Can You Make Espresso in a Keurig? What Your Machine Can Actually Do

Your Keurig has been faithfully brewing your morning cup for years. But lately, you’ve been craving something stronger—something with that intense, concentrated punch that only espresso seems to deliver.

Maybe you’ve seen those espresso K-Cups and wondered if they’re the real deal. Perhaps you’re tired of paying café prices for a proper shot of espresso. Either way, you’re probably asking yourself: Can I Make Espresso in a Keurig?

The short answer is no. You can’t make espresso in a Keurig—not “real” espresso, anyway.

What do these espresso K-Cup pods offer then? How can you get the richest coffee possible from your trusty Keurig? Read on to find out!

What Is True Espresso? (And Why It Matters)

Let’s clear up a common misconception right off the bat: espresso isn’t a special type of coffee bean you can buy at the store. It’s all about how you brew your coffee grounds.

The magic happens when you force hot water through finely ground coffee under serious pressure. So, to get an authentic espresso, you’d need to invest in a true espresso machine.

Even fancy pod machines like Nespresso Vertuo (which spins capsules at 7,000 RPM to create velvety crema!) get side-eye from espresso purists. They argue that without high-pressure extraction, you’re getting an impressive imitation, not the real deal.

The Reality Check: What Keurigs Can Do

Keurigs work differently from traditional espresso machines. But they’re not exactly your typical drip machine, either.

Traditional drip coffee makers rely on gravity and heating chambers. Meanwhile, Keurigs use water and air pumps. So, there’s a bit of pressure involved in the process.

This pressure is high enough to speed the brewing process (seconds rather than minutes). However, the pressure isn’t anywhere close to what you’ll find in traditional espresso machines.

Now, some Keurig models do have a dedicated shot button that’ll brew you a tiny 2-oz cup of concentrated coffee.

This feature slows down the normal brew cycle and creates something that tastes more espresso-ish than your typical cup of coffee. It’s perfect if you want to make lattes (or a slightly intense coffee) at home without investing in a full espresso machine.

But let’s be honest—you won’t get that signature crema or the full-bodied intensity that makes real espresso so special.

What You Actually Get: Espresso-Style Coffee

If Keurigs can’t make espresso, why are there off-brand espresso K-Cup capsules on the market? Well, these are mostly espresso-style coffees, not actual espresso pods.

Espresso-style coffee is a specially crafted dark roast designed to deliver rich flavor and intensity no matter how you brew it.

Coffee companies engineer these blends to work across all sorts of coffee makers, from basic drip pots of coffee to your trusty Keurig. The goal? Give you that robust flavor in a concentrated single shot without requiring expensive equipment.

They’re not going to fool any serious coffee snob, but it does create an enjoyable coffee experience.

5 Tips for Making the Best Espresso-Style Coffee with Your Keurig

Ready to get the most out of your Keurig? These tips will help you brew the richest, most concentrated coffee possible without upgrading your setup.

1. Pick Espresso-Style Pods From Your Favorite Coffee Brand

While light roasts shine in pour-over methods, dark roasts are your best friend for espresso-style drinks, especially if you plan on adding milk or cream later. Plus, dark roasts usually have less acidity and more of that smooth, full-bodied, rich coffee.

We also recommend grabbing coffee grounds specifically labeled espresso or espresso-style. These are formulated to release maximum flavor even without the high pressure of traditional espresso machines.

Lavazza’s Espresso Keurig K-Cup and Cafe Bustelo’s Espresso Style K-Cup pods are solid options.

2. No Shot Option? Select the Small Cup Size Option

If you’ve got a K-Cafe machine with that dedicated shot button, you’ve hit the jackpot. It’ll slow down the brew speed to get as close as possible to the ideal range. Keep in mind that standard espresso needs about 25 seconds of extraction time, while Lungo needs even longer.

But if your Keurig doesn’t have a shot feature, all you need to do is choose the smallest cup size setting. You want the most concentrated coffee possible from each coffee pod, so there’s no point in diluting it with extra hot water.

For some Keurig models, the smallest brewing setting creates 4 ounces of coffee.

3. Don’t Use an Espresso Cup From the Get-Go

It might be tempting to brew directly into that cute little espresso cup. Trust me on this one: it’s a bad idea. Keurigs are more or less drip coffee makers, which means your concentrated shot might splash everywhere if the cup is too small.

Use a regular-sized mug to catch all the concentrated coffee, then transfer it to your espresso cup once brewing is complete. Your countertop will thank you.

4. Set Realistic Expectations

Don’t panic if your coffee looks a bit watery while it’s dripping. That’s normal for any drip-style brewing technique.

You won’t see that golden crema on the top, either. It forms under really high pressure, which we’ve established your Keurig can’t deliver.

5. Don’t Be Scared to Try New Recipes

Just because your machine can’t make “true” espresso doesn’t mean you have to settle for dull-tasting coffee. Elevate your espresso-style coffee pods with milk, syrups, sugar, or whatever makes your taste buds happy.

Some Keurig models come with milk frothers that can whip cold or warm milk into a silky froth. Use it to create lattes and cappuccinos at home. You could even turn your potent shot into iced coffee!

The Final Scoop

Your Keurig will never make authentic espresso simply because it wasn’t built for it. Yes, that’s true even if it has a shot feature. While the cup of coffee you get from the shot brew button is strong in intensity, it’s still a regular coffee in terms of brewing method.

Hard-core coffee lovers who crave that authentic flavor of espresso might want to ditch the Keurig and get an espresso machine instead.

The good news is that you don’t have to break the bank to get a machine that can brew a strong cup of espresso. There are lots of affordable machines out there.