I tested Keurig's tiniest coffee maker yet — here's why the K-Mini Mate is perfect for small spaces

Single-serve coffee machines are all the rage. In fact, according to the National Coffee Association, 42% of American households own a single-cup brewer in 2025. But even the smallest machines can take up more space in your kitchen than you’d like them to.

Enter the Keurig K-Mini Mate. It’s a single-serve coffee maker designed to take up as little space as possible in your kitchen while still delivering a tasty cup of coffee. This new release from one of the biggest names in coffee brewing is intended for use in small kitchens, dorm rooms, and campers where counter space is limited. At just 4 inches wide, it’s also small enough to take with you on your travels.

As a daily coffee drinker, I was eager to test out the newest machine in Keurig’s lineup. My regular coffee machine can brew a large carafe or make a single cup, but it’s bulky and takes time to set up. The Keurig K-Mini Mate’s small size and simple brewing process appealed to me for those times I need a quick cup as a pick-me-up. I tested the machine at home over several weeks, taking note of brew times, noise levels, and the quality of the resulting up of coffee.

After extensive testing, I’d recommend the K-Mini Mate as one of the best Keurig coffee makers for those with limited kitchen space such as students or those in house shares.

Keurig K-Mini Mate: Price and availability

The Keurig K-Mini Mate is available exclusively at Target for $79.99, though your price may be lower if you catch it on sale. You can order it online or visit your nearest Target location to see the machine before making a purchase. Currently, no other retailers sell the Keurig K-Mini Mate.

The K-Mini Mate uses K-Cup pods to brew a cup of coffee; however, you can also purchase a reusable K-Cup to save money and reduce waste.

Keurig K-Mini Mate: Design

Upon opening the box, my first impression of the Keurig K-Mini Mate was its size. Although I knew it would be compact, I was expecting it to be at least a little bulky. However, the machine is sleek and narrow as advertised, making it ideal for small kitchens. You can brew coffee into your regular mug or a travel cup up to 7.25 inches tall.

The machine is made from durable plastic and weighs just 3.3lbs, making it easy to move to your desired location in your home or pack in your luggage for vacation use.

The controls are simple; there’s a single setting that lets you brew your perfect cup of Joe without accidentally selecting the wrong setting.

This Keurig machine is available in three colors: Matte Black, Glamping Green, and Red Rocks. The machine I tested was black, which helped it blend in perfectly in my kitchen. The green and red colors are muted, with Red Rocks being an attractive terracotta shade and the Glamping Green a minty, nature-inspired hue.

Keurig K-Mini Mate: Performance

To determine how well the Keurig K-Mini Mate performed, I tested it over several days, taking note of brewing time and the temperature of the resulting cup.

I brewed a total of four cups in varying sizes: 6 ounces (the minimum), 8 ounces, 10 ounces, and 12 ounces (the maximum). Heating time ranged from 10 to 15 seconds, depending on the amount of water used. Surprisingly, the machine took less time to heat the water for larger cups than for smaller ones.

The total brewing time (including heating) for a cup of coffee was as follows:

• 6 ounces: One minute and 10 seconds
• 8 ounces: One minute and 23 seconds
• 10 ounces: One minute and 41 seconds
• 12 ounces: One minute and 49 seconds

These brewing times align with those of other Keurig models, such as the K-Slim, brewing a fresh cup of coffee in under two minutes. The machine automatically switches off five minutes after it’s finished brewing, so you don’t need to worry about accidentally leaving it on.

The K-Mini Mate brewed coffee at 178 degrees Fahrenheit—hotter than some other Keurig machines, but not as warm as the recommended water temperature for ideal extraction, which is 195 degrees to 205 degrees. This may affect the flavor of your coffee.

When brewing a cup of coffee, I registered an average noise level of 59 decibels with a maximum level of 75 decibels at times. The machine was noisiest at the beginning and end of the brew cycle, but the noise wasn’t overpowering. A household refrigerator is around 55 decibels, so this machine was only slightly louder than that.

Although temperature, brew time, and noise level are all important factors to consider when choosing a coffee maker, the ultimate test is how your cup of coffee tastes. I typically drink medium to dark roasts flavored with oat creamer.

In the K-Mini Mate, I used two different types of K-Cup pods: Donut Shop Vanilla Latte and McCafe Premium Roast. I wasn’t overly impressed by either; the vanilla latte was too sweet for my taste and had a strong artificial sweetener flavor.

The McCafe brew was better, but a little weak for my taste (and there’s no strong brew option like there is with other machines, such as the Keurig K-Cafe). I switched to a reusable K-Cup pod so I can use my own coffee grounds, and was much happier with the taste.

Keurig recommends descaling the K-Mini Mate every three months. There’s also a descale light on the machine that illuminates when it’s time to descale. Keeping up with descaling should help the machine last longer.

Keurig K-Mini Mate: Comparison

There are hundreds of coffee machines on the market, making it challenging to choose the best one for your needs. Some of the contenders for the K-Mini Mate include the K-Mini, K-Slim, K-Express, and K-Compact.

All of these machines brew single cups of coffee in minutes, so they’re ideal for single-person households, small offices, and dorm rooms. However, the K-Mini Mate is the slimmest of them all, making it the best option if you want your coffee maker to occupy the least amount of space possible. Its compact size also makes it the ideal travel mate, whether you’re hitting the road in an RV or heading to a vacation rental without a coffee maker.

Performance-wise, the K-Mini Mate is comparable to other single-cup brewers. However, if taste is a big concern, you might prefer a traditional coffee maker or even an espresso machine. The K-Mini Mate works in a pinch when you need caffeine, but the taste doesn’t compare to a fresh cup of pour-over or espresso.

Keurig K-Mini Mate: Verdict

Overall, I would recommend the Keurig K-Mini Mate as a backup coffee maker or a primary machine for small homes or apartments. It brews a decent cup of coffee quickly and takes up minimal counter space. It’s simple and quick to use, so there’s no learning curve, and the slim design will blend in with most kitchens, regardless of aesthetic.

However, I don’t see it replacing my standard coffee maker, which brews coffee to my desired strength and taste. In a pinch, however, the K-Mini Mate would more than fulfill my needs—especially once I replaced the disposable K-Cups with a reusable one filled with my preferred coffee.

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