Review: Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer - Use K-Cups and Ground Coffee

Review from Single Serve Coffee.com - Coffee Pod Reviews Breville Keurig Bkc600Xl

Breville is widely known for making exceptional small kitchen appliances, and for producing very attractive small appliances. We were very excited to find out that indeed Keurig and Breville had teamed up this year to introduce a high end Keurig brewer designed by Breville. The results are exceptional - a very polished interesting staineless steel design, with Keurig K Cup brewing technology, and all the features you can get in any Keurig machine - including the reuseable My K Cup integrated into the machine allowing you to use your own ground coffee instead of K Cups, and a charcoal water filter in the tank reservoir.

Here are some previous articles to our review to help round out our thoughts and impressions on the Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer:

What do we think about this new Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer? Do the new features and design justify the price at $299?

Brevile BKC600XL Key Features

Control Panel - The programmable backlit panel and LCD screen gives one-touch control over the brewing process. It includes a digital clock with auto on-off time feature, four brew strength sizes, and variable brew temperature control.
Brew Head - A patented showerhead delivers water through the K-Cup. You can choose from a variety of over 150 K-Cups, and all K-Cups work with the machine
Water Tank and Filter - The backlit 60oz. capacity tank brews up to 10 cups before refilling. The brewer constantly maintains water at the brewing temperature and delivers the exact volume of water for optimal flavor extraction. The included filter system reduces substances that affect the smell and taste of water to ensure the best tasting gourmet beverages
My K-Cup and storage - The dishwasher safe, reusable 'My K-Cup'™ allows you to use your own grind of coffee so you can adjust the amount and type of coffee to suit your tastes. Along with the included measuring scoop, this accessory stores in the compartment on top of the brewer.

Besides the My K-Cup storage (and included My K Cup), plus the water tank filter, there are really no features the Breville BKC600XL has over the Keurig B70. That being said, the design and look of the machine is very different.

The Breville logo on the top of the machine stamped
in stainless steel.

The brewer features chrome accents on the brew head.

The reuseable My K-Cup storage area in the top of the machine.

The drip tray is very large and accepts larger mugs.
You can also use a travel mug if you remove the tray.

The large LCD screen is also improved.

The water tank is very large at 60oz, and
features a water filter.

The Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer has a very clean and polished design. We like the overall fit of all the lines - from the water reservoir - to the brew had, the touches of stainless steel and chrome give off a very high end feel. So if you're looking for a stainless steel appliance to compliment other in your kitchen - this is the Keurig brewer for you.

Also because of the stainless steel and solid design, when brewing the Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer seems to be a bit quieter. The drip tray doesn't seem to vibrate as much as on the Keurig models. We can always enjoy a little quieter process to make any cup of single serve coffee.

Brewing A Cup of Coffee with the Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer

The process is the same as other Keurig brewers when making a cup of single serve coffee with the Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer. You switch the machine on or use the auto-on pre-programmed time (we set ours for 6:30am), and then wait for the machine to heat up. Warm up time is very quick, and we love the blue lights both in the LCD Control display and in the water tank.

Making a cup of coffee with the Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer

You then either can use the reusable My K Cup located in the top of the machine that also includes a coffee scoop, or you can use any of the 150+ varieties of K-Cups available. We have been drinking many of the new bolder Green Mountain Roasts and our first cup of Hazelnut Dark Roast Extra bold was made in the Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer. The results of the same K Cup in either the Keurig B70 or the Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer are the same. Both use the K Cup extraction system, and both produce excellent cups of coffee.

Also you may want to read our review of the reusable My K-Cup coffee filter to get the full picture on using your own ground coffee.

Side By Side Comparison of the Breville BKC600XL and the Keurig B70

TheBreville BKC600XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer is just a little bigger and heavier than the Keurig B70. The overall footprint is almost the same, with the Breville being a little wider. Also - the My K Cup storage in the top means have the ability to place the Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer where you can easily open the top. Also one of the best changes in the Breville BKC600XL over the Keurig B70- the power button is not in the back, it's located on the side of the brewer. Thank you Breville - though we love our B70, we don't like reaching around in the back of the machine to turn it on.

Don't let the angle fool you, the Breville
isn't that much bigger than the Keuig B70.

Wrapping Up

Pros:

Reuseable My K-Cup Storage
Stainless Steel Design
Charcoal Water Filter in Resevoir
Redesigned LCD Panel and Control - larger and easier to read
Fits travel mugs easily
Less noise when brewing compared to other Keurig models

Cons:

Water Tank is hard to remove - very slick because of design
Pricier than other Keurig models at $299

Overall we think if you want a super attractive K-Cup single serve coffee maker, and are willing to pay $100 more and get all the features of any Keurig brewer - the Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer is for you. You won't have to spend the extra on filtered water, and you can have the My K-Cup reusable filter within arms reach. We also think the design alone is worth the premium - this brewer screams high end, and we really think it makes a nice addition to the arsenal in the Single Serve Coffee test kitchen. Expect to see the Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer photographed in many of our K-Cup reviews to come.

Review: Nabob Café Crema T-Discs for Tassimo - Apr 08, 2008
Review: Brew-Yet Coffee Disc Maker - Make Coffee Pods from Traditional Coffee Filters - Apr 04, 2008
Review: K Cup Injector for Keurig Brewers - Reuse Your K Cups - Mar 21, 2008

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Posted by Jay Brewer at November 19, 2007 7:57 AM

I measured my unit and it's 12-1/2" at the top front of the machine where you put the K-cups. The rest of the machine from mid to back is only 12". I don't even know where 13.25" comes into play, no less 16.75". It is not too hard to remove the tank from the unit. It's a little awkward though and I'm always afraid I'm going to miss attaching it properly and the water will tip over all over the place. So far it hasn't happened. I could use container though to fill it up without having to remove the tank. I purchased this unit the first week of November but never got to open it until last week. Mine was the first and only unit sold so far from Bed Bath & Beyond and mine was also the first returned unit! When I opened the box, there was a huge stain on the top of the stainless steel which did not want to come off and I was going to try to live with it. However, during the priming process before using the machine, I was unable to set the brew size which stayed at the Travel size only yet barely 5 oz of water would spit out. I knew it had to go back. Also, the bottom tray that catches the drips would constantly overflow with water. It seemed that the reason I got 5oz of water was that the rest of it was fed down into the drip tray. Just a bad unit. I returned it and the second unit is perfect. My only complaint is the very loud vibrating noise when you hit the "BREW" button at first, but then the machine is very quiet while it's brewing. I am very inexperienced with ordering K-cups and so,while I have Green Mountain coffee service for over a year now, I called them to change my service to K-cups. I had a field day with the selections and I had no clue how much to order for my monthly order. And since the holidays are coming, I decided to kind of order one of everything. Everyday I have been getting UPS boxes from Green Mountain and I have well over 500 K-cups....enough to serve my entire neighborhood, I guess! I don't think I'll have to order coffee for a few months at this rate! Bottom line: I'm loving the machine as is the rest of my family! I also have a Breville Elite Juicer which together, they make a pretty show on my countertop.
Posted by: Boni at December 5, 2007 11:27 AM

My unit came with a Tully's variety pack. I got it at Williams Sonoma because of their lifetime warranty. The Tully's varieties included Italian, Kona, Decaf French, and French. They seem very strong to me, and I think all the Tully's are Extra Bold.

I went with this machine solely because of the esthetics, and am very pleased. You don't have to install the water filter if you already use filtered water. It was much quieter than I expected. The loudest parts of the cycle are the initial heating of water and the final blow of air, which isn't loud. It's louder than a drip coffee maker, but it's not offensive.

I wouldn't buy this to make hot cocoa. Use a packet and the Breville for hot water. The instructions for using your own coffee say to start with a coarse grind and then go finer with experimentation. Translation: it's going to take a few tries to get a cup of coffee the way you like it. You can fill the little cup thing with coffee, which should be plenty for a single cup as long as it's been ground properly.

One thing to remember, is that this is a SINGLE serve coffee maker. If you want to fill a 20oz travel mug, you're gonna have to use a couple K-Cups. Many are meant for 7.25 oz MAX. That's a single serving. Take that into account before thinking you can spend 35 cents for your morning fix if you usually drink the equivalent of three cups. Even an Extra Bold cup (one with enough coffee to use the 11.25 oz setting) is going to taste slightly different at that setting, and 11.25 oz still won't fill many travel mugs.

I'm very pleased with the machine and with the K Cups I've tried. It's cool to have the option of using pods (with the aftermarket adapter), grounds, or K Cups. If you're planning to use ground coffee primarily, though, you should probably look elsewhere. This machine seems primarily a K Cup machine, and the other possibilities are a great bonus.

Go in with the proper expectations and you should have a great experience. Browse the Keurig website and explore the varieties of coffee offered before taking the plunge. Understand that most varieties can only be found online, and that it might take you going through 5 different kinds of K Cup before you find one you really like. There are online retailers who will sell you single K Cups, and the Keurig site sells 5 packs. Also, remember that it's a coffee maker, not an espresso machine. No lattes, no cappuccinos, no crema. However, no one's stopping you from frothing some milk and adding it to your coffee.

Sorry if this sounds like a "For Dummies" post, but it took me a while to figure all this out. If I wasn't prepared for the Tully's (knowing it was going to be strong), I'd be disappointed with my purchase after making my first cup because I'm not a Dark Roast lover.

That being said, the K Cup system isn't going to be everyone's favorite. If it's not for you, then move on. Personally, I find the ease with which you can choose between 100 different kinds of coffee, brew a cup, and then immediately choose a different kind and brew another cup to be phenomenal. I'm not as excited about all the little plastic cups being thrown away. This machine can't be all things to everyone, but if you want a stylish K Cup maker with a water filter and built-in My K Cup, this is your machine.

Posted by: Paul at April 15, 2008 3:44 AM

I don't understand the hype with this machine. First, I think the Keurig brewer is a nicer design. The extra gadgets they added are meaningless. If you use the 'My k-cup" all the time you leave it in the machine. If you use it occasionally, how hard is it to take it from a drawer when you need it. Having k-cup storage on the machine is more a nuisance than convenience. If you need to have them on hand get the carousel. Other wise take them from the box as needed. The charcoal filter is just another item to be maintained and bottled water is pretty cheap. I guess if you like shiny gadgets then you might like this machine. It doesn't make better coffee so the extra $100 over the B70 is hardly justified. If this was comparable to the B100 then it might make sense. In my opinion, dollar for dollar, the B70 is a better deal.
Posted by: Bob at November 19, 2007 11:13 AM

I purchased this over the weekend and passed my B70 over to my Mom. I love the look and function of this unit and concur that it has less vibration and seems to be quieter. It appears to me when I shut the brewing head on the BXC600XL that it reacts like there is a shock absorber. Am I imagining this and is this different from the B70? Thanks for a great site!
Posted by: Barry at November 19, 2007 10:15 PM

Jay, I'm deciding between the new Cuisinart and this 600XCL. Price ASIDE, do you feel one machine brews better coffee than the other? I'll be using my own ground coffee. Don't want to be dependent on K Cups. Interested to hear if you prefer one over the other on taste alone. Thanks.
Posted by: Finbar at November 29, 2007 1:21 PM

They're both top in their class. Since you can use ground coffee in either - and pods in either (Perfect Pod Holster for Keurig) - then really they both have the full range. Maybe a little more control in the SS-1 - but the convenience of the k cups and variety is also good. I use them both equally - and if I had one or the other I would not feel like I was missing out. Both make great coffee.
Posted by: Jay Brewer at November 29, 2007 1:26 PM

Jay, I'm seriously considering this machine. The problem is, I don't know if it'll fit under my cabinets. Amazon and Williams Sonoma list the height as 16.75" while the BrevilleUSA web site has it listed as 13.25". Can you tell me which is correct? Thanks Jay!!
Posted by: susannyny at December 1, 2007 6:50 PM

I bought this machine and I think it's great. About the water tank... at first I thought it was to remove it too but then I found how you have to do it. You have to grab it from under, there is a space there for you to put your hand beneath it. It's really easy. I love the coffee. I can't compare it to any other single cup machines because it is my first.
Posted by: GSA at December 7, 2007 8:36 PM

I purchased one over the weekend and I have a question; I find that when the machine "vibrates" it seems to shake enough to move the cup around on the drip tray. I've moved it around to other locations on the counter and it continues to have this problem. Does anyone else experience this? How much vibration do others notice? This is the first k-cup device I've ever owned, but since I own lots of Breville products I knew immediately that this was the one I wanted.
Posted by: BJ at December 10, 2007 11:12 PM

if you are still having vibration problem try a mouse pad under it that helped on the b70 I returned for the breville. Taking the water tank off is easy once you realize there is an indented handle down on the bottom i noticed this detail when I finally read my manual. Does everyone else have the darn open head thing flashing all the time ?
Posted by: debbie at December 11, 2007 11:52 PM

OK, a silly question. I'm a new Breville owner and this is the first time I've owned a single serve coffee device. When I watch the demo on this site of the Breville brewing, I see that it works like this (after the brew button is pressed) -Loud vibrating noise -Coffee is brewed -Air is blown through to get rid of all the water in k-cup (I'll call this the purge phase) -Vibrating noise again (to refill water tank I guess) When I watch the video on this site, the purge phase seems to last about 5 seconds. On mine, I notice that it lasts about 3-4 seconds, then I hear a hum for a second or two before the vibrating noise starts. I assumed that the purge phase would be standard, so the fact that mine is about 60% shorter concerns me. My question is; does the machine adjust the purge phase or could this be a defect? When you spend $260 on a machine you want to make sure it works perfectly!
Posted by: NewBrevilleOwner at December 12, 2007 6:23 PM

first let me say Great site.... I just purchased this unit at Bed Bath & Beyond for $155. they have the unit listed for $194 w/20% coupon it was an excellent deal. as for the other con in the review; the water tank is easily removed using the hand grip on the bottom of the tank.
Posted by: Troy at December 15, 2007 1:56 PM

To BJ: Yes, vibration is very loud at first and the cup seems like if it weren't a heavy cup,it would move off to the side! I actually thought the vibration noise was to the exteme and was a defect until I read here you have the same thing. It's so short-lived I can live with the noise. I saw a huge puddle today on the right side of the machine and I'm hoping there's no leak. I'm keeping a watch on it now. I was hoping someone spilled something next to the machine but I'm not so sure about that. A poster above said the machine was $155 at BBB. I paid $239 at Bed Bath & Beyond with their 20% off coupon. It lists there for $299, certainly nowheres near $194 as stated above.
Posted by: Boni at December 17, 2007 7:05 PM

And the unit leaked today. I contacted Breville this morning and I'm waiting to hear a response. The unit makes great coffee and I hate to exchange it but leaking is the reason I bought a new coffeemaker in the first place. Had a Bunn for a very long time until now. Also, I placed a heavy cup with a bottom rim that fits the entire bottom of the unit and the initial vibration was so much less. A cup with a small bottom rim seems to glide all over the place.
Posted by: Boni at December 18, 2007 10:21 AM

I too saw that BBB had it advertised for $194 online and was going to buy it. I waited to compared with other coffee brewer for a day. Next day, they took the Breville off their website which still can not be found on BBB online. I think it was a mistake or I missed a great sale.
Posted by: Duc at December 23, 2007 11:31 AM

Just an update: Breville customer service contacted me via email immediately and offered to replace my unit. However, I have never seen the leaks again other than those 2 times and I informed them of the same. I am keeping this one as it makes awesome coffee and performed fantastically over the holidays. My company was very impressed with its looks, the features, and the ability to make their own type of coffee. In fact, this has cost me: I have to buy one for my daughter now!
Posted by: Boni at December 29, 2007 6:49 AM

I love this machine! I got the Cuisinart Cup-O-Matic for Christmas, but was really disappointed with it, so I exchanged it and upgraded to the Breville (gotta love Williams-Sonoma's customer service!) Anyway, after using both for a week I can honestly say if you're wavering between the two, go with the Breville. It does everything the Cuisinart does with less noise, less vibration, and the flexibility to use the K-Cups, your own coffee and coffee pods (with the Pod Holster which I haven't tried yet) You can also make hot cocoa or tea K-Cups or just hot water for your own mixable beverage. The Cuisinart's capabilities stopped at soft pods & own coffee. I highly recommend this Breville!
Posted by: Marybeth at January 2, 2008 3:36 PM

Ok, i just returned my Breville after getting it for Xmas. Couple of problems, first I wanted to use my own coffee. The Breville filter for grinds limits the amount of coffee you can put in, therefore the coffee it makes is very weak. There is no way to adjust the strength, and if you want a bigger cup, as it allows you to choose, the coffee just gets weaker??? It worked fine with the K-cups, but it a terrible machine if you want to use your own ground coffee. Was I doing something wrong??
Posted by: Warren at January 3, 2008 4:04 PM

I also received the Cuisinart Cup-O-matic for christmas and just returned it. I thought the cuisinart was too loud, wasn't warm enough, and didn't have a timer to turn on in the morning. Well, the Breville is fantastic. The coffee tastes great and is much hotter. There are more choices with the k cups too. If you are deciding between the two, get the Breville!
Posted by: Eugene at January 6, 2008 7:55 AM

Jay, I can't decide between the Breville and the Bunn MyCafe. Two important features are adjustable cup size, we usually pour a 14 oz mug, (with adjustable strengths, we like strong) and the ability to brew half-caff (which I can with 2 pods-Bunn or My Own Kcup-Breville) Did I also just read from Marybeth that the Breville will take pods? If so, how many will fit in the Holster? Thanks for making a go-to site with a wealth of information!
Posted by: Lora at January 8, 2008 12:14 PM

I also returned by Cuisinart-Cup-o-Matic for the Breville. I love everything about the Breville, but I am having one problem. Every now and then, it will start spitting out water when the machine is on but not in the brew mode. It will spit anywhere from 1/2 to a full cup of water. Is anyone else experiencing the same problem?
Posted by: Leigh at January 14, 2008 7:01 AM

Leigh, if you read my post a few above yours you'll see I experienced 2 leaks and contacted Breville. They were willing to replace the machine but I hated to return it unless the problem continued. So far, it never happened again and this machine has really been used alot. Where do you see it spitting water out of? Mine was in front of the machine and a flood on the right side of the machine. Odd. Never saw it again. I cooerced 3 more people to get the machine and they absolutely love it too!
Posted by: Boni at January 25, 2008 8:53 AM

I love this machine, but the last several days all it will do is flash the "open head" no matter how many times I open and close it. I contacted breville and am still waiting for a possible fix.
Posted by: Mike at January 29, 2008 11:58 AM

Seriously, is the entire Breville marketing department writing these reviews & asking these questions?? Hello!! Eugene??? I got the breville for x-mas, returned it because it sucks if you wanna use your own grounds!!!!!! I UPGRADED to the Cuisinart-Cup-o-Matic!!!! It's a FANTASTIC machine for pods & if you want to use your own ground coffee!!!!! And by the way, it's $100 less than the breville......sorry breville marketing, I own other breville products so perhaps you'll get generation II right! Best of luck! Perhaps you should buy a few Cuisinart-Cup-o-Matics for competitive comparison??? FYI, I do not work for Cuisinart.....happy brewing to all & to all a good night!!!
Posted by: Warren at January 29, 2008 9:37 PM

Boni, In response to your questions regarding the leaking problem. . . I had three different machines all that leaked hot water from the front as if someone hit the brew button even when no one was near the machine. I kept having the same problem and called Breville. They were not helpful at all. I was told I was probably getting machines from a "bad batch". I finally went to a different store in a different town and got a machine that works. The only reason I persisted with all of this returning (the machine is heavy to pack, unpack, bring back) is that I read so many positive reviews both on this site and on Amazon. I do love the machine, but I do wish I didn't have to go through so much trouble.
Posted by: Leigh at January 30, 2008 4:42 PM

Leigh, it took 2 machines to get it right and I wouldn't exactly call the 2nd machine "right" becuase that's the one that leaked 2X. Like I said, it never happened again so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it won't. Glad you finally found a good one! I guess I was luckier with Breville's service dept as they kept emailing me to see if I needed to RMA this thing out. And if they were aware that there was a "bad batch", they should have definitely been alot more accommodating to you and anyone else experiencing problems. I too would have probably gone to another Bed Bath & Beyond across town if the problem persisted as it is really heavy to keep packing, unpacking, and repacking, etc. So far, everyone who purchased the machine as per my recommendations and their seeing it in my house, have been lucky. It's worked perfectly. And to Warren who posted above you, NO the entire Breville marketing dept. are not writing these reviews to my knowledge. Obviously, I have no affiliation with them at all. I do use my own ground coffee occasionally and I understand there is now a pod holder that fits the Breville. You didn't read the instructions I guess. Maybe you should dump your Cuisinart and get a real machine!
Posted by: Boni at February 4, 2008 7:02 PM

We just got this and after the set-up process we tried a cup of hot chocolate. It was like drinking warm water with a slight flavor to it, but not hot chocolate. So, after it was all done and said to remove the k-cup I did so. The cup felt like it had a lot of content in it so I opened it up. It was almost full of cocoa mix with a small amount of wet cocoa on wide side (near the hole that the machine punched). We tried it again with another hot cocoa and again with a coffee k-cup--tried them all on different cup sizes also. Same thing every time, it was like drinking warm water that had a very slight flavor. I re-read all directions but found no solution to this problem. Any tips?
Posted by: Wain at April 10, 2008 9:11 PM

Honestly, I don't find the cocoa very flavorful at all. It looks like dishwater. That is my only disappointment. But it is very hot, not just warm. Have you ever tried coffee in the machine? Does it seem to work the same way? If so, then something is wrong. I had to exchange my first unit because of a computer problem.
Posted by: Boni at April 11, 2008 7:22 PM

Thank you for the reply Boni, it's appreciated. We have tried coffee in it, and like the cocoa, it was unimpressive. Perhaps it is just defective. We have only had it a few days so I'll try to exchange it for another unit. Thanks again.
Posted by: Wain at April 11, 2008 9:32 PM