Another solution is to not buy Keurig machines.
It has never complained to me about anything.
I'm not saying that it's bad, simply that you cannot compare the two, they don't produce the same coffee.
Apart from that, what Keurig is doing (Nespresso is doing the same in Europe) is just plain wrong and should be prevented on a legal level. In France we have this "interop" law that allows us, for the sake of interoperability, to reverse-engineer a patented system to use with non-standard consumables. We have these capsule-based espresso cups, but anybody can sell the capsules.
If you want a real espresso, though, one that doesn't lock you up in a franchise and DRM-ed capsules, just buy a normal espresso machine.
> Keurig is not an espresso machine.
Keurig is a company. They make espresso machines. They also make K-Cup coffee machines which is not expresso.
I can't agree with their attempt to use "DRM" to prevent users from buying pods from independent vendors (and arguments that they need to "control the experience" so that users don't buy low quality pods and get poor coffee ring hollow to me) but the machine itself is great.
Fortunately, their efforts to control the k-cup market seem doomed to failure in any case.
Interesting that they branched out to a coffee press from all their other products., which are basically all things that you throw.
Some people will use the new Keurig and its DRMed cups because it provides them with enough value. I will completely bypass this nonsense and make a DRM-free cup of dirt cheap coffee that stimulates my senses, as outlined in another comment. I suggest that you do the same.
I agree 100% on the Aeropress. I never thought i'd enjoy such a simple and in-expensive coffee making device as much as I do my Aeropress. I bought one to keep at my office too =D
Seems lest wasteful.
IMHO you should have several different coffee brewing methods at your disposal :-)
The point is it makes great coffee, and I've convinced many friends and family to buy one, but now I caution people that while it probably makes the best single serving coffee in a $25 package, it's not perfect. Basically there are a lot of parts and you're working the whole time you're using it. One guy at work accidentally punched the filter holder into the compost bin, lost forever.
If you're making 2+ servings very often, get a 6- or 8-cup Chemex. Much fewer parts. More: pour, stand around, repeat.
"IMHO you should have several different coffee brewing methods at your disposal :-)"
Agreed!
Now, where's my vacuum pot? I feel the need to expose myself to grievous bodily harm while making some joe.
Much better quality than anything that comes out of a Keurig at comparable up-front costs and much lower recurring costs (just buy whole beans) plus a virtually limitless selection of coffee.
There's a company making reusable metal filters for the Aeropress too if you don't want to buy any supplies for it ever in the future.
There are also many other products which make coffee of higher quality than Keurig; cold-brew drippers, pour-over systems, vaccuum brewing, Moka pots, French presses, portable espresso makers, etc. There are so many awesome ways to make coffee these days that it boggles my mind how popular Keurig systems are. Outside of hotels, I really don't understand the appeal. Even some brands of instant coffee / mocha mix are tastier IMO.
You can reuse the good aeropress paper filters as well (peel off before puck ejection, rinse and let it dry for a few minutes, then store with the press). I use each one five or six times, which puts me at about $1.50 worth of filters per year.
Thanks for the Lido grinder suggestion, I had been looking for one.
Costs about 20-30$ and makes great coffee A simple yet effective solution to my coffee needs :)
It may take up more time to prepare and clean, but that's an opportunity cost for good coffee every morning.
The advertising practically writes itself, works with all k-cups, the "universal k-cup koffee maker"
Its not the best coffee, but its fast and good enough. I have a press which is good for coffee; also awesome for making ginger tea; and a Bonavita for when friends are here and a pot will work.
Fortunately with 1.0 machines the refillable works fine and EkoBrew makes a very simple and great refillable
My work recently got a new machine, not sure if it has DRM, but the cup holder you have to remove to use the Keurig branded refillable brew basket has 2 tabs that block you from inserting the refillable one.
Hard to get a consistent roast, but the result is very, very fresh. And you get to enjoy coffee roasting smoke!
Hmm, I also just realized I drank 26 pounds of coffee this year, awesome.