Lets talk K-cups

[wdinc01]

For all the TalkBassers who have a Keurig coffee maker, what's your favorite kind? What would you recommend to others and what would you avoid?

I bought some Cafe Espressions mocha yesterday, and am drinking it now. I recommend not buying this, as it just tastes like chocolatey water. Please, help me avoid making this mistake again.

On the positive side, I love Green Mountain Breakfast Blend and their Nantucket Blend. I've also got a box of Caribou blend. Its good but a little strong for me.

I only drink coffee in the mornings. I don't really need it to wake me up, I just like the taste and the extra energy. I also like to sleep at night, so I don't drink it mid afternoon.

So what are you all brewing?

[rockstarbassist]

Go to B,B&B and get one of the sampler things. It's a good place to start.

Most of the stuff you get at the major chains aren't very good to me. Although they're starting to diversify their offerings a bit more nowadays.

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

Go to B,B&B and get one of the sampler things. It's a good place to start.

Agreed. Some flavors are better than others. I happen to love most breakfast teas and the chocolate glazed doughnut flavored coffee. Dark magic with some coffee mate can be pretty amazing, too.

[Time Monkey]

They are cool, but they dont seem to be consistent. Plus, I like to brew my coffee to be something like roofing tar, and it doesnt lend itself to that more.

[MJ5150]

I'm not a fan of flavored coffee, but I do like the pumpkin spice from Green Mountain and the butter toffee from Gloria Jean. I prefer the dark magic from Green Mountain or the extra bold from Donut House if we are buying already made.

We bought a "my k-cup" and use beans from our favorite local roaster. By far and away, that is our favorite. Any of you try one? If not, you should.

-Mike

[rockstarbassist]

TBH, the Folger's Dark Roast is pretty decent if you like a more "plain" coffee. I really just get lots of everything. I can't drink the same thing every day until a whole package is gone.

[Matthijs]

That's funny. Is Keurig some kind of Nespresso alternative? Never heard it before. On their site they claim Keurig is based on the dutch word for excellence, well it isn't: keurig means tidy or neat or even prissy. Not something I would associate with the kind of coffee I like. But then again, american coffee never stops to amaze me: chocolate glazed donut coffee? Thats not meant for grown ups is it?

I once had a talk with a (Italian) coffee shop owner in the states who compared it to everybody drinking only white wine and no red wine being available. Mr. Illy is turning in his grave.

[MEKer]

Fantastic customer service. Ours gave a bit of trouble a few months ago and they walked my wife through it over the phone. Then it screwed up last month---a month after the warranty expired. Because we were on record as having an earlier "problem" with it, they are sending us a free, new one. We only had to send back some little filter piece thingy to them which I mailed in yesterday.

My wife and son use it actually. I don't, as I do not like anything but regular coffee and its cheaper to do regular brewing than buy their cups. Besides, sugary coffees are frilly and girly. I am a man and like black coffee and dirt. Ain't no "remark" about coffees stamped on the back of MY man card.


in fact, the way this thread is titled is kinda girly also.

[bassbully]

I like all the basic ones and use mine when I just want a cup or two not a whole pot. My new fav is Duncan Donuts..its good. My wife and I are huge coffee drinkers so we use Keurig between the reg coffee maker.

[RosieB]

Originally Posted by MEKer

Besides, sugary coffees are frilly and girly. I am a man and like black coffee and dirt. Ain't no "remark" about coffees stamped on the back of MY man card.

Oh no. I like my coffee plain and black. Does this mean I have to turn in my girly-girl card? Or would this be part of my tomboy endorsement?

Seriously though, I agree about the cost. That's why I only used the one at work. Green Mountain Breakfast Blend was my favorite. Especially since everything else they bought was flavored. The Rainforest Nut was good though, and there was a Vermont something - normal coffee, not flavored - that I liked.

What I learned? If you live in a hard water area, use filtered water and clean the thing regularly. Otherwise the whole unit will lock up and customer service won't be able to help. Though they were very nice and did try. Luckily after letting vinegar sit in it overnight the built up crud loosened just enough that the unit let me start the clean cycle. Ran that cycle three times. Community coffeepots are gross!

[tk421]

my inlaws have one that just sits on the counter - i think the mother in law makes a cup of tea like once a month with it.

personally, i use a tea kettle, and the filter basket from my old dead bunn. cup at a time, check. best way to make coffee short of a french press, check. granted, i use 20 oz insulated gas station mugs ... but if speedway is gonna keep giving them to me for free, i'm down with that.

[PaulMacCnj]

My favorites are...

Newman's Own - Special Blend
Coffee People - Organic
Coffee People - Wake Up Call

By the way, Shoffee has a nice selection of K-Cups:

Shoffee.com - Keurig K-Cups, Keurig Brewers, Coffee Pods and more

Standard disclaimer, I have no affiliation with Shoffee. I'm just a satisfied customer of theirs.

[MJ5150]

Good call on Shoffee.

-Mike

[iamlowsound]

I roast my own beans and use a french press for my coffee.

lowsound

[GregC]

Originally Posted by MEKer

in fact, the way this thread is titled is kinda girly also.

Indeed, here's the first thing I thought of:

[fenderhutz]

I used to like my Keurig until I started reading the labels in the little K cups. They have "water soluble coffee" aka instant coffee in them. The only way I use my keurig now is if I buy the beans, grind them fine, and use the my k cup attachment. I am not paying for a premium cup of Sanka. No thanks.

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

I used to like my Keurig until I started reading the labels in the little K cups. They have "water soluble coffee" aka instant coffee in them. The only way I use my keurig now is if I buy the beans, grind them fine, and use the my k cup attachment. I am not paying for a premium cup of Sanka. No thanks.

I like that "lil do-dad"... kind of leaky but cool.

[Big chicken]

Emeril Big Easy Bold

[Internet Police]

My mom has one. I don't use it for coffee but instead for making ramen noodles. It's a lot faster than boiling water or microwaving for sure.

[metallicafan18]

I have one of the blank cups that you put your own grounds into. Luckily, I am a barista so i get all of the good stuff! My regular morning drip coffee is 1/3 Ethiopian dark, 1/3 Peruvian, and 1/3 espresso. It's delicious and gets me plenty focused!