Showing posts with label Keurig. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Keurig. Show all posts

Monday, December 21, 2009

Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter



Product Description

My K-Cup Reusable coffee filter - Use your own gourmet coffee in a reusable filter. Exclusive to the Keurig Home Brewing System.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #7 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Brand: Keurig
* Model: 5048
* Released on: 2006-01-15
* Dimensions: 5.00" h x 3.00" w x 3.00" l, 1.00 pounds

Features

* Reusable K-Cup coffee filter exclusive to the Keurig Home Brewing System
* Allows users to use their own gourmet ground coffee in a Keurig brewer
* Works in Keurig home brewers B40 Elite, B50 Ultra, and B60 Special Edition
* Does not fit B100, B100P, or B2000/3 Keurig brewers
* Rinse clean under running water after each use

Customer Reviews

Cheap like me? Yeah, you're gonna like this too...4
Being frugal (all right, cheap) by nature, I held off on buying a single-serve coffeemaker until I could find one I liked that offered a reusable filter. When Keurig came out with the B-40 Elite, a handsome, reasonably priced unit, and announced that it would be releasing its "My K-Cup" reusable filter for separate sale early in 2006, I was primed. As soon as I saw this product on Keurig's website, I was ready to buy my new coffeemaker from Amazon.com and the filter from Keurig's web site. My only wish was that Amazon.com would stock the reusable filter so buyers could purchase the coffeemaker and filter in one fell swoop, and here my wish is about to come to pass!

I have had my Keurig B-40 Elite for about a month now, and I've had great success with it. Bear in mind that if you're using the reusable filter, you must first remove the black plastic K-Cup holder from the unit's filter assembly (instructions on how to do this are included with "My K-Cup"; the black piece in the coffeemaker's filter basket doesn't act like it's supposed to come out, but it is, and it does).

Also, I've read elsewhere that some people don't like having to remove the reusable filter and clean it out after every use. However, I've found it to be a relatively simple affair: the reusable filter doesn't drip when you remove it, and takes about 30 seconds to rinse out after each use. You can use it again right away to brew successive cups.

One caveat is that the output splashes a bit when using the My K-Cup filter, so I always have a damp paper towel at the ready when I brew a cup. That having been said, I'm really happy to be using my own coffee and saving lots of money in the process. Those who are, like me, loathe to shell out 55 cents a cup for K-Cups will probably really like the new My K-Cup.

Here's a tip for stronger coffee4
After reading many reviews about the problems with the My K-Cup and experimenting on my own, I have found an easy solution to the problem of weak coffee using this filter. As others have noted, the water goes through the My K-Cup way too fast as compared to the K-Cups. My solution was to take apart a K-Cup and use the outer plastic shell with the My K-Cup filter. Here's all you need to do:

Take a used K-Cup and cut the top foil off of a K-Cup. Cut the paper filter out of the K-Cup. It's okay not to cut it all the way off of the rim of the K-Cup because you will need to cut the top of the K-Cup (where it gets wider at the top). You need to cut the top of the K-Cup off because you need to fit the K-Cup shell into the My K-Cup holder. Once you slide the bottom shell of the K-Cup into the holder, you can add your coffee into the My K-Cup (tapping or gently pressing the coffee so that it is not loose inside the filter). Then place the My K-Cup filter into the holder and cover as normal. When brewing, the K-Cup shell surrounds the My K-Cup filter and slows down the water by making it pass through the punctured hole that the prepackaged K-Cup normally uses.

The great thing about this is that you can re-use the K-Cup shell that you cut apart over and over so once you have cut one apart you don't have to worry about it again- use the My K-Cup as you normally would.

I'm hoping Keurig will have figured this out in the near future and add a premade piece that is included the My K-Cup, but until then, I have found that this solves the problem of weak coffee.

Easy to Use and Environmentally Responsible!4
Let me start out by saying that I love my Keurig brewer. It brews a great cup of coffee (GMCR Dark Magic is my fav) and the convenience can't be beat. However, I've always felt a little guilty every time I throw out a used K-Cup. It seems like they're not only completely UNrecycleable, but totally UNbiodegradeable as well.

Enter the My K-Cup reuseable filter. Yes, it takes a little practice to fill up the mesh filter with grounds without making a total mess, and sure it takes a few seconds of rinsing when finished. But the result is a great cup of coffee and no guilt trip about filling the landfill with punched out K-Cups. And if you're feeling reckless, it's an easy switch back to those good ol' prefab cups.

I'd recommend this to anyone with a compatible brewer. It's not that much more of a hassle to use, the results are excellent, and there's no waste. Oh yeah, it's also a whole lot cheaper to fill these with your favorite pre-ground GMCR blend (Dark Magic baby!) than to buy the equivalent number of cups.

The only negative that I've seen is a tendency for more "sludge" to get through to the bottom of your cup. Watch that last sip, it's a doosy!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Keurig Elite B70 Brewer Single Cup Coffee Maker



Product Description

It may provide coffee in an instant, but it's certainly not instant coffee. This gourmet, chrome-accented home brewing system pours individual cups of hot, flavorful coffee in just seconds great taste, no waste. Simply pop in a patented K-Cup mini-brewer, choose a serving size and enjoy! Model B70.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #4169 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Brand: Keurig
* Number of items: 1
* Dimensions: 13.00" h x 13.25" w x 10.00" l, 16.00 pounds

Features

* Blue backlit LCD message center includes 24-hour digital clock
* Four serving size options: 6, 8, 10 or 12 oz.
* Includes variety pack of Keurig's most popular coffee & teas
* Large 60 oz. removable water reservoir
* New needle for better flavor extraction

Customer Reviews

quick good coffee5
As a fan of "perked" coffee I was somewhat skeptical about the Keurig, but I was wrong. It makes a good cup of coffee and it is fast. The only problem I would say, is that the coffee could be a bit hotter. Other than that I am not disappointed at all.

Fab! So Many Uses5
My Keurig Elite B70 arrived from Amazon in just 1 1/2 days. Not only does it easily "fine tune" to my temperature and cup size preferences, but I use it for cooking too.
The B70 Elite, makes PERFECT coffee, tea, and hot chocolate in less than a minute and fills my "super-size mug" to the top simply by pushing the 11 1/2 oz fill and the 4 oz fill! The K-cups can become expensive, so I use my own ground coffee with the reusable mesh filter that can be added to your purchase at Amazon, and it is delicious. I use my Keurig to quickly make a cup of hot water for baking, for making bullion in recipes, even instant mashed potatoes. This is a wonderful kitchen helper!

Better than I thought it would be5
I like coffee from Starbucks, to give you a point of reference. I typically drink their regular (not bold roast) with cream and sugar. I do not drink 'cheap' coffee - I hate it. At home we use an old fashioned percolator which can make some strong stuff. We grind our own beans fresh.
What I expected from this machine was a convenient, maybe tolerable, maybe not tolerable cup of coffee.
The first cup was a bold serving and it was actually good, almost as good as the percolator. Really surprising. The serving size was also a concern, but it appears to be pretty good. This will probably not be economical because now I will drink way more than the one cup a day I have been. Definitely would recommend this unit.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Keurig B60 Special Edition Gourmet Single-Cup Home-Brewing System



Product Description

Keurig Special Edition B60 Coffee Brewer, 1500W, Variable Brew Sizes: 6, 8 Or 10 OZ, Removable 48 OZ Water Reservoir, Removable Drip Tray, Programmable LCD Control Center, Programmable Turn On & Turn Off, Brew Temperature Control.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #37 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Brand: Keurig
* Model: B60
* Number of items: 1
* Dimensions: 13.00" h x 13.25" w x 10.00" l, 16.10 pounds

Features

* 1500-watt single-cup brewing system for gourmet coffee, tea, or cocoa
* Uses patented K-Cups; removable 48-ounce water reservoir; 3 brew sizes
* Programmable backlit LCD display with digital clock and on/off timer
* Temperature control; removable drip tray; 18 K-Cup variety pack included
* Measures 13-1/4 by 10 by 13 inches; 1-year limited warranty
Customer Reviews

Best single-serve coffee maker out there5
If you're reading this review, you're most likely doing research and trying to decide between the Keurig line (B40,B50,B60), the Tassimo, or the Senseo. Out of those three, the Keurig is the best looking, the most durable, has the best heating and pumping mechanism, and has the largest variety of coffees and teas available. The Tassimo's versatility is tempting, but variety of coffees is lacking, the machine is a first-run model that does not feel as quality as the Keurig (I could barely find a piece of metal in the entire thing), and it cannot be set to warm itself up like the Keurig. The Senseo isn't bad and I may even consider getting it as a second machine, but it is kind of lame how you need two pods to brew an 8 oz cup of coffee. Considering the price of pods that I was looking at, it would outprice both the Keurig and the Tassimo for daily usage.

Between the Keurig models (B40,B50,B60), I spent a lot of time trying to decide and eventually went with the B60, mainly because the B60 is the only model that brews 3 different sizes of coffee--5.25, 7.25, and 9.25oz. The B50, a favorite amongst shoppers, does not offer the 9.25oz size. This large size allows my Oxo travel mug to almost completely fill after using one Extra Bold K-cup. As an added benefit of the B60, you get beautiful blue LEDs behind the display and the water tank, as well as a polished chrome handle and polished chrome outer-ring to the display. It looks very modern and very classy in my otherwise boring kitchen. Highly recommended.

Best. Coffeemaker. Period.5
I bought a Keurig after reading all of the reviews about it. I thought to myself, surely this machine has a lot of hype to live up to.

Not only did it pass the hype test, it did so with flying colors.

Let me just say that if you are doing research on this machine, you will discover that people just rave about it. Review after review say it is worth the investment.

Add this review to that list.

PROS:
It works not just as a coffee maker, there are also tea K-Cups available and it also can be used to heat water in less than 20 seconds. So if you have a tea bag and just want hot water, there is not need to use a kettle. Ever.

You can buy a filter that allows you to place your own GROUND beans in the machine and make your favorite coffee blend.

It is ridiculously easy to use. No paper filters needed. No grinds in the bottom of the cup. No wasting away of drinking coffee in the morning.

KEURIG'S CUSTOMER SERVICE ALONE MAKES THIS A BEST BUY. If you have ANY problems, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Keurig operators are at the ready. I once called then at midnight because I thought I was having an issue setting up the machine. The customer service guy (had a Boston accent) was very nice and answered all my questions. He also registered the machine (it was a "gift"- to myself :-)), so there was no need to mail in the warranty card.

The blue LED lights are the best kept secret about this machine. It is very modern and fits into any kitchen, both during the day and at night.

CONS:
The K-Cups are hard to find in stores. I have only seen Bed Bath and Beyond sell K Cups in the store. 18 k-cups for $10??? That's ridiculous. ENTER AMAZON... They sell 50 K-Cups for $19.00. That is a better deal by FAR. You would be well to do to buy a coffee variety pack so you can see which one is the best for you. You don't want to get stuck with 50 K-cups of a flavor you don't like.

If you are having a group of people over, it's definitely easier to make a 12-cup batch of coffee. Some people may not like having to use 12 K-cups (a K-Cup for each guest). But here's the thing. Every single person will comment on how good their coffee is. You can then show them the Keurig, and it's a great conversation piece.

The B60 is a good compromise among the Keurig models. You can save your money and not spend $30 for a larger water reservoir. So you get a travel mug size of 11.25(?) oz. in the B70. So what? The 9.etc oz. cup size is plenty big for most travel mugs once you mix in the creamer.

Let's be frank. It's expensive. But honestly, the investment is worth it. Trust the reviews about the machine. People are more inclined to write a review if they really love a product or it they really hate a product. Obviously, people love this machine, and for good reason.

It is economical to buy this machine if you hate wasting $2, $3 or $4 at a coffee shop for your coffee in the morning. The per-cup average is about 40 cents, and in the long term, this machine pays itself off.

BOTTOM LINE:
If you're reading this review, you obviously care about what other people think before you spend $100+ on a freaking coffee maker. Don't worry. I was in your shoes. But there is a peace of mind that comes along knowing that you made the right choice. Do as much research as you can and get as many opinions as you can. But just remember that thousands of satisfied Keurig customers can't be wrong.

Good luck.

I love this Coffee Maker5
Finally, I found the easy - no clean up - fast coffee maker that I need for my busy lifestyle. The k-pods are awesome - I use it for coffee and tea, it's so easy. Just put in the k-pod - push a button and you have your beverage. Great taste - no fuss - no mess or a chance of an exploding pod - a great size water reserve and a cool look. I've bought so many coffee makers over the years and I finally found a keeper.

One thing - you can't make a pot - but this machine is ready for the next cup in 30 seconds (fast) and my guest love choosing their favorite flavor, (there are so many to choose from) so I haven't missed the pot at all.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Keurig B30 Mini Personal Single-Serve Brewing System, Black



Product Description

The Keurig Mini brewer is a great solution for gourmet coffee lovers in locations where a compact size, and minimal features is ideal. It is an excellent companion for vacation homes, cabins, college dorms, boats, RVs, or home office desktops. The Mini is compact, easy to use and brews an 8-ounce cup anywhere you can take it along and plug it in. The mini heats 8 ounces of water in about 3 minutes and then brews just like our regular brewers with no water remaining in the brewer. Now you can enjoy consistently brewed gourmet coffee tea and hot cocoa, virtually anywhere.

All Keurig brewers use Keurig's patented K-Cup (dedicated pod-like) single portion packs. K-Cups are "mini-brewers" that eliminate the hassle of grinding beans, measuring coffee, handling filters and messy clean-up while brewing a gourmet cup of coffee or tea in less than one minute. Gourmet coffees, teas and hot cocoa distinguish Keurig from its competition. With over 200 different coffee, tea and hot cocoa varieties from 13 gourmet partners, Keurig is designed to meet the many tastes of hot beverage drinkers.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #111 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Color: Black
* Brand: Keurig
* Model: 35
* Dimensions: 10.00" h x 8.00" w x 6.00" l,

Features

* Single-serve brewing system for gourmet coffee or tea
* Uses patented K-Cups; no messy grinding or clean up
* Brews an 8-ounce cup at a time; ready in less than 3 minutes
* 1-touch technology; variety pack of 10 K-Cups included
* Measures 11-1/2 by 10 by 13-1/4 inches; 1-year limited warranty
Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
Make a fresh cup of gourmet coffee or tea in less than three minutes with this single-serve brewing system. The unit uses Keurig's patented K-Cups, which offer over 70 varieties of pre-measured gourmet coffee and tea from a variety of premium brands. In addition, its patented one-touch technology ensures precise control over the brewing, without the hassle of grinding beans, measuring coffee, handling filters, or cleaning up. Simply open the lid, insert a K-Cup, close the lid, and push the button. The coffeemaker requires fresh water for each cup and brews one 8-ounce cup at a time. A variety pack of 10 K-Cups comes included. Perfect for the office, vacation home, or college dorm room, the portable single-cup brewing system measures 11-1/2 by 10 by 13-1/4 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
Customer Reviews

Few tradeoffs for serious convenience5
I previously purchased a B40 for my office. The convenience and selection of coffees immediately made it a favorite among co-workers and myself. Of course this meant that I wanted one for home. One problem with the B40 is the noise. Not bad for an office environment but unforgivable first thing in the morning at home. When the B30 was announced and promised to be quieter, that was just what the doctor ordered. This thing is VERY quiet in comparison. I only drink one cup in the morning prior to going to work so the lack of a reservoir is not an issue. If you want multiple cups 30 seconds apart this is not the machine for you. If you don't mind the extra step of dumping a cup of water in a hole and waiting 2 1/2 minutes after you press the brew button (if you own the B40 you were already doing this when you turned the power on) then this machine is great. Oh, and the small footprint means you can be very flexible in where you decide to put it. No major concessions in the countertop usage arena. Bottom line, quiet convenience in a small package makes this a winner.

Great "second" K-cup brewer!4
After enjoying my full-size B60 at home for about a year now, I really wanted to get one for my office. However, I didn't see the need to buy another B60, or a B40 for that matter, since I'd only be using it a few times a week (I'm not "in" my office that much). Once I heard about the Mini 30, my curiosity was peaked.

I think most negative reviews will be from people who plan on using this as their main K-cup brewer, and that's a shame, because this most certainly is not meant for that job. Reasons why:

1) It has a long brew time (usually around 2 minutes for the 8 oz it holds) and has to be filled with water for each cup.
2) It has only one cup size (8 oz).
3) It has no adjustable temperature setting (but the default is perfectly fine at about 192 degrees).

It has some odd quirks too. For example, there's a separate "power" button that's located quite distant from the "brew" button, and the unit will automatically turn itself off after brewing a cup. So for multiple cups, you have to turn it on, then after loading the k-cup and water, press brew. For each cup. Additionally, the light on the power button is not easy to see if the machine is below eye-level, so I have to squint to see if I pressed it on or not. A more powerful LED (like the blue ones on the B60) or a beeping noise might be helpful to know if it's on, or at least relocate the power button by the brew button!

While not as heavy as, say, a Kitchen Aid mixer, it is quite well constructed. It doesn't have the metal trim of the B60, but chrome finished plastic for the handle on the head, and the grate for the overflow plate. The machine opens and closes with sturdy hinges, so it seems durable for the future. The size is great and the little beauty sits right on my desk with plenty of room for my computer monitor!

Coffee tastes just as good as with my larger K-cup brewer, though with the smaller water volume the darker roasts have more "punch" - especially darker ones like Coffee People Black Tiger, and Caribou Coffee's Mahogany. I'm sticking mostly with medium roasts like CP Donut Shop and GM Nantucket Blend with good results.

P.S. - While there's black and white versions on Amazon, you can get the cool "fire engine red" one is from Keurig direct :)

Good product for one person - small apt5
I have the B40 and have recently purchased the B30. I use the B40 for home and enjoy it with my husband.

The coffee at work is sub-par at best and for some time now wanted to purchase another B40 for my office. I didn't want to share it with the other 30 people in my office by putting it in the shared kitchen. My co-workers are nice people, but considering how the fridge looks, they're not the most considerate in the "shared appliances" world.

So when Keurig people came out with the B30, I was happy to check it out. It has a small footprint -- perfect for my desk. It's a attractive, yet not so flashy so may go un-noticed on my desk area at work.

It makes coffee just as well as my full-sized machine. I plan to use it regularly with a "My K-Cup" that I purchased. I think the design is nice and sleek overall.

There are two ways to turn on the machine. One is to simply push the power button. The other is to simply open up the slot to put the K-Cup pod in, and the machine will automatically turn on when you close it. Once you close it, the cap for the water resevoir opens for you to fill. Once you fill and close, THEN you place your cup. When it senses your cup, you push the brew button, and it silently heats up the water and dispenses in about 2 minutes. Once you take your cup, the machine will automatically shut off. Nice. However, not so nice if for a family - repeating is too time consuming for more than 2 people.

I also have to say that it is silly that the machine turns itself off -- since just after brewing, you'll want to take the K-Cup out to toss. Opening of course, just turns the machine back on. I guess some people just leave the machine with the used K-Cup in until the next brewing. That sounds gross to me, but I understand the logic there.

The brew time of two minutes may sound like an eternity to some people - but it's a lot faster than a trip to Starbucks when you're busy at work. And it's worth the time compared to awful free coffee the have in the kitchen.

For the price difference between the B-30 and B-40, however, if I were a new buyer, I would definately go with the larger B-40 model.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Keurig B70 Gourmet Single-Cup Home Brewing System


Product Description

Never deal with the mess of grinding, measuring coffee and the wet filter. The Keurig single cup system brews a single cup of fresh coffee or tea at the touch of a button. Choose one of four brew sizes and program the brew temperature with the easy to use controls.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #449 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Color: Black/Chrome
* Brand: Keurig
* Model: B-70
* Released on: 2006-10-01
* Dimensions: 16.30 pounds

Features

* 1500-watt single-cup home brewing system with one-touch controls
* Uses patented K-Cups; 4 brew-size options; Quiet Brew technology
* 24-hour digital clock; programmable LCD message center
* Removable 60-ounce water tank; removable drip tray for quick cleanup
* Measures 13-1/4 by 10 by 13 inches; 1-year limited warranty


Amazon.com Product Description
Ideal for entertaining, this 1500-watt appliance brews a fresh cup of gourmet coffee, tea, or cocoa in less than a minute. The unit uses patented K-Cups, which offer over 150 different varieties of pre-measured gourmet coffee, tea, and cocoa from a variety of premium brands. Its patented one-touch technology provides precise control over brewing, and there's no messy grinding or clean up. Simply open the lid, insert a K-Cup, close the lid, and select a cup size. Four brew-size options include a 5-1/4-ounce robust cup, a 7-1/4-ounce regular cup, a 9-1/4-ounce large mug, and an 11-1/4-ounce extra-large mug. Set the brew size and brew temperature with easy-to-use controls. Other thoughtful details include a blue-backlit 60-ounce water reservoir that removes for simple filling, a programmable blue-backlit LCD message center, a convenient 24-hour digital clock, Quiet Brew technology, and a removable drip tray for quick cleanup. UL- and c-UL-approved for household use only, the single-cup home brewing system measures 13-1/4 by 10 by 13 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

Customer Reviews

Best Single Cup Brewer On The Market5
I recently purchased the new Keurig B-70 Gourmet Single Cup Home Brewing System that was released on October 1st, 2006 and have been very happy with it. The machine is extremely well designed, simple to operate, aesthetically pleasing, and most importantly, brews an excellent cup of coffee. I am very impressed with how quickly it is able to brew a cup of coffee, the selection of brew sizes, and how simple clean up is.

There are a variety of single cup brewers on the market now, many utilizing pre-packaged coffee "pods" for brewing. Personally I was not comfortable purchasing a product where I would be locked into the selection and pricing of a specific manufacturer, or one that would only brew coffee and not tea and cocoa. This is just one area where Keurig really shines above their competition.

Keurig has gathered support of a variety of gourmet coffee, tea, and cocoa manufacturers and there currently there are over 140 different types sold pre-packaged in K-Cups including Green Mountain, Diedrich, Gloria Jean's, Timothy's, Van Houtte, Tully's, Coffee People, Newman's Own, Celestial Seasonings, Bigelow, Twinings, and Ghirardelli. Not only is there a large selection to choose from, there are a variety of resellers online offering K-Cups, and pricing is extremely competitive.

In addition to the pre-packaged offerings, Keurig offers the My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter allows you to use your own gourmet ground coffee in your Keurig home brewer. This option provided the extra level of comfort I personally needed to make the jump into a single cup brewer. Frankly I don't find myself using it very often as I had originally thought, as there are so many options available in pre-packaged K-cups.

The pricing of the Keurig brewers are extremely reasonable, and brews gourmet coffee in just a fraction of the cost of purchasing it from a Starbucks, Coffee People, or similar. I expect that my machine will pay for itself in savings in just a couple months of use.

The only suggestion I have for Keurig is that the My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter be included with the sale of the brewer, and not an optional accessory. It is such an inexpensive accessory that I am surprised it was not included. Overall the Keurig brewers are excellent value and quality and would recommend them to anyone interested in a single cup brewer.

Variety rules the day at Keurig5
Being one who loves convenient, but great tasting coffee, I've bought several single-serve coffee machines. The Home Cafe, My Bunn Cafe, and the most recent, Tassimo.

They all worked quite well, considering how "new" they were to the field, and how fresh the field really was at the time, for consumers. I was happy with each purchase(save the Home Cafe, which had a serious mechanical flaw).

I'm not going to spend all my time just comparing the Keurig machine; I'm simply going to say "I wish I'd bought one of these[any Keurig machine] earlier". It meets almost all the desires I had in a single-serve coffee machine.

- Tons of variety in K-cups (which actually can be difficult, I didn't know where to start or what to try!)
- Simple to use
- Beautiful, functional design
- 4 brew size choices
- Keeps water hot for the next cup instead of waiting until you fiddle with the machine
- Can be used with a custom filter K-Cup so you can brew any coffee you like (I'm looking forward to using this with tea too!)
- Much quieter than some machines I've used (the Tassimo is freakishly loud in my opinion)

Those are just some reasons I love this machine. The fact that it makes very good coffee is a big plus too, right? It seems as if the coffee from the Keurig machine tastes less "burnt" than most single serve coffee I've had in the past.

My biggest complaint is the cost. Whether it's worth $200 to you or not, is entirely up to YOU. If you're as obsessed with quick, easy, tasty coffee like I am, maybe you'll agree that it is worth it.

I'm a happy customer, either way. ;)

Perfect Cup of Coffee Everytime...5
I was introduced to this coffee maker about 6 months ago when I spent five days at a lake house in Texas with ten of my gal pals to celebrate my birthday. Each morning we had the thrill of going through the many selections of K-Cups and picking out the perfect one to suit our individual needs for that morning! Everyone got exactly what they wanted - in about 40 seconds. No mess, no fuss, no leftovers to toss away.

After doing some more research into the variety of "single cup" brewing systems I realized that this really is THE ONE TO HAVE. Unlike the Tassimo brewing system, Keurig offers you a variety of gourmet coffee & tea manufacturers to choose from. Don't forget to order the K-Cup Reusable Coffee filter so that you can use your own coffee grounds - yet another option that Keurig offers. Variety is the spice of life so stock up on your favorite herbals teas & flavored coffees and remember to order the Spinning Carousel to hold your choices (27 slots) for easy viewing! There are many websites to choose from that sell these K-cups. Amazon has a decent variety but they're not always available.

We've had so many friends pop in at a moments notice and instead of hurrying to brew a pot of coffee we just direct them to the K-cups and let them choose for themselves. No more making a pot of decaf and then a regular pot to please everyone!

A great feature is that you can set a timer to have the system turn on so when you get up in the morning you have hot water ready to go and then set the timer to turn the machine off at another desired time. Keurig suggests leaving the system on all the time but I think it's unnecessary especially if you're only morning coffee drinkers like us! It only takes about 4 minutes for the water to heat up so if you can't wait that long you've got issues that need to be addressed with a professional.

Get this for your own household and one as a holiday gift to share with someone else. They'll thank you over and over again!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Keurig B40 Elite Gourmet Single-Cup Home-Brewing System

Product Description

Elite - Single serve coffee system, makes single cup of coffee or tea in 40 seconds, no measuring, no mess , no clean up. Removable water tank, brews coffee and tea @ 195 degrees. Gourmet coffee and tea offering with over 100 selections. Makes an 8 once cup of fresh, hot and consistent coffee and tea using Keurig's patented K-Cups. Removable drip tray to accommodate most travel mugs

Amazon.com Product Description
Ideal for entertaining, this 1500-watt single-serve home-brewing system brews a fresh cup of gourmet coffee or tea in less than a minute. The unit uses Keurig's patented K-Cups, which offer over 70 varieties of pre-measured gourmet coffee and tea from a variety of premium brands. The brewer's patented one-touch technology ensures precise control of brewing, and there's no messy grinding or clean up. Simply open the lid, insert a K-Cup, close the lid, and select a cup size. Two brew-size options include a 7-1/4-ounce cup and a 9-1/4-ounce mug. The machine fits both regular and travel-size mugs easily, and comes with a two-hour automatic shut-off for safety. Other useful features include a descale indicator, a removable 48-ounce water reservoir, and a removable drip tray. Providing a convenient size and quiet performance, the single-cup home-brewing system measures 13-1/4 by 10 by 13 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

Customer Reviews

Very happy with my purchase!5
The Keurig B-40 makes excellent, well flavored coffee... in a snap! It tastes just as good as a brewed cup with a traditional coffee maker, it does NOT taste like it came from a vending machine.

The only con is minor: the 7.25 ounce serving size. This is perfect for a coffee cup, but a large coffee mug will require you to brew 2 k-cups. But brewing is so quick, that you can brew both K-cups within 30 seconds.

The B-40 is an excellent choice for a model. Because brew cycles are so fast, you do not need the timer option that comes with the B-50 or B-60. The B-50 also offers a smaller cup brew option, but trust me - you won't need it. The B-40 also comes with an auto-off feature that will turn off the machine 2 hours after the last brew, which is great if you worry you may forget to. (If you drink coffee throughout the day, you can disable this feature too.)

I joined Green Mountain Coffee's "cafe club". Check it out on their website. Huge variety of coffees and teas. Free shipping and automatic deliveries of your favorite flavors set up on a schedule you choose.

Great coffee maker, highly recommend.

Once again addicted to coffee!5
After several years of laboring over our home coffee machine for mediocre coffee, or waiting in line to spend $$$$ at our local coffeehouse, my husband and I began to consider coffee as just an occasional treat. However, I gave the Keurig B-40 to my husband as a gift, and not a single day has gone by that we have not enjoyed it! It is so easy - just pop in the k-cup, press the brew button, and you have a great cup of coffee or tea. It is perfect for us - we drink about two cups each day with no mess or fuss. The coffee is great - lots of variety in the choices. Check out the different vendors online and you can really save money on the k-cups. We have experimented with ours - making iced tea or iced coffee by using a tall glass of ice instead of the usual mug. I can even use my own tea bags - the Keurig heats up the water very quickly and makes it easy. One of the downsides with this model is that you can't adjust the size (and it is a small serving). To fill up a large mug you might need two or three cycles. You also can't adjust the strength of the brew - your only option is to choose a dark or light roast to vary the intensity. However, both of us have found several flavors that we really enjoy, and our guests are always impressed that they can choose their own blend and flavor! We also tried the Tassimo and the Senseo brands, and found the flavor to be lacking (much more mediocre). If you are a true coffee fan, and want a professionally styled machine that makes it simple and fast to make, then the Keurig B-40 is for you!

Great Brewer for the price.4
I have been using the Keurig B-40 for over 7 months now and have been very impressed with it. It heats up very quickly, and the auto shut-off feature allows you to have your machine shut down after 2 hours of inactivity. You can use the B-40 for brewing tea by buying tea in K-cups, but I simply and frugally put my tea (either loose in strainer or in a bag) in a cup and run the Keurig without a K-cup in the holder. I use the Keurig in a similar manner to add hot water to cups of soup.

As mentioned in other reviews, the 7.25 oz brewing size is fine for a single regular cup, but small for a big mug or travel mug. Furthermore, the strength of the coffee that you get with the regular K-cups is too weak for my taste. The regular K-cups are better suited to one of the other Keurig brewers (B50 or B60) where you have the option of changing your brewing volume to 5.25 oz. The caveat is that you have even less coffee. The Extra-Bold K-cups that vendors are now selling actually do brew a great cup of coffee in the 7.25 oz size and I would recommend that you order Extra-Bold versions of your coffee if you like your coffee stronger. K-cups are a fantastic convenience - easy to use and easy to dispose of. Maybe too easy - I blasted through my first box of 25 in the first week at work. They are not cheap either, at between 40 and 50 cents a cup if you search for deals. However, the Extra-Bold varieties are fairly limited in availability. An accessory that I highly recommend - the Keurig 5048 My K-Cup Reuseable Coffee Filter - allows you to fill its reusable basket up to the rim with your favorite ground coffee. If you fill it all the way it makes a very strong cup of joe - just the way I like it.

Pros:
Price
Convenience
Utility
Looks cool on your desk
Great coffee with Extra-Bold K-Cups or optional Keurig 5048 My K-Cup Reuseable Coffee Filter

Cons:
Single 7.25 oz brews coffee that is too weak with regular K-cups
Fairly limited selection of Extra-Bold K-cups
Cost per cup is pricey