Standard Drip and Keurig coffee maker – Which one is better?

Since the 1970s, the auto-drip coffee machine have gradually substituted the stovetop in American kitchens, and it has become the most popular way of making coffee at home. The regular drip-coffee tool is quite simple to use and highly automated. It is adjustable, depending on your taste.

Single-serve or Keurig brewing machines had been launched into the market in the 1990s and became noticeable in Europe together with one of the top coffee makers, Nespresso. But it hit a record when Keurig K-cup was introduced in 1998. Now the Keurig K-cup is the market leader in the US. It helps to place a single-serve brewing method as the second-most-popular one after drip coffee, leaving instant coffee and espresso machine behind.

Below are some comments about the critical differences between these most popular brewing methods:

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1. Brewing time

This the fundamental difference between Drip and Keurig coffee. Keurig coffee is produced by a single-serve coffee machine, which is designed to make coffee instantly. Most of the single-serve coffee makers are proud of delivering a cup of coffee within a minute.

Someone could argue that Keurig coffee is nothing more than an instant coffee. However, it does not work just by adding hot water into the processed coffee mix, and the Keurig coffee is made of real ground coffee. A Keurig only heats the amount of water necessary for one brew at a time in a small reservoir that is separate from the main water reservoir. Additionally, most machines keep the water at a warm temperature, so it does not take very long to heat it fully. Keurig K-Elite Brewing System and Nespresso Pixie - two of the best coffee makers for a single cup - requires less than a minute to make your coffee.

On the other hand, the standard drip coffee requires much more time for producing your coffee, which is around 5 minutes on average. But you may still find some programmable models in the market, and then you can set the brewing time in advance overnight to get a morning coffee just in seconds.

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2. Coffee quality

Quality is the primary difference between Drip and Keurig coffee making. The difference in the quality of coffee comes from the brewing time. 

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) and the European Brewing Center’s (ECBC) Seal of Approval recommend that  hot brewing should take place at a temperature range of 195 – 205 degrees Fahrenheit (90.5 – 96 degree Celsius) within 4 and 6 minutes. Almost all of best coffee maker in the world in standard drip coffee meet this procedure, such as Bonavita, Breville, BUNN, Cuisinart, Ninja, Technivorm Moccamaster, and so one. Therefore, you will get the purest and most tasteful cup of coffee from a drip machine.

The K-cup, on the other hand, produces a light texture coffee, both in the taste and aroma Brewing time is not long enough to extract the deep aroma and oil for a real taste of the coffee. However, K-cup coffee makers offer you different options for your coffee. You can find i coffee pods from famous coffee brands, such as Starbucks, Gloria Jean’s, The original Donut shop, Dunkin’ Donuts for K-cup coffee machines. Then you can have a brilliant cup of coffee  in an instant.

A final word

There are many things to consider when choosing between a Keurig or a standard Drip coffee maker, such as convenience, countertop space, and price. Even if the drip type machines are delivering a better taste of coffee, you will still need to make an entire pot of coffee every time, while a single K-cup  is perfect  to wake you up every morning.