If you’ve been shopping around for a Keurig coffee maker, chances are you’ve seen coffee makers that go by Keurig and others that are labelled Keurig 2.0. Wondering what’s the difference between them? Keep on reading…
Keurig brewers have always been as simple as it gets, insert a pod, hit brew and you’ll get a hot cup of coffee. No fuss, no headache. But many people wanted more, they wanted a stronger cup, a hotter cup and more cup sizes. That’s when the Keurig 2.0 has been created.
Keurig 2.0 has been introduced after the original Keurig coffee maker. With a Keurig 2.0, you’re getting more options and personalization to make a cup of coffee that is truly to your taste.
Is Keurig 2.0 Still Worth It?
As of now (2023), Keurig 2.0 machines have been discontinued and buying them no longer make sense. Pods are no longer available, especially K-Carafe pods which many people chose Keurig 2.0 systems for. Instead, Keurig has introduced their K-Duo line which brews both pods and Carafes, uses ANY type of K-Cup pod and for the carafe side, you can use ground coffee. If anything, you should consider a K-Duo instead of Keurig 2.0 system. If you still want to purchase a Keurig 2.0 brewer, your best bet will be to use refillable pods, which are only available for K-Cup or K-Carafe size.
When Did Keurig 2.0 Come Out?
The Keurig 2.0 system was first available back in 2014, so as you can imagine, it is pretty outdated.
Keurig vs Keurig 2.0 – The Differences
Keurig 2.0 is programmed to brew a carafe – finally! So now not only will you brew single cups of coffee, one at a time, but you can brew a 4-cup carafe, up to 30 oz. For this, the brewer uses a K-Carafe cup, which is the bigger version of the K-Cup. A K-Carafe includes enough coffee ground to make a full carafe that is full flavored.
Another difference with the Keurig 2.0 is that it can brew more cup sizes than your average Keurig brewer. In Keurig 2.0, you have cup sizes up to 16 oz and carafe sizes up to 30 oz. While a Keurig brewer can brew up to 10 oz at most.
When it comes to controlling/programming your coffee maker, Keurig 2.0 brewers feature an easy to use touch screen display that makes it quick to program and personalize your cup. Programmability options depend on the model, but you can expect size control, strength control and temperature control options.
Keurig 2.0 Pods vs Regular Pods
If there’s one downside to Keurig 2.0 brewers is the fact that the machines have been programmed to brew official Keurig K-Cup pods only. These pods will have a special labeled rim, and you’ll notice that the box mentions that it is for Keurig 2.0 brewers.
Why did Keurig do this? I won’t get to any legal issues that might have driven them to take this decision, but I’ll stick to what I know and tell how the Keurig 2.0 works.
One of the new features in the brewer is reader that recognizes the pod you’ve inserted into machine right away. After the machine reads the label, it will automatically adjust the settings for you to the best possible settings for that pod (but you can always change it, of course).
So, What Does This Mean?
If you’re going to be upgrading from a Keurig to a Keurig 2.0 and have many leftover K-Cup pods, unfortunately, you won’t be able to use them. You’ll probably find all pods and brands available, but you’ll have to buy the updated version of the pod that works with the Keurig 2.0.
However, if you’re a new Keurig user and a Keurig 2.0 is going to be your first brewer, then you won’t have any problems.
Pod Type, Availability and Compatibility
If you decide on buying a Keurig 2.0 brewer, you’ll see three type of pods available for it:
– K-Cup pods: which brews sizes up to 10 oz.
– K-Mug pods: for brewing cups up to 16 oz (travel mugs).
– K-Carafe pods: the pods for brewing a carafe, up to 30 oz.
These pods were available from many different brands such as Green Mountain, Folgers, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts and many more.
Also, there is a refillable pod available for your Keurig 2.0, too. So you can use your favorite coffee ground.
Which Keurig Brewers Are 2.0?
We’re written about many Keurig 2.0 brewers brew, you can read our reviews and comparisons by visiting the links below:
What Is The Difference Between Keurig and Keurig HOT?
Have you noticed that now Keurig machines are labeled as ‘Keurig HOT’ instead of just ‘Keurig’? Does that mean there’s a difference between the two? Actually, no, there isn’t. Keurig HOT simply means it’s a Keurig system that brews hot beverages, like all Keurig Classic or Keurig 2.0 brewers do. It is simply a new label on the new packages and nothing more.
General Questions About Keurig Coffee Makers
Which Keurig Uses All K-Cups?
As mentioned above, Keurig 2.0 brewers use only branded K-Cup pods and My K-Cup refillable filter. If you want a Keurig that can use ANY brand of K-Cup, you’ll want a classic Keurig like K-Classic (K55), K-Select or K-Elite.
Which Keurig Can Make Iced Coffee?
Generally, to make an iced coffee, all you have to do is brew your coffee regularly over a cup of ice. However, some Keurig models have ICED setting, which adjusts the parameters of brewing to get a bolder taste (so it still tastes good after the ice melts) and at different temperature so it doesn’t melt the ice quickly. Which models have this feature?
Keurig K-Elite is the newest brewer with this feature. On the control panel, you’ll find a dedicated button labelled ICED for brewing all your iced drinks.
If you want to brew an iced drink using other Keurig brewers, you’ll want to use the Strong Brew option, which is available on models like K575 and K-Select.
Which Keurig Have Hot Water on Demand?
We have a dedicated post for this which you can read about here.
Which Keurig Can Brew 12 oz of Coffee?
There are several Keurigs that can brew 12 oz capacity:
K-Elite – K-Mini and Mini plus, K-Supreme, K-Express