7 Cheapest & Smallest K-Cup Coffee Makers in 2024

This is an overview of the cheapest and smallest K-Cup coffee makers. Read on to find your next dream coffee machine.

As someone who has used K-Cup machines in the past, I’ve come to love them. Hence, I want to help you find a great K-Cup machine, which led me to write this piece.

I chose the Keurig K-Duo Plus as the best K-Cup maker because it’s compact, has a thermal carafe, and has great ergonomics. Making it perfect for anyone with a small kitchen or who wants to keep their drink hot for hours.

Each section will cover the specifications of each machine, their pros and cons, and additional information to help you decide whether each machine is worth getting.

Keep reading to learn more.

Best Cheap & Small K-Cup Coffee Makers

1. Keurig K-Duo Plus: Best overall
2. Keurig K-Express: Most affordable
3. Keurig K- Slim: Most compact
4. Cuisinart Single Serve Coffee Maker + Coffee Grinder: Includes grinder
5. Hamilton Beach Flexbrew: Best K-Cup coffee maker combo
6. Ninja PB041ST: Best for office
7. Keurig K-Mini: Best maker, UK

Top Compact & Affordable K-Cup Coffee Makers

The following sections will cover each K-Cup machine’s specs, pros and cons, and additional features that help them stand out. Once you finish these coming sections, you’ll find a buyer’s guide.

The buyer’s guide will eliminate confusion about what to consider when shopping for a K-Cup coffee maker.

Let’s dive in.

1. Keurig K-Duo Plus: Best Overall

The Keurig K-Duo Plus is the best machine for anyone with wrist issues and for folks who want to keep their coffee warm for a long time.

The K-Duo Plus is worth the cost. So long as you don’t mind the cheap plastic construction. I suppose Keurig needed to cut costs on their end somehow.

How does it stay warm for a long time? Thank the included stainless steel carafe. It retains heat the best out of all carafe materials. Ensuring your drink will remain warm for hours. Perfect for anyone who wants beverages throughout the day.

And how’s it suitable for people with wrist issues? Unlike most coffee makers, the water reservoir on this baby includes an actual handle. Enabling folks to have a better grip. It’s also fantastic for anyone who has butter fingers and who frequently drops water tanks when refilling them.

I also love this coffee maker because it has an adjustable water tank. If you have it under a cabinet, shift the tank’s position to the machine’s side for easy access. And because of this, it’s a perfect under-cabinet coffee machine.

Are you tired of K-Cups?

Then, use coffee grounds. It includes a front-loading area to add coffee grounds to a filter. Again, an incredible design choice for anyone placing this under a cabinet.

If you want coffee made for immediate consumption upon waking up, use the programmable timer to set the machine to brew in the early hours.

Regarding features, this machine doesn’t have many. It has a “Strong” button for a more flavorful coffee. But there’s no temperature control like what most coffee makers would include.

Like I said, this machine’s a bit pricey. If you’re looking for a K-Cup maker that’s more affordable, consider the next pick.

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2. Keurig K-Express: Most Affordable

The Keurig K-Express is best for anyone who wants a cheap and compact K-Cup coffee maker.

Despite not having many features and not having the best design choice, the price point is fantastic for what this machine offers.

For instance, few coffee makers in this price range will include descaling notifications and automatic shutoff. The former feature will let you know when to descale your coffee maker. Eliminating guesswork that usually comes with that maintenance.

Want to save power? The K-Express will automatically turn off after 5 minutes. Perfect for anyone rushing out of their home who often forgets to power off appliances.

It doesn’t support brewing for 6 fl oz cups. Only 8-, 10-, and 12 fl oz.

Speaking of cup size, removing the drip tray allows you to fit a 7.4” tall travel mug.

Will the machine’s height fit under a wall cabinet? When opening the K-Cup slot, the machine will require 17.2” of vertical clearance. Most wall cabinets have 18” of clearance between the counter and cabinet [1].

Thus, the machine should fit.

A design choice I didn’t like was the lack of a cord storage system. Considering the machine’s price, that’s fine in my eyes. I do love that there’s a window in the machine’s front to see the remaining water in the reservoir.

Though, you’ll still need to move the machine when refilling your water tank.

A con that I didn’t mention was that it doesn’t include many drink strength selection options. There’s regular and “Strong.” The latter means it’ll brew your coffee a bit longer to extract more flavor for a stronger-tasting drink.

I wish it could have had an Over Ice button, but that probably would have impacted the machine’s price a lot.

Do you need a slimmer K-Cup maker? Consider the next pick.

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3. Keurig K-Slim: Best K-Cup Maker for RV Traveling

The Keurig K-Slim is a perfect pick for anyone traveling in an RV or with a small kitchen due to the machine’s compact size.

It’s worth the cost, considering its energy efficiency and other features.

After finishing your brew, which takes a few minutes, the machine will automatically power off after 5 minutes [2 PDF link]. Ideal for anyone who wants to save money on electricity bills, but always forgets to turn off their machines.

Let’s talk about design choices.

It’s very slim, so it should fit in tight spaces on most counters. However, you’ll need a counter that’s deeper than 15.2”. Otherwise, you can’t fit this machine. The long depth comes from placing the water reservoir on the machine’s rear.

And since that’s where the reservoir sits, it’s a pain to access if you don’t place it on the edge of your counter. Because you’ll otherwise need to move your machine. But at least it’s removable. Meaning, you won’t need to carry a pitcher of water to your device when it’s time to refill.

When opening the lid, the machine will require 16.75” of total vertical clearance. That should fit under most standard wall cabinets, which have 18” of space.

Do you need to brew coffee in a travel mug or a taller cup? Remove the drip tray, and use a cup up to 7” tall.

However, it won’t brew any cups under 8 fl oz.

This machine doesn’t have any features other than what I mentioned. There’s Keurig’s “MultiStream Technology,” which helps extract more flavors from your K-Cups. But that’s it. No strong button. No Over Ice.

Want a machine with more features? Check out the next option.

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4. Cuisinart Single Serve Coffee Maker + Coffee Grinder: Best K-Cup Maker With Grinder

The Cuisinart Single Serve Coffee maker is best for anyone who wants a built-in grinder for reusable K-Cups.

This machine’s worth the value considering what you’re saving money otherwise spent on a separate coffee grinder.

It includes a stainless steel conical burr grinder. These perform much better than blade grinders due to providing more consistently ground beans. But they’re not premium like flat or ceramic burrs.

The grinder’s also pretty loud—as with most grinders. I wouldn’t use this super early in the morning while folks in nearby rooms are sleeping.

There’s no way to control your bean grind consistency. For instance, if you want finer-ground beans, that’s not happening with this grinder. As it’s optimized for the Home Barista Reusable Filter Cup, which is a reusable K-Cup.

Want to control your beans grind? You’ll need to buy a separate coffee grinder.

It will also accept regular K-Cups. If you want to use this machine for ground coffee occasionally, you can use your precious single-use K-Cups.

I wouldn’t get this machine for any other reason than the built-in grinder, which is rare for K-Cup machines. It does include an automatic shut-off function and programmability, but that’s it. 

There’s no Strong button to extract more flavors from your beans, which I find disappointing considering the price.

But with this machine, you’re paying for the grinder.

Want a machine with more features? Keep reading.

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5. Hamilton Beach Flexbrew: Best K-Cup Coffee Maker Combo

The Hamilton Beach Flexbrew is best for folks who want a dual-brew machine that’ll make carafes of coffee or single-brew drinks.

It’s more affordable while offering a decent amount of features, making this machine well worth the cost.

If you want to serve groups of people, use the carafe side. Plop a K-Cup or coffee grounds into the single-serve side to serve yourself and maybe someone else. They offer a bunch of different attachments that’ll allow you to do so.

However:

Most of the attachments and the machine’s casing feel very cheap. If aesthetics doesn’t matter much to you, this point shouldn’t matter. It only makes a difference if you smack around your coffee machine.

I don’t understand why they need separate water reservoirs. There’s a 60 fl oz one on the carafe side. Then there’s a 14 fl oz one on the single-serve side. You’ll need to refill the single-serve side every couple of cups, which proves quite annoying.

Both water reservoirs include small areas raised outside the machine which shows the remaining water levels in each tank. This eliminates the need to move your machine and look inside the tank.

That feature and the short height make this device a perfect fit for placing under a wall cabinet. Until you need to refill the 60 oz water tank. Then you’ll need to move the machine to access the reservoir.

Take out the drip tray from the K-Cup side, which’ll support a maximum cup height of 8 inches.

The machine will automatically turn off after a couple of hours, which could save up to $50 a year [3]. It includes a programmable timer to brew coffee while you’re sleeping. That way, you’ll have coffee immediately when waking up.

And there’s a Bold brew setting. This allows you to have a stronger-tasting cup of coffee.

But there’s no Over Ice function. The next pick includes this feature, though.

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6. Ninja Pods & Grounds Single Serve: Best K-Cup Coffee Maker for Office

The Ninja Pods & Grounds Single Serve (PB041ST) works best for anyone wanting a coffee maker with various brew settings.

Combine the various brew settings with the machine’s narrow design, and I’d say you have something well worth the value.

Unlike most machines on this list, the Ninja will brew 6 fl oz cups of coffee. And it’ll brew up to 24 oz of coffee when using coffee grounds. Up to 12 oz if you’re using K-Cups.

It’ll also accept travel mugs up to 8” tall, much higher than the 7” other devices on this list support.

The machine will brew coffee between 195 °F and 205 °F, which is the ideal brewing temperature. It also has an interesting brew cycle that will pause and brew to extract the most flavor from all your drinks.

If you’re into making milk-based coffee drinks, that’s not happening with this machine unless you get a separate milk frother. However, you could spend more to get the Ninja PB051, which is the same as this model, but with a milk frother.

This device includes an “Over Ice” button but doesn’t function the same as with other coffee makers. With other devices, “Over Ice” typically means you have a smaller amount of concentrated coffee.

With the Ninja, you get less coffee that’s not concentrated. Many folks complain that you get too little coffee with the Iced button, and they are better off using the Classic or Strong options when adding ice.

The Ninja isn’t that wide and will fit on most countertops. The height also gives you plenty of flexibility if you have wall cabinets with 18” of clearance.

And with the way the machine’s designed, it’s easy to clean. It doesn’t have many tiny components or areas that are hard to reach.

Do you prefer a full-on Keurig machine? Consider the last pick.

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7. Keurig K-Mini: Best K-Cup Maker, UK

The Keurig K-Mini is a fantastic choice for anyone in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia due to Keurig’s widespread warranty support.

This machine’s worth the cost, considering its compact size and ability to brew within minutes.

It’s also a handy companion to take camping or RVing. The cord storage allows you to store the cable within the device. Then, the compact size allows it to fit on most countertops. Even in the tightest of spaces.

Once you’re done brewing your coffee, the machine will power off after 90 seconds to help conserve electricity. And to save you money on your utility bill.

But with the machine’s small size comes a tiny water reservoir. You’ll need to refill it after every drink. Meaning, it’s not great for serving more than 1 person.

Since the water tank’s located at the machine’s rear, it’s difficult to see. I suppose that doesn’t matter since you’ll need to refill the tank after every use.

And since it’s so small, it won’t have features like descaling notifications or programmability. And using a smart plug won’t make it “programmable” since you still need to press the brew button to make coffee.

That’s all. Let’s dive into what makes a great, affordable K-Cup coffee maker.

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How to Choose the Best K-Cup Coffee Maker

Think about these factors when shopping for small and cheap K-Cup coffee makers:

Factor	Description
Cup Size	Whether it can fit your mug.
Features	Additional ways to improve machine functionality.
Price & Warranty	Machine price & warranty duration.
Speed	How long it takes to heat machine & brew coffee.
Size	How big a machine is.

The following sections will expand further into each of the factors mentioned in the table above. Once you’re done reading, you should have a better idea of whether you’re making the right purchasing decision.

1. Cup Size it Can Fit

Some K-Cup coffee makers have less space between the drip tray and dispenser, which may only fit some mugs. If you have a favorite mug you like to use, measure it before you buy a K-Cup coffee maker to ensure it will fit under the spout.

Most machines I’ve seen will allow mugs that are, at max, 7″ tall when removing the drip tray.

There’s not much else to cover here. Let’s move onto features.

2. Features

Consider one of these features when shopping for a cheap and small K-Cup coffee maker:

Feature	What it does	Why it’s useful
Automatic descaling	Cleans the machine without user intervention	Saves time & effort
Adjustable brew strength	Lets users customize their coffee to taste	Provides a more personalized experience
Temperature control	Lets users choose the perfect temperature for their coffee	Ensures that coffee is always enjoyable
Built-in milk frother	Steams or froths milk for lattes & cappuccinos	Makes it easy to make specialty drinks at home
Water filter	Removes impurities from water for better-tasting coffee	Improves the flavor of coffee
Smart connectivity	Lets users control the machine from their smartphone	Makes it easy to start brewing coffee from anywhere
Voice control	Lets users start brewing coffee with a voice command	Convenient & hands-free
Reusable K-Cups	Lets users brew their own coffee grounds in a reusable pod	Reduces waste & saves money

Most cheap K-Cup coffee makers won’t include a majority of the above features. Especially features like automatic descaling and adjustable, adjustable brew strength, and voice control.

It’s rare to find a K-Cup coffee maker that supports smart connectivity and voice control. But they’re out there and can prove useful for smart home integration.

You’ll want to read this next factor.

3. Price & Warranty

K-Cup coffee makers range in price from around $70 to $150. The cost of a K-Cup machine depends on several factors, including the size of the machine, the features of the machine, and the brand.

Most K-Cup machines come with a 1-year warranty. Some brands offer longer warranties, such as 2 or 3 years. 

A K-Cup machine warranty typically covers defects in materials and workmanship. If your K-Cup machine breaks down within the warranty period, the manufacturer will repair or replace it at no cost.

If you’re on a tight budget, choose a K-Cup machine that is affordable. However, it’s also essential to pick a machine with a warranty. A warranty will protect you from having to buy a new K-Cup machine if yours breaks down within the warranty period.

This next factor may also impact your machine’s price.

4. Speed

Slow machines can prove as a major inconvenience to have to wait a long time for your coffee to brew. Especially in the morning when you’re rushing to get out the door.

If you’re on a tight budget, you’ll find a number of cheap K-Cup machines available with fast brewing speeds.

For example, the Keurig K-Express Essentials is a popular choice for budget-minded shoppers. It has a fast brewing speed of 1 minute, and it’s also one of the smaller Keurig models on the market.

Here are some tips for choosing a fast K-Cup machine:

• Look for a machine with a high wattage: Higher wattage machines have more power to heat up water quickly.
• Choose a machine with a single brewing chamber. Single brewing chamber machines don’t have to preheat water before brewing, which saves time.

This next factor isn’t as important, but it’s something to consider.

5. Size & Capacity

When shopping for a K-Cup machine, consider the machine’s size and the water reservoir’s size. Smaller machines have fewer features and require more frequent water tank refills. Larger machines typically require fewer refills and have more power and features.

If you’re looking for a basic K-Cup machine with a few features and are okay with refilling the water tank frequently, then a smaller device may be a good option.

If looking for a K-Cup machine with more features and don’t want to refill the water tank as often, a larger machine may be a better choice.

That’s all regarding buying factors. Keep reading to review our top picks.

Our Verdict

Let’s review our top picks:

1. Keurig K-Duo Plus: Includes a thermal carafe.
2. Keurig K-Express: Descaling notification & doesn’t require much space.
3. Keurig K-Slim: Super narrow.

I chose the Keurig K-Duo Plus as the best pick because it includes a thermal carafe to keep drinks hot for hours and is programmable. Making it an ideal pick for anyone who wants convenience features and to keep their coffee hot throughout the day.

Footnotes:

* Prices can change at any time. These prices also don’t account for sales tax, shipping, & other fees.