Keurig Elite vs Supreme – Who does it Better?

If you’re calling your Keurig coffee machines “Elite” or “Supreme” then they better be good. Thankfully these models are from Keurig, which means quality comes as standard.

While both of them are excellent, which one is better? It can be a hard call as they have many similarities. Here we’re going to try and drill down into their differences so you can work out which one is going to be better for you.

Let’s get started on our Keurig K-Elite vs. Keurig Supreme comparison!

If these two machines are not quite in your price range, we can highly recommend the Keurig Mini or Mini Plus. To explore the differences and see the if they could be a good fit, be sure to stop by our Keurig Mini vs Mini Plus guide.

Overview

The introduction of the new multistream technology is a game-changer for Keurig. This new technology enables Keurig coffee makers to run multiple water streams through the coffee grounds. This saturates the coffee grounds more evenly producing better-flavored coffee with the perfect aroma. The Keurig K Supreme was the first model to incorporate the technology.

While it doesn’t have that feature, the K-Elite is still able to create an exceptional cup of coffee and has many fantastic capabilities. This includes an instant hot water function that eliminates the need for a water heater, as well as giving you temperature adjustment.

Both are brilliant and it’s hard to split them. Let’s have a look at the differences in their specs.

Differences

Similarities

• Maintenance alerts
• Both come equipped with the over ice and strong button
• They both come with a high altitude setting option
• Both have easily understandable operating buttons
• Fast brewing time for both models

While both Keurig coffee makers are excellent, they do have some significantly different features. Let’s see what they are.

Keurig K Supreme

K Cups – You can use any over ice or regular branded or non-branded K Cups with the K Supreme. The K Supreme supports My K Cups (sold separately). This means you can use your own ground coffee.

Multistream technology – The model contains five needles that puncture the pod and spray water into the coffee grounds. This helps in better saturating the grounds ensuring you get a high-quality, perfectly flavored cup of coffee with the best mixture of aroma.

Dual-position reservoir – The Keurig K Supreme comes equipped with a 66-ounce water reservoir that can produce five 12 ounce mugs of coffee without needing a refill. The water reservoir is also versatile in its positioning meaning it can be mounted on either the side or back of the coffee maker. This is helpful as one has a choice of positioning that best fits their kitchen setup.

Back-to-back brewing – The Keurig K Supreme can produce cup after cup of coffee. The water heater does not need a long time to heat up the brew meaning it takes less time to make the next drink.

Travel mug friendly – The model has enough clearance to perfectly accommodate a 7” travel cup. This means that you don’t have to first brew your coffee onto a mug before transferring it to your travel cup.

Customizable – The coffee maker comes equipped with an over iced option. This is perfect for all you over ice coffee lovers. It is also equipped with a strong option for those who love their coffee a little bit more strongly. This option reduces brewing time allowing the mixture to emerge stronger than a normal coffee setting.

Maintenance alerts – The machine has sensors that sense water levels in the water reservoir. It then alerts you when the water reservoir needs refilling. It is also set to alert you after 250 brews to descale your coffee maker.

Keurig K-Elite

K Cups – Like the K Supreme, you can use any regular branded or non-branded K Cups with the K Elite. You are supplied with the My K Cup basket so you can add your own ground coffee.

Multiple cup sizes – The K Elite offers five cup size options. These include 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12-ounce cup choices. This lets you choose the amount of coffee you like without wasting or compromising flavor.

Removable reservoir – The K Elite comes equipped with a 75-ounce water reservoir that can make up to eight 12 ounce glasses of coffee. The water reservoir is positioned at the back of the machine and is easily detachable, easing refilling and cleaning.

Iced coffee and strong brew feature – For those who like their coffee cold or a little bit stronger than the normal cup, the K Elite offers all these features for you.

Maintenance alert – The coffee maker is programmed to sense when water levels are low in the water reservoir and alert you by flashing a warning light on the display. It also reminds you to descale after 250 successfully brewed cups.

Energy-efficient – The K Elite comes equipped with an auto-off feature that switches off the device after idling for 2 hours.

Hot water on demand – This feature ensures you can get hot water fast for instant soups and oatmeals.

Quick brew tech – This means you can brew your coffee at incredible speeds through your K Elite.

Auto-on feature – You can set the time you want the The K Elite to prepare your favorite cup be it in the morning or maybe you want your afternoon dose of caffeine.

Temperature adjustment – Through the K Elite, you can adjust the temperature of your brew to be anywhere between 187-192 degrees.

High altitude setting – By turning on this feature you can get the same perfect cup of coffee even at over 5000ft above sea level.

Keurig K Supreme

Simple buttons – The control buttons are located at right the top of the coffee maker which gives you the sizing options along with being able to choose a strong coffee or an iced coffee. It’s an impressive level of functionality.

Removable reservoir – This feature enables the tank to be easily refilled when empty and eases the cleaning of the tank after long-term use. 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.

Maintenance alerts – The machine alerts you on low water levels in the tank for you to refill. It also alerts you on when to descale the device.

Keurig K-Elite

Simple buttons – The control buttons on the K-Elite are very different from the Keurig K Supreme in terms of their look but are similar in their functionality. This means that it’s equally as easy to use.

Removable reservoir – The K-Elite also has a removable water reservoir, which makes cleaning and maintenance very easy. It also means you can refill it without any spillages.

Maintenance alerts – The machine has sensors that sense water levels in the tank. It then alerts you when the tank needs refilling. It is also set to alert you to descale your coffee maker.

Temperature setting – The device offers three temperature settings to suit your preference.

Auto on and off – Set the time you would like to have your coffee and find it ready for you. The auto-off feature helps conserve energy when the machine is not in use.

Both models offer a perfect brewing experience. The Keurig K Supreme incorporates the multistream technology that ensures that the coffee grounds are perfectly brewed producing coffee with a perfect blend of flavor and aroma.

The temperature settings available in the K-Elite model ensure you have control of your drinking temperature preference. The iced coffee feature is also highly praised by cold coffee enthusiasts saying it produces the best mixture for drinking over ice.

It is also important to note the strong brew feature in both models that allows you to enjoy your coffee a little bit more concentrated than your average cup. This is especially helpful when you need a little bit more caffeine to jump-start your body.

Both models are fairly easy to clean and maintain. A notable feature is the water reservoir that can be easily detached from the machine and cleaned separately. The device is also set to remind you to descale after brewing 250 cups of coffee.

The descaling process itself is quite simple as it involves brewing water only until the descaling light goes off. By heating the water continuously, it cleans the inside components removing coffee stains ensuring the machine works at its optimal level.

Overall Value

When it comes to value it all depends on how you like your coffee. If you like your coffee simple with very little alteration; the Keurig K Supreme is a perfect choice for you. It offers simple coffee settings that ensure you get the same quality of coffee every single time.

If however you live in a household with many coffee lovers with different coffee tastes be sure to buy the Keurig K-Elite. The hot water feature on the K-Elite can be very useful too.

Looking at their relative prices, both of them are impressive value for money. With the Keurig brand, you always know you can buy in confidence that you’re getting a brilliant coffee maker.

Final Thoughts

Which of the coffee makers is better? Well, it’s hard to say. For pure and brilliant coffee without any fuss, I’d say you should go for the Keurig K Supreme. If you wanted more control and a bigger array of capabilities, then go for the K Elite. Whichever one you choose, you’ll be happy with your new coffee machine and will see it as money very well spent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Keurig K Supreme Come with a Water Filter?

Yes, the Keurig K Supreme has the ability to filter the water you add and comes with 1 water filter in the box. To use the water filter, you add the water filter to a special insert that sits in the centre of the water reservoir.

Does The Keurig K Supreme Make Iced Coffee?

Yes, the Keurig K Supreme dose brew over ice. Add some ice to your glass or cup and place it under the brew head. Add an over ice K Cup or regular K Cup to your Keurig K Supreme and close the housing, then press the “Over Ice” button. The K Supreme will brew a smaller, more concentrated shot of coffee – around 4oz over the ice in your glass / cup. Enjoy!

Does The Keurig K Elite Have a Water Filter?

Yes, the K Elite comes with a water filter and water filter insert. Similar to the K Supreme, you add the water filter to the K Elite’s insert and attach it to the bottom of your water reservoir. The water filter will prolong the life of your K Elite and improve the taste of your brew.

Does The Keurig K Elite Make Espresso?

No, the Keurig K Elite makes coffee, not espresso. Espresso requires hot water to be pushed through a compacted puck of finely ground coffee. The K Cup you add to your Keurig K Elite is not compact, but loose coffee grounds. Hot water is felted through the K Cup with pressure, but not to the level required to produce espresso.

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