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By Jozo Salmanić – Croatian barista with 15 years of experience.
What Is Keurig K-Mini?
Keurig K-Mini is a capsule coffee maker made by the famous Keurig company.
Its main selling points are fast heating, compact size, and ease of use.
The large variety of K-cups also helps, but more on that later.
It is also boasted as the “most environmentally minded coffee maker” by Monique Oxender, Chief Sustainability Officer at Keurig Dr. Pepper.
The machine is built mainly from recycled PCR plastic, which is an environmentally-friendly solution.
How To Use Keurig K-Mini
To brew coffee, fill up the water reservoir. Its capacity is 12 oz, and every brew cycle will empty it up, so you need to decide what amount of coffee you want to make.
After that, it’s child’s play.
Open the machine’s head, put the capsule of your choice inside, and close it back. Put the cup on the tray, push the (very) large button, and you will get your coffee in a moment.
Note that K-Mini doesn’t automatically eject pods. You will have to wait until they cool and then remove them.
What Is Nespresso VertuoPlus?
Nespresso VertuoPlus is a unique capsule machine that can make espressos and regular coffee, depending on what type of capsule you put inside.
Created in cooperation with Breville, this machine is elegant, multi-purpose, and technologically advanced.
How To Use Nespresso VertuoPlus
First, you fill the adjustable water reservoir (60 oz).
Then you pick the desired capsule type and put it inside the machine.
VertuoPlus will automatically adjust all parameters by simply reading the barcode on the capsule.
After reading the code, the machine will adjust the cup size, water temperature, rotating speed, flow rate, and extracting time.
After brewing, lift the lid, and the used capsule will automatically pop into the dedicated container on the right side.
Keurig K-Mini VS Nespresso VertuoPlus: The Showdown
Let’s see the pros and cons of these top-quality coffee machines.
The Brewing Process
K-Mini uses pressure brewing, similar to traditional drip coffee makers.
When you put the K-Pod inside, the machine will make two holes (top and bottom), and the pressure will force the coffee out.
The process lasts up to one minute, depending on the mug size.
VertuoPlus is all about centrifusion.
After you set the pod inside, VertuoPlus drills one hole in the center and 20 more on the edges.
The water enters through the middle then the coffee goes out through the edge holes.
As a result, you get better extraction and delicious crema.
How Much Coffee Can You Brew
Keurig K-Mini brews anywhere from 6 to 12 oz of coffee – one to two cups. If you want to fill the tall travel mugs, just remove the tray.
VertuoPlus offers two sizes for regular coffee: 5 and 8 oz. On top of that, you can also make single or double espressos.
The machine reads the barcode from the capsule and acts accordingly.
How Many Different Capsules Exist
Currently Nespresso has around 45 different Vertuo coffee capsules (the number varies). Why that little?
VertuoPlus uses patent-protected barcode reader technology for its pods.
However, you can find reusable third-party pods and fill them yourself.
Keurig offers more than 400 different K-Pods from more than 75 brands.
On top of that, Keurig sells its universal reusable coffee filter.
You can fill the capsule with your favorite grounds. It gets better: you can use the reusable pod on all Keurig home coffee machines.
Nespresso Pods VS K-Cups Cost Meter
These days, Nespresso pods cost from $0.98 for the standard coffee flavors to $2.40 for one capsule of Hawaii Kona coffee.
Bulky packages equal less price per unit.
K-cups start as low as $0.40 per serving, depending on the brand and the package size.
You can taste classic Italian brands like Lavazza and Illy or American brands like Caribou Coffee or Dunkin Donuts.
Both solutions will save you money, compared with buying coffee at coffee shops.
Even the priciest pod machine is much cheaper than regular espressos at cafés.
You can always purchase reusable pods and fill them yourself.
Final Thought: Is Nespresso Better Than Keurig?
The way I see it, Nespresso VertuoPlus makes more full-bodied coffee.
The espresso capsules are also a huge selling point, along with modern capsule-reading technology.
This coffee maker is the best solution for a household that loves espresso and regular coffee.
Keurig K-Mini is a more affordable solution.
The device and capsules cost less than the competitor’s, which saves you a hefty sum in the long run.
If you like your regular coffee and want to try all the available beans, choose Keurig.
Photo by Alehandra13.
