Who wouldn’t want a coffee machine that can brew coffee rapidly at the push of a button? For years, this has been an option with Keurig coffee makers and their K-Cup compatibility. However, isn’t coffee brewed using K-Cups weak and watery?
Despite their popularity, this has been a drawback of Keurig’s K-Cup coffee machines. However, recent iterations of its machines have promised to address that using MultiStream technology.
But is MultiStream the key breakthrough tech needed for tastier coffee using K-Cups, and does the Keurig K-Supreme Plus offer enough additional features to persuade you to opt for that over the less expensive alternative? Let’s take a closer look.
The Keurig K-Supreme Line
For years, Keurig has dominated the North American market for single-serve coffee makers. In 2020, it upped the ante with the introduction of the K-Supreme coffee maker product line.
Check out more best Keurig coffee makers reviews here.
Initially, there were two models in this single-serve coffee maker product line – the Keurig K-Supreme and K-Supreme Plus. The company added a third in July 2021, the Keurig K-Supreme Smart, which uses Brew ID and Wi-Fi, so you can operate the machine via an app on your phone.
What’s New Compared To Previous Keurig Models?
The biggest difference with the Keurig K-Supreme line is the introduction of the MultiStream technology, which uses five needles instead of one to achieve even saturation of the grounds for better extraction and a flavorful cup of coffee.
This review will compare the Keurig K-Supreme Plus to the cheaper K-Supreme model, so you will understand exactly how they differ and whether it’s worth investing in the more advanced model.
Keurig K-Supreme Plus Review
Design And Build Quality
There’s a reassuring familiarity in the appearance of the Keurig K-Supreme Plus. So, if you’re a long-time user of Keurig coffee makers, there’s nothing likely to take you by surprise here. The machine resembles the Keurig Mini and K-Slim, though there is a larger water reservoir at the side of the K-Supreme Plus. It is also more compact than either the K-Elite or K-Classic.
One thing that does stand out on the Keurig K-Supreme Plus is its more premium-quality appearance. That’s because the K-Supreme Plus has a stainless steel wrap on the exterior rather than the predominantly plastic sections that were widely used in the earlier models.
The K-Supreme Plus also has more buttons at the top than previous Keurigs. However, don’t be alarmed – their number is still limited enough to avoid confusion. The buttons are presented in a circle, with five brew sizes, temperature and strength selections, three presets, and an over-ice function. There is also a very useful digital display that indicates the strength and temperature selections.
The machine’s left-hand side has a water reservoir, which you can remove with the handle, ensuring easy refilling. The reservoir has a capacity of 78oz, allowing you to brew up to nine cups before refilling. You can also brew straight into a 7in travel mug because the drip tray is removable.
In contrast, the Keurig K-Supreme’s water reservoir can only hold 66oz. However, the reservoir can sit at either the side or back of the machine, which is excellent if you have limited kitchen countertop space. Meanwhile, the K-Supreme’s housing has fewer metal elements, too.
Brew Performance
The K-Supreme Plus heats up more quickly than other Keurigs. In fact, it only takes it around 12 seconds from pushing the start button to coffee emerging from the machine. Meanwhile, the brewing time is also rapid, as you’d expect from a K-cup machine. The coffee brews within a minute for regular strength brews and a little longer for stronger coffees.
Because of the machine’s quick heating system, you can make back-to-back coffees without needing to reheat. This means you can save precious time making several cups of coffee when you’re serving guests.
The brew’s calibration is extremely accurate. For example, if you opt for 8oz of coffee, it will measure it exactly. This accuracy is seriously impressive.
Finally, another big advantage of the Keurig K-Supreme Plus over the K-Supreme is its quietness, meaning you can use the machine even at anti-social times of the day without the probability of disturbing anyone.
Coffee Quality
K-Cup coffee is convenient and quick. However, many coffee enthusiasts think that the flavor is often not on a par with other drip coffee machines or manual brewing methods.
Keurig thinks it has solved this issue with the aforementioned Multi Stream technology, which uses five needles to puncture the lid of the K-Cup and fill it with water rather than one. So if you are using a reusable filter to use your own ground coffee instead of K-cup pods, make sure you choose the latest universal reusable coffee filter with 5 holes on the lid.
The models that only use one needle lead to the coffee grounds situated closest to the needle being extracted quicker and longer than the rest, adversely affecting the flavor. However, with five injecting adding water into the K-Cup simultaneously, the grounds saturate more evenly.
But does it make a difference? The answer is an emphatic “yes,” resulting in a more satisfying flavor and aroma. The brewed coffee is undoubtedly brighter and more flavorful than coffee produced by the older models.
Just like making a pour-over coffee, you will need to pour in a circular motion ensuring all the ground coffee is well extracted for a perfect cup of coffee, instead of pouring a stream in the center in the whole brewing process.
Coffee Strength Setting
The K-Supreme Plus’s control panel has a coffee strength setting. It slows the water flow on the bold setting, ensuring a longer contact time between the water and grounds in the pod for greater extraction.
There are three strength settings, with the one you select appearing on the digital screen. The settings amount to “regular,” “bold,” and “extra-bold.” By comparison, K-Supreme only offers regular brewing and a ‘Strong brew’ setting.
For an 8oz option, the Keurig K-Supreme Plus will brew a coffee on the extra bold setting in around two minutes, while the other settings will take approximately a minute and a half. This is a longer brewing time than some of the previous models. However, we don’t consider the extra wait is a bad thing because one of the criticisms of K-Cup coffee is that it can be too watery and weak. The additional brewing time negates that issue.
Remember, the MultiStream technology does take a little longer to brew, but it will offer a better-tasting brew than that offered by the K-Supreme – a worthwhile trade-off, in our opinion.
Cup Sizes Selection
Depending on the K-Cup you use, you can set different brew sizes. There are five brew sizes with the K-Supreme Plus – 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces. It is easy to select the one you need – just push the button on the control panel.
In contrast, the Keurig K-Supreme only has four brew sizes, as there’s no 4oz option. Therefore, if you regularly enjoy a more concentrated coffee, the K-Supreme Plus is a better option.
Temperature Control
Another significant advantage of the K-Supreme Plus over the K-Supreme is the addition of a brew temperature selector.
Temperature is one of the most significant elements determining extraction, so different temperature settings undoubtedly affect the coffee flavor. With three temperature settings, you can experiment until you find the one that produces the flavor most agreeable to your palate. Also, regardless of flavor, some people prefer extremely hot coffee, while others like theirs at a lower temperature, so you have more flexibility to get this right.
For non-coffee drinkers, you can also have a more delicious cup of hot chocolate, hot cocoa, chai Latte, or any hot drink.
Preset Brewing Preference
The Keurig K-Supreme Plus has three preset settings – another addition absent in the K-Supreme. This is useful if you are catering to people with more than one preference. So, you might like 8oz of piping hot strong coffee, but your partner might prefer 10oz of regular brewed coffee. That’s where the presets come in, which allow you to save your own individual brewing preferences to satisfy different requirements.
You can also select different brew settings for different K-Cups. So, you might have a dark roast K-Cup that is already strong enough for your tastes. In that case, you can use the regular strength brew setting. However, you may have another medium roasted coffee that you want to enjoy stronger but in a smaller cup. The presets allow you to set them separately.
Iced Coffee
Both the K-Supreme Plus and the cheaper model have an over-ice feature. If you go with this option, the machine will make more concentrated coffee (about 5oz to 6oz). The ice cubes melt when hot coffee reaches it, which dilutes the coffee. So, to ensure the refreshing iced coffee is as strong as hot coffee, it takes the machine a little longer to brew iced coffee to ensure more contact time.
Ease Of Use And Maintenance
One of the best things about Keurigs is their ease of use, and the K-Supreme Plus is no different, continuing a tradition of efficiency and simplicity.
As with previous Keurig coffee makers, just put in the K-Cup, press the button to select the cup size, temperature and strength, then push the start button. After that, it will do the rest and give you a freshly brewed coffee.
There is very little upkeep with the K-Supreme Plus, and it reminds you when a descale is due (after every 250 brews), which is another useful feature.
Descaling is also straightforward. Some people use white vinegar. However, we don’t recommend using it and instead suggest you use either Keurig’s dedicated descale solution or another brand. These do a more thorough job and avoid an offputting aftertaste of white vinegar.
This informative video tutorial takes you through the process of descaling Keurig K-Supreme machines.
Value For Money
Keurig K-Cup coffee makers are cheaper than Nespresso machines and many drip coffee machines. The K-Supreme Plus is also quite affordable, though it is a little more expensive than older models.
In our opinion, both the K-Supreme and K-Supreme Plus represent value for money because they offer up-to-date technology, greater customization, and better extraction. In time, we think the MultiStream technology will be a staple of all Keurig machines, meaning you won’t need to upgrade your machine as often. However, for now, we think buying the K-Supreme Plus is a worthwhile investment if your budget allows for it.
Keurig K-Supreme Vs. K-Supreme Plus
This review has examined key differences between the K-Supreme and K-Supreme Plus, but here is a comparison chart so you can see at a glance how the two machines compare.
Both models have similarities, and each has enhanced features compared to older Keurig machines. However, the K-Supreme Plus has these additional features:
- 4oz button
- Three preset settings
- Three temperature and strength settings
- Larger water reservoir
- Modern digital display screen
- Stainless steel exterior design
As we mentioned earlier, one thing the K-Supreme Plus lacks that the K-Supreme has is the dual-positioned water tank, which is useful for those with smaller kitchen spaces.
However, despite this, overall, the K-Supreme Plus has enough additional features and customization options over the K-Supreme to justify the small extra cost, so we recommend buying that over the two.
K-Supreme Vs. K-Supreme Smart
The K-Supreme Smart is a new Keurig coffee maker released in 2021, aimed at coffee lovers who enjoy using smart technology. This Keurig machine has everything the K-Supreme Plus has with the addition of Wi-Fi technology, Brew ID tech, and a Smart Auto-Refill subscription service. We will look more closely at this diverse coffee maker in the “K-Supreme Smart Review.” You’ll know how it enhances your coffee experience.
Our Verdict – Should You Upgrade Your Keurig Coffee Maker?
Both the Keurig K-Supreme and K-Supreme Plus represent value for money and significant improvements on previous Keurig models. Moreover, they achieve this while being easy to use and maintain.
Additionally, both machines benefit from the MultiStream technology to offer a tastier, more aromatic coffee than older models.
However, we think the K-Supreme Plus is the best investment – and has a range of useful additional features, including presets, strength, and temperature controls. It also looks the part with stainless steel exterior replacing the predominantly plastic exterior of the K-Supreme.
The K-Supreme Plus is an impressive k-cup coffee maker that offers hassle-free brewing while addressing some of the quality issues of the coffee produced by previous K-Cup models. If your budget allows for it, we consider it an excellent investment for tasty, hassle-free coffee.
