Everyone can relate that the best feeling comes with the first delicious sip of coffee in the morning. However, visiting Starbucks daily for a pick-me-up drink may not fit everyone’s budget. Therefore, people worldwide have invested in premium quality coffee makers to prepare their pick-me-up drinks at home and kick-start their day.
However, choosing the right coffee-making machine for yourself among the gazillion options might seem like a challenging task. While their primary purpose is to provide caffeine delivery to your bloodstream, they come with different features.
The coffee maker that has grabbed the most attention of coffee lovers is Keurig K-Cafe Special Edition. This impressive single-serve brewer can help brew you a wide range of drinks and features an easy-to-use milk frother. From a regular hot coffee, latte, cappuccino, and any chilled beverage, you can have it all with this heavy-duty coffee maker.
It undoubtedly is a premium quality brewer with tons of features and functionality. But does it do everything it promises, and should you invest your hard-earned money in it? Read on to find what makes this ace latte and cappuccino machine worth your money.
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What makes K-Cafe Special Edition worth the hype?
Besides making iced lattes and steaming hot cappuccinos, the Keurig K-Cafe Special Edition comes with a wide range of fantastic features. Let’s shed some light on them.
Here are a few great features of K-Cafe Special Edition that make it worth buying:
Design
The K-Cafe Special Edition is a large machine loaded with tons of features and functionality. It has an unusual asymmetrical appearance, with the large water reservoir on one side and the easy-to-use milk frother on the other side. The brewing outlet is in the center, along with the K-cup handle and drip tray.
This premium quality brewer does not come in any fun colors, but coffee lovers do have an option to choose between charcoal and premium nickel. No matter what color you choose, this coffee maker will perfectly complement your modern or traditional-styled kitchen.
Moreover, it is made of premium quality plastic material, making it durable enough to withstand years of activity. Although the casing, water canister, and drip tray are made of plastic, the frother jug is made of high-quality stainless steel.
The milk frother comes with a round bar handle to help users avoid burning their hands while brewing their morning coffee.
Control panel
This stylish coffee maker features two sets of buttons – one on the top to help you control the brewer settings, whereas the other three-button set on the right will help you adjust your frothing choices.
For example, you can brew a more concentrated and strong drink with the strong brew option. However, by pressing the shot button, you will be able to mix a 2-ounce cup of bold coffee with your frothed milk.
On the right side, three buttons are displayed – Capp, latte, and cold. If you choose any of the two buttons – Capp or latte, the frother will heat and stirs your milk.
However, if you select the cold setting, you will not have to go through the heating procedure. Instead, the frother will give a chilled foamy solution rather than hot frothed milk.
All the K-Cafe Special Edition buttons are easy-to-find and beautifully curved with clear descriptions. Therefore, even a beginner will not struggle with this coffee maker.
Serving options
Even if this coffee maker serves a single cup of coffee at a time, it does not mean you are limited to a single-serving size. With K-Cafe Special Edition, you can brew at four individual cup sizes – 6,8, 10, and 12 ounces.
Also, the two-ounce shot can be considered a fifth option. Unlike others, K-Cafe Special Edition does not restrict the coffee lovers to one type of coffee or serving size. Size and type – everything you will decide!
Brewing time
Who wants to wait in long drive-thru lines if you can enjoy a great-tasting cappuccino or iced latte within the comfort of your home? Of course, no one. If you are an impatient coffee drinker, K-Cafe Special Edition is a perfect choice.
Going to Starbucks or waiting in a long drive-thru line can take you more than 30 minutes to get your morning coffee, but this machine prepares a top-notch restaurant quality cappuccino, iced latte, or espresso-style drink in less than 5 minutes.
Regular coffee can be prepared within a minute, but cappuccino takes a little longer as it takes time to heat and whip the milk. Be your own Barista with a K-Cafe Special Edition brewer.
Large reservoir
The K-Cafe Special Edition comes with a large water reservoir having a storage capacity of 60 ounces. With this coffee maker, you will not have to go to the water tap every day. If you brew one cup a day, you will have to refill the water reservoir after one week.
Besides the huge storage capacity, the water reservoir comes with a handle that you don’t get with other coffee makers. The handle makes carrying the tank to the sink easy without sliding out of your hands.
Furthermore, it is highly compatible with Keurig’s charcoal filters, making it easy for you to remove impurities from the water, reduce your descaling efforts, and improve the taste of your coffee, latte, or cappuccino.
Travel-friendly mug
Like other Keurig coffee makers, K-Cafe Special Edition can also accommodate a 7 inches travel mug under the brew head. If you like to enjoy your morning coffee on the go, this coffee-making machine is the perfect choice for you.
However, for that, you will have to remove the tray. Else, the machine will not be able to accommodate your travel mug.
Easy to maintain
The K-Cafe Special Edition has many dishwasher-friendly parts, including the milk frother and drip tray. Therefore, cleaning it will not require a lot of your time and effort. But still, it requires regular maintenance, and the descaling alert will help you keep track of the cleaning schedule.
To clean your K-Cafe Special Edition Brewer, you must put the dishwasher-safe parts in the dishwasher. Whereas for cleaning the machine’s exterior, you must grab a lint-free cloth and dampen it with soapy water.
Then wipe down the outer surfaces gently. It is worth remembering that the harsh chemicals and stiff dishrags can leave scratches on the appliance, destroying its visual appearance.
For cleaning the water reservoir, you must grab a tiny bristle brush to make it easy for you to reach difficult spots. The cleaner your brewer is, the more delicious and healthy your coffee is.
Value
The K-Cafe may seem more expensive than other coffee-making machines considering its price. However, if you consider the additional features this machine offers, such as frothing both hot or cold milk and brewing regular, dense, or espresso-style coffee, you will know you are getting the best value for your money.
Pros and Cons of K-Cafe Special Edition
Pros
- The large and handled water reservoir
- Easy to understand control panel
- Auto-off program and descaling alert
- Compatible with all K-Cups and reusable filters
- Built-in milk frother
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- Multiple serving sizes
- Easy to maintain
- Accommodates travel mug
- Less brewing time
Cons
- Large carbon footprint
- Comes with a hefty price tag
- Lacks a clock or timer
- Plastic body
- Lacks built-in cleaning program
- Some people may find it a little hard to use
How is the K-Cafe Special Edition different than other Keurig brewers?
The K-Cafe Special Edition and Keurig K-Cafe brewer have precisely the same technological features. However, the aesthetic and quality differences between them include:
- Color: The K-Cafe comes in a charcoal grey color with silver detailing. However, the brushed nickel finish makes the Special Edition look more fashionable and attention-grabbing.
- Frother handle: Both Keurig brewers come with handled milk frothers. However, K-Cafe has a black plastic handle, whereas the Special Edition features a metallic handle, making it more durable and reliable.
- Drip tray: The K-Cafe Special Edition has a more reliable and durable metallic drip tray.
- Build-quality: Although both machines are made of plastic, the K-Cafe Special Edition has thicker and better quality plastic.
Final Verdict
The Keurig K-Cafe is a perfect machine that gives you a cup of regular or concentrated coffee and a decent amount of whipped milk to make delicious lattes and cappuccinos. In addition, its user-friendly control panels help people be their own Barista and recreate popular drinks of Starbucks at home.
It will not only reduce your waiting time standing in long drive-thru lines, but it will also help you cut back on your expenses by eliminating takeaway coffees. The built-in milk frother is a nice addition to the usual Keurig features as well as the large water reservoir is quite handy if you have a large family.
If you want to invest in a great coffee-making machine, Keurig K-Cafe Special Edition is definitely not worth skipping!