Delish Calls the $500 Keurig Alta Worth It, Unless You Drink Drip

Delish is the latest outlet to review the $499.99 Keurig Alta, and it’s one of the warmest verdicts yet: writer Megan Schaltegger says that if you can afford to swap out your regular Keurig for it, you should.

She tested it next to an original Keurig and found it easy to set up thanks to the screen that walks you through each step, even as someone who admits she doesn’t read directions. Per the review, the drip coffee and espresso both impressed her, the built-in frother handles hot and cold foam, and she liked that the AltaRounds are smaller and easier to store than K-Cups. She also notes the machine still takes regular K-Cups.

On cost, Delish lists AltaRounds at $9.99 to $10.99 for a box of eight, or about $1.25 to $1.37 a cup, which it calls reasonable. Its one big caveat: if all you drink is plain drip coffee, the Alta probably isn’t worth the money.

That’s a sunnier take than some others we’ve covered. CNET liked the lattes but found the espresso light on body, and WIRED gave it an 8 out of 10 while knocking it for its size and a fiddly waste bin. Delish doesn’t go into espresso texture or iced drinks in much detail, so it’s more of a first-impressions piece than a deep test.

Our take: Delish’s caveat is the one that matters. The Alta earns its price on lattes and cappuccinos, and $1.25 or more per AltaRound adds up fast next to store-brand K-Cups. Run your own numbers with our Keurig cost-per-cup breakdown, and see what CNET thought of the espresso before you decide.