The Popular Coffee Maker Brand You Should Avoid At All Costs, According To Reddit

Coffee makers are supposed to make your mornings easier, so there's nothing worse than a machine that brews subpar java or even breaks down. Looking at customer opinions can help you figure out what to avoid, and on Reddit, one coffee maker brand comes widely un-recommended. Countless commenters say that Keurig machines just aren't worth the cost.

Keurig's many coffee makers do have good qualities: They look sleek; require no special techniques or extra equipment to use; and it's fast and easy to brew single cups of coffee using all kinds of K-Cup pods. However, skeptics on Reddit point out that the pods cost way more money compared to whole bean or ground coffee, not to mention throwing away those tiny plastic cups is a wasteful habit. "The only real reason to have one is for the convenience in a shared space like an office," one user wrote. "But even then it's still [overpriced] and a waste with the [K-Cups]."

In debates about if Nespresso or Keurig is more sustainable for the environment, Keurig loses major points because its pods are not easily recycled. You could try to avoid mistakes when using a Keurig machine that cause unnecessary waste – some customers on Reddit strongly advocate for reusable K-Cup pod replacements. However, others note that leftover ground coffee and paper filters can be composted, and there are many other great uses for your used-up coffee grounds. According to yet more commenters, Keurig machines themselves can also wind up in landfills sooner than expected.

Despite the high price of K-Cup pods, you might still save money if your Keurig gives you years of service and keeps you away from cafes. Unfortunately, customers on Reddit report major issues with the brand's appliances. One user who has thrown away four Keurigs called them "unreliable crap," citing electrical malfunctions and broken or corroded parts. They said that while the company's K-Elite maker — which normally costs around $200 – lasted two years for them, the cheaper K-Mini machines were goners after six months.

Other threads contain more complaints about the $99 K-Mini's. Several Redditors cite issues with the brewing process, such as liquid not flowing through the machine correctly. Some say they have gone through multiple Mini's or returned their model as they were unable to fix the problem. 

Perhaps the most reviled Keurig machine on Reddit is the $190 K-Supreme. This model boasts advanced brewing technology, including an option to make stronger coffee, but Redditors say theirs failed in a few months to two years. Two more unhappy customers each said their K-Supremes broke down around a month after purchase, as soon as the machines required their first descaling. Some disagree with these complaints, saying their Keurigs lasted a decade or longer, which others attribute to a quality downgrade over the years. It seems like the signs to replace your Keurig coffee maker are showing up earlier and earlier, at least among Reddit's user base.

Some of Keurig's flaws could be softened if the machines produced stellar cups of joe, and many users are satisfied with the coffee they get, even if it's not cafe-quality. On the other hand, some Redditors have pretty poor things to say. One frequent complaint is that all of the brand's K-Cup pods taste the same and lack the depth of a traditional brew.

Other critics are more harsh, calling Keurig coffee bitter and weak and saying the machines don't even brew a good cup if you use high-quality grounds. One regretful Keurig owner said their machine's "disgusting" coffee is vastly inferior to gas station versions. Coffee lovers have speculated on why K-cups produce underwhelming java, and many comments allege that Keurig machines don't make the water hot enough for a proper extraction, or that the coffee inside the pods goes stale quickly.

What does Reddit recommend in place of a Keurig? Drip coffee machines, French presses, and Aeropresses are all touted as superior. In a matchup to see if a drip coffee maker or a Keurig makes a better cup of coffee, we determined that a drip machine is better overall. However, if you're not a java snob and need your coffee done in about a minute, you might still have good reasons to get a Keurig. Just do your research and find a well-reviewed model that's likely to last long.