Keurig Platinum

[sudsmaster]

I ran across a Keurig coffee machine (with free coffee) at my local bank branch a few weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to operate and the quality of the brew.

Despite knowing that it's one of the more expensive ways to brew a cup of coffee at home, I picked up a Keurig Platinum machine a couple of weeks ago. It came with a case of various K-cups in various flavors. I'm still pleasantly surprised - mostly because it's so easy to brew a cup in the morning.

The only thing I've been missing is the thermos of hot coffee I used to bring to work every morning. That would come out of the Cuisinart Burr Grind 'n Brew machine - which is now blocked by the upstart Keurig machine, lol. I suppose I could use the Keurig to brew directly into a thermos as well, although my current thermos bottle won't fit under the spigot on the Keurig. On the other hand, I'm not quite so jumpy at work any more ;-). Most of the time I'd drink only a cup at work, and the rest of the coffee would be wasted - so the Keurig makes sense for me. Often I'll have another cup after dinner at night, but that's about it.

No more having to wash the brewing basket, clean out the carafe, etc on a daily basis. Yaaay!

 

[rp2813]

Rich, I've had some of those cartridge coffees and have been quite impressed. They're definitely an expensive option but as you have pointed out, the daily routine of washing Cuisinart parts would be a thing of the past.

 

[jaxsunst]

I have a Tassimo, the coffee is a little cheaper. We have a K-cup machine at work, I really like it too. I only use my grind-n-brew now when I'm making coffee for more than 1 person.

 

[sudsmaster]

Ralph,

Costco carries "Newman's Best" K-cups at somewhat of a discount. The cost comes out as around 41 cents a cup. More than a cup brewed from whole beans - probably more than an entire pot brewed from whole beans. I've grown to like the Newmans coffee. It's got a nice balance. The machine came with quite a variety of different blends. The Kona blend it good also. Not so thrilled with the few flavored coffees; I never have liked those much (especially the artificial odor they seem to emit). The machine also came with a multi-use filter that one can put ground coffee into. Which would cut the cost per cup considerably, but re-introduce the washing/upkeep issue. There's also an outfit that sells little plastic lids that are supposed to allow one to re-use the original K-cup filters. Supposedly the original filters give a better result than the reusable filter that Keurig sells. I haven't tried the reusable Keurig filter yet.

 

[mysteryclock]

I have two...

...one for work and one at home. I ended up with two since I had a Bed Bath and Beyond gift certificate + discount, so #2 was like $20... couldn't turn it down!

I tried the whole variety box of K-cups and ended up settling on Tuly's Kona and Green Mountain Dark Magic as my favorites. Newman's Own (original bold kind) are also very good, although availability at our local Costco has been very hit-or-miss.

WRT the multi-use filter, I've actually been brewing most of my coffee with that recently. I grind up enough to make whatever I'll use for the day, then brew up one of my favorite whole-bean varieties. Cleaning the thing is a bit of a pain but since I'm usually drinking from a double-wall stainless cup anyway - which also has to be washed between brews - it isn't that much more of a big deal. I do toss the filter + basket into the DW at the end of the day and it always comes out perfect and not smelling like coffee.

For me the repeatability and consistency of the Keurig is really great -- sort of like a (very VERY) poor man's Clover. I can brew it as hot as I want (extremely) and, up to a point, to the amount that I want every time with the same results, which beats the heck out of hot-plate-burnt coffee any day.

 

[sudsmaster]

Well, I already had the thermal carafe version of the burr Grind 'n Brew, but found that at the end of the day, if I wanted another cup, I'd have to reheat the coffee in the microwave. And it never tasted (or looked) quite the same.

But yeah, the hot plate burnt coffee is to be avoided.

I'll keep the bigger machine for times when I have company or want to take a thermos of coffee to work or elsewhere. I haven't yet tried the largest serving setting of the Keurig. I'm a bit curious as to how they are able to get different sizes of brews out of the same amount of coffee in the K-cup, without the biggest one tasting too weak.

Just tried a favorite travel mug full.

It is a bit weaker, but still palatable...

 

[cuffs054]

The "White Hot Chocolate" K-cups are so good!

 

[sudsmaster]

White Hot Chocolate

Haven't seen that flavor. It wasn't included in the variety pack included with the Platinum machine.

I have since though tried the "My K-Cup" mini filter, with my previous favorite whole bean, 100% Columbian from Costco (either Kirkland or the local SF Bay brand).

I was quite surprised to find, after experimenting with grind (using Pavoni grinder) and amount, that I actually prefer the Paul Newman Blend K-Cups. The 100% Columbian is good and strong enough but a bit one-note and bland compared to the Newman.

One coffee that I used to enjoy in the 70's was a light roast Guatemalan whole bean I used to buy at Pete's Coffee in Berkeley. Since then the dark roast craze seems to have taken over, and I no longer live in Berkeley, but one of these days I might pay the town a visit and ask Pete's if they still offer that light roast in a Guatemalan.

Then I'll try it in a My K-Cup.

 

[sudsmaster]

The Guatemalan San Sebastian medium roast I picked up at Pete's in Berkeley yesterday tastes pretty good in the reusable K-cup filter. Also picked up a spare "My K-Cup" reusable filter at Fry's today. Although they are not hard to clean (much simpler than the grind and brew parts), I figure it will help to have a spare filter assembly all clean and dry and ready to go.

 

[mrb627]

Toyed.

I have thought about getting one of these over and over again. Just can't part with the cash based on some of the review online of premature failures.

Malcolm

 

[luxflairguy]

Love it!

I've had mine since early May and finally have coffee that's really hot and since my partner no longer drinks coffee, but tea instead, we're both happy. I use the Tully's Fully City blend and Lynn uses the adapter for his particular Murchie's tea. We're both happy. No more hot pot and too much stuff on the counters!

 

[mixfinder]

Easy Peasey

I have a Nespresso which brews a cup in 90 seconds from first turn on to end of brew. The coffee is around 53 cents a cup. I still enjoy mugs full of brewed coffee for breakfast but the Nespresso is perfect fo company or with dessert.