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Keurig Will Use DRM In New Coffee Maker

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Re: Keurig Will Use DRM In New Coffee Maker

#61
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Keurig coffee is terrible. It violates two of the most important principles of making good coffee: time and pressure. Making good coffee in 3 seconds with a ton of pressure that destroys the bean is impossible. 10 seconds of extraction at the pressure that Keurig does it at will only ever yield flavors of "burnt" and "chocolatey-ish-I-think?"

And for the rest of us that are not coffee snobs, the Keurig is a great way to get a consistently good cup of coffee without wasting time and effort that could be better spent doing something else.

A consistently mediocre cup of coffee. I drink it every day, but it doesn't fool me into thinking it's good coffee.

Re: Keurig Will Use DRM In New Coffee Maker

#62
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Other than the 2 reasons you mentioned, why else would you dissuade someone from buying one? I own one and don't mind the coffee. I agree with the garbage aspect, but for me I'd either buy a coffee everyday, or make one in the Keurig with a reusable cup. Equivalent waste in my mind (for my situation)

I understand the concept of cheap/fast/good - pick any 2; but K-cups are only one (fast.) The cost per cup is significantly more than traditional brewing and I find the output to be undrinkable. There are better solutions. I have a drip coffee maker that brews into a travel mug in about 5 minutes. Are you sure that the saved 4 minutes is worth the extra money and poor flavor?

2/3 of those are subjective and in reality for me personally, the Keurig meets 3/3.

"Good" - Keurig coffee is good enough for me. I don't think I have the palate to discern the difference between my K-cup and the $7/cup coffee in the high end cafes.

"Cheap" - I don't have the time to prepare drip coffee in the morning (or prepare the night before) so for me it's either Kcup or purchase at work. So Keurig is the cheapest option for me.

Re: Keurig Will Use DRM In New Coffee Maker

#63

I actively try to dissuade people from buying Keurig machines, or any "coffee pod" machine and this is just another reason why. Aside from the fact that the coffee is watery, the pods just add such an unnecessary amount of garbage to something that doesn't need to generate any waste. I think the concept is cool but re-usable pods are the way to go. This is stupid of Keurig.

I waste 7 pounds of petroleum driving to work, and .01 lbs from my morning k-cup. My time has value, and I am not going to waste it greenwashing.

> I waste 7 pounds of petroleum driving to work .. My time has value

Why do you value time in the car (or monster truck) so highly?

Re: Keurig Will Use DRM In New Coffee Maker

#64
post #46

So what is an option for easily brewing a single cup of coffee without pods that will lock you into a specific machine? The things that I like about my Keurig are that you can get 4 to 6 cups before having to refill the water tank and that it’s easy to clean. While I don’t mind having to throw away a filter I would like to avoid having to refill a machine with water every time I want another cup of coffee.

French press. 0% packaging garbage, extracts 100% of the good of coffee. Numerous suppliers. Compatible with any hot water devices and coffee packaging. Larger models are easily configured to produce single or several cup amounts. Portable models can get you out the door as soon as the water is hot and you can drink on the way.

Re: Keurig Will Use DRM In New Coffee Maker

#65
post #46

So what is an option for easily brewing a single cup of coffee without pods that will lock you into a specific machine? The things that I like about my Keurig are that you can get 4 to 6 cups before having to refill the water tank and that it’s easy to clean. While I don’t mind having to throw away a filter I would like to avoid having to refill a machine with water every time I want another cup of coffee.

The current machines will continue to work, and have a large ecosystem of coffee pods available.

I've had mine for two years. If it breaks I'd consider getting something else to replace it out of principle.

Re: Keurig Will Use DRM In New Coffee Maker

#66
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess value is relative. I prefer good coffee and preparing it is part of the experience. It's like writing this comment on HN, what value does it bring to you ?

I was referencing the "actively dissuade" part. I don't mind if people adopt environmentalism as a religion where all trash is a sin, I just don't want to be a part of it. I want to think about environmental impact broadly and go after the high impact items. Talking about K-Cup trash is a distraction from what is important.

So you're saying that you're going to stop burning so much petroleum to get to work, and to do that you have to ignore anything that you do that has a lesser impact on the environment?

I can't say that I understand the single-mindedness, but congratulations on the electric car or the not commuting so far or whatever.

Unless what you're saying is that you're going to ignore everything that pollutes less than the important high-impact items that you're also going to ignore.

Re: Keurig Will Use DRM In New Coffee Maker

#67
post #35

I actively try to dissuade people from buying Keurig machines, or any "coffee pod" machine and this is just another reason why. Aside from the fact that the coffee is watery, the pods just add such an unnecessary amount of garbage to something that doesn't need to generate any waste. I think the concept is cool but re-usable pods are the way to go. This is stupid of Keurig.

The new pods (Keurig Vue pods) are recyclable[1]. Also, I don't care too much about my coffee taste, so it does a great job getting my caffeine with coffee flavor, especially when I'm the only person in the house that drinks coffee. [1] http://www.vuerecycling.com/

You and me both, brother. The coffee infused taste of cream and sweetener and vanilla is what makes my morning.

Thank you for having the honesty to say what I've been ashamed to admit all these years.

Re: Keurig Will Use DRM In New Coffee Maker

#68

I actively try to dissuade people from buying Keurig machines, or any "coffee pod" machine and this is just another reason why. Aside from the fact that the coffee is watery, the pods just add such an unnecessary amount of garbage to something that doesn't need to generate any waste. I think the concept is cool but re-usable pods are the way to go. This is stupid of Keurig.

Chemex[1] is hard to beat. I recommend it to all of my aspiring coffee-aficionado friends. Easy[2], inexpensive, and very high quality.

1: http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/ristretto-chem...

2: http://www.bluebottlecoffee.com/preparation-guides/chemex

Re: Keurig Will Use DRM In New Coffee Maker

#69
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Far better coffee with roughly equivalent hassles: http://www.sweetmarias.com/clevercoffeedripperpictorial.php

Definitely doesn't do away with waste, although compostable paper filters are better than plastic pods (unless the pods can be composted?)

Most people just throw away those compostable paper filters and they wind up buried in an oxygen deprived environment where they will never biodegrade. I wonder which one compresses into smaller land fill space: the paper filter or the plastic k-cup.

Re: Keurig Will Use DRM In New Coffee Maker

#70
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Other than the 2 reasons you mentioned, why else would you dissuade someone from buying one? I own one and don't mind the coffee. I agree with the garbage aspect, but for me I'd either buy a coffee everyday, or make one in the Keurig with a reusable cup. Equivalent waste in my mind (for my situation)

They appear to have the tendency to fail at around 18 months, even if they undergo routine, recommended maintenance. Got a Keurig for my wife as a Christmas present three years ago. Generated about 10 cups of coffee per week, and was very happy with the product. Performed the de-scaling maintenance regularly....still broke down after about a year and a half. Went online to see how to repair it, and wasn't encouraged…

Wow, I feel like a lucky man! I bought one of the low-end models for ~$110 3 years ago, have used it making 8-10 cups a day between my wife and me with the re-usable plastic cups, and it's still going strong!
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