Keurig K Duo Plus Reviews: Our Expert Review of the Keurig Duo Plus

Keurig K Duo Plus Reviews

Do you relish the daily taste of a delicious cafe brewed cup of coffee, but lead such a busy life, that a trip to your local barista is out of the question? Maybe you want quick yet flavorful coffee on demand while pulling an all-night work or study session? Or perhaps you're just looking for the convenience of a quality coffee drink from the comforts of your abode? 

If this sounds like you, a Keurig K-Duo Plus could be a welcome addition to your kitchen counter. But how do you know if the Keurig K-Duo Plus is the best option for you? Our in-depth review guide will explore everything you want to know about the Keurig K-Duo Plus. We will review its benefits and drawbacks, performance, design, value for cost, and ease of use. This product spotlight will also offer ratings so you can make an informed decision. 

Just so you know, if you click on a product and decide to buy it, we may earn a small commission.
View Latest Price 

Keurig K Duo Plus

k duo plus

4.8 ⭐ out of 5 Overall

Specs: 

  • Width: 7.68 in
  • Depth: 15.88 in
  • Height: 14.9 in
  • Weight: 16.1 lbs
  • Water Tank Capacity: 60 oz 

To give you a quick breakdown of the Keurig K-Duo Plus highlights before the full review, here's what you can expect if you buy this coffee maker. 

✅ The K-Duo Plus coffee maker can brew a single-serve cup or carafe of coffee. The single-serve cup has a strong brew option.

✅ The machine offers multiple brew sizes in 6, 8, 10, and 12 oz for a single cup and the option of 6, 8, 10, or 12 cups for a carafe.

✅ The water reservoir has multi-position options: facing left, right, or to the back of the machine, which allows for more counter space accommodation. 

✅ A 12-cup thermal carafe is included and keeps the coffee warm for two hours.

✅ The Duo Plus is a "smart" coffee maker with intuitive features like a programmable auto brew that lets you preset a brew up to 24 hours in advance. It also pauses for 20 seconds during the brewing cycle to allow you to pour a cup. 

✅ The K-Duo Plus is compatible with all K-Cup pods (including those from other brands). It uses a regular coffee filter or a gold-tone mesh reusable coffee filter. (Gold filter and water filter included).

🚫 The Keurig K-Duo Plus is more expensive than other models and brands. 

🚫 The K-Duo Plus coffee maker isn't compatible with Rivo, Vue, K-Carafe, or K-Mug pods.

🚫 There are no in-between options such as four cups or 4 oz, for example.

🚫 It's cumbersome to switch between the K-Cup pods and your coffee grounds. The My K-Cup adapter is sold separately. 

View Latest Price 

The Keurig Brand

With a name derived from the Dutch word for "excellence," the Keurig brand is one of the current leaders in coffee brewing in North America and beyond. 

Two college roommates who were sick of drinking stale coffee formed the idea. After tedious tests and the addition of a third entrepreneur, the team developed a single-serving coffee maker that delivers consistent quality.

Since their 1998 debut in partnership with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Keurig has become a household name at homes, offices, hotels, and more, thanks to their ubiquitous "K-Cup pods." 

Keurig's K-Cup pods deliver a single-serving of a steamy hot beverage in a matter of seconds like magic with the press of a button. Keurigs products struck a chord with coffee drinkers on the go who don't want to sacrifice taste or quality for convenience's sake. 

Due to its popularity and a vision for its market potential, the Keurig system is now Keurig Dr. Pepper, the first leading beverage company to bring hot and cold drinks together on an equally grand scale. Today, Keurig Dr. Pepper is the 8th largest beverage company in America, employs over 27,000 staff, and their products bring in over $11.6 billion in net sales.

Keurig K Duo Plus Review

keurig k duo plus

If the history of Keurig, your experience with the company's products, and the K-Duo Plus highlights are enough to get your intrigue percolating, read on to discover the real nitty-gritty about this coffee maker.

Here we delve deep into various categories about the Keurig K-Duo Plus' functions, appearance, performance, quality, special features, and usability. 

Design/Build Quality 5/5 ⭐

The Keurig K-Duo Plus has an attractive, sleek stainless steel design with a matte black finish that complements any kitchen. It's also more durable than machines made of plastic.

But what sets it apart from the Keurig K-Duo model are two main features: the thermal carafe and its ability to be repositionable to fit your kitchen's counter space.

The K-Duo Plus is already a slimmer coffee maker than the K-Duo, but the most outstanding feature is that the multi-position water reservoir pivots to face the left side, right side, or back of the machine. That makes it a much more adaptable appliance.

The 12-cup thermal carafe is more functional than a glass carafe of coffee and more sturdy. The stainless steel carafe can keep up to 12 cups of piping hot for up to 2 hours without requiring a heating plate (though we found that it stays warm for much longer).

The thermal carafe is more elegant-looking than a glass carafe and much more functional. Because the K-Duo Plus uses the same filter for multiple brew sizes, it’s much more streamlined than other machines, including the Keurig K-Duo. 

Performance 5/5 ⭐

The Keurig K-Duo Plus is a high-performance, multi-use coffee maker. It can brew a single-serve cup in 6, 8, 10, or 12 oz cup sizes or a full carafe of coffee in 6, 8, 10, or 12 cup sizes.

That's great for a multi-person home, dorm, apartment, or office where variety and high volume are essential qualities.

The K-Duo Plus is a "smart" machine, and everything is accessible at the touch of a button. It’s also programmable, which can save you lots of time during the morning rush. You can preset the machine to brew at a particular time up to 24 hours in advance. That way, you'll have that fresh cup (or carafe) of coffee ready for you while you're busy with your morning routine.

There's also an automatic 20-second pause in the middle of the brew cycle that allows you to pour a cup of coffee while the rest is still brewing.

There is a potent brew option for single-serve cups for those who need a bolder cup of coffee. But another thing that's great about Keurig products is that they aren't just for coffee connoisseurs; there are plenty of tasty alternatives. 

Ease of Use 5/5 ⭐

As far as drip coffee machines go, the Keurig K-Duo Plus is one of the most user-friendly options on the market today. Simplicity is a key principle of the company that extends to all of its products.

The settings are at the top of the machine, and everything is accessible at the press of a button. The buttons denote, pictorially, the options for powering on the coffee maker, an auto setting button, a strong brew button, buttons to select single cup and carafe brewing choices, and 6, 8, 10, or 12 oz or cup options.

When you make the selections, they will appear on the digital screen that has a clock setting. Also on the top of the machine is the K-Cup pod holder towards the back and the traditional drip coffee filter at the front of the K-Duo Plus.

As a modern "smart" machine, the K-Duo is a set it and forget it, coffee maker. You can program it to brew up to 24 hours beforehand, and you'll have the coffee you desire hot and ready when you want it.

Features 5/5 ⭐

The Keurig K-Duo Plus has several features that set it apart from other drip coffee machines.  

The design is elegant and minimalist, making a chic addition to your kitchen with its stainless steel and matte black appearance. The quality of materials makes it resilient and long-lasting. 

Two of the features that make the Keurig K-Duo Plus superior to the K-Duo are the thermal carafe and the repositionable 60 oz water reservoir. 

The thermal carafe keeps your java warm for 2 hours or more without a heating plate and is much more durable than a glass carafe. 

If counter space or an odd layout in your kitchen is a concern, the Keurig K-Duo Plus offers three position options to shift accordingly and fit your space. 

The automated smart start and programmable settings allow you to make a single serving of strong coffee to 12 cups in a carafe and many options in between at the press of a button up to a full day before you take your first sip. 

You can also brew with your coffee grounds, thanks to the reusable gold-tone mesh filter. The reusable filter is the most eco-friendly coffee option that's equally quick if you utilize the preset timer option.

The K-Cup pods are also available in other hot beverages like tea and hot chocolate. And unlike traditional coffee machines, there is little to no taste crossover. The K-Duo Plus is compatible with all K-Cup pods, including those from off-brands from third-party beverage companies. 

Value For Money 4/5 ⭐

While the Keurig K-Duo Plus has many top-notch features, the price point is pretty high. And even though you can often find them for a decent discount, there are cheaper solutions for your drop coffee needs out there. One such option is the non Plus model, the original K-Duo. 

If you want a coffee maker that can serve you a strongly brewed single-serve cup, make 12 cups of coffee, be programmed to brew a day in advance, keep coffee warm, and also fit snugly in your kitchen space, then the K-Duo Plus is a worthy investment.

View Latest Price 

DO Buy a Keurig K Duo Plus If…

cleaning k duo plus

There are plenty of reasons why the Keurig K-Duo Plus stands out as an exceptional drip coffee maker for java connoisseurs of today. Allow us to reiterate a few reasons why.

You Want Variety 

The K-Duo Plus is compatible with K-Cup pods, including from other brands and non-coffee drinks. It also has a reusable gold-tone mesh filter, and you can use your grounds.

You Require Volume

Whether you’re purchasing a machine for an office, dorm, apartment with many roommates, or are a household of avid coffee drinkers, the single-serving option will not be enough.

If you’re part of a busy office or group of students who regularly pull all-nighters, then the 60 oz reservoir that yields 6-12 cups at a time will be a heaven-sent blessing. Even better, no more cold cups sitting in the glass pot of coffee; the thermal carafe keeps everything toasty warm.

You Need to Save Space

The K-Duo Plus is already slimmer than many models offering the same features, but it can shift its bulkiest aspect, the 60 oz water tank, to the machine's right, left, or back. 

This feature enables you to maneuver the multi brew coffee maker to fit into even the smallest spaces in the tiniest apartments. 

You Like to Keep It Simple

The Keurig K-Duo Plus is so simple to use; it's almost foolproof. Everything is digital, with clearly marked buttons at the top of the machine. You can use the automatic or manual settings, and the LED screen shows you what selections you’re making.

It's also easy to clean. The K-Cup pods pop out and can be disposed of immediately without messy grounds. The grounds from a coffee filter or the gold-tone reusable coffee filter can be dumped in the trash or composted, and the mesh filter is easy to clean by rinsing and drying.

DON'T Buy a Keurig K Duo Plus If…

coffee

The Keurig K-Duo Plus is a high-quality drip coffee maker with many excellent qualities, versatility, special features, and chic design. But that doesn't mean it's the perfect machine for everyone. Skip the K-Duo plus if these items apply to you.

You Are on a Tight Budget

The K-Duo Plus isn't cheap. While it’s certainly not the most costly item on the coffee maker market, the price is pretty steep for those on a budget. Several similar models are still good products.

You Want to Make Espresso Drinks

The Keurig K-Duo Plus is a versatile drip coffee machine, but it’s not an espresso maker, so forget about frothy lattes or cappuccinos.

You Prefer to Brew Your Own Grounds or Are Picky

While you certainly can brew your own grounds with the K-Duo Plus, and the kit comes with a gold-tone mesh reusable coffee filter, folks who are very picky about their home ground brews or single-origin cups may prefer a bit more control. 

How Does the K-Duo Plus Work?

First, for a single cup serving, make sure there is enough water in the reservoir, then pop the K-Cup pod into the holder. Next, close the lid, position your cup on the drip tray, press the single-cup icon in 6, 8, 10, or 12 oz sizes according to your cup. 

For brewing a pot of coffee (6-12 cups), fill the tank is filled to the maximum capacity and add coffee grounds to a filter or the gold mesh basket in the drawer at the top front. Then, put the thermal carafe on the drip tray and press the desired brew capacity from the buttons on top.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

keurig k duo plus review

What is the Difference Between the Keurig K-Duo and the K-Duo Plus?

The K-Duo separates the single brew and carafe brewing features by two sides, and its water tank is held in a fixed position. It also has a glass carafe for the carafe coffee brewing and a heating plate to keep the beverages warm.

The K-Duo Plus uses a thermal carafe, so there is no need for a heating plate. It keeps the coffee hot for 2 hours, though many report the coffee stays warm for much longer. The Duo Plus also has a pivot design that allows you to position the 60 oz reservoir to the right, left, or back.

Final Verdict 

For coffee lovers who crave variety, versatility, volume, and simplicity, like their java piping hot for hours, are excited by innovative features but don't a machine taking up the whole counter space, the Keurig K-Duo Plus is a top-notch drip coffee maker that's 

View Latest Price 
Author Profile Picture

Parker Russell is a coffee professional and the founder of Black Ink Coffee. As an expert in the field of coffee roasting, cupping (professional Q-Grader) and brewing, Parker has established Black Ink as brand that fuels the grind of dreamers.