Which Keurig?

[mrsboz]

I dont' know anythign about Keurig machines. My husband said that he would like one and I was going to purchase one on Black Friday but didn't know which one to buy. There are several different ones. He pretty much will be the only one using it. The kids will probably want hot chocolate once in a while. Which one would you recommend and where can I get the best price? Thank you.

 

[lauti]

Probably the K40. It's the cheapest one that has a water reservoir. They've been hovering around $99 with all the sales.

 

[wunkmom]

I wouldn't worry to much about a reservoir. We went through 3 with reservoirs that only lasted 9 months or so each. Finally we switched over to a non reservoir model (can't remember the model, sorry) and it's lasted 2 1/2 years so far. My hubby is the only one who uses it, about 3-4 times per day. Also, don't bother too much with overpriced hot chocolate k cups, none of them are very good, and eventually, no matter how well you clean your keurig, everything starts tasting like coffee. Finally, look into subscribe and save on amazon for good prices on k cups. There or costco/sams. Happy coffee drinking!!

 

[wunkmom]

Oh! Where and best price- forgot that part of your question! We would usually wait until we found a 20% off coupon for bed,bath&beyond. Or target with red card savings.

 

[Patience]

We bought my mother in law the K40 for Christmas this year. I had a 25% off coupon at Kohls and purchased it in store for less than $100 including tax.

 

[angierae]

I'm not sure which model I have, but it has the reservoir and it would drive me crazy to have to add water for every single cup, especially when DD18 and I are both making coffee in the morning.

Mine also has the timer so it can come on at a certain time every morning but I don't find that necessary, it doesn't take THAT long for the water to heat up. I've had mine for a year now and no problems at all.

 

[ktlm]

My DH is a huge coffee drinker. I did extensive research on the models last year and settled on the Platinum. He got it for Christmas last year and it is still going strong and he loves it. The reviews for the regular Keurigs were much better than the reviews for the Vue systems. Also, it seems like there is much better variety in what coffees are available for the regular systems.

One warning I have is that if it is used a bunch for coffee, then the kids might not want hot chocolate out of it. As the water runs through the machine the hot chocolate or tea will pick up a "coffee" flavor because it runs the same path as the coffee does. I'm not a coffee drinker and I don't like Hot Chocolate or Tea from the machine because I can definitely taste a hint (or more) of coffee in it.


If your DH likes to grind his own beans to make coffee sometimes or is hooked on a brand that does not come in K cups and is picky about his coffee- there is one trick it took DH a lot of time and internet surfing to figure out. He still likes to do his own coffee in addition to all the Keurig varieties. He has found several types of K-cups he really likes, but he also still likes the coffee he used to buy and grind before the Keurig. Several brands sell a cup for you to use in your Keurig to use your own coffee grounds. We tried a couple of different brands of cups for doing that, and the coffee wasn't up to his standards using those cups. It did not taste like it did with his old coffee maker, it was weaker. After much trial and error and searching the internet, he found a trick on the internet to make it taste right. He uses the EZ cup brand cup. He keeps a used K-cup (it has to be used so the hole has been poked in it by the machine) and he cleans out all the coffee from it really well. Then he cuts the used plastic K-cup down to about just 1/4 or 1/3 of its regular size. Just enough to basically cover the bottom of the EZ cup and have a little side left. Then he puts that in the bottom of the EZ cup pushing down slightly and puts the filter on top of that. He says the point is that the EZ cup and other brands let the water go through too fast so it doesn't get the full coffee flavor. When you put the bottom of a used K cup in, it increases the back pressure a bit and gets it to flow though at the rate it should to make the coffee right. He uses he same used K-cup bottom for several uses with the EZ cup. He says it works great. I don't think most people are quite as picky enough about their coffee to go through the effort- especially when there are a ton of K-cup options! I'm sure if that is something your DH wants to take the time and effort to do to use a certain coffee type or brand that doesn't come in K-cups, you can find a video or better description somewhere on the internet.


I got a platinum for my Mom this year because she wants one after seeing DHs. The best price I found was using the 20% off coupon from Bed Bath and Beyond.

 

[ceecee]

One warning I have is that if it is used a bunch for coffee, then the kids might not want hot chocolate out of it. As the water runs through the machine the hot chocolate or tea will pick up a "coffee" flavor because it runs the same path as the coffee does. I'm not a coffee drinker and I don't like Hot Chocolate or Tea from the machine because I can definitely taste a hint (or more) of coffee in it.

I make tea, sweet tea and hot chocolate and have never had that problem. We have also just made hot water and it was fine.

 

[ktlm]

I make tea, sweet tea and hot chocolate and have never had that problem. We have also just made hot water and it was fine.

Hmmm- wonder what my DH does to it that makes ours taste like coffee no matter what you do?

 

[angierae]

Hmmm- wonder what my DH does to it that makes ours taste like coffee no matter what you do?

We run plain water through after every non-coffee kcup, it seems to help.

 

[ImDMous]

I have the one with the reservoir but no timer, I'm not sure of the model but I bought it 5 years ago from Costco for Christmas and it's still going. We use it 3 or 4 times a week. I make all kinds of stuff in it and haven't noticed everything tasting like coffee. I think it would drive me crazy too to have to add water every time, but I guess it depends on how often you use it.

 

[Tabetha]

If you've got coffee flavour coming through, try running a cup of hot water through, taking out the removable basket and soaking the basket in the hot water. I lift it in and out of the water until the water comes through mostly clear. I also then give the basket a bit of a scrub - sometimes there's a buildup of coffee residue around the ridges.
While that's soaking, I carefully clean off the top needle, the area around the top needle and the flow through area below with a hot cloth.
You could also use vinegar and hot water to wipe it down.

(I used to demo Keurig machines in stores, and had a LOT of coffee running through the machine on a daily basis and it was in my best interest for the machines to run as cleanly as possible, flavour-wise).

If personally own the B40 and am super happy with it. I've never felt the need to have the machine automatically turn on, or adjust the water temperature. If it's just your husband drinking coffee, he can probably go through several days before he has to add water (if he's a one-cup-a-day drinker).

 

[dawnhaze]

I have the K40 and I like it. I use it often enough that I refill the reservoir once or twice a day. I figured I didn't really need a timer or any of the other stuff.

We don't make a lot of coffee in it - I drink mostly tea, hot cocoa, and hot cider. But when someone visits and we're making coffee every day, I just run hot water cycles through it afterwards and don't have a problem with anything else tasting coffee-like. I also wash the whole cup assembly in hot water and rinse it well on a weekly basis regardless.

 

[ktlm]

If you've got coffee flavour coming through, try running a cup of hot water through, taking out the removable basket and soaking the basket in the hot water. I lift it in and out of the water until the water comes through mostly clear. I also then give the basket a bit of a scrub - sometimes there's a buildup of coffee residue around the ridges.
While that's soaking, I carefully clean off the top needle, the area around the top needle and the flow through area below with a hot cloth.
You could also use vinegar and hot water to wipe it down.

(I used to demo Keurig machines in stores, and had a LOT of coffee running through the machine on a daily basis and it was in my best interest for the machines to run as cleanly as possible, flavour-wise).

If personally own the B40 and am super happy with it. I've never felt the need to have the machine automatically turn on, or adjust the water temperature. If it's just your husband drinking coffee, he can probably go through several days before he has to add water (if he's a one-cup-a-day drinker).

Thanks! Knowing DH, I'm betting since he is the only one in the house that drinks coffee and I have never touched the Keurig that he has NEVER cleaned the basket!!!

 

[wiigirl]

Probably the K40. It's the cheapest one that has a water reservoir. They've been hovering around $99 with all the sales.

 

[Tabetha]

Thanks! Knowing DH, I'm betting since he is the only one in the house that drinks coffee and I have never touched the Keurig that he has NEVER cleaned the basket!!!

Ahhh, husbands... Just be careful when you're poking around in that basket, the needle down there is pretty sharp, too.

I do this routine weekly on my own machine, and running water through it once a day can't hurt.

 

[elsabear]

I have had the Platinum for over 3 years and use it all the time! My kids use it for Snapple iced tea and hot chocolate and have never noticed any coffee taste. That being said I personally like very STRONG coffee - and I have trouble getting that with this brewer, especially in anything less than a dark roast. I have tried using my own coffee with the Keurig adapter and with one of the knock-off baskets - just not as strong as I would like. When the Today show offered a Vue 600 for $70 I jumped on it. The difference in the coffee is amazing! I put that on strong and it brews a perfect cup. Granted the vue pods don't offer quite the variety yet, but I kept my other one for that (at least as long as it lasts) and honestly they seem to have added quite a few flavors, including 2 step ones for latte type drinks.

 

[ceecee]

We run plain water through after every non-coffee kcup, it seems to help.

Yes, I do that as well so maybe that's the difference.

 

[ceecee]

If your DH likes to grind his own beans to make coffee sometimes or is hooked on a brand that does not come in K cups and is picky about his coffee- there is one trick it took DH a lot of time and internet surfing to figure out. He still likes to do his own coffee in addition to all the Keurig varieties. He has found several types of K-cups he really likes, but he also still likes the coffee he used to buy and grind before the Keurig. Several brands sell a cup for you to use in your Keurig to use your own coffee grounds. We tried a couple of different brands of cups for doing that, and the coffee wasn't up to his standards using those cups. It did not taste like it did with his old coffee maker, it was weaker. After much trial and error and searching the internet, he found a trick on the internet to make it taste right. He uses the EZ cup brand cup. He keeps a used K-cup (it has to be used so the hole has been poked in it by the machine) and he cleans out all the coffee from it really well. Then he cuts the used plastic K-cup down to about just 1/4 or 1/3 of its regular size. Just enough to basically cover the bottom of the EZ cup and have a little side left. Then he puts that in the bottom of the EZ cup pushing down slightly and puts the filter on top of that. He says the point is that the EZ cup and other brands let the water go through too fast so it doesn't get the full coffee flavor. When you put the bottom of a used K cup in, it increases the back pressure a bit and gets it to flow though at the rate it should to make the coffee right. He uses he same used K-cup bottom for several uses with the EZ cup. He says it works great. I don't think most people are quite as picky enough about their coffee to go through the effort- especially when there are a ton of K-cup options! I'm sure if that is something your DH wants to take the time and effort to do to use a certain coffee type or brand that doesn't come in K-cups, you can find a video or better description somewhere on the internet.

Maybe this is why it still tastes like coffee! That is way too much work. Keurigs are supposed to make it EASIER, that sounds like a science fair experiment.

 

[bumbershoot]

He uses the EZ cup brand cup. He keeps a used K-cup (it has to be used so the hole has been poked in it by the machine) and he cleans out all the coffee from it really well. Then he cuts the used plastic K-cup down to about just 1/4 or 1/3 of its regular size. Just enough to basically cover the bottom of the EZ cup and have a little side left. Then he puts that in the bottom of the EZ cup pushing down slightly and puts the filter on top of that. He says the point is that the EZ cup and other brands let the water go through too fast so it doesn't get the full coffee flavor. When you put the bottom of a used K cup in, it increases the back pressure a bit and gets it to flow though at the rate it should to make the coffee right..

Hmmm- wonder what my DH does to it that makes ours taste like coffee no matter what you do?

The exact process he follows is what's causing it to taste like coffee. He's pretty much marinating the insides of the the machine in his coffee before it finally drips through. You're going to have to clean the inside to make a cup of non-coffee-whatever. And that's going to be a pain.

Maybe you guys should get him a cheaper one, and take over the fancy one* he has to make your non-coffee things. Or just get him a regular coffee maker again! Sounds like he's not using the Keurig for any sort of convenience.



*same one we have, got it from Costco last March with tons of cups and a really nice price. Used the cups, they are all still sitting there in our kitchen since they don't have a recycling number on them, and we got the ekobrew cups and they work fabulously for us!