Opinions on Keurig single serve coffee makers

[DuckMom]

I bought two of these for Christmas gifts this year (DH and Mom). We have only used them at relatives/friends houses, but have liked everything that has been brewed. I stay home with my kids, so I would love to drink coffee throughout the day, but normally only have a cup or two in the morning because the pot gets old. My husband usually stops at Starbucks for coffee, but has promised if he could make flavored coffees, etc at home, he would stop that habit. We differ greatly on what we like, so we never buy flavored coffees. My Mom lives by herself and wanted the convenience of one cup at a time. We shall see if it all works out as hoped, but I'm hoping it will

 

[mhsjax]

I'm with Tar Heel on this. DH bought one and really tried to like it but for me it was like drinking hot water and after DH tried tons of coffee he agreed with me. I would rather have one cup of really good coffee a day than cup after cup of this.
So for anyone considering buying one think about what you are used to drinking and try and taste some from somewhere before you buy one to make sure it's what you really want to drink. Taste is relative and this is too expensive to get based on what other people like.

Maybe you need to try other flavors or strengths. My DH drinks Cuban coffee, you know syrup. OMG I don't think there is anything stronger and yet he has a brand that he uses in our Keurig and it isn't weak at all. Then again I think Starbucks tastes horrible and is a waste of money. I do agree with the part about buying one so others you have as guests can use it. If you don't like the coffee, then don't buy one.

 

[SaraJayne]

Why not just buy a small single cup coffee maker like many resorts have in the room. Get him his favorite flavored beans and a coffee grinder. Then he can have whatever flavor he wants for each cup.

Way cheaper, just as easy to make and better for the environment.

You can buy a My Kcup for the Keurig and do the same as you're suggesting above.

 

[PatriciaH]

I was worried about the K Cups being week. I like my coffee a bit stronger and love Cuban and Italian coffees, etc. My dad is from Colombia so they always drank good coffee growing up After friends raving about their Keurigs I bought the Cusinart one at Kohls with a 30% off code (another one is coming up on 12.14.) It is great! I have not tried one K cup I do not like. They are plenty strong-esp. the ones like Coffee People Jet Fuel, Tully's Italian Roast, and some others. I always do the 10 oz size and it is not watered down at all. Bigcatcoffee.com sells the make your own K cup pack so you can try 5 of a kind. We also have a local place they sells bags of 5 at a time.

 

[LilGMom]

We bought a Keurig to replace our Tassimo and love it. DH loves the French Vanilla and I love the Mocha Nut Fudge. We had a regular coffee maker but there were often times (most mornings in fact) when I'd end up throwing away half a pot because DH would forget his coffee or decide not to have some. I use one of my WDW travel mugs and run the Mocha Nut Fudge once on the middle sized cup setting and then once again on the small cup size setting and it makes a perfect cup. I like that we can have so many different flavors and it works out to be around $0.60 per cup when we order the big boxes through Keurig. We can find the French Vanilla at Publix, Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond but I have to order my Mocha Nut Fudge. We bought our machine at Sam's Club and it came with a lot of flavors for us to try.

If you like strong coffee there are some really strong ones out there. Check out the Keurig site to see what flavors are offered. You can search based on bean strength, flavor, ec.

 

[lori123]

I was contemplating one as well - but I think I will pass. DH is the one who wanted one - I think he just likes gadgets ! I just want to brew a pot of coffee and enjoy. I was thinking I would like the iced tea and hot cocoa cups, but found they were artificial sweeteners

 

[Vijoge]

I love my Keurig. I bought it about a year ago. Sometimes I buy K-cups but usually I just use My K-cup and my favorite brand of coffee ground "turkish grind". My travel mug holds exactly one small plus one med cup, along with my cream. I take one to work with me every morning.

 

[shoney]

I love mine...I only buy dark roast coffee for it and I put it on the medium setting, so if you are filling a travel cup you do need 2. My machine came with the gadget that allows you to fill your own k-cup with whatever coffee you like. I don't use it often because I am lazy in the morning! It does come in handy if you run out of k-cups!

 

[snowywhite89]

You can buy a My Kcup for the Keurig and do the same as you're suggesting above.

Why buy a $100 machine when you can do the same for $12?

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I'm with both of you on this one. I tried the Keurig when my espresso machine died. Ugh. I tried all the coffees included with the machine. Nothing was strong enough or brewed at the proper temperature.

I use a $3 cone filter holder with a #4 paper filter over my favorite 16 ounce mug and hand pour my coffee. I get better coffee for less money and I have all that extra counter space.

I'm with Tar Heel on this. DH bought one and really tried to like it but for me it was like drinking hot water and after DH tried tons of coffee he agreed with me. I would rather have one cup of really good coffee a day than cup after cup of this.
So for anyone considering buying one think about what you are used to drinking and try and taste some from somewhere before you buy one to make sure it's what you really want to drink. Taste is relative and this is too expensive to get based on what other people like.

 

[Scurvy]

I don't know about most of the coffee options, but my husband drinks Caribou Coffee which is available in K-Cups. We usually buy our beans at a Caribou shop, and have them ground when we buy them. We've used K-cups for two of the varieties that he drinks, and after a little trial and error they taste just like the coffee brewed in a "real" coffee maker. We got the Keurig to travel with because we thought it would be less hassle than the one cup machine we used to take with us, but my husband is using it more and more often at home as well. We haven't gotten the My K-cup yet but he'll probably find one in his stocking at Christmas, and then we'll just use the other K-cups when we travel.

On the other hand, I thought I would enjoy the tea and hot chocolate K-cups but I haven't liked the ones I've tried. The tea was too weak and the hot chocolate had a strong aftertaste which I assume was from the artificial sweentener. I do plan use the Keurig to heat water for my tea bags when we travel, but at home I'm just going to continue to use my tea kettle.

 

[sug78]

I just got a classic Keurig From Fred Meyers for around $60.
It Started out on sale about $100 then you got a $30 gift card back with the purchase. Then every Tuesday in the month of Dec. seniors get a 10% discount! So my wonderful MIL went and purchased it for me.

 

[SaraJayne]

I'm with both of you on this one. I tried the Keurig when my espresso machine died. Ugh. I tried all the coffees included with the machine. Nothing was strong enough or brewed at the proper temperature.

I use a $3 cone filter holder with a #4 paper filter over my favorite 16 ounce mug and hand pour my coffee. I get better coffee for less money and I have all that extra counter space.

On the model we have, you can set the temp you want the coffee brewed at.

And I agree with other posters about the hot chocolate made in the Keurig. It's nasty. We much prefer making hot chocolate with milk.

 

[mjkacmom]

As much as I loved it, mine is broken. Dd made a cup last night, and we smelled burning plastic. Tried to turn it on this morning, and nope.

 

[FourBees]

It seems like the general consensus here is that the hot chocolate k cups are not very good. Has anyone tried the Cafe Escapes Mocha Chocolate? It has gotten the best reviews I have seen. We are a family of hot chocolate drinkers, only my husband drinks coffee.

 

[hsmamato2]

If you ge the machine, but a "My K-Cup" for it as well. This allows you to use your own coffee instead of buying the pre-made cups. Much more affordable than buying the pre-made cups plus you can use coffee you prefer.

Yeah...that! I would like one of these one day...but only with the reusable cup thingy....... I have a friend with one and they are so nice!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Unfortunately, the temperature of the Keurig water (either setting) isn't the optimum for coffee brewing

On the model we have, you can set the temp you want the coffee brewed at.

And I agree with other posters about the hot chocolate made in the Keurig. It's nasty. We much prefer making hot chocolate with milk.

 

[funnygarcia]

I've been drooling over a Keurig since I did a product demo of it years ago at Super Target. I kinda like the idea of the Tassimo system too (also did that demo) but the Tdiscs have become harder to find.

My frugal side argued over the expense and I had convinced myself that it was money better spent elsewhere.

Until today.....
The local grocery store (Rainbow) had the Elite model for $79 this week "while supplies last", I debated back and forth and finally bought it.

I have teenagers that are now interested in drinking coffee, stepping into Caribou, Dunn Bros or Starbucks each week was becoming an expensive habit! We tried a box of Caribou blend today.. mmmmmm, worth every splurged penny!

I'm in love with my new toy!

 

[FourBees]

What setting do most people use when making a cup of coffee or hot chocolate? I am getting the elite for Christmas which I believe has two different settings, Thanks

 

[taximomfor4]

I drink 2 cups/day (1 regular donut shop, 1 flavored). Then later in the day, I make sure there is no kcup in there (an old, used one, ewwww) and just run water into a mug. I put a teabag in the mug, and voila...a cup of herbal tea. No tea kcup required. For hot chocolate, since the kcup ones taste nasty and are $$$ for what you get taste-wise, we just open an envelope of Swiss Miss into a travel mug, run hot water through the keurig into the travel mug, stir, add a handful of marshmallows, and voila...a cup of hot cocoa for the kids (I don't drink sweet drinks, myself).

DD17 makes herself tea like that nearly every day (doesn't drink coffee).

I know once mine goes, I will HAVE to replace it!

And for kcups, I only order them when there is a good deal (I won't pay $.40/cup, so it has to equal less.) Amazon's subscribe & save is my standby, if I can't find a better deal at the time.