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Starbucks has been the go-to coffee house that serves great tasting coffees for people always on the go. They serve a variety of specialty beverages such as frappés, espressos, lattes, and many other more. However, not everybody has the luxury of time to go to their local Starbucks. This problem can be solved by the products we are going to compare today.
In this article, we are comparing two single-serve machines both from K-fee that are compatible with Starbucks’ Verismo pods – the K-fee Twins II and K-fee Grande. Let’s start by looking at their similarities.
| K-fee Twins II | K-fee Grande | |
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |
 |
| Pump Pressure | 19 bars of pump pressure | 19 bars of pump pressure |
| Compatible Coffee Capsules | Starbucks® Verismo® Pods, EXPRESSI® capsules from Aldi Süd, Mr. & Mrs. Mill Pods, etc. | Starbucks® Verismo® Pods, EXPRESSI® capsules from Aldi Süd, Mr. & Mrs. Mill Pods, etc. |
| Used Pod Storage Size | Not available | 30 pods |
| Automatic Capsule Ejection | Yes | Yes |
| Inclusion of Coffee Pods | No, sold separately | No, sold separately |
| Duo Pressure Technology | Yes | Yes |
| Average Heating Time | 15 seconds | 15 seconds |
| Average Brewing Time | 20 seconds | 20 seconds |
| Programmable Buttons | Yes, 4 buttons | Yes, 4 buttons |
| Water Tank Capacity | 78 oz / 2.3 Liters | 118 oz / 3.5 Liters |
| Adjustable Drip Tray | Yes | Yes |
| Heigh-adjustable Spout | No | Yes |
| Descaling Indicator | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic Switch-off | No | Yes, after 5 minutes of being idle |
| Product Dimension | 13 x 8 x 11 in | 16 x 7.9 x 12.5 in |
| Item Weight | 7.7 lbs | 9.9 lbs / 4.5 kg |
| Color Variants | Black / Copper, Beige / Bronze, Beige / Rosé-Gold | Silver, Piano Black, Black / Copper |
| Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
Similarities between K-fee Twins II and K-fee Grande
19 Bars of Pump Pressure
K-fee Twins II and K-fee Grande can build up a pump pressure up to 19 bars. That is higher than most single-serve coffee machines out in the market which can only reach up to 15 bars. Not to mention, only 9 bars of pump pressure is the industry standard. With 19 bars of pump pressure, it guarantees you that every flavor and aroma is extracted from the coffee pods.
Duo Pressure Technology
Everyone has their favorite coffee. Everyone has their preference. Whether you want to have a crema layer on top of your coffee or not. Unlike other single-serve coffee machines from other manufacturers that can only push a single pre-programmed pressure, both the K-fee Twins II and K-fee Grande have the Duo Pressure technology. With the Duo Pressure technology embedded in each K-FEE single pod coffee machine, you can choose whether you want to have crema or not.
Compatible Beverage Pods
As mentioned earlier, both the K-fee Twins II and K-fee Grande are compatible with Starbucks’ Verismo pods. Moreover, it is compatible with other popular coffee pods like EXPRESSI® capsules from Aldi Süd and Mr. & Mrs. Mill Pods. Also, it does not end with coffee as you can also get other beverage pods like teas. Both the K-fee Twins II and K-fee Grande are perfect for coffee-lovers and tea-lovers alike. Beverage pods are sold separately like all single-serve coffee machines.
Differences between K-fee Twins II and K-fee Grande
Water Tank Capacity
Two of the striking differences between the K-fee Twins II and K-fee Grande is in design and its water tank capacity.
K-fee Twins II
The K-fee Twins II is compact and elegant. Its water tank sits beside the coffee machine. The Twins II has the advantage here over the Grande because its water tank is more accessible due to its very convenient position. Therefore, it is never a problem to place the K-fee Twins II against the wall. Speaking of water tanks, it can be filled up to 78 oz or 2.3 liters of water.
K-fee Grande
On the other hand, the K-fee Grande has an aptly larger water tank capacity of 118 oz or 3.5 liters. If you have a larger family or a bigger number of employees, the K-fee Grande is more for you. Its water tank, however, is placed on the coffee machine’s back. Thus, it can be harder to reach particularly when placed against the wall. If you can forgive K-fee Grande’s water tank placement, you will surely love its larger water tank more.
The Winner Is- K-fee Grande
User Interface
The K-fee Twins II and K-fee Grande have very different interfaces.
K-fee Twins II
You can find the user interface of K-fee Twins II on its top. The buttons are illuminated and programmable. After pressing the power button, the buttons start blinking which indicates that the Twins II is heating up. It only takes 15 seconds for the Twins II to heat up. These illuminated buttons are convenient especially when you want caffeine when you wake up and your surroundings are dark. Both the K-fee Twins II and K-fee Grande can brew specialty drinks under 20 seconds.
K-fee Grande
The K-fee Grande also has programmable buttons. They are placed on the front of the coffee machine, however. Additionally, the K-fee Grande has a useful display alongside its buttons. However, one disadvantage customers point out is the lack of illumination on its buttons, unlike the K-fee Twins II. Thus, no midnight coffees or early morning caffeine boost, unless you turned all the lights in your home. If you can get past the unilluminated buttons, you will find its integrated display helpful. The display will let you know if the K-fee Grande has an empty water tank or full pods holder. Moreover, if the water filter needs changing, the display will also alert you. Lastly, if it is time to clean or descale the machine, the display will indicate accordingly.
The Winner Is- K-fee Grande
Value for Money
The K-fee Twins II and K-fee Grande have essentially the same purpose: to make you specialty drinks you enjoy and love. However, it boils down to their prices, the ultimate deciding factor.
K-fee Twins II
As you can already sense, the K-fee Twins II has a lower price tag than the Grande. It has a decreased water tank capacity. It has no fancy display to indicate if it is time to clean the machine and whatnot. However, due to its lower price and the same functionality as the Grande, it brings a lot of value for your money. At the end of the day, you will forget all about that because you can still drink your favorite espressos or lattes.
K-fee Grande
In contrast, the K-fee Grande costs more money because it has many luxurious features that the Twins II has not. If you are the type of person who loves the best for your family and themselves, the K-fee Grande is ideal for you. Bigger families and larger office spaces will surely love its larger 3.5-liter water tank.
The Winner Is- K-fee Twins II
Pros and Cons
K-fee Twins II
Pros:
- 19 bars of pump pressure
- Compatible with Starbucks® Verismo® Pods
- Has automatic capsule ejection mechanism
- Duo Pressure technology
- Short heating time at 15 seconds
- Can brew in less than 20 seconds
- 4 Programmable buttons
- 78 oz / 2.3 liters water tank
- Illuminated buttons
Cons:
- Limited coffee pods selection
- No coffee pods out of the box
- No integrated display
Pros:
- 19 bars of pump pressure
- Compatible with Starbucks® Verismo® Pods
- Has a large used pods storage up to 30
- Has automatic capsule ejection mechanism
- Duo Pressure technology
- Short heating time at 15 seconds
- Can brew in less than 20 seconds
- 4 Programmable buttons
- Larger 118 oz / 3.5 liters water tank
- Integrated display
Cons:
- Limited coffee pods selection
- No coffee pods out of the box
- Non-illuminated buttons
Which K-fee Single-Serve Brewer is Better?
The K-fee Twins II and K-fee Grande hold a lot of value, especially for Starbucks fans. If you have a tight budget for a Verismo-compatible coffee machine, the cheaper K-fee Twins II is perfect for you. Otherwise, you can get the better K-fee Grande.