Costco has the cheapest. Otherwise, we just stock up when they are on sale. I have to say that Keurig is not about a cheap cup of coffee. It's about convenience and not having to deal with coffee grounds. It also makes a great cup of coffee! For us, some things are worth a little splurge. We love our Keurig!

A friend of mine has one of these. You can get slightly better prices, maybe 40 cents per cup instead of 50 cents, if you join an on-line coffee club and get it auto-shipped every several weeks. I'll ask which him where he gets his.

I'll save my rant about these machines for later.

I'd like to hear the rant...we have been dithering about getting one (which one??) but the price of the coffee, and bad reviews have made us wait.

When DH wasnt drinking coffee I got the keurig. Then DD started drinking and DH started up again. We went back to using our Bunn at that point.

I was getting the cups at green mountain online. The price is definitely better. DD took a keurig to school, so i have a bunch of coffee coming in for her. I only use mine for the occasional afternoon cup now. Or if only one of us is home.

The online subscription to them has a tiny reduction in cost but not much.

I want to hear your rant! We have the new version which is quiet. The older versions were very loud.

We've been using this one non-stop since Christmas night and so far no problems. I love the hot chocolate, cider, and tea!

Friends bought me one of these for our vacation place. I haven't used it because it seems like too much trouble for me just to make a cup of tea but I guess it's helpful when you have a mix of decaf & regular coffee drinkers.

I think you can use the discount coupons at Bed, Bath & Beyond to buy the little pods so that might make it cheaper than a grocery store.

Recently I saw a permanent little basket/pod thing that you just refill with your own coffee. I don't recall where I saw it but it's probably available on-line somewhere.

A friend gave me one of her Tassimo's, which is about the same thing, just different brand. We love it! But, we aren't big coffee drinkers. My DH drink a cup in the morning and I buy the large cup size and drink it each morning. It is expensive to buy the discs-that's what Tassimos is called. I buy the coffee at Bed Bath and Beyond and use my 20% off coupon on each package.

I don't think these coffee makers are made for the people who drink coffee throughout the day, unless you don't mind paying for the coffee. The best reasons we like ours, is for convenience mostly, and the coffee is good!

I need to look online to see if I can find the Tassimos discs any cheaper.

As far as the machine goes, Tassimo is really good, IMO.

My rant is not about the people who use the machines, but the machines themselves and the logic behind them. They were first used on the commercial market for places like customer waiting rooms of high end car dealerships. Then the consumer versions came along for the coffee aficionados.

What I hate about them for home use is the overall cost of using these machines, the plastic waste of the K-cups, and the fact that they are not giving a high-end coffee experience.

Think about what you are getting or rather not getting. You are not getting fresh ground coffee, you don't know how long ago the coffee in the K-Cups was ground. The water being used for them isn't fresh, it can sit in that storage container for days. And how often does the average consumer clean that container? Then there is the electrical expense of having the machine run all day so that you can have the occasional cup when you want it.

This is the perfect appliance for some people. And everyone has the right to splurge on what's important to them - we all do it in one way or another, so this isn't a condemnation of those who like these machines.

My rant is really about consumerism in general, be it coffee makers, electronics, or fried vegetables. We take a perfectly good product or system and find a way to make it expensive, wasteful, and often unhealthy. If these machines didn't exist, we would not miss them. I suspect many people will use their machine for a few months and then stick it in the closet next to the espresso maker, the panini maker, and other appliances that seemed like such a good idea at one time. We will know for sure when they start showing up at the local Goodwill. Just my opinion.

hh, our's came with a separate basket for ground coffee, which we used but you have to take it out each time, rinse it, then fill it again.

Gray, I understand your rant. It's mostly about being green, right? You can turn these pots off if you're not drinking it off and on all day. We change our water twice a day, so it's not old.

I highly doubt we'll be storing ours unless it breaks down. I didn't even want it because I was used to our Mr. Coffee. lol. But after a few days of use, dh and I were sold on it.

Yeah, the extra plastic cups aren't good. Neither are disposable diapers, but who wants to use real one's? I did for both my boys so I could be "green" until the end I caved and bought disposable diapers.

We also use paper plates quite a bit. Me bad. :)

I think I veered off topic! lol

I certainly agree with all the 'green' issues that have been raised.

But for me, most of all, the issue is just that it doesn't make good coffee, It is convenient, yes, and good if you have a mix of beverage drinkers. But the flavor of the coffee is just not great. We have them at the company sites at which I work. Because it is a larger company, they stock a huge variety of choices for coffees and teas. I have tried all kids of the brands and flavors and roasts, and in the end none of it tastes much better to me than a bad cup from a fast food place or a gas station.

Don't want to totally derail this topic but graywings rant and hit every point I wanted to make. I'm certainly not the greenest person around but feel it's important to keep trying and taking small steps to change. I've used the Melitta system forever. - still love it - and only make one large cup for myself in the morning and one in the afternoon. Even on those rare days that I drink more, it's fast and easy - although not as fast as a Keurig, of course. And you can't beat the $2.99 price ! My son is trying to get me to switch to a French press to eliminate even the paper filter waste..... maybe someday. Sorry if that sounds judgmental - I sure don't mean to say I have all the answers or always do the right thing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Melita Single Cup Brew

Les, as much coffee as I drink, I wouldn't know a good cup of coffee if it bit me in the hiney. lol.

How does one tell a good cup of coffee? I've never grinded my own beans, don't have time for that. I used to use plain old Folgers or Cains in my Mr. Coffee. I liked it. I've used various name brands, but it's all the same to me.

The only difference I can tell with the Kcups is the strength of coffee, unless it's flavored. I don't like flavored coffee. All black for me.

Seriously, I think my coffee is more of a "drug" for me, it keeps me going on busy days.

I thought the whole reason behind those makers was for people who didn't know how to make a pot of coffee. If you already know how I don't get the allure. Then again, I buy fresh roasted beans every week. Can't stand that pre-ground Community coffee that dh drinks. It tastes stale to me.

Dlm, you can solve the paper filter issue by using a gold filter or compost the filter and grounds like I do.

Natal, coffee is simple to make, no matter how you do it. It just takes time if you're going to grind beans. I don't know anyone who messes up making coffee.

I also don't think the Keurigs are for idiots who can't make coffee. I personally think the various coffees are good. That's what I meant when I said I wouldn't know what is supposed to be a good cup of coffee, because all the coffee I drink is good, unless it has cream and sugar in it.

Oakley, you'd be surprised ... plenty of people who don't know how to make a decent pot of coffee. I have a friend who lived on Dunkin' Donuts coffee until she bought a Keurig.

If you have never had coffee made with fresh roasted beans you'd be amazed at the taste difference!!!

Oak, trust me, when you have really good coffee, you are going to know it. I was having lunch one day with friends at a nice French restaurant and I had coffee with dessert, which I almost never do. O-M-G!!! I could not get over how good that coffee was. Freshly roasted beans, freshly ground, good water, the right temperature - O-M-G!!!

Keep in mind that I hate Starbucks and generally buy store brand coffee. Right now I'm buying Wegman's breakfast blend.

Many of the reviews I have read say the coffee is excellent and from what I have casually seen, the pods can be bought from many different coffee suppliers.

We drink 2 cups every morning and always grind the beans right before and use 100% Colombian - which is still my favorite even though I have had many, many, different bean varieties.

Anyway, occasionally I want a second cup or a cup in the after noon and the Keurig type machines seem like they would fill that need. I don't think it would replace our morning drip coffee- too expensive.

We have the Kuerig machine at work. I buy the Kcups and keep them in my desk, but am not happy with the whole concept. I have wowed in the New Year to buy a coffe pot for my office and stop the waste that goes with the Keurig system. I don't think the coffee is that good to begin with.

There is one use at work that makes sense to me: there's one at the front lobby. When clients come in and have to wait, the receptionist can offer them a cup of coffee or tea.

We love our Keurig. We have had it about 3 years. It allows my husband and I to have the type of coffee we want at the strength we want. I like Starbucks House Blend and fill the cup half way and my husband likes Morning Joe (Gold Coast) and fills it to the rim. We don't use the K cups but instead use the permanent cup--My K Cup. The Keurig lets us have a fresh cup of coffee any time of the day we want. I usually drink hard in the morning--4 cups but my husband prefers to spread his coffee drinking out during the day. It is a splurge but at our house, way worth it!

Amazon sells K-cups for cheap -- at least cheaper than in stores. And their Friday sale (every Friday, go to Amazon and click on Today's Deals and then Friday Sale) always has some kcup varieties at an even-more-discounted price. Also, you can get kcups at Kohl's and Bed Bath and Beyond -- both places have coupons (Kohl's usually has at least a 15% coupon floating around and often a 30% if you have their charge card) and BB&B has $5 off $15 coupons or 20% off. If you get 2 boxes of 18 kcups at BB&B, it's 19.98 -- w/ a $5 off $15, you get it for under $15, which is about the cheapest I've seen them in a store. And BB&B takes expired coupons and they take more than one coupon per purchase -- so if you are buying 4 boxes of coffee, you can use 2 of the $5 off $15 coupons (or 4 20% off coupons) even if the coupons are expired. I walk around with a purse full of old BB&B coupons just for this reason!

Also, if you get tired of the waste (I've had a keurig for over year now and drink several cups a day -- and yes, my conscience nags at me about how much plastic I've tossed over the lifetime of my coffeemaker) you can get a "My K-cup" accessory - it's a little k-cup shaped metal coffee filter that you fill with your own coffee - it's much easier than trying to refill the plastic kcups themselves. I've seen these for sale at Kohls, BB&B, and on Amazon -- again, if you buy at Kohls or BB&B, use a coupon to maximize your savings.

I do love the Keurig though - I am the only one in our house who drinks coffee and I was always reheating the dregs from the morning for an after-dinner cup -- then ending up wired all night long. With the Keurig, I can have my 2 morning cups then switch to decaf for my afternoon and evening cups. I'm not feeling guilty about dumping most of a pot of coffee and I'm not tempted to have extra caffeinated coffee just because it's there (my doc actually wants me off all caffeine, but it's been a hard weaning process - at least with the Keurig, there isn't a big pot of available caffeinated coffee calling my name all day long!)

I just got a Keurig for my mom and dad this year for Christmas because my mom prefers flavored coffee but my dad can't stand it, so the one who was late to the coffee pot was always unhappy about what the other one brewed. This way, they each get what they want. It's only the two of them so it didn't make sense for them each to brew their own pot. They seem to love it so far -- I did give them the my K-cup thing along with the brewer so that they can refill it with cheaper coffee when they run out of the k-cups.

Sboxx, our machine came with the My K Cup, but it takes forever to use it.

If we use My K Cup then each time we make a cup of coffee we have to pull it out, empty the coffee grounds, rinse it, put it back in the machine which is no easy feat, fill it, etc.

Is there an easier way? If so, I'll keep buying Folgers! lol

One thing about K cups is we can control the strength by the water setting levels, along wit using one cup a couple of times, depending on what time of day it is.

We really enjoy it though.

My son used to be a barista at a bakery in Austin for many years and he is a total coffee snob. He lives at home so I get to benefit from his snobbery and a perfectly brewed cup of coffee doesn't come easily.

The water must be filtered and at the perfect temperature - not too hot and not too cold. The brewing time needs to be exact, the beans are fresh and kept in an air/light tight container and ground seconds before brewing. Oh, the beans must not ever touch a blade - only a burr grinder will do. Also the carafe must be stainless steel and no hot plate allowed! We have a $200 Capresso that brews an "okay" pot of coffee of DS prefers the french press.

When he wakes up early enough I get to experience coffee heaven but that doesn't happen very often.

I'm a coffee snob too. We've sampled the coffee out of the Keurig machines at both Macy's and Costco. We weren't impressed with the taste or the waste. I tossed my sample both times.

We buy our coffee from a local roaster, grind with a Mazzer burr grinder and have a Quick Mill Andreja machine.

Oakley - You Can Buy the kcups at Costco. I don't know what the price is but I'm sure they're cheaper.

We do not have one of these machines but my college age daughter does. I bought it for her to deter her from buying Starbucks on campus everyday. In this case, it's been cost effective.

My husband and I are both coffee drinkers. I make a fresh pot in the morning and put it in one of those thermal carafes and it stays hot all day. I think if I were single I might get a Keurig.

I live in the coffee snob capital of ??? well, the country probably...the PNW. I LOVE a good cup of coffee and won't drink anything but.

I drink one or two cups a day; buy my favorite locally roasted organically grown beans, grind and put in a single cup Melitta filter on my cup. Heat the water in an electric teakettle which does not boil it and shuts off automatically. Pour the water over, let it drip and then recycle the brown paper filter into the compost. When I entertain, I make it into a carafe, same process, bigger filter holder. No dregs, no plastic waste, is about as inexpensive as it can be made and it is perfectly fabulous every time.

You haven't tasted the best coffee until you have had Swedish egg coffee. That is we drank as I was growing up. I don't make it now, because it takes too much time before work, etc.

I never heard of egg coffee, but then again I'm not Swedish. From the internet . . .

The recipe is simple. Beat an egg and mix it with coffee grounds. Pour the resulting slurry into a pot of boiling water. Let the mixture boil to the top of the pot and then turn off the heat. Let it steep for several minutes. Strain into coffee cups.

Oakleyok, like I said we have had our Keurig for 3 years so I have built up a collection of My K-Cups. I think we have 7 so we just use those during the day and clean them out at night. It was a Christmas gift so it's something we wanted, not "needed." If it's too much work, try the Caribou coffee K cups. That is one of my favorites if I'm using the cups.

Sboxx, we went to Walmart this morning and they had the K-cups. 18 cups for around $9. I bought two boxes.

Now that's a good idea to get more My K-Cups and clean them out at night.

Do you rinse your holder after you brew a cup, or do you just put it back in the Keurig after dumping the grounds and not rinse out?

I'm having a cup now. It's delicious! We're both sold on it.

Someday I'll experiment with beans, but since we drink so much, I'd be in the kitchen all day! lol

There is virtually no time investment to grinding your own beans. They take less than 30 seconds to grind for a 10 cup pot.

Oakleyok, I rinse the whole thing out but my husband just rinses the filter out and not the top and filter holder. The great thing about using the My K-Cup is that you use whichever coffee you like. I grind my beans every day in a coffee grinder and that's really easy. I'm glad you're enjoying your Keurig. It just works for us--glad it's working for you too. The nice thing about a Keurig is that your cup of coffee is always fresh, no matter when you make it. I can drink coffee that's in an airpot or heaven forbid, even warmed up in the microwave but my husband is the purist.

our toyota dealer has a like machine and i understand the convenience there... they don't need to worry about the pot running dry, etc. plus, tea, cocoa, and coffee are available. i like it when waiting on service!!!
but, the quality of the coffee is not any better to my tongue and i drink several cups a day, so, it wouldn't be convenient for me either...VERY gimmicky for the home, imo, unless you only drink a very occasional cup of coffee...

I'm one of those who cannot make a good pot of coffee, because hubby and I are not coffee drinkers. If we have guests who want coffee, I usually have someone else make it or pull out a VERY old perculator which many of our friends and relatives seem to prefer.

We have some good coffee stores and that is where I buy coffee. You can grind it then or buy the beans and grind at home.

We have a keurig at work and there are two who especially seem to like it and use many different flavors. However most seem to prefer the old drip maker or the espresso machine.

I do get the comment about a "good" cup of coffee. Occasionally, in a restaurant I might order a cup with dessert and there is one restaurant especially who has really good coffee.

tina

We also got the Keurig for Christmas. DH and I like our coffee different strengths, and we also seldom finish a large pot. (for some reason, DH would never make just 4 cups, he always makes full pot). anyway, because of the expense of the K cups, and the waste, we bought 2 of the My K Cups. Experimented with strength using our own coffee. and now we have it down pat. I really enjoy my ONE cup a day and don't have to feel guilty about waste. (or reheating old stale coffee the next day). We use ours every day, for coffee, hot tea, hot chocolate. Love it!