Coffee Makers Gone Wild

I’m here today to talk about the many stages of brewing coffee I have gone through in my life. I have liked all of the following methods, but the priority these days goes to convenience. My goal these days is to minimize the time spent making and cleaning up my mug of {decaf} coffee on the breakfast table!

Back in the day, we used a French press. I still believe a French press makes the ultimate cup of coffee. I like my coffee as full bodied as possible, and this is the way to go. A French press is also the most romantic way to brew, so obviously it wins for that reason alone. The problem with the French press is that it takes a good 4 minutes of hands on activity from start to finish. {Heat water, pour, stir, wait, stir, press.} And it requires cleaning at the end. No big deal if you have all morning to do your breakfast dishes, but a huge problem if you have a job to run to or a baby who needs your attention 99.9% of the time. {This is the newer model of the Bodum French press I have.}

Flashback: remember when I used to write about the shapes my French press froth would form? This is Conan O’Brien’s cartoon head!! The froth is another great part of the French press.

MY OTHER RECIPES

I also use my French press to make cold brew coffee.

I outline that process in this post. It requires no prep in the morning to make, but it does require cleaning. Although you can make a big carafe at once and use it up throughout the week, so it does have its benefits!

While I love iced coffee in the heat of the summer, I just can’t drink it when the temperature is below, say, 70 degrees when I get up. So the window for iced coffee is slim.

There was also a time when I put frothed milk in my coffee everyday. I bought a frother from IKEA for about $3 and heated 2% milk in the microwave in a mug for 26 seconds. I’d froth away and pour my coffee on top. I still love the taste, but I just don’t have time for the hands-on in the morning anymore. Maybe I’ll get back into this sometime soon.

Next up is the automatic drip coffeemaker. I bought this guy when we moved from Charlotte to Charlottesville. We spent a month living with Karen in her condo and she always set and prepped the coffeemaker the night before to automatically turn on in the morning. I loved being able to walk in to a fresh pot of coffee, so we left the French press camp and moved to automatic. This is the Cuisinart maker we have, and we have loved it.

We brewed with our Cuisinart for about 3 years. The coffee tasted great, but I also use about 50% more coffee than the average recommendation because I like it strong. I fill the pot with water and grounds the night before and coffee would start wafting into my bedroom at 6:26am. It was great with a baby because it required no hands-on time, but that darn pot needed to be cleaned everyday. And that started driving me nuts.

So this summer I started thinking about the Keurig products out there. The idea of brewing one cup at a time and not having anything to do the night before or the morning of was so appealing. Anything to make my breakfast time more efficient since I now have to make and clean up both my breakfast and Mazen’s. Another big push for a single cup machine was the fact that Matt drinks regular and I drink decaf. Usually on his days off we would compromise and do half caf and he would sometimes make an extra pot of regular.

After having a few really good Keurig cups in hotels and doing some research, I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond with a 20% off coupon and came home with the Keurig Vue 700.

I debated between the traditional K-cup machine and the Vue, which uses a special V-cup. The Vue is supposed to make a stronger, bolder, more full-bodied cup of coffee. That was what I was after. I decided to go for it since the machine was designed for coffee lovers who wanted a single cup. And I liked its look a bit more than the Platinum machine. It’s fully programmable and allows you to brew on a ‘strong’ setting. The cups are a bit larger than the K-cups, but they don’t seem to be more expensive. They are also recyclable, which was appealing as well.

What actually got me to buy a Keurig machine was the reusable cup concept. The Solofill cup fits the Vue machine. This way I can still use the Shenandoah Joe’s coffee that I love and produce less waste.

That said, I’ve tried a few of the V-cups too and found a few that I like. The Decaf Italian Roast is my favorite (and also the favorite on the Keurig site) but sadly it is a direct process decaf, so I’m not sure I want to have it regularly. The Newsman’s Own Special Decaf is organic/fair trade AND Swiss water process (yay!) so while I don’t like it as much as the Italian, it’s my top choice for the V-cups.

The Vue machine also has the capability to brew cappuccinos, but I was disappointed to find that even the plain capps have added sugar. Boo. You can also brew over ice!! But I haven’t done a ton of that either. I like the tea cups though! I put loose leaf in my Solocup and it worked great. What they need to make is more flavors in the V-cups of teas. There aren’t too many options, especially for decaf/nighttime teas.

I’ve been buying some of the V-cups at Bed, Bath and Beyond with 20% off coupons. That gets them to the lowest price I’ve seen, about $.66 a cup.

So how do I like the Keurig? Overall, I LOVE it. I love just pushing a button and having coffee ready in less than 1 minute. I like that I can use my own coffee most days and also have cups to use others. I like that Matt and I each have our own style. I brew most of my cups on the strong setting at 10 ounces and find them of a nice body and strength. The water storage only needs to be filled every few days, and it’s super easy to do. And the programming is working out great – the machine turns on at 6:26 and turns off an hour later. Super easy to use and no mess to clean up (except for rinsing the Solofill, which is really easy).

But what I don’t like (and didn’t know when I bought the machine) is that there is much less diversity in V-cup variety than in the K-cups. There are something like 300 K-cup flavors and only about 60 V-cups. For a decaf drinker that’s bad news. So if Keurig would just match all the options for both cups, then I would be a really happy customer!

Comments

Kath, have you read anything about how environmentally UNfriendly Keurig cups are? I would recommend doing some research. I think it’s irresponsible of you to promote them when they’re one of the least sustainable, most wasteful ways of making a cup of coffee.

Actually, find that they are very economical and environmentally friendly. I also use my own inserts and I can have the coffee I like in just a minute. I throw out MUCH less coffee than I did pre Kuerig and I find that I go out to coffee shops less (because the Keurig is so speedy) which means no gas driving to the shop and no paper cup either. Also, I just have to say (not just Kath) bloggers can promote whatever they want. We have to be responsible consumers and decide what is best for us. You cannot but that on someone else, and if you do that is pretty irresponsible in my opinion. You can over scrutinize everything and everything in life has a potential downside.

She said she uses a refillable plastic cup most of the time. I have a Keurig that I received as a gift and I use a refillable cup with my own grounds as well. Less water wasted, no disposable filters… Maybe you should read the post before you climb up on your soapbox.

I want a coffee maker. The Kerig K-cups one is on my wish list. The kids say no because I don’t drink a lot of coffee which is true. But I’d rather make it at home than spending $5-8 at Starbucks.

Speaking of Pumpkin Spice Latte…. Did you guys know there are 54 grams of sugar in a grande? 54? Who needs 54 grams of sugar in a what 12 ounce drink? I haven’t had one since I found out. But I am allowing myself 1 once a week for 1 month while they are out. So November will be my month and I’m switching to tall. Oh by the way that only has 48 grams of sugar. LOL! Yes can I get a skinny tall PSL. Make sure no whip and non-fat. LOL! Where’s Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan when you need to order coffee?

Starbucks makes a size called “short” that is 8 oz and has even less sugar. It’s not on the menu but you can order it! You can also order it with only one pump (or however many pumps you want) of the pumpkin spice.

That is good to know. My birthday is Sunday and I get my free drink at Starbucks. I was thinking of a pumpkin spice latte, but I haven’t had sugar for a few months so I better get it with less pumps so I can enjoy it without it being too sweet.

My old roommate had a Keurig. I think it was the platinum machine- not sure but it was huge and used regular k-cups. I hated that thing! the coffee was so weak even when I used to 5 oz setting and packed the reusable mesh filter TO THE BRIM with fresh ground coffee from my coffee grinder. I concluded that as someone who abhors weak coffee, the Keurig is just not for me. I cannot understand why people are so crazy about them- I GET that it is convenient, but if it tastes awful then what is the point!?

i love my french press. i’ve been an avid fan for about five years. i started with traditional hot coffee, but i have been obsessed with iced coffee for about 1.5 years now. it is the best way to wake up.

I am obsessed with my Keurig. I use the Kcup version, so there is tons of variety to choose from, but I still usually only use my normal coffee. It was a necessity for me because I can’t even get out of bed without coffee (my husband brings me a cup in bed after his shower or else I literally will fall asleep in the shower!) but my husband hardly ever drinks it, so to make a whole pot would be silly, and to clean a machine every day just to make coffee for one seemed like too much time as well. I don’t use the reusable cups so I know it’s wasteful, but frankly I would never make a pot at home, if I didn’t use my Keurig I’d be going to a coffee shop and using a to-go cup there, so I figure it’s not so bad considering.

I am curious about the actual time savings–how much time does it take to prep the reusable cup? You wouldn’t prep a number of them in advance, I imagine. (I use a French press, and never stir; it turns out just fine.)

Just an FYI, we put our drip coffee pot (and our French press, after a quick rinse) in the dishwasher all the time and it comes out sparkling, so it’s possible to make both of your other coffee-making methods a little less time intensive. In case you ever tire of the Keurig or get nostalgic 🙂

Awesome tip — you can “rig” the vue to use the K-cups with your Solofill! You take the basket out and lid off of your Solofill. Make a small slice at the bottom of your k-cup (I just take scissors and do a small slice) and put it in the solofill. I like to use a small piece of tape to tape it down, otherwise it’s difficult to get the k-cup out of the machine (it gets stuck). I usually don’t brew more than 14 oz because your drink may be a little week, since K-cups are usually made for 10-12 oz.

I like that you can fill your own cup but overall I agree, so wasteful! This trend is one of the worst I have seen in terms of waste production in the kitchen, not to mention steaming hot water that is going through plastic to deliver some nice chemicals with your coffee. Have you tried a drip cone? Tastes even better than French press, you can make a mug at a time and it hardly needs a washing, just a rinse each morning.

I totally agree — and I’m not trying to sound like a snob here, but taking the time to brew your own coffee is kind of like taking the time to prepare your own meals…you’ll make time if it’s important to you, and you’ll know exactly what’s going into what you consume! I also hate this trend because it’s expensive, wasteful, and in the end you’re getting a very poor quality of coffee. My husband and I also drink different coffees (espresso for me, coffeemaker for him) and yet we both find time to rinse everything out and get to work on time every morning!

Excuse me if this comes off as rude — not my intention — but what’s the purpose in buying this expensive coffee maker if you’re never going to use the disposable containers that it’s designed for? Just to save the couple of minutes that it takes to rinse out a carafe or something? There are other coffee makers that are designed to brew a cup at a time.

It takes me about 5 seconds to rinse out the carafe with hot water each day when I’m done. I wash it with soap once or twice a week, taking a total of probably 1 min 30 seconds to wash and rinse it out. I don’t really see how K-Cup machines save time.

She is just talking about the things she finds easier with her busy morning routine. What people choose to spend their money on to make their lives easier isn’t our business. That being said I love having a Keurig. I hardly buy the k cups for it when I can use my own grounds. It is especially helpful for limiting my caffeine intake being pregnant. If I see a whole pot of coffee I want the whole pot of coffee! Also, It is nice because you can make several flavors quickly! Not sure why everyone is getting in a up roar over this, she even states that the vue k cup are recycable!

no uproar here, I’m just saying it literally takes me about 3 minutes a week of total time to clean my coffee carafe and I don’t see how k-cup machines save time, especially if you use the refillable grounds container and have to wash it out each time. I am genuinely baffled by this.

And share experiences we should. I was doing just that: sharing my experience that it takes maybe 3 minutes a week of cumulative time to clean my coffee carafe I use each day. I wish you would share yours on how the Keurig saves you so much time over your drip maker, when you say you use the reusable solicup with it also. Again, I am not in an uproar over this, I am genuinely baffled by this.

Maybe it’s because I have shattered too many coffee pots in my life? I find them to be one of the hardest things to clean because you have to be so careful. Here’s one time when I shattered my french press..https://www.katheats.com/iron-grip

And I did the same to our coffee carafe once but can’t seem to find that post

I forgot to mention to line up the slice on your K-cup with the front of your Vue machine when you put it in (where the picture of a coffee cup is normally at on the V-cup. Otherwise, it might have problems draining.

Costco sells the regular K cups at a really great price and the carry Newmans Organics. You can get them for less than .50 a piece. And, they have a great French Roast for .33 cents each – the best price I’ve seen anywhere. Love my Keurig!

We drink so much coffee that I think a Keurig would be so expensive for us. So I just brew a pot in the morning and we finish that within a few hours! Right now I am in love with Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Coffee….all natural flavors!

We LOVE the ease and uber-convenience of our Keurig and I’ve found so many flavors that I adore. We haven’t tried the Vue yet or know anyone who has one. We also bought the refillable ground cup to help save money and waste but I find it a bit of a pain to clean out each time… and in the Keurig, it seems to waste a lot of the grounds (they look pretty dry right after you brew a cup).

We’re actually looking at buying a regular coffee maker for on the weekends. That’s when we typically drink a lot more coffee and it would be more cost-effective. Then, we’ll just continue using the Keurig when we’re in a hurry or when only one of us wants a cup.

I too had to switch to decaf! I use a mix of 25% half caf and 75% decaf so I am still getting a little caffiene in the morning. Thanks for the info about the chemicals. I had no idea. Once I finish my stash of coffee I will make an effort to buy the better stuff.

We have a drip and a K-cup coffeemaker (merged homes and items). We hardly ever use the K-cup just because I drink a TON of coffee so it is easier just to make a big pot. I usually just rinse our coffee pot out each day instead of doing an intense cleaning. Maybe that’s gross, but I’ve been doing it for years and have been fine! I do really like the convenience of the K-cups and the fun flavors you can make! Chai tea lattes are my fav!

I have the platinum and it has a RINSE button and a HOT WATER button. Great for soups. These are coming out in 2014. I use mine for the blonde Starbucks coffee….dont like it strong therefore I did not get the Vue. Enjoy!!

As the only coffee drinker in my house, boy do I love my Keurig!! Looking back, I’m not sure why I resisted buying one for so long! I wish I would have known about the Vue though! I love bold coffee, too, but can see the issue with the cups. I drink decaf as well and have a harder time finding variety even with the traditional K-cups.

I still LOVE my French press – but on the week days when I wake up at 5:15 AM to get to work by 7AM, I do depend on my automatic (preset!) Cuisinart coffee maker. It saves my life on a daily basis. I’m so glad that Keurig has the reusable cups now. I was sad that I was generating so much trash by using the one we have at work. A fantastic option!

I remember some of these posts from years ago! I remember when you were really into the cold brew/concentrate and then the Ikea frother and like you said, French Presses are great for making a great cup of coffee but time consuming to clean and deal with. I think I’m the only person out there who doesn’t have a Keurig and never really looked into them b/c I was completely in the dark about being able to use your own coffee in that little solofill thingey. I thought you HAD to use their pre-packaged stuff and for me, that would not be a smart$$ move 🙂 Great post Kath!

Thanks for this post– I have an original keurig and I love it but I have some similar issues as you– I love a strong cup and I drink mostly decaf– your review def made me consider putting the vue on my Christmas or birthday list– one question maybe you can answer is it loud when it brews? I find my keurig to be kind of loud and I don’t want to use it in the morning when the kiddies are sleeping or when they are napping — which are the two times I really want to drink coffee!
Also how do you store your ground coffee you use the solocup refill — I find my coffee goes stale since it takes me a while to go through it I put it in a zip lock and that does help. thanks for that review on the solocup too as I have a similar doo hickey that won’t brew well with my keurig)

i think the keurigs have gotten quieter with each new model. my old roommate had the oldest one, my dad had one a little newer, and mine came out a year ago or so. the roommate’s sounds like an airplane taking off compared to mine 🙂

Great post! I’ve always used a french press and don’t have any intentions of switching. However, just wondering how you feel about the enviromental impact of K-cups in general? I guess I’m not clear on how daily rinsing a Solofill is much different than daily rinsing out a french press or drip pot. All of my kids are now grown up, but I suppose I also don’t get how 4 minutes of prep time is a big deal, even with a little one. Maybe kids are more high maintenance these days! 😉

Lol I guess I lucked out with low-maintenance toddlers too! I would always bring their high chairs to the kitchen, sit them down with a cup of milk and some cereal to eat while I brewed my coffee and made breakfast for everyone.

Lots of good info here, Kath! We have a Keurig at work but I didn’t know about the Vue. I’ll have to check it out!

I’m a french press kind of gal 😉 the only problem that I have is the disposal of the grinds once I’m done. I have just been dumping them down the sink, but I’m a bit afraid of clogging up the drain at some point…

Anna, Please please please do not do put them down the drain! I used to do this as well, but I understand that it’s terrible for your pipes. Of course, this may be different if you have a garbage disposal. I am a first floor apartment dweller, and I have definitely had to have the plumbers in to address the collective pipe-clogging habits of my neighbors. Tossing the grounds in the garbage is my least favorite part too, but the collective damage is not worth the few seconds of saved time.

We’ve had a Keurig in our house for about 4-5 years now & love it! We currently have the Platinum, but would love to get a Vue. However, we’ve been holding out until they get a little more variety in the V cups 😉

I definitely agree – I’m absolutely in LOVE with my Keurig, especially since they came out with the “My-K cup”, where you can fill with your own coffee. It really makes it extremely versatile and quick!

I have a question. I always make a lot of coffee (regularly brewed coffee) and use it throughout the week, as I like iced coffee. However, I was told recently that this was bad for your stomach, as it becomes more acidic. I was wondering if you have heard of this before and if so, do you know if it is true?

It’s very bad for your stomach if you drink a lot (multiple pots) of coffee a day. It is the first thing a gastroenterologist will ask you about if you are having stomach pains- excess coffee can cause stomach ulcers due to the high acidity (reference: I used to work for a GI doc).

I just bought a French press for the first time last week! Like you, I love a good strong cuppa Joe, so I increase the number of tablespoons of grounds from what the instructions state. I’m using Trader Joe’s organic decaf French roast, and so far I like it pretty well.

Several Starbucks locations are now offering coffee made in the Clover Press, which is a pretty neat brewing method. It reduces the acidity of the coffee, thereby reducing unwanted GI effects. The Starbucks within walking distance from our home has this machine, and I’ve tried their decaf Sumatra Reserve that is not chemically decaffeinated. I’m pleased that since switching to decaf, I am still able to enjoy coffee. I have yet to master the Solofill cup in our Keurig, though. :-/ Since we don’t have the Vue, I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it work.

As for those who disagree with the Keurig due to concerns about waste, chemicals, etc., all I can say is to each his/her own. I do not consider it the highest quality method for brewing coffee, but it is convenient. Drip coffeemakers use filters and others methods result in waste of some kind. Just do your part to reuse and recycle in ways throughout your day and try not to wag your virtual finger at others for their choices.

I had a free drink reward to redeem at Starbucks the other day, and the barista encouraged me to try their super expensive blend brewed in the Clover press (since it was free!). I’m so glad I listened to her, it was delicious!

Isn’t it funny how our coffee brewing methods change with time! I have been thinking of getting a Keurig for quite a while now. I am a college student and the only one out of my roommates that drinks coffee. I just hate brewing a half pot of coffee for myself when I really only want one cup (I then feel obliged to drink it all!) I am so glad to hear that you love your Keurig because you may have persuaded me to make the switch!

Commenting to agree with Charlotte. French press is the perfect method for college. With a hot water kettle on your dresser, you can have coffee before you even leave your room in the morning (or at night, or whenever). Single serving, and the best quality. Plus, a french press is cheap, so it’s worth trying before investing a Keurig.

We used to use our Keurig all the time…but if you’re having more than 1 cup at a time, price-wise it just doesn’t make sense! So we’re back to the good old Black & Decker drip! It works! 🙂
-Sammy @ http://www.peaceandloveandicecream.com

I am genuinely confused as to how it takes a lot of time to use a french press. Put the water on to boil when you first arrive in the kitchen and do other breakfast prep things in the meantime, pour boiling water over coffee grounds, give it a quick stir and put the top on. Come back a few minutes later, after maybe putting the toast in the toaster, dolloping on some nutbutter on porridge etc., press the plunger, pour into a cup, add your milk, drink. The actual hands on time is only about 1 minute. And clean up only takes another 30 seconds.

It’s not hands on, but it needs attention – stirring and things. I’m not against French presses- they make the best coffee! I just wanted something that required less prep and cleanup. I also use waaay less coffee with the Vue than I do in a French press or drip maker, so that was a hidden bonus.

they also make mini presses, and you can just use less grounds/water as long as it is in ratio and make only a cup at a time in any size one, if you prefer. sorry to be so pro french press but it just makes a difference! it’s like buying whole grain generic bread vs baking your own…I know you would understand this reference…the quality speaks for itself.

I found the same thing after I had a baby. I used a french press prior to giving birth, but grinding coffee, filling a french press, putting a teapot on the stove, waiting for it to boil, then pouring the water over the grounds and putting a timer on for 4 minutes was not a way I wanted to spend each morning after baby. I went to a programmable coffee maker that I could prep the night before and then, when I shuffled to the kitchen exhausted, just pressed on. A Keurig would’ve been a nice option! Thanks for the ideas – I’ve found most of us have coffee experiences that evolve over the years.

If you register your Keurig on the website, you get a coupon for buy two boxes get two boxes free- this comes out to about 44 cents a cup. Also costco has really good prices for their K cups and has starbucks cups. In general if you follow the sales on the keurig website, you can get pretty good prices.

So funny how self-righteous people become when that “submit” button makes it so easy to remain anonymous. Glad you like the Keurig! My brother’s machine broke after 1.5 years and Keurig replaced it for free. Then my parents Keurig broke after 2 years and Bed Bath and Beyond actually replaced It for free! Then to complete the trilogy, mine broke after 3 years. Sadly, Keurig didn’t offer a free replacement, only 20% off my next purchase of one. Husband and I ended up switching to a $19 Coffee mate after that, but only cause we drink an entire pot nowadays. Despite our odd fate with thdm, they are great machines and surpringly both K and BBB offer great customer service where they are concerned.

I don’t think other readers’ concerns about this product are “self-righteous.” Given the audience of this blog, it’s hardly surprising that some people would object to the environmental impact/cost of K-cups and this trend in general.

I think Keurig et al. (Tassimo, Nespresso, any others?) are genius because they have managed to lock in a future revenue stream for an applicance that usually is a one-time purchase (with the exception of those people who choose to use the refillable cups perhaps). When it comes to electric coffee makers, I don’t think that consumers are nearly as loyal to one brand or another as the are with other appliances.

This is not to say that they invented the concept of the single-serving coffee packet–I don’t know who did–since that has been around for a long time. But these companies have found a way to move their product to the very large consuming class on the promise of convenience, variety, and minimal cleanup (not certain how price point has changed over the years). But I’ve been in stores watching customers grouse about how their favorite Keurig (or whatever machine) flavors aren’t available right then and there, or how they have to buy cups online. Convenience means different things to different people, I guess.

They’re neat and all, but the attraction is not there for me. I managed with the older, slower electric drip machine, and then the French press, all these years getting ready for work and through three kids. It’s a little ritual in the hectic mornings, now. I’m not going to start paying for perceived convenience in my own home. Besides, I don’t have enough counter space for another machine, but I do have space for a press!

I bought a Keurig Vue this summer (also from BB&B with a 20%!) and I LOVE it. By far the best coffee maker I’ve ever had and I agree, they need more tea flavors! I also wish they’d have soy versions of the café drinks, but that’s really thinking big (I won’t dare ask for almond milk :)). Still, I love that I can adjust the temperature, strength, and recycle the cartons, though I’ve had a few coffee spills with the grounds so be sure to do it over the trash other readers!

I have a Keurig but it doesn’t hold water which makes it a pain to use still! Half the time I end up drinking the crappy coffee at work because my mornings are too busy. Definitely jealous of the water reserve haha.

I have to agree with others comments on this..I LOVE your blog but when it comes to coffee..I ALWAYS make time for french press. I know having a baby changes time and everything but taking 20 units with school and always rushing everywhere doesn’t stop me from grinding my beans fresh everyday. You can make your routine easy by grinding your beans the night before or using already ground, having your kettle out and ready to go, along with your french press. I often multitask and check email and pack my bag while the water heats and then brews in the carafe. Honestly, if you make it a part of your routine, it is NO more effort or time consuming than other methods. I am not for the pods at all as I agree they are wasteful, more expensive, and not nearly as fresh. For someone who makes AMAZING cuisine you should be french pressing if you can stand to…especially if you enjoy coffee the way you do! You deserve to drink good coffee. You are such an inspiration in the culinary department, I would love to hear you are french pressing more often again but to each their own.

I know this is a bit off topic but I was having a lovely cup of decaf today when my friend mentioned how most companies use the direct process method! I was appalled and I have to say I am a bit of a freak about things like that so I can’t believe I didn’t know. I feel like I am poisoning myself and now I see you mentioning it as well. My question is since you mentioned the direct process being a deterrent for you, have you found some brands that are strong, decaf and not poison in a cup? 😉 if you have discussed this before I can always look for other posts!

Oh kath! I cringed at this post like I did at the Cheerios one. I hate the keurig. I think they’re so wasteful (I know you use your own grounds, but most people don’t. And even if you recycle it requires energy to do so & more packaging for all those little cups.). Plus cleaning that little reusable cup is as much a pain as the bodum.
Still love your blog. Thanks for sharing and giving all us followers a chance to voice our keurig opinions. And, maybe you can still return it 😉

I got myself a cheap drip maker for 9.99 and it uses filters. I buy the unbleached. But I have read that paper filters filter out something harmful in coffee. Something that all coffees have naturally in it, but I can’t remember exactly what it is.

I just looked it up. I found on CoffeeDetective.com that “Cafestol is found in the oily fraction of coffee & is a potent stimulator of LDL cholesterol levels”. I guess it’s true. It makes sense. But that’s why I buy the paper filters. The metal doesn’t filter it out.

I moved to a tassimo for a few years (back when they were carrying starbucks — that changed soon after we bought). It was nice, but it ended up being a pain to clean and if I didn’t clean in, the coffee started to taste weird. And the selection really dried up.

We moved to the same automatic maker you used to use about a year ago, and its been fine (really nice for when we have a house full of people). Five years ago I was die-hard french press. I even used that little metal espresso maker that sits on the stove for awhile. Phases of life, phases of coffee. Right now I’m pregs and have switched to tea 100%.

We’ve had our original K-cup machine for about eight years? We don’t really use it anymore except to heat up water quickly for when my parents or the in-laws are watching my son and need to heat up breast milk quickly! HA We just rinse the pot each night and re-set for the morning. Easy peasy. But to each their own. The k-cup is fast!

I love my french press, but I don’t have kids so I’m not sure how I would feel if I was trying to save time. I guess the 5 minutes of waiting and the little bit of clean up is worth it to me though since I love the taste of coffee from a french press! I know this is only a small step, but you really don’t have to stir the coffee at all once you pour the water in.
However, I know for all the working moms out there, it’s important to make your time efficient so you can spend as much time as possible with your little one(s). I’m certainly not condemning your use of the Keurig, as long as you try not to use too many of those wasteful K- or V-cups :).

I am married to Father Earth. No joke, no lie. I begged him to get me a Keurig for Christmas and he finally agreed on one condition: I needed to dispose of the cups the best I could. I would spend tons of time ripping the foil lids off and putting them in the trash, dumping out the grounds and pulling out the filter for the compost and rinsing out the cups and putting them in the recycling (our recycling people said they’d take them). I agreed to it and had the sliced up finger tips to prove it.

After a few months of that nonsense hubby stopped buying K-cups and only uses a refillable cup every morning. Me, the girl that wanted the keurig so bad, only uses it every few days, and I use the refillable cup as well. We have found that in the long run we actually SAVE money: coffee is so spendy and we’re not brewing pots (or even partial pots) and dumping most of them out because we don’t drink all of the coffee we made. Now a few pound bag of beans seem to last a life time brewing one cup at time. 🙂

I know, this is long already, but we stopped buying the cocoa and cider cups for our son. Now we buy the big containers of the mix, he puts which ever mix he wants in a mug, removes the refillable coffee cup and just ‘brews’ hot water from the Keurig into his mug. Easy peasy for everyone!!

I have absolutely no reason to have a keurig, as I am just a 22 year old with no kids, living at home. I’m perfectly capable of brewing a pot of coffee every morning before work (especially since I wake up so early). But there is something so gratifying about waking up, pressing a button, using the bathroom, and coming back to a fresh cup of coffee. =)

I am OBSESSED with my Keurig – there are just so many great flavors, plus it’s fast, simple, and makes a fantastic cup of coffee. That said, I agree that my French press does make the “best” coffee as far as richness flavor. Love the foam it makes! But it’s such a process that I rarely use it anymore.

Kath, I am genuinely interested if you to expand on what your morning is like. I understand that kids take a lot of time and attention, I have a son weeks apart in age from Mazen but I am a bit baffled by how much emphasis you put in this post about needed to save time (I really have no opinion on how others brew their coffee). You’ve said things like “children change everything” “this is my life now” and “someone who needs 99.9% of my attention” and I find it really interesting. Can you share what makes your mornings so hectic?

It doesn’t have to do with time – clearly I have the time to make any kind of coffee. It came down to routine. I wanted to focus my attention on things other than prepping a coffeemaker every night and washing it day after day and having it sit on my counter for a few hours to dry. It’s a slight change, yes, but it’s been a good one and I’m glad I went for the Vue.

Its too bad you have not tried other methods. I have used a european style stovetop espresso maker for years- it cost me about $20, makes one gorgeous cup, and the “clean up” is simply rinsing out the grinds. No seperate filter to buy. Nothing that will break- its all metal.
The taste is very similar to french press but it is completly hands off and you can use what coffee you like best.

i use an espresso machine, but just wanted to mention to the gals in love with pumpkin spice lattes that I found a scoop of homemade pumpkin butter makes a great latte! thanks for your blog, keep the positive attitude with negative comments. your patience is encouraging!

I’m baffled by the baffled people. I, like you, have enjoyed coffee in all those different forms and the Keurig is hands-down easier. I, like you, prefer the taste of French press and therefore am willing to mess with it everyday but it IS more of a pain.

I love your blog, Kath. Very much a favorite!! Thanks for great content!

After thinking about this posting more, I had to comment again – I am amazed and can’t believe how rude people are. I am not sure if I could do a blog and have to deal with all the rude comments. Apparently, these people have nothing better to do. Kath, is taking the time to talk about different ways for making coffee, but some find fault with this instead of looking the time and expertise it took to put this information together for us. Come on people – go find another blog if you aren’t happy instead of putting nasty comments on this one!

Great post Kath showing options and how they work for you. We’ve had a Keurig for years…love the convenience! I also love to make a pot when more than 1 cup of same brew is needed. I also still love my percolator and use french press in summer to make ice coffee. I don’t have a baby or work anymore but still have different needs based on what my schedule is like on any given day.

Have you come across any research that indicates French Press or Turkish coffee (unfiltered coffee preparation methods) could lead to increased serum LDL-cholesterol? Two compounds in coffee that create an oily residue are said to interfere with and increase our cholesterol if not filtered out, such as via the drip-coffee method. I recently bought myself and my boyfriend each a French Press and am now discouraged to read this evidence. So far, I cannot find an article that describes the exact characteristics of the sample included in these studies. Just curious on your understanding of this, thanks!