Keurig Duo vs Keurig Duo Plus – The Differences Explored

As a coffee lover, you may already have a coffee machine in your home. If you do, you may wish you could use both coffee pods and ground coffee, depending on your mood.

With a duo machine, you can do both! If you’re looking for the best duo coffee maker then it’s natural to turn to Keurig machines. They have exceptional quality and have produced two great dual coffee makers, the Duo, and the Duo Plus.

Here I’ll take a closer look at which one you should be spending your money on. Let’s get started!

Overview

If you are the type of person to have guests over for a cup of coffee, then these two models are perfect for your house. The carafe included in both these models is ideal for when you know that one cup will not suffice.

As you can expect from a ‘plus’ model, it has a few extra features which include an easier-to-use reservoir, a single spout design, and a thermal carafe. That makes the Duo Plus the better machine but it’s also more expensive.

Here I’ll look deeper into their differences to see if it’s worth that extra cost.

Differences

Similarities

• A large 60 oz. water reservoir.
• Programmable carafe auto brew feature that enables you to brew your coffee at a set time.
• Multiple brew sizes of a 6, 8, 10, or 12 carafes, or 6, 8, 10, and 12oz cup.
• The smart start feature means that there is no need to wait for it to heat up before it starts brewing.
• Pause and pour feature. This enables you to pause the carafes brewing for 20 seconds to pour a single steaming cup of coffee.
• Energy efficient with switching off the brewery after idling for a given amount of time.
• Travel mug friendly, able to accommodate 8″ travel cups. Perfect when planning to carry coffee for a camping trip or a long ride.

Feature Comparison

Both the Duo and Duo Plus are brilliant coffee makers. Let’s take a look at their key features in a little more detail.

Keurig Duo

Programmable carafe auto brew – This allows you to set the time you would like your brew up to 24 hours in advance.

Simple buttons – The buttons are placed on the top of the machine and are well labeled. This makes it easy to use the machine.

Smart start – This means that there is no need to wait for the machine to heat up before it begins brewing. It heats and brews in one process.

12 cup glass carafe – This beautiful glass carafe comes included with the set.

Large water reservoir – It comes fitted with a 60 oz. water reservoir that is placed at the side of the brewer. This is shared between the single cup brewer and the carafe brewer.

Multiple brew sizes – That is 6, 8, 10, or 12 carafes or 6, 8, 10, and 12oz cup options. This makes it easy to choose your desired amount.

Strong brew button – Perfect for those who like their coffee a little bit stronger than normal.

Keurig Duo Plus

Simple buttons – The buttons are placed on the top of the machine and are very intuitive. You’ll be an expert on using this machine in no time at all.

Smart start – You don’t need to wait for the machine to heat up before it begins brewing. As with the Duo model, it’s a very quick process.

Programmable carafe auto brew – This is a great feature if you wanted to have your favorite cup ready at a specific time.

Multiple brew sizes – This has the same brew size options as the Duo which gives you a huge amount of control over what you get.

Strong brew button – This is ideal for those who like their coffee a little bit stronger than normal brewed cups.

Thermal carafe – The thermally insulated carafe is perfect for keeping your coffee warm for up to 2 hours and means you don’t need a heating plate.

Multi-position water reservoir – Comes equipped with a 60 oz. reservoir. This is adjustable to either the sides or back of the brewer. This is perfect to fit on any countertop ensuring that your coffee maker does not stick out like a sore thumb among other equipment. It also makes it easy to reach the reservoir when refilling it.

Ease of Use

Keurig Duo

Energy efficiency – This means that the machine can switch off some of its features to save electricity. The brewery is switched off 5 mins after the last cup while the heating plate is switched off 2 hours after the last carafe brew.

Removable reservoir – This allows the tank to be easily refilled when empty. It also eases the cleaning of the tank after long-term use. It is however important to note that the tank position is not adjustable like in the previous model.

Also see: Starbucks Verismo vs Keurig

Pause and pour – This enables you to pause the carafes brewing for 20 seconds to pour a single steaming cup of coffee. This means that you don’t have to wait for the carafe to complete brewing for you to get that first hot cup of your favorite beverage.

Simple buttons – The control buttons located at the top of the device are perfectly labeled, making them easy to understand. This makes the operation of the device extremely easy. The buttons also have LED backlights.

Keurig Duo Plus

Removable reservoir – This feature enables the tank to be easily refilled when empty. It also makes cleaning the tank easy at any time. This ensures that the water used to make the coffee is not contaminated. The tank is also adjustable to either the back or side of the coffee maker making it perfect to fit any kitchen setting you have.

Energy efficiency – The machine is switched off 5 mins after the last cup. It makes it ideal for those forgetful people among us.

Simple buttons – One thing that’s almost universal between Keurig models is that they are very easy to use. You won’t need a barista degree to get your perfect cup time and time again.

Pause and pour – As with the Duo, this enables you to pause the brewing for 20 seconds. It’s great for when you don’t want to wait for it to complete a full cycle.

Brew Quality

Both coffee makers are perfect for brewing either a carafe or a single cup of coffee. The two machines can brew coffee using the famous K-pods or using your own ground coffee.

To use your own coffee be sure to get the adapter to enable you to brew the perfect cup of coffee. The heating pad on the duo model enables your coffee to remain hot even after pouring your first cup.

This is similar to the thermal carafe in the Duo Plus model that keeps your coffee warm for up to 2 hours. The thermal carafe does mean you won’t be using as much electricity.

For the real coffee connoisseur be sure to try one of the two Keurig models for the perfect cup of coffee with the best blend of taste and aroma.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Both models are fairly easy to clean and maintain. A notable feature is the water tank that can be easily detached from the machine and cleaned separately. The smooth exterior of the coffee makers also makes it easy to wipe off any dirt.

Just be sure to buy an appropriate brush for the cleaning of the carafe. The detachable filter feature makes it easy to clean the filter after use ensuring a perfect cup each time you brew.

The descaling process itself is quite simple as it involves brewing water only until the water reservoir runs empty. By heating the water continuously it cleans the inside components removing coffee stains ensuring the machine works at its optimal state.

Overall value

In terms of value, I would say that both models’ price tags go hand in hand with their performance.

They are both easy to use and able to make a lot of coffee in a very short time. This makes both models perfect for multiple drinks at once. When it comes to versatility the Duo Plus outshines its predecessor.

The movable water reservoir makes it easy to fit any counter arrangement, meaning that your coffee maker will fit perfectly with the rest of your equipment rather than sticking out like a sore thumb. Keurig never compromised the value of any of their machines.

Which is better value? Well, I’d say they are about the same. The price tag on the Duo Plus isn’t that much higher than the Duo so you’re paying a fair price for those extra features.

Final Thoughts

If you want the ability to use both coffee grounds and coffee pods then both of these models would be an excellent choice. The Duo Plus has slightly better features but it’s slightly more expensive. All you need to work out is whether or not you think it’s worth it. Regardless of the one you choose, you’ll fall in love with the great coffee they make.

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