Keurig K-Cafe Special Edition Review: Why This Is One of My Favorite Keurig Machines

I don’t love Keurigs. There’s something about grinding your own beans and brewing a fresh pot that just can’t be replicated by popping a plastic cup into a machine. However, I can’t deny the convenience factor of a Keurig machine, and the K-Cafe Special Edition is one of the best Keurigs I’ve tried.

In this rundown, I’ll give you an in-depth look at the K-Cafe and how it compares to other Keurig models. I’ll cover the pros and cons, features, and performance and explain why it’s one of the only Keurigs that I think is worth the money.

Quick K-Cafe Special Edition Review

The Keurig K-Cafe Special Edition is one of the brand’s high-end coffee maker models. It brews both coffee and espresso drinks in various sizes, includes a milk frother for specialty drinks, and has a 60oz water reservoir. The machine looks a bit clunky with its large footprint, but it’s easy to use with simple button controls.

The coffee quality is decent but not amazing — on par with other Keurigs but not as good as pour-over, French press, or even a traditional drip machine. The K-Cafe is versatile and convenient, but the high price tag of around $200 may make it prohibitive for some buyers. Overall, it’s a solid option for Keurig fans who want the ability to make lattes and cappuccinos at home.

K-Cafe Special Edition Pros and Cons

K-Cafe Special Edition Review

Now let’s get into the nitty-gritty details of the K-Cafe Special Edition. I’ll go through all of the key factors to consider, from appearance to performance, to help you determine if this is the right Keurig model for your needs.

Appearance

Aesthetically speaking, the K-Cafe Special Edition won’t win any design awards. It has a bulky, rounded shape that takes up a good amount of counter real estate. The black and silver plastic exterior looks rather plain without any snazzy colors or accents. In terms of size, it measures 15.3” x 11.7” x 12.5”, making it one of the larger Keurig models. If you’re tight on space, it’s not the best choice.

That said, I don’t think appearance should make or break your buying decision. While it’s not the sleekest machine, it doesn’t look bad by any means. And if you plan to keep it tucked away in a pantry or corner when not in use, the mundane styling shouldn’t matter much.

Ease of Use

The K-Cafe is just as easy to use as any other Keurig, even though it offers more features than most models. There are just a handful of clearly labeled buttons on the front that allow you to choose your brew size, start or cancel brewing, and activate the frother.

To make coffee, all you do is lift the handle, pop in a K-Cup, lower the handle, select your desired brew size — 6, 8, 10, or 12 oz — and hit the flashing “brew” button. The machine does the rest, heating the water to the proper temperature and pumping it through the pod. Brew times are quite speedy at under a minute.

One handy feature is the separate hot water button which dispenses plain hot water for making tea, oatmeal, soup, and more. You can use any Keurig to just make hot water, but the dedicated button on the K-Cafe makes it easy to do even if you’re in the middle of making coffee.

The frother is also easy to operate: add milk to the included pitcher, press the froth button, and in under 2 minutes, you’ll have perfect steamed or frothed milk for lattes and cappuccinos. This feature alone sets the K-Cafe apart for me. It’s not cafe-quality espresso, but it’s so much easier to use than a regular espresso machine and it scratches a similar itch. 

Overall, the K-Cafe couldn’t be simpler to use. The controls are intuitive enough for even the most brewing-challenged person to whip up a great cup of joe. It’s missing a few bells and whistles, like programmable auto-brew that higher-end Keurigs offer, but I didn’t find that to be a huge loss.

Coffee Quality

This is where the K-Cafe Special Edition, like all single-serve pod coffee makers, comes up a bit short, in my opinion. While the coffee it brews is certainly acceptable, it’s not as rich, robust, and flavorful as what you’d get from a manual brew.

There are a few reasons for the inferior brew quality. Single-serve pods contain pre-ground coffee, which loses freshness and aroma compared to whole beans you grind yourself. Keurigs also don’t heat water to the 195-205 degree optimal temperature for extraction. I was hopeful when I tried the K-Cafe that it would solve this issue, but alas, it does not.

All that said, if you’re already a fan of Keurig, you’ll likely be satisfied with the K-Cafe’s output. And being able to brew a latte or cappuccino at the touch of a button is a nice bonus you won’t get from a regular drip pot or a more budget-friendly Keurig model. Just don’t expect the same complex tastes that a true espresso machine provides.

Counter Space & Footprint

I touched on this earlier, but the K-Cafe Special Edition is not small. It has a large base that measures about 15 inches wide, so it requires a good amount of counter real estate. The 60oz removable reservoir adds height too. So if you’re tight on space, this is something to consider.

The size of the K-Cafe is understandable, but it’s a factor that makes it harder to incorporate into a small kitchen. All of those components need room, making it larger than a standard K-Cup brewer. So just be sure to measure your counters and cabinets to ensure the K-Cafe will fit before purchasing.

Brew Sizes & Options

Versatility is one area where the K-Cafe shines. It can brew the following drink options in 6, 8, 10, or 12 oz sizes.

Having both regular coffee and espresso capabilities is great for households with varying coffee preferences. And being able to make a 10 oz latte or 12 oz cup of regular coffee from one machine is very convenient. Other Keurigs usually only do standard coffee in a few sizes, and manual coffee makers like the Hario V60 or Chemex can’t make — or even fake — espresso.

K-Cup Compatibility

The K-Cafe Special Edition brewer is compatible with any K-Cup pod, including products from third-party brands. You won’t have any trouble finding tons of flavors and roasts that work in the K-Cafe. Some of the popular K-cups people use with the K-Cafe come from Green Mountain, Peet’s McCafe, Dunkin, and Starbucks. 

Price

The main downside of the Keurig K-Cafe Special Edition — besides the mediocre coffee it makes — is the cost. The MSRP is $199, but it usually retails a bit lower on Amazon and other sites. That’s definitely on the pricier side for a home brewer. However, you are getting a very versatile machine that can produce both coffee and espresso drinks, which means fewer trips to your local cafe.

Compared to other Keurig models, the K-Cafe is one of the more expensive options, but its built-in milk frother adds value. And up against comparably equipped espresso machines, the K-Cafe is very competitively priced. So while the upfront cost is significant, you’re getting solid features and performance for the money.

Build Quality

The K-Cafe Special Edition feels like most other Keurig brewers I’ve used. It’s made entirely of plastic, excluding some internal metal components. While all-plastic construction feels a bit chintzy to me, it’s the norm for affordable home brewers. And yes, I know the K-Cafe isn’t affordable, but using plastic parts is what allows Keurig to offer features like a built-in frother at a reasonable price point.

Despite its mostly plastic construction, the K-cafe seems durable enough to withstand daily use. However, it only has a 1-year warranty, so it most likely won’t have the longevity of a higher-end drip coffee maker or fancy espresso machine. But the affordable price somewhat offsets the shorter lifespan. As long as you take care of it, the K-Cafe should provide several years of reliable service.

Warranty

As I just noted above, Keurig provides a relatively short 1-year limited warranty on the K-Cafe Special Edition. This covers any defects in materials or workmanship for 12 months after the date of purchase. To me, the 1-year coverage seems a bit stingy for a $200 appliance. However, it’s on par with the warranty of most other Keurig models in this price range, so this is more of an overall weakness of Keurig and not a specific issue I have with the K-Cafe.

The warranty is also limited to the original owner and doesn’t cover damages from misuse or improper maintenance. I always prefer longer warranties when buying pricier kitchen appliances, even if it costs a bit more upfront. But Keurig’s 1-year policy isn’t a deal breaker, given the reasonable price of the K-Cafe compared to similar machines from other manufacturers. Just be prepared to potentially replace it sooner than a more expensive drip coffee machine.

Water Reservoir

The K-Cafe Special Edition is equipped with a 60oz removable water reservoir. This is one of the largest capacities offered in Keurig’s lineup. Having a high water volume is great since it means less frequent refilling, which is helpful for households that drink a lot of coffee — or lazy people who hate refilling machines as much as I do.

The reservoir is made of clear plastic, so you can easily monitor the water level. Removing and refilling it is a cinch, too; just flip up the lid and pour. The tank fits neatly into the back of the machine. My only small complaint is that the plastic doesn’t feel incredibly durable. I could see it potentially cracking over time, so handle it gently whenever removing or inserting.

A 60oz reservoir should suffice for most light-to-moderate coffee drinkers. But heavy users may want an even larger capacity to avoid constant refills. Also note that because the K-Cafe dispenses hot water for other drinks, you’ll go through the water faster than on standard Keurigs if you use it frequently to make hot chocolate or oatmeal.

Final Thoughts: Do I Recommend the K-Cafe Special Edition?

At the end of the day, is the K-Cafe Special Edition worth purchasing over other Keurig models or coffee makers? My short answer is yes.

If you already know and love Keurig coffee and want the flexibility of being able to make basic espresso drinks at home, the K-Cafe is a solid option. The built-in milk frother adds great value and is not found on most single-serve home brewers. And being able to brew coffee in multiple sizes is useful for households with varying needs.

However, more discerning coffee drinkers who seek truly high-end brews may want to skip the K-Cafe. The coffee quality, while not bad, just can’t match what you’ll get from a manual brew using freshly ground beans.

On a similar note, if you’re serious about espresso, a semi-automatic or super-automatic espresso maker would be a better (though pricier) choice over the K-Cafe. The faux espresso the K-Cafe makes is good enough for casual espresso fans, but it’s not good enough for espresso lovers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between the K-Cafe and other Keurig models?

The K-Cafe stands out from other Keurig brewers due to its built-in milk frother, which allows you to make specialty drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. It can brew espresso shots in addition to regular coffee, while most Keurig models only brew regular-strength cups of coffee. The K-Cafe also has a 60oz water reservoir, which is larger than standard Keurigs.

Is the coffee from the K-Cafe high quality?

The coffee from the K-Cafe is comparable to other Keurig brewers — decent, but not amazing. Single-serve pods can’t fully match the flavor of freshly ground beans. The short brew time and lower temperature of Keurigs also impact quality. But if you enjoy Keurig coffee, the K-Cafe produces a good cup that I like better than the cups I get from most other Keurigs.

How difficult is the K-Cafe to operate?

The K-Cafe is very simple to use. Just insert a pod, choose your brew size, and press start. The milk frother takes about 2 minutes to heat and foam milk with the touch of a button. The interface is straightforward with clearly labeled buttons, so it’s perfect for brewing novices.

Does the K-Cafe require a lot of countertop space?

Yes, the K-Cafe has a large footprint measuring over 15 inches wide. It’s one of the bigger Keurig models. Make sure to measure your countertop to ensure you have room for it. The 60oz water reservoir adds height as well. If you need a smaller model, you should check out the K-Mini instead.

Is the K-Cafe worth the higher price tag?

The K-Cafe costs around $200, more than basic Keurigs but less than some espresso machines. For the versatility of brewing both coffee and espresso drinks in one machine, plus the handy milk frother, the price is very reasonable. It’s worth it for coffee lovers who want specialty drinks.