It seems like Keurig is always working on producing brewers to meet every size requirement of their customers, which is a good thing.
So far, the smallest Keurig brewers have been great, but all of them were missing one thing; a water reservoir that holds more than a single serving. In exchange of the small size, customers had to give up on having a reservoir that they didn’t need to refill at every use.
The Keurig K-Compact is a solution to this problem, if you want to call it a problem. It’s quite a classic Keurig brewer with simple buttons and not much options, it’s compact in size and it has a reservoir that does not require refilling at each use.
Features of Keurig K-Compact Brewer
- Slim removable water reservoir with 36 oz capacity.
- Brews three sizes: 6, 8 and 10 oz.
- Simple button controls, with an on button and a dedicated button for each brew size.
- Dimensions: 12.5 X 8.2 X 13.2 in (H X W X D)
- Compatible with all K-Cup pods including refillable filters.
Design:
Keurig gave the K-Compact the most classic brewer design. It doesn’t look much different than other brewers in their classic machine range, the K-Classic (K55) or K-Select. What’s different is, in comparison to these brewers, it is a compact machine for sure.
The K-Compact is available in a few colors, which adds a bit of fun to the classic design.
The dimensions of the machine, 12.5 X 8.2 X 13.2 in are not exactly the smallest out there for a Keurig machine. So why does Keurig call it ‘Compact’? Because it’s just that…. it’s compact in size, it’s not ‘Mini’ like the K-Mini. And like previously mentioned, it is a small brewer that features a water reservoir. So if you’re looking for the smallest Keurig machine ever, this isn’t it.
Comparison:
Let’s compare the K-Compact to other Keurig models to give you more insight on these machines and which might be your best pick.
| K-Compact | K-Express | K-Slim | K-Mini | K-Classic | K-Select | |
| Dimensions (H X W X D) | 12.5 X 8.2 X 13.2 | 12.6 x 5.1 x 12.8 | 12.14″ – 4.76″ – 15.2″ | 12.1 x 4.5 x 11.3 | 13.0” x 9.8″ x 13.3 | 12.5 X 9.2 X 11.6 |
| Serving Sizes | 6, 8, 10 | 8, 10, 12 | 8, 10, 12 | 6, 8, 10, 12 | 6, 8, 10 | 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| Strong Brew | NO | YES | NO | NO | NO | YES |
| Reservoir Capacity | 36 oz | 42 oz | 46 oz | None – Add Fresh Water every Use. | 48 oz | 52 oz |
| Other | – | – | MultiStream Technology | – | – | QuietBrew Technology |
Quick Conclusion:
- Looking at the table above, you’ll see that the models with the least width are the K-Slim and K-Mini. But the K-Slim has a deep dimension due to having a reservoir at the back.
- If Strong Brew is an important feature to you, the K-Select and K-Express have it. If you want both Strong Brew and a compact design, the K-Express is perfect.
- The largest reservoir goes to the K-Select.
K-Compact vs. K-Express:
K-Express is considered the new and updated version of the K-Compact. It has the same serving sizes (8, 10 and 12 oz), but has the added feature of Strong Brew option.
Size wise, it is noticeably smaller with 5″ width. And it has a larger 42 oz reservoir. Read all about the K-Express here.
K-Compact vs. K-Slim:
The K-Slim is as just as its name indicate, a slim-design brewer that can fit anywhere on your countertop. With less than 5″ width, it does not take up much space.
Dimensions of the machine are 12.14″ H – 4.76″ W – 15.2″ D. So it is actually deeper than the K-Compact and about the same height, but about half the width, which is usually what matters the most.
The question is, do you have to give up in features of the K-Compact when getting the K-Slim? Here are the features of the K-Slim:
- It offers 3 serving sizes: 8, 10 and 12 oz
- It has a 46oz water reservoir.
- It can accommodate travel mugs up to 7″ tall.
In comparison the the K-Compact, the K-Slim has a larger water reservoir, it can brew a 12 oz up (the most popular serving size) all while being slimmer and giving you more space on your countertop. K-Slim was released after the K-Compact, so we can easily say it’s an upgraded version of it. You can read all about the K-Slim here.
K-Compact vs. K-Mini:
This is the most requested comparison, and I know most readers are looking to find out which of these models is actually the smallest, so let’s start with dimensions….
Dimensions:
- K-Compact: 12.5 X 8.2 X 13.2
- K-Mini: 12.1 x 4.5 x 11.3 in
The K-Mini is nearly half the width of the K-Compact. So if you’re looking for a machine that can truly fit anywhere, the K-Mini is a great choice. But what other differences is there?
Serving Sizes:
- K-Compact has three serving sizes: 6, 8 and 10 oz.
- K-Mini has four serving sizes: 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz.
Water Reservoir:
- K-Compact has a 36 oz water reservoir
- K-Mini doesn’t have a reservoir. You have to add water each time of use.
Both machines are compatible with all K-Cup pods, including refillable ones.
If you’re leaning towards the K-Mini, then it’s worth it to also read the difference between K-Mini vs. K-Mini Plus here.
K-Compact vs. K-Classic:
K-Classic, which was previously known as the K55, is one of Keurig’s original machines. It is as classic as they come. Let’s see how it compares to the K-Compact:
Dimensions:
The K-Classic is 13.0” H x 9.8″ W x 13.3″ D, so it is higher and wider than the K-Compact.
Water Reservoir:
K-Classic has a 48 oz water reservoir that sits on the side of the machine. K-Compact’s reservoir is placed on the back, yet it doesn’t add a lot of depth to the machine, which is one of its great features.
Serving Sizes:
Both K-Classic and K-Compact have the same three serving sizes: 6, 8 and 10 oz.
You can read more details about the K-Classic here.
K-Compact vs. K-Select:
K-Select comes packed with upgraded features that neither of the previously mentioned machines have…
Dimensions:
12.5 X 9.2 X 11.6 in… it is the same height as the K-Compact, wider by an inch but has less depth.
Water Reservoir:
K-Select has a large 52 oz water reservoir.
Serving Sizes:
It has four serving sizes: 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz.
Other features:
- It has a strong brew option to steep coffee longer.
- QuietBrew technology that minimizes noise during use.
The K-Select is quite a step-up from the K-Compact, but if small size is what you’re looking for, the K-Select isn’t your best choice. Click here to learn more about the K-Select.
General Questions
Does K-Compact Use K-Cup Pods or Ground Coffee?
K-Compact uses any K-Cup pod, that includes coffee, tea or any other beverages available. If you want to use your own ground coffee, you can use a K-Cup refillable filter pod.
Which Reusable K-Cup Filter Pods are Compatible?
There’s not one kind of K-Cup filter pods compatible with the K-Compact. You can choose whatever brand you want. However, as the quality of these third party brands can be a hit or miss, I would recommend buying Keurig’s official refillable pod.
Does K-Compact Need a Water Filter?
Like any other Keurig machine, K-Compact will work without a filter. However, to keep your machine clean and your coffee delicious, it is advised to use a water filter. There’s already a fine filter screen on the bottom of the K-Compact reservoir, but this is only good to keep debris away from brewing into your coffee. It is highly recommended that you buy Keurig’s starter kit water filters which won’t cost you much. In the case you don’t want to use a water filter, you’re advised to use bottled water when brewing coffee.