Keurig K475 vs K575 – Which One Brews the Tastest Coffee

If you can’t go a day without your favorite cup of coffee, then you must have thought of buying a coffee maker at some point. 

However, with so many brands of coffee makers in the market, how do you know which ones make the world’s best instant coffee?

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed but when you know what you are looking for, you can get yourself a good product. 

The Keurig is one of the best brands of coffee makers in the market that you can choose from and their K475 and K575 models are worth a try. 

What Is a Keurig Coffee Maker

There are hundreds if not thousands of coffee makers in the market that have useful features from flexibility to high reliability. 

While every manufacturer advertises their product as top-notch, not all brands are trustworthy and you may end up wasting your money on a product only to find out that you need to go back to the shop.

Keurig is one well known and trusted brands that offer quality coffee makers. The Keurig K475 and K575 are two of the coffee makers from this company that have the highest ratings and have thousands of customers who say they are satisfied with the models. 

The two models have great features like enhanced power and have been known to brew the most delicious cup of Joe. 

Benefits of Using a Keurig Coffee Maker

For a majority of coffee lovers, owning a Keurig coffee maker is a dream come true. In a few seconds, you have a hot cup of coffee rather than enduring the wait of measuring out the messy coffee grinds or using your pour-over kettle for coffee. 

The machines are designed with speed and they can brew not only coffee but hot chocolate, tea, iced coffee and other hot beverages as well.

Here are a few benefits of using the Keurig coffee maker that you should be aware of before you make a purchase:

Speed

If you are not a morning person, then owning a Keurig is the best thing you can do for yourself if the reviews of Keurig k55 are anything to go by. 

The machine offers a quick as well as an easy way to make coffee which comes in handy when you are in a hurry. You also have the option of programming it to make coffee for you every morning.

Versatility

While Keurig coffee makers only technically heat water, they are extremely versatile. Although the machines are known for making coffee, you can do pretty anything else with them like heating water for tea.

You can also use them to make hot chocolate and iced coffee as well, which, at the end of the day, gives you the best value for your money. 

No Mess

A Keurig coffee maker makes pre-measured coffee which means that there is no mess created or coffee wasted in the process.

How Do Keurig Coffee Makers Work

Keurig coffee makers are some of the best cup coffee brewers that make delicious and fresh tasting coffee. 

K-cups are little coffee pods that are designed to work with these coffee brewers and they are the reason why these coffee makers are hailed as the best. 

Besides the K-cups however, the brewers are efficiently engineered and finely tuned to produce good coffee in a short time. 

The Keurig coffee makers are designed to withstand high pressure as well as temperatures so that great tasting coffee is delivered every time you use the machine. 

The coffee makers feature a water reservoir that is designed to store large water quantities which allow you to just press the button to make coffee. With these machines, there is no refilling or pouring that is evident with others. 

When you press the brew button, water is pumped through the pressurized hoses and into the heating chambers where it is heated to the right temperature that is required to make a good cup of Joe. 

After the water has reached the right temperature, it passes into the hose located at the top of the coffee maker which has an opening piece where the K-Cups are inserted. 

When the K-Cup is in place, the opening piece is then depressed and shut and small pins pierce the K-Cup so that the heated water is delivered and freshly brewed coffee is distributed. 

One small pin punctures the lid and hot water is released into the K-Cup and another pin punctures the bottom allowing the brewed coffee to pour out into your mug. 

Pros and Cons of Keurig K475 Coffee Maker

The K475 model is a good coffee maker that boasts of thousands of satisfied customers. Compared to the previous generation, the K475 offers several unique features that make the brewing process fast and comfortable.

However, just like with every other coffee maker, including those that produce premium coffee syrups, the K475 has its advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of:

Pros

• The model allows you to make up to 8 cups of coffee at once.
• The water tank is detachable, therefore easy to clean.
• It has five temperature settings giving you the freedom to customize your cup of coffee.
• It is easy to control the coffee strength from mild to strong.
• The brewing process is fast, taking about a minute or even less.
• The drip tray is removable making the cleaning process even easier.

Cons

• The coffee maker is a bit noisy when you are brewing which is a turn off for most people.
• The brewer doesn’t come with a coffee filter and you may be forced to buy one which only adds to the budget.
• The carafe has to be bought separately which is another added cost.

Pros and Cons of Keurig K575 Coffee Maker

The K575 model is an improvement of the K475 and offers flexibility and more power. 

While there are no significant changes to the model, it is a better coffee maker than its counterpart. Here are a few advantages and disadvantages of the Keurig K575 coffee brewer:

Pros

• Produces hot water on demand that you can use to make tea, hot chocolate and other hot beverages.
• It has an automatic on and off setting.
• It has a large water reservoir, usually 80oz.
• The brewer comes with a storage drawer where you can store your K-Cups.
• It is versatile and can brew different coffee brands from Starbucks, Mountain Coffee to Maxwell House.
• You can use it to make different drinks as well as hot tea, chocolate and iced coffee.

Cons

• The programmable settings in the K575 model only work with k-carafe and regular K-Cups.
• It can only brew k-cup brands.
• It brews only one cup of coffee at a go.

Keurig K475 and K575 Similarities

The Keurig coffee brewers are known for producing great coffee and the K475 and K575 brands are the highest rated.

Here are a few similarities that make them the best in the market:

Temperature Control

Temperature control is an important factor to consider since it is the one that contributes to great-tasting coffee. 

Too low temperatures will leave your coffee tasting sour and when they are too high, the coffee tends to taste bitter.

This is one of the factors the Keurig has put into consideration in both the K475 and K575 that have just the right temperature control to produce good tasting coffee every time. 

Strength Control

With both the K475 and K575 models, you have the freedom to choose how strong you want your coffee to taste. 

Some people prefer a bolder taste in their coffee which is the reason why strength control is an important feature to look for. 

High Altitude Setting

The high altitude setting is important for people who live in high altitude environments and is available in both the K475 and K575 models. 

It is a great feature that contributes to the overall temperature that results in a good 192 degrees (Fahrenheit).

Touchscreen Controls

The touchscreen controls feature adds to the convenience. It allows you to easily modify the settings and configurations of the product which is something you get with the K475 and K575 models. 

Brew Time

If you are in a hurry or not a morning person, then you need a coffee maker that brews coffee in the shortest time possible. 

When it comes to carafe brewing, both models do it in about three minutes while cup brewing takes less than a minute. 

Reliability

When you are buying a coffee maker, another important feature to consider is reliability. Both models perform well which is backed by thousands of reviews and satisfied customers. 

Auto On and Off Feature

The auto on and off feature adds to the convenience, which is something Keurig has added in the K475 and K575 models. 

Keurig K475 and K575 Differences

Now that you know what makes the K475 and the K575 so similar, let’s look at what sets them apart and why you may consider one model to another. 

Water Reservoir

This is one of the noticeable differences between the K475 and K575 coffee brewers. 

The K475 model has a water reservoir with a capacity of 70oz while the one in the K575 model has a capacity of 80oz which translates to an extra cup of coffee. 

Hot Water On Demand

The hot water on demand feature gives a coffee maker versatility to produce both coffee and no-coffee beverages. 

The K475 model doesn’t come with the hot water on demand feature, unfortunately. The K575 model, however, thanks to its larger water reservoir, can produce hot water on demand. 

Touch Screen Display

While both the K475 and K575 models have touch screen displays, the newer K575 model has a larger and more enhanced configuration. 

It is equipped with a 2.8-inch colored display while the K475 model has a 2.4-inch display. With the K575 model, you can even change the background wallpaper. 

Nightlight

The nightlight feature is another option that comes with the K575 model and not the K475 one. 

It is an important feature that will come in handy if you like staying up late and you want to make a cup of coffee. 

Features of Keurig K475 and K575 Coffee Makers

As you have seen, both the K475 and K575 coffee brewers have features that set them apart and make them the best coffee makers in the market. 

If you are thinking of buying either of the models, here are a few features that you should pay attention to:

Programmable

Both the K575 and the K475 models are programmable. The coffee makers integrate an auto on and off setting such that you can choose what time the machine turns on and off. 

It is a very convenient feature considering that a majority of coffee lovers want their cup on the go without the stress of heating the coffee maker and shutting it down. 

Size and Capacity

If you are thinking about buying a coffee maker, you want a machine that makes coffee for you and your entire family at a go. The K475 and K575 are different but they are both compatible with k-mug, k-carafe and k-cup pods. 

Their size and capacity differ in that the K475 has a 70oz water reservoir that can only serve 120z k-cup pods, 16oz k-mug pods and 30oz k-carafe pods. 

Seeing that it can serve up to 30oz of coffee makes it great for a family of more than four members. It can usually brew 9 coffee sizes from 4oz to 30oz. 

The K575 coffee brewer, on the other hand, has an astonishing 80oz water reservoir which means that you will refill it less than the K475 model. It can serve up to 12oz k-cup pods, 18oz k-mug pods and 30oz k-carafe pods. 

All in all, the two coffee makers have a great capacity to serve from one person to a large family. 

Coffee Strength Control

One of the features that make the K475 and the K575 models so popular is the coffee strength control.

We all prefer our coffee different from mild to strong. These models give you the freedom to brew whatever strength of coffee you desire. 

Performance

When you are buying a coffee maker, the last thing you want is to get one that takes decades to brew a cup of coffee. 

Luckily, with the K475 and K575 models, you enjoy high speeds where they only take less than a minute to brew k-cup pods and about three minutes to brew k-carafe pods. 

Design

While the K575 is an improvement of the K475 model, what you will realize is that both share similar design features and you might mistake one for the other if you haven’t read the model numbers. 

The design layout and the placement of the cup holder and controls are the same and they also have relatively the same height, weight as well as width. 

However, the K475 model tends to have more white and black colors that the K575 which is gray. While they are not small, they can fit in any counter perfectly.

At the top of each is a color touch screen which is slightly wider in the K575 which makes it easier to use than the K475. 

Coffee Taste

The coffee taste is determined by the temperature control setting in a coffee maker. Low temperatures produce sour-tasting coffee while too high temperatures lead to bitter-tasting coffee.

Both the K475 and K575 coffee gives you the freedom to control the temperature for a great tasting cup of coffee. 

Controls and Additional Features

Both coffee makers have easy to use controls. They have a power button on top of the color touch screen display. 

Once the device is powered, you can easily customize your coffee on the display screen. The K475 model has a 2.4 display screen that allows you to regulate temperatures, set the machine based on your altitude, set favorites and set it to carafe auto-brewing mode.  

These features allow you to make great quality coffee when used right but it’s a bit harder to control the screen light with this model. 

The K575 model, however, features a stunning 2.8-inch display screen that makes it easy to use the control functions. It also comes with a customizable wallpaper function that features a nightlight.

The night light feature will come in handy when you are making coffee at night. The other difference between the two models is that the K575 model has hot water on demand feature. 

Convenience

A majority of coffee makers are easy to use and the same goes for the K575 and K475 models.

All you need is to power them and customize your coffee using the display screen. They take the shortest time possible, usually under one minute, to brew a great cup of coffee and there is no mess created when using both devices. 

Price

Compared to other coffee makers, the K575 and K475 models are a bit higher on the price range but the features that they pack make them worth your while. 

They both retail at under $150 but the K575 coffee maker is more expensive than its K475 counterpart. 

Support

Whenever you buy a new device, chances are that at some point you will get lost in the processes and functionality of the device and may need some help. 

Luckily, Keurig is known for great customer service and you can easily reach out to them when you encounter any difficulties with your device. 

How to Install and Use the Keurig K475 Coffee Maker

Both the K475 and K575 have a simple set up process that will take you just a few minutes. 

Step 1 – Unbox the brewer

Remove the K475 coffee maker from the box, remove the tape that holds the components together and plug it in. 

Step 2 – Discard the shipping disc

If a shipping disc is included, lift the handle and discard it. Don’t throw it away as you may need it when you are packing the brewer back maybe when moving or when you want to sell it to someone.  

Step 3 – Turn the power button on

Turn the power button on and then proceed to pour water into the cold water reservoir.

Step 4 – Lift the handle and insert a single cup coffee

Lift the handle in such a way that water flows down the brewer and then insert a single cup and place your mug.

Step 5 – Press brew

Once you have done all the above, press the brew button and you are good to go. 

 

How to Install and Use the Keurig K575 Coffee Maker

The installation and use process of the K575 is the same as with the K475. 

Step 1 – Unbox your coffee maker

Remove the K575 from the box and then plug it in. If there is a shipping disc that has been included, lift the handle and discard it and keep it safe for future use.

Step 2 – Assemble the brewer

Assemble the brewer and then turn on the power button. 

Step 3 – Pour water into the reservoir

Into the cold water reservoir, pour water and then lift the handle to ensure that the water flows down the brewer.  

Step 4 – Insert a single cup coffee and press brew

Insert a single cup coffee, place a mug, hit brew on the display and you are good to go. The coffee should take less than a minute to brew.

 

How to Clean Keurig K475 and K575 Coffee Makers

Step 1 – Cleaning the exterior

To keep your coffee maker looking its best, you must clean the exterior from time to time using a damp, lint-free and non-abrasive cloth. No matter how dirty it may look, avoid immersing the brewer in water as this will damage it. 

Step 2- Cleaning the drip tray

The drip tray is meant to accumulate overflow and as such, it should be cleaned occasionally. Slide it towards you to remove it and then use a damp, non-abrasive cloth to clean it. 

Step 3 – Water reservoir

Always use a damp and non-abrasive cloth to clean the water reservoir and the flip-flop reservoir lid.

Avoid drying the inside of the reservoir as this may leave lint and ensure that you thoroughly rinse it to remove all cleaning products that may contaminate your coffee.  

Step 4 – Descaling

The K475 and K575 coffee makers are meant to withstand frequent use and will, therefore, last you for years, which is the reason why maintenance is easy. 

The brewers feature a small ‘descale’ light that pops up in the message center whenever the brewer requires to be descaled.

How often you descale it will depend on the hardness of the water you use. If you live in an area that has hard water, you can expect to be descaling it more often than those living in areas that have soft water. 

 

Does More Spending Mean More Quality

With coffee makers, to some extent, more spending does mean more quality. Take for instance the Keurig coffee makers, which are more expensive than other options in the market but continue to enjoy a high number of reviews. 

This is because, in as much as they are higher on the price range, they offer great features that contribute to quality coffee.

Such features include temperature control, strength control, nightlight and high speeds that allow you to have great coffee on the go.  

When you are buying a coffee maker, rather than go with a cheap model that you will be forced to replace in a few months, you should save more and get one that has great features like the K475 and the K575 models. 

Do’s and Don’ts to Do With Keurig K475 and K575 Coffee Makers

• Do descale the coffee maker from time to time to ensure that it continues functioning at optimum.
• Do follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding set up and use.
• Don’t drop your coffee maker as this may make the device to malfunction.
• Don’t use an abrasive cloth to clean the coffee maker as this will leave scratches.

Frequently Asked Questions About Keurig Coffee Makers

Does the Keurig k475 come with a carafe?

Yes. Just like every model in the Keurig Plus Series, the K475 comes with a carafe. 

Does Costco sell Keurig coffee makers?

Yes, Costco is one of the carriers of the Keurig single-serve coffee makers. 

Can you use a carafe with Keurig Elite?

Since the Keurig Elite shares the basic design of other Keurig machines it accepts regular k-cups but is not compatible with Keurig carafe. 

Who has the best price on Keurig?

This depends on where you are located but you can easily get good prices on Amazon or Walmart. The Black Friday deals also see prices slashed at stores that carry the Keurig coffee makers. 

Does Keurig still use DRM?

Yes, the Keurig still uses DRM but you will have to research on DRM restrictions with other coffee makers.  

Are Keurig carafe pods discontinued?

According to different sources, the Keurig carafe pods are discontinued. 

What is the warranty on the K475 and the K575?

Both the K575 and K475 models have a 1-year limited warranty.

Who are these two coffee makers designed for?

The K475 model is designed for those people who treasure performance over luxury and it is suitable for large families of up to 8 members.

The K575, on the other hand, is designed for those who treasure luxury and are always taking coffee and want to enjoy the freedom of customizing their coffee. 

Conclusion

When you are buying a coffee maker, the last thing you want is an option that is not reliable. The Keurig brand has established themselves as the leading producer of quality coffee brewers.

The K575 and K475 models are a good example of this, packing great features like temperature control, strength control, large capacity water reservoirs and convenience that helps you enjoy a quality cup of coffee on the go. 

Photos from: Amaviael / depositphotos.com, poznyakov / depositphotos.com, limpido / depositphotos.com and belchonock / depositphotos.com.