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Are you thinking about getting a personal coffee maker, but want to get one that’s better than the basic but still within your budget?
There are so many options on the market, so choosing the one that’s right for your home can be time-consuming and confusing. We can help you with that. We are going to review the Keurig K-Elite vs. K-Select, two viable options for your home.
Quick Comparison: Keurig K-Elite vs K-Select
In our opinion, The Keurig K-Elite is the best option of the two. The Keurig K-Elite has more options for brews, and it also provides you with more brew sizes.
In addition to these features, The Keurig K-Elite has a larger water reservoir, and it also has hot water on demand feature that the Keurig K-Select does not have.
What is the difference between the Keurig K-Select and K-Elite?
Price
The K-select is the cheaper option as the K-Elite costs just over 20% more than the K-Select.
Hot water on demand
Even though they are both designed to brew hot beverages, only the K-Elite can truly provide hot water on demand for other meals such as soups, oatmeals, and others.
Available colors
The K-Select leads this category as it has more available color options than the Keurig K-Elite. The Keurig K-Elite is available in brushed finishes (brushed gold, brushed slate, brushed silver) while the K-Select is available in oasis, matte white, matte navy, matte black, and vintage red.
Water reservoir size
The reservoir of the Keurig K-Select is not the largest but not the smallest either. It has a 52oz reservoir. The reservoir of the K-Elite is larger than that of K-Select. The K-Elite’s reservoir capacity is 75oz.
Brew sizes
The K-Elite can brew more sizes than the K-Select. The K-Select can only brew four cup sizes, 6, 8, 10, and 12 oz, while the K-Elite can brew five, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 oz.
Iced setting
Of the two coffee makes, only the K-Elite has an option that you can use to make iced coffee.
Temperature control
This useful feature is also only available on the Keurig K-Elite. You will be able to set the temperature that your K-Elite brews at. You can choose temperatures for your brew anywhere between 187° and 192°.
What are the similarities?
Size
Both the Keurig K-Elite and the K-Select are fairly small machines. They are both about 13″ high, less than 10″ in width and not longer than 13″.
Brew time
Both of these machines are capable of brewing coffee under one minute.
Compatible with the My K-Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filter
Unfortunately, not all coffee companies sell their products in K-Cup pods. You don’t have to worry if your favorite brands are not in K-Cup pods as both the Keurig K-Select and the K-Elite are compatible with the K-Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filter.
High altitude setting
The Keurig K-Elite and the Keurig K-Select have a high altitude setting that allows your coffee maker to work correctly at high altitudes.
Descale maintenance reminder
Both the Keurig K-Select and the Keurig K-Elite will remind you when they need to be descaled. Descaling removes built-up calcium deposits from inside your coffee maker.
Quiet Brew Technology
The Keurig K-Elite and the Keurig K-Select have quiet brew technology, making for quiet brewing.
Programmable auto-off
The Keurig K-Elite and the Keurig K-Select have a programmable auto-off feature.
Strong Brew
Want a stronger brew than the basic cup? The Keurig K-Select and K-Elite have you covered with their strong brew option.
Removable Drip tray
The drip trays on both of these machines are removable. This feature allows you to fit travel mugs on the machine, and this also helps with the cleaning of the machine.
Weight
The Keurig K-Select and the Keurig K-Elite are both fairly lightweight machines. Their light weights (7.3lbs and 8lbs) make them highly portable if you decide to switch things up.
The Keurig K-Select is a 7.4lb sleek and the fairly small, single-brew coffee maker with easy to operate buttons.
The Keurig K-Select can brew five different cup sizes, 6, 8, 10, and 12 oz. It also has a removable water reservoir so you can fit a travel mug. With the 52 oz water reservoir, you can brew up to five cups of coffee before refilling the reservoir.
The Keurig K select is compatible with the My K-Cup universal reusable coffee filter. This means that if you do not have a K-Cup, you can brew your favorite beverages by placing them in the universal reusable filter.
If you would like to make stronger brews, all you need to do is select the strong brew option, and the machine will produce a more intense cup of coffee.

The Keurig K-Select coffee maker has a high altitude setting that you can use to ensure your brew’s quality regardless of where you are. Speaking of brew, the Keurig K-Select coffee maker brews coffee in under a minute, so you do not have a long wait time.
PROS
- Quiet operation
- Can make a strong cup of coffee
- Lightweight for easy transport
CONS
- Cannot make iced coffee like the K-Elite
- Unlike the K-Elite, It does not produce hot water on demand
- Does not have temperature control options like the Keurig K-Elite
FAQ
Can you make tea in a Keurig K-Select?
Yes, this coffee maker is compatible with any K-Cup, even the ones with tea.
Can I use tap water in the K-Select?
You can use tap water, however, for the best tasting brew and for the longevity of the machine, it’s best to use distilled water.
The Keurig K-Elite is a single-serve coffee maker that is top of its class in beverage customization. This Keurig coffee machine is capable of brewing stronger than normal brews, and in addition to that, if you want to switch things up and make an iced brewed coffee.

The Keurig K-Elite can produce brews in five sizes, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 oz. In addition to brewing coffee, you can also brew tea, hot cocoa, or an iced beverage that you would like with the Keurig K-Elite.
It is compatible with the universal My K-cup reusable filter, so in addition to using K-Cups, you can also brew your own beverages.
The Keurig K-Elite offers a temperature control function and can also brew your coffee at high altitudes, no problem. The Keurig K-Elite has a removable water reservoir that capable of holding 75 ounces of water, which can make 8 cups of coffee.
PROS
- Alerts you when it needs to be cleaned
- Iced option, unlike the Keurig K-Select
- Can brew 8 cups from the reservoir, unlike the K-Select that can only do 5.
CONS
- Over 20% more expensive than the K-Select
- Limited color options
FAQ
Can you make tea in a Keurig K-Elite?
Yes, you can make tea, hot cocoa, and other beverages.
Can you use your own coffee with a K-Elite?
Yes, it is compatible with the My K-Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filter
Conclusion
The Keurig K-Elite is the best of the two machines. It has a lot of features that are not included in the K-select. The most useful ones are the iced brew and temperature control options.
The temperature control is helpful because it allows you to select a temperature for your brew that is just right for you. The Iced option gives you even more choices as you can use it to brew iced beverages.