WIRED Gives the Keurig Alta an 8/10, Docks It for Size and a Messy Bin

WIRED has reviewed the Keurig Alta and scored it 8 out of 10, with reviewer Louryn Strampe saying the $500 brewer and its new AltaRounds upend what she expected from a Keurig. Her complaints are mostly about living with it, not the coffee.

According to WIRED, setup took under seven minutes, Wi-Fi included. The machine has two compartments on top: a standard K-Cup holder on one side and a new slot for AltaRounds on the other, which reads a code on each round and suggests drinks. Strampe found the brews rich, with real crema, and even liked the caramel blend despite not usually drinking flavored coffee. She also praised the built-in steam wand, which walks you through frothing and adjusts for dairy, oat, almond or soy milk. Rounds come in dark roast, medium roast, caramel and double-shot espresso for now, at $11 per box of eight, with light roast and single-shot espresso on the way.

The downsides WIRED lists: the Alta is big and heavy at 10.8 by 11.8 by 19 inches and 22 pounds, one round burst inside its compartment and left a mess, the three-piece waste bin is fiddly to empty, and the touchscreen menus take some getting used to. Strampe also notes the rounds ship in foil-based wrappers for now, with curbside-recyclable paper packaging promised later.

Our take: this is the fourth Alta review we’ve covered, after CNET, NBC Select and Techlicious, and the pattern holds: reviewers like the drinks and flag the size or the price. Measure your counter (and the space under your cabinets) before you order. Our Alta explainer has the basics, and if you’re weighing pod costs, start with what a regular Keurig costs per cup.