The K-Express Essentials includes a 36-ounce water reservoir and three brew sizes in either 6, 8, or 10 ounces. The machine is also budget friendly, retailing for $49.97. While there aren’t many frills or extras packed into this small brewer, it’s a perfect way to get a solid cup of coffee incredibly fast each time.
The Look and Size of K-Express Essentials
There are a lot of Keurig brewers for consumers to choose between. Out of the ones available, this one resides in the compact and price-conscious quadrant. It fits alongside other Keurig coffee makers like the K-Slim or the K-Mini, which are largely focused on being able to fit wherever you need them to. Unlike those other brewers, however, the K-Express adds in a healthy size water reservoir that’s able to make several single-serve cups back-to-back.
The K-Express is only 6.5 inches wide, so it should be able to squeeze onto counters tight on space. With its removable cup base, it can accommodate mugs up to 7 inches tall. In terms of simplicity, there are only four buttons to select between, three for different brewing sizes and one power button.
The power button is a little redundant because when you open the lid to insert the K-Cup, the machine turns on. It also automatically turns off five minutes after the last use.
It comes in three colors including black, red, and tropical blue. I tested the black model and, as you would expect, the neutral color blended in without issue. The gray buttons are rubbery and easy to wipe off, just like the plastic pieces of the brewer.
Keurig K-Express Essentials Brewing
For some people, Keurig is a dirty word when it comes to coffee. Frankly, though, Keurig K-Cups deliver a better, more consistent taste than a lot of places out in the world where you can spend money on coffee. There are an incredible amount of coffee selections available now; it’s hard to group them all and generally label their tastes. What I see as the strength of using Keurig K-Cups is speed. And if speed is the goal, then the K-Express is aptly named.
Without fail, I was constantly surprised at how fast coffee was being dispensed into my cup after placing a pod and pressing a brew button. It was less than 10 seconds. There’s no need to wait when making a second cup, either. The generous reservoir allows you to insert a new coffee pod and get going again.
I’ve tried Seattle’s Best and McDonald’s coffee K-Cups, among various Keurig machines over the years. The results were the same on this latest machine: consistent and dependable coffee. Brewing a 6-ounce cup will produce a little stronger taste than a 10-ounce one, but generally speaking, there’s very little difference between the different cup sizes.
The K-Express is a simple brewer, but all of its functions worked as advertised. I committed to using it to make my morning coffee for at least a week, and it performed well. I likely won’t be switching from my pour-over routine, but it’s a great speedy option. There have been plenty of times when people come over, and being able to pump out single-serve cup after cup comes in handy. This machine would also work well for a home office or one with just a few people.
Should You Buy a K-Express Essentials Brewer?
At $50, it’s hard to find faults with the Keurig K-Express Brewer. It does enough to justify its existence. Plus, it has easy-to-use controls that make it a dead-simple machine to operate. It won’t do complicated brews, but it will make a cup of coffee in a hurry.
The K-Express is all about a fast speed, low price, and compact size. If those are priorities for making a cup of coffee, then this is likely a brewer for you.
Buy at Walmart.
Newsweek may earn a commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. We participate in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
