Finances & Money

What Is the Difference Between the Keurig K50 and K55?

PexelsIf coffee is the natural stimulant of the masses, then most people don’t mind being addicted. Over a third of all Americans would choose a cup of coffee over brushing their teeth in the morning if they had to choose. It’s no wonder that coffee is an $18 billion dollar a year business in the United States.

I love coffee, but not enough to haunt the local corporate coffee shop anymore. My days of jockeying for line position to buy a $5 cup of coffee are long over. I became a k-cup aficionado long ago and I have no plans of going back to the coffee shop. Inserting a k-cup into my Keurig K50 is usually the most anticipated moment of my day. However, I am considering an upgrade to the K55.

The difference between the Keurig K50 and K55 are not overly dramatic, but there are some notable contrasts. You may be in the market for a Keurig upgrade. Or, maybe you just can’t decide between models. If so, I want to share the results of my home testing.

Keurig K50 and K55 Differences

The Keurig K50 costs $140 at Amazon. It takes a little more than a minute to brew a cup of coffee, which isn’t the end of the world. I have an old model which works reliably most of the time. Although, some consumers have complained that it is prone to breakdown after a few weeks. I really like the auto-off feature, which turns the K50 off automatically after a pre-programmed time period. It is a relatively quiet machine as it brews. Sometimes, my coffee has a faint, plastic-like taste, but I always figured I was inserting the k-cup incorrectly.

The Keurig K55/K45 Elite costs $255 at Amazon.  It’s the second-generation version of the K50 and is very reliable and durable. This model boasts numerous consumer reports that it infrequently breaks down. Also, the K55 actually brews a cup of coffee in under a minute almost every time and comes with an auto-off feature. Its most notable improvement is that it comes with a descaling function. Essentially, the K55 self-cleans itself and breaks down any accumulations of calcium. This feature may have a hand in the reports of improved taste.

The K55 brews coffee very loudly in comparison to the K50. Although the K55 improves ease of use functions considerably. The operation buttons are easier to press on the K55 than the K50. Both the K50 and K55 have removable drip trays that are easy to clean. The K55 boasts two water filters over the K50. From personal experience, I must say that coffee tastes better and has a stronger flavor when brewed in the K55 versus the K50.

My K50 does get clogged every once in a while. I actually had to buy a special de-clogging device from Keurig to deal with it. I have not had any clogging issues with the K55 yet.

The Verdict

In all honesty, unless you have breakdown issues with your K50 model, either one is fine to have. The biggest differences the K55 boasts over the K50 is the descaling feature and a better tasting cup of coffee.

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Allen Francis

Allen Francis was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years with no money, no financial literacy, and no responsibility when he had money. To him, the phrase “personal finance,” contains the power that anyone has to grow their own wealth. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including focusing on your needs instead of your wants, asking for help when you need it, saving and investing in your own small business.