Keurig Coffee ='s Ghastly Dreck

[launderess]

Was in kitchen other morning making coffee; without thinking placed thermal carafe not quite firmly on counter and it went smashing to floor. Inside glass liner totally smashed so had to bin the thing.

Made coffee anyway but pot sat sitting getting cold so had to subsequently heat each new up in microwave. That got old then figured a bit of adventure; next morning would use the "new to me" Keuring machine that was gifted last year, and has mostly sat sitting ever since.

Popped a Starbucks K-cup into machine, added proper amount of water..., set thing on brew with cup in place.... Came back to cup of coffee and went to sit at computer as per normal morning routine. However instead of usual nice hot cup of coffee got lukewarm dreck!

All these years of making vacuum pot coffee has spoiled one. Cannot believe people rave about what is supposed to be coffee that comes out of this contraption. Also now understand why so many of these machines are the new "bread maker" at thrift stores, or just put out on recycling day for anyone to take.

Happily got a new thermal carafe yesterday so can go back to normal routine. Am thinking will move the K thing onto someone else as can't see ever using it much.

 

[sfh074]

My experience .......

with Keurig has always been limited to doctors offices. Have been hesitantly drinking it while having to take my mother to more and more appointments.

Not believing that the first cup I tried was so bad, I have been making it a personal challenge to try different flavors each time. Out of the 6 or 7 I have tried, the dunkin donut breakfast blend is the only one I can choke down. Launderess, I'm with you, the worst coffee ever. For a doctor's office, it makes sense. For everyday coffee, I would have to give up the habit if this was the only method of making coffee.

 

[frigilux]

I don't know of anyone who raves about the quality of the coffee produced by a Keurig. It's very average. I went from a Technivorm Moccamaster to a Keurig and the difference was beyond substantial.

However, I am now limited to 1 cup of caffeinated coffee per day; thus, the Keurig. I know there are single serve drip machines using your own ground coffee, but I've gotten used to having a rather ridiculous array of brands and roasts in the cupboard to choose from. I never drink the same coffee two days in a row. Sometimes I want a very dark, smoky roast, like Starbucks French Roast. Other days I want a lighter roast "diner style" coffee, like Krispy Kreme Smooth, McCafe Morning Blend or Tim Horton's; others days it's something in between. In addition to caffeinated coffees, I keep a selection of decafs on hand.

I tend to use the Keurig more for iced tea, really. Almost always have 1 or 2 a day. As with coffee, I keep a selection of teas on hand ranging from Twinings, Tazo, or Tetley's black, Earl Gray, decaffeinated blacks and herbal teas.

You can produce a better cup from a Keurig by purchasing one of their reusable K-cups and grinding the beans of your choice immediately before brewing. I have one, but the lure/convenience of just popping a pre-ground K-cup into the chamber and pressing brew has proved itself siren-like to me, lol.

The Keurig is nice for convenience and selection. Quality of the beverage won't stand up to a high-quality drip method, French press, or vacuum pot.

At some point I may go back to an espresso machine--a Breville or Rancilio Silvia, most likely--but until then, it's ghastly dreck for me.

 

[foraloysius]

What is actually the pressure these Keurig machines use? 15 bar or so like a Nespresso machine or around 3 bar like a Senseo etc?

 

[maytagbear]

Agreed that there

ARE trade offs with a Keurig, however, like so many other matters, it is a question of the software, that is, the contents of the pods and the water. Surprisingly enough, the coffee will go stale in a K "kup," if it is kept too long.

However, if the water tastes good, and the pod is fresh, it can produce a cup more drinkable than instant.

Due to just plain life, I now live in a nursing home. The "coffee" that comes from the kitchen is NOT drinkable. Worse than gas station coffee by light years.

No resident is allowed to have any sort of heating appliance, so I cannot have my lovely big stainless steel GE percolator, but there is a Keurig in the staff break room. If I provide the pod, a Peet's Major Dickison's Blend will be made for me. So.......



Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[kb0nes]

Two Words

Cold & Weak

Of course that is assuming they work. I was given a Keurig Mini for Christmas one year, it brewed about 6 cups then stopped. I exchanged it at the retailer (something I rarely do as it isn't their problem) for a replacement. The second one maybe brewed 12 cups, the failure seemed similar. Both would complete a brew cycle as long as there was no back pressure from the K-Cup otherwise they would time out 1/3rd done. I believe it is the air pump failing. Has to be scads of these things in landfills to round out the heaps of K-Cups...

The Phillip's drip brewer I bought in 2002 still makes a pot a day 19 years on...

 

[firedome]

more drinkable than instant...

talk about damning by faint praise. I have to be truly desperate for caffeine to drink the unspeakable swill that is Keurig. Even though their largest factory is a mere 5 miles from here since they merged with Green Mountain, (which started as a fresh whole bean coffee roaster of quality coffee (their Sumatran was my absolute favorite back in the '80s), it's one local product that I have no problem with rejecting.

 

[mattl]

I'm not  coffee purist so for whatever it's worth I've been packing my own K cups as of late and overall been pretty happy.  I've been using the large grey "torpedo" style from Amazon and once I learned to pack the loose grounds into the basket I got a good -for me - cup of coffee.  I use a teaspoon and pack each spoonful before I add  the next.  I am limited to decaf so I blend stuff easily found at the grocery store.

 

Temp wise my machine has a selection of brew temps I choose the hottest 190 degrees, and that is fine for me.

 

[thomasortega]

The day Darryl wants to divorce me, the only thing he needs to do is bring a Keurig coffee maker home.

First coffee maker: Oster, bought at walmart, 911 thing the day we moved because the next mornign I'd LOVE to drink a cup of coffee.
Next morning came, I made a cup of dirty lukewarm water.
Then it was the Ninja whatever super chinesium mega power blaster ultra. Probably the most stupid coffee maker I've ever seen. It "pees" the lukewarm water right in the center of the filter and nowhere else. You end up with a whole carafe of "lighter than weak chamomile tea" water and a filter with "washed" coffee grounds (round as a quarter) surrounded by dry grounds. (That darn thing is sitting in my kitchen only because Darryl likes to look at it (he almost never drinks coffee).
Someday I'll wake up in a bad mood and that Ninja will fly from Gage avenue to Slauson.

Then Kitchenaid personal coffee maker came to the rescue. I have to admit, I impulsively bought it just because it was cute, red, small and inexpensive. Gosh, it is the very best electric coffee maker I've ever had (among over 50). Perfect coffee, perfect temperature, the filter is small and the water is poured evenly, the coffee flavor blooms instead of being that bitter darn "thing", it's rich, it's strong, it's HOT, It's sexy and it knows it. (just like men should be).

However.....

I'm still tempted to get a Bialetti moka, the classic design, 9 cups, no bells and whistles because they're the best. I don't need another coffee maker because I already have one that I love so much that if there's a fire, I may forget my husband and my dogs, but save the coffee maker. The day this coffee maker dies, IDK what I'm going to do with my life. Maybe use the good and old Melitta pour over filter holder and a kettle on the stove?

Unfortunately this model was discontinued. It's still possible to find in some "overstock" websites or on Ebay. If you like HOT and bold coffee, don't miss it.
Original price was, if not mistaken, $79. If you love bold, hot and perfect coffee, don't think twice before getting one.

Picture on the next post.

 

[thomasortega]

This is the one...

It comes with a small travel mug, but I decided to reduce my coffee intake to only two cups per day because it's a pain to "smuggle" coffee from Brazil. So now I brew it straight in the tiny mug that's my exact number.

 

[gizmo]

I'm from Melbourne.

As a Melbournian I have to say if it isn't espresso, it isn't coffee.

Back in the 1950s some homesick Italian migrants set up Australia's first espresso bar in Lygon Street which is still Melbourne's "Little Italy.",

Melbournians of all nationalities slowly came to drinking "real coffee" and now Melbourne has a vibrant coffee culture and exports baristas to the world.

I remember our trip to the USA in 2015, in 4 weeks of a coffee a day, I think I had one or maybe two coffees that weren't awful.

I'm off to make a latte...

...using the Quaha Napoletana II espresso machine that I salvaged from a hard rubbish collection a few years ago. It only needed basic servicing. It has a built in grinder and makes a wonderful cup of real coffee. (alright I drink decaf, but in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing, decaf is delicious too...)

Here's where I get my coffee...

Forums - CoffeeSnobs

vBulletin Forums

coffeesnobs.com.au

 

[sudsmaster]

Don't be a coffee snob...

I have made coffee at home with espresso makers, drip machines of various mfg, grind and brew machines (including a handy single cup grind and brew), and finally a Keurig.

 

I find I use the Keurig the most. It IS important to select the right pods and use them well before their expiration date. I mean, really, ground coffee is rich in oils and can go rancid in time. K-pods are no different.

 

The Keurig I have now has a big water reservoir with a carbon block water filter built in. I think that helps. I also make sure to turn if off as soon as the cup brews - so it doesn't heat all the oxygen out of the water before the next brewing. Yes, the single cup grind and brew is qualitatively better, but not so much better it's worth the extra bother.

 

The brand of K cup makes a difference. My favorite so far has been Costa Rica Paradiso; but Costco no longer carries it so I went to some other types. The next best to my taste is Tully's Hawaiian Blend. Not especially fond of Kirkland Breakfast blend, but it's just OK. Tried some Caribou blend cause it was on sale. A little to acid/spicy for my taste but again, just OK.

 

I usually drink just one cup a day, sometimes two. This was a reason for going to the Keurig. I do have a 2 lb bag of good beans that I need to use before they expire; this will mean firing up the whirly single cup grind and brew again.

 

I'll let you all know if it's demonstrably better than the Keurig at its best.

 

Note to Louis: No, the Keurig doesn't really do crema. There is a bit of blast and sputter at the end of a Keurig brew cycle, and maybe a trace of foam, but it's no espresso machine.

 

Note #2: I prefer a medium roast. Light roast I find too acidic. Dark roast I find too bland. Your mileage may vary.

 

 

[kimball455]

Coffee usually for one using the Keurig. I don't use the pods. I have an after market insert and use small paper filters that fit the insert. I can vary the amount of coffee and the type of coffee I use. Not all that bad.

Harry

 

[askolover]

My parents have had a Keurig for years and they love it.  Tony nor I drink coffee at all.  I love to smell it but I do not drink it.  I guess I'm the first night shift nurse that doesn't drink coffee.

 

[jmm63]

I kind of like my Keurig. Its very convenient and the coffee from this one is always very hot, better than my drip Cuisinart But finding the right flavor pods has been a challenge. We're down to only 2 that we swear by...Costco's Pacific Bold and Wegmans Columbian. And they are pretty reasonable, about .32 cents a cup.

 

[gizmo]

Don't be a coffee snob...

Guilty as charged, your worship.

 

[circlew]

I'm like Greg

I like the smell of coffee, but don't like to drink it. However, I love coffee ice cream.

 

[sudsmaster]

Confession time

My coffee regimen:

 

1) Vacuum insulated wine cooler metal "glass".  It keeps the coffee hot.

 

2) One heaping tsp Sugar in the Raw (basically crystallized brown sugar)

 

3) Two Mini Moos creamers

 

4) Splash of whole milk

 

5) Swirl

 

6) Stick in Keurig 2.0, brew K-cup of choice, 6 oz volume

 

7) As soon as brew cycle is over, hit the power button to prevent Keurig from heating more water.

 

8) Stick straw into brewed coffee/sugar/creamer/milk mixture. Stir briskly.

 

9) Shake canned whipped cream, top off coffee with dollop of whipped cream.

 

10) Yeah it's decadent but WTF?

 

 

[robbinsandmyers]

I switched......

From drinking coffee to drinking Russian tea for breakfast. I just heat the water in a stainless pan and pour into cup. Add a little fresh lemon or ginger and I'm good to go.