Skip to content

Keurig K-Elite Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker

By Keurig · Coffee Makers · Kitchen & Cooking · More from Keurig

  • 5 cup sizes: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 oz
  • 75 oz removable water reservoir
  • Brews in under 1 minute
  • Iced beverage setting
  • 13.1"H x 9.9"W x 12.7"D

Price not listed

Stores are listed in a fixed order, never by price or commission. Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Summary

A single-serve K-Cup pod brewer with five cup sizes, adjustable brew temperature, Strong Brew, a dedicated Iced button and a 75 oz reservoir. Check the price before you buy: lab tests mark it slower to heat a first cup and lower in taste than newer Keurig models.

Strengths

  • Five brew sizes with temperature control from 187 to 192 °F.
  • 75 oz reservoir means refilling about once every eight cups.
  • Strong Brew, a dedicated Iced button and hot water on demand cover most single-serve needs.
  • Repeat-brew speed scored fast in Consumer Reports testing.
  • Convenience scored high: easy to operate, refill and clean.
  • Keurig sells an official replacement reservoir and lid for $24.95.

Weaknesses

  • First cup heats slowly from a cold start.
  • Cup-to-cup temperature consistency is somewhat inconsistent.
  • TechGearLab measured the slowest single-cup brew of ten Keurigs tested.
  • It earned the lowest taste score in that same 2025 comparison.
  • A decade of owner forums shows recurring leaks and clogged needles; no defect rate exists.
  • Warranty is one year, with reconditioned replacements and third-party-pod exclusions.

Verified specifications

ModelKeurig K-Elite single-serve K-Cup pod coffee maker, US 110–120 V class.
Cup sizes4, 6, 8, 10, 12 oz.
Water reservoir75 oz removable, about 8 cups between refills.
Brew timemanufacturer claims under 1 minute per cup.
Strong Brewdedicated button.
Iced settingdedicated button that brews hot over ice.
Hot water on demandyes.
Temperature controladjustable 187–192 °F; locked out in high-altitude mode.
High altitude settingyes, for altitudes above 5,000 ft.
Auto Off2 hours after the last brew.
Drip trayremovable; fits travel mugs up to 7.2 in tall.
Maintenance reminderdescale alert light.
Ground coffeeworks with the My K-Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filter, sold separately.
No milk frother.
Electrical wattagenot published on the manufacturer pages read; the 1500 W figure could not be confirmed.
Dimensions13.1 × 9.9 × 12.7 in; 16.5 in high with the handle open; 8.0 lb. A Consumer Reports panel lists 17 × 10 × 13 in.
In the boxbrewer with reservoir and lid, K-Cup pod holder and funnel, drip tray assembly, power cord. The My K-Cup filter and water filter kit are sold separately.
Warrantylimited 1 year, US and Canada only; replacements may be new or reconditioned and carry a new 1-year warranty; an RMA is required before returning a unit; use of non-Keurig pods or accessories may not be covered.
Distilled waternot recommended.
Descalingabout 45 minutes with Keurig Descaling Solution, every 3–6 months, more often with hard water.
Official replacement part confirmedwater reservoir and lid, $24.95.
Tested cup temperatureabout 175 °F average on the newer revision and 180 °F on the K90 (Consumer Reports); 187 °F average (TechGearLab).
TechGearLab single-cup brew time175 seconds, 9.8 oz average volume, taste 6.4 out of 10.
Full research notes and sources

Independent test results

Consumer Reports liked the K-Elite’s repeat-brew speed and convenience but flagged slow first-cup heat-up, inconsistent cup-to-cup temperature and, on the K90, so-so taste softened by cream or sugar. That panel measured 175 °F average on the newer revision, 180 °F on the K90 and 7.2 in of travel-mug clearance. TechGearLab’s 2025 lab comparison measured 175 seconds for one cup, 187 °F average, 9.8 oz average volume and 6.4 out of 10 taste, the lowest in the group. Keurig’s user guide conflicts with TechGearLab’s claim that the machine lacks auto-off or precision temperature control; trust the guide on both points.

Leaks, needles and upkeep

Owner discussion across iFixit and Reddit from 2015 to 2026 returns to the same failures: hot water venting into the reservoir, leaks from the bottom, water escaping the top of the pod holder, and clogged entrance or exit needles that stop or partial-brew a cup. Descaling is a 45-minute manual procedure through the hot-water button rather than an automatic cycle, and there is no dishwasher option for the body. Cleaning needles with a straightened paper clip is a normal user task.

Running costs and ownership

Ongoing costs are pods, descaling solution, and a water filter kit if you use one. One 2026 reviewer pegs K-Cup pods at $0.40 to $0.80 each. The My K-Cup reusable filter allows ground coffee and avoids pod lock-in, though partial-cup and leak reports are tied to its use.

At check time, Keurig.com listed a $99.99 sale price against a $209.99 list price across Brushed Silver, Slate and Gold. Walmart showed $149.99 against $189.99, Best Buy showed $184 to $195 with color variants sold out, and Consumer Reports’ panel started at $139.99. At about $100 the machine is a reasonable buy for pod households; by $150 to $190 the K-Supreme generation posts better measured brew time and taste for similar money. A 2022 Tom’s Guide figure of about $150 and a 2024 Kitchn listing at $119 add context but are older anchors.

Which model this is

This page covers the K-Elite single-serve pod brewer in Brushed Silver, Brushed Slate, Brushed Gold and Brushed Copper. It is not the K-Classic, K-Supreme, K-Supreme Plus SMART, K-Duo, K-Express, K-Iced or K-Café. Two hardware generations exist, the 2018 K90 and a newer revision tested in 2023; retailer model numbers such as 5000197490, 5000203821 and 5000331196 refer to color variants of the same model family. The ASIN is B0788F3R8X.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

Buying guides for this category

Compare with

Related products