Keurig K-Slim K900 Single Serve coffee maker: Full Review

The Keurig K-Slim K900 is a single-serve pod coffee maker that brews coffee, tea, and other beverages in under a minute. Part of Keurig's slim design line, the K-Slim K900 features a space-saving profile that's less than 5 inches wide, making it an ideal choice for small kitchens or apartments where counter space is limited. Despite its compact size, it can hold up to 12 ounces of water and brew cups in 6, 8, 10, and 12 ounce sizes. The K-Slim K900 uses Keurig's K-Cup pods which contain pre-portioned coffee, tea, or cocoa grounds, allowing you to brew a fresh customized cup quickly. With a 46 ounce removable water reservoir, the K-Slim K900 allows brewing multiple cups before refilling. Overall, it provides fast and convenient single-cup brewing in a slim, space-saving design.

Design

The Keurig K-Slim K900 single serve coffee maker has a slim and sleek design that doesn't take up much counter space. It measures 10.6 x 6.6 x 12.3 inches and weighs 7.35 pounds, making it compact enough to fit in most kitchens.

The K900 comes in three different colors - black, red, and white - so you can choose the one that best matches your kitchen decor. The exterior housing is made of plastic while the drip tray is stainless steel. Despite the plastic exterior, the coffee maker still feels sturdy and durable.

One unique design feature is the detachable reservoir that slides into the back of the machine. You can remove it to easily refill it with water and then slide it back into place. The 46 oz reservoir has markings on the side so you can see the water level at a glance.

Overall, the slim and sleek profile combined with the detachable reservoir makes this an attractive and space-saving single serve coffee maker. The design focuses on functionality and ease of use while still adding style to your countertop.

Another excellent option is the Keurig K-Elite, which offers a premium brewing experience with features like strong brew, iced coffee capability, and customizable brewing settings. Its sleek and stylish design also complements modern kitchens while providing flexibility for coffee lovers.

Features

The Keurig K-Slim K900 offers a variety of useful features for brewing single serve coffee. Some of the key features include:

• Brew Sizes: The K-Slim brews 3 cup sizes - 6oz, 10oz, and 12oz. This allows you to brew a cup, mug, or travel tumbler. The brew sizes are adjustable via buttons on the top of the brewer.

• Reservoir Capacity: The 40oz removable water reservoir lets you brew 3-4 cups before needing a refill. The reservoir is easy to remove, fill up, and snap back into place.

• Strength Control: You can control the strength and boldness of your coffee by pressing the strong brew button. This slows down the flow rate for bolder flavor extraction.

• Auto-Off: An auto-off feature turns the brewer off after 2 hours of inactivity. This helps conserve energy when not in use.

The combination of adjustable brew sizes, generous reservoir capacity, strength control, and auto-off make the K-Slim's features practical for everyday use. For those who prefer a burr grinder and want a fresh brew, the Cuisinart DGB-2 is an excellent option. This model offers a built-in grinder, ensuring that each cup is brewed with fresh coffee grounds, enhancing flavor and aroma. It's perfect for coffee lovers seeking convenience without sacrificing quality.

Brew Performance

The Keurig K-Slim K900 brews a cup of coffee in under a minute, which is quite fast for a single serve pod brewer. The brewing temperature reaches the optimal range between 190-205°F to properly extract coffee flavors from the grounds.

The flavor produced is consistently good across various pod varieties - robust and aromatic for dark roasts and smooth yet bright for light roasts. The 10 oz cup size results in a balanced, full-bodied coffee with pleasant tasting notes coming through. While you won't get an espresso-style crema on the coffee, there is a nice foaminess on the surface.

Overall, the brew performance is solid, quickly producing a high quality cup of coffee with good temperature and nice flavor. The K-Slim delivers a satisfying brew comparable to more expensive Keurig models.

Ease of Use

The K-Slim has a very straightforward and intuitive design focused on simplicity. There are only two buttons on the entire machine - the power button up top, and a brew button below the display.

The display is small but provides the key information needed like heating up, ready to brew, and descale reminders. It's very easy to understand at a quick glance.

Loading a pod is effortless - just lift the top lid and drop it in. The pods drop cleanly into place every time. Accessing the water reservoir is also hassle-free. Just lift the lid on the back of the machine and you can easily fill it up.

The one button operation makes brewing incredibly simple. Just insert a pod, close the lid, press the brew button and you're good to go. Overall, the K-Slim provides an uncomplicated user experience that focuses on convenience. Everything is designed to be quick and easy for the user.

Noise

The Keurig K-Slim K900 coffee maker operates at a reasonable noise level that should not disturb most users. When brewing a cup of coffee, the machine produces a humming sound comparable to a quiet refrigerator. The noise increases slightly when the K-Slim is heating up the water or pumping it through the K-Cup pod, but it is not excessively loud or disruptive.

Some users may notice light whirring sounds from the internal pump and mechanisms while brewing. However, the noise level remains similar to other popular single-serve coffee makers on the market. It is quiet enough for an office or shared living space. You can carry on a conversation nearby or listen to music/TV without the Keurig K-Slim overpowering the audio.

The noise level is loudest right at the moment it finishes brewing a cup. The machinery sounds intensify briefly as the last bit of coffee flows into the mug. But the noise dissipates quickly back to a quiet hum within 10-15 seconds. Overall, most users should find the Keurig K-Slim K900 coffee maker satisfies their needs for a quiet, reasonably unobtrusive machine. It operates at noise levels comparable to other popular single-serve pod coffee makers.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The Keurig K-Slim K900 is relatively low maintenance but does require occasional cleaning and descaling to keep it running optimally.

Descaling

Descaling helps remove mineral deposits that can build up in the internal components over time. Keurig recommends descaling every 3-6 months depending on your water hardness. The descaling process takes about 30 minutes and involves filling the water reservoir with descaling solution, running hot water cycles, and rinsing thoroughly. Keurig provides descaling solution or you can use white vinegar.

Cleaning

The drip tray, water reservoir, and K-Cup pod holder can all be removed for easy cleaning. The K-Cup pod holder just needs a rinse under running water. The reservoir and drip tray should be cleaned periodically with a damp, soapy cloth to prevent mold or mineral buildup. Avoid submerging the coffee maker in water.

Maintenance

The K900 doesn't require much regular maintenance. Keeping the exterior housing clean, descaling and cleaning the parts mentioned will keep your single-serve coffee maker running smoothly. The water filter may need periodic replacement every 2-3 months if you use it.

Pros

• Compact Size: The K-Slim K900 has a very slim and compact design that takes up minimal counter space. At just 10.2 inches wide, it can easily fit in tight spaces and smaller kitchens. The slim profile makes it easy to tuck away or store when not in use.

• Fast Brew Time: Thanks to Keurig's K-Cup pod brewing system, the K900 delivers a fast brew time of under one minute. The brewer heats the water and flows it over the pod quickly, so you can get your morning coffee fast without waiting. The speed is ideal for caffeine addicts who want their java fix ASAP.

• Strong Brew: The K900 brews a consistently strong, bold cup of coffee. The brewer fully saturates and extracts flavor from the K-Cup pod to produce a robust, intense coffee that isn't weak or watery. The strength is perfect for those who like a powerful, eye-opening coffee to start their day.

Cons

The Keurig K-Slim K900 has a few drawbacks to consider:

• Small water reservoir - The water reservoir only holds 9 cups of water, which is on the smaller side for single serve coffee makers. This means you'll have to refill it more frequently, which can be inconvenient.

• No temperature control - There is no way to adjust the brew temperature on the K-Slim. The default temperature may produce coffee that is not hot enough for some users who prefer piping hot coffee.

• Noise - The brewing process is fairly loud on the K-Slim. The noise level can be an annoyance early in the morning when you're trying not to wake others in your household. Some users find the noise excessive.

The small water reservoir capacity, lack of brew temperature customization, and noisy operation are notable downsides of the K-Slim K900 that users should factor into their buying decision. While it excels in simplicity and speed, the lack of some key features for coffee enthusiast make this model less than ideal.

Verdict

The Keurig K-Slim K900 is a solid choice for an affordable single-serve coffee maker that produces consistent, good tasting coffee. It has a slim profile that doesn't take up much counter space, making it a great option for small kitchens or offices.

The brewer heats up quickly and brews coffee, tea, hot cocoa and iced beverages in under a minute. The multi-stream technology helps extract full flavor from pods. The 46 oz removable water reservoir is easy to fill and lasts several brews before needing a refill.

While the K-Slim lacks some of the bells and whistles of higher end Keurig models, it nails the basics. It doesn't have a programmable timer or temperature control, but it does have 3 brew size options. The drip tray is not adjustable to accommodate travel mugs, which is one drawback.

Overall, the K-Slim K900 delivers solid performance and convenience in a compact package. For the attractive price point, it's a worthwhile single-serve coffee maker that provides tasty drinks on demand. The simplicity and speed of the K-Slim make it a great choice for someone wanting a no-fuss morning coffee ritual.