Keurig K50 vs. K200

Keurig is a good brand, so it’s no wonder that in your search for a single-serve coffee maker, you’re probably seeing a lot of Keurig options. And when we say a lot, we mean a lot.

There are tons of Keurig models out there, all claiming to be the best coffee maker with the greatest features. The same is true of the K50 and the K200, both of which are solid coffee makers—so, which one should you choose?

If you just want a cup of coffee, either one will do. The real question is which one has the features you want, and whether you really need the new, shiny K200 or if you’ll be fine with the classic brewing in the K50.

When it comes to choosing between the two models, we’ll help you figure out which option is better for you and what the real differences between the K50 and the K200 are before you buy.

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The Keurig K50

Let’s get started with the older Keurig model, the K50. This is a more classic model, meaning that it has a more classic look to it, and therefore might feel a little bulkier in your hands than other more modern options. It is about the same weight as the newer K200 though, although a little bit smaller.

You’ll notice that the water reservoir is quite big in this K50, which is one of the biggest selling points. Of course, it also helps that you can use both Keurig cups and unofficial off-brand cups to make your coffee, meaning that you can use your preferred brand while saving yourself some money on a coffee machine. This older model is quite a bit cheaper compared to the newer K200, after all.

Features

Now, the K50 is an older model, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not an impressive machine. It still includes some of the features that you would expect out of any coffee machine, such as an auto shut off. It will turn off automatically to stay safe if you have forgotten to turn off your machine in the morning.

You also have a removable drip tray that make it very easy to use the K50—since you won’t need to worry too much about cleaning it. Just remove the tray, wipe it down, and you’re already ready to make your next pot of coffee.

Speed

The whole point of having a coffee maker like a Keurig is to make your coffee quickly in the morning. Well, the K50 can make your coffee in about a minute and a half. It may not have water filters, but it does make your coffee in good time.

Vs. Modern Keurig Machines

The K50, while being a solid machine, does still lack some of the modern features that other Keurig machines have. For example, you can’t control the strength of the caffeine in your coffee, and you don’t have a water filter includes.

If you put this K50 side by side with the K200, you’ll probably also notice that it’s a little bit louder than the newer version. Especially if you’re making your coffee in the morning when the rest of your family is asleep, you may prefer to have something a little quieter.

The Keurig K200

You have a lot of options when it comes to your Keurig, but it’s no wonder that many people choose to go for the K200, which is one of the most popular models out right now. In exchange for the class performance of the K50, the K200 is all about modernity and advanced features that are simply made to ensure that your morning coffee making goes smoothly.

In the K200, you have a touch screen display to maneuver through your options. Just touch your settings and the size of brew that you want, along with the level of caffeine, and you’ll have a cup of coffee in about a minute. All you really need to do is pick out which K-mug or carafe you’re using before you get started.

The brew strength is really what makes this model unique though. You can pick how strong you want your coffee to be, and filter it through the charcoal filter that’s included in this K200. This is one of the biggest differences between this model and the K50, and might just sway your decision on which one to pick.

The Cost

Perhaps the biggest issue with the K200, besides maybe the fact that it is a sizable machine and will therefore take up a good chunk of space on your counter, is that it is quite expensive. Those features certainly come at a cost, so you really need to be willing to make an investment before you buy this machine.

You can’t even use this option with other types of pods, unlike the K50. If you’re fine using Keurig brand coffee, this isn’t a problem at all, but if this isn’t your brand, all of the modern features might not be worth it.

Keurig K50 vs. Keurig K200 Side by Side Comparison

When talking about Keurig K50 vs. the Keurig K200, you might have a tough time. They’re both Keurig machines, after all, and both should certainly get you a good cup of coffee in the morning.

They have very different designs though, which means that the K200 does cost more, but it’s also more modern than your K50. You might not need all these modern features though, so the K50 might just be perfect for you.

What you choose depends on what you need, but having a comparison of the main features of both machines will go a long way too.

Water Reservoir

Ultimately, it matters that you have a large water reservoir. If you want to be able to make a big pot of coffee, you need large capacity for water. This is how many buyers choose their coffee makers, so it’s relieving that both the K50 and K200 have solid-sized reservoirs.

If you’re looking for a larger reservoir though, you’ll want to choose the K50. This older model has a 48-ounce reservoir, which will hold 8 ounces more than the K200 and it’s 40-ounce option. Now, 8 ounces might not seem like a big deal, but that 8 ounces means one more cup of coffee before you need to refill the reservoir. This might save you some time in the morning, and will certainly make a huge difference if you have multiple people drinking coffee to start out the day.

Both of these options do have the ability to remove the reservoir though, so when it comes time to clean your coffee maker, you can just slip the reservoir out. This also makes refilling them that much easier too.

Appearance

More than almost any other appliance, the appearance of your coffee maker matters. It will be sitting on your counter every day for the foreseeable future, after all, so it’s important that you like how your coffee maker looks and how much space it takes up.

Despite both being Keurig models though, both of these machines are actually quite different when it comes to appearance.

The Keurig K50 has a more classic look to it, which makes it a little bulkier than your more modern machines. By contrast, the K200 is made to be sleek and modern, with a minimalistic sort of design. It’s easy to use the touch screen rather than to push the buttons on the K50, but it’s also true that the K200 takes up more surface area on your counter. Especially if you’re living in a smaller place, or just don’t want more things taking up your counter space, you may prefer the K50 just for practical reasons.

Brewing Options

The point of brewing sizes is to have the ability to make enough coffee to fill up your mug or cup. Or to have the ability to make a whole pot of coffee, or even to make your favorite flavor of coffee using a K-cup.

This is why both of these options provide you with the ability to use multiple brewing sizes and brewing options. The K200 has quite a few options, with brewing sizes between 4 and 30 ounces, and you can brew K-cups, K-mugs, and the K-carafe too. You can only use the K-cup brand though instead of other off brands in this machine.

The K50, by comparison, allows you to brew only three sizes total: 6, 8, and 10 ounces. You also cannot brew the mugs or the carafe, which may be inconvenient for you, but you can use cups that are not from the Keurig brand. This means that it’s possible for you to brew your favorite flavor of coffee in the morning without any issue.

Ease of Use

Thanks to the fact that the K200 is more modern, you do have different control options as compared to the K50. Both are actually quite easy to use though, so what controls you choose will depend in part on your preferences.

The K50 is your classic coffee maker, which means that it uses classic button controls. You don’t have any fancy displays, but you do have a panel that is easy to use to control the brew size and power of your machine. You even have LED lights that will let you know when it’s time to refill and when it’s time to descale.

As the more modern option, the K200 has gotten rid of those buttons and instead uses a touch screen to control the drink type, size, and brew strength. Honestly, the display will do the same thing as the button controls in that it tells you when you need to change the filter and when you’re running out of water. It will just be more visible on the touch screen.

Strength Control

If the strength of your coffee is something that matters a lot to you, this is where the K200 really shines. Unlike the K50, the K200 includes the option for you to make your coffee to your specifications. Just click on the touch screen to choose the strength that you would prefer for your coffee.

The thing though is that if you want to use this feature, you’ll need to make sure that you’re using the Keurig 2.0 pods.

In the K50 will not let you choose the strength of your brew right from the controls, but it will let you adjust your brew size. You can pick the size of your brew to adjust the strength of your coffee, so you will need to figure out how much coffee and the quantity of water to get the strength you’d prefer. 

Pods

Both of these options do allow you to use pods to drink your coffee, but which pods you’re able to use differs. If you have a specific flavoring that you love, this is something that you should especially pay attention to.

And if you have a brand that you love that aren’t K-cups, you’ll especially love the K50. Despite being an older model, the K50 will allow you to work with both K-cups and unofficial pods. You can use your favorite brand of coffee in your K50 without an issue, which isn’t necessarily true when it comes to the K200.

While the K200 will still work with unofficial non-Keurig pods, it doesn’t work as well. That being said, both of these options do work well with the K-cup reusable filters, so you can also use either machine to brew your favorite ground coffee. They each also work really well with tea and hot cocoa, so you do still have some great options when you pick the K200.

Water Filtration

Yes, the quality of water matters when it comes to your coffee. You’ll want to have your Keurig filtering your water so that you have the best possible coffee.

If you do want to filter your water then, you can’t go wrong with the K200. The K200 has a charcoal filter, which means that you’ll get coffee that is free of impurities—and coffee that therefore tastes better. So, if you live in a place with hard water, this might just be the perfect thing for you.

Unfortunately though, having a filter like this means replacing a filter like this. You’ll need to buy an extra filter when the one in the K200 is done, and you’ll need to clean it. You won’t ever need to do this in the K50, since there is no included filter and you can’t put one in there yourself, but without a filter, you might not like the taste of your coffee.

Price

You can’t buy a coffee maker as nice as either of these two options without considering the price. As you might expect, the cheaper option is the K50, since it’s an older model and a more classic sort of coffee maker. Without the touch screen or the filtration, the K50 is your more affordable option.

Of course, it’s not like the K200 is completely unaffordable either, since both of these are fairly budget-friendly. If you’re just looking for something to make coffee though, and that has a lot of versatility, you don’t need to spend the $50 more on the K200 when you can get the K50 for your morning coffee.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many color options are there?

For the K200, you can choose your color from a total of 9 colors, which helps if you want to match your coffee maker to your aesthetics. If you’re fine with just a black option, choose the K50.

Can we use any cups?

With the K200, it’s best if you only use the K-cups. You’ll have an easier time using off-brand cups with the K50.

Which one has a higher capacity?

You’ll notice that the K50 has a bigger capacity despite being more or less the same size as the K200. This makes the difference between having enough water for one extra cup of coffee, although this might not matter for you if it’s only yourself drinking the coffee in the morning.

Are they loud?

For the most part, you won’t notice either of these coffee makers making a lot of noise. The K200 is fairly quiet while brewing, although it can get a little loud right at the end of the brewing cycle. The K50 is more or less the same way.

How heavy are they?

Both of these options are about the same weight: 7.6 or 7.5 pounds. If you think you’ll be running around transporting your machine, either one of these will work great for you.

Which One Should I Buy?

Ultimately, that’s up to you. When you’re choosing between these two models, consider which one will let you choose your coffee—the K50, or which one will filter your water, being the K200. You can also think about how much space you have for your coffee maker and whether it looks good sitting on your counter every day. Don’t forget the price either, or the controls. If you’d really like a touch screen, the K200 is your best bet. If this doesn’t matter to you, you can use the button controls on the K50.

Both of these coffee makers work well, and will get you a good cup of coffee in the morning. It really just depends on what you’re looking for.

Conclusion

There’s not necessarily a clear winner between the K50 and the K200, since both of these options are great coffee makers. They’ll each make a good cup of coffee, so which one you choose really depends on your own preferences and what kind of control you’re looking for in your cup of morning coffee.

Generally though, if you’re looking for something more modern, the K200 is perfect for you. If you don’t mind something more classic, the K50 will work just fine to produce some coffee.