Keurig...you can't DO BETTER?

[a1tinkfans]

As previously posted twice, one can recycle if they so choose. I use the K cup insert thingy twice a day, or more...,and I like to buy different types of coffees (at TJmaxx) and enjoy the machine very much. I dont feel like I get a /2 cup of coffee tho and I do not have the newest model.
To me its all a non issue...

 

[Marionnette]

Yes, I know that half of all americans are obsessed with the keurig coffee systems. I, myself, enjoyed it for a while. I've never owned a keurig, but I know people who own them.

Then, all of these reports have come out in the past year or two that say that the K-Cups are NOT EVEN CLOSE to being recycleable. Doesn't it sort of bother you that every single K-cup will sit in a landfill for YEARS and YEARS and YEARS? I know that my sister in law recylces and actually PUTS hers into her recycle bin, but every single one PUT in there has to get plucked out, because they cannot be recycled.

Now, I am IN NO WAY a tree hugger. I am not an overly cautious recylce crazy person who thinks that we need to do away with all non-recycleables. BUT, I do have a problem with the K-Cups. My biggest issue is that Keurig KNOWS it's a problem, but because people continue to buy them in mass quantities they don't think that they need to be changed? Or what?

Then, on top of all of those K-Cups is the issue of 'landfill gases' that are causing the world to start to show signs of some major issues. ONE of those issues has been addressed recently, in the form of a news clip done by CBS news. It discusses scientists who think COFFEE WILL BE EXTINCT in several years down the road, BECAUSE of these types of harmful gasses. So, actually Keurig (in the over all picture) is CONTRIBUTING to their own nail in the coffin of the resource that they rely on 100% for running their company. I KNOW that it's not just K-Cups that are causing this problem, but they have become a HUGE PROBLEM in the past two years, because they are OVER TAKING landfills.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/10/17/earlyshow/leisure/gamesgadgetsgizmos/main20121250.shtml


I'm not saying that we need to 'boycott keurig', but why can't we all start asking THEM to change their design? Why SHOULDN'T they be forced to make a better product that's not going to be so harmful to the environment? How can they get away with this?

Sure, many of you think "it's all a bunch of bull...we don't care about recycling." and, sure, you may not. But OBVIOUSLY, our country as a whole is concerned for the most part about our children and grand children and the quality of THEIR LIVES...And if you have kids, you are concerned about their health and well being...

My MIL and FIL go throuh 10-12 K-cups a day. They have one of those re-usable cups to use- but they are too lazy to clean it so they don't use it. I am sure that A LOT of people opt for the k-cup option over the re-usable cup, RIGHT? I mean they use this machiene because it's quick and easy How quick and easy is it to have to constantly be cleaning out that re-usable cup for every cup of coffee you drink?

Now, don't get me wrong. The keurig systems produce great cups of coffee (even though 1 of their "good cups of coffee" comes in a smaller size than ANY cup in my house!!!). I am just raising the question or at least some AWARENESS of the issue that these dumb K-cups have been creating.

I wonder if people are aware? Or if people could all get together and actually DO SOMETHING to change this problem...I've written to Keurig, and they have not even bothered to respond to any 'respectfully concerned e-mails'...I have taken great care of writing them e-mails about this issue...(much better than I've written in this post as I'm not the best speller- but I know that and it doesn't concern me unless I am writing a more formal letter or e-mail...)

I think that you're tilting at windmills. One email would have been enough. After that, I would have moved on to more pressing environmental issues. Perhaps you can write the manufacturers of disposable diapers, since they also contribute to landfills? And I'll add that they do it in much larger quantities than the k-cups.

As for me, I'll continue to brew my two daily cups of Green Mountain Free-Trade Sumatra. I don't think I'm harming the environment that much by doing so. But I will take the advice given by PPs and disassemble my used cups for recycling and compost.

 

[luvmy3]

Actually the kcup can be recycled you can peel of the foil and that can be recycled. Then empty the coffee grounds and the liner and add it to the compost pile and finally chuck the plastic bottom in the recycling bin. The plastic in kcup is recyclable just not until separated from the coffee filter. Question is will you take the time to recycle it?

Oh stop it, we don't want to have to do that, we want to force the company to come up with a new design or to use different materials!

However for those who care, Keurig is aware of the issue. OP, have you even read this?
http://www.keurig.com/social-responsibility


I use San Francisco Bay eco friendly K-cups, but not because they use less plastic, but because it is good coffee and cost less than other k-cups.

 

[Bonniec]

Off topic but since I have been activle debating getting a Keurig for the past day or two....

Do any of you make tea in them a lot? Do you buy the K cups or do you put loose tea in the reusable one and then clean it? I like an occasional cup of coffee but I drink tea a lot more. My youngest son likes any kind of hot drink.

 

[luvmy3]

Off topic but since I have been activle debating getting a Keurig for the past day or two....

Do any of you make tea in them a lot? Do you buy the K cups or do you put loose tea in the reusable one and then clean it? I like an occasional cup of coffee but I drink tea a lot more. My youngest son likes any kind of hot drink.

I just use the hot water from my Keurig and a regular tea bag. I have used some tea k-cups but its just too expensive to buy tea that way.
Don't bother using the hot cocoa k-cups they are too watery (IMO anyway)

 

[ceecee]

We use the reusable cup everyday and just buy a few k cups for guests.I can't imagine going through 10 a day?!?! that's a ton of $$$!!!

You can grind your own beans that way too. When we do use K-cups (and there are some good ones!) I get two large cups out of one. That's the most I drink in a day. I'm only a morning coffee person.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

We use the reusable cup everyday and just buy a few k cups for guests.

Same

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

This is the reusable basket we use. Easy, drops right in, no landfill waste, no costly Kcups...

http://www.amazon.com/Ekobrew-Refil...qid=1354368293&sr=8-1&keywords=eco+cup+keurig

 

[Angeni11]

Off topic but since I have been activle debating getting a Keurig for the past day or two....

Do any of you make tea in them a lot? Do you buy the K cups or do you put loose tea in the reusable one and then clean it? I like an occasional cup of coffee but I drink tea a lot more. My youngest son likes any kind of hot drink.

There are a few k-cup teas I like (along with an apple cider I love) and other times I use my lose leaf teas in the Solofill cup with it (it works great and you can get them on Amazon). Hubby even sometimes grinds up coffee and uses the Solofill cup as well if he wants a different coffee they don't make k-cups of.

 

[lisaross]

we have the Keurig for about 2 years - we LOVE it!!

My husband and I are the ones that have 1 cup each a day!!

 

[ssawka]

You just can't beat the convenience. I drink coffee all day, so having to make individual pots would be a big PITA.

As for price, there are ways to get it cheaper (coupons, etc.) We often buy from Kohl's when they have coupons and are giving Kohl's Cash.

 

[kimsuenew]

That's what I do! Running that second water cycle through makes it fill up a large cup and the coffee is still strong.

Great idea! I got a Platinum System (and several boxes of Cups) as a gift. I may not have purchased one myself (too cheap, LOL), but the convenience is amazing.

I found myself running 2 cups through to get a full cup of coffee as I ready for work in the morning.

I am trying your idea of the 2nd water cycle. I like mine with loads of Splenda and Coffeemate so "water it down" does not really concern me.

Thank you for the tip!

 

[sunshinehighway]

There seems to be a lot of anti Keurig posts lately.

I'm not sure why people are saying you only get a half cup. Mine is set to brew a 10oz cup. Is 20oz considered a full cup?

Why get on cups about waste? Why not any of the thousands of other wasteful things people do/use?

Keurig works great for some people. It fits their lifestyle. If it doesn't fit yours, don't use one.

As another poster pointed out, there are cups that don't have a plastic cup attached. They are just the round tops and a paper filter. My local grocery chain has their own brand of this style cup. Its becoming more popular.

 

[DawnM]

Actually, a Keurig's price CAN be close to starbucks. A Venti drip is about $2.50. That is 5 regular cup Keurigs. Not that different.

You can't make a latte in it!

Someone gave me a Keurig. I used it a handful of times and it has ended up in the basement. I need to get rid of it.

I have kept my espresso/latte machine!

Yeah, I laugh at my MIL...she compares her Keurig to going to starbucks every day for coffee. The nearest starbucks for her is 2 plus hours away, so really- she can't compare it for her because she would never go there daily anyways. We figured out that they are spending about as much as a starbucks beverage every day anyways, because of how many K-Cups they use!

And, truthfully. I would love to know how many people can just use ONE a day? Maybe people do- but when I go to pour a regular cup of coffee- it's not just 1/2 full and tasting great...it's FULL and tasting great! I hate the little amount of coffee you get with a 'full flavored size/small size' setting. Out comes this 1/2 of a cup of coffee and you're wondering if that's all you get. That is the reason WHY my in-laws go through so many. They want A FULL cup of coffee and it takes 2 k-cups to get that. Then, they will take it with them to their living/family room or back into their bedrooms as they get ready for their day- so they don't have to keep getting up so often to fill up their coffee cups!

My SIL goes to work each morning and uses 1 k-cup as she's getting ready and 2 or THREE more just to fill up her thermos to take with her!

I know that my in-laws aren't the only ones who do this! And, forget about JUST HOME USE...There are hundreds of thousands of offices that go through garbage bags full of these k-cups daily...

The K-cups are A LOT more expensive than even the really good coffee that I enjoy.

 

[katied718]

Actually I make a very awesome version of Starbucks caramel machiotto or peppermint mochas-iced & hot.

I use the espresso kcups, purchase the syrups & sauces from Biggby or Starbucks, add my own amount of cream, syrups, sauces, whip cream-and yummy!! It's made the way I want, and a while lot cheaper than $5 of what I would pay in the store (even when we have B1G1 FREE). I luv my keurig!

 

[sunshinehighway]

Actually I make a very awesome version of Starbucks caramel machiotto or peppermint mochas-iced & hot.

I use the espresso kcups, purchase the syrups & sauces from Biggby or Starbucks, add my own amount of cream, syrups, sauces, whip cream-and yummy!! It's made the way I want, and a while lot cheaper than $5 of what I would pay in the store (even when we have B1G1 FREE). I luv my keurig!

I make my own too. I use those flavored coffee creamers and froth heat milk with my stick blender. It probably takes about 3 minutes to make.

I also buy my cups for less that 50cents per cup so that's not even close to $2.50.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Does anyone else just use a regular coffee maker anymore? My DH and i both drink coffee in the morning, about 4 good size cups total. Why would i want a keurig? What is so good about it? I thought it was for people who were the only coffee drinker in their house and they only want 1 cup of coffee, and not a pot. I must be out of the loop!

 

[leahjade]

We use these a lot - coffee is great and they are paper filters for the Kcup

http://www.amazon.com/San-Francisco...230&sr=8-1&keywords=san+francisco+coffee+pods

Though I don't think it's anyone's business what we drink in the morning. I know people who go to Dunkin Donuts every day for their coffee and are contributing all those cups to the landfills. I'm sure there are things you waste that I don't, and I could lecture you about as well. I hope you didn't use disposable diapers for your babies or never used sanitary napkins for your period either.

 

[disney1990]

Yes, it is more expensive than making a pot of coffee. We buy our Kcups at Sams Club or on sale with coupons and never pay more than 50 Cents a cup for coffee.

Also, we recycle all of our cups. We open them and put the grounds in the garden and the plastic in the recycling. I only wish that other people would do the same thing.

 

[Bonniec]

Does anyone else just use a regular coffee maker anymore? My DH and i both drink coffee in the morning, about 4 good size cups total. Why would i want a keurig? What is so good about it? I thought it was for people who were the only coffee drinker in their house and they only want 1 cup of coffee, and not a pot. I must be out of the loop!

I've always ignored them until I saw one at my work and was intrigued. It's by far cheaper to brew a regular ole pot of coffee, especially if you are drinking several cups from the same pot.

What I liked was that the k-cups have so many different flavors. There are a LOT. And then what really caught my interest was that they have hot apple cider, hot tea, and hot chocolate.

My daughter likes coffee, I like coffee but mostly tea, DH likes hot chocolate, and my 6 year old son likes any hot drink.

So for me, the appeal is that everyone can get what they want. Now I just need to go out and buy one.