Keurig K575 Vs K-Elite: The Main Differences + Which Is Best
Keurig machines are ideal options for those who want to move up in the coffee world. They provide an easy way to get your coffee almost instantly and both the K-575 and the K-Elite are some of the best versions on the market these days.
All Keurig models can brew other kinds of drinks in addition to coffee, such as tea, hot chocolate, or even just hot water when needed so that isn’t a differentiator between these two. There is however a few differences that are meaningful that I want to share with you today.
Both the K575 and the K-Elite provide pretty similar features at a similar price and both are also significant upgrades to the cheaper K-Select so to help you choose between the two let’s look at specs on both models and I’ll add my thoughts having owned and used both machines here at my home.
Before we compare the differences between these two similar machines you should also brush up on the Keurig machines I believe are the best sold today – there are a few other options that may be an even better for for you and your home. You can see that list right here.
What Both of These Keurigs Can Do: A Summary
Before we get into the details though I’ll say the Keurig K-575 tends to be slightly cheaper while using a much more modern touch screen control panel. You will have to separately buy a carafe for it if you plan on brewing the larger sizes. You can see full product details and pricing for the K-575 here on Amazon.
The Keurig K-Elite tends to get higher customer reviews and you don’t have to learn how to use another touchscreen. Basic buttons we are all used to make this dead simple to use. You can see full product details and pricing for the K-Elite here on Amazon.
First The Keurig K-575
Features
The Keurig K575 is a great option for those who want something that feels modern.
It provides a number of features including several drink sizes as well as the ability to control the strength of your drink.
The touchscreen on this model is pretty decently sized, at just under 3 inches.
You’ll also be able to set the wallpaper on it to suit your unique style.
The water reservoir on this machine is also quite large, coming in at 80 ounces.
As a result, you won’t need to make frequent refills, which is quite a convenience.
The touchscreen on this machine makes it a lot easier to make your selections.
With brewing sizes from 4 ounces to 30 ounces, just about any beverage size will be easy to obtain!
As a slightly larger machine, you will want to make sure you have the counter space for it.
However, when compared to some other similar coffee machines, it’s still quite a compact choice.
You’ll also get a one-year warranty that will back you up if there should be any problems.
Pros
- Includes an 80-ounce water reservoir.
- Allows you to brew K-Carafes and K-Cups.
- You’ll be able to make several different drink sizes.
- Provides control over strength and temperature.
- Touchscreen is large, customizable and convenient.
- Offers a lot of beverage variety.
Cons
- Doesn’t include a carafe.
- Can create a plastic smell or taste.
- Requires K-Cups.
Summary
The K575 is a machine with a lot of flair, which is great for those who want something a little more high tech.
It gives you a lot of beverage options thanks to the ability to brew a wide variety of K-Cups.
As a result, you’re unlikely to get bored with the drinks your machine can make!
It is important to keep in mind that like other Keurigs, this one only uses K-Cups.
However, you can look into reusable K-Cup filters that can help provide some more options.
For those who want to make large amounts, you will also need to purchase a carafe as the K575 doesn’t come with one.
Click here to see current pricing on the K575 on Amazon.
Next Up The Keurig K-Elite: The Next Gen K575 IMO
Features
The K-Elite is a convenient device that allows you the automated services and flair you expect from Keurig.
It’s made with a 75-ounce water reservoir, which is only slightly smaller than what the K575 offers.
One key difference that comes with the K-Elite is that it doesn’t use a touchscreen.
However, the buttons are simple and easy and you’ll still have a decent level of control.
For those who want something not quite so technologically advanced, it’s a perfect choice.
You’ll even be able to instruct it to create a stronger brew or even an iced beverage!
Furthermore, it’s able to provide hot water on demand, which is perfect when you want to make tea outside the machine or use the hot water for a soup.
You’ll also be able to rely on a quick response, as it’s able to brew a K-Cup in less than a minute.
As a result, it’s a great device for those rushed mornings when you don’t have time to wait for a cup of coffee before work.
To make the cleaning process easier, the K-Elite also offers a drip tray that you can easily remove.
Like other Keurigs, this one also includes a one-year warranty.
Pros
- Allows you to brew several different cup sizes.
- Includes an iced setting for when you want cold drinks.
- Capable of brewing a K-Cup in under a minute.
- Uses a 75-ounce water reservoir.
- Drip tray is removable for easy cleaning.
- Allows you to select a stronger brew.
Cons
- Doesn’t include a touchscreen.
- There can be some issues with leakages.
- Reservoir is slightly smaller than K575.
Summary
The K-Elite offers easy-to-use buttons rather than a touchscreen, which makes it easier for those who don’t want to get too high tech with their coffee maker.
It’s able to make coffee from a multitude of K-Cups, as well as allow you to strengthen or ice down the brew.
That way, you’re covered for hot or cold days with the same machine!
Do keep in mind that there can be some problems with the water leaking out of the reservoir.
That reservoir is also 5 ounces smaller than the K575, so that’s worth taking into consideration as well.
Click here to see current pricing on the K-Elite over on Amazon.
How The K-Elite Is Different Than The K575
Features
The main difference between these two machines lies within the electronics.
The K-Elite uses simplified buttons whereas the K575 comes with a high-tech touchscreen that you can even change the wallpaper on.
As a result, it may also be likely that you have a few more setting options with the K575, including the ability to set the temperature as well as the strength.
On the other hand, the K-Elite does include a “strong brew” button, but may not provide those same temperature controls.
Consequently, it’s going to be important to keep in mind which features are the most important to you.
You’ll also need to keep in mind that neither of these machines come with a carafe, so you’ll need to make sure you get one if you want to brew several cups at once.
The good news is, these are pretty easy to get a hold of through Keurig or other retailers.
Another important thing to consider is whether or not you’ll want iced beverages.
If you’re a fan of iced coffee, tea or other drinks then the K-Elite is a great way to go.
Both machines also come with a one year warranty, so you’ll be able to trust that Keurig has you covered for many problems during that first year.
Price
When purchasing these machines new, they can be found at pretty similar prices.
The K575 tends to come in a little under the K-Elite but not by much.
If you choose to purchase them used, you may be able to find them at a good discount but probably still in the triple digits, or less if you get lucky!
Due to those similar prices, it’s going to be important to make the choice that will provide the most possible value for you.
If that means a more high-tech device, the K575 is a great option!
However, if you aren’t a fan of tech and want something easier to use then the K-Elite may be your best option.
Is The K-Elite Really Better?
Determining this is going to be largely based on your personal preferences.
If you want a Keurig that can offer you more control than some other models, the K575 is a great option.
The touchscreen keeps it up to date, easy to use and allows you to decide the size, temperature and even strength of your drink.
You’ll feel like a barista in your own home with that level of control!
However, if you’re looking for more of a balance between control and ease of use then the K-Elite can be a great choice as well.
Not everyone feels the need to set the exact temperature on their resulting drink!
The K-Elite does still allow you to give the strength a boost when needed, which is all that some customers may want.
You really can’t go wrong with either of these devices!
Keurigs are great for their mix of convenience and quality. If you’re looking to graduate from your drip coffee maker to something quicker and easier, purchasing a Keurig is a natural choice.
The number of coffee makers Keurig produces is growing all the time, with new functions and fine-tunings with each new machine. When I first began using Keurigs, I thought they were all the same. It wasn’t until I worked two part-time jobs, with two different Keurig machines, that I realized there are a variety of models to choose from.
Knowing there are options is great, but when you really just want a machine that will meet all of your needs and produce great coffee, the abundance of information can make the process more complicated than it needs to be. It’s important to evaluate what Keurig is selling these days in order to decide what will work best for you.
Two popular models, the K-575 and the K- Elite look a lot alike and offer many of the same features. If you’re shopping around, you’re bound to run into these two models and wonder what it is that really sets them apart.
We’ve compared and contrasted the features of the K-575 and the K-Elite to help others in their quest for knowledge on the different Keurig models.
Let’s begin by looking at the K-575.
Main Features of the K-575
The K-575 looks like a classic Keurig, with a more prominent touch-display on top which allows you to select your style of coffee. It can brew 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12-ounce cups of coffee.
If that’s not enough coffee, this machine is compatible with K-Carafe pods, which can brew up to 30 ounces in a carafe. If this sounds like your thing, you’ll need to purchase a carafe and K-Carafe pods before you can start brewing bigger batches.
The water reservoir can hold up to 80 ounces at a time, meaning you won’t have to refill the machine frequently between brews. There is a also a hot water feature that allows you to dispense hot water at your desired size straight from the machine into your cup. This is great for a quick tea, or even for heating instant soup.
The large touch screen makes using the K-575 easy. There aren’t a lot of buttons to mess around with, and the display is very clear about which selection you are making as you use it. You can use the digital clock to set automatic times for your machine to turn on and off. This is great for conserving energy, and also for convenience sake.
This Keurig also comes equipped with a nightlight, which may not seem like a big feature, but can be nice to have when you need it. I find myself in the kitchen in the middle of the night often, mostly because I can’t sleep. The nightlight is great because it’s customizable, and you can select from a variety of different colors for your display.
The nightlight is convenient as well because if you do end up in the kitchen late at night, you can prep for the next morning by filling the water in your machine, getting the K-Cup ready, and programming the turn on and shut off time on the machine.
The machine also offers strength control settings. This gives you the option of selecting a bolder brew regardless of what size you’re brewing. It also offers five different temperature settings, meaning you can find the perfect one for your drink and never have to deal with waiting around for your drink to hit your desired temperature.
Main Features of the K-Elite
With K-Elite you can also brew in 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 ounce sizes. It also includes the strong brew function which allows for customization of your daily cup.
The water reservoir in the K-Elite can hold up to 75 ounces of water at a time, which means you can brew around eight cups before needing to refill it. The reservoir is easily removable for when the time comes to refill.
The K-Elite also has a removable drip tray, which allows you to place travel mugs under the machine to directly brew your coffee into. This is great for busy mornings on the go. The drip tray can also hold up to an entire full accidental brew, which can cover your back in a pinch if you over-brew and need a quick cleanup.
The display on the K-Elite is not touch screen, but still has a programmable clock. You can adjust the turn on and turn off times for the Keurig, which, again, is great for energy efficiency and busy mornings. The K-575 also has a nightlight, which the K-Elite does not.
With K-Elite, you can also brew iced drinks. The machine has a setting meant to brew a higher concentration of less coffee to account for the inevitable melting of the ice. This is a great feature for anyone who prefers their coffee iced, but hates a watery drink when making it at home.
The Main Differences
Now that we’ve taken a look at the features of each machine, we can go ahead and scope out what is setting the two apart. Since the two machines are similar in nature, coming from the same brand and with similar functionality, the main differences are small but can have a huge impact on what you end up getting out of your machine.
The K-575 has a lot of flexibility with temperature and brew strength. You can choose between five different temperatures for your brew, which is a useful feature for cutting back time spent waiting for your drink to cool off. Being able to customize and change the temperature can really come in handy, especially if you make a variety of different drinks with your Keurig.
While the K-Elite doesn’t offer five different temperature settings, it does offer the iced drink setting, which may be more useful for different people. If you’ve ever tried to make an iced drink at home, you probably know why having a setting for iced drinks is so useful. Nothing tastes worse than lukewarm, watered down coffee that started with the intention of being a delicious iced drink.
The K-575 is compatible with a lot more products than the K-Elite, which can only be used with K-Cup. K-575 can be used with K-Cup, K-Mug, and K-Carafe.
Conclusion
The two products both boast many great features, with the ability to customize your drink and get a delicious, bold brew in under a minute. Which model is right for you comes down to personal needs.
I struggled to choose between the two, as they both offer different things that make me want to choose one over the other. The K-Elite’s iced brew function makes me want to purchase it right away, knowing that I won’t have to deal with my poorly-made iced drinks anymore. But the K-575 offers five temperature settings, which is also extremely convenient.
Both products run around the same price, though you’ll need to factor in the price of the K-Cups. If you choose to go with the K-575 and plan to use K-Carafe pods, you’ll need to purchase a carafe that is compatible with the machine.
For someone who plans to use their Keurig solely for a personal cup of coffee every day, relying on the convenience and consistency of the brand, the K-Elite will probably serve your needs more than the K-575. The K-575 has a lot of extra features that someone who just wants to brew a daily cup of coffee might not want to mess around with.
The extra features of the K-575 do not affect the overall price. The two remain very close in price, though it does fluctuate. You can keep an eye on the current pricing for the K-575 here, and the K-Elite here.
Anyone who thinks they may want to brew more than personal cups, or wants to be able to adjust the temperature of their drink easily may want to opt for the K-575. This versatile machine would fit those needs.
For me, I have to go with the K-575. As much as I love the iced brew setting for the K-Elite, I know I could master an iced drink by using the lowest temperature setting for the K-575.
The fact that I can use one machine as a nightlight in my kitchen, to brew various sizes and strengths of coffee, and to use different styles of Keurig pods makes this machine more bang for my buck.
When it comes down to it, both machines are great and offer useful features for anyone looking to add a new way to brew their daily joe. Both are great options, but not all functions are useful for all people, and lacking certain features can also be a dealbreaker.
Now that we’ve looked at the main features and differences of the K-575 and the K-Elite, your search for the right Keurig should be an easy task.