Over the years I have had quite a few coffee makers, this includes both the Aeropress, and of course a Keurig coffee maker! Both offer a single cup brew, however just with very different methods.
If you are reading this article to just figure out which one you want, then here you go!
If you are in the camp that doesn’t want to learn how coffee is brewed, and just want a great up cup of coffee, the Keurig is great for that! It has a good taste, and little to now work. Does this sound like you? You can buy my favorite one here.
On the other hand, if you are someone who really wants to be a part of the brew process, the Aeropress is the best of the best! It’s easy to use, makes awesome coffee, and is a ton of fun. This is personally what I use on a daily basis. If you are in this camp, I would buy it here.
If you want to learn more about my thoughts on these two coffee makers, and which direction you want to take, keep on reading!
What is a Keurig?
The Keurig is a single serve automatic coffee maker it. It is built around making an extremely easy cup of coffee, with as hands-off approach as possible.
Anyone is able to easily get a cup of coffee with no problems at all! This is why you will find a Keurig in many homes, and even offices today.
What is an Aeropress?
An Aeropress takes another approach by offering a single serve coffee via a manual method. It takes a little more hands-on idea, where you spend some time making the coffee exactly the way you want.
While it is not nearly as involved as many other manual coffee makers are, it still gives just enough to enjoy the process.
Which coffee maker has the better taste?
Winner: Aeropress
Coffee taste is so debatable in the industry, I personally really like the way my Aeropress tastes, however every time I have a drink of coffee from a Keurig nowadays I am always surprised as to how good it actually does taste.
The coffee crowd tends to give the Keurig a bad reputation for not tasting great, however that really hasn’t been my experience.
That said, I really have to say that the Keurig has the best taste. Mainly because you can tailor it to exactly the way you want it to taste. You can change how long it brews, the way it brews, and even add accessories to change the taste to exactly what you want.
Ease of usage
Winner: Keurig
There really isn’t a coffee maker that gets any easier than a Keurig, okay maybe Keurig knock offs, but still.
A Keurig just takes a pod, and it gives you a cup of coffee in exchange.
An Aeropress definitely takes more of a process (and you can learn that process here) however it by no means is difficult. However you will need to boil your water on your own, and then keep an eye on the brew while it is brewing.
Price Point
Winner: Aeropress
There isn’t anyway around it, a Keurig is by no means cheap. It generally floats around the $100 price point, meaning it is out of a lot of peoples budgets.
However the Aeropress sits around $30, making it under a third of the cost of the competitor in this article.
Since either way, you are getting a single serve coffee maker, it is worth a thought.
Quick Note: An Aeropress needs a water kettle to boil water, which is an additional cost if you don’t already have one. This inexpensive one should work here for you.
Counter Space
Winner: Aeropress
Not everyone has much room on their counter, whether it be because you live in a small apartment, or because you just don’t want something else cluttering up your counter.
Unfortunately all other automatic coffee makers, the Keurig does clutter the counter. The slim version takes up a little less than others, but still, it is there on your counter.
On the other hand, the Aeropress can easily be stored away after being used in a cabinet no problem. It’s about the size of a water glass for reference!
Other Reading
- Aeropress vs American Press | Which Coffee Press Is Better?
- Aeropress vs Pour Over Coffee Makers [Complete Comparison Guide]
- Chemex vs Aeropress: Very Different Coffee Makers
Maintenance
Winner: Aeropress
I wanted to add this category in here, mainly because it was actually the reason I no longer have a Keurig. Unfortunately after a time of owning my Keurig, it ended up no longer dispensing the correct amount of coffee. I tried descaling a lot, and doing a lot of cleaning, however it must have been something mechanical that had failed.
While this may not happen to everyone, and should work just fine, its worth a thought!
On the other hand, an Aeropress has no moving parts, and is easily cleaned completely while you do your daily dishes. In the meantime, I just rinse mine out between brews, thats all the maintenance you need.
Aeropress vs Keurig [Conclusion]
Alright, so we have quickly gone through some of the upsides and downsides of each coffee maker, and which one wins out in each of those categories. However which one would I buy?
I would buy the Aeropress! It is extremely easy and fun to use, and will get you interested in the process of coffee.
I mean, I can’t blame you if you get a Keurig though, they are great machines and make a rather good cup of coffee!
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