TheCupCoffeeHouse.com is an authority blog focused on all things coffee from machines, grinders, to beans and brews. We spend hours researching everything it takes to create your own coffeehouse from home in the form of the latest coffee maker reviews and step by step how to brew guides so you do not have to. Our goal is to deliver the most up to date information on the best drip machines, expresso machines, french press coffee makers, or whatever fits your fancy. So whether its a caramel macchiato, mocha frappuccino, an espresso shot or any variation of java wizardry your mind can conjure up including just a plain old delicious cup of joe so you can ditch Starbucks, you can learn to make it for yourself at The Cup Coffee House.

Before I started using the Keurig K1500, my wife and I was using the Keurig 2.0. Honestly it worked just fine. The 2.0 K300 made a great cup of coffee. It wasn’t always as hot as I would like. But it was fast and consistent.

Then I noticed we were drinking alot more coffee. My wife especially. So I decided it was time for an upgrade.

The Keurig K1500 just jumped right out. For reasons we will discuss in depth in this review article, the K1500 makes some of the best coffee we’ve had. Keep in mind that we love the taste of our coffee, but we aren’t coffee snobs who demand every cup be brewed with the artistry and finesse of a highly trained barista…

We got kids. So no time for all that…

So after a month of using the K1500, what stood out the most? If you’re in a hurry, here’s our overall impression. The Keurig K1500 is a commercial developed coffee brewer designed for small businesses that can serve 10-25 people. But it doesn’t mean you can’t grab this bad boy to use in your own home too! We liked the K1500 for its ease of use (really no different then the 2.0), the HOT cup of coffee it makes, the easy clean up, and sleek high tech design with high grade durability.

The Keurig K1500 is a good fit for coffee drinkers or businesses who like the option of brewing 4 different cup sizes fairly fast using a single serve brewer. Good if you value convenience over impeccable flavor. The price may set you back a couple hundred bucks, but you may forget all about that after your first few cups.

Whats So Good About Keurig?

Keurig coffee machines are known by coffee and non coffee drinkers alike. Their brand is probably the largest recognizable name in the coffee space. When you talk about single coffee brewers, that are quick and and get the job done for the average coffee drinker, you probably think Keurig.

I actually knew about Keurig long before I started indulging in their coffee. Since I follow the stock market, I remember when Keurig Green Mountain merged with Dr. Pepper Snapple in 2018. They were good dividend stocks so I followed them closely.

Now Keurig Dr. Pepper is a juggernaut in the beverage space. With 11 BILLION in revenue, and over 100 distribution sites in their network, they are a behemoth when it comes to making coffee and putting in the hands of coffee drinkers all over the world.

Why the Keurig K1500?

So what were the factors we thought about before choosing the K1500?

First, Keurig has both a consumer household coffee maker section, and a commercial business use coffee maker section. Honestly when I look at the Keurig household brands like K-Select, K-Elite, K-Classic, and K-Mini, there aren’t alot of differences. Yes there are a few differences in features, but overall they produce about the same quality cup of coffee.

So we decided to consider the commercial side. And the K1500 seemed like a good fit. The K1500 is a good mix of commercial use and household use. Being a commercial coffee maker, it’s designed to last longer due to more consistent use by staff and customers. But its also sleek and compact enough to be stationed in a nice spot on your counter tops at home.

What other features stand out the most?

Important feature #1: Fast single serve brewer

The K1500 does exactly what every Keurig does: make a nice cup of coffee fast. When you have to be out the door, you can rely on your 6 oz, 8 oz, 10 oz, or 12 oz cup being ready to go in less than a minute. But the K1500 is also adds the additional benefit of brewing hot, which is something I noticed the Keurig 2.0 didn’t always do consistently. I like my coffee hot and the K1500 does this pretty well.

For businesses, having a single serve brewer that delivers a hot fresh cup for each person fast is beneficial for a number of reasons. First, it means not having to make a large carafe of coffee that can get burned, or cold and then eventually wasted. Secondly, people don’t have to worry about the whole sharing of coffee thing. The Keurig K1500 is a more hygienic and clean option. Your staff and customers will appreciate that.

Important feature #2: Option to brew a “strong” cup

If you feel like its been one of those days or your craving a more intense flavor profile, the Keurig K1500 lets you choose a strong brew. This means a deeper brew and a full bodied bolder flavor. It’s almost like having a shot of concentrated coffee. The bad news is the volume is a little less. So if you want a larger concentrated cup, you may have to brew twice.

Important Feature #3: Larger water reservoir

The K1500 is built with a 96 oz water reservoir. This is twice the size of the 48 oz in our previous Keurig 2.0. It also comes with a handle for easy carry and refill. The capacity is a nice luxury because we don’t have to refill the reservoir as often. Its convenient but not a huge make or break benefit for me personally.

However, for a business it’s probably a bigger deal. With the high traffic of staff and customers using the coffee maker, its a huge benefit to not have to leave your business to tend to trivial things like adding more water in the coffee maker.

Important feature #4: Brews quietly

If you value peace and quiet in your early morning, then you will likely appreciate the K1500’s quiet brew technology. From warming up to actual brewing, its pretty noiseless.

If you’re like me, I actually dont mind the noise of my Keurig gearing up each morning when I plug it in. The brewing sound is actually relaxing to me!

But if you’re in a business setting, then this is a benefit as it limits excess noise which could distract staff and clients.

Important feature #5: Has a convenient drainable line

If you ever need to move your K1500 or clean it out completely, the drainable line on the back of the machine will be your best friend. All you have to do is pull the line out and it will drain all the water from the internal tank easy.

But even though the K1500 has this water line, it actually can not be plumbed…or connected directly to your water line to supply endless water for your coffee maker.

If you want a list coffee makers with a water line, you can check out this full list of the best plumbed coffee makers.

Important feature #6: Commercial grade quality and durability

I think one of the few common drawbacks to Keurig machines is their durability. Just going through a few reviews you will notice that Keurig machines tend to not last as long as you would like. After 2-3 years these coffee makers can begin to give out.

The Keurig 1500 is part of their commercial grade lineup. Keurig commercial coffee makers are built with a UL commercial certification. This means they can withstand more rigorous high traffic use than their standard household machines. The outer build also uses non porous material, so nothing can leach in or out of your coffee.

After brewing for a month, we didn’t notice any appreciable differences in the flavor and taste of the coffee.

Personally if I can get the same quality of brewing, and all the fancy nice features plus the strength and durability while paying a similar price to the household lineup, I would choose the commercial K1500 every single time. Just seems like a better deal.

At the end of the day, all you really want is a coffee maker you can take with you as you travel via car, truck, RV, or boat that will make you feel like you never left home in the first place. But to do that, there are surprisingly a few things to consider before you make your buying decision. Like living in your first home, there are things you don’t realize are important to you until you’ve gone through the experience.

Life for most people is hectic. So at some point its necessary for you to just get away. Go on that long retreat in the mountains with your spouse to reconnect, or go on that adventurous road trip with your friends you’ve always been talking about. Maybe take the family on that camping experience so the family can connect with the natural beauty of the outdoors…even if its just a tent in the backyard!

Either way, you may not want to leave your great tasting coffee behind. That would mean settling for the blandness of hotel coffee or worst…no coffee at all! So a battery operated coffee maker comes to mind as a must have option. Its ideal for travelers, campers, and commuters.

We spent 25 plus hours combing and researching all the best battery operated coffee makers on the market. We categorized and organized the best 5 here based on particular scenarios so you can decide which is the best fit for you. So whether you want something that is affordable, has longer battery life, super easy to use or makes an incredible cup of coffee on the go, this review will steer you toward your ideal battery operated coffee maker.

What Should I Look For When Buying the Best Battery Operated Coffee Maker?

At the end of the day, all you really want is a coffee maker you can take with you as you travel via car, truck, RV, or boat that will make you feel like you never left home in the first place. But to do that, there are surprisingly a few things to consider before you make your buying decision. Like living in your first home, there are things you don’t realize are important to you until you’ve gone through the experience.

In general, battery operated coffee makers are designed for convenience. So while they are portable, small and easy to pack, it means they don’t generally brew more than 1-3 cups at a time. Battery capacity can be limited. Coffee quality is not as good as other outlet powered coffee makers, but that is par for the course when it comes to battery operated coffee makers. What you give up in delicious quality you make up for the convenience of pouring a cup anywhere your heart desires.

In general, battery operated coffee makers are designed for convenience. So while they are portable, small and easy to pack, it means they don’t generally brew more than 1-3 cups at a time. Battery capacity can be limited. Coffee quality is not as good as other outlet powered coffee makers, but that is par for the course when it comes to battery operated coffee makers. What you give up in delicious quality you make up for the convenience of pouring a cup anywhere your heart desires.

Before I started using the Keurig K1500, my wife and I was using the Keurig 2.0. Honestly it worked just fine. The 2.0 K300 made a great cup of coffee. It wasn’t always as hot as I would like. But it was fast and consistent.

Then I noticed we were drinking alot more coffee. My wife especially. So I decided it was time for an upgrade.

The Keurig K1500 just jumped right out. For reasons we will discuss in depth in this review article, the K1500 makes some of the best coffee we’ve had. Keep in mind that we love the taste of our coffee, but we aren’t coffee snobs who demand every cup be brewed with the artistry and finesse of a highly trained barista…

We got kids. So no time for all that…

So after a month of using the K1500, what stood out the most? If you’re in a hurry, here’s our overall impression. The Keurig K1500 is a commercial developed coffee brewer designed for small businesses that can serve 10-25 people. But it doesn’t mean you can’t grab this bad boy to use in your own home too! We liked the K1500 for its ease of use (really no different then the 2.0), the HOT cup of coffee it makes, the easy clean up, and sleek high tech design with high grade durability.

The Keurig K1500 is a good fit for coffee drinkers or businesses who like the option of brewing 4 different cup sizes fairly fast using a single serve brewer. Good if you value convenience over impeccable flavor. The price may set you back a couple hundred bucks, but you may forget all about that after your first few cups.

Whats So Good About Keurig?

Keurig coffee machines are known by coffee and non coffee drinkers alike. Their brand is probably the largest recognizable name in the coffee space. When you talk about single coffee brewers, that are quick and and get the job done for the average coffee drinker, you probably think Keurig.

I actually knew about Keurig long before I started indulging in their coffee. Since I follow the stock market, I remember when Keurig Green Mountain merged with Dr. Pepper Snapple in 2018. They were good dividend stocks so I followed them closely.

Now Keurig Dr. Pepper is a juggernaut in the beverage space. With 11 BILLION in revenue, and over 100 distribution sites in their network, they are a behemoth when it comes to making coffee and putting in the hands of coffee drinkers all over the world.

Why the Keurig K1500?

So what were the factors we thought about before choosing the K1500?

First, Keurig has both a consumer household coffee maker section, and a commercial business use coffee maker section. Honestly when I look at the Keurig household brands like K-Select, K-Elite, K-Classic, and K-Mini, there aren’t alot of differences. Yes there are a few differences in features, but overall they produce about the same quality cup of coffee.

So we decided to consider the commercial side. And the K1500 seemed like a good fit. The K1500 is a good mix of commercial use and household use. Being a commercial coffee maker, it’s designed to last longer due to more consistent use by staff and customers. But its also sleek and compact enough to be stationed in a nice spot on your counter tops at home.

What other features stand out the most?

Important feature #1: Fast single serve brewer

The K1500 does exactly what every Keurig does: make a nice cup of coffee fast. When you have to be out the door, you can rely on your 6 oz, 8 oz, 10 oz, or 12 oz cup being ready to go in less than a minute. But the K1500 is also adds the additional benefit of brewing hot, which is something I noticed the Keurig 2.0 didn’t always do consistently. I like my coffee hot and the K1500 does this pretty well.

For businesses, having a single serve brewer that delivers a hot fresh cup for each person fast is beneficial for a number of reasons. First, it means not having to make a large carafe of coffee that can get burned, or cold and then eventually wasted. Secondly, people don’t have to worry about the whole sharing of coffee thing. The Keurig K1500 is a more hygienic and clean option. Your staff and customers will appreciate that.

Important feature #2: Option to brew a “strong” cup

If you feel like its been one of those days or your craving a more intense flavor profile, the Keurig K1500 lets you choose a strong brew. This means a deeper brew and a full bodied bolder flavor. It’s almost like having a shot of concentrated coffee. The bad news is the volume is a little less. So if you want a larger concentrated cup, you may have to brew twice.

Important Feature #3: Larger water reservoir

The K1500 is built with a 96 oz water reservoir. This is twice the size of the 48 oz in our previous Keurig 2.0. It also comes with a handle for easy carry and refill. The capacity is a nice luxury because we don’t have to refill the reservoir as often. Its convenient but not a huge make or break benefit for me personally.

However, for a business it’s probably a bigger deal. With the high traffic of staff and customers using the coffee maker, its a huge benefit to not have to leave your business to tend to trivial things like adding more water in the coffee maker.

Important feature #4: Brews quietly

If you value peace and quiet in your early morning, then you will likely appreciate the K1500’s quiet brew technology. From warming up to actual brewing, its pretty noiseless.

If you’re like me, I actually dont mind the noise of my Keurig gearing up each morning when I plug it in. The brewing sound is actually relaxing to me!

But if you’re in a business setting, then this is a benefit as it limits excess noise which could distract staff and clients.

Important feature #5: Has a convenient drainable line

If you ever need to move your K1500 or clean it out completely, the drainable line on the back of the machine will be your best friend. All you have to do is pull the line out and it will drain all the water from the internal tank easy.

But even though the K1500 has this water line, it actually can not be plumbed…or connected directly to your water line to supply endless water for your coffee maker.

If you want a list coffee makers with a water line, you can check out this full list of the best plumbed coffee makers.

Important feature #6: Commercial grade quality and durability

I think one of the few common drawbacks to Keurig machines is their durability. Just going through a few reviews you will notice that Keurig machines tend to not last as long as you would like. After 2-3 years these coffee makers can begin to give out.

The Keurig 1500 is part of their commercial grade lineup. Keurig commercial coffee makers are built with a UL commercial certification. This means they can withstand more rigorous high traffic use than their standard household machines. The outer build also uses non porous material, so nothing can leach in or out of your coffee.

After brewing for a month, we didn’t notice any appreciable differences in the flavor and taste of the coffee.

Personally if I can get the same quality of brewing, and all the fancy nice features plus the strength and durability while paying a similar price to the household lineup, I would choose the commercial K1500 every single time. Just seems like a better deal.

If you are in the market for a new coffee machine, you probably have run across a variety of Breville models in your searches. Although these coffee makers tend to be on the higher end of the price range, the quality you get with a Breville machine usually makes it all worth it. 

Breville coffee makers are known currently for being some of the best machines on the market for household use. Even brands like Nespresso have sought out collaboration with the Breville brand to ensure that their machine will make a great cup of coffee every time. 

Narrowing the list down to the best 7 wasn’t an easy task as Breville has a wide variety of models available! But that’s what we attempted to do in this list of top Breville coffee makers. We pulled all the research on style of brew, quality, price, and customer reviews we could find into this easy to read guide. If you’re looking to make a decision on which Breville coffee machine is right for you, keep reading.

In a hurry? Here’s the cliff notes: Breville’s specialty is in espresso makers. Our overall best-pick is the Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine based on quality, popularity, and price. We love that it is a commercial-style espresso maker with a mid-range price tag. Perfect for the avid coffee drinker who wants delicious quality at home while saving money from going to the coffee shop.

What’s so Good About Breville Coffee Makers?

Breville has a wide following in the gourmet coffee niche. The company began as the brain-child of Bill O’Brien, a radio salesman, and Harry Norville, an engineer. Together they founded Breville in Sydney in 1932, as a radio company in a time of national economic depression. The company quickly became a success through their cutting edge technology. As television began to replace radios in homes in the 1950’s Breville began to focus on expanding their household and kitchen appliances, including a line of coffee machines. 

Breville continues to incorporate new and innovative ideas into their coffee makers today. They currently deliver to more than 70 countries worldwide and are well known for their quality coffee makers. 

The ease and efficiency of a single-serve Keurig coffee was such a success that Keurig began finding ways to make this revolutionary machine an affordable option for the home. Keurig fans enjoy the ability to choose from a wide variety of brands and flavors to make a quick and reliable morning cup. Keurig has come out with several models designed for home use over the years, one of the most popular currently being the Keurig K-Cafe.

Millions of people around the world wake up looking forward to a rich, creamy, delicious espresso every single morning to start the day.

But likely you have to go to Starbucks or your local coffee shop to get it. And didn’t you make a promise to save your money this year? Plus, it may seem a little daunting to make espressos at home yourself too. 

Not to worry. Modern technology has made it possible to not only have your own espresso machine at home that whips up flavorful espressos in a whip like a professional barista (even latte art that looks good) but also have it at a ridiculously cheap price. 

So we made it even easier for you. After 50+ hours of in-depth research and analysis, we will share with you the 7 best budget espresso machines on the market. From size, to capacity, to flavor we tackle all the things you need to consider before making this big decision. So whether you want a higher end espresso machine with multiple functionalities, or something simple that makes espressos and coffee, we got you covered. Keep reading to get the full “scoop”! 

Are Cheap Espresso Machines Worth It?

An espresso is a concentrated form of coffee that is “espressed” through finely ground coffee beans using high pressure and hot water. You generally need a machine to do that. The result is a rich creamy espresso that is a bit more caffeinated than a regular cup of coffee.

We think it is possible to get a good shot of espresso even with a budget machine. Keep in mind that these machines come built with high quality steel, milk frothers, milk steamers, coffee grinders, automatic brew and cleaning, and other functionalities that can basically jack up the price.

So if you’re ok with a basic machine that gets the job done of creating a delicious espresso without all the fancy bells and whistles, a budget espresso machine may be right for you. But what features should you think about before you make the big decision?

What should I look for when buying a cheap espresso machine?

So, what are the things to look for in an espresso machine? Let’s take a look at some of the criteria that can help you make the right decision for you.

Criteria 1: What size is it?

Espresso machines come in all kinds of sizes. This is a good thing considering that not every kitchen counter in the world will have a vast amount of space. So you want to take into consideration the size depending on how large your kitchen counter might be.

Are you ok with a larger machine or do you want something that’s small and more of a space saver? Some espresso machines are actually small enough to be portable. You could even make a cup of your favorite espresso at the office, if you want to.

Criteria 2: How many cups does it make at a time?

Aside from size, the capacity should matter as well. Will it brew a single cup or multiple cups with the amount of water it can take in?  The greater the capacity, the more cups of coffee it can make.

For example, an espresso machine that can hold up to 1.5 liters of water has enough water to make 12 cups of espresso. So consider how much espressos you plan to brew at a time and how often you want to add water to the machine before choosing a machine based on your ideal capacity.

Criteria 3: Is it easy to clean?

Nobody, and we mean nobody wants to deal with an espresso machine that is a real pain to clean. Especially when you need to clean and maintain it on a regular basis. That’s why you should find an espresso machine that is made from materials like stainless steel.

Also, it wouldn’t hurt to find an espresso machine that has a removable catcher so you can remove it, dump out any excess water into the sink, quickly clean the catch tray itself, and reattach it. Removable and washable are two things that you want to look for in an espresso machine.

Criteria 4: Is it easy to use?

No one wants to feel overwhelmed by a bunch of buttons on a machine that look confusing. If simplicity is what you want, you can find a machine that is as simple as adding water, your favorite fine coffee grounds, grinding it up, adding the first shot, and more.

Even if you have never used an espresso machine before, it’s actually very simple to learn. After a few sessions, you’ll know how to press the coffee, and froth and steam the milk like a pro.

Criteria 5: How much bar pressure do you need?

Espresso machines are not like your standard coffee machines where you just add water and brew it. It requires adding a boost of pressure to give that espresso its rich and flavorful texture. The higher the pressure, the more intense the flavor.

Some of the cheap espresso machines that we’ll be looking at use 15 or even 20 bars. At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference and how intense you want the flavor to be.

Criteria 6: What’s the price? How much does it cost?

Of course this list is focusing on the cheaper espresso machines in the market. But just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it will fit all the criteria you need in a good espresso machine.

In general, if the espresso machine is in good quality and delivers more value than the price, investing in the best quality you can afford is what you want to aim for here. Sacrificing quality and the features you want the most just to save a buck always seems to come back around and bite you in the butt doesn’t it?

Criteria 7: How many cups can it brew at once

Some espresso machines brew one cup at a time and others brew two separate cups. If you live with someone and neither wants to wait for your espresso, a machine that brews two cups simultaneously would be the ideal selection.

Criteria 8: Can it grind coffee beans?

As we mentioned earlier, special features like grounding coffee beans for you can increase the price of an espresso machine. Generally you may not see this feature in cheap espresso machines. But its something to consider.

If you don’t have a separate coffee grinder, than maybe you will like the added feature and convenience. But if you’re ok with using a manual coffee grinder then you can save yourself some money on your machine too.

Criteria 9: Does it froth milk?

If you want to take your espresso game to the next level and enjoy home made lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos, you will need a milk frother.

Once again you can get a separate milk frother or find a budget espresso machine that is built with milk frothing capabilities to make things more convenient. Either way, you can get your latte art done just right if that’s a big deal for you.

When I headed off to the other side of the pond in my mid-20s, little did I know it would forever change the way I drink my coffee. As an American, I thought that a straight espresso would basically take all the bitterness of the coffee bean and sock it to you along with an ungodly amount of caffeine.

Espresso can be the perfect drink to get you started in the morning. Its rich flavor and smooth texture include everything we love about a coffee packed into a demitasse.

But while we may love the taste of espresso and our favorite coffee drinks, we may not always want to be an in-house barista the first thing in the morning. Nespresso has come out with machines that can fill our need for espresso (and also regular coffee!), with just the touch of a button. 

In this quick article, we will do an in depth review, analysis and comparison of Nespresso’s brand and popular Vertuoline machines, discussing the pros and cons of each individual model to help you make the best decision for your lifestyle.

Want the quick summary? In our assessment of the Nespresso Vertuoline vs Evoluo we found both are similar espresso machines made by the Nespresso brand and fall under the Vertuo-line of coffee makers. While the Vertuo and Evoluo have many of the same features, there are some differences as well. 

The Vertuo is smaller in size than the updated Evoluo and may be for the person who is space conscious. But the Evoluo comes with a bigger storage area for water and waste and has a bigger heating unit, ideal for the person looking for the best value. 

The Brand: Is Nespresso Worth the Money?

The Nespresso brand is known for its delicious brews and user-friendly machines. As they began their flagship models in the European market, they put a greater amount of effort into the flavor and quality of their espresso drinks than other brands. While other name-brand pod machines simply make a highly concentrated coffee and call it espresso, Nespresso created a pod machine that is capable of creating pressure, without a pump, to create a much more richly flavored espresso drink. 

The Nespresso brand also is conscientious about the coffee bean’s process from the farm to the pod. Nespresso is much more concerned with quality than quantity, which is part of the reason it comes with a higher price tag. You get what you pay for right?

And while they may not have as wide of a pod selection as other pod brands (ie. Keurig), the pods that they do offer have a deliciously smooth flavor.

Nespresso also partners with other big name manufactures in the coffee genre such as DeLonghi and Breville. These partners share expertise and innovative ideas to continuously make improvements to their coffee machine models.

Is Nespresso Vertuo and VertuoLine the same thing?

There can be a bit of confusion around the “Vertuoline” name. Many use it as the name of a particular machine or as a brand name. So, we are here to help to set the record straight! 

Vertuoline refers to a particular line of machines under the umbrella of the Nespresso brand. Nespresso has a Vertuoline and an Original line. While there is a machine that is called “Vertuo” it seems a bit redundant to call it a “Vertuoline Vertuo”, so many shorten it to just “Vertuoline” or to “Vertuo”. The Evoluo is another machine in the Vertuoline or Vertuo Line of machines. 

Who the Vertuoline Machines are made for…

For those who enjoy drinking espresso, but don’t enjoy worrying about time, temperature, grind size, or cleanup, the Vertuoline machines are worth looking into. Both the Evoluo and the Vertuo offer a smooth, flavorful shot of coffee with a simple touch of a button.

If you have housemates or colleagues that prefer a regular cup of coffee, they can get that too! These machines allow each person to choose the size and strength of their coffee on an individual basis. The Vertuoline machines can be a good mid-range choice for those who want a reliable and quick cup of coffee. 

If you are a stickler for authentic crema, it may be worth your time and money to budget for an espresso machine. Nespresso’s Vertuoline is a quality machine for those who appreciate a fast, reliable cup of coffee.