Have I destroyed my Keurig?

drummerboy said:
And another thing - what part of the average American suburban lifestyle is NOT an ecological disaster? We focus on crap like K-Cups and plastic straws as we merrily consume our way into oblivion.
grrrr

 The part where people identify places they could do better and then act accordingly. People don't put their used motor oil down the drain anymore.  That's progress, incremental though it may be.

And we have to control what we can where we can 

drummerboy said:

spontaneous said:
We use the reusable cups with regular grounds.  I'd rather brew one single cup than a pot.

So you're satisfied with the reusables? I've thought about using them. I too only need a cup at a time. I only drink about a cup a day. I don't need a pot full of coffee.

 My dad used the reusable cup for years and it worked great, just remember to rinse it between uses.  That way he could have a cup of regular coffee in the morning and decaf after supper, without having to make a whole pot of each.  

mulemom said:

drummerboy said:

spontaneous said:
We use the reusable cups with regular grounds.  I'd rather brew one single cup than a pot.

So you're satisfied with the reusables? I've thought about using them. I too only need a cup at a time. I only drink about a cup a day. I don't need a pot full of coffee.

 My dad used the reusable cup for years and it worked great, just remember to rinse it between uses.  That way he could have a cup of regular coffee in the morning and decaf after supper, without having to make a whole pot of each.  

I've got the reusables in my Amazon shopping cart... I'll give them a shot.

My biggest problem with K-Cups is where to store a Costco sized box of them.

What's the deal on whole bean storage? In the freezer or not? I've heard contrary info.

Not to derail the topic but can anyone recommend a grinder that doesn't take up much counter space? I drink 2 cups a day usually back to back in the morning. I'd like to invest in beans. I know Costco has a coffee grinder in store but I'd be limited to what coffee they have in stock. 

Get a burr grinder.

Don't know what Keurig recommends for cleaning, but to clean out lime deposits I use some vinegar in hot water.  Coffee stains remove easily with dishwasher detergent.  Be sure to rinse out thoroughly.

drummerboy said:

conandrob240 said:
how does one accidentally pour simple syrup into a Keurig machine? That story might be more fun than debating a Keurig. 

I was waiting for that one.

In our two-male household, (me and son), we have a system where we keep bottles of water in the fridge. We re-use  these bottles (Kirkland brand) over and over in an attempt to be environmentally sensitive.  So, we keep several of these bottles on top of the fridge, filled up with water, so that when we take one out of the fridge to drink, we can easily replace it, so that we always have a supply of cold water. These water bottles are also a convenient way of adding water to the Keurig. I just grab one and dump it in, so I don't have to remove the reservoir from the machine.

The other day I made some simple syrup, and I decided to store it in the fridge in a Kirkland water bottle. I labeled it as such, and placed it far away from the other water bottles so that they wouldn't get confused. What happened after that is a blur, but I found the simple syrup bottle on the kitchen counter, and it was empty.  I know my son didn't use it, so I can only assume that somehow I dumped it into the Keurig.
I think.

Free tip: next time you are mixing rat poison, please don't store it in the fridge in a kirkland bottle.

If you really like Keurig coffee, well, it's a matter of taste, not right or wrong. I won't argue the ecological point, either. I don't agree that it saves a lot of trouble, though. I have a Cuisinart machine that uses Melitta filters. I normally brew a portion size of two mugs at a time, but I can brew a single mug if I want.

- Take out yesterday's filter and toss into compost.

- Rinse carafe if necessary.

- Put beans in the grinder. The grinder's button is on top, so I rest a heavy pot on it. While it is grinding:

- Measure water into measuring cup. Pour water into machine and insert filter.

- Remove pot from grinder. Dump contents of grinder into filter.

- Switch coffee machine on.

Yes, it's more work than using a K-cup, but it's not a lot of work. I think it takes less than a minute of my attention. No spillage, no mess, no scrubbing of anything.

basil said:

drummerboy said:

conandrob240 said:
how does one accidentally pour simple syrup into a Keurig machine? That story might be more fun than debating a Keurig. 

I was waiting for that one.

In our two-male household, (me and son), we have a system where we keep bottles of water in the fridge. We re-use  these bottles (Kirkland brand) over and over in an attempt to be environmentally sensitive.  So, we keep several of these bottles on top of the fridge, filled up with water, so that when we take one out of the fridge to drink, we can easily replace it, so that we always have a supply of cold water. These water bottles are also a convenient way of adding water to the Keurig. I just grab one and dump it in, so I don't have to remove the reservoir from the machine.

The other day I made some simple syrup, and I decided to store it in the fridge in a Kirkland water bottle. I labeled it as such, and placed it far away from the other water bottles so that they wouldn't get confused. What happened after that is a blur, but I found the simple syrup bottle on the kitchen counter, and it was empty.  I know my son didn't use it, so I can only assume that somehow I dumped it into the Keurig.
I think.

Free tip: next time you are mixing rat poison, please don't store it in the fridge in a kirkland bottle.

 I use pepsi bottles for the rat poison, so I've got that covered.

i love my Keurig but i don’t use k cups or the reusables.  

Try San Francisco Bay coffees. Environmental friendly packaging too.  

nan said:
Get a burr grinder.

 Its amazing what a difference this makes.  I used a blade grinder until about  a year ago and then I got a burr grinder for Christmas.  The difference in taste is like night and day.

GoSlugs said:

nan said:
Get a burr grinder.

 Its amazing what a difference this makes.  I used a blade grinder until about  a year ago and then I got a burr grinder for Christmas.  The difference in taste is like night and day.

 Why is that? Does it make a different shape of grounds, and does that impart more flavor? I use a blade grinder, and I've heard that burr grinders are supposed to be better. But they are expensiver.

Tom_Reingold said:

GoSlugs said:

nan said:
Get a burr grinder.

 Its amazing what a difference this makes.  I used a blade grinder until about  a year ago and then I got a burr grinder for Christmas.  The difference in taste is like night and day.

 Why is that? Does it make a different shape of grounds, and does that impart more flavor? I use a blade grinder, and I've heard that burr grinders are supposed to be better. But they are expensiver.

 I think it has to do with the heat generated by the blades.

Blade grinders generate a lot of heat that ruins the flavor of the coffee.  You can start with a good bag of bean, grind one cup with a blade and the other with a burr and find yourself with two completely different cups.

Additionally, burrs grind much more evenly than blades which results in better extraction and consistency from cup to cup.

The machines can be pretty expensive but you can buy a hand grinder on Amazon for about $30. Other than tossing your Keurig, its the single thing you can do to most improve your coffee.

Tom_Reingold said:

GoSlugs said:

nan said:
Get a burr grinder.

 Its amazing what a difference this makes.  I used a blade grinder until about  a year ago and then I got a burr grinder for Christmas.  The difference in taste is like night and day.

 Why is that? Does it make a different shape of grounds, and does that impart more flavor? I use a blade grinder, and I've heard that burr grinders are supposed to be better. But they are expensiver.

 I have a burr grinder, and I'm incredulous about it's vast superiority. I'd say do a simple test before investing. Go to a store that sells whole beans and has a grinder (ie Trader Joe's). Use their grinder (burr) to grind some and take the rest home to grind with your blades. Compare.

I've not done this comparison directly myself. I use a drip maker with a built-in grinder. The first incarnation of it used blade grinder. When it died I upgraded to the same model with the burr grinder. Didn't notice a huge upgrade in flavor. Not saying it didn't happen, but it wasn't night and day for me.

Sundays said:

Tom_Reingold said:

GoSlugs said:

nan said:
Get a burr grinder.

 Its amazing what a difference this makes.  I used a blade grinder until about  a year ago and then I got a burr grinder for Christmas.  The difference in taste is like night and day.

 Why is that? Does it make a different shape of grounds, and does that impart more flavor? I use a blade grinder, and I've heard that burr grinders are supposed to be better. But they are expensiver.

 I have a burr grinder, and I'm incredulous about it's vast superiority. I'd say do a simple test before investing. Go to a store that sells whole beans and has a grinder (ie Trader Joe's). Use their grinder (burr) to grind some and take the rest home to grind with your blades. Compare.


I've not done this comparison directly myself. I use a drip maker with a built-in grinder. The first incarnation of it used blade grinder. When it died I upgraded to the same model with the burr grinder. Didn't notice a huge upgrade in flavor. Not saying it didn't happen, but it wasn't night and day for me.

Well, remember that the claim for vast superiority comes from the person who claims that a Keurig makes a lousy cup of coffee - which must be a big surprise to the millions of uncouth faux-gourmands who seem to like it. Meh - what do we know?

Sundays said:

Tom_Reingold said:

GoSlugs said:

nan said:
Get a burr grinder.

 Its amazing what a difference this makes.  I used a blade grinder until about  a year ago and then I got a burr grinder for Christmas.  The difference in taste is like night and day.

 Why is that? Does it make a different shape of grounds, and does that impart more flavor? I use a blade grinder, and I've heard that burr grinders are supposed to be better. But they are expensiver.

 I have a burr grinder, and I'm incredulous about it's vast superiority. I'd say do a simple test before investing. Go to a store that sells whole beans and has a grinder (ie Trader Joe's). Use their grinder (burr) to grind some and take the rest home to grind with your blades. Compare.


I've not done this comparison directly myself. I use a drip maker with a built-in grinder. The first incarnation of it used blade grinder. When it died I upgraded to the same model with the burr grinder. Didn't notice a huge upgrade in flavor. Not saying it didn't happen, but it wasn't night and day for me.

 Those store grinders do create consistency in terms of grind but they are just as hot as a home blade grinder, the coffee you make has been sitting around getting less fresh since you left the store and a fifth of it is whatever was sitting in the machine from the last customer (whenever they used it).

I wonder whether you store your beans in the machines hopper. That can be problematic since most hoppers are not air tight plus your beans are constantly marinating in the heat and steam that come off the brewer.

Who knew coffee was so controversial?   

For those of you so inclined, here's an interesting brand of K-cups for Keurig coffee makers...https://www.amazon.com/Select-Trump-Coffee-Single-Cup-Brewers/dp/B00Q6AJRFC 

Ahh...but be careful.  Don't let Sean catch you using your Keurig... http://www.grubstreet.com/2017/11/hannity-fans-smash-keurigs-after-company-pulls-ads.html

drummerboy said:

Well, remember that the claim for vast superiority comes from the person who claims that a Keurig makes a lousy cup of coffee - which must be a big surprise to the millions of uncouth faux-gourmands who seem to like it. Meh - what do we know?

 Vanilla Ice sold millions of records.  Didn't make him a great (or even good) musician.

Honestly, you could apply this sort of culinary nihilism to any type of food or drink.  Lenders is the best selling bagel in America.  Is the best way to eat a bagel out of the freezer and toasted?  Probably not.

GoSlugs said:

Sundays said:

Tom_Reingold said:

GoSlugs said:

nan said:
Get a burr grinder.

 Its amazing what a difference this makes.  I used a blade grinder until about  a year ago and then I got a burr grinder for Christmas.  The difference in taste is like night and day.

 Why is that? Does it make a different shape of grounds, and does that impart more flavor? I use a blade grinder, and I've heard that burr grinders are supposed to be better. But they are expensiver.

 I have a burr grinder, and I'm incredulous about it's vast superiority. I'd say do a simple test before investing. Go to a store that sells whole beans and has a grinder (ie Trader Joe's). Use their grinder (burr) to grind some and take the rest home to grind with your blades. Compare.


I've not done this comparison directly myself. I use a drip maker with a built-in grinder. The first incarnation of it used blade grinder. When it died I upgraded to the same model with the burr grinder. Didn't notice a huge upgrade in flavor. Not saying it didn't happen, but it wasn't night and day for me.

 Those store grinders do create consistency in terms of grind but they are just as hot as a home blade grinder, the coffee you make has been sitting around getting less fresh since you left the store and a fifth of it is whatever was sitting in the machine from the last customer (whenever they used it).
I wonder whether you store your beans in the machines hopper. That can be problematic since most hoppers are not air tight plus your beans are constantly marinating in the heat and steam that come off the brewer.

 I'm just mentioning how/where they can try what they get from a high end grinder. I would assume they'd brew it quickly enough to judge the merits of the grind itself. You're throwing so many additional qualifications into a simple test. Surely "buy an expensive grinder on my recommendation alone" isn't the only sensible course of action here.

Sundays said:

 I'm just mentioning how/where they can try what they get from a high end grinder. 

 My point was that its not a fair test.  What you get from the communal grinder at TJ's is not the same as what you get from a home grinder.

GoSlugs said:

Sundays said: I'm just mentioning how/where they can try what they get from a high end grinder. 

 My point was that its not a fair test.  What you get from the communal grinder at TJ's is not the same as what you get from a home grinder.

 TJ's is in all likelihood better. But I defer to the wisdom of those concerned.

About the simple syrup in the water container, ask Scully about when her uncle decided to store kerosene in an apple juice jar...

ElizMcCord said:
Not to derail the topic but can anyone recommend a grinder that doesn't take up much counter space? I drink 2 cups a day usually back to back in the morning. I'd like to invest in beans. I know Costco has a coffee grinder in store but I'd be limited to what coffee they have in stock. 

 I have this one.  I got it several years ago from KALM.  https://www.capresso.com/coffee-grinders/infinity-conical-burr-grinder-stainless-finish.html

FWIW, I use a French Press and make one mug at a time.  From start to finish, grinding, boiling, brewing takes 7.5 minutes, of which only 1.5 of which I am actively engaged.

spontaneous said:
About the simple syrup in the water container, ask Scully about when her uncle decided to store kerosene in an apple juice jar...

 Thank you. I am aware of the perils in using known containers for other materials. But in this case, water and sugar water is not as dramatic as apple juice and kerosene. I do still have a brain cell or two still working. Sometimes anyway.

This whole conversation is MOL in a nutshell - convo starts with an oddball problem and quickly devolves into a bunch of self-appointed taste police judging each other and telling each other why whatever they are doing is wrong. For extremely low stakes.

If you're going to get evangelical about something, make it something worthwhile. The environmental point about k-cups is one to consider. As with all things, there are tradeoffs but I can at least see the point of getting preachy and evangelical about it.

The "oh but the coffee sucks" argument is a matter of personal opinion and taste, and not really anybody's business at all unless you are a member of the home in question and are unhappy with what is being served. 

Nothing makes me LESS likely to go for a more expensive piece of kitchen equipment than some judgy know-it-all telling me it is infinitely better than whatever I have. Especially when I am pretty happy with what I have (fwiw a blade grinder that works just fine and I really enjoy the coffee I make). 

Staying carefully away from quality of coffee, types of grinders, and even the extra trash from K-cups...

My beef with Keurig and all its kin is that the proliferation of single-cup coffee products at the grocery stores has cut way back on my tea options.  Down from maybe 6 feet of shelves to 3 feet.  gnar.

continue...

spontaneous said:
About the simple syrup in the water container, ask Scully about when her uncle decided to store kerosene in an apple juice jar...

HatsOff said:
This whole conversation is MOL in a nutshell - convo starts with an oddball problem and quickly devolves into a bunch of self-appointed taste police judging each other and telling each other why whatever they are doing is wrong. For extremely low stakes.
If you're going to get evangelical about something, make it something worthwhile. The environmental point about k-cups is one to consider. As with all things, there are tradeoffs but I can at least see the point of getting preachy and evangelical about it.
The "oh but the coffee sucks" argument is a matter of personal opinion and taste, and not really anybody's business at all unless you are a member of the home in question and are unhappy with what is being served. 
Nothing makes me LESS likely to go for a more expensive piece of kitchen equipment than some judgy know-it-all telling me it is infinitely better than whatever I have. Especially when I am pretty happy with what I have (fwiw a blade grinder that works just fine and I really enjoy the coffee I make). 

 Folks are passionate about food and drink. This should not surprise you if you have been paying any attention whatsoever to the last 10,000 years of human history.