Is the Keurig here....

[novasurf]

....to stay or just a passing fad. What say ye?

[icehog3]

I think it will stay. Not a factor for the home roasting, high end crowd, but huge with the "decent coffee, conveinence wanted" crowd. I don't think they are going anywhere, Brother.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by icehog3

I think it will stay. Not a factor for the home roasting, high end crowd, but huge with the "decent coffee, conveinence wanted" crowd. I don't think they are going anywhere, Brother.

I have to agree with Tom. More and more people that I know seem to be buying Keurig or similar operation machines and "convenience" is always one of the reasons that they cite. I don't think any of them were coffee connoisseurs before buying the machines, and a number of them were buying Folgers or whatever it is that comes from Costco in the big tins, so some of the K-cups are actually a step up in coffee quality for them. Personally, I wouldn't buy one, but they certainly are happy with them, enough so that they are recommending them to other people. With a loyal & growing customer base like that, I just don't see them going away anytime soon.

[qwerty1500]

Originally Posted by T.G

I don't think any of them were coffee connoisseurs before buying the machines, and a number of them were buying Folgers or whatever it is that comes from Costco in the big tins, so some of the K-cups are actually a step up in coffee quality for them.

We were certainly never connoisseurs. However, we both appreciate a flavorful cup of coffee and were grinding Eight O'clock beans every morning. We knew we were not using a high end burr grinder and were not grinding more expensive or freshly roasted beans. However, we have both been surprised at how much better the pre-ground K-Cups have tasted.

One difference I've noticed is that the Keurig gets the water to a much higher temperature than our old antique coffee maker. I wonder if that is making more of a difference than coffee quality. A little experiment seems to be in order. We bought one of those reusable cups. I guess I should grind some of the Eight O'clock and see if the higher temperature makes a difference.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by qwerty1500

We were certainly never connoisseurs. However, we both appreciate a flavorful cup of coffee and were grinding Eight O'clock beans every morning. We knew we were not using a high end burr grinder and were not grinding more expensive or freshly roasted beans. However, we have both been surprised at how much better the pre-ground K-Cups have tasted.

One difference I've noticed is that the Keurig gets the water to a much higher temperature than our old antique coffee maker. I wonder if that is making more of a difference than coffee quality. A little experiment seems to be in order. We bought one of those reusable cups. I guess I should grind some of the Eight O'clock and see if the higher temperature makes a difference.

That's exactly what I was referring to. Thanks. It was basically that they are making comments similar to yours about how the coffee is better out of the Keurig.

Why all of them made similar comments about he coffee being better, I don't know as I don't have enough experience with the machine to say. They just did.

For me personally, I'm not a connoisseur either, the Keurig simply doesn't make coffee strong enough for me, as I like my coffee crunchy.

[14holestogie]

Mines sticking around for at least the 30 boxes of k-cups in the pantry and elsewhere.

I'm of the same mind. I like a stronger cup of coffee. My wife prefers lightly brown colored water. This satisfies us both without having to make 2 different pots.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by icehog3

I think it will stay. Not a factor for the home roasting, high end crowd, but huge with the "decent coffee, conveinence wanted" crowd. I don't think they are going anywhere, Brother.

I have a high end Rancilio for my espresso but find the Keurig a blast to use when I decide to make a quick cup of what we lovingly refer to as "gringo" coffee in my house.
I use Dunkin Donuts coffee with the aftermarket reusable cups. Works like a charm.

[Commander Quan]

Probably stick around until some other new fandangled thing is in.

[markem]

As Tom pointed out, the concept is ideal, especially for those wanting just one cup.

Some parts of the coffee market are in flux (Tully's Chapter 11 being the most notable right now), but the Keurig style brewing systems seem stable, although the little pre-made coffee containers are overpriced, IMO.

If you were asking if the company that makes Keurig is stable, I have no input on that. It seems to me that the devices are made well and you can get little baskets that you put your own coffee in to, so you are not tied to the price of the pre-made packets.

I own a keurig and don't plan to stop using it. For what I want, it is ideal and I can still use the home roast that my friends give me. I have no opinions on the keurig competitors our there.

[bobarian]

I think its here to stay. I have considered a Keurig. There are many times I just want a single cup and dont feel like brewing up a full batch. Much like cigars or any other consumable, there are many levels of participation. Instant coffee is still a major part of the market, I would guess there are many more people drinking instant than roasting their own.

[Salvelinus]

I think Tom nailed it. I got rid of mine because it didn't produce the stronger, flavorful coffee I wanted. However, I know many that love theirs and would never think of giving it up. I think "decent" was the key word.

[hazydat620]

I'm enjoying ours . I got one for the old lady @ Christmas. I'm a one cup a day drinker, I like a strong cup of coffe that tastes good, and that's what it gives me. I'm fixn to go get the reusable bucket so I don't have to keep throwin plastic in the trash. I also love the fact that it will give me just hot water for 363's holiday cocoa way quicker than heating it on the stove.Now her on the other hand, she gets the hankerings for a couple cups on occasion and thats when she gets the old drip out. Once I get the other cup I don't think shes gonna mind making more than one out of the Keurig though, less waste. just my experience with it so far

[qwerty1500]

We received one for Christmas. So far, I'm really liking it.

Seldom have more than 1-2 cups at a time. So, it's perfect from that end.

Have never been a fan of espresso or really strong coffee in general. So far, several of the medium roasts we've tried for the Keurig have been excellent.

I guess time will tell if it is a passing fad at our house.

[jluck]

We just got one. I love it. I can have coffee (Just did), wife has tea and boys can have hot chocolate all within a couple minutes. I really like it. There is no more wasted coffee like there was either.

[dwoodward]

I bought my mom a mini Keurig for christmas. She uses it almost every day now. She used to only make coffee once a week because of the hassle and then ends up dumping half the pot anyway. The Keurig will make her a cup in less than 2 minutes. And she only needs a cup anyway.

I'm pretty sure the Keurig system is going to be around for a long time. Especially since they have the reuseable cups for your own ground coffee blends now. She's been using those far more than the prepackaged cups.

[jonumberone]

I think it's here to stay.
Since I've gone over the coffee cliff, mine sees a lot less use than it once did.
That said, there are still plenty of times when I appreciate it, and its convenience.

[Tallman]

I agree that it's here to stay. Wifey uses ours more than I do, (I'm more of a tea drinker and I dont like the K-cup tea very much) but it gets used several times a week.

[Blak Smyth]

I think it is to stay due to convenience however it will likely continue to evolve towards a better brew.

[mosesbotbol]

The commerical and office consumer will keep it around.

[hammondc]

I do not have one, but have considered it. I tried to go off the coffee cliff, but just never got far. I like my sugar and milk with coffee in it, so it doesn't make much sense for me to go roasting my own etc. Starbucks Sumatra / Komodo Dragon is fine for me. Thats right, I love the Gurkhas of the coffee world.