Keurig K-Supreme SMART Coffee Maker review: a versatile pod coffee maker
The first Keurig models were quite basic and, frankly, didn’t make the best coffee, but today, the brand has really upped its game, creating high-tech single-serve coffee makers like the Keurig K-Supreme SMART. This model offers an impressive amount of drink customization, allowing you to fine-tune everything from your brew strength to water temperature, and it even connects to your home’s Wi-Fi network, allowing you to control it via your smartphone.
The Keurig K-Supreme SMART is one of the more expensive single-serve machines available from the brand, retailing for around $180 at full price. In addition to drink customization, this model offers useful features like a dual-position water tank and raised screen, and it’s actually quite compact, so it won’t take up too much space in smaller kitchens.
However, can this single-serve coffee machine measure up against the best coffee makers? We tested the Keurig K-Supreme SMART for a month to see how it performed in terms of usability and drink quality, and while we were impressed by its versatility, there were a few quirks worth noting before you decide to buy it.
Keurig K-Supreme: Key specs
Dimensions: 12.2H x 7.9W x 12D inches
Weight: 5.8 pounds
Reservoir Capacity: 66 ounces
Brew Size: 6, 8, 10, or 12 ounces
Settings: 5 strength and 6 temperature options
Phone Compatibility: iOS 13 or Android 8 and higher
Wi-Fi Requirements: 2.4 GHz
Colors: Black, Gray, White
Keurig K-Supreme: First impressions
While unboxing the K-Supreme, I was happy to find that it was mostly packaged in recyclable materials, such as cardboard. The machine was wrapped in a styrofoam-type bag to prevent scratching, but minimal plastic was involved, which is always nice.
The Keurig was quick and easy to set up. After removing the packaging, I just had to install the water filter, which is a small fabric pod filled with charcoal inside. The directions said to soak the filter in water for five minutes, then rinse it for another minute. From there, I simply had to insert it into the included “handle” and put both pieces into the water tank. After that, I filled up the water tank and was ready to start brewing.
Keurig K-Supreme: Price & availability
The Keurig K-Supreme SMART Coffee Maker retails for $179.99, making it one of the more expensive single-serve coffee machines from the brand. You can purchase it directly from the Keurig website, but it’s also available from major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.
Score: 4/5
Keurig K-Supreme: Design
The Keurig K-Supreme SMART is fairly compact and lightweight, and the exterior is made from plastic. The machine comes in black, gray, and white colors, and while its handle is designed to look like stainless steel, it’s actually just silver plastic.
The K-Supreme has a 66-ounce plastic water tank with an easy-to-hold handle, which makes it easy to remove for refilling. One of the unique features of this Keurig is that the water reservoir can be arranged in two orientations—either directly behind the body or off to the side. To switch between the two positions, you have to flip the machine over and reroute the water tubes on the bottom, but it’s quick and easy to do. I love the versatility this offers, and when you have the tank in the back, the machine is quite narrow, measuring around 6 inches wide.
This Keurig model also has a more detailed control panel and menu than other models. It has a digital screen on top that’s slightly raised to make it easier to see, and it has designed buttons for drink strength and temperature, as well as its four different brew sizes—6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces. There are five strength settings and six temperature options, giving you much more granular control over your drink. Additional buttons allow you to brew a drink directly over ice or dispense hot water. I found the machine’s controls very intuitive to use, and I really liked the “BrewID” feature, which automatically recognizes K-cups and adjusts the settings for optimal brewing. You can adjust them to your preferences if desired, but the recommended settings usually work well.
Score: 5/5
Keurig K-Supreme: Performance
Over the course of several weeks, I tested all the different functions of the Keurig K-Supreme, using it to make coffee, other specialty drinks, and even iced beverages. Overall, it performed surprisingly well, but there were a few quirks you’ll want to know about before you commit to this coffee maker.
Hot Drinks
Most people buy Keurigs to make individual servings of coffee or other hot beverages, and this model definitely excelled in this area. All I had to do was insert a K-cup, and the machine would select the best settings using its BrewID feature. From there, it was simply a matter of picking my drink size and pressing start.
It only takes a few seconds for the unit to heat up water and start brewing—the K-Supreme works much faster than other Keurigs I’ve tested, which is nice if you’re in a hurry. I tested out various K-cups, including different coffee brews, hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and chai lattes, and all the drinks were flavorful and at the perfect temperature. It quickly became my go-to machine for an afternoon drink, as it’s so much faster and more convenient than brewing coffee in my drip coffee maker.
Brew Over Ice
The Keurig K-Supreme can also brew drinks over ice. You need special K-cups to use this function, so I purchased a pack of peach iced tea pods to try it out. Once I inserted the K-cup, the machine directed me to brew into a cup filled with ice, but it said not to brew into a glass container. (I’m guessing this is because the combination of cold ice and hot water could cause glass to break.) I ended up using one of my metal travel mugs filled with ice, and I had to remove the drip catcher at the bottom to fit the tall container under the spout.
This brewing cycle took longer than a regular hot drink, and when it was finished, I’d say around half the ice was melted. However, plenty of cubes remained to keep the drink cold, and the tea was nicely flavorful despite being diluted by the melted ice.
Smart Features
One of the main selling points of this coffee maker is that it connects to Wi-Fi, allowing you to use it with the Keurig app on your smartphone. It paired with my iPhone quickly, but besides the BrewID function, I wasn’t overly impressed by the features offered by the app.
In terms of controlling the brewer, there are options to turn on high-altitude brewing, save your favorite brew settings, and schedule a brew in advance. However, if you’re going to schedule a brew in advance, you still have to pre-load the pod. Given how quickly the machine brews, I think it’s just as fast to insert in a pod and press start.
The app has a tab full of “Café Creation” drinks, but most of the “recipes” just highlight different K-cups you can buy. There's a shopping section where you can order Keurig products.
Additionally, I found it frustrating that the brewer doesn’t work properly when it’s not connected to Wi-Fi. Before I synced it up with my home’s internet network, I tried to use the brewer to make a drink, and it just kept showing a message that said, “Please wait” when I inserted a K-cup. I believe this is because it was trying (and failing) to use BrewID. I had to open and shut the lid a few times before it would actually brew my drink. So, even if you don’t plan to use the machine’s smart features, you’ll need to connect it to Wi-Fi for smooth operation.
Score: 4.5/5
Should you buy the Keurig K-Supreme SMART Coffee Maker?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
How does the Keurig K-Supreme compare?
If you don’t want a “smart” coffee machine, the Keurig K-Supreme Single Serve Coffee Maker is a very similar model minus Wi-Fi connectivity. It looks almost identical and has the same dual-position water reservoir, but it doesn’t offer quite as much drink customization as the SMART model. It can brew hot and over ice but only has regular and strong brew strengths. You can’t adjust the brew temperature, either.
I also recently tested the Keurig K-Mini Plus, which is a more budget-friendly option from the brand. This Keurig model is one of the smallest available and comes in fun colors, but it brews very slowly and tends to splatter quite a bit in the process.
How I tested the Keurig K-Supreme SMART Coffee Maker
Tested for four weeks, making multiple drinks per day
Tested a variety of K-cups, including coffee, over-ice beverages, and other specialty drinks
I tested the Keurig K-Supreme SMART over the course of a month, using it as the primary coffee maker in my kitchen. My partner and I used the machine to make hot and iced drinks, and I experimented with the different settings on the machine and the various features offered through the Keurig app.
Read more about how we test.
