Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

Jerry,

Here is the refillable K-cup that I use. It is a Keurig brand. I bought it over 5 years ago at Bed, Bath, Beyond which unfortunately is closing most, if not all of their NY stores as well as stores in other states as well due to financial difficulties.

It has a screw on top instead of a flip top with a removable basket for the grounds.

Vince

(Download)

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

A few weeks ago there was a comparison of coffee makers posted. This was a comparison of all the main methods of making coffee done in a scientific type comparison method (blind tasting I believe). Unfortunately I no longer have it but I think my recollection of the results is largely accurate as far the top findings, which are as follows (Sorry I can't recall the lower rankings or where the findings are posted).

The #1 method was a single pass paper filter such as Melita. I assume they used a funnel to hold the paper filter. I believe a Keurig coffee maker was second. The other methods trailed behind thise two. A French Press was not very far down the list.

At home I use both a Melita filter and just recently bought a new model Keurig. It's a single cup maker and cost only about $55 at Walmart and does make a good cup of coffee with less potential mess than the single pass filter (I'm a clumsy old guy have a habit of spilling rounds every so often with the filter). It's called the Keurig K-Express Essentials Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker and is still listed on Walmart's website for about $55. The methodology apears to be basically the same as their very expensive coffee makers.

There hasn't been much mention of types of beans on this thread and IMHO good beans are necessay to make good coffee. I use Sumatra beans in my filter and a morning blend that is lightly roasted for my first cup of the day in the Keurig. That provides a nice boost of caffeine to start my day. For later in the day I usually use medium roast Columbian pods in the Keurig or Sumatra with the filter. I don't prefer really heavy roasts.

A very interesting thread, thanks for all the good opinions.

Doc Mck Loc: Terrell,Texas

We just did that on our Keurig and killed it. Too much stuff broke loose and seized up the pump I think. I gave up trying to dismantle it and fix it. Bought a new model. Needs cleaning once a month, not once every 1-2 years.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I remember the plug-in percolator. That was king for a long time.

FreddB Loc: PA - Delaware County

Yep! But only when I have enough coffee drinkers to need several cups.

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

I have a Kuerig, but I am getting tired of the bad-tasting coffee. No matter what pods I use, it taste bad.
Back to drip

marine73 Loc: Modesto California

Are you cleaning it on a regular basis? Is the coffee maker pods only or can you make by the pot. Where do you purchase your pods? Try changing brands of pods and the type of roast for the coffee.

There are two brands of coffee that I will not buy regardless of roast and that is Petes and San Francisco brands.

I purchase my coffee online from the Black Rifle Coffee Company a veteran own and run company. They sell it in 1lb bags which is actually 12 oz, 5lbs, instant and K-cups. You can select the roast flavor and that will apply to the K-cups also. Lately I have been purchasing the 5lbs bags and yes it is on the expensive side ($123.00 for 10lbs, two five lbs bags) but you can do your own K-cups from the bag. If I remember you can also get the whole bean and grind it yourself. The coffee comes in a foil and vacuumed sealed bag(s) and is freshly roasted a ground before shipping. I am on a 60 day reorder cycle and will get a notice before they ship so I have the option of having the new order shipped or postponed. Ten pounds will last me more the 60 days even when making 10 to 12 cups a day pot. I will only make one pot a day. My opinion only yours may vary.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I have had one for years, but forgot about cleaning it. Actually it is my second K-cup machine, the first was another brand and something warped after years on my desk at school so it started leaking while brewing. I taught Jr and Sr High for 32 years and when it happened a student blurted out "Mister, your coffee maker is peeing on your desk!"
I got a descaler kit (we have hard water) and the little cleaner cups for the outlet and cleaned it yesterday. Then I put in a new water filter and went back to bottled purified water like I used before I got too lazy to buy it by the case. My coffee tastes better now. And the coffee now comes out faster so the brew takes about 1/3 less time. Tonight I am going to do a vinegar soak and clean, it probably had a lot of buildup. I will also get a case of gallon bottles of purified or spring water from Sam's.

I also have about a dozen of the refillable pods and a box of filters from when I was buying Folgers "Black Silk" and filling them myself. I may also go back to that.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You mean I have to clean it?

Yes, I go through the cleaning procedure every so often. It's been making a lot more noise and producing only half the amount I ask for. A couple of hours later, it still makes noise, but it gives me the full amount. The new one is very quiet. I kinda feel sorry for it when I hear it struggling. It's like it knows I have the new one, but it wants to remain in the family.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I use the refillable K-cups with Maxwell House coffee. Yes, I know it just generic coffee, but it's okay. I used to look at the lists of "Best Coffees," but paying more didn't get me anything I liked.

marine73 Loc: Modesto California

I always liked Maxwell House but my wife doesn't, so we finally found a coffee from the Black rifle coffee club that she likes in a fine grind, light roast and breakfast blend. I do get a veterans discount with them which is usually about 10%, I also use the Honeys coupon app to see if I can get any additional savings. I believe that shipping is free and I usually receive it in 5 to 7 days after they receive my order and they send it out to be ground. On a previous order I purchased a stainless steel vacuum container that holds slightly more the one pound of coffee, so I get that fresh ground smell every time I open the container and the remainder of the coffee remains in the foil bag and stays fresh. When the vacuum container gets low I replenish from the foil bag. The foil bag will replenish my storage container approximately 5 and 1/2 times.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I can imagine a whole line of coffee from Black Rifle: Hand Grenade, Land Mine, Bazooka, etc.

marine73 Loc: Modesto California

You are close

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The new Keurig uses 0.04 kWh of electricity to brew a large cup from a cold start. I'll have to check the old one. One annoying thing about the Keurigs: the blue color wears off the buttons you press to select the size of the coffee you want. I think I'll put clear plastic over them.