charcoal filters is that you will have to spend more.
Automatic Timing
The last part of the performance goes to automatic timers. At times, you are in a hurry and don’t remember to switch off the machine. The auto-off feature will shut down the coffee makers after two hours of idle sitting. That makes them energy efficient.
There are timers for the most important things with light indicators to show you when they need your attention. Therefore, you’ll know when it’s time to refill the water, descale, and brew among other adjustments.
If you want to see the timers in action, here is a video that shows you how it works.
5. Taste Variation
If you are looking for a coffee maker that will perfect each cup you brew, then you need to know where to get the best coffee. I grind mine while some of us go for Green Mountain and the likes. Otherwise, a coffee maker gives out what you give in if I put it more simply.
Brewing and K-Cup Pod Compatibility
Varying taste from both Keurig coffee makers gets in when you brew different cup sizes. While it’s true that the K55 brews something stronger cups of coffee than K50, coffee taste and strength decreases when you brew the 8oz and 10oz sizes. You get the best coffee when brewing the 6-ounce.
Keurig is notorious for only favoring K-Cups pods or compatible cups with their brand on them. Therefore, anything that they don’t recommend is a trial and error case.
On the other hand, there are 75 brands to choose from so you are still spoilt for choice when it comes to K55. K50 does not have that diverse compatibility that the latter model enjoys.
One thing worth noting though is that they are both not compatible with K-Mug and K-Carafe pods. They are meant for the Plus Series models.
How to Brew More Than 10 Ounces with the Keurigs
Do you grind your coffee? You’ll need to purchase the reusable filter pods separately. Keurig will supply 4 K-Cup pods to introduce you to their world, but you’ll need some reusable pods if you enjoy a particular blend.
Now, what if you want to make a mug of coffee with either of the machines? They both have a detachable drip tray that you can remove if you’re going to fit in a bigger cup. While that is great, you can get a weaker taste if you use the same K-Cup pod since you want to brew until the mug is full.
To solve the problem, you can prepare two pods, and brew an 8-ounce first, then brew a 6oz in the second round. That way, the coffee is much better.
Do you want tips? First, it is always a good idea if you have reusable filter pods. Second, I have found that solofill filters do a better job if you grind your coffee and since they can are reusable, you reduce the number of pods thrown away.
6. How to Clean and Maintain
They both share the same cleaning instructions in the user guide. That means you will not see the difference since it’s not clarified. The process is however identical in the sense that you have to remove the drip tray from time to time to clean it. The same goes for the water reservoir since it’s also detachable.
The Descaling Process
When it comes to running water through the machine, you can do it in both, but the K55 has the descaling feature. It means running chemicals through before running water later to make it clean. It seems like a disadvantage to K50 owners, but you can consider it to be the same as how you brew coffee.
The instructions are simple once you grasp and if anything requires changing, the parts are readily available. Reviews from K50 have revealed that it tends to break down after a few months.
Mine is not yet there, but I’ll be waiting to see it. K55 is the model that came to improve on that since there are fewer cases of it not working.
Clogging in Keurig K55
At times, the K55 does not work since the piercing needle has some debris from ground coffee. The machine detects too much back pressure hence the stop. All you have to do is clean up the ‘coffee dirt’ by using a cleaning device from Keurig if you order one or a needle to remove it.
If it breaks down, try cleaning the part first before calling the customer support.
7. Pros And Cons
Keurig K50
Pros
- Brews coffee in less than one minute during the first brew
- Various brew size options available
- Auto-off feature
- Detachable drip tray
- Easy to reach controls
- Removable water reservoir
- Brews coffee, cocoa, and iced beverages
Cons
- It can take more time to brew a cup of coffee after a few uses
- Quite noisy
- It has been reported to break down after a short time of use
- It needs better filters
Keurig K55
Pros
- Brews coffee in less than a minute.
- Different brew size options
- Auto-off feature
- Detachable drip tray
- Easy to reach controls
- Removable water reservoir
- Brews coffee, cocoa, and iced beverages
- You can descale it as part of cleaning
- Variety of colors available
Cons
- Quite noisy
- No temperature control yet
By just looking at the table above, it is clear that there are improvements projected by the K55 model. It is also worth noting, as before, that K50 is not compatible with many K-Cups as the recent model. Those are some of the things that will make the Keurig fans shift to the current model.
8. The Final Verdict
Both Keurig coffee maker machines are a favorite to many coffee lovers, and you can tell from the numerous reviews they have both received.
Spending time to test them and seeing what the customers have to say was the only way to know the real difference and which one will suit your coffee making ventures.
The Keurig K50 model was a useful invention, but the breakdown cases and not being compatible with more K-Cups are some of the issues that may make a buyer not to pick it.
If you, however, want a coffee brewer but you don’t know what to pick, and you not so fancy about it, K50 can serve as a good start.
The Keurig K55 seems to be the model that came to solve the problems realized from the previous one. It comes with the descaling feature which helps you in cleaning it, fewer breaking down cases, and more colors to choose from if black is obvious. That is why it seems to be a better alternative.
