I just tested the Keurig K-Duo Hot & Iced — and it's a killer 2-in-1 coffee maker

We drink a lot of coffee in my household, and I like the convenience of having a Keurig for one-off beverages in the afternoon. However, we simply can’t live without a full-size drip coffee maker for our morning cup(s) of joe, either, which means we have two coffee machines on the counter, taking up quite a bit of space. So when I saw the new K-Duo Hot & Iced Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker, which can make both drip coffee and single-serving K-cup drinks, I knew it would be a gamechanger for our kitchen.

This second-generation version of the K-Duo is even more versatile than the original. It’s able to brew four sizes of single-serving drinks, including both hot and iced beverages, and it’s equipped with the brand’s MultiStream technology, which delivers more flavor and aroma. It also has an easy-to-use control panel and a larger water reservoir for less frequent refills.

To see if this two-in-one coffee maker is worth it for all the coffee lovers out there, I put it to the test for several weeks, using it daily to brew coffee and other drinks. Here’s what I liked about it and whether I’ll be keeping it in my kitchen.

Keurig K-Duo Hot & Iced: Price and availability

The new second-gen K-Duo has an MSRP of $199.99, but you can often find it on sale for significantly less. It’s currently available through the Keurig website for $129.99, and if you purchase via the brand, you’ll get two free boxes of K-cups with it. You can also find the K-Duo at other major retailers, including Target, Walmart, and Kohl’s, and you may want to shop around a bit, as the machine’s sale price often varies by store.

Keurig K-Duo Hot & Iced: Features

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The K-Duo Coffee Maker has a two-in-one design that has a single-serve brewer on one side and a glass carafe for drip brewing on the other. The single-serve side can make both hot or iced drinks, using the brand’s relatively new MultiStream technology, and it has four beverage sizes: 6, 8, 10, or 12-ounces.

This side of the machine works like a classic Keurig, accepting K-cups and other single-serve drink pods, and it has buttons for extra-hot or strong brewing .

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The carafe side of the machine, on the other hand, operates like a regular drip coffee maker. It uses basket-style coffee filters (the ones with flat bottoms), and you can use your regular coffee grounds in it. You’re able to brew 6, 8, 10 or 12 cups at a time, and just like when you’re making a single cup, the machine automatically pulls the necessary amount of water from the machine’s 72-ounce reservoir.

The coffee is brewed into a glass carafe, and it sits on a hot plate that keeps the pot warm for up to two hours. You can also program this side of the coffee maker to brew up to 24 hours in advance, so a fresh pot of joe will be waiting for you when you get up in the morning.

Keurig K-Duo Hot & Iced: Design

In terms of appearance, the K-Duo basically looks like Keurig took a K-Mini and attached it to the side of a regular coffee pot. There’s a lever on top of the single-serve side that lets you put in K-cups, and there’s a larger basket over the carafe where you load in filters and coffee grounds. Both sides of the appliance share a control panel, and you choose to make a single pod or a carafe using buttons with little icons on them.

Because of its dual-sided design, this Keurig is a bit larger than many others, measuring roughly 13 inches wide and 11 inches deep. Its 72-ounce water reservoir is located on the back of the unit, spanning the entire width of the machine. The reservoir has a lip around the upper edge that lets you lift it off to refill, but it’s a bit awkward to do, especially if the machine is at the back of your counter. I much prefer models like the K-Supreme, which have an easy-to-grasp handle on their water reservoir.

It’s also worth noting that while this machine can be outfitted with a water filter, you have to purchase one separately. These accessories are typically included with most Keurig models, so I thought it was strange that this machine doesn’t have one.

Keurig K-Duo Hot & Iced: Performance

To see how the second-generation K-Duo performed, I tested it over the course of several weeks. In addition to using it to make my daily cup(s) of coffee, I also ran a few specific tests to measure brew time and temperature to see how it compares to other Keurig models.

Single-Serve Drinks

As you’d expect from a Keurig, it’s quick and easy to make single-serving drinks with the K-Duo. All you have to do is pop in a K-cup (or other compatible coffee pod), select the drink size you want, and hit the big “K” button to start brewing. There’s a special button for brewing iced drinks, which lowers the water temperature to help stop your ice from melting too much, and there are also buttons if you want an extra-hot drink or a stronger brew.

My partner and I used the single-serve side of this coffee maker daily for several weeks, brewing coffee, as well as specialty K-cups like chai lattes and hot chocolate. When brewing an 8-ounce drink, the Keurig takes 10 seconds to warm up and start dispensing, and around 60 seconds from start to finish to brew the whole drink. On its normal setting, it registers at 58-60 decibels during the brew cycle, making it a fairly quite model, and the coffee is around 165 degrees Fahrenheit—fairly average among Keurigs we’ve tested. On its strong setting, the brewing takes a bit longer—70 seconds total—and if you select the extra-hot option, the drink is slightly warmer, at around 170 degrees.

I also tested out the machine’s “brew over ice” setting, which is one of the features that sets it apart from the original K-Duo. The brand notes that this setting brews at a lower temperature to help prevent ice from melting, and true to claim, the drink came out at 145 degrees. However, this is still pretty hot and I found that it usually melts around 50% of the ice, which can lead to a watered-down taste. It’s ok if you just want an iced drink once in a while, but if you’re a dedicated iced coffee drinker, the brand’s new K-Brew+Chill does a much better job brewing flavorful iced beverages.

Carafe Brewing

It took a little bit of trial and error to get the results I wanted while brewing in this machine’s carafe. You’ll need filters to line the basket—the brand recommends 12-cup basket-style filters—as well as a scoop to measure your coffee grounds, as the machine doesn’t come with one. The directions recommend 1 tablespoon of ground coffee per cup, so I used a 1-tablespoon scoop that came with my old coffee machine.

My partner and I usually both drink two cups of coffee in the morning, so I opted to make a 6-cup carafe most days. It takes around six minutes to brew and is just the right amount of coffee for us. Like most coffee pots, you can take out the carafe to pour a cup while it’s still brewing, but you only have 20 seconds to do so before the filter basket overflows.

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However, 6 tablespoons of coffee grounds wasn’t quite enough for six cups of coffee—it ended up too weak for our liking. On subsequent uses, I used 7 tablespoons of coffee, which resulted in a more flavorful brew. The carafe pours very smoothly, and the hot plate automatically stays on for two hours to keep any remaining coffee warm. If you want to shut it off, you just hold down the red carafe button for a few seconds.

My only major complaint about the carafe side of this coffee maker is that the coffee isn’t hot enough for my tastes. I measured the coffee’s temperature immediately after the unit finished brewing, and it was around 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Once I poured it into my cup and added cream, the coffee cooled down even more, and it was usually lukewarm within a few minutes. If you’re someone who likes piping hot coffee, you could be disappointed in this machine’s temperature.

Keurig K-Duo Hot & Iced: Ease of Use

Like most Keurig coffee makers, the K-Duo is very easy to use. When you’re in a rush, it’s quick and easy to pop a K-cup into the machine, and your drink will be ready in around a minute. On the carafe side, the brewing process is comparable to other drip coffee makers, and it only ever takes me a minute or two to set up the filter and start brewing a pot in the morning. Or, if you really want to streamline the process, you can measure out coffee grounds ahead of time and program the appliance to automatically start brewing right when you get up.

In terms of maintenance, the brand recommends washing the carafe and filter basket after each use, as well as cleaning out the drip tray and water reservoir as needed. All of these pieces should be washed by hand—they’re not safe to put in the dishwasher. You’ll also need to descale the machine every three months, and there’s an indicator light on the control panel that will remind you when it needs to be done. You can descale your Keurig using the brand’s descaling solution, but white vinegar works to break down calcium deposits, as well.

Should you buy the Keurig K-Duo Hot & Iced?

If you want the option to be able to brew a single cup of coffee or a full pot — but don’t want to have separate appliances for each task — the Keurig K-Duo Hot & Iced Coffee Maker is a worthwhile addition to your kitchen. It does a good job making both individual cups and full carafes of coffee, and like most appliances from the brand, it’s easy and intuitive to use.

My biggest complaint is that the coffee isn’t very hot. In particular, coffee brewed in the carafe tends to cool down quickly, but which may be a dealbreaker if you prefer a piping hot cup of joe. However, it’s hard to beat this model in terms of versatility, especially for such a reasonable price.