Need help buying single cup coffee maker

[sixdogs]

My wife is a coffee drinker so I figured to buy her one of those single cup coffee brewers that use those little cups of coffee. There are all kinds of varieties of coffee and she would like that. Anyway, it's not so easy. The Keurig that Costco and Sam's sells for $130 apparently only takes Keurig branded coffee cups that are extra pricey and the machine is not considered reliable in online reviews. So, no on that one.

OK, so I searched around and saw a Cuisinart at a car shop that makes great coffee and takes all the brands of coffee cups. But Amazon doesn't seem to carry any. Bad on that point and I can't check the reviews either. I tried searching the TBN and not much to go on.

I did find a K45 Keurig on Amazon that apparently takes all brands of coffee and is well rated so maybe on that one.

Do you have a single cup coffee maker that you like that takes different brands of coffee and is reliable? Are there ones I should stay away from? Any info helpful. Thanks in advance.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Do not buy the new Keurig Vue, unless you want to hassle with it. The older style is better.

Also, do not waste your money on the keurig cups. Your coffee cost will be enormous. Also, do not get one of the little wire-screen cups you can fill yourself, as they leave tons of sediment in your coffee. Instead, get an "EZ-Cup" that uses paper filter inserts. The cup is about $9 and the filters are $6 per 50 - both are available at Bed Bath Beyond for the lowest price.

I've had the Keurig Platinum for several years and, as a single cup brewer, it works well. Another thing people just don't know ..... Bed Bath Beyond will swap this unit for free if it ever fails. No receipt required. I don't know why/how they do it ... but they do. If you upgrade models, you just pay the difference.

Just as a note ... it is very easy to override the brand specific lockout on the new Keurig Vue models.

 

[RobertBrown]

Here ya go.....It's trendy, expensive, it's what all the elite coffee snobs use, and you could probably get something comparable or superior for a lot less.
but most importantly.....

Women love this stuff, you'll be a hero in her eyes. :cloud9:

Stumptown Coffee Roasters - Coffee and Brew Gear

 

[jeff9366]

Get a Melitta (brand) style ceramic coffee filter cone and some #2 paper coffee filters at your grocery store and make all the excellent drip coffee you want, one cup at a time. You need to buy DRIP GRIND coffee (I grind my own.) and use hot water just UNDER boiling temperature.

If you buy a cup of coffee at Barney's Coffee, which is more expensive than Starbuck's, cone & filter is the preparation Barney's uses.

AMAZON LINK: Amazon.com: Coffee ceramic cone

My first choice in coffee is Trader Joe's whole bean Columbian.

 

[JRobyn]

We have two Keurigs from Costco (different models) that we have had for about 10 and 2 years respectively. No problems except they need an occasional acid (vinegar) cleaning due to scale build up. They both use ANY brand of K-cup. I think that only the newest "VUE" model uses proprietary K-cups. We use a lot of the Sam's "Daily Chef" brand K-cups because they are both good and cheap.

- Jay

 

[ttriff]

https://homecatalog.bunn.com/produc...-way-you-love-it-One-cup-at-a-time-42900-0301

Uses any single cup source, makes great coffee

 

[ddbackhoe]

My wife is a coffee drinker

A coffee press or drip like jeff9366 talked about is probably the best you can get. But, I imagine we're talking convenience. For those days, I got a Hamilton beach flexbrew. It takes the k-cups or ground coffee and got it 3 or 4 years ago at wallyworld or target. It is available at Amazon but I'm sure I paid less than that. FlexBrew Single-Serve Coffeemaker | Single-Serve Coffee Maker | Hamilton Beach

 

[Paddy]

I agree with ddbackhoe. I travel alot and in many countries you can't get a good cup of coffee. So I pack my own setup. In Asia, you get a tea pot, so I can boil water.

After years of Melita cone, I moved to a french press by AeroPress. Made of sturdy plastic with a very stout plunger seal. You place a 2" filter disk in the bottom, add 1 scoop of coffee and pour hot water in. (This all sits on your coffee cup). If you wait or your grind is drip course, it will just flow in to the cup. If you use a fine grind, you use the plunger. When you are done, hold the device over a trash can, unscrew the filter retainer, push the plunger all the way in. Quick rinse and you are ready for another day, or hotel!

 

[bdeboer]

If you have Ollies store can get 80 K Cups for around $25.00 some off brand

 

[Bird]

We buy our K-cups from Sam's Club; haven't found any cheaper price around here, but that still about 50 cents a cup. I drink mostly Folgers Classic using the Melitta JavaJig cups with paper filters.

 

[wjmst]

I second the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew. There area a couple of different versions, but seem to be priced right and well flexible with brewing options.

 

[Capt Dan]

Look at the Black and Decker one cup travel coffee maker. Works great with any coffee and only cost about $20.00. Comes with a cup for travel I don't use. Get her an Aladdin 16 ounce white coffee mug. Not good for car as it doesn't fit holders but is now my favorite coffee mug for house and around yard.

 

[Piston]

My opinion (only if you like "good" coffee) is to forget about the Kureg style coffee makers.

I've used many methods over the years, and as an avid coffee drinker (I work on a ship so there really isn't much else to do) I've found that the best tasting coffee I've made is by using the Aeropress which was mentioned earlier.

For pure simplicity though, I've found the "Finum Brewing Basket" to be the most simplistic, although I get a slight bitter taste when using it, vs none at all with the Aeropress.

Aeropress- $30 and the best cup of coffee you'll ever have

Finum Basket- $12 and the same taste as a French press with no moving parts and easier to clean.

 

[EarPlug]

https://homecatalog.bunn.com/produc...-way-you-love-it-One-cup-at-a-time-42900-0301

Uses any single cup source, makes great coffee

We switched from Keurig and a Cuisinart to the Bunn. Seems to work much better - love it.

 

[sixdogs]

Lots of good info so far and I am doing research on it.

 

[ttriff]

Aeropress- $30 and the best cup of coffee you'll ever have

You'll get even better taste if you ditch the standard paper filters (they absorb the essentials oils) and instead use a micro-mesh stainless steel screen.

 

[davesl708]

I have the Keurig K65. Receive it as a reward. Kids like it. I use Folgers Classic. Started using the Keurig as my "good coffee maker" died after 10yrs.
I use the reusable cup so I can get it the way I want. It works fine but hate to have to make one cup at a time.

 

[vsumoski]

Do you have a single cup coffee maker that you like that takes different brands of coffee and is reliable? Are there ones I should stay away from? Any info helpful. Thanks in advance.

Did the same research about three years ago; ended up purchasing the Cuisinart SS-700 Silver Single Serve 'refurbished' for about a hundred bucks and am very satisfied.

I just received from Amazon: 'San Francisco Bay OneCup, Breakfast Blend, 120 Single Serve Coffees' for $42.51 prime delivered ($36.13 with a 15% off coupon - about .30/cup) I like this brand as it has less plastic and tastes alright.

 

[sixdogs]

Did the same research about three years ago; ended up purchasing the Cuisinart SS-700 Silver Single Serve 'refurbished' for about a hundred bucks and am very satisfied.

I just received from Amazon: 'San Francisco Bay OneCup, Breakfast Blend, 120 Single Serve Coffees' for $42.51 prime delivered ($36.13 with a 15% off coupon - about .30/cup) I like this brand as it has less plastic and tastes alright.

So this one will use any of the "K cup" types without specifically having to buy the Keurig branded item?

 

[vsumoski]

Yes it will.