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For convenient and fast coffee in your home or office, Keurig have the market totally covered. Their huge range means it can be difficult to make a decision on which model is perfect for you. In this review we will look at the Keurig k15 vs k50.
In this comparison, we look at two coffee makers from the Keurig 1.0 generation, the ‘original’ keurigs. One of these is a very small “mini” coffee maker which is suitable for making one cup at a time, the other is a little more flexible with a few extra features.
Differences between the Keurig K15 and K50
Model | K50 | K15 |
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Size | 13 x 9.8 x 13.3 in | 6.9 x 10.7 x 10.8 in |
Type of Compatible Pods | K-cup (licenced and unlicensed) | K-cup (licenced and unlicensed) |
Per Brew | 6, 8, 10 oz | 6, 8, 10 oz |
Water Held | 48 oz. | No water reservoir |
Automatic turn off |
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Water Filter | No (can be fitted) | No |
Controls | Very simple button panel for starting the brew and controlling the size. | Also controlled via a button panel. |
Price | Affordable Check Price | Affordable Check Price |
Both of these products are on the more affordable end of the range, and though they don’t have all the bells and whistles available with some of the more elite (and expensive) coffee makers, either of these models can be a good starting point for your first coffee machine or if you only need to make relatively small amounts of coffee at a time.
The K50 is not the newest Keurig out there but it has been one of their most popular over the years.
Being a mid-range model it has enough on offer for most of our needs and though it doesn’t quite match up to some of the 2.0 range in terms of features, it will make a good quality and fast cup of coffee within 60 seconds.
For some of us, this is all we need from our Keurig.
The controls are done via buttons, whereas many of the newer models have shifted to an LCD screen to control the settings.
Though not as hi-tech as the touch screen, many of us are perfectly happy with an easy button control panel. It also has indicators for when the water is low.
A brief look at features will show why this product is preferred to the K15. The K15 will still make a good cup of coffee, but it has no water reservoir and no compatibility with water filters.
The K50 on the other hand has quite a large capacity (48 Oz) and can be fitted with a Keurig water filter for increased water purity.
Keurig K15 Reviews
Having recommended the K50, it doesn’t mean that the K15 is useless. It has some great features and is one of the only decent ‘mini’ coffee makers on the market.

The K15 is also part of the 1.0 generation, and has taken over from the original K10, which has now been discontinued.
Two big points of attraction are the fact that this is far more affordable than some of the other products, and the fact that it is small and compact.
This makes it a popular choice for offices, holiday homes and other small spaces.
Being from the 1.0 range, it is also compatible with K-Cups which have not been made by Keurig, something they have done away with in the 2.0 range.
This means there are more to choose from, and more affordable pods for your Keurig. You might be also interested in how the K15 compares to the k10 keurig models.
PROS
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- Can brew a coffee in 90 seconds.
- Small, lightweight design great for moving around or keeping at an office.
- “Off-Brand” K-Cup compatible.
- Simple controls.
- Removable drip tray for simple clean-up.
CONS
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- No option for a water filter to be attached.
- No control over coffee strength.
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Not having a water filter or reservoir is a little bit of a downer, and is the reason many people choose to spend a little more to get the K50 or another model which can hold water.
Not having a filter can sometimes mean buildups of limescale or calcium. You can filter the water separately but this can be a bit of a pain.
Though it doesn’t have all of the options of some of the others, for a simple, no-frills way to make a decent cup of coffee at your desk or somewhere space is at a premium, the K15 may be worth considering.
Keurig K50 Reviews
On to the K50, a slightly larger model of Keurig with a few more features. Although this is definitely preferable to the K15 in a straight shootout, the actual cup of coffee you get out of it will be the same.

So if the coffee itself will be the same, why is this preferable to the K15? Basically, the K50 offers more in terms of convenience and is likely to last you longer, this is due to the fact that it has a reservoir which can hold 48 Oz of water and is compatible with Keurig filters. This is not the case with the more compact K15.
You also might be interested in how the K50 compares to the K200 and the newer kselect keurig models.
PROS
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- 48 oz reservoir for water.
- Easy to control button interface.
- Auto turn-off feature.
- Can brew a variety of different hot drinks such as tea and hot chocolate, and cold
- versions of drinks.
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CONS
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- Can only brew up to 10 oz at a time.
- Though compatible, the water filter is not included.
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Conclusion
If you are looking for something with loads of modern features such as touch screen and strength control, you may need to look at the higher end of the range.
If, however, you are looking for simple controls and a decent cup of coffee and don’t have any need to batch brew then either of the K15 and K50 can do the job.
The main consideration then becomes whether or not you are looking for a water reservoir and filter, which are the biggest differences when it comes to the K50.
These are two simple, unpretentious options that do the basics well without going over the top.