Last Updated on February 7, 2025 by Karen
In this detailed comparison, we review the Keurig Classic vs. Keurig Select to help you choose the best coffee maker for your needs. Learn about features, performance, and value for money.
When it comes to convenience, speed, and quality, Keurig machines with their pod approach have earned their place as some of the most popular coffee makers on the market today. For coffee lovers, the appeal of a single-serve coffee maker that can quickly brew a hot cup of coffee with just the touch of a button is undeniable. However, with so many options available, choosing the right Keurig model can be a bit overwhelming. Whether you’re new to Keurig machines or looking to upgrade your current coffee setup, it’s important to understand the features and differences between each model to find the one that best suits your needs.
In this post, we’ll take a deep dive into two of the most well-known models—the Keurig Classic and the Keurig Select. By comparing their features, brewing options, ease of use, and overall performance, we’ll help you determine which model is the better fit for your daily coffee routine. Whether you’re brewing a single cup of coffee for yourself or entertaining guests with a full pot, our review will help you make an informed decision and get the most out of your Keurig experience.
Overview of the Keurig Classic
The Keurig Classic is a straightforward coffee maker that brings reliability and simplicity to your brewing routine. This single-serve coffee maker is ideal for those who value ease of use, and it works effortlessly with K-Cup pods to provide quick coffee brewing. Let’s explore some key features of this classic model.
Brewing Flexibility and Convenience
The Keurig Classic offers a range of brew sizes between 6 to 12 ounces, making it perfect for those who want quick coffee without fuss. While it may not have the broader selection of sizes available in more advanced models, this machine still provides the right balance of options for a satisfying cup of coffee or an occasional iced coffee.
Simplicity and User-Friendly Design
With easy button controls and a power button that simplifies the brewing process, the Keurig Classic is designed for those who appreciate a no-frills coffee experience. Whether you want a hot cup of coffee or a more refreshing cold brew, this single-serve coffee maker keeps things simple and user-friendly. Plus, its removable drip tray ensures that even a tall travel mug fits comfortably.
Practical Features for Everyday Use
The Keurig Classic features some practical, time-saving elements, like a water filter to improve the quality of each cup and a cleansing brew function to maintain the machine. The added auto-off feature provides peace of mind, turning the machine off after a set time of inactivity, making it a highly energy-efficient coffee machine.
Value for Money and Affordability
As a basic model in the Keurig lineup, the Keurig Classic offers great value for those seeking a reliable coffee maker without breaking the bank. While it doesn’t offer the advanced features of pricier models, it provides consistent performance, making it a budget-friendly choice for coffee lovers.
Overview of the Keurig Select
The Keurig Select builds upon the foundation laid by the Keurig Classic, offering more options and customizable features for a more refined coffee experience. Let’s dive into the features that set the Keurig K-Select coffee maker apart from its simpler counterparts.
Enhanced Customization and Brewing Control
One of the Keurig Select’s standout features is its ability to control brew strength. With a strong brew option, coffee enthusiasts can adjust the strength of the brew to their preference, whether they want a stronger flavor or a lighter, milder cup. Additionally, temperature control provides further customization for the perfect hot cup of coffee.
More Versatility with Brew Sizes
Unlike the Keurig Classic, which offers only basic brew sizes, the Keurig Select expands your options with different sizes ranging from 6 to 12 ounces. This model also accommodates a variety of cup sizes and is better suited for a stronger brew with more brewing flexibility. Whether you’re brewing a smaller cup for the morning or a larger serving for guests, this model has you covered.
Extra Features for a Streamlined Experience
The Keurig Select includes several extra features that enhance the brewing experience, such as the removable drip tray to accommodate taller cups, mugs, or travel containers. The water filter ensures the coffee tastes as fresh as possible, and the cleansing brew function helps maintain the machine. For those who enjoy iced coffee, the Keurig Select can brew hot water quickly, ideal for making cold brew on demand.
Price and Performance Balance
Though the Keurig Select costs a bit more than the Keurig Classic, it provides a significant upgrade with its customizable features and additional brew strength options. For coffee drinkers who appreciate more control over their brewing process, this machine delivers high-quality brewing at a reasonable price.
Ease of Use and Convenience
When it comes to ease of use and convenience, both the Keurig Classic and Keurig Select are top contenders in their category. Each coffee maker delivers an easy brewing experience, but the Keurig Select offers more advanced features to enhance user control. The Keurig Classic is perfect for coffee drinkers who appreciate simplicity and consistency in their daily routine. It comes equipped with easy-to-use button controls, allowing you to choose your preferred brew size (typically 6, 8, or 10 ounces). Brewing a hot cup of coffee with the Keurig Classic is a straightforward process that requires little effort, making it ideal for those who want a quick cup without additional complexity. It’s perfect for users who enjoy a single-cup brewer and don’t need extra settings or functions.
On the other hand, the Keurig Select goes beyond the basics, offering a more customizable experience. With the addition of a strong brew setting, the Keurig Select allows coffee enthusiasts to adjust the strength of the brew to their liking, giving you a stronger brew when you need that extra caffeine boost. The Keurig Select also comes with temperature control, enabling you to fine-tune the brewing process for a hotter cup of coffee or a slightly lower temperature to suit your taste preferences. The Keurig Select makes it easier for coffee fans to adjust brewing parameters to get a more personalized cup of coffee each time. Furthermore, it provides the flexibility to brew different sizes, whether you prefer a smaller single serving size or a larger cup size.
Both models are designed for easy access to K-Cup pods, with a removable drip tray that allows easy cleaning and accommodates larger cups or travel mugs. The removable drip tray is especially convenient for people who want to enjoy their coffee on the go without worrying about messy spills. Both coffee makers also feature a water filter, ensuring fresh water for your coffee and improving the taste of coffee with every brew. These machines also include an auto-off feature that helps save energy and ensures you don’t waste power after hours of inactivity.
The Keurig Classic is ideal for coffee drinkers who want the most basic model without the need for extra features. If you’re someone who prefers a no-frills experience and fast brewing, the Keurig Classic will meet your needs. However, the Keurig Select appeals to those who want to control the temperature and brew strength to suit their unique preferences. It provides added versatility for coffee lovers who enjoy experimenting with different settings, such as the strong brew option for a bolder flavor or a milder brew for a more delicate cup.
Price and Value for Money
When it comes to price, the good news is that Keurig Classic is an excellent budget-friendly option in the Keurig lineup. As one of the best Keurig coffee makers for coffee drinkers who want a reliable machine without the higher cost, the Keurig Classic is a great choice. It offers a simple yet effective brewing process, delivering a quality hot cup of coffee with minimal setup and features. For those who enjoy a basic coffee experience and don’t need complex adjustments, the Keurig Classic is an excellent value for the price.
However, the Keurig Select comes at a slightly higher price point, and for good reason. This model justifies its higher cost with additional features that appeal to more discerning coffee drinkers. For example, the Keurig Select offers brew strength control, allowing you to customize the intensity of your coffee to your liking. This is particularly helpful for those who prefer a stronger brew in the morning or enjoy a strong brew option for an extra kick. It also offers temperature control for those who like to adjust the temperature settings to suit their taste. With these advanced features, the Keurig Select is a better fit for coffee enthusiasts who want more flexibility in their brewing experience.
Additionally, the Keurig Select has a larger water reservoir, which is a big benefit if you regularly brew multiple cups of coffee or need to brew several cups of coffee throughout the day. The large water reservoir means less time spent refilling, so you can quickly get to your next cup of coffee without interruption. While the Keurig Classic is ideal for office use or small households, the Keurig Select is perfect for families or homes where multiple people want to brew different sizes or customize their coffee experience.
Both models provide great value for money in their respective categories. The Keurig Classic offers excellent value for those looking for a straightforward, easy-to-use coffee machine without breaking the bank. On the other hand, the Keurig Select provides more customization options and extra features, making it a better choice for people who are willing to spend a little more for more flexibility and convenience in their daily brew. Whether you opt for the Keurig Classic or the Keurig Select, both models offer great coffee, impressive features, and a reliable brewing process.
Using the Keurig Classic vs. Keurig Select to Make Regular Brewed Coffee, Iced Coffee, and Tea
To give you a comprehensive understanding of the performance of the Keurig Classic and Keurig Select, we put both machines to the test by brewing regular coffee, iced coffee, and tea. Below, we’ll compare the results based on each brew type, factoring in flavor, convenience, and ease of use.
Regular Brewed Coffee
When it comes to brewing regular coffee, both the Keurig Classic and the Keurig Select perform admirably, delivering a rich, flavorful cup with each use.
- Keurig Classic: The Keurig Classic brewed a hot cup of coffee quickly with a strong yet balanced flavor. The machine is equipped with standard brew sizes (dispensing 6, 8, or 10 ounces of water), and it’s easy to choose your preferred serving size by pressing the corresponding button. However, the Keurig Classic does not feature a strong brew option or any temperature control, which means the coffee can be slightly weaker depending on the K-Cup pod used. If you prefer a basic, consistent cup of coffee with minimal adjustment, the Keurig Classic offers excellent value for money.
- Keurig Select: The Keurig Select also brewed a delicious cup of coffee, but with one key advantage: the strong brew setting. This feature allowed us to brew a bolder flavor compared to the Keurig Classic, even with the same K-Cup pods. The Keurig Select offers more brew strength control than the Classic, which can be a significant benefit for those who enjoy a stronger brew. Additionally, the Keurig Select allows you to adjust temperature settings, which resulted in a hotter cup of coffee. For those who appreciate a more customized experience, the Keurig Select will likely outperform the Classic in terms of control over brew quality and temperature.
Iced Coffee
Brewing iced coffee presents a unique challenge, as the cold temperature can dilute the flavor. Both machines performed well in this category, but with some notable differences.
- Keurig Classic: Brewing iced coffee with the Keurig Classic was simple and effective. We brewed a regular cup of coffee at a standard temperature and poured it over a glass of ice. The coffee tasted refreshing and had the right balance of strength, though it did dilute slightly as the ice melted. Since the Keurig Classic lacks a dedicated iced coffee setting, the strength of the coffee depended entirely on the pod chosen. However, the coffee still tasted good, and the process was quick.
- Keurig Select: The Keurig Select provides a more robust solution for brewing iced coffee. With its strong brew option, we were able to brew a coffee that had a deeper flavor, which held up better against the melting ice. Additionally, the ability to adjust temperature settings allowed us to create a more concentrated cup without over-brewing, which is key for iced coffee to avoid a watered-down taste. This additional level of customization makes the Keurig Select the better option for iced coffee lovers who want a more intense and flavorful brew.
Tea
For tea lovers, both machines offer the convenience of brewing a cup of tea using K-Cup pods or loose-leaf tea with a reusable filter. While both machines are compatible with tea pods, the results vary in terms of flavor, especially when considering the different temperature options.
- Keurig Classic: The Keurig Classic brewed tea relatively well. Using a standard K-Cup pod for tea, the machine produced a pleasant cup with a satisfying strength and flavor. However, the Keurig Classic does not offer temperature control, which could affect the flavor profile depending on the type of tea brewed. Some teas, like green tea, may need a lower brewing temperature to prevent bitterness, which the Keurig Classic cannot provide.
- Keurig Select: The Keurig Select showed a marked improvement in tea brewing. The ability to adjust temperature settings meant we could brew green tea at a lower temperature to preserve its delicate flavor. The machine also allows for greater brew strength control, meaning you can make the tea as strong or as mild as you like. If you enjoy hot tea as much as coffee, the Keurig Select is a more versatile option, offering more precise control over the brewing process and a better taste of tea overall.
Final Verdict: Keurig Classic vs. Keurig Select – Which Is Better?
The Keurig Classic and Keurig Select are two popular Keurig brewers that offer a range of features to suit different brewing preferences. The Keurig Classic is a base model that’s ideal for those looking for simplicity and reliability, offering straightforward, simple button controls and consistent brewing for coffee and hot cocoa. It provides a single-cup brewer experience with the option for different oz brew sizes but lacks advanced features like brew-strength control and temperature brew settings. It is a great choice for users who prefer a no-frills, easy-to-use machine that doesn’t require a lot of time to set up or customize, making it ideal for smaller spaces with limited counter space. On the other hand, the biggest difference with the Keurig Select is that it provides more options for customization, with features like strong setting, brew-strength control, and a large water reservoir so you can put enough water for several cups at a time, making it better for those who enjoy experimenting with ground coffee and K-Cup pods. It also includes a reusable K-Cup filter, making it environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
The Keurig Select offers more control over the entire process, with the ability to adjust strength of the brew and temperature settings, giving coffee lovers the ability to craft a better-tasting coffee. While it is priced higher than the Keurig Classic, it justifies the cost with the inclusion of features such as a built-in milk frother, smart start, and the ability to brew hot cocoa and iced coffee. If you enjoy experimenting with different flavors or prefer a stronger brew, the Keurig Select is a great option. The Keurig K-Elite, Keurig K-Duo, and Keurig K-Supreme Plus Smart are other Keurig models in Keurig’s lineup that provide even more advanced features for those who want a more premium experience. Whether you choose the simplicity of the Keurig K-Classic or the advanced features of the Keurig Select, both machines offer excellent value for their price range and are a great addition to any coffee shop or home kitchen.
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