Battle of the Single-Cup Coffee Makers: Verismo vs. Keurig

Verismo and Keurig have single cup brewing systems. In this comparative review of Verismo vs. Keurig, we will discuss not just which machine makes the better cup of coffee, but also versatility, pod selection, and cost-per-single cup of coffee. These factors are important because you are going to be stuck with your machine’s coffee pods for as long as you have your brewer. Read through this review to familiarize yourself with both brands.

Keurig

Keurig machines use their very own K-Cups to make single-serve tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. These tea/coffee pods are made of plastic covered on top by foil pierced through by needles during the brewing process. Keurig formed partnerships with popular beverage brands for their K-cups like Green Mountain, Donut Shop, Folgers, Tully’s, Caribou, Celestial Seasonings, Twinings, and Starbucks. You can enjoy different Starbucks coffee blends and Tazo teas along with more than 200 other varieties of K-cups are sold in the market today. Keurig machines utilize pressure-based brewing systems and can make a single-serve cup of beverage in less than a minute. The machine’s brewing settings are partly set by the user unlike in other brands. The machines are sold at a price of $80-$200+. The cost per serving of beverage is $0.75 to $2.00 per cup. The cost of K-cups decreases as the number of pieces you buy increases. So it is better to buy K-cups in bulk. K-cups trump Verismo pods when it comes to price. This is another factor you must consider especially since these machines are for the long haul. Keurig machines need to undergo periodic cleaning that takes approximately 10-minutes. Keurig machines, if properly used and maintained, can last up to 5 years while K-cups can keep its freshness up to 18 months.

Verismo

Starbucks Verismo is a small machine with features to boot. Starbucks’ brewing machine has an adjustable drip tray with a detachable riser. This feature enables you to adjust the drip tray’s height so you can put your smaller cup closer to the drip nozzle or detach the riser so you can position your taller cups. The minimalism of the machine’s design is beneficial to user experience. There are just four intuitive buttons; power button on top, and one button for every kind of Verismo pod. Coffee has the black cup button, milk has the white cup, and espresso has the small cup button. This minimalism works so well because you can only make Starbucks coffee, Starbucks latte, or a Starbucks espresso of your favorite Starbucks blend, such as Blonde, House Blend, French Roast etc. Sadly, you’re stuck with 2% milk pods for your lattes. The Verismo has a fast heat up time of 8 seconds so you can make one cup after another in a breeze. Making a cup of coffee takes 57 seconds, while a shot of espresso is ready in 13 seconds. If you're making a milk-based beverage that requires a milk pod, just add 32 seconds. The Verismo has an internal receptacle for used pods. This can store up to 10 used pods. Every so often, you’ll need to empty and clean the bay, which can be tricky due to its concave and narrow shape making it tough to reach deep inside with a washcloth or sponge. To ensure the purity of your brew, Starbucks recommends cleaning the machine’s inner parts between brews. Just run a pod-free espresso cycle and the machine will rinse itself. The Verismo will set you back $90-$200+. Verismo pods cost more than K-cups with each serving costing you $1.00 to $2.00 depending on the type of coffee you’re brewing. Some of the drawbacks of Verismo is its lack of visible temperature control and its inability to accommodate your travel mug under its drip nozzle. Not to mention the obviously limited pod variety.

In the face-off between Verismo vs. Keurig, the latter is the clear market leader with its enormous variety of K-cups, but the former makes better coffee that’s so close to what baristas serve you in-store. Keurig will win your vote if you prefer variety and less cost over consistent taste and quality. But if you are an avid Starbucks coffee lover, then Verismo is the best coffee companion for you.