Keurig K200 Vs K250

Keurig’s one of the most popular manufacturers of coffee makers, but as well as catering to the higher end of the market it also knows a thing or two about getting entry-level coffee enthusiasts on-board with the brand.

The K200 and the K250 are prime examples of this, providing coffee newcomers with a budget-friendly way of ditching the instant coffee and giving their tastebuds a slightly more intense workout.

What are the differences between these two machines though? Well, the answer has more to do with the packaging than the product. Our guide to both of these machines outlines how they stack up against each other, and what you’ll need to know about owning either one of them.

(Looking for something else for your morning cup? I have a massive coffee brewing archive that has more to explore!)

DIFFERENCE? WHAT DIFFERENCE?

Here’s the interesting thing. Beyond a few differences in colour options (detailed further on in this article), there’s really no difference at all between the K200 and the K250.

Put both of these machines together on the same countertop and you’ll struggle to see the difference. As with so many Keurig machines, the K250 is best considered as a technical evolution of the K200.

The real change comes from what’s found inside the box. While the K200 is a pretty barebones affair, you get a few useful extras if you buy the K250 instead:

  • Keurig descaling solution
  • Four K-Cups
  • Two water filters (rather than the one supplied with the K200)
  • A water filter handle

That’s pretty much it, but there are a couple of other things to be aware of as well:

  • Although they appear the same, the K250 is a bit less buggy and no longer prone to the kind of freezing problems we know other owners have had with the K200.
  • The K250 is also a little bit quieter than the K200. They both still make a bit of noise, but with very young children in the house I like to eliminate every possible source of nap-breaking noise where I can!

SPECS

Here are the basic specs for both machines:

K200

  • Product Line: Keurig 2.0
  • K-Cups: 2.0 K-Cup pods, K-Mug, K-Vue, K-Carafe
  • Brew Sizes (Oz): 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 22, 25, 30
  • Water Reservoir: 40 oz
  • Strength Control: Yes
  • Temperature Control: No
  • High Altitude Setting: Yes
  • Auto On: No

>> Check price on Amazon <<

K250

  • Product Line: Keurig 2.0
  • K-Cups: 2.0 K-Cup pods, K-Mug, K-Vue, K-Carafe
  • Brew Sizes (Oz): 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 22, 25, 30
  • Water Reservoir: 40 oz
  • Water Filter Kit: Yes
  • Strength Control: Yes
  • Temperature Control: No
  • High Altitude Setting: Yes
  • Auto On: No

>> Check price on Amazon <<

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DESIGN

Both the K200 and the K250 are built to the classic Keurig design model. They look good close up, and they blend in well with other kitchenware too.

Colours

As for the colour options, you can buy these machines with the following finishes:

K200

  • Black
  • Imperial Red
  • Orange Zest
  • Sandy Pearl
  • Strawberry
  • Turqoise
  • Violet
  • White

K250

  • Black
  • Imperial Red
  • Oasis
  • Peacock Blue
  • Plum Grey
  • Sandy Pearl
  • Turqoise
  • White

(Not all manufacturers stock either of these machines in every single colour. You won’t struggle to find one in the classic black or white finishes though. That should match most kitchens.).

Size and Weight

Both the K200 and the K250 have dimensions of 9.0 x 15.0 x 13.7 inches. They’re a little taller than other machines at this level, but not by a huge amount. Keurig’s beginner machines used to be a lot bigger, so this is a welcome improvement!

Keep in mind though that you’re going to want around 20.0 inches in height available wherever you plan to place the machine. This will provides plenty of space for you to open up the lid and insert your coffee pods.

FEATURES

There are a number of features that are common to both the K200 and the K250. Let’s take a closer look at them.

LCD Screen

Although it’s a primitive black and white affair, the LCD screen that comes with the K200 and K250 is easy to read. You wouldn’t expect anything too fancy at this end of the market, but it does exactly what you need it to.

High Altitude Mode

It’s highly unlikely that you’ll be throwing these machines in your backpack before hiking up Everest, but if you live at high altitude then there’s a setting to brew coffee at a lower temperature.

Strength Control

One of the features we really like about these machines is the Strength Control setting.

If you’ve been experimenting with a few flavours that are a little too weak for your liking, just turn up the strength for a richer brew.

Alternatively, if you’ve spent so long chugging caffeine it barely registers any more, you’ll also appreciate being able to amp up the intensity. There’s nothing in the way of fine-tuning here, but it’s a nice feature to have for flexibility.

Auto Off / Auto On

If you leave either of these coffee machines dormant for 90 seconds or more then they’ll activate their automatic shutoff. Not only does that save energy, it also means you don’t have to worry about the thing staying hot for too long.

Unfortunately neither the K200 or the K250 has an Auto On function. There are no timers, so instead you’ll have to stumble out of bed, hit the On button and wait for the first brew to get going.

Fortunately that only takes a minute or so with both machines. See the section on brewing further down the page for more info on this front.

(If this is really important to you by the way, consider upgrading to the K475 or the K575. You’ll start to enjoy this kind of extra functionality as you move up the Keurig range.)

Smart Technology

Keurig machines make use of something called Smart Technology. That means the machines can actually detect the pod you’re using in the machine, and brew it optimally.

That feature is present and correct in both the K200 and the K250.

Brewing

Onto the important bit: the brewing itself.

In a blind taste test it’s practically impossible to tell the difference between the coffee produced by both of these machines, and the internal mechanisms are essentially identical. They’re also both incredibly simple to use, thanks to one-button brewing.

What do you need to know about the brewing capabilities of these machines though?

Brewing Time

The K200 takes around one to one a half minutes to make its first brew from a cold start, while the K250 clocks it at pretty much exactly one minute.

If you’re really in a rush in the mornings then you’ll favour the K250 over the K200, but the difference is so marginal that we don’t consider it to be a major buying criteria.

K-Cups

They both make use of what’s called K-Cup 2.0 technology. It’s a little more restrictive than the 1.0 tech, which allows you to use third party pods more or less indiscriminately.

There are lots of options to choose from though, with around 500 different coffee varieties available from some 75 difference brands. Just make sure you check the packaging carefully so you know the pods will be compatible with your machine.

For reference, the K200 and the K250 are compatible with K-Mug, K-Vuie and K-Carafe Pods.

Carafe

Although both of these machines are compatible with K-Carafe pods, neither come supplied with the carafe itself.

If you want to be able to batch up with these pods then you’ll need to purchase the carafe separately. The good news is that these are readily available as plastic or stainless steel versions. Just pick the one that works for you.

Personally I like having a machine that can scale up this way (no pun intended). You have a small coffee machine that works really well for individual use, but can also be upgraded for when you’re entertaining.

Temperature Control

If you really want to tweak the temperature settings for you brew then there’s bad news: these machines won’t work for you.

Apart from the limited Strength Control setting, you have no control at all over the temperature your coffee is brewed at. As the machines are aimed at beginner coffee fanatics though, this is an understandable compromise.

Water Reservoir

At 40oz, both of these machines have a rather small water reservoir, which means if you have a household full of coffee guzzlers you might all end up a little frustrated.

The good news is that the water-level window is extremely clear. Just make sure you’re not the one who bags the last of the coffee without refilling!

INSTALLATION

Whether you choose the K200 or the K250, installation in either case is extremely simple:

  • Unbox everything
  • Assemble the machine according to the user guide
  • Turn the Keurig on
  • Add water to the reservoir
  • Lift the handle so the water starts flowing
  • Insert your coffee pod of choice into the pod holder
  • Place your cup under the nozzle
  • Hit the brew button
  • Wait around a minute for your first cup of coffee.

It’s that simple! Keurig’s very clever about making its entry-level machines as easy to use as possible.

If you want to get a taste of Keurig coffee but are intimidated by some of the more complex machines, rest assured that both of these appliances do a very good job of providing basic brewing functionality with the minimum of fuss.

CLEANING

The K200 and the K250 are extremely easy to clean, and come with a removable drip tray.

This is typically the muckiest part of the clean-up operation, but we had no problems with spillage when removing it.

It’s not recommended that you put any of the components through the dishwasher though, so you’ll need to roll your sleeves up and get the washing up gloves on to handle the reservoir and drip tray.

WARRANTY & SUPPORT

Both the K200 and the K250 are supplied with a limited 12 month manufacturer’s warranty. There’s also a comprehensive user guide included, which should help you troubleshoot any issues you run into.

Keurig machines are generally pretty reliable. In the unlikely event you do develop a problem you can’t fix yourself, Keurig’s got a pretty good reputation for taking care of its customers. Head over to their customer support page if you need to get in touch.

CONCLUSION

As relatively entry-level machines, both the K200 and the K250 will do a perfectly good job of providing basic brewing functionality if you want to get a taste of the Keurig range without spending a huge amount of money. They both get great reviews across all stores too, and plenty of people have had plenty of use out of them.

If you’ve already got a solid water filtration system in place, then it’s fine to pick up the K200. Likewise if you already have descaling solution that’s suitable for a Keurig, you’re not going to need that out of the box either.

>> Check K200 price on Amazon <<

If you don’t have a way of filtering water though, then the K250 is the better choice. By the time you’ve bought all the extras you’ll likely have saved more money bybuying the latest model.

When the price difference is so small, it’s also sensible to get the latest model so you benefit from the latest design improvements. It’s also likely to be supported by Keurig for a longer period of time as well.

>> Check K250 price on Amazon <<