Convenient, reusable K-Cups?
December 19, 2012 11:09 AM Subscribe
I'd like to get a reusable K Cup for my sister for Christmas, but I want her to use it. She's addicted to the disposables for their convenience-- unless a refillable solution is a streamlined experience, it's just going to gather dust. Is there a way that the refillables can be just as emotionally easy?
My hunch is that the easier it is to load and clean, the more likely she'll reach for it rather than the disposables. My other hunch is that having a few filled ahead of time to be grabbed on-the-go, the more use they're going to get. Do you have a favorite, reliable, reusable K Cup? Do you have a system in place? Are there other accessories that might make reaching for the refillable just as likely?
My hunch is that the easier it is to load and clean, the more likely she'll reach for it rather than the disposables. My other hunch is that having a few filled ahead of time to be grabbed on-the-go, the more use they're going to get. Do you have a favorite, reliable, reusable K Cup? Do you have a system in place? Are there other accessories that might make reaching for the refillable just as likely?
EkoBrew makes a nice one. BUT!
If your sister likes the k-cups, and she has no issue with buying them for herself, why then is this even a thing?
Clearly she loves the pop and go nature of the k-cup. Personally, I think they're heinously expensive and wasteful, but that's me.
If she's inherently unhappy with the k-cup, different story, but it sounds like the product and the market have found each other in a love-fest here.
If you're looking for a nice gift for her, a couple of boxes of her favorite K-cups would be more appreciated.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:20 AM on December 19, 2012 [6 favorites]
If your sister likes the k-cups, and she has no issue with buying them for herself, why then is this even a thing?
Clearly she loves the pop and go nature of the k-cup. Personally, I think they're heinously expensive and wasteful, but that's me.
If she's inherently unhappy with the k-cup, different story, but it sounds like the product and the market have found each other in a love-fest here.
If you're looking for a nice gift for her, a couple of boxes of her favorite K-cups would be more appreciated.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:20 AM on December 19, 2012 [6 favorites]
I started using my refillable K-cup more often, once I realized that fresh-ground coffee is so much better.
An extra filter makes it easier to brew two cups in a row (or one cup if you're lazy and the other filter is in the sink). Researching this further, the filters are apparently dishwasher-safe, so you could theoretically just buy a whole bunch of them and throw 'em in the dishwasher when you're done. The filter baskets themselves aren't terribly expensive...
Also, my Keurig machine came with a little scoop that's almost exactly the same size as the "My K-Cup," which is pretty nice for filling the thing up.
posted by schmod at 11:28 AM on December 19, 2012
An extra filter makes it easier to brew two cups in a row (or one cup if you're lazy and the other filter is in the sink). Researching this further, the filters are apparently dishwasher-safe, so you could theoretically just buy a whole bunch of them and throw 'em in the dishwasher when you're done. The filter baskets themselves aren't terribly expensive...
Also, my Keurig machine came with a little scoop that's almost exactly the same size as the "My K-Cup," which is pretty nice for filling the thing up.
posted by schmod at 11:28 AM on December 19, 2012
Perhaps there's a different area of her life where she'd be willing to make change?
posted by theora55 at 11:40 AM on December 19, 2012
posted by theora55 at 11:40 AM on December 19, 2012
The refillables simply are not as convenient. There's really not a way that a load and wash product is going to be as simple as a K-cup.
Why did you pick this gift? It sounds like she has a coffee solution that works for her. Your "gift" is to ask her to change her behavior because you don't like disposables.
posted by 26.2 at 11:40 AM on December 19, 2012 [8 favorites]
Why did you pick this gift? It sounds like she has a coffee solution that works for her. Your "gift" is to ask her to change her behavior because you don't like disposables.
posted by 26.2 at 11:40 AM on December 19, 2012 [8 favorites]
Best answer: When researching this for myself, I decided that the EkoBrew with a DisposaCup filter (just the filter, not the DisposaCups themselves) was the closest thing to al K-cup you could get, while still being re-usable. It holds up to four level teaspoons of ground coffee.
The EkoBrew sits flat on your counter, which means it's easier to fill. Other re-usable cups have bumps on the bottom. It also does not require any changes to your Keurig, the way some other re-usable cups do. I add the DisposaCup filter because it slows down the water which IMO results in a better brew. Otherwise, the water goes through the EkoBrew too fast and not all the coffee gets brewed (sometimes, not all of it even gets wet).
The disadvantage is that you have to be very careful when filling the EkoBrew to clean any grounds from the rim -- otherwise, you'll get water spilling out everywhere. Also, you do have to put grounds in, and then afterwards dump them out in the trash and clean the basket out (this just takes a quick rinse in the sink). I don't find this to be a big deal, but your sister might. I think these disadvantages, in some form, would apply to any re-usable K-cup replacement.
posted by OrangeDisk at 11:57 AM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
The EkoBrew sits flat on your counter, which means it's easier to fill. Other re-usable cups have bumps on the bottom. It also does not require any changes to your Keurig, the way some other re-usable cups do. I add the DisposaCup filter because it slows down the water which IMO results in a better brew. Otherwise, the water goes through the EkoBrew too fast and not all the coffee gets brewed (sometimes, not all of it even gets wet).
The disadvantage is that you have to be very careful when filling the EkoBrew to clean any grounds from the rim -- otherwise, you'll get water spilling out everywhere. Also, you do have to put grounds in, and then afterwards dump them out in the trash and clean the basket out (this just takes a quick rinse in the sink). I don't find this to be a big deal, but your sister might. I think these disadvantages, in some form, would apply to any re-usable K-cup replacement.
posted by OrangeDisk at 11:57 AM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
I own two solofill cups. I liked that it was one simple piece -- some of the other refillable systems used to require you to remove the inner basket of the Keurig in order to use the cups. My intention was to keep 2 filled up so I could use them for 2 days of morning coffee before I had to wash them.
I stopped using them because it was time consuming to fill and pack the cup to produce the exact same experience that I had with using a disposable pre-filled K-cup. If I didn't pack the coffee correctly or leave grounds in the lid there would be a mess. (on preview, what OrangeDisk said). One time I even hacked open one of my own K-cups and poured the coffee into the refillable one and it still didn't taste the same. Cleaning them was also a pain, I'll admit. So I never succeeded in creating a streamlined experience.
posted by kimberussell at 12:13 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
I stopped using them because it was time consuming to fill and pack the cup to produce the exact same experience that I had with using a disposable pre-filled K-cup. If I didn't pack the coffee correctly or leave grounds in the lid there would be a mess. (on preview, what OrangeDisk said). One time I even hacked open one of my own K-cups and poured the coffee into the refillable one and it still didn't taste the same. Cleaning them was also a pain, I'll admit. So I never succeeded in creating a streamlined experience.
posted by kimberussell at 12:13 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
tylerkaraszewski: "Trying to change other people's behavior to better fit your own ideals is an *awful* christmas gift."
Hey Now. Let's be civil here.
You can use K-Cups because of the convenience, and still be mildly horrified by the amount of waste that they generate. If somebody gave me a thing that let me enjoy convenient coffee in a more sustainable manner, I'd be pretty happy about that gift.
Lately, I've started compromising by buying San Francisco Bay Coffee's unlicensed k-cups. They have no plastic outer shell, so you need to keep them in a sealed container (I use a jar that I got from Ikea for $3). It's not perfect, but there's much less waste than Keurig's cups.
That said, I've always thought that the amount of fretting over the K-Cup's wasteful nature was completely out of proportion to the actual amount of waste that it generates. Yes, it contains disposable packaging, but so do many many other things that we consume on a daily basis.
Even if you recycle, you might want to look into the amount of stuff that recycling center reject -- quite a lot of food packaging that we assume to be recyclable actually ends up in the landfill -- the "waxed" cardboard that gets used in frozen products, and the low-quality stuff that's used in cereal boxes are generally not considered to be viable for recycling.
Good for you for wanting to be sustainable, and help others do the same! However, worrying about K-cups might not be the best place to focus your efforts.
posted by schmod at 12:24 PM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
Hey Now. Let's be civil here.
You can use K-Cups because of the convenience, and still be mildly horrified by the amount of waste that they generate. If somebody gave me a thing that let me enjoy convenient coffee in a more sustainable manner, I'd be pretty happy about that gift.
Lately, I've started compromising by buying San Francisco Bay Coffee's unlicensed k-cups. They have no plastic outer shell, so you need to keep them in a sealed container (I use a jar that I got from Ikea for $3). It's not perfect, but there's much less waste than Keurig's cups.
That said, I've always thought that the amount of fretting over the K-Cup's wasteful nature was completely out of proportion to the actual amount of waste that it generates. Yes, it contains disposable packaging, but so do many many other things that we consume on a daily basis.
Even if you recycle, you might want to look into the amount of stuff that recycling center reject -- quite a lot of food packaging that we assume to be recyclable actually ends up in the landfill -- the "waxed" cardboard that gets used in frozen products, and the low-quality stuff that's used in cereal boxes are generally not considered to be viable for recycling.
Good for you for wanting to be sustainable, and help others do the same! However, worrying about K-cups might not be the best place to focus your efforts.
posted by schmod at 12:24 PM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks for the answers so far-- I should mention that the reason I'm thinking of giving this to her is because she seemed pretty anxious about buying them all the time. I read this morning that K Cups add up to basically 50 dollars for a pound of coffee. With a new house and a new baby, I thought it would help!
posted by simonemarie at 12:28 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by simonemarie at 12:28 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Anxious because they're disposable? Anxious about running out and needing to go to the store? Anxious about cost?
I have 2 different refillables (the Solofill and the Keurig brand) and don't use either because they're somewhat likely to spew water all over the counter if they aren't filled/locked exactly. The Keurig branded one never worked correctly - not once. Honestly, I couldn't recommend either of the refillables I have to a maxed out new mom.
If the disposable thing doesn't bug her then maybe set her up with auto-delivery from Amazon for a few months. The San Francisco Bay coffee cups linked above are good and what I usually use when I use our Keurig.
posted by 26.2 at 12:48 PM on December 19, 2012
I have 2 different refillables (the Solofill and the Keurig brand) and don't use either because they're somewhat likely to spew water all over the counter if they aren't filled/locked exactly. The Keurig branded one never worked correctly - not once. Honestly, I couldn't recommend either of the refillables I have to a maxed out new mom.
If the disposable thing doesn't bug her then maybe set her up with auto-delivery from Amazon for a few months. The San Francisco Bay coffee cups linked above are good and what I usually use when I use our Keurig.
posted by 26.2 at 12:48 PM on December 19, 2012
Best answer: At work, we have both K-cups and an EkoBrew with a bag of ground coffee. It is less convenient than K-cups, but if my choices are "open the cabinet to get more K-cups" (because someone has used the last one in the basket next to the coffeemaker) or "use the EkoBrew," I will use the EkoBrew. In short: pretty darn convenient.
(At home, though, I just use a plastic cone funnel, which to me is the absolute most convenient way of making a single cup of coffee.)
posted by mskyle at 1:33 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
(At home, though, I just use a plastic cone funnel, which to me is the absolute most convenient way of making a single cup of coffee.)
posted by mskyle at 1:33 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: 26.2: "they're somewhat likely to spew water all over the counter if they aren't filled/locked exactly. The Keurig branded one never worked correctly - not once. "
I used to use the Keurig "My K Cup" almost every day, and this has literally never happened to me.
(I still use it all the time, but I drink a lot less coffee than I used to)
posted by schmod at 1:51 PM on December 19, 2012
I used to use the Keurig "My K Cup" almost every day, and this has literally never happened to me.
(I still use it all the time, but I drink a lot less coffee than I used to)
posted by schmod at 1:51 PM on December 19, 2012
Omg I thought you meant a Diva Cup.
Also, if you are looking for a lower cost option for her, I buy mine online at coffee whiz.com and its pretty cheap once you start getting multiple boxes.
posted by bq at 3:14 PM on December 19, 2012 [4 favorites]
Also, if you are looking for a lower cost option for her, I buy mine online at coffee whiz.com and its pretty cheap once you start getting multiple boxes.
posted by bq at 3:14 PM on December 19, 2012 [4 favorites]
I have a totally different coffee maker that makes single cups - add water & whole beans - the machine grinds and brews at the press of a button.
I think it is called a Spidem?
Anywho. There are different brands of this machine. Check online reviews.
Yes they are pricier in the beginning (look for used or refurbished to save a few $$) BUT it is so much cheaper and easier in the long run, we have never looked back.
Get a good one that will last for years. It will pay for itself in the first six months to a year between savings on either K Cups or Starbucks, guaranteed!!
posted by jbenben at 3:16 PM on December 19, 2012
I think it is called a Spidem?
Anywho. There are different brands of this machine. Check online reviews.
Yes they are pricier in the beginning (look for used or refurbished to save a few $$) BUT it is so much cheaper and easier in the long run, we have never looked back.
Get a good one that will last for years. It will pay for itself in the first six months to a year between savings on either K Cups or Starbucks, guaranteed!!
posted by jbenben at 3:16 PM on December 19, 2012
Best answer: When I had a Keurig I swore by these K-caps. You reuse the original cups and recap them, and they worked great. I'd rinse them out after every use, and once a week I'd fill a bunch for the following week. They brew better coffee than the Kerig brand because they allow the machine mimic the spray pattern using the original cups.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:53 PM on December 19, 2012
posted by Room 641-A at 6:53 PM on December 19, 2012
My sister uses Perfect Pod's refillable EZ-Cup with the paper filters instead of the My K-Cup. She thinks thee EZ-Cup is tidier and makes better coffee. You can get it at Bed, Bath and Beyond, WalMart and Amazon.
posted by JaneL at 10:52 PM on December 27, 2012
posted by JaneL at 10:52 PM on December 27, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
And that's a huge difference for a lot of people who don't like to think too much about it-so much so, that they never even give the My K Cup a second thought. Short of you buying a week's worth of the refillable ones and filling them up for her every week, I doubt it will make much of a difference.
posted by inturnaround at 11:17 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]