Single serve coffee maker(s): diagram

[rotuts]

although I have an Alexia PId this from the NYTimes is pretty interesting:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/08/14/business/how-a-keurig-vue-works.html?ref=technology&_r=0

[gfweb]

It is interesting. But I, old fart that I am, resent the idea of single cup machines. It seems like just another way to raise the price of a product.

And they won't fill a mug.

[weinoo]

And...the coffee sucks compared to what I can do with a hot pot, freshly ground beans and a pourover/French press.

[rotuts]

all true. but interesting.

it can only be as good as the coffee in the little plastic cup.

for those in the Starbucks realm, I wonder how these cups compare to SBUX cups.

not for me but ....

[Paul Bacino]

I just see.. alot of places for failure!! Dried pumps /clogged lines.

Happened to my niece, a college student, they not reliable on maintance.

Cheers DP

[rotuts]

a college student, they not reliable on maintance.

how true

[gfweb]

And...the coffee sucks compared to what I can do with a hot pot, freshly ground beans and a pourover/French press.

Sucks even compared to MrCoffee.

[chileheadmike]

So you can adjust the temperature for brewing coffee? I always use 205F, anything less too much less would produce a bad cup of coffee. How low can you set it?

[Ashen]

If I really am jonesing for a great cup I hit the local roastery about 1/2 km away from my house . They roast everyday and pull great shots on an elektra

At home I have a french press and a regular keurig that has been convenient and consistent for a quick cup on the way out the door . I had been using the attachement cup that let me use grounds from the local roastery, because I hadn't found a regular K-cup that I liked. I have now found a product from President's Choice, a pod [ not plastic cup but a soft filter bottom } PC West Coast Dark that fits regular keurig machines and tastes stronger and fresher than any k-cup I have tried. The pods come in a mylar bag with the standard CO2 offgassing valve because they are filter bottomed.

As far as maintenance goes, I havn't had many issues. it pays to run descaling cycles with vinegar every month or two otherwise it might start to run a bit funky even before it automatically asks to be descaled.

Edited August 16, 2013 by Ashen (log)

[Lisa Shock]

I saw silicon cups that you put your own ground coffee into to use instead of the pre-made cups today at T.J. Maxx. Don't know if they were there because they failed at retail, but, it seems like you could roast and grind your own and get a better result from the machine this way. I don't drink coffee, so, I won't be doing any experiments with this.

[andiesenji]

I never liked the Keurig, still don't.

I've been using a Senseo since they first appeared in the U.S. and I make my own pods or use a refillable one with my own coffee (sometimes roasted and ground by me) and it (when set on the highest setting) fills a large mug which holds 14 ounces.

I am very fussy about my coffee and to me regular brewed coffee tastes "stale" after it sits for more than half an hour. I used to waste a lot of coffee because the smallest brewers - 2 cup, never worked well and although I would occasionally use my favorite SILEX VACUUM brewer, I would toss the brewed coffee after an hour and make a fresh pot.

Sadly, the company stopped supporting the Senseo brand in the U.S. but they are still popular in Europe. I, being somewhat of a fanatic, do have a couple of backups (Senseo Spureme digital) (purchased when they were deeply discounted just before the line was discontinued) for when the one in current use dies and I have an extra Perfect Pod Maker and two or three extra refillable pods (Coffeeduck Classic http://www.amazon.com/Coffeeduck-Classic-Permanent-Refillable-HD7810-HD7812/dp/B00295RASY/ref=pd_sim_k_4) .

And, when they are on sale, I buy a box of the Melitta, Dark roast coffee pods.

NONE of the other single-serve coffee machines, and I have tried them all, has produced a cup that (to me) is as good as the Senseo.

I tried a Keurig and returned it after two days because it sputtered all over the counter. The replacement did no better so I returned it for a cash refund. The Hamilton Beach coffee was flavorless. The Tassimo stopped working after a dozen tries and seemed to require "cleaning" after only a few brews. It was borrowed. I did buy and return a Bunn single serve because it never got the water hot enough to fully brew what I consider a good cup of coffee.

I do have a Dolce Gusto Creativa (Nescafe) which was a gift and is more a mini espresso (15 BAR pressure system) and uses the Nescafe pods, which are fairly expensive (no refillable product yet available). It does not fill a large mug but the results are very good.

If I have guests, I still prepare coffee (usually home roasted and ground) in my 70-year-old 8-cup SILEX vacuum brewer, which makes excellent coffee and has it's own electric "stove" and it is a handsome item to have on the table.

Edited August 16, 2013 by andiesenji (log)

[Shel_B]

If I have guests, I still prepare coffee (usually home roasted and ground) in my 70-year-old 8-cup SILEX vacuum brewer, which makes excellent coffee and has it's own electric "stove" and it is a handsome item to have on the table.

It sure is a nice looking contraption ...