Killing our Keurig

A couple of years ago I fell into a trap.

Our coffee machine went down in flames. Without coffee, I'm an irritable zombie. The rush was on to find coffee, fast! At the time my husband and I were both working pretty well-paying jobs, and were purchasing things that people "like us" seemed to purchase. I had a nice car, we lived in a nice apartment, so why wouldn't we buy what the media says is the nicest way to make coffee?

That's the story of how we bought a Keurig. For two years we used it as intended, buying K-cups of flavored coffee and feeling a sense of entitlement every time I created a piece of garbage for every single cup of coffee.

As we have become more mindful recently, we decided the Keurig was one thing that needed to be addresses. We lived the idea of single cups of coffee. My dad makes a single pot of 12 cups and usually drinks it for two days before dumping the rest down the drain. We did a little research and ended up buying a reusable insert for the machine with a metal mesh filter for under $6. It's this exact one.

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You can put a tablespoon-ish of coffee in it, make about two single cups out of it (if you really wanted to, I just make one because I'm picky), and then dump the coffee and start again. Not only are we not creating unending waste every day with used K-cups, we are not wasting any coffee in the process! As a bonus, it costs just a fraction of what the single serve cups did.

The coffee we were buying in bulk before was $22 for 80 cups. Not bad, but terrible coffee! Per serving it was (rounded up) about 28 cents a cup. If we each drink one cup a day, that's about $200/yr.

The new coffee we found at Aldi is $5 for like 2 lbs. I forget the amount of tablespoon servings, but I do know it's about 4 cents a cup, or $30/yr. $36 a year if you count our initial $6 investment in the insert. Now that's savings!

It's not much, really. The chance to reduce our household waste means almost as much to me as the chance to save the money.

Hope you enjoyed reading!

Wow, I could have written the first half of your post myself!

I, too, am a coffee addict. My kids tell me I would head-butt them if they came between me and the coffeemaker in the morning. And, I, too, fell in love with my Keurig. I had a subscription of pods come to the house regularly.

I became disenchanted when I realized that there was no way I could get a cup of coffee at home with the Keurig for less than .47 a cup. Also, I realized that using up those plastic things was not in alignment with my environmental values.

So I did what you have done--I bought the little cups you fill yourself, which worked fine.

At some point, my Keurig died, and then I was faced with, do I buy another Keurig? After a lot of thinking and walking the aisles at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, I decided to get a standard Cuisinart drip coffeemaker with a thermal pot. I think I do what your dad does--I make one pot of 10 cups, and it lasts me two days. I just put it in the microwave and it tastes fine!

I'm moving to VT for the summer (for the first time--we just bought a little house up there) and because this house is only 700 square feet, I'm trying to keep everything as small as possible. To that end, I'm not bringing my huge coffeemaker. I got a nice size French press in a thermal carafe and to heat the water I got an electric kettle. I know that may seem counterintuitive--two pieces of equipment instead of one, but the kettle is multifunctional, has a thermostat so you don't brew the coffee with boiling water, I can also use it for tea, and it should be a quick process.

I'll let you know how it works out!

Thermal carafe? Please tell me more about this as it would be the size I am looking for. I find small ones but never one that will take 10 cups.

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Originally Posted by catherine

Wow, I could have written the first half of your post myself!

I, too, am a coffee addict. My kids tell me I would head-butt them if they came between me and the coffeemaker in the morning. And, I, too, fell in love with my Keurig. I had a subscription of pods come to the house regularly.

I became disenchanted when I realized that there was no way I could get a cup of coffee at home with the Keurig for less than .47 a cup. Also, I realized that using up those plastic things was not in alignment with my environmental values.

So I did what you have done--I bought the little cups you fill yourself, which worked fine.

At some point, my Keurig died, and then I was faced with, do I buy another Keurig? After a lot of thinking and walking the aisles at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, I decided to get a standard Cuisinart drip coffeemaker with a thermal pot. I think I do what your dad does--I make one pot of 10 cups, and it lasts me two days. I just put it in the microwave and it tastes fine!

I'm moving to VT for the summer (for the first time--we just bought a little house up there) and because this house is only 700 square feet, I'm trying to keep everything as small as possible. To that end, I'm not bringing my huge coffeemaker. I got a nice size French press in a thermal carafe and to heat the water I got an electric kettle. I know that may seem counterintuitive--two pieces of equipment instead of one, but the kettle is multifunctional, has a thermostat so you don't brew the coffee with boiling water, I can also use it for tea, and it should be a quick process.

I'll let you know how it works out!

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Originally Posted by razz

Thermal carafe? Please tell me more about this as it would be the size I am looking for. I find small ones but never one that will take 10 cups.

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This is the one I use now, and I love it. Not cheap, but worth it--it's paid for itself in my being able to squeeze pennies out of every cup

https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-DGB...t+coffee+maker


These are the two items I got for VT

https://www.amazon.com/Aztecus-Premi...s+coffee+maker

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Catherine,

The addiction is so, so real. I have never heard of a subscription to coffee pods..I'm glad I'm learning about this now rather than before we started our journey to frugality!!

It's amazing what happens when you start thinking of space as a limited commodity. We have more than enough room in our house now, but will be downsizing when we move as well. Your new system sound very interesting, like it might even make really good coffee! The day my Keurig dies I'm going to be looking into even better, more efficient solutions like you did.

I was doing the big coffeepot and drinking it for days method. Then I decided to get a one cup. It cost 34 and I love it. No paper filter is needed either. So I get fresh coffee every day. If I want a second cup I just add a little fresh coffee to the used grounds for the second cup.

We have two french press pots. One makes 1-2 cups, one makes...a huge amount.

If we have extra left over from the huge one, I stick in it the refrigerator and call it "cold brew".

I have an old, old 10-cup Mr. Coffee (40 years?) drip coffeemaker. I make 10 cups at a time and store the carafe in the refrigerator as I prefer my coffee cold. Sometimes, I just put a scoop of grounds in a Mason jar with water to make cold brew. Often, I just make instant (sounds of PNW card being revoked), which I drink with cream.

My husband does what BAE does. I’ve never learned to like the stuff. But I do like the French press method for reasons of simplicity.

I pour a cup of coffee and make sure my coffee/cream/sugar ratios are perfect. I drink a third of it and add a little more. I drink half of that and add a little more. I always leave at least a third which drives my husband crazy. I also make it so strong you could melt a spoon in it. He fills half his cup with water first.
A Keurig would never work for me because of my fussy ways and the waste from the cups always annoyed me. My sister in law is always trying to get me to drink a cup with her vast amount of flavors which take up waaaay to much counter space. I demure.......
After my mom died my dad was doing the old make a pot and drink it for days trick and we were horrified. We believed he deserved a fresh cup every morning and he was getting his Starbucks for free.

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Originally Posted by bae

We have two french press pots. One makes 1-2 cups, one makes...a huge amount.

If we have extra left over from the huge one, I stick in it the refrigerator and call it "cold brew".

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I add some ice and almond milk for a yummy drink

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Originally Posted by flowerseverywhere

I add some ice and almond milk for a yummy drink

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I add everything from cream and nut milks to cocoa powder and/or brandy; I've never been enchanted with the flavor of black coffee.

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Originally Posted by bae

We have two french press pots. One makes 1-2 cups, one makes...a huge amount.

If we have extra left over from the huge one, I stick in it the refrigerator and call it "cold brew".

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That is what I do too. I have one french press for 6 cups and one pour over. Left over gets saved in fridge for cold (I also pour a little in an ice try so when I make a cold drink it's not diluted with water). Coffee grounds go to compost.

My pet peeve is coffee makers with clocks of any sort. I actually have a deep dislike for clocks with numbers so digital clocks top that list and it frustrates me to no end that the stove, micro, radio/cd player in the kitchen already have clocks I can't hide...not the coffee maker too!!!

That's an interesting pet peeve, Float. I actually have a pet peeve in regard to all of the electronic lights that must remain on. I have been known to put electrical tape over them; everything seems to have a light- the dishwasher the refrigerator, the cable box, etc etc.

Back to the topic of coffee makers, I have one that is programmable and have come to find that an essential feature. The coffee maker begins its brew cycle automatically so my coffee is ready when I awaken.

The thing that I find makes the most difference in my coffee quality is utilizing filtered water.

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Originally Posted by lmerullo

That's an interesting pet peeve, Float. I actually have a pet peeve in regard to all of the electronic lights that must remain on. I have been known to put electrical tape over them; everything seems to have a light- the dishwasher the refrigerator, the cable box, etc etc.

Back to the topic of coffee makers, I have one that is programmable and have come to find that an essential feature. The coffee maker begins its brew cycle automatically so my coffee is ready when I awaken.

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I know we do not serve the cause of truly excellent coffee by grinding it the night before and letting it sit in a non-airtight filter holder for hours. But I like having good (if not great) coffee available just when I wake up. I'll sacrifice that amount of quality. It's not like I could make it better at that hour anyway.

The clock on coffeemaker, though, is an LCD and barely visible when you're looking right at it. >8) The clock on the stove can be switched off. And the microwave doesn't even have a clock. So it's pretty quiet in our kitchen.

This is exactly what we have - stainless steel insulated french press and an electric kettle. the press is used every day and the kettle is used many times a day!

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Originally Posted by happystuff

This is exactly what we have - stainless steel insulated french press and an electric kettle. the press is used every day and the kettle is used many times a day!

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I am MORE than pleased with this system!! The French press coffee is easy to make and it's delicious. The kettle is elegant on the countertop and I know I'm not burning the coffee grounds. And the water heats up quickly--for coffee or tea. I don't miss that big drip coffee maker at all.

This is an old thread, but I figured no reason to start a new one.

Does anyone like their Keurig and want to keep it? Right now we use a 5-cup drip coffeemaker and an electric kettle for tea. I understand that you can make tea in a Keurig as well as coffee. I only like fresh coffee and I only drink one cup per day. Dh likes stronger coffee than I do and he drinks it throughout the day, one cup at a time. So we're always prepping and brewing and waiting.

I have a French press as well but I don't like having to wash the whole thing after every use and it looks dirty and greasy if I don't wash it. Although I do like the coffee it produces. Do you guys wash your press after each use? And Dh would never use the french press, finds it too much hassle.

So I'm thinking of trying a Keurig. I know the pods are wasteful, but I figure we have environmental credits to our name - no kids, no grandkids, not a single diaper in the landfill!

I haven't been happy with our Keurig and wish we'd never bought it. I think people who value a little variety in their coffee choices might enjoy one more since there are now so many pod choices available but I'm not a fan of coffee variety. Give me a cup of Maxwell House with a teaspoon of sugar and a splash of Half & Half and I'm happy.

When this silly thing dies I'm going back to a simple Mr Coffee type drip machine.

We do have a French Press which we use when out and about in the camper and it works fine but I'm not a fan of the mess it makes.

Gee, I don't think French presses make a mess.. at least no more than any pot that needs to be cleaned. I do rinse the press part and scrub with a dishwashing brush, but I don't find that to be a hassle either. I guess if you compare it to a Keurig, it is more of a hassle than that.

I don't miss my Keurig, nor my Cuisinart drip machine (I did really like that machine, though. It had a built-in coffee grinder, and the coffee quality was excellent).

Alan, Maxwell House?? Yuk. You're no coffee connoisseur. My DH tells me I'm fussy, and I probably am, but he's the guy who just this morning forgot to turn on the electric kettle and poured cold water into the French Press and then when he realized it, he put the cold-brewed coffee into the microwave and then drank it, so his opinion clearly doesn't count.

And yes, I'm catherine, and I'm a coffee-holic.

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Originally Posted by catherine

Alan, Maxwell House?? Yuk. You're no coffee connoisseur.

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I went through a stage about 15 years ago when I only drank the expensive stuff from Starbucks. Once I decided to stop that foolishness it took me a while to re-acclimate myself to my now beloved Maxwell House and I don't want to have to go through that again. One disclaimer though, about once a month I talk myself into getting a Starbucks Caramel Macchiato but at $5 plus for a grande, I kick myself every time.

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Originally Posted by Alan

One disclaimer though, about once a month I talk myself into getting a Starbucks Caramel Macchiato but at $5 plus for a grande, I kick myself every time.

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I LOVE Starbucks Caramel Macchiato! I only get it on business trips. There's no Starbucks up here, and even if there were, like you, I don't indulge in those sinful treats very often for cost and calorie reasons. While I'm a big coffee buff, I never "got" the Starbucks thing.. my coffee preferences are driven by how dark a roast it is, and I always choose organic, shade-grown coffee if I can find it. But would I stand in line for 20 minutes to get a grande latte with soy milk and a double shot of vanilla? Nope.

You all will gag at this — I only drink coffee when I have a headache. I put instant coffee and sugar in a cup, add cold water, stir, and drink it like medicine. Headache is gone.

We recently replaced our dying Cuisinart drip coffeemaker with a Bonavita. My only regrets with the Bonavita are that it makes only four mugs per batch (not six like the C used to make) and that they recommend not putting the thermal carafe in the dishwasher. Otherwise, really good coffee. Might even improve Maxwell House. ;)

I had a French press for a while and thought preparation and cleaning (each time, yes) was too fussy for me compared to a pourover (this from a guy who grinds whole beans for each batch). The filters and the grounds from the pourover go in the compost bin when done (ditto for the Bonavita).

Our kids have a Keurig. He drinks coffee in the mornings; she'll drink hot chocolate in the winter (they have K-cups for that, too). Yes, the pods are wasteful. But the Keurig machine at least is not a mold farm like their old drip coffeemaker was (gotta empty it and let it air out now and then!) and whatever coffee they had on hand often was pretty stale by the time DW and I got to it.

It is possible to buy plastic cups in the "K" format which you can fill and refill with your own coffee/tea/whatever; I suppose a couple/few of those, washed when used, would be a good alternative to lots of plastic cups filling the trash bin.

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Originally Posted by Tammy

You all will gag at this — I only drink coffee when I have a headache. I put instant coffee and sugar in a cup, add cold water, stir, and drink it like medicine. Headache is gone.

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I make decaf iced coffee (Taster’s Choice instant coffee) with Truvia and organic vanilla creamer and others. Tastes good to me.

I love my morning coffee!! Instant during the week and ground in a french press on the weekends; black - no sugar, no flavors. When I want coffee, I drink coffee. LOL.

I love my French press. Perhaps part of that is that I didn’t realize until approximately 30 seconds ago that I was supposed to clean it. I’ve always just done a quick rinse of both the pot part and the press part, run the garbage disposal for five seconds to get rid of the grounds and call it a day.

I suppose next someone is going to tell me that there’s more to cleaning my coffee cup than rinsing it out and putting it back in the cabinet.

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Originally Posted by jp1

I suppose next someone is going to tell me that there’s more to cleaning my coffee cup than rinsing it out and putting it back in the cabinet.

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My grandfather would never allow his coffee cup to be cleaned. The inside was stained from years of use and he insisted it added flavor to his morning brew, he was concerned he would lose that flavor if it were properly cleaned.

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Originally Posted by jp1

run the garbage disposal for five seconds to get rid of the grounds and call it a day.

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You might want to run the water for longer than the five seconds (unless you already do). Coffee grounds can grab onto grease deposits in the water line and make a sticky mess (aka "clog"). Ask me how I know.... :|(

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Originally Posted by Alan

My grandfather would never allow his coffee cup to be cleaned. The inside was stained from years of use and he insisted it added flavor to his morning brew, he was concerned he would lose that flavor if it were properly cleaned.

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Many of the pipes here running from the water mains to houses are made of lead, but -- this may be apocryphal -- the water is hard enough that, over the years, the pipes have acquired a coating that prevents the lead from leaching through. otoh, if you go by the people who write comments in the local newspaper, there apparently is no coating and we're all being subjected to mass lead poisoning. ;)

Please compost your coffee grounds. Your plants will thank you.

We actually put very little down the garbage disposal these days. Much of it can be composted and what cannot be composted (gristle, etc.) shouldn't go down the drain anyway. It used to be we had to have a drain-clearing service come out every several months to clean out food waste, soap, etc. from the kitchen drain. Now that interval has lengthened to every other year or so. When we replace the sink, I think we'll go without a disposal at all. Nowhere near the benefit considering what it costs us.

We only use the disposal for small scraps. Plates get scrapped into the compost bin for curbside pickup. We've been lucky, knock on wood, that in ten years of living here we've never had an issue with the disposal.

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Originally Posted by jp1

We only use the disposal for small scraps. Plates get scrapped into the compost bin for curbside pickup. We've been lucky, knock on wood, that in ten years of living here we've never had an issue with the disposal.

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We've used ours every day for the past 25 years without a problem, well, except for that marble one time.

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Originally Posted by Alan

We've used ours every day for the past 25 years without a problem, well, except for that marble one time.

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Well that must have been, ummm, exciting...

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Originally Posted by Tybee

Please compost your coffee grounds. Your plants will thank you.

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Ok - I put my grounds in a used (clean) ziplock baggie this morning. When it gets fuller, I'll take it outside and dump it in my garden area.

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Originally Posted by Alan

My grandfather would never allow his coffee cup to be cleaned. The inside was stained from years of use and he insisted it added flavor to his morning brew, he was concerned he would lose that flavor if it were properly cleaned.

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My dad always said the same thing! And now my sister and I both refuse to wash our coffee pots.

Beckyliz, we get the bags of grounds from Starbucks when we see them, and I just dump them on my rosebushes, no special anything. They like it.

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Originally Posted by gettingthere

My dad always said the same thing! And now my sister and I both refuse to wash our coffee pots.

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:+1: