Tell me about Keurig coffee makers are they worth it?

[taximomfor4]

Yes the is the Budget board, and most here would agree that everyone who has a Keurig or is looking for one knows that it costs roughly 40 cents per cup. People are posting to help each other find the best deal for the machine -- thus the BUDGET part of these Keurig posts.

and also it has stopped many of us from getting coffee at Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks instead!(40 cents per cup is way cheaper than $4!)

 

[luvmy3]

I thought this was the budget board. A Keurig coffee pot costs 4X-5X the cost of a drip coffee pot. The per cup cost of a cup of Keurig coffee is almost 10X the cost of a cup of coffee brewed with a drip coffee pot.

It may make sense if different family members want a different type of coffee, one wants de caf, one wants a flavor etc but buying a Keurig pot instead of a drip pot is never a budget decision.

It is for my dh who has a cup of coffee in the afternoon at work and the only place he can get it is in their cafeteria at almost $2 a cup. The Keurig combined with the K-cups will pay for itself in a matter of months.

 

[marcyinPA]

I thought this was the budget board. A Keurig coffee pot costs 4X-5X the cost of a drip coffee pot. The per cup cost of a cup of Keurig coffee is almost 10X the cost of a cup of coffee brewed with a drip coffee pot.

It may make sense if different family members want a different type of coffee, one wants de caf, one wants a flavor etc but buying a Keurig pot instead of a drip pot is never a budget decision.

If one buys a "myKcup", one can use one's own coffee (Folgers, Maxwell House, Dunkin, Starbuck's, whatever). The price would be no different if one was brewing it in a regular drip pot. In our case, one of us drinks decaf and one drinks high test. We each get what we want, and there are no coffee leftovers to throw out at the end of each day (which is a money waster as well!)

 

[dpratt68]

We have a Keurig and have had it for almost two years. I know that lots of folks say it is expensive to buy the coffee versus brewing your own.....but we enjoy having every cup fresh. My husband no longer buys a single cup outside of the house. When we were brewing coffee, so much was thrown away because I insist on drinking only fresh coffee and to me, that means if it has been sitting more than 10 minutes in a coffee pot, I don't want it. We also wake up at different times in the morning, so there was always someone having stale coffee...or just throwing it out. We no longer throw out an ounce of coffee. Every cup is fresh and is exactly what we want. Between DH and me, we drink a combined 7 cups per day. This is about the cost of a single cup of a premier cup outside the home.

Because folks have tried the Keurig at our home, we can name at least 7 other family members who have purchased one!

We have tried many different coffees, and most are too weak for me. I always make the smallest setting coffee. My DH likes his a bit weaker and will make the larger coffee with what I consider weaker blends.

By far the strongest and richest cup of coffee is the Emeril's coffee. I would say that this is similar to Starbucks. On the smallest cup setting, this is a very pleasant eye opener each morning!

The Paul Newman's coffee is quite tasty, but it is certainly not "extra bold" as it claims to be. It is too weak when made on anything but the smallest setting.

The coffee people donut shop "extra bold" is also a very mild tasing coffee to me....very close to Dunkin Donuts.

Timothy's colombian decaf is wonderful. It has a hearty flavor and is my favorite of all the decafs.

Some of the flavored coffees are quite good and the best "seasonal" one is the cinnamon pastry coffee by Timothy's. It actually tastes like you are drinking a cinnabon! YUM.

We buy the pods at BBB with either the 20% off coupons or $5 off a purchase of $15. We also buy at Kohl's when they have them for 8.99 and then use a % off coupon. We have also purchased on onegreatcup.com (picked up that tip on these boards.)

When we were on vacation in November, the only thing we missed from home was that beautiful fresh coffee each morning.

which model do you have? Have you made iced coffee?

 

[4forMe]

My SIL and I are going out tomorrow to purchase a Keurig for my father as this is what he requested. I think I'm going to be tempted to get one as well!

Does anyone have any recommendations for the Kona blend coffees? I think my parents would like the Kona blend.

Also, what do you need to do to get the machine ready to use? Do you just run a water cycle once or water and vinegar? I think we will be setting it up to use ASAP once it's opened on Christmas Eve.

 

[dex08]

My SIL and I are going out tomorrow to purchase a Keurig for my father as this is what he requested. I think I'm going to be tempted to get one as well!

Does anyone have any recommendations for the Kona blend coffees? I think my parents would like the Kona blend.

Also, what do you need to do to get the machine ready to use? Do you just run a water cycle once or water and vinegar? I think we will be setting it up to use ASAP once it's opened on Christmas Eve.

My DH enjoys the Tully's Kona Blend, though that's the only Kona version we've tried. There may be better tasting varieties out there, but we've purchased several boxes of this one. There were some that came with our brewer and they carry this variety at BB&B so we get them there with the 20% off coupons.

As for getting it ready, if I recall correctly the instructions just said to run several 'brews' of plain water. No vinegar involved.

 

[mrsg00fy]

which model do you have? Have you made iced coffee?

dpratt68

I don't know which model number it is and can't tell from looking at it. We purchased it in early 2008. It only makes two sizes....and it is the "noisy" one.

I have never tried iced coffee.

 

[sillysmom]

My SIL and I are going out tomorrow to purchase a Keurig for my father as this is what he requested. I think I'm going to be tempted to get one as well!

Does anyone have any recommendations for the Kona blend coffees? I think my parents would like the Kona blend.

Also, what do you need to do to get the machine ready to use? Do you just run a water cycle once or water and vinegar? I think we will be setting it up to use ASAP once it's opened on Christmas Eve.

Just fill the reservoir fully with white distilled vinegar, press the buttons as if you were making cups of coffee until the reservoir is empty. Then fill with water and let that go through the same way, then you are good to go. Every so often, you'll want to do this again, they call it descaling. I would say I do it once every 6 months or so, and that is when I clean out the area where the K-cups go. The pieces pop out so you can clean them, it really can get yucky in there, so keep an eye on it. Enjoy!!!!

 

[starbox]

Another Keurig LOVER here. If you send a PM, I can email a link that will get you two large boxes of coffee (30$) with the purchase of a Keurig (this is similarto the price at BJ's - BUT, you get to choose the extra coffee).

As for coffee - I was an espresso drinker, so I do like strong coffee. After trying several variety boxes, my favorite is Coffee People's Black Tiger.

For Kona - I like Coffee People's as well - or Timothy's.

I just bought a box of seasonal Gingerbread coffee and keep Twinnings Peppermint Tea and Celestial Seasonings Indian Spice on hand at all times. e (Another vote for the Cinnamon Pastry coffee - not a huge fan of flavored coffee beyond cinnamon and ginger - but those are really nice!)

Also - buying K-Cups from Keurig - they ship insanely fast and it's always free with a 40$ order - you can get 5-cup samples of almost everything, so it's a great way to figure out what you like.

I LOVE my Keurig - got one for my brother for Christmas.

 

[The Princess]

A little information worth posting..........BB&B does take returns if you don't like the flavor you bought~just make sure you have your receipt.

 

[pezheadmeg]

My SIL and I are going out tomorrow to purchase a Keurig for my father as this is what he requested. I think I'm going to be tempted to get one as well!

Does anyone have any recommendations for the Kona blend coffees? I think my parents would like the Kona blend.

Also, what do you need to do to get the machine ready to use? Do you just run a water cycle once or water and vinegar? I think we will be setting it up to use ASAP once it's opened on Christmas Eve.

I swear by the Timothy's Kona cups. They're almost as strong as brewing a cup of espresso. I actually brew a cup of that and freeze them to use the cubes in my iced coffee.

 

[pezheadmeg]

and also it has stopped many of us from getting coffee at Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks instead!(40 cents per cup is way cheaper than $4!)

It really is a budget saver. As a daily Starbucks drinker I was spending about $50 a week. Giving up the daily Starbucks habit cold turkey is by far my biggest accomplishment of the last few years.

So $15 a week for coffee for the Keuring is budget. The money I'm saving is the difference between staying a week at the POP or staying a week at the Contemporary. The big picture helps.

 

[dex08]

Hm.. I'll have to look for Timothy's Kona blend for DH next time since a couple of you have raved about it! THX!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

It appears no one has factored in the cost (in time and effort) it takes to locate the best deals on cups... and, where the heck do you store all those things?

 

[Aryn]

They sell a cool spinning stand that you can store individual cups. Thats what I plan on getting because everyone likes something different.

 

[starbox]

It appears no one has factored in the cost (in time and effort) it takes to locate the best deals on cups... and, where the heck do you store all those things?

You can get most brands through Amazon.com - with free shipping and an additional discount if you do an "auto-reorder" where they auto-ship your selected cups at intervals you select.

I like Keurig.com because you can get 5-cup samplers of everything - great when you are learning which blends you like best.

I've found the selections at "big Box" stores to be rather limited and blah - they veer away from the strong stuff and, I agree, some of the samples the machine came with taste like dull drip coffee. You are best off going online.

I don't find them taking up any more space than other food items.

 

[marcyinPA]

It appears no one has factored in the cost (in time and effort) it takes to locate the best deals on cups... and, where the heck do you store all those things?

I buy my cups at either Kohls or BBB, both with coupons. I shop at both stores for other things, and I almost always have coupons, so it's no biggie.

As far as storage, I have a Keurig two-sided carousel on my counter, and the ones that don't fit just stay in the original boxes in my pantry. Again, no biggie! It's just like storing other food items.

 

[jessrose18]

I just got my machine this weekend, and love it! My husband who isn't a coffee drinker loves to make hot choc w/ the hot water as well. I was also looking for k cups to purchase online for the best price. Well, I just got home from BBB and they had about 30 different kinds, including some I was going to buy online. (looking more for flavored kinds) they were 9.99 a box, great deal. Now I will sign up for those 20% off coupons from the website. I was impressed w/ the selection! Also if you register keuring online you get buy 2 get 2 free.

 

[2bearsmom]

On Friday I ordered Kcups from Keurig getting the 2 free boxes when 2 boxes are purchased (from registering it on-line), free shipping and a $2 off coffee club discount. So for $25.11 I got 96 Kcups, I just wish it would get here! I want to try that german chocolate cake coffee!

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

You all just kill me! I am giving in and buying one for my hubby for Christmas! I don't drink coffee - but I think he will love it.

There is the one at Costco B77 I think - $139, but includes 12 + bonus 60 cups and the kcup filter to use your own coffee. I think he could use the B60 that is at BB&B for $129 and I could take of 20% with my coupon. Is the B60 the "noisey" one?

Any advice?