Keurig Slim vs Mini
As one of the pioneers of high-quality compact coffee makers, Keurig offers a variety of high-performing machines that are designed to be stored easily and fit in even the tightest spaces of your kitchen counter space. In this review of the Keurig Slim vs Mini, you’ll be presented with the key information that makes each of these slim and space-efficient coffee machines unique.
By comparing the features, benefits, and pitfalls of each coffee maker, you’ll be equipped with the right knowledge and tools to decide whether the Keurig K Slim or Keurig K Mini is right for you. To make the purchasing process easier, you can also find links to Amazon’s online store where you’ll be able to read real customer reviews and purchase either of these machines at an affordable price.
By the end of the article, you will understand the similarities, differences, and unique features of each machine, allowing you to weigh up your options between the K Slim vs Mini vs Mini Plus coffee makers.
What is Keurig Slim?
The Keurig K Slim is a single-serve coffee machine that uses gentle pump pressure to extract the optimal flavor from a K-Cup and deliver the best results with the enclosed coffee grounds.
At just 5-inches wide and 12-inches tall, the K Slim is one of the most compact Keurig machines on offer and even comes with cord storage to make it one of the most convenient coffee makers available as well. This item also comes with a 46 oz removable water reservoir, removable drip tray, and energy saver auto-0ff function.
At the push of a button, the Keurig K Slim delivers 8, 10, or 12 ounces of coffee per cup, making it ideal for those seeking a larger cup of coffee. This machine also comes with a 1-year warranty by Keurig and is available in a variety of colors including black, red, and white.
What is Mini?
The K Mini is Keurig’s most compact single-serve coffee maker coming in at 12.1 x 6 x 11.3-inches in dimensions and comprising a lightweight construction using minimal “virgin” plastic that is eco-friendly and promotes sustainability. This machine comes with a single-cup water tank that must be refilled with every use.
While it does not come with a removable water reservoir, its successor model the Keurig K Mini Plus does, so you’ll want to consider both machines in this series.
The K Mini series offers brew sizes between 6-12 ounces per cup so that there is a size for all kinds of coffee lovers. As with all Keurig coffee machines, the K Mini and K Mini Plus use K-Cup pods to deliver fresh coffee by applying gentle pressure to the enclosed coffee grounds to extract the optimal flavors and aromas for a delicious coffee at the push of a button.
Keep in mind, however, that the Mini coffee makers do not have dedicated buttons for its brew sizes, meaning you must accurately insert the correct amount of fresh or tap water so as the brewer will automatically use everything in the water tank. Fortunately, there are measuring labels included on the water reservoir for easy and accurate measuring.
How are they different?
The key difference between the Keurig K Slim vs K Mini series is the product dimensions which inadvertently gives each machine the platform to sport some unique features. For example, the slightly taller K Slim model allows the machine to use a 46 oz removable water tank in its design, allowing the user to brew up to 4 cups of coffee before a refill is needed.
In a similar way, the K Mini and K Mini Plus use a smaller one-cup reservoir that requires refilling with each brew, as you can only brew a maximum of 12 ounces of coffee per cycle. Along with that, the other most notable difference is the cup sizes available to each machine.
Both the K Slim and the K Mini can brew 8, 10, and 12 ounces of coffee, but the K Mini goes a step further and offers a 6 oz cup size as well, making it the more abundant option in that regard. In terms of pod storage, only the Keurig K Mini Plus has a pod storage container, while the K Slim and K Mini models require you to dispose of the K-Cup pod after every use.
How are they similar?
Other than those differences outlined above, the K Slim and K Mini are actually very similar. Both coffee makers are 5-inches wide and come with a convenient cord storage mechanism that makes it easy to position the machine anywhere on your kitchen counter space or store it away in the pantry as needed.
As with any Keurig coffee maker, both these machines use K-Cups to produce coffee and are not compatible with Nespresso capsules or direct pre-ground coffee without a pod. Additionally, the K Slim and K Mini come with removable drip trays that make them easy to clean via dishwasher or under the sink, and also accommodate taller travel mugs for coffee on the go.
Other similarities include an over-ice option for brewing iced coffee, the same 1-year product warranty by Keurig, and the ability to brew 8, 10, and 12 cups of coffee at the push of a button.
What’s better about Keurig Slim?
Perhaps the most obvious advantage of the Keurig Slim over the K Mini is the larger water reservoir of 46 oz that is also removable for convenient refilling and cleaning maintenance. This means you can enjoy 4 cups of coffee per water cycle before a water refill of the tank is required, making it less maintenance heavy than the one-cup reservoir of the K Mini line.
The other benefit of the K Slim over the K Mini is its taller design, which means you can accommodate taller travel mugs that are greater in height than the maximum that you could use for the Mini.
Finally, the Keurig Slim provides a descale light and an add water light that alerts you when there are maintenance tasks at hand, adding to the overall convenience of the user’s experience.
What’s better about Mini?
The Mini excels when it comes to its incredibly compact construction and lightweight design, able to easily be transported around your home and even be taken on trips.
In terms of more clear-cut advantages it has over the K Slim, the K Mini and K Mini Plus come with an additional 6 oz brew button that enables one extra cup size over the K Slim, making it more appealing for those who prefer a smaller cup.
Additionally, as far as the K Mini Plus goes, you also get a 9 pod storage container that further reduces maintenance each time you brew.
While it does come at an additional cost, the K Mini Plus’s extra benefits stretch long and far, so you’ll want to seriously consider it if you’ve decided to pursue a Mini model.
Who should get Keurig Slim?
The Keurig K Slim suits customers who prefer less maintenance when brewing so that they do not have to constantly refill the water tank each time they brew. It would also suit those who own a taller travel mug as the extra few millimeters in height give it a slight advantage in this area over the K Mini and K Mini Plus.
Furthermore, if you are more likely to drink cups of 8 ounces or more regularly then you should consider the K Slim as it cannot brew below this amount.
On a final note, the K Slim would highly suit people who need to be reminded when maintenance duties call, as the K Slim provides indicator lights for when adding water or descaling the machine are mandated.
Who should get Mini?
The Mini suits any lover of compact coffee machines who perhaps have limited space in their kitchen counter top area or simply enjoy the idea of easily moving and transporting their coffee maker.
The K Mini also provides a 6 oz cup size, so for those who enjoy a smaller cup of coffee then this is something to consider. For pod compartment capabilities, you will want to go for the K Mini Plus model as it allows you to store up to 9 K-Cup pods before emptying it out.
Additionally, the K Mini Plus model allows for stronger brews using the strong brew button available on the control panel. Moreover, the lack of a multi-cup water reservoir means you need to be okay with filling up the water tank with every use.
The K Mini is also one of the most affordable machines of all Keurig coffee makers, so it would highly suit anyone on a budget who is looking for a good deal.
Features
Brew Options
While both the K Slim and the K Mini can brew cup sizes of 8, 10, and 12 oz, only the Mini line of products can also brew the 4 oz size. In terms of programmable options, neither of these two coffee makers have customizable features so you are limited to the provided brewing capacity of each respective machine. This means you cannot control the temperature or strength of the K Mini or K Slim, however the K Mini Plus does come with a strong brew button that enables a bolder, richer cup of coffee. Hence, the additional 6 oz cup size combined with the included strong brew button makes the K Mini line the winner on this occasion.
Winner: Mini
Water Reservoir
The K Slim’s water tank is 46 ounces in size meaning you can brew multiple cups of coffee (4 to be precise) before a refill of the water tank is needed. This water tank is also removable, making it easier to refill with fresh water and clean using the dishwasher or handwash as preferred. The Mini coffee maker comes in at 12 oz in size, meaning it can only brew one cup per cycle, requiring a refill after every brew. In terms of its removability status, the K Mini’s reservoir cannot be removed while the K Mini Plus’ one can, so keep this in mind. Overall, due to the extra size of the K Slim over the K Mini models, it takes the win for this feature.
Winner: Keurig Slim
Drip Tray
These two machines come with removable drip trays that can accommodate a tall travel mug once detached, allowing its users to brew coffee for the road as they head out to work or other. The only difference between these drip trays is the pattern of the drainage holes, with the K Slim using horizontal lines with a full circle in the center, while the K Mini uses a spread of small individual circular holes to drain its liquids. Moreover, the K Mini Plus differs once again by having a drainage pattern design similar to the K Slim but using vertical lines instead of horizontal. In general, it can be harder to clean a large clump of individual little holes than a few horizontal or vertical lines, so the K Mini can be ruled out on this occasion. Thus, it comes down to the K Slim vs K Mini Plus, and while both offer a good drainage system with their drip trays, but the winner will have to go to the K Slim purely because of its taller design which creates even more room for even taller travel cups to brew.
Winner: Keurig Slim
Control Panel
Both the K Slim and K Mini models come with a big K button that commences the brewing process upon operation. However, important to note is that the K Slim offers 3 buttons for its brew sizes including 8, 10, and 12 oz options while the K Mini and K Mini Plus are devoid of such options, despite having more cup sizes to choose from.
This is because the K Mini models work by using all of the water in the water tank, meaning you control the size based on how much water you insert. For this reason alone, the K Slim has the better control panel. But to add salt to the wound the K Slim also comes with maintenance indicator lights to notify you when it’s time to descale or add water, while the K Mini does not include this feature. Hence, the Keurig Slim is the clear winner in this contest of control panel designs and functionality.
Winner: Keurig Slim
Storage Capacities
Both these compact coffee machines come with cord storage features that makes it easier to compress your machine for effortless storage in your pantry or equivalent space. As far as po storage goes, either the K Slim nor the K Mini coffee maker can store K-Cups after brewing, meaning you will have to dispose of your K-Cup after every brew.
However, should you opt for the K Mini Plus version, you will be equipped with a solid 9-pod storage container that allows you to enjoy 9 cups of coffee before emptying out the compartment is necessary. Thus, the K Mini line wins the contest of pod storage simply because of the K Mini Plus’ ability to provide this feature, despite its smaller size than the K Slim.
Winner: Mini
Check out our Best Keurig K Cup Storage Ideas
Keurig Slim vs Mini FAQ
What’s the difference between Keurig Mini and Slim?
The main difference between the Keurig K Mini and K Slim is the size of their water tanks and the brew options available to each machine. Essentially, the K Slim comes with a removable 46 oz water tank while the Mini comes with a 12 oz water tank which, if you purchase the Mini Plus edition, can also be removed. Both machines are compatible with the same K-Cup pods.
Does Keurig Mini use same size pods?
Yes, the Keurig K Mini and K Mini Plus are both compatible with same size pods, meaning you can enjoy fresh-brewed coffee using your own coffee grounds or your own beans provided they are grinded and encapsulated in an appropriately sized coffee pod. Most Keurig models including entry level Keurig machines have this feature available.
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