Keurig K425 Vs K475

Keurig’s been making high quality machines now for nearly 30 years. It knows a thing or two about helping you serve up an amazing cup of coffee. Whether you’re a curious newcomer or a seasoned coffee aficionado, it’s safe to say they have a machine for you.

Sitting beyond the starter machines – but some way below the premium coffee makers – are the K425 and the K475 coffee makers.

What’s the difference between the two though?

Well, Keurig has a tendency to provide two almost identical machines for the market, using different model names.

The differences are simple. Keurig either teaks the internal workings to be more efficient, or throws more accessories into the box

No surprises for guessing that that’s exactly the case when it comes to our K425 vs K475 comparison.

(Head back to my massive home coffee brewing guide when you’re done for more help with this side of kitchen life!)

Before we do a deep dive on the actual machines, here’s a quick snapshot of both machines. If you’re in a hurry, this is what you need to know:

  • K475 – The latest model in the series. Comes with two extra water filters, a water filter handle and half a dozen sample coffee pods. Perfect if you need everything out of the box, and want a model that’s likely to enjoy longer support.

>> Check price on Amazon <<

  • K425 – The earlier, junior model of the K475. If you already own a good water filter system and don’t care for the extra pods, this is the model for you.

>> Check price on Amazon <<

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WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

As with the K200 vs the K250, the main difference between the K425 and the K475 is what you actually get inside the box, along with the machine itself.

In that regard, the K475 comes with a few extras:

  • A water filter starter kit (worth approximately $15)
  • A pack of six sample K-Cup pods to get you going with Keurig. You might find a new favourite amongst these!
  • A water filter handle
  • 2 extra filters

So, the real difference here is the water filter handle and the extra filters. The latter will definitely help you reduce the risk of scaling over time.

If you already own a water filter system, then you might as well opt for the K425 and save yourself a little bit of money.

If you don’t have a way of purifying your water though, then it makes sense to buy the K475 instead.

By the time you’ve totted up the cost of buying all the extras, you might as well have bought the latest version of the machine. It also saves a bit of time as you don’t need to make multiple purchases.

A final word on the weight of these machines. The K425 weighs around 101bs, while the K475 weighs a little more at around 13 1lbs. Not a big difference, but something to think about if you plan to move the machine around a lot.

SIMILARITIES

Both of these machines were designed as budget makers for the entry-level coffee enthusiast.

They’re extremely simple to use and provide excellent brewing functionality. There’s a massive range of K-Cups to experiment with as well.

If you want a really high quality coffee with the minimum of fuss, both the K425 and the K475 do a fantastic job and are well reviewed by owners.

Set-up is simple (see further down the page for more detail), and they’re easy to clean too. Both have a removable drip tray, and the rest of the appliance is easy to get at and clean.

It’s worth taking a bit of time to look after these machines as well. Although those filters help keep chemical and water impurities at bay, do descale your machine regular. Every 3-6 months is right, depending on how often you use it.

SPECS & DESIGN

Here’s what the specs of both machines looks like:

K425

  • 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 oz cup size
  • 70oz water reservoir
  • Removable Drip Tray
  • Touchscreen
  • Auto Off / On
  • Energy Efficient
  • Brew Time: Sub Minute
  • Temperature Control
  • Strength Control
  • Dimensions: 13.63 x 10.43 x 13.45
  • No Water Filter Kit

K475

  • 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 oz cup size
  • Removable Drip Tray
  • Touchscreen
  • Auto Off / On
  • Energy Efficient
  • Brew Time: Sub Minute
  • Temperature Control
  • Strength Control
  • Dimensions: 13.63 x 10.43 x 13.45
  • Water Filter Kit

Both of these machines have that classy Keurig look and feel. I’d be very happy to keep one of these tucked away in my kitchen, or the home office I use.

They’re pretty compact as well. Just make sure you leave a little extra space around them for cleaning and inserting K-Cups.

Colours are pretty standard, although there’s no black option – a bit of a missed opportunity. Still, here are the finishes that are available for both machines:

  • Platinum
  • Red
  • White

That small footprint is all the more impressive when you consider these machines pack a 70 oz water reservoir.

That’s a considerable step up from the machines lower down the range, and means you can cater for more people if necessary.

Features

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most important features of the K425 and K475.

Strength Control

Strength Control settings are available in both machines. It takes around one minute for a regular brew to get going, and a little longer if you want something slightly stronger.

In very simple terms, the faster you brew the coffee the weaker it will be. That’s because a slower brew gradually dripfeeds the water through the coffee, while a faster one maintains a steady stream.

The pay-off for that extra time though is a much richer brew

Auto Off / On

These are two very welcome features to include at machines at this end of the market. The Auto Off function turns the machine off after 90 seconds of inactivity. That means you don’t have to worry about the thing stewing endlessly while you turn your back

Auto On, on the other hand, allows you to set a timer on the device in advance and get your coffee ready for exactly when you want it.

Touchscreen

You’ll find the 2.4” color touchscreen for these machines on the front panel. It’s both accessible and responsive.

From here you can pick your brew size and also set your brewing start time. I like to set my coffee to brew the night before, and have my first cup of the day ready to go the moment I start work!

You can also use the touchscreen to store favourites. If you’ve many coffee drinkers in your household or office, you can each have your own preferred setting. One less thing to argue about at least.

One final feature of the touchscreen that’s worth mentioning: you can set your own wallpaper! Hardly a deal-maker, but it’s a fun addition.

Brewing

These machines brew in just under a minute, although we’ve seen users report completing a brew in just over 40 seconds. As explained above though, you’re going to have weaker coffee if you rush things that quickly.

One of Keurig’s trademark tricks is to have these machines detect the pod you’ve inserted into the device. This means your drink of choice is brewed optimally, without you having to mess around with any settings.

As for taste, the fact is these machines are identical. In a blind taste-test you’ll struggle to pick the difference between the two. Although the K475 no doubt has some internal production improvements, the coffee you get from either is exactly the same.

Compatibility

The K425 and the K475 are compatible with the following Keurig systems:

  • K-Cup
  • K-Mug
  • K-Carafe
  • K-Vue

It’s important to note that none of these extra accessories come with either machine. If you want to make use of them, you’ll need to buy the items separately.

Disadvantages

No machine is perfect. If it was, Keurig would have no need to make fancier, more expensive machines!

Fortunately, the drawbacks of both machines are extremely situational. If any of the following are really important to you, you might want to look at a more advanced coffee maker:

  • Noise Control – There are no options to limit the noise these machines make. They’re not particularly loud, but it’s a consideration (one I sympathise with from when our children were very small and – occasionally – napping…)
  • Frothing – There’s no way of getting a good froth going with either of those machines. You’ll need either a dedicated milk frother or a fancier Keurig.
  • Plumbing – You can’t connect the K425 or the K475 to water mains, which means you’ll need to continuously refill the reservoir. At least it’s a big one!

INSTALLATION & USAGE

Installing these machines is incredibly easy. Here’s what you need to do to get started:

  • Unbox your coffee machine
  • Connect it to the mains power supply
  • Turn it on
  • Fill the reservoir with water
  • Lift the water handle so the water can flow
  • Insert your coffee pod of choice (remember the K475 comes with a selection out of the box)
  • Place your cup in position
  • Activate your preferred brew option using the touchscreen

That’s it! You’ll also find a user guide in the box which contains everything you need to know about getting the most out of your coffee machine.

Keurig does an impressive job of looking after its customers (especially the new ones, naturally). If you run into any difficulties just contact customer support.

CLEANING

We’re big believers in taking good care of your equipment at Viva Flavor, and so we recommend descaling your machine at least every six months. You should also clean it regularly as well, so that your coffee stays fresh.

The K425 and K475 are really easy to take apart and clean, so there’s no excuse not to take good care of them. The biggest / messiest job will be cleaning up the drip tray, but in both cases it comes out of the machine very easily.

Give it a wash by hand though. It’s not specifically marked as dishwasher-safe, and it really won’t take you long to empty it and give it a good rinse.

CONCLUSION

The K400 range of coffee machines from Keurig provide a great middle ground between the K200/300 series, and the K500 machines where things start to get much more expensive. Put simply, they both make fantastic coffee at an affordable price.

> Check K475 price on Amazon <<

If you already have a good water filter then you’ll find the K425 a perfectly serviceable bit of kit. Like the K475 it has great reviews and has proven to be a hit with consumers. It’s worth seeing if you can pick up a K425 and a water filter for the same price of the K475.

>> Check K425 price on Amazon <<

With that said, we still prefer the K475 given that the price difference is pretty marginal. You get the latest features and improvements in production design, and it’s a little lighter too. Consider as well that the newer the model, the longer the service you’ll get from Keurig.

Although anecdotal, we’ve also read reports that the K425 is a little buggier than the K475. There’s no hard and fast issue we’ve been able to identify, but it’s a trend that’s worth being aware of. By all accounts general performance has been much improved with the K475.