As some know I gave up daily caffeine intake a year or so ago. Well two-a-day workouts and coaching wrestling pushed me off the wagon. Now that I'm back to drinking coffee again I have one big problem...I gave away my coffee maker. So...I need some help in choosing one. Here is what I'm looking for:

 

1. Programmable - I have to get up super early and I'd rather not fumble around with making coffee. (if the K-Cup thing is insanely easy this may go away as a need)

2. Only need 8-16 oz at one time - I'm never really home so I'm not a sit around all day and drink coffee kind of person.

3. Convenience - once again, I don't want something that is difficult. At least not for what I"m looking at now. One day I might grab a french press or even better - an espresso machine.

4. Makes good coffee - I like mine strong and black. Only thing I occasionally add to my coffee is an espresso shot. I'm used to Starbucks or Heine Brothers. Considering neither are close to me I have been living on crap for a few weeks (though the coffee at work isn't bad).

5. Could be persuaded out of this but if at all possible would like to keep this under $75 --- cheaper the better. But I don't want something I'll hate or have to replace; so I'm willing to spend if needed.

 

A couple of things I'm really intrigued by are the K-Cups (seems super easy and convenient) or something that brews directly into a travel mug. Even better would be a K-Cup maker that brews directly into a travel mug. Does the coffee taste good in those? I heard you can get refillable cups or some way to make it more cost-efficient if you so choose. But I'm very unfamiliar with them. Thanks in advance for the help.

Oh yea, are K-Cups readily available? Remember I live in E-Town so I have a Wal-Mart, Target, and Kroger.

Keurig is the way to go....The most basic model is roughly $75-$100 and takes about 30 seconds to get you your coffee. It also can go directly into the travel mug (at least mine does; not the basic model though).

Oh yea, are K-Cups readily available? Remember I live in E-Town so I have a Wal-Mart, Target, and Kroger.

 

Yes, you can get a wide variety of brands, blends, and flavors at any of those locations.

Keurig is the way to go....The most basic model is roughly $75-$100 and takes about 30 seconds to get you your coffee. It also can go directly into the travel mug (at least mine does; not the basic model though).

 

This.

Yes, you can get a wide variety of brands, blends, and flavors at any of those locations.

How much is one "cup"?

How much is one "cup"?

 

They don't sell them individually (that I know of), rather in packs of 12-16....A 12 or 16 pack runs you roughly $12 bucks. You can buy a "K cup filter" that allows you to put a scoop of ground coffee in the Keurig, but I've heard quite a few people say they've had issues with those.

They don't sell them individually (that I know of), rather in packs of 12-16....A 12 or 16 pack runs you roughly $12 bucks. You can buy a "K cup filter" that allows you to put a scoop of ground coffee in the Keurig, but I've heard quite a few people say they've had issues with those.

So a dollar a cup? Are those cups one time use? How many oz's are you putting into your travel mug?

 

Is the coffee good and strong?

If you have a Bed, Bath and Beyond or a Macy's around, I would recommend a Verismo. I got one for my wife this X-mas. It runs around $200, but you get Starbucks in your house! It takes around 30-45 seconds and you have a tall latte. Buy flavored syrups and you can customize as you like. If you are a fan of Starbucks, it is pretty awesome!

 

Verismo

So a dollar a cup? Are those cups one time use? How many oz's are you putting into your travel mug?

 

Is the coffee good and strong?

 

My Keurig has different size settings (8 oz. or 12 oz. cups), and yes they are one time uses.

 

The strength depends on the type you get. You can get a wide variety of flavors, strengths, etc.

If you have a Bed, Bath and Beyond or a Macy's around, I would recommend a Verismo. I got one for my wife this X-mas. It runs around $200, but you get Starbucks in your house! It takes around 30-45 seconds and you have a tall latte. Buy flavored syrups and you can customize as you like. If you are a fan of Starbucks, it is pretty awesome!

 

Verismo

Thank you but I don't really get into lattes, cappuccinos, flavored syrups, etc. I like black coffee and I like espresso --- sometimes combined.

How much is one "cup"?

 

Kroger now has a line of K-cup type coffee. They have several varieties from lighter to darker roasts. I just bought a 12 pack for $5.99, so about 50 cents a cup.

My Keurig has different size settings (8 oz. or 12 oz. cups), and yes they are one time uses.

 

The strength depends on the type you get. You can get a wide variety of flavors, strengths, etc.

Do you know the model you have?

Do you know the model you have?

 

Mine is a couple years old, but the Elite is basically the same model (having a 3rd size setting as the only difference).

I'm more of a hot tea drinker, but I do enjoy coffee if it's good. Keurigs brew very well, but I think the kicker is the cost and availability of the K-Cups. My roommate has a Keurig, and we've got one here at my office. The refillable thing they got here at the office a while back was a piece of crap, and you ended up with grounds all over the place in your coffee. The new one that my roommate got, however, works like a dream. It's quick and easy. Amazon.com: Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter: Kitchen & Dining

 

One important thing to note, I've used the Keurig B40 and the Keurig Vue V700. The B40 is what my roommate has, and it will only dispense in 6 ounce, 8 ounce, or 10 ounce brews. Travel mugs are generally 16 ounces. (Although you could always go ahead and dispense a 10 ounce brew and then follow it up with a 6 ounce brew out of the same K-Cup.) The more expensive Vue V700 model that we have at work dispenses like six different sizes from 4 ounces up to 18 ounces from a single K-cup.