There are many great choices on the market today for single cup coffee brewing at home or in the workplace. You may have seen advertisements on television for Keurig, Dolce Gusto, or various pod brewers and wondered how each brew system works and which one is the best. It really depends on how much you are willing to pay, what features you really want, and what beverages you prefer.
Keurig has been in the single-serve brewing industry since 1998. A subsidiary of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, their technologically advanced brew system complete with patented single portion beverage packs called ‘k cups’, short for Keurig cup, has branded them an industry leader. You won’t shop for a single cup brewing system and not hear of Keurig or k cups.
What Is a K Cup and How Does It Work?
Keurig k cups are composed of plastic, and each contains a filter and coffee grounds, or cocoa, tea. The advantage of this little single serving pack is that you don’t have to grind and measure and hope for a consistent taste each time you brew. It’s all done for you. The coffee is pre-ground and pre-measured in a convenient little cup. The k cups are sealed with a foil top, which locks out moisture and oxygen, both of which break down the freshness and flavor of coffee.
K cups are placed in the brewer and as the lid closes the foil lid, as well as, the bottom of the plastic cup are punctured. Through a nozzle, hot water flows into the k cup steeping the grounds and flowing through the filter and down into your mug. It really is that simple. To clean up, remove the used k cup and throw it into your garbage bin.
What Brands of Coffees and Other Drinks Are Available in K Cups?
The Keurig brew system has a huge selection of drinks available in k cups. Very popular brands such as, Caribou, Tully’s, Timothy’s World Coffee, Gloria Jean’s, Emeril’s, Newman’s Own, Wolfgang Puck, Folger’s, Green Mountain, Coffee People and many more can easily be found online, as well as, in your local stores. There are actually over 250 different flavors of coffee, tea, cocoa, and other specialty drinks available on the market for Keurig brew system users. From decaf, to breakfast blends, dark roasts, extra bold, flavored coffees, world class hot chocolates, ciders and more, you will have many options when using the k cup system for your single-cup brewing.
Is It Possible To Use Your Own Grounds?
A feature that sets the Keurig single-serve coffee maker apart from the rest of the pack is the fact that you can use your own coffee grounds. This opens the options and possibilities immensely for the customer. Not only does it help lessen waste and expense, but it allows you to use your favorite brands, flavors, and grind. Using your own grind level and getting to find your sweet spot with the amount of grounds used relative to the cup size you brew gives you the ultimate control over the flavor and strength of your coffee. When looking at single-cup brewing systems, you will find that it is not an inexpensive endeavor. Finding an option that allows you as much freedom with not only the selection already available in single portion packs, but the ability to use your own grounds makes it a little less restrictive than the competition and the decision becomes a little easier to make.
There are some Keurig brewers that are not compatible with the reusable filter accessories that are required in order to use your own coffee. When looking at brewers, if you want the option to use your own coffee, make sure the brewer is compatible with accessories like My K Cup and Solofill reusable k cup filters.
How Much Should I Expect To Pay?
K cup compatible brewers range in retail price from $79 all the way up to over $250 depending on how sophisticated you want to get with your features. The variations between the brewers are mostly in brew sizes available, programmable and adjustable features, water reservoir capacity, and brew size capabilities.
The k cups vary in cost depending on which beverage you are getting and where you are buying it. There are great deals out there online, as well as, in your local grocery stores, but you will have to do some digging if you do not want to pay retail. You could pay as little as 32 cents per k cup and as much as 80 to 90 cents and up if you don’t shop around. There are some great resources out there that will help you get the best prices on k cups. Once you make an investment in a brewer, your ongoing expense will be in buying the coffee. Check out the web, as there are great sites that will point you in the right direction for getting deals, discounts, and free shipping on k cups.
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