If I was your guest I would much prefer a pourover to Kcup.

I have a french press for when I want a smaller quantity of coffee. Though i can brew a half pot too.

Kcups are pretty undrinkable, IMO. As guest I would probably pass on this. Pourover would be much better.

Okay - well maybe pour over is the way to go. I thought my Starbucks kcup was excellent though I've found the usual hotel kcups to be undrinkable. I once looked into an electric kettle - thinking I might drink more tea if I had one - but I think they were also unreliable. At least with that the hot water would be readily available along with the coffee and tea options and the pour over technology is inexpensive and reliable.

I once had a french press. Loving coffee as I do, I thought that would be the best. I found it to be a messy, PITA so it went into the offerings at one of my moving/garage sales.

I also have a favorite hotel in Aspen, it's very upscale and I hate the single serve coffee maker coffee. The coffee tastes like paper. Waiting at the dealership while they detailed DH's NEW truck, I tried to drink the coffee out of a paper cup...and that's not doable either. Maybe it's just the paper cup it's served in....?

We have a machine that has both a regular pot and a keurig-type single serve at our beach house. It works great bc we have overnight guests pretty frequently in summer and some are decaf people. It is made by Hamilton Beach and has been working well so far.

I once looked into an electric kettle - thinking I might drink more tea if I had one - but I think they were also unreliable.

We love our electric kettle! We've had it for a number of years now, and no issues. We bought a Cuisinart that you can set for the type of tea you're drinking. Having this we absolutely drink more tea.

Funny you should bring this up. I don't drink coffee or tea, but would love to have an easy option available for guests. I saw a cute Keurig at Target on sale and thought seriously about purchasing it, but Keurigs seem to get not-so-great reviews so I passed it by.

If you do decide to buy something, please come back and let know your decision and experience.

I bought a Nespresso and thought the coffee was awful and those darn pods are expensive. I returned it. There was a Nespresso at the Austin airbnb and the coffee was as mediocre as I remembered it.

Another one who finds K-cups and the like undrinkable. And I am not a coffee connoisseur either - I routinely drink Dunkin, if that give you any idea.

I have not sampled a lot of the various pod offerings either though, so maybe there are particular brands that come out ok.

I am a coffee lover, but not a coffee maven. I can appreciate good coffee, but can drink most coffee. I cannot drink Dunkin tho. My sister gave us a keurig about 5 years ago and I'm happy with it. DH drinks the various brands of Kcups, and I have the reusable refillable ones. I got that because I only drink one caffeine coffee a day ( well, sometimes 2) but drink decaf coffee throughout.

I think the brands of coffee do matter though, fwiw. I found the Paul Newman one and Martinson to be a lot better than most.

I do pour-over and love my electric kettle. It heats to boiling so fast. The first one I had was the stainless steel Cuisinart that sas95 has but the lever to open it broke as I recall. It was also very heavy when partially filled. I now have a Cosori with a glass kettle. I use it to boil almost all my water and then pour it into a saucepan since it's so much faster than the stove. I use it several times a day.

I just can’t stomach how much the k cups cost per drink. You can buy the most amazing beans on the plant for that price I use a French press and electric kettle That said I do understand the convenience.

Not only are they expensive, but terrible for the environment because of all the individual serving packaging.

Well I’m only planning to use it for occasional guests so I think the planet impact will not be significant. That said I think I’ve settled on an electric kettle and pour over. I found a nice Oxo that shows you how much water to pour for 6, 8, 10 ounces. I’ll find a cute small coffee canister and measuring scoop and make some kind of nice arrangement on a tray that also includes tea.

Great choice. Pour over is a million times better than a k cup. Approximately. 😆

I am not a coffee drinker, but I got a single serve Keurig for guests. I have one of the refillable k-cup and asked each of my siblings and coffee drinking friends to give me a few k-cups so that I would have a variety of flavors that they and others would enjoy. When they don't see their favorites in my pod holder they usually give me more. I keep Caribou Coffee Medium Roast Coffee on hand as this seems to be favorite.

I do think that the brand of pod you buy makes a difference, I am sure some are better than others. I did notice that the sample k-cups didn't disappear, but the Starbucks, Dunkin, Peeks and Caribou did.

@Jennifer Hogan - I think you are right about what's in the pod. The Starbucks pods I bought for use at the AirBnB were very good - as good or better than what I make at home in the regular pot (also Starbucks). I'm still tempted to get the small, relatively inexpensive Keurig and try it as long as it lasts. I have a few weeks to decide before I actually need something for guests.

Ha I just looked it up= these are what I have ( This was an additional order.) Anyway they and the original set are holding up fine.

I usually do use the paper filters with them as well. Still, way more cost and environment friendly

We use a Keurig daily, with the refillable pod. Regular coffee. As good as fresh brewed. Use the regular Krups coffee maker when we have a crowd.

3katz I have that Oxo pour over set, use it every day and love it. I add (and heat) my cream before the coffee so adjust the water accordingly. To heat the water I use a stainless, gooseneck kettle and it heats as fast on my induction as an electric kettle so if you have an induction stove, that's an option although there are electric gooseneck kettles if you prefer. That spout configuration allows a better pour, no splash and controlled. A standard tea kettle will work - it's not rocket science! - I used one successfully for decades.

Well filling pods and heating water on the cooktop (I do have induction) are certainly do-able but not the simple one step, no muss, no fuss solution I was hoping to have for guests.

Question - What are your expectations when going to a friends home?

I have never been offended when going to a friends home because they didn't have my beverage of choice - I make due with what they do have and am grateful that they invited me to their home.

I try to keep a few things around that people can drink. If someone doesn't like the variety of beverages that I have they are welcome to bring something that they do like.

I don't drink coffee - have some k-cups.

I don't drink tea - have some tea bags

I don't drink alcohol - have some liquors in the bar.

The only wine I have is in the freezer in cubes that I use for cooking.

I do usually have water, milk, orange juice and a variety of sodas and I keep a case of Yuengling Lager in the garage.

I have not had any guests complain.

I have one friend who loves Bailey's Irish Cream and will visit a couple of times a year and stay for 2-4 weeks. I always have an unopened small bottle on hand when she comes.

I have one brother who brings his own beer if he is coming over for a bbq or game. He says beer isn't beer unless you can drink it with a fork.

My one niece and her husband have a wine cellar and host wine tastings . . . They will often bring a bottle of wine with them.

They are coming to your home to enjoy your company and hospitality, not judge your coffee.

I don't think 3katz is worrying about being judged but wanting to be accommodating to guests, people she clearly wants to be comfortable and welcomed and to provide them with something nice.

I agree with dlm, I don't see it as being worried about being judged at all - it's more about trying to be an accommodating host, within the bounds of reason.

Interestingly enough, having just come from the thread about microplastics, this also raises the issue of passing hot liquid through a plastic pod for me. I never thought of that angle because I don't like the K cups so rarely use them. Again, one K cup is unlikely to kill anybody either though. :-)

3katz I think you will enjoy having the small Keurig for easy, quick coffee for your guests. We drink a lot of coffee and love my Keurig. I find most Keurig coffee a bit strong so use the 12 oz setting and dispense it into a Yetti cup, then pour into 2 smaller coffee cups for DH and me. My favorite is Folgers Breakfast Blend (negative is I can’t find them in the large bulk pack at a reasonable price) and I also like Maxwell House House Blend.

I don’t care for Starbuck in the coffee shops (too strong for me) but would like to try the pods.

Well you all have me on the fence about this now. I am inclined to try the little Keurig and if it doesn't last I definitely wouldn't replace it. I'm also going to get the Oxo pour over though. I don't have one at this house and I sometimes like using that if I'm home by myself. I really like how that one has the water measurements.

Yeah, the idea of being judged about my coffee never entered my mind.

I got the OXO pour-over last fall when Jim was in the hospital. It wasn't worth it to make a whole pot for my 2 cups daily. I used the OXO over a big 24 oz thermo cup, using the appropriate amount of grounds, and pouring in stages.

3katz, my favorite kitchen ”appliance” is our hot water I sinkerator. You have a tap with boiling water right at the sink, which is useful for coffee, tea, cooking pasta or rice, defrosting anything, etc. We have had one in every house since the early 1990’s and it is my must have.

3katz, that is how I do it; I microwave my water. My husband doesnt drink coffee or hot tea at all. I drink a cup (occasionally 2) of hot green tea with a bit of pineapple juice and lime every morning. Much easier to heat up a cup of water that way.

@Kswl - we put a hot water dispenser in when we remodeled our kitchen at a previous home in MN. I liked it but not enough to ever feel the need to add one in any kitchen after that. That may have been in part due to the tank failure after about a year. Yet another ”appliance” with premature failire requiring repair/replacement.

I love the Keurig and just replaced one I dropped on the floor...by accident. I love Gevalia Majestic Roast. Its a strong brew which I like. Sometimes I'll buy Starbucks Pike if on sale. I like the Gevalia the best. I'm a coffee drinker and love a strong morning coffee.

I replaced the Keurig I broke with a smaller one, which makes three 6oz before adding water.

I agree the cost is ridiculous and they keep raising the prices.

But, for guests its perfects, quick and easy and they'll enjoy their cup after dinner.

I think it makes a good cup of coffee.

Love my Keurig. We have a larger one that sits on the kitchen counter and a small one that we take with us on road trips. There's a nutty caramel K cup that I'm very fond of.