Is Keurig "all that" when compared to grinding your own coffee beans???

[sjmyst]

Hi,

I blog for a coffee bean web site. So, I've done a fair amount of research about various coffee beans grown all over the world.

But, lately I've been noticing that in my local grocery stores, that even though I don't typically look for coffee beans at a grocery store, it seems that the coffee aisle is 3/4 Keurig, or Keurig-like products, and 1/4 (or less) actual coffee beans.

I know that by the time a coffee bean product gets to the grocery store that it has probably lost some freshness. But, it sure seems like Keurig has taken over if you just go by what is for sale in the grocery store.

I've had a few Keurig-like cups while at work. And, they've been pretty decent.

I can imagine that most of the "coffee bean" purist that frequent this site are going to prefer their own choice of coffee bean over something from Keurig (or other "like" products).

How many of you coffee bean purist find Keurig to be anywhere close in terms of quality when compared to fresh ground coffee beans?

Do you find the same thing I find when wandering your local grocery store aisle. If so, any thoughts on why coffee beans are so "ignored" on the grocery store shelves.

Regards,
sjmyst

 

[Bacchus]

My only experience with Keurig comes from the occasional times my wife and I go "casino camping" and spend the night in a room at the casino. They have a Keurig in each room and the coffee pods are from some company I never heard of prior to my examining the coffee maker and supplies provided in the room.

To to make a long story short, folks who brew and drink grocery store coffee may find the coffee acceptable but I think it's pretty bad. For me, there are too many unknowns - the blend of the coffee, the length of time since roasting, etc. But, beyond that, I think the brewer itself is a pain-in-the-butt. It may be that a Keurig meant for home use is designed and built differently than one intended to be used in a hotel room but I find that the hotel version is cumbersome and confusing for first-time users. in any case, I doubt I'd ever buy one. I'm far happier with my Clever Dripper.

Just my $.02 worth.....

 

[sjmyst]

Bacchus,

Thank you for the reply.

I agree with the comments about store bought coffee. My wife sometimes gets one of her favorite coffee beans from the grocery store (Community Colombian Dark Roast). She typically gets store bought.

I'm the only one in our family that has any "Keurig" like experience. I'll be interested if others have similar problems understanding how to make them work.

I'm trying to remember back to when I first tried the Keurig at work. I think I had similar problems "figuring it out". But, being at work, I just laid low in the break room and waited to watch someone else "work the magic". Once I saw how it was done, it wasn't that bad. But, I do remember standing there staring at the posters on the wall trying to understand all of the ways it could be used (they had combinations of chocolate with coffee with caramel, with "snickers flavor" with, well, you name it).

Anyway, thanks again for the feedback!

Regards,
sjmyst

 

[topher]

One thing I found with the Kcups we tested was the amount of coffee in the cups were not consistent. It ranged from 8 to 11 grams. Every one we tested smelled of cardboard(stale) We just started producing our own cups. It is a pain in the ass. When I brew our cups I only brew 4 to 6 oz cups...it isn't horrible but then again it is fresh coffee. The problem is people are trying to get 12 or more ounces out of their cups. I too prefer my Clever.

 

[Kudzu]

My wife and I were seduced by the ease and immediate gratification of the Keurig for a couple of years. All along, we knew we were giving up decent coffee for the convenience and quickness of K-Cups. When the Keurig went toes-up, Green Mountain tried to give me a new one. No wonder, I had regularly been sending them a lot of money. I told the nice lady, "No thank you, I am going back to REAL coffee."

The above is absolutely true, but, to be fair, I should tell the rest of the story. My wife later bought another Keurig coffeemaker and she uses that when I am not there to make the coffee. When I want just a cup, I use a Clever Dripper to brew it. You cannot beat the Clever Dripper for one cup of REAL coffee!

 

[mopleez]

I'll tell it to you like I tell it to my colleagues & even my wife -- Even bad coffee is 95%. The fact that it's coffee at all is what's important.

 

[Kudzu]

I'll tell it to you like I tell it to my colleagues & even my wife -- Even bad coffee is 95%. The fact that it's coffee at all is what's important.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Though I disagree, that is my wife's view. I wonder what percentage of coffee drinkers see it that way? I would expect a relatively low percentage of people who participate in an on-line forum on coffee would see it that way, but I would not be surprised if a large percentage of the whole population of coffee drinkers agree with you.

 

[sjmyst]

Though I disagree, that is my wife's view. I wonder what percentage of coffee drinkers see it that way? I would expect a relatively low percentage of people who participate in an on-line forum on coffee would see it that way, but I would not be surprised if a large percentage of the whole population of coffee drinkers agree with you.

That's funny. My wife is kind of a coffee nut. She drinks it much stronger than most. She does use beans. But, she still gets them from the grocery store.

I ask her why she doesn't go for fresher bags bought directly from the manufacturer, and she says she doesn't want to pay the extra cost. She won't even try them because she's worried she will be ruined for the cheap grocery store stuff she buys now.

Thanks for the replies.

Regards,
sjmyst

 

[Mr.Peaberry]

sjmyst,

There are just some things that people do that seem to just make us scratch our heads, no? I still have a couple of EZ-Kup filters for a Keurig that were given to me. I posted here a week or two ago, but no takers. If you want them, I will send them to you, then your wife can at least use her store-bought (stale) beans in a Keurig...if she has access to one. Or...you can use it at work with roaster direct fresh beans. You might wean her over to the dark side with a little enticement...just sayin'

Peaberry

 

[friedcoffee]

Nowdays people are more saving more time making coffee by Kcups and Even more by typing 'K'
instead of 'Ok'. K cups is meant for people who are not serious about coffee and they just take it for formality. Neither they are wrong nor the Keurig, and neither are we...it's just the preference of time over taste.

 

[Mr.Peaberry]

I may be wrong on this, but I first recall seeing a Keurig machine in the lobby of a business. Easy and convenient way of providing coffee to clients that was a huge step forward over the traditional drip maker where the coffee may have sat "cooking" for an hour before serving. Plus you could offer a selection of coffee. Break rooms across America adopted the Keurig, and provided a "first look" to consumers who later purchased for home use, or gave as gifts. The universal appeal of the Keurig may have been something that perhaps was unforseen on the scale that followed it's introduction, and proves that consumers are keen on convenience and choice, to the point that the waste created by the little devil is a significant concern.

I agree with you FC, there is no right and wrong...kind of like hamburger and steak. When I need a caffeine fix, I will drink just about anything that is available, but given the choice, other than cost, why would I not prefer something pleasing?

Peaberry

 

[AhhhhCoffee]

When I need a caffeine fix, I will drink just about anything that is available, but given the choice, other than cost, why would I not prefer something pleasing?
Peaberry

I agree with you Mr. Peaberry- When I want coffee just about anything will do. The coffee at my office is horrible and I drink it just about every day. Are there no other options than Keurig? I googled around a bit and all I can find is this startup called Spinn.com I don't even think this products has hit the market yet. Anyone heard of this? or better yet anyone tried one of these before?

 

[sjmyst]

...to the point that the waste created by the little devil is a significant concern.

...kind of like hamburger and steak...

Peaberry

Mr. Peaberry,

Thank you for your feedback. I especially loved the analogy of hamburger and steak.

BTW, I've heard Keurig is coming out with a pod that recycles. Might not be perfect. But, at least they are recognizing that they have created a mess that need addressing.

Regards,
sjmyst

 

[sjmyst]

...Are there no other options than Keurig?

My company uses something called Flavia in the breakroom. Nice machine that makes good coffee.

It uses pouches instead of pods. From what I can tell, it's not any better for our landfills than the pods. May even be worse. The pouches have a hard plastic top part that "slides in place". I don't have any research to back it up. But, those hard plastic tops seem like they might last in a landfill longer than an empty Keurig pod.

Although, likely neither of us will live to find out which one disintegrates first!

Regards,
sjmyst

 

[Gregory1]

Thanks for the information sjmyst