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On most Keurig brewers, the model and serial number sticker sits on the side of the machine behind the removable water reservoir. Lift the tank off and it is right there. A few models hide it on the bottom instead, including the K-Mini and K-Mini Plus, and the K-Classic has a second sticker behind the drip tray. That is straight from Keurig's own serial number guide. Once you have the serial number, registering the brewer at keurig.com or reading the number to Keurig support will confirm the exact model name.
Why Keurig makes you hunt for it
Keurig does not print the model name on the front of the machine. The badge just says Keurig, whether you own a compact K-Mini or a K-Cafe with a milk frother. The identifying info lives on a sticker in one of three places: behind the water tank, behind the drip tray, or on the underside. Empty the reservoir and pull the drip tray before you tip the machine backward, or you will pour stale tank water across your counter. K-Mini owners have to do the tip-over method every time, since that machine has no standing reservoir to remove.
If the sticker is worn or missing, you can still narrow it down by features. Reservoir size, button layout, and attachments are different enough across the main families that you can usually identify the machine in under a minute.
Spot your model by its features
These specs come from Keurig's product pages, so they are the giveaways to check first.
| Model family | Water reservoir | The giveaway | Sticker location |
|---|---|---|---|
| K-Classic | 48 oz removable | Three brew buttons only (6, 8, 10 oz), rounded plastic body | Behind the water tank or behind the drip tray |
| K-Elite | 75 oz removable | Brushed metal finish, Strong and Iced buttons, 4 to 12 oz sizes | Behind the water tank |
| K-Supreme | 66 oz, dual position (side or back) | First family with MultiStream, five entrance needles instead of one | Behind the water tank or drip tray |
| K-Supreme Plus | 78 oz removable | MultiStream plus a bigger tank, brews up to 9 cups per fill | Behind the water tank |
| K-Mini / K-Mini Plus | One cup at a time, no standing tank | Under 5 inches wide, you add water per brew | On the bottom of the machine |
| K-Duo | 60 oz shared | 12-cup glass carafe and heating plate next to the pod side | Behind the water tank |
| K-Cafe | 60 oz removable | Attached milk frother pitcher, SHOT button for lattes | Behind the water tank |
Sources: Keurig's K-Supreme page for the MultiStream and reservoir specs, plus the K-Classic, K-Duo, and K-Cafe product pages.
Why the model matters
Almost every Keurig repair or maintenance question starts with "which model do you have." Descaling is the big one. The reset procedure for a stuck descale light is different on a K-Supreme than on a K-Classic, so identify the machine before you follow any fix. We walk through the model-specific resets in our guide to the Keurig descale light that stays on. Whichever machine you have, the descaling process itself uses the same descaling solution, so that part you can buy without knowing your model.
Replacement parts are the other reason. Water filters, reservoirs, and drip trays are family-specific, and ordering the wrong one is the most common return we hear about. Match the serial number, not the photo.
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Once you know your model
If you found out you own a K-Elite or a K-Supreme and you are weighing an upgrade or a warranty replacement, our K-Elite vs K-Supreme comparison covers what actually changed between the two. If the machine runs fine but the descale light will not quit, start with the descale light guide. And if you are trying to figure out how much caffeine your machine actually puts in a cup, the pod matters more than the brewer, so check the Keurig caffeine content table for the numbers by pod and cup size.
FAQ
Where is the serial number on a Keurig? On most models it is on a sticker behind the removable water reservoir. The K-Mini and K-Mini Plus have it on the bottom of the machine, and the K-Classic also has one behind the drip tray, per Keurig's support guide.
Can Keurig tell me my model from the serial number? Yes. Register the brewer at keurig.com and the model name comes up, or read the serial number to Keurig customer support and they will look it up for you.
How do I know if my Keurig has MultiStream? MultiStream started with the K-Supreme family. Check the top of a used pod: five small puncture holes instead of one means MultiStream. K-Classic, K-Elite, K-Mini, and the original K-Duo and K-Cafe use a single entrance needle.