Keurig Slim vs. Mini: Which One Brews Better Coffee?
Is there a better way to wake up than with freshly brewed coffee? For years, I have been searching for the perfect coffee maker that consistently delivers a well-balanced cup with a rich mouthfeel, great taste and body, and an intoxicating aroma. My search for the perfect coffee has led me down the path of numerous coffee makers, but I always come back to Keurig. Keurig coffee machines are elegant, and I enjoy a perfect cup of coffee throughout the day.
That being said, I have been using the Keurig Slim and Keurig Mini coffee makers for a few months now to get a feel of each piece of equipment – these little compact coffee makers blow my mind every time. I find they are comparably similar coffee makers, although there are some key differences you should be aware of before spending your money on either Keurig coffee maker.
If you need to choose between these two coffee makers, this comparison guide may help you make the right decision.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Keurig Slim vs. Mini?
Keurig Coffee Maker Model | Keurig K-Slim | Keurig K-Mini |
What it’s made of (material) | Mostly plastic, with metallic parts | Mostly plastic, with metallic parts |
Appearance | Deeper and available in 3 colors – Matte Black, White, Scarlet Red | Smaller and not as deep. Comes in 6 colors – Black, Dusty Rose, Evergreen, Oasis, Poppy Red, and Studio Gray |
Price | Check price here | Check price here |
Coffee Pods Compatibility | Compatible with K-Cup Pods | Compatible with K-Cup Pods |
Warranty | 1 Year | 1 Year |
Capacity | 46 Ounces (4 cups) | 12 Ounces maximum |
Ease of clean up | Yes | No |
Model | Multi-user | Single user |
Availability | Readily available | Readily available |
Ease of use | Yes | Yes |
Dimensions | 4.76*12.14*15.2 inches | 4.5*11.3*12.1 inches |
Weight | 6.2lbs | 4.6lbs |
MultiStream technology | Yes | No |
Removable Water tank | Yes | No |
Coffee grounds compatibility | Yes | Yes |
Compatibility with your travel mugs | Yes. Up to 7 inches | Yes. Up to 7 inches |
Serving Size | 8, 10, and 12-ounce cups | 6 & 12-ounce cups |
Automatic turn-off function | 5 minutes after brewing | 90 seconds after brewing |
Compatibility with reusable filters | Yes | Yes |
Indicator Lights | Yes | No |
Strong Brew Option | No | Yes |
Removable Drip Tray | Yes | Yes |
Cord Storage | No | Yes |
Keurig Slim vs. Mini- How They Compare

What it’s made of (material)
Keurig coffee makers win in the convenience and portability front because these coffee brewing systems are made of lightweight, safe, and sturdy plastic and some metallic parts. Their water reservoirs, the k=-Cup housing, and the reservoir lid are all made of plastic, while the drip tray is made of stainless steel in a thick sheet. Note that the stainless steel used for the drip tray has circular holes at the top, and the tray slides easily into the coffee maker’s base.
In this category, we have a draw. The Keurig K-Slim and the Keurig K-Mini have the same construction materials and parts.
Appearance
Keurig K-Slim and K-Mini are compact coffee makers made primarily of plastic with stainless steel parts used for the drip tray. They are also under 5 inches in width (4.76” for K-Slim, and 4.5” for the K-Mini) or 12 inches in height, meaning they both fit the smallest spaces saved on the countertop. The main difference between them is that the K-Slim is deeper than the K-Mini – with a depth of 15.2 inches against K-Mini’s 11.3-inch depth.
In terms of colors, matte black is the same for both coffee makers. However, Keurig Slim comes in two other colors – white and scarlet red, while Keurig Mini is available in five other colors – dusty pink, oasis, evergreen, studio gray, and poppy red.
In this category, we have a draw. Essentially, choosing either coffee maker is a matter of personal preference.
Price
Keurig K-Slim costs a little more than the K-Mini. The Keurig K-Mini will be the ideal option if you are looking for a Keurig coffee maker on a budget.
Therefore, the affordable K-Mini wins, delivering the perfect cup of strong coffee affordably, unlike the K-Slim, will set you back a lot more, and the coffee won’t be as strong as you may have hoped.
In this category, we have K-Mini taking the lead. But we recommend thinking of all the other features it offers before buying. You’d have to make a trade-off if, for example, you need a coffee maker that makes coffee for more than one, the more expensive K-Slim will be ideal.
Coffee Pods Compatibility
Both coffee makers are compatible with the Keurig K-Cup pods. And with more than 400 options of K-Cup pods to choose from, you will enjoy the coffee regardless of the coffee maker you choose.
Besides the pods, both coffee makers are compatible with ground coffee and reusable filters, meaning that you use your preferred coffee grounds at home without buying the pods.
In this category, the two Keurig coffee makers draw thanks to their compatibility with all the 400+ K-Cup pods.
Warranty
Keurig offers a 1-year warranty for the K-Slim and the K-Mini coffee makers from the purchase date.
In this category, K-Slim and K-Mini draw. Both coffee makers have a 1-year warranty.
Capacity
The K-Slim will be ideal if you are looking for a Keurig coffee maker to make more than two cups. With a 46-ounce water tank capacity, the Keurig K-Slim serves up to 4 cups of coffee or three in 8, 10, and 10-ounce sizes.
On the other hand, the Keurig K-Mini lives up to its name as a mini coffee maker. With the K-Mini, you only brew two 6-ounce or one 12-ounce cup of coffee at a time. Its water tank has a 12-ounce capacity, so it’s an ideal single-user coffee maker.
The larger capacity of Keurig K-Slim’s water reservoir makes it an ideal option for most people – you don’t have to add water before each use. While the smaller capacity of the K-Mini means adding water before each use, it is ideal for anyone who needs a compact coffee maker, says a student living in a dorm room.
In this category, the Keurig Slim coffee maker takes the lead because you don’t need to refill the water reservoir before brewing each cup. The 46-ounce capacity allows you to brew up to 4 cups of coffee before refilling it.
Ease of clean up
Keurig Slim boasts a removable water tank, which makes clean-up relatively easy – just remove it from the compartment, clean it, and air it for some. Then wipe the exterior of the coffee maker using a clean, damp, lint-free cloth. And if you need to descale it, fill up the tank with water, switch it on, and then press the descaling button for the magic. The drip tray is equally easy to clean since it’s removable and slides off easily.
However, cleaning the Keurig Mini is a little more complex because its small water reservoir is not removable. As a result, you need to clean and wipe it very gently and carefully while it sits in the compartment. To rinse and descale, fill it up to the 12oz mark, then press the big K button for brewing and let it run – of course, with no pod in the K-cup pod compartment. You could also add a descaling solution in the compartment, if necessary, but make sure you rinse it a few times – we recommend doing this at least two times, adding water before you press the button every time.
The Keurig Slim coffee maker wins in this category because it has a removable water reservoir and a descale option for easy cleaning.
Model
Keurig Slim is ideal for more than one user, while Keurig Mini is an ideal no-fills solution for one person. But unlike K-Mini, K-Slim boasts a different technology called the Multi-stream technology that aims to enrich the taste and flavor of your brew.
In this category, the coffee machines draw because they are designed for different users.
Availability
Keurig Slim and Mini coffee makers are readily available in different online and physical stores, including Keurig authorized dealers. So, you will always find whichever coffee maker you are looking for.
In this category, the coffee machines draw since they are both readily available.
Ease of Use
Keurig Slim is easy to use and comes with buttons to select the size of your coffee servings. The buttons around the K pad at the center are named 8oz, 10oz, 12oz, Add water, and Descale. These options make the coffee maker easy to use, clean and maintain.
On the other hand, the K-Mini has just one button – it is a single-serve coffee maker, after all. To use it, you only need to add between 6 and 12 ounces of water, press down on the big K button, and you’ll be good to go. For two cups of coffee, you must refill it twice.
In this category, Keurig Slim wins because it has buttons corresponding to the size of coffee you need to brew and the options you’d like to pick.
Other Comparison features
MultiStream Technology
Keurig’s MultiStream technology is one of the innovations incorporated into the Keurig K-Slim. This technology allows the coffee maker to extract the flavors and aroma from all your preferred K-Cup pods. The enhanced flavors corm about because the coffee maker utilizes 5 needles or water steams, instead of just one water stream at the top, although it still has just one needle at the bottom.
The five streams of hot water evenly saturate the coffee grounds, hence full-flavored cups of coffee. So, this technology assures you of exceptionally well-flavored coffee in every cup. On the other hand, Keurig K-Mini lacks this feature.
In this category, the Keurig K-Slim wins due to the incorporation of this modern feature that boosts the flavors of brewed coffee.
Design of the water reservoir
If you prefer a coffee maker with a removable water tank, the Keurig K-Slim will be an ideal option for you. Since it’s removable, you can clean and refill it frequently. The Keurig K-Mini, on the other hand, has a small water reservoir that you cannot remove.
In this category, Keurig Slim wins thanks to the removable and, therefore, hygienic design of the water reservoir, not to mention the depth that enhances its stability.
Brew Size and Strength
If you like your morning, noon, or even coffee strong, the Keurig K-Mini will be the perfect brewing system for you. Even with the incorporated MultiStream Technology, the strength of coffee brewed on the Keurig K-Slim is much weaker than K-Mini’s.
Here’s what you should know about the coffee strength between these two coffee makers
Your standard K-Cup contains between 9 and 12 grams of ground coffee or between 0.3 and 0.4 ounces. And for the standard coffee brew, the water and coffee grounds ratio are ideally 1:15 or 1:20. So your standard K-Cup only yields the vibrant and robust cup of coffee in a 5-7oz serving. Keurig K-Slim’s single cup serving is 8oz, which is too large for the standard K-Cup, while the Keurig K-Mini’s minimum serving is 6oz. Therefore, your Keurig K-Mini delivers the strong cup of coffee you desire. Note that the K-mini slows down the brewing speed for the strong coffee.
In this category, Keurig Mini wins, mainly because most people love a strong coffee, even if they’ll use it for lattes or cappuccino.
Space for travel mugs
Since they are both 12 inches tall, you will be happy to know that both coffee makers have enough space for your 7-inch travel mug.
The Keurig Mini and Slim draw in this category because both coffee makers have enough space for travel mugs.
Brewing Time
The Keurig K-Slim brews your coffee in 2 minutes only, while the Keurig K-Mini’s brewing time is not more than 3 minutes. Remember that this 60-second difference can be a big deal when you want strong coffee. The K-Slim may shave a minute, but the coffee isn’t as strong – this additional minute is all the K-Mini needs to brew a strong 6oz cup of coffee.
In this category, the Keurig Mini wins because the additional 60 seconds ensures a perfectly flavored, rich, and strong cup of coffee.
Keurig Slim vs. Mini: A comparison overview
Keurig Slim – Overview

Keurig Slim is an excellent addition to the expanding family of Keurig coffee makers. While it has a slim profile, stands tall at a mere 4.76 inches, and has a 15.1-inch diameter, so it doesn’t take up much counter space.
It has a 46-ounce capacity and three brew sizes – 8oz, 10oz, and 12 oz. At its height, it will still hold your travel mug comfortably, as long as it’s not more than 7 inches tall. The other unique feature of this Keurig Slim is that it has a unique MultiStream Technology incorporated – this means that it has 5 needles or streams from which water jet and feed into the coffee grounds evenly, hence a richer coffee profile. Other coffee makers have 1 stream for water. With this coffee maker, coffee brews in less than 2 minutes.
Speaking of water, this coffee maker boasts a removable water -a reservoir that is easy to clean and refill. The stainless-steel drip base is also removable, easy to clean, and sturdy. You can order this coffee maker here.
What I liked
- Larger coffee capacity for brewing up to 4 cups of coffee
- The MultiStream technology with 5 needles for water to jet from ensures even water percolation over the coffee grounds, hence a much more flavorful cup of coffee
- The slim build ensures maximum space savings
- Coffee brews in less than 2 minutes
What I didn’t like
- This coffee maker can be a little too deep for your countertop
- The coffee isn’t strong
What do people say about this Keurig Slim
- Customers have different opinions about this coffee maker, but most of them have the following sentiments about the coffee maker:
- It is fast, and it’s very quiet
- While it works great in the beginning, the Slim Keurig has a short lifespan
- It saves so much counter space
- The red color of the machine isn’t the same as that red shown online
- It looks fancy on the countertop
Keurig Mini – Overview

This Keurig Mini is, as the name suggests – a mini coffee maker that fits even the smallest countertop spaces. Despite the small size, you can use it with your travel mug. It is also compatible with all K-Cup pods, not to mention regular coffee grounds and filters.
This Mini Keurig coffee maker has a 12-ounce capacity and only two single-serve options, 6oz or 12oz. Unfortunately, its water reservoir isn’t removable, and you must refill it every time you use the machine.
This coffee maker is an ideal fit for you if you love strong brew – the small capacity ensures the perfect water-to-coffee grounds ratio. It’s also fast, and the coffee is ready in less than 3 minutes. You can order this coffee maker here.
What I liked
- Fits the smallest countertops
- You can use a travel mug with it
- It brews coffee in 3 minutes
- It’s affordable
- It makes the perfect single serving of strong, tasty coffee
- It comes in 6 colors
What I didn’t like
- The water reservoir isn’t removable
- What are customers saying?
What do people say about this Keurig Mini
- It takes a long time to warm up
- I love this adorable little coffee maker because I get the perfect cup of strong brew every time.
- It stopped working after about a few months, and it can be messy
- The colors are wonderful
- I can’t get enough; I bought another one!
- Quite convenient
Final Verdict: So, which is Better? – Keurig Slim or Mini
Keurig Mini wins in terms of flavor profile and strength of the brew, but the Keurig Slim wins in capacity and the removable water reservoir. However, with the 60-second brewing time difference and the fact that they are designed to meet different user needs, K-Slim and K-Mini are equally good. Get either appliance depending on your needs and budget.
FAQ
Is Keurig Slim heavier than Mini?
Yes, Keurig Slim is slightly bigger and has more depth, increasing its weight. The Keurig Mini is relatively light.
Which has a better appearance, Keurig Slim or Mini?
Keurig Mini has more color options and looks great on different countertops. But looking at two black Keurig coffee makers, the deeper Keurig Slim looks better – sturdier, if you may.
Which is easier to use, Keurig Slim or Mini?
They are both easy to use thanks to the button options incorporated. However, Keurig Slim can be much easier to use than the Mini thanks to the removable water tank. The non-removable tank for the Mini makes its use challenging. However,
Which is more popular, Keurig Slim and Mini?
The Mini is more popular because it fits the tightest spaces and is much cheaper than the Slim coffee maker.
Which one is better for lattes, between Keurig Slim and Mini?
Keurig Mini is much more suitable for lattes because every single serving is quite strong, and this strength, plus the flavors, is transferred to your latte. The coffee from the slim can be a little too watery and won’t taste as good in lattes.
Which one is easier to clean between Keurig Slim and Mini?
Keurig Slim is easier to clean because of the removable water reservoir.
Which one makes better coffee Keurig Slim or Mini?
Mini makes more robust coffee. However, since better or good coffee is a matter of preference, either coffee maker might please you. If you don’t like strong coffee, the Keurig Mini will be flavorful enough for you.
Which one makes better coffee Keurig Slim and Mini?
Mini makes more robust coffee. However, since better or good coffee is a matter of preference, either coffee maker might please you. If you don’t like strong coffee, the Keurig Mini will be flavorful enough for you.
Which one came first, between Keurig Slim and Mini?
The Keurig Mini came before the Keurig Slim. The new innovative feature, like the MultiStream Technology in the Slim, is a newer feature.