Keurig K55 Review
The Keurig K55 is a basic coffee maker without all the frills. It is very easy to operate. Even my grandma could brew coffee out of it. There are no complicated settings or buttons. They say less is more, and with just five buttons, it’s exactly the case for the K55. Fewer buttons translate to a stress-free coffee experience.
I’ve noticed that coffee makers with screens and complex programmable settings take a long time to make coffee. On the other hand, the K55 makes a mean cup of coffee with only a push of a button. I appreciate it that I can make coffee, fast. I can still have my daily cup of coffee even if I’m running late for work. As I have mentioned, this is a basic model. Don’t expect it to come with fancy features like temperature control, timer, or strength selector.
Setup
The coffee maker was very easy to set up. Within a matter of minutes, I was off brewing myself and my wife two good cups of Green Mountain coffee. Step-by-step instructions will guide you through the process, which you’ll find in the included manual. Everything you need to know to keep the coffee maker in tip-top shape can be found there too. The coffee maker came with complimentary coffee and cocoa pods.
Controls and Indicators
At first look, you can immediately see how clearly labeled the controls are. I like that the power button is in an easy-to-reach place. Beside it is the word “Power”, so there is no way you’d miss it. A push of the Power button turns the machine on. Just open the lid for the reservoir and fill it up with water. The coffee maker will start to heat the water up, so expect to hear noises from it. The K55 hums a bit louder than my old machine did. Aside from that, I have zero complaints about the coffee maker.
I’ve noticed that it heats water exceptionally fast. It delivers piping hot coffee every time. Once the three cup buttons below the Power button light up, that means the water is heated already. Place your mug on top of the drip tray, making sure that it’s under the spout. The pod holder is located just below the Keurig logo. You’ll need to lift the silver handle up to reveal this spot and place your k-cup pod. The three cup buttons will start blinking. You have to choose your preferred cup size. Select one from the 6, 8, and 10 oz. options. After pushing a button, you can expect your coffee to be ready in under a minute. You can take your cup once the coffee has stopped dripping from the spout.
There are useful LED indicators that tell you if the machine needs refilling or descaling. As advertised, there is an auto-off function that can help you save electricity. You simply have to push the button beside “Auto Off” to activate this function. On the first day we got the coffee maker, I left it on for two hours and it did shut down by itself. Anyway, I’m not the type to forget to turn off appliances, so I don’t turn it on.
Water Reservoir
I love the big reservoir. It provides me with the convenience of not having to refill it with water so very often. I and my wife drink one cup each per day, so it takes three days before we have to fill it up with water again. You can easily make a cup of coffee one after another.
Quality
The K-cup pods offer you a ton of options for drinks. I enjoy trying out different variants, and I already have a few favorites. What I would suggest is to get the 40-piece K-Cup Coffee Lover’s Variety Sampler with this, just like what I did. I couldn’t be happier with the range of flavors we got. So far, we’ve never had a bad cup of coffee. We also got the K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter, so we can brew our own ground coffee.
Another thing that I like about this is that it can accommodate k-cups from other companies. I heard that the Keurig 2.0 models won’t brew other brands’ k-cups. That’s the main reason why I went with this basic model rather than the 2.0.
I usually tell my family and close friends that if they’re planning to give me something, just give me k-cups. I do say that in a joking manner, but I’m pretty serious about it!
You have to know that choosing a larger cup serving would mean more water would get to your cup. Naturally, the 6 oz. would give you the strongest brew. I always choose the 10 oz., though. Nevertheless, I still get full flavors from my coffee. The taste doesn’t get watered down, and I always get delicious coffee without fail. If you’re drinking your coffee on the go, you can use a tumbler instead. You just need to remove the drip tray, so the tumbler could fit below the spout.
Taste
Brewing different types of coffee won’t leave traces of their flavors on the maker. My wife and I have very different preferences for coffee. I prefer bold flavors, while my wife likes sweet and flavored coffee better. We prepare our coffee right after each other. Despite that, I don’t get strange flavors on my coffee. My wife doesn’t complain of a bitter taste on hers either.
This single-serve coffee maker is perfect for people who only drink one or two cups of coffee a day. Those who have coffee occasionally would appreciate it too. If you don’t want to waste a pot of coffee that you won’t finish drinking anyway, this is for you. After tossing our coffee pot to the trash, we no longer drink coffee brewed 2 or 3 days ago. We get to enjoy fresh coffee every day. With the Keurig K55, there’s no need to scratch your head and figure out how to brew just one cup.
Here’s a pro tip. Just keep the pod holder empty, push one of the cup buttons, and voila, you have your cup of hot water! It’s great when we feel like drinking tea out of the teabags.
Design
This coffee maker looks amazing in our kitchen. We were torn between the black and rhubarb, but we thought the black looks sleeker. It looks high-end but not intimidating at all. There are kitchen appliances that look too hi-tech that you’d rather not use them. This is not one of those. It looks very inviting as if telling you to come brew your coffee ASAP. Some reviewers have pointed out that the plastic body feels cheap. I beg to disagree. The coffee maker looks expensive, and its body has held up well to daily use.
Cleaning
This coffee maker is easy to keep clean. I rinse the drip tray at least once a week. The water reservoir is also removable, so cleaning it is a breeze.
I started using bottled water for our coffee a month ago. I’ve noticed significantly less calcium buildup. From my previous experience using hard water, I only have to change the filter after two months. That isn’t so bad considering that filters aren’t that expensive.
The light beside “Descale” will light up if it’s time to descale your machine. This process will get rid of calcium deposits in it. You can also do this in case you notice any clogging in your coffee maker. Keurig has a descaling solution that you can purchase separately. After searching on the net though, I learned that using vinegar would yield the same results as well.
Final Thoughts
I and my wife love the convenience and luxury of brewing a single cup of coffee. We don’t think we can go without this coffee maker anymore. I’m planning to get this for my dad who finally went to retirement this year. I’m confident that it would make the best retirement gift for a coffee drinker like him. This coffee maker comes at a decent price too.
I understand if you’re thinking twice about buying a Keurig machine because of the cost of buying k-cups, but think about it. You’ll get to save money if you don’t waste coffee. Over the long run, it’s pretty much worth it. Plus, you can have fresh and flavorful coffee all year long! I would recommend getting Keurig’s reusable coffee filter k-cup. This can keep from spending too much. Just fill it with the ground coffee of your choice, and you can enjoy your daily cup at a fraction of the cost.
There is no telling how long this coffee maker would last, but 9 months in, I’m still as pleased as I was on the day I got it. This coffee maker is made for daily use. I believe regular cleaning and replacing your filters will go a long way to make your machine last. – John K
Brand: Keurig
Product: K55 Single Serve Programmable K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker
Keurig K55/K-Classic Coffee Maker, K-Cup Pod, Single Serve, Programmable, Black
Keurig K55/K-Classic Coffee Maker, K-Cup Pod, Single Serve, Programmable, Black
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