Finally getting a coffee maker, after 46 years on this planet.

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LurchFrinky

Senior member
Nov 12, 2003
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Most of the coffee K-cups are just regular coffee, not instant. This can be deduced by opening up a used pod, re-brewing a used pod, or the fact that they have re-fill-able pods that you put your own coffee in. Their whole shtick is pressurizing the water to get more of the coffee flavor out faster.
Their hot cocoa pods are just instant hot cocoa and get completely emptied out when used. I thought there was a cocoa setting? There are quite a few models floating around with different options.
I don't like them because I have a favorite mug on the large side (12oz?) and I can't get a strong enough coffee for that volume of mug with any K-cup pod because they have a fixed volume of coffee inside. I use a french press because I am usually the only one drinking coffee, it is only a cup or two, and the press is easier to clean than a drip style maker.
 
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Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
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when I decided I wanted to start making coffee at home, I ended up going with just a standard drip machine. Even if you're only making a few cups at a time it's still less wasteful than keurig style coffee makers. I end up making like 8 cups (not actual measurement cups but whatever coffee makers consider a cup) so like maybe half the carafe. I could reduce my waste even more if I sourced out a reusable mesh filter, I'm sure they're out there.

I find drip machines also make better coffee than keurig, even with the same grounds (ex: using a reusable pod). Been meaning to try a french press but have not yet.
 
Nov 17, 2019
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I've also seen Spiced Cider pods for the Pod People, at considerably higher cost than the instant envelopes for normal people.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
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I just tried re-brewing the same Folger's Med. Roast K-cup. Left it in the machine, filled it up with another cup-full of water, put the mug in position (after rinsing it out, of course), and hit "brew".

Ended up looking like coffee, but missing a lot of the flavor. Sort of coffee-flavored water, mostly. It looked like coffee though.

yeah...that doesn't usually work so well. Can't really do that with a regular drip-style coffeemaker either. You CAN add more ground coffee to the basket and get a bit more "life" out of the old grounds...but I don't recommend it. It usually tastes like crap.
 

killster1

Banned
Mar 15, 2007
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Maybe if I become a "serious coffee aficionado" or have aspirations working as a Barista at StarBucks, then I'll consider that.
But for my purposes, right now, I'm happy with a $20 machine that takes K-cups, makes me single cups of coffee, and doesn't take a lot of counter-top space. (I basically have none available in my kitchen, I have a very small apt.)

And yeah, the bolded describes me perfectly.

Edit: I'm not saying that you're wrong, you might be right, in terms of costs longer-term, but I just don't have the counter-top space, nor the stamina in my back to stand up working a machine to make coffee for 10 minutes. Something that I can stick a mug in, stick in a K-cup, pour some water in, and push a button and go sit down until my coffee's ready, is just what I need right now.
french press doesnt take 10 mins of pressing. Kcups can be reused if you buy the right ones. even organic filters or what ever. im sure a french press would take less space then a coffee machine. FUNny you try to save money but you go out for coffee??? just dont drink coffee all together and buy 500 grams of caffeine on amazon for 17$ (pure powder caffeine no additives no sugar no anything other than caffeine.) :) of course i drink instant coffee sometimes with nesquick and milk tastes so good but just for fun on occasion. no coffee makers for me (i do have a areo press french press thing i bought long ago with lots of filters but never use it.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
38,407
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I've used the same high end stainless steel Vev Italian stove top ~12oz producing espresso maker for coffee for over 30 years. I've adapted it a few times because it's not perfect. A think or two has broken loose, etc. but it's 100% functional and looks great still. Does a good job. I have used electric multicup affairs, not for long, stick with my Vev now.

I heard the other day that Trader Joe's Instant Coffee is really good. I will probably pick up a bottle there when I go in for my nuts and I am just about out of their French Vanilla ice cream.

I buy whole bean organic coffee at Costco and grind it in my Osterizer blender, 2 lb at a time. 2/3 lb is the amount the blender handles efficiently. Refrigerate 1/2, keep the other 1/2 on counter in quart container.
Just say no to K-Cups.
French press will be your friend if all you truly need is a single cup every day. It's really not that time consuming or hard to make a cup. I mean it's harder than pushing a button and walking away, but it might take all of 1 min to make the cup.
For me the process probably takes 2-3 minutes, but I don't mind it.
 
Feb 4, 2009
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Had a keurig for a couple of years. Once you find a brew you like, and get the strength where you like it, it's pretty good coffee. But the enormous waste involved in using one every day saps your soul. In my house we went back to ground coffee and filters. I don't feel guilty every time I have a cup now.

Pretty much same thing here, tons of crappy waste no significant time saves. Plus they all need to be de scaled which is sort of gross and a major pain to do.
Also the machine doesn’t seem to last that long.

Regarding the instant coffee thing, instant blends have come a long way. They aren’t bad at all. Instant isn’t my normal coffee but when in a jam it is pretty respectable.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
38,407
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Pretty much same thing here, tons of crappy waste no significant time saves. Plus they all need to be de scaled which is sort of gross and a major pain to do.
Also the machine doesn’t seem to last that long.

Regarding the instant coffee thing, instant blends have come a long way. They aren’t bad at all. Instant isn’t my normal coffee but when in a jam it is pretty respectable.
Yeah, haven't had instant coffee in at least 3 decades but figure to buy a bottle of Trader Joe's later in the week. For the occasional quick cup.

Now, talking about coffee brewing systems, scaling, whatever:

I visited relatives in San Diego over the TG weekend. They have a Miele coffee etc. making system that's something to behold. It's kind of robotic. When it's happy you get a quick brew, whatever your want. Espresso, cappuccino, Latte, single, double, hot water... dunno, more things, can't remember. But it flashes you messages... such as 43 more uses before descaling necessary, or Add Milk, or Do whatever to milk system after 3 more uses, or Empty drain tray, or Add coffee beans (it grinds right when you brew), likely other stuff too. Must cost a small fortune. I had many cups made with that thing over the weekend. I did add some kind of creamer from the fridge each time. No sugar in my coffee, thank you.
 
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nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
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Pretty much same thing here, tons of crappy waste no significant time saves. Plus they all need to be de scaled which is sort of gross and a major pain to do.
Also the machine doesn’t seem to last that long.

Regarding the instant coffee thing, instant blends have come a long way. They aren’t bad at all. Instant isn’t my normal coffee but when in a jam it is pretty respectable.
What's gross about the descaling? I don't have a Keurig, but I do have an espresso machine that I descale twice a year, mostly involves adding some descaler to the reservoir and running through some cycles.
 
Feb 4, 2009
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What's gross about the descaling? I don't have a Keurig, but I do have an espresso machine that I descale twice a year, mostly involves adding some descaler to the reservoir and running through some cycles.

No gross just gross knowing it’s in there.
I had to run multiple white vinegar rinses and doing that was a pain because after doing so many I’d have to run the machine many, many times to remove the vinegar taste. Overall a massive time sink that only go worse over time.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
38,407
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No gross just gross knowing it’s in there.
I had to run multiple white vinegar rinses and doing that was a pain because after doing so many I’d have to run the machine many, many times to remove the vinegar taste. Overall a massive time sink that only go worse over time.
So, I have an Italian stove top stainless steel espresso machine, the kind that's a luxury version of the octagonal aluminum ones you see everywhere. I have made I figure between 35,000 and 40,000 12+oz cups of coffee in it and never once descaled it. I have wondered if there is some kind of buildup in there but it continues to work. Maybe I should do the vinegar thing? The basket I do tap tap tap against the sink when I rinse it out, the thinking being that it will dislodge grains stuck inside it.
 
Feb 4, 2009
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So, I have an Italian stove top stainless steel espresso machine, the kind that's a luxury version of the octagonal aluminum ones you see everywhere. I have made I figure between 35,000 and 40,000 12+oz cups of coffee in it and never once descaled it. I have wondered if there is some kind of buildup in there but it continues to work. Maybe I should do the vinegar thing? The basket I do tap tap tap against the sink when I rinse it out, the thinking being that it will dislodge grains stuck inside it.

I think scaling depends on your water but regardless I’d assume you have some scaling
 
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Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
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It also starts to taste funny after a while. I think that's mostly the mold that does that. I'm not sure how often people at my work do ours but when I'm on nights I do it once in a while if it's quiet and I'm bored.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
38,407
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It also starts to taste funny after a while. I think that's mostly the mold that does that. I'm not sure how often people at my work do ours but when I'm on nights I do it once in a while if it's quiet and I'm bored.
AFAIK, mold will not survive temperatures above 160F. I think that's true of the spores, at least, probably the fungi too.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,389
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I bought a Keurig years ago from Target. Someone had returned it and it was on the end-cap marked down. I had the girl with a price gun mark it down to $20 for me (this is when they were all $70+). I ended up using it in my office for a while, but quickly detected plastic flavors in the coffee. This may be the cheap plastic used in the Kcups....maybe it was the water heating element...who knows. You could give me 2 cups of coffee and I could tell you which one was Keurig coffee in a blind taste test. I never felt that way with the foil packed Nescafe single brew coffee makers, but they cost more and don't have the same coffee selection.

My recommendation if you end up enjoying coffee...consider upgrading to one that uses real coffee and just drink more. I make a 10 cup pot in the mornings...my wife has a cup and I fill 2 travel mugs...one for the short drive to work and another in an insulated mug that gets me through 10am. These days, I drink either 8 O'Clock, Lavazza, Seattle's Best, or Dunkin' Donuts coffee.

With ground coffee, Lavazza and Seattle's Best both have a fine grind and 8'Clock/Dunkin are a more course grind. It varies the strength and flavor and changes how much I put in my Bunn Coffee Pot.
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,053
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The Keurig tasted bad because it sucks in general. You can't rush brewing unless it's a proper espresso machine which can build real pressure in it's boiler, typically around 9 bar.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
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My $20 machine should be able to do both, K-cups and grounds. I thought that I would "try" the K-cups, but now that I'm pricing them out, it's like $0.40-$0.50 or more for just one 12oz cup of coffee. If I don't mind driving down the street, I can get hot or iced coffee at the local convenience store for $0.99, any size. (They have 32oz for iced.)

Edit: But that requires driving. And I'll want to amortize the cost of the trip, and buy more stuff, like energy drinks and sandwiches and fruit.

I told my Mom that I would get off the energy drinks if I got a coffee machine. She's the one the actually loaned me the money to get one. (No, I don't live with her, thank goodness.)

You need a loan to buy a twenty dollar coffee machine?
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
38,407
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I went to Trader Joe's the other day... they were out of Trader Joe's Instant Coffee. Dang!
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
38,407
8,698
136
The Keurig tasted bad because it sucks in general. You can't rush brewing unless it's a proper espresso machine which can build real pressure in it's boiler, typically around 9 bar.
Guess my stainless steel stove top espresso machine isn't a "proper" espresso machine, don't know. But it makes a very decent cup and cheap. I would never go Keurig. I also very very rarely buy coffee on the street, etc. I make my own. I mean it costs me maximally 1/10th what I'd pay on the street. To me, when I see people walking around with paper cups of coffee I think, oh, they have disposable income!
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
96,949
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I just tried re-brewing the same Folger's Med. Roast K-cup. Left it in the machine, filled it up with another cup-full of water, put the mug in position (after rinsing it out, of course), and hit "brew".

Ended up looking like coffee, but missing a lot of the flavor. Sort of coffee-flavored water, mostly. It looked like coffee though.


Moka pots are awesome. Not as pressurised as a proper espresso machine, but pressurised nonethrless.

Family used to own a cafe in Buenos Aires, had access to proper espresso machine.
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,053
571
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Instant coffee? Yikes, probably the only thing worse than K-cups!

Weigh, grind & brew. YUM!
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Hans Gruber

Platinum Member
Dec 23, 2006
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I still have a Breville 15 bar Espresso machine. It's in the garage. I used to make triple shots and it would make me shake.