Brewing coffee, when you are on a boat, can be tricky as you have the water conditions to consider. You might spill coffee grounds and hot water everywhere if you are trying to brew on a windy day where waves are a little strong.
With the Keurig, you won’t have to worry about that. Since it is a single-serve coffee maker, you only need to place a K-cup pod on the K-cup pod holder, press the brew button, and wait for your coffee to brew.
Boats can also have limited counter space which is why I recommend the Keurig K-Mini Plus as the best Keurig for boats. The Keurig K-Mini Plus is convenient, easy to use, and does not take up too much space.
In this article, I will be talking about the different features of a Keurig K-Mini Plus and some factors to consider that may affect your purchase.
In this article:
- Why Choose a Keurig for Your Boat
- Best Keurig for Boats – K-Mini Plus
- Why Not Choose a Keurig K-Mini Plus for Your Boat
Why Choose a Keurig for Your Boat
Convenience
If you are on a boat, and you are the one manning the boat, you would want a coffee maker that is easy to use and convenient. A Keurig machine is both of those things.
Keurigs are known for their simplicity. You don’t have to grind coffee beans, measure the right amount of coffee grinds, or fiddle with coffee filters. With just a push of a button, a fresh cup of coffee will be ready for you in a few minutes.
This can make you enjoy your moments in the sea more while sipping fresh coffee.
Space-Saving
Boats often have limited spaces and most coffee makers can be quite bulky and take up a lot of counter space. On the other hand, Keurigs are known for their compact design which is ideal for boats.
Having a smaller coffee maker will allow you to store more things that you might need in your boat.
Quick Brewing Times
Coffee makers can take anywhere between 5 to 10 minutes depending on the model. Most Keurig models, on the other hand, take less than 5 minutes. If you are busy fishing or driving the boat, you want to have coffee ready for you in minutes.
Variety
Keurig has a lot of K-cup pods that you can choose from and it is not only a variation of coffee flavors. You can also get hot chocolate and a variety of teas. Not only will you get your caffeine fix, but you can also drink sweet, chocolatey beverages while boating.
Related:
Best Keurig for Boats – K-Mini Plus
With so many options, you might have a hard time picking the right Keurig for your boat. Look no further because the Keurig K-Mini Plus will be the ideal companion for your boating trips.
Size
The Keurig K-Mini Plus, as the name implies, is a small and sleek machine that does not take up a lot of space. According to Keurig, it is their slimmest brewer less than 5” wide and 16.8” tall when the lid is open.
This dimension is ideal if you want a space-saving machine and don’t have a lot of counter space on your boat. The Keurig K-Mini will definitely not clutter your boat space.
Brew Sizes and Brew Time
Unlike other Keurig machines, the K-Mini Plus does not have a dedicated button for Keurig cup sizes. It only has one brew button but you can brew anywhere between 6 to 12 ounces.
However, it is a single-brew coffee maker so you’ll have to add water each time you want to brew coffee. While this can be inconvenient, the brewing time makes up for it. The Keurig K-Mini Plus only takes about 2 minutes to brew.
Settings and Other Features
Unlike the other slim Keurigs like the K-Mini and K-Slim, the Keurig K-Mini Plus has a STRONG button if you want a stronger caffeine fix during your boating adventure.
The Keurig K-Mini Plus also has an auto-off feature that turns the machine off 90 seconds after your last brew. This can be helpful if you need to steer the boat and forget to turn off the machine.
You can also fit a 7” travel mug in a K-Mini Plus as the drip tray is removable. If you are traveling from one place to another, you can bring your tumbler with you when you are out of the boat. The K-Mini Plus also comes with a K-cup pod holder that can fit 9 K-cup pods.
If you are concerned about the plastic waste from K-cup pods, Keurig also has a reusable coffee filter (bought separately) that you can use on a K-Mini Plus.
Ease of Use
As I mentioned earlier, Keurig machines are easy to use. The K-Mini Plus is not programmable unlike other Keurigs, so you really only need to press the brew button to brew your coffee. There is also the STRONG button and the POWER button but that’s about it for the buttons on a K-Mini Plus.
The removable water reservoir and drip tray can also make cleaning a K-Mini Plus easier.
Why Not Choose a Keurig K-Mini Plus for Your Boat
As good as the Keurig K-Mini Plus is, it is definitely not for everyone. There may be factors that will make you think twice about buying a Keurig K-Mini.
Cost
If you’ve spent your budget on your boat and are looking to save a bit on coffee makers, you may find that the K-Mini Plus can be quite expensive.
If you want an alternative to the K-Mini Plus, the K-Mini is also a good option. It has almost the same features as the K-Mini Plus without the removable reservoir and STRONG button.
However, if you have the budget for it, a K-Mini Plus can be a great addition to your boat.
Environmental Impact
Keurigs uses K-cup pods which are single-use coffee pods. Single-serve coffee machines like the Keurig can generate more waste than a traditional coffee maker.
The good thing about Keurig is you can buy their reusable coffee filter separately and this filter fits the K-Mini Plus and other Keurig models. With this filter, you can brew your own coffee grounds and not rely on K-cup pods.
Quality
Some people may argue that single-serve coffee makers (not just Keurigs!) don’t have the same quality as when you brew coffee with a traditional coffee maker. However, this can be a personal preference and you'll find most people think Keurigs are worth it.
If you are used to specialty coffee and brewing your own coffee, you might not like coffee brewed on a Keurig. But, most people like the convenience that a Keurig offers and find that it can make decent coffee.
Single-Serve
If you have a bigger boat and have a lot of guests sailing with you, you might find that most Keurigs can be inconvenient as they are single-serve coffee makers. However, there are other Keurigs, like the K-Duo, that can brew a carafe. It is bulkier than a K-Mini Plus so you might have trouble with counter space.
Final Thoughts
There are other Keurig models that have more features than the K-Mini Plus so you might be wondering why I chose this particular model. As I mentioned earlier, most boats have limited space and the K-Mini Plus can make it easier for you to move around your boat.
While it does not have other features like a cappuccino or latte maker, it can still brew a fresh cup of coffee for your adventure at sea.
So, are you thinking of buying a K-Mini Plus or leaning into other Keurig models? Let me know your thoughts!
Related: Does Keurig Make Good Coffee?
