Which Is Better? Tested & Reviewed

Coffee and espresso drinkers have notoriously strong opinions about their brewing method of choice. And for those who prefer their drinks made one cup at a time, those opinions are often in the camps of Nespresso or Keurig. Whether you love Nespresso for their milk frothers or Keurig for their app-capable products, if you’ve used either line before, chances are you have an opinion. And if you haven’t tried either, you likely want to know which makes a tastier cup of joe, which is a better gift, which is easier to use, and what machine will best suit your own kitchen or office.

To find out whether Keurig or Nespresso makes the better single-serve coffee maker, we conducted a wide range of tests with products from each. Looking at ease of use, design features, and, of course, what the resulting drinks tasted like, we have done the hard work of sussing out which of these machines are worth your investment so you don't have to. Read on to learn everything you need to know about these product lines and which was our favorite.  

Key Specs

• More Affordable Machines: Keurig
• More Affordable Pods: Keurig
• Better Coffee: Nespresso
• Better Frother: Nespresso
• Better For Cafe-Style Drinks: Nespresso
• Better for Espresso: Nespresso
• More Pod Variety: Keurig
• Our Overall Pick: Nespresso

What We Love About Each Brand

What We Love About Nespresso:  

Frothy drinks and simple cups of coffee are easy for even beginners to make with Nespresso’s machines. They’re the better choice if you prefer cafe-style lattes and cappuccinos, as some have built-in milk frothers, and for those that don’t, you can purchase one separately. All models of Nespresso machines come with a two-year warranty, so you can feel safe as you get to know your machine. Featuring their own branded pods of coffee, Nespresso is known for their compact designs that fit nearly anywhere and for accessories like pod-holders that take up little counter or wall space. Drinks can be made in only a minute or two, and the machines produce consistent and delicious results. 

What We Love About Keurig: 

More for lovers of coffee, tea, and hot chocolate than cafe beverages, Keurig is known for its straightforward approach to coffee making. It’s an affordable option, and you can brew different strengths of your drinks depending on what water level you choose. They even have a smart coffee maker that can be controlled via an app, as well as machines with carafe options for people who want to brew larger quantities of drinks at once. Keurig notoriously teams up with brands like Green Mountain (with Kevin Costner) and more for collaborations to bring their customers new flavors. Practical and affordable, you can find endless options of drinks made for Keurig in pods, known as K-Cups, and there are recycling options available for people concerned about the environmental impact. There are even reusable K-Cups that you can use to brew single-serve portions of your own favorite coffee grounds, so the options really are endless.

Who Makes the Better Single-Serve Coffee Maker?

When you want a single cup of coffee, the ease of use and the taste of the resulting drink are paramount. We compared the Nespresso Vertuo Plus, Keurig K-Supreme Plus, Nespresso Lattissima One, and Keurig K-Cafe Single Serve side by side, conducting the same tests for each, to discern which was better. For the Vertuo Plus, we appreciated how consistent the coffee tasted and how easy the buttons were to read; and for the Lattissima One, we loved that making a latte only took a single minute and that a single espresso shot could be produced in only 20 seconds. When it came to Keurig products, we loved the large water reservoir, brew size options, and navigable control panel on the K-Supreme Plus. As for the K-Cafe, we appreciated the dishwasher-safe parts and included milk frother.

Overall, Nespresso won out for the taste of its single-serve beverages. We found the results to be stronger than Keurig, and we liked that it was so fast to make a more complex drink. While Keurig performed well and both brands were easy to use and to clean, the dependable taste of Nespresso usually placed it higher on our list. 

Our Top Picks:

With a preferable design to the base model Vertuo, the Plus offers coffee and both single and double shots of espresso. The petite design is incredibly straightforward to use, and you can maneuver the water tank as needed so it best fits a specific spot on your counter. The automatic capsule dispenser holds 17 Nespresso pods, meaning you won’t have to refill it often. While it only uses Vertuo pods, there are over 30 different flavors available, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find one that’s to your taste. 

Brew Sizes: 1, 2, 5, and 8 ounces | Reservoir Capacity: 40 ounces | Built-in Frother: No

Available in numerous finishes, such as slate and charcoal, this machine has a large 78-ounce reservoir so you can make several drinks before refilling it. We liked that the dials were easy to read in any kind of light, thanks to how they are backlit. It takes just over one minute to brew a cup of coffee, and the machine is quiet, too. We preferred the “strong” setting for a more full-bodied cup, and we appreciated that no sediment was left behind in the filter.  

Brew Sizes: 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces | Reservoir Capacity: 78 ounces | Built-in Frother: No

Made for those who love a cafe beverage, the included milk frother on this Nespresso machine can even be used on its own if desired. Its speed is a key perk as well: It only takes a single minute to craft a latte, and with just the touch of a button. The measurement marks on the milk container are easy to read, too, and the compact design means it will take up much less counter space than a standard espresso machine. A single shot of espresso will be ready in just 20 seconds, so you can always get your next shot quickly. 

Brew Sizes: 1 and 2 ounces | Reservoir Capacity: 37 ounces | Built-in Frother: Yes 

Simple enough for anyone to use, we appreciated that not only does this machine make a cafe beverage quickly, but it also has a dishwasher-safe frother. That means cleaning won’t take you much time, and it works with both dairy and non-dairy milk. You can brew up to a 12-ounce cup of coffee or opt for a smaller shot to make a latte or cappuccino with the included milk frother. There’s also a strong brew option, which we preferred for its more prominent flavor. 

Brew Sizes: 6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces | Reservoir Capacity: 60 ounces | Built-in Frother: Yes

For those who love a straightforward cup of coffee or an espresso shot, this machine lets you have a smaller or larger cup and a single or double shot. The lid requires just a small tap to close, and the flavor of the coffee remained consistent across different settings. There’s a capsule assortment included with each purchase so that you can try out different options to find the right flavor for you. Similar to the D’Longhi model, this one requires Vertuo pods. 

Brew Sizes: 1, 2, 5, and 8 ounces | Reservoir Capacity: 60 ounces | Built-in Frother: No

An affordable option for most people, this pared-down Keurig is for anyone seeking a simple cup of coffee. It features three brewing sizes and has options for both a stronger brew and high-altitude brewing. Thanks to the placement of the water tank, it’s very narrow and can easily fit in small spaces. We liked the simple, easy to read dials and how basic the instructions for use were. If you don’t want the disposable plastic K-Cups, you can purchase a reusable cup and fill it with the ground coffee of your choosing. 

Brew Sizes: 8, 10, and 12 ounces | Reservoir Capacity: 42 ounces | Built-in Frother: No

This Nespresso machine gives you the versatility of both espresso and coffee, making for a total of five brewing options. It’s quite lightweight, and the smaller water tank makes it more likely to fit in tight spaces. Heating up in just 30 seconds, we found that it takes about a minute for an espresso shot and a minute and a half for a cup of coffee. As with the other Nespresso machines we tested, we appreciated the stability in flavor with the Vertuo pods across brew sizes.

Brew Sizes: 1, 2, 5, 8, and 12 ounces | Reservoir Capacity: 37 ounces | Built-in Frother: No

A big step away from just coffee making for Keurig, the K-Cafe Smart doesn’t just make lattes and cappuccinos, it also lets you control it via Wi-Fi. The app will provide instructions for all your beverage options, and there are many customizable settings. Those include brew strength, water temperature, and brew size. Additionally, there is a filter to remove impurities from your water, which is particularly beneficial if using tap water. We did have some challenges setting up the machine with the app, but it offers added convenience if you prefer a smart appliance.  

Brew Sizes: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces | Reservoir Capacity: 37 ounces | Built-in Frother: Yes

How We Tested Keurig and Nespresso Machines

We focused on four main categories for testing Keurig and Nespresso machines: brewing, special brewing, cleaning, and, most importantly, taste tests. We looked at the features of each model and how easy (or not) they were to use, what the overall performance was like, how quickly the drinks were brewed, and what the cleaning experience was like. We considered factors such as how many seconds or minutes each machine took to heat up before it could be used, whether the selected settings yielded the correct volumes of liquid, and what the coffee and espresso tasted like in the end.

For machines with milk frothers, we made drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos and factored in what the steamed milk was like, how long it took to froth it, and how dependable the results were. Lastly, we used our testing results to decide whether each product felt worth its cost, how we felt about the drinks it created, and which machines stood out in their performance. 

The Verdict: Which Brand Is Better?

Keurig and Nespresso both have their strengths, but our overall choice for which brand makes the best single-serve coffee maker is Nespresso. While Keurig has come a long way in its offerings and even offers smart features on some models now, the strength and taste of the coffee brewed by Keurig machines wasn't on par with that of Nespresso.

We preferred the taste of Nespresso pods over that of Keurig cups, too, and we found their flavors to be more reliable. Both product lines are easy to use, and we liked the frothing abilities for some of Keurig’s offerings that make cappuccinos and lattes, but the results with Nespresso were much more reliable.  

More Products We Love From Nespresso and Keurig

We loved the texture of the frothed milk from this machine, which is a top choice if you have the budget to spare for it. The chrome finish is lovely, and the drip tray adjusts to accommodate assorted coffee and espresso cup sizes. We did think the instructions could be clearer, though. 

Perfect for anyone who wants the option of either a single-serve cup or a full carafe, we found the instructions very straightforward for this Keurig model. It was easy to set up and comes with an insert for a charcoal filter, which needs to be purchased separately. You can program it to make a pot up to a day in advance, too. 

This specific set of Nespresso pods was designed for those who prefer milk or cream in their coffee. We found it to be rich and strong, and we enjoyed it both with milk and without. Because it’s made to have milk added, you may find it to be on the bitter side though. 

Another great choice for both single-serve and full pot options, this Keurig can brew anything from a six-ounce cup to a six-cup pot. There’s a fine mesh filter included for carafe brewing, as well as a coffee spoon for measuring. However, we did find the coffee to be on the thin side. 

Looking for a separate milk frother? We loved the tight foam of the Nespresso Aeroccino 4. It was smooth and pourable, and it didn’t deflate quickly. We found it easy to clean, and we loved that it made cold foam just as well as it made hot foam. Plus, if you enjoy making latte art, the foam from this frother is the perfect texture for that. 

Our Expertise

Contributor Ariane Resnick is a special diet chef, certified nutritionist, and bestselling author. She has written for platforms such as Simply Recipes, The Spruce Eats, Allrecipes, Huffington Post, and Health. For this piece, she reviewed the results of over a dozen Nespresso and Keurig tests and researched the companies’ offerings.