Here at Coffee Brewing Pro, we always aim to deliver you the best source of information for the world’s leading coffee products. After habitually using Keurig machines myself, I’ve discovered both the good and the bad of each model in order to give a fair assessment.
If you’ve found yourself here, chances are you’ve heard of Keurig and want to know more about two of their popular models.
Overall, the Keurig K55 is the top pick due to its better water filter, smoother flavor, and auto descaling alerts.
That said, the Keurig K50 and K55 are two coffee makers with distinct benefits. Continue reading below to learn everything you need to know about two famous Keurig coffee makers.
At A Glance
The Keurig K50 was the first model of the two to come out. Many enjoyed it for being a convenient way to make a delicious cup of joe with minimal effort.
What’s more, users can enjoy hundreds of Keurig coffee flavors. Average coffee drinkers can enjoy high-quality coffee without having to manage grinding coffee beans or emptying coffee grounds.
Although the push-button interface is simple, it provides enough functions to achieve top brew quality. Overall, the Keurig K50 is one of the best single-serve coffee makers for those looking for a delicious cup with minimal effort.
That said, the Keurig K55 comes with several upgrades that make it one of the most reliable coffee brewers on the market. Given that it is newer, users can expect a few additional benefits like a faster brewing time, better water filter, and auto alerts for descaling.
Keurig has also fixed most of the bugs, so the machine seldom glitches out when in use.
What’s more, Keurig has discontinued their K50 machine, so replacement parts for the K55 are far more accessible.
Continue reading below for an in-depth comparison of the top features of both Keurig machines.
K50 VS K55 Feature Comparison
Below we will be comparing the features of both Keurig models and picking a winner to help you make the best purchasing decision.
Aesthetics And Dimensions
One limiting factor both machines have is color choice. You can only find K50 in black, however, the K55 comes in black and rhubarb red. That said, the default black design is quite visually appealing.
In terms of which one is better, that’s entirely subjective. The K50 has an incredible design that looks good in any kitchen. Since the K55 machine is newer, it tends to look a bit more contemporary than the K50.
Both machines have identical dimensions (9.8 x 13 x 13.3 inches). However, the K55 model has slightly rounded edges where the K50 are more pointy.
Overall, the K55 has a sleeker aesthetic due to it being the newer model and coming in 2 colors. The panels are sleek and it pairs well with the rest of your kitchen appliances.
Brewing Options
Both Keurig single-serve brewers come with virtually identical brewing sizes, (6, 8, 10 ounces). However, the Keurig K50 offers a “Strong Brew” mode which will give your cup of joe an extra kick.
You won’t get a highly intense double shot espresso feeling, but you can definitely notice the difference.
The K55 has an extremely basic interface. The only buttons you’ll find on the machine are for power, auto shut off, and cup size.
Other than that, however, there isn’t much room for customizing either model. The done-for-you setup is the beauty the company wants to deliver to consumers.
Since the K50 lets you have the option for a stronger brew, it’s the winner in terms of brewing options.
Water Reservoir And Filter
Water is a crucial factor if you’re trying to make a perfect cup of coffee. Most people overlook it, but you can genuinely taste precisely what we mean if a machine has a better water filter.
The filter is responsible for trapping all the oily compounds and preventing them from getting in your cup. Without it, your coffee will be sludgy and taste awful.
The K50 and K55 both have pretty good filters, but the K55 activated charcoal filters seem to lead the race.
While the mesh filter in the K50 gets the job done, it’s tough to compete with the dual filter system you find in the Keurig K55. A charcoal filter does a better job of filtering out compounds like calcium, chlorine, and other impurities that might compromise the taste.
The charcoal also doesn’t affect any of the good compounds and mineral salts the water needs.
Both models have the same sized water reservoir (48 ounces). With that, you can brew around 8 cups of coffee.
Having a good-sized water reservoir is much more convenient as you don’t have to keep refilling it continuously. That said, there are some other domestic coffee machines that come with larger tanks that are good for offices or larger families.
The K55 model is the clear winner since it uses a dual charcoal filter system.
Taste And Flavor Variety
Taste is perhaps one of the most important factors to consider whenever buying a new coffee machine.
Both machines are k cup compatible, so you can enjoy all of Keurig’s best flavors with your machine.
What’s more, the K55 is compatible with non-official Keurig pods.
While both the K50 and K55 can’t brew iced beverages, you can make hot chocolate, tea, and your own coffee pods (although it’s not recommended).
Although both machines produce fantastic coffee, this is a comparison to see which is better.
After deep consideration, the Keurig K55 has to take the win in terms of taste. The coffee is just incredibly smooth, partially due to the dependable charcoal water filter.
Auto Shut Off
The auto shut-off feature is something Keurig implemented to save energy and reduce general wear and tear for its machines. Both models offer the auto shut-off feature but in different durations.
The Keurig K50 will automatically cut its power if left inactive for 30 minutes. The K55 auto shut off feature turns off the machine after 2 hours of inactivity. While it may seem like the K50 consumes less power, the K55 is actually more energy-efficient if you’re brewing several cups per day.
Since the machine turns off automatically after 2 hours, it doesn’t need to reheat the water as often as the K50.
The auto shut-off feature for the K55 is more effective, making it the winner of this section.
Temperature Control
Keurig coffee makers brew coffee at 192 degrees F. The default temperature for both Keurigs is enough to extract all the good compounds from the k cups, making the coffee taste amazing.
Neither machine allows you to adjust the temperature so this is a draw.
Drip Tray
Both coffee makers come with a removable drip tray to ensure there’s no wet mess anywhere in your kitchen. You can even adjust either Keurig machine to fit your mug size.
The removable drip tray makes clean-up a lot easier. You can also find replacement trays for both models if yours breaks.
Both have identical drip tray functionality so this is another tie.
Cleaning And Descaling
One significant aspect of both coffee machines is that they each come with detachable components. As a result, the K50 and K55 are relatively quick and easy to clean and descale when compared to other coffee makers.
Both Keurigs come with a detailed step-by-step instruction manual on how to clean and descale your machine properly.
Cleaning your machine once every 1 to 3 months is recommended. Frequent cleaning may be necessary if you use your machine multiple times per day to conserve the flavor of your brew.
The K50 model doesn’t alert you when it’s time to clean and descale. So, you’ll need to have a set cleaning schedule to ensure you can enjoy consistent quality.
However, the Keurig K55 comes with a handy auto-scaling detection function that alerts you with a flashing light when it’s time to clean.
The K55 is the winner here.
Brewing Speed
Keurig coffee machines are famous for their quick brewing time. However, the K55 Keurig coffee maker has a slightly faster brewing process out of the two models.
Due to customer complaints with the K50 model, Keurig focused its technology on brewing speed when releasing the K55. It can brew a single cup of coffee in just less than a minute, where the K50 takes an additional 30 seconds.
The reason why the Keurig K55 is slightly faster is that it can heat up water much quicker than the K50.
In terms of speed, the Keurig K55 is the winner.
Installation And Setup
In the modern coffee machine market, consumers are always on the hunt for appliances that are easy to set up. Let’s face it, nobody wants to spend countless hours sifting through the internet and instruction manuals just to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee.
Both machines have an identical installation and activation process so this is another tie.
Here’s what users need to do to start enjoying their Keurig machine:
- Unbox and remove the components
- Assemble the coffee maker (extremely quick and easy)
- Power it on
- Put cold water inside the reservoir
- Lift the water flow handle up
- Insert their k cup of choice and coffee up
- Press the brew button
Customer Reviews
From the surface, both the K50 and K55 seem to be high-quality machines. However, what do actual customers have to say about their experience with the classic and newer model? We’ve included some tidbits of feedback from real Keurig customers below.
Keurig K50
After carefully reviewing customer reviews of the Keurig K50, it’s safe to say that most people get a kick out of their coffee maker. Some people love the fact that you can brew high-quality coffee, tea, and hot cocoa by only pressing a few buttons.
A lot of customers also enjoy the auto-off feature because it helps reduce energy waste and protects the machine. Other positive reviews dig deep into people’s love of the “strong brew” function.
However, some customers weren’t delighted with the brew sizes. They were misled into thinking its large size would be enough to fill up a thermos or travel mug.
Some customers also don’t like the fact that there aren’t any indicator lights that tell you when it’s time to clean the mineral buildup.
Keurig K55
Like the K50, reviews for the K55 model are primarily positive. You can find customers raving about the different brew functions, delicious k cups, and the state-of-the-art descaling feature.
Some customers claim that you get the most out of your coffee machine because the K55 model doesn’t waste any of the grounds. Once the entrance needle penetrates the k cup, the heated water will brew a top-notch cup of coffee in under a minute.
The K55 seems to have much better customer feedback and Keurig seems to have answered the issues customers were having with this newer model. The K55 is the winner here.
Verdict: Which One is Better?
No doubt, both the Keurig K50 and K55 are amazing domestic coffee makers.
When it comes to choosing a winner, the Keurig K55 is more favorable overall. It has a faster brewing time, auto alerts for descaling, and a better water filter.
The only thing the K50 has over the K55 is the strong brew option, but it’s not enough to keep up with the newer model.
Keurig has also discontinued the K50 model, and as we’ve found, it was for good reason and replaced with a better alternative. While the company is known to discontinue a lot of its coffee machines, the K55 is still incredibly popular and a no-brainer for great quality coffee with ease.
