With over 80 machines, Keurig is a tricky company to keep up with, so don’t worry if you feel overwhelmed.
If you’re new to the world of Keurigs, you’re reading the right article. These two entry-level coffee machines K50 and K55 are perfect for getting your foot in the Keurig door.
Enhanced features on both demonstrate quintessential Keurig ingenious. They both have easy-to-use brew button controls and make your favorite coffee in a single-serve coffee brewer.
Only a coffee dork like myself would do this much research on two similar coffee machines, but that’s why I love what I do so much. Let’s get down to business.
 | Our Pick |
Pros:
| Pros:
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Description: With limited brewing options, the K50 is very easy to operate. It comes with 48oz water tank and a strong brew option. However, considering the improvements of the K55, I wouldn't recommend this machine. | Description: The K55 is a similar, yet improved version of the K50. Very easy to operate, it brews up to 10 oz cup sizes in under 1 minute. That combined with the charcoal filter and automatic descaling makes the choice easy. |
- Includes a strong brew option
- Auto-shutoff after 30 mins
- Simple and easy-to-use control buttons
With limited brewing options, the K50 is very easy to operate. It comes with 48oz water tank and a strong brew option. However, considering the improvements of the K55, I wouldn't recommend this machine.
- Brews a cup in under a minute
- Charcoal filter to protect your machine
- Descaling notifications
The K55 is a similar, yet improved version of the K50. Very easy to operate, it brews up to 10 oz cup sizes in under 1 minute. That combined with the charcoal filter and automatic descaling makes the choice easy.
K50 vs K55 At A Glance
The K50 was released before the K55. Its simplistic design and easy one-touch brewing button made it instantly famous, and even average coffee drinkers were shelling out hundreds to get their hands on one.
While you might think, “Don’t fix what’s not broken,” may apply here. Keurig disagrees.
With a few tweaks, they were able to improve upon the K50 and promptly released the K55. Appearance-wise, you won’t notice much difference, but once we lift the hood, we can see what separates these two in brewing technology.
If you’re short on time, skip this article and get the K55, now called the K-Classic. It has everything you need in a Keurig, and you can start enjoying single-serve coffee pods quickly.
If you want to join the league of coffee dorks, follow along as I break down each noticeable difference, from their sleek design to the removable tray and all the additional features in between.
Let’s Get Down to the Details
Here is every aspect to consider between the K50 and the K55. They are very similar, so I had to do some extra digging to determine precisely how these two machines differ.
| Features | K50 | K55 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 9.8”x 13” x 13.3” | 9.8”x 13” x 13.3” |
| Weight | 7.6 lbs. | 11 lbs. |
| Cup Sizes | 6, 8, 10 oz. | 6, 8, 10 oz. |
| Water Reservoir | 48 oz. | 48 oz. |
| Strong Brew | Yes | No |
| Brewing Speed | Over a minute | Under a minute |
| Automatic Descaling | No | Yes |
| Charcoal Water Filter | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
Brewing
Starting with the most essential aspect of them all!
The brewing features of these two coffee makers are quite similar. However, the K50 has a button that will create a stronger cup of coffee. While this is not espresso, it does provide a nice kick for those mornings when you need a little extra pep in your step.
You can make a bold coffee with the K55 by eliminating excess water. With less water, your brew will have a stronger taste and be a bit smaller with the same length brewing process.
The brewing speed is a different story. The K55 makes a cup of coffee in under a minute. While the K50 is still faster than other drip-style machines, it’s not as fast as the K55. As brewing speed is an important factor for many, we’ll have to give the medal to the K55.
Winner: Keurig K55
Durability and Cleaning
In this case, durability goes hand in hand with longevity. We don’t expect your coffee brewer to move a whole lot from the countertop, so keeping it there as long as possible is the ultimate goal. The best way to do that is to keep your coffee machine clean.
They each have a removable tray that catches most of the mess in the first place but makes it easy for deep cleaning as well. The water reservoir is also easy to remove to get into all the nooks and crannies.
However, you’ll find cleaning on the K55 much easier for two reasons: First, an indicator lets you know when descaling needs to be done and aids you in the process. Second, it uses charcoal filters which make the water much less intrusive to the inner workings of coffee makers.
This one-two punch makes it last much longer than the K50.
Winner: Keurig K55
Design
These two single-serve coffee makers hit the bullseye in terms of functional design. They both have a removable drip tray so that you can use cups with a significant difference in size, including travel mugs. They also each have a visible water reservoir to see when you’re running low easily.
What separates these two is the slight difference in aesthetic design. The K55 has more curved edges and looks more compact, even though it’s not. This looks just as comfortable in a condo as it is in the conference room of a lawyer’s office. There’s nothing wrong with the K50 as it’s very similar but not quite as cool-looking.
Winner: Keurig K55
Special Features
The special features have been stripped away on these two entry-level model Keurig machines. That is a central selling point since you don’t have to be a barista to know how to work these. Instructions are included, and we recommend giving them a read; however, you will probably be able to get this going right away due to its simplicity.
The “special features” are embedded in the technology and intellectual property of being able to brew one cup of coffee fast. So in that regard, these two machines have amazing special features even though they are pretty simple in reality.
Winner: Tie
Reviews
The overall sentiment of customer reviews is quite similar for the two machines. The K50 and the K55 have an overall score of 4.5 and 4.4 on Amazon, respectively. The charcoal water filter came up a lot for the K55, indicating that people appreciate a fresher cup of coffee due to a cleaner flow of water. Some complain that it has to be bought separately if you opt for the K50.
One thing that came up with the K50 was that it has fewer issues with functioning. These might be from die-hard K50 lovers, but they suggested that if you have a K50 that works great, don’t switch.
Winner: Tie
FAQs
Which is the better coffee machine, K50 or the K55?
I found the K55 to be the better machine for its self-cleaning and filtration aspects. These are two things nobody wants to think about or do, so the more this is taken care of by the machine, the better. The K55 also has a more modern look to it.
Which brews faster, the K50 or the K55?
The K55 brews faster than the K50. Although not mentioned very much by Keurig, this is a noticeable difference. The K55 consistently churned out cups of coffee in less than a minute from start to finish. The K50 was always over a minute and sometimes closer to two minutes which may only matter to some.
Which machine is louder, the K50 or the K55?
The K50 is a little bit louder, but both machines are louder than your average coffee maker. This has to do with the mechanisms needed to brew so quickly. So what you gain in speed, you lose in quiet comfort. They are not as loud as a blender, but if you need to make a cup while someone is sleeping nearby, you might wake them up.
So, Is The K50 Better Than The K55?
Looking at the features side by side, it’s apparent that the K55 is a better coffee brewer once you peel back all the layers.
Coffee dorks like me love the charcoal filters and the convenient descaling feature. The difference in appearance is slight but may make a difference if you’re going for a specific look. The K55 will be right at home in a modern townhome.
Some people claim the K50 is the more reliable of these two durable coffee makers. But there is not much evidence to go on, and I did not experience any performance issues with either.
