Two of my favorite things (Early Intel Mac edition).

[eyoungren]

How many cups does the keurig reservoir hold?

All valid points. As I don’t own one, I can’t vouch for the cleaning regimen or water quality those are partook from. One common point is that they all had an assortment of flavored creamers lol. The Keurig at my kids swim school has water ran from the wall so I’d assume city. Whether it is filtered outside of that I don’t know.

I’m not a fan of instant either really- they to me have a very predictable flavor as well.

I would say roughly 3.5 cups. Although, the buttons are marked in ounces so you learn pretty quick what an 8oz mug and a 10oz mug look like. And you can play with the combination. For instance, my wife has a few 20oz mugs, so I might run the same K-Cup through three times on the 6oz button, or do two runs on the 8oz. Just depends. Note, you're standard mug is 8oz, the one's your grandparents used are usually 6oz and most modern mugs run around 10-12oz.

But there is enough in the reservoir to make three 10oz runs before refilling. Our model is the Essentials Express, so the reservoir is smaller than the standard Keurig. So, there's that.

 

[WriteNow]

I can imagine that taking care (like with water quality, regular cleaning) would help the Keurig.

I remember the ability to vary the amount made with the one Keurig I somewhat regularly used (in a waiting room). I actually would brew a smaller quantity than the cup would hold. The full amount seemed too watery--at least with the setup they had, with the coffee choices they had.

 

[eyoungren]

I can imagine that taking care (like with water quality, regular cleaning) would help the Keurig.

I remember the ability to vary the amount made with the one Keurig I somewhat regularly used (in a waiting room). I actually would brew a smaller quantity than the cup would hold. The full amount seemed too watery--at least with the setup they had, with the coffee choices they had.

My parents Keurig was either an original or something made in that span of time when Keurig was becoming popular. So, it has the old 'Small', 'Medium', and 'Large' cup icons. So, I was fairly surprised when our own Keurig had it down to ounces.

The deal with the way it works is that the smaller amounts get the most intense flavor. But it adjusts brew timing when you select a bigger cup. That said, you will again get the most intense flavor (that the machine is capable of) with the smaller portions.

Keurig also suggests not reusing the K-Cups more than once. On the third pull, you're basically just getting coffee flavored water. So, in the example of my wife's 20 ounce mugs, I would probably use one 10 ounce pull and one 8 ounce pull with one K-Cup. That leaves 2 ounces of space so I wouldn't overspill. I could do three pulls of the 6 ounce, but then I'm using two K-Cups so I don't have watered down coffee.

I would also just point out that public coffeemakers are probably less likely to produce a decent cup. Too many people use them continuously. With your own device, you know the provenance of the machine, the water, the coffee and are in complete control of how you choose to use the machine.

Really guys, I'm not trying to sell you on a Keurig. Just giving my thoughts on why you may or may not get a good cup from one.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

My parents Keurig was either an original or something made in that span of time when Keurig was becoming popular. So, it has the old 'Small', 'Medium', and 'Large' cup icons. So, I was fairly surprised when our own Keurig had it down to ounces.

The deal with the way it works is that the smaller amounts get the most intense flavor. But it adjusts brew timing when you select a bigger cup. That said, you will again get the most intense flavor (that the machine is capable of) with the smaller portions.

Keurig also suggests not reusing the K-Cups more than once. On the third pull, you're basically just getting coffee flavored water. So, in the example of my wife's 20 ounce mugs, I would probably use one 10 ounce pull and one 8 ounce pull with one K-Cup. That leaves 2 ounces of space so I wouldn't overspill. I could do three pulls of the 6 ounce, but then I'm using two K-Cups so I don't have watered down coffee.

I would also just point out that public coffeemakers are probably less likely to produce a decent cup. Too many people use them continuously. With your own device, you know the provenance of the machine, the water, the coffee and are in complete control of how you choose to use the machine.

Really guys, I'm not trying to sell you on a Keurig. Just giving my thoughts on why you may or may not get a good cup from one.

Yeah yeah, sure your aren't

I don't think you are pressuring me to buy anything; rather you're a seasoned kcup consumer and have a knowledgeable opinion on the topic. Regardless, I don't foresee a Keurig purchase in my immediate future. If anything I'd take that Keurig money and buy a bigger more badder, drip brewer with all the tray-fancee functions.

Truthfully, what the food nerd in me WOULD like is an espresso machine but I dont have the time to maintain one right now - they are alot of effort compared to the 120 seconds it takes me to rinse and prep a new pot of coffee. Maybe when the kids are out of the house (if Im not dead by then) I'll make space for one. I used to want a nespresso pod machine for espresso/lattes but that desire has faded somewhat in recent years.

As far as Keurigs, the one at my kiddos swim lab has the ounce measure vs cup. Dont tell anyone but I find the coffee pods so bad, I typically put some fountain water in the cup first before brewing the cup. It makes the cup more palatable for me anyhow. Because of this, you spoke to tea and I have mostly switched to drinking English breakfast tea pods they have there. It is ... a much better pod option IME.

Typically Im posting on one of my early Intel macbooks but this one actually occurred on my PowerPC Powermac G4 MDD dual 867Mhz. Close enough I guess!

 

[eyoungren]

Yeah yeah, sure your aren't

I don't think you are pressuring me to buy anything; rather you're a seasoned kcup consumer and have a knowledgeable opinion on the topic. Regardless, I don't foresee a Keurig purchase in my immediate future. If anything I'd take that Keurig money and buy a bigger more badder, drip brewer with all the tray-fancee functions.

Truthfully, what the food nerd in me WOULD like is an espresso machine but I dont have the time to maintain one right now - they are alot of effort compared to the 120 seconds it takes me to rinse and prep a new pot of coffee. Maybe when the kids are out of the house (if Im not dead by then) I'll make space for one. I used to want a nespresso pod machine for espresso/lattes but that desire has faded somewhat in recent years.

As far as Keurigs, the one at my kiddos swim lab has the ounce measure vs cup. Dont tell anyone but I find the coffee pods so bad, I typically put some fountain water in the cup first before brewing the cup. It makes the cup more palatable for me anyhow. Because of this, you spoke to tea and I have mostly switched to drinking English breakfast tea pods they have there. It is ... a much better pod option IME.

Typically Im posting on one of my early Intel macbooks but this one actually occurred on my PowerPC Powermac G4 MDD dual 867Mhz. Close enough I guess!

When we first got married, my wife had an espresso machine. One of those older ones that you can find for a couple bucks at Goodwill now - with the frother pipe that comes out and down.

I never learned to use it right and possibly that was because it might have had a seal leak. IDK, I don't know those machines well enough. But…times have long since moved on.

We've never had the kind of money just lying around to buy any reasonably decent machine though. A basic one (if you're serious) will run you around $300 and that's probably on sale. Ultimately, if I could have what I wish, it would be one of the machines you find at Starbucks. Then, some SB barista training. Yeah, I can dream. Maybe one day…

The Nespresso's are interesting, but also not cheap. I plan to get one when I can justify the price. Still though, unless I'm actually playing with some professional machine, I'm just not interested in the maintenance and time involved for a single cup of an espresso based drink - once in a great while. It's like Thanksgiving. You work hard for a payoff that is consumed in less than 45 minutes. Does the product justify all the time and work involved in making it?

Which is why…you see me posting about my Flat Whites and such from Starbucks. That's their job, they get paid to do it quickly all day every day. And they know how to clean the machine and have someone to call if it breaks. Me, I'm in and out in less than 10 minutes - with an espresso based drink I know will consistently taste good.

 

[WriteNow]

Really guys, I'm not trying to sell you on a Keurig. Just giving my thoughts on why you may or may not get a good cup from one.

So you didn't buy all that Keurig stock the other day in hopes that we'd rush out and buy a Keurig, making that stock super valuable! LOL

 

[WriteNow]

My parents Keurig was either an original or something made in that span of time when Keurig was becoming popular. So, it has the old 'Small', 'Medium', and 'Large' cup icons. So, I was fairly surprised when our own Keurig had it down to ounces.

I'm thinking that one machine I remember might have had verbal descriptions (e.g., small), but can't remember for sure. The last I saw that machine was 2018.

I would also just point out that public coffeemakers are probably less likely to produce a decent cup. Too many people use them continuously. With your own device, you know the provenance of the machine, the water, the coffee and are in complete control of how you choose to use the machine.

Which makes sense. And if one uses the machine a lot, one also would learn any little quirks, vs. those of us who use a machine only occasionally.

 

[WriteNow]

I don't think you are pressuring me to buy anything; rather you're a seasoned kcup consumer and have a knowledgeable opinion on the topic.

I agree.

 

[MBAir2010]

So you didn't buy all that Keurig stock the other day in hopes that we'd rush out and buy a Keurig, making that stock super valuable! LOL

From the five members here?
Ka-ching!

 

[WriteNow]

When we first got married, my wife had an espresso machine. One of those older ones that you can find for a couple bucks at Goodwill now - with the frother pipe that comes out and down.

I never learned to use it right and possibly that was because it might have had a seal leak. IDK, I don't know those machines well enough. But…times have long since moved on.

Or it might just have been the nature of that machine...

My mother got a very cheap machine for Christmas one year (which is a bit of a surprise that someone thought of that as a gift). We used it for special occasions, maybe some weekends. Her gripe was that it didn't froth milk very well. She ended up buying a Krups--rock bottom model--which had both a steam tube but also an air tube that supposedly worked together to get better results. Even if this combo was hype, the machine did do better--although probably not at the level of a professional machine. I can't remember, but I'd doubt the espresso was as good, either, although since we only had cappuccinos, the frothed milk might have helped cover up some sins.

Around that time, there was someone selling Braun espresso machines, who gave out free samples. My mother and I both agreed it wasn't as good as we got with her Krups, although--being fair--it could have an issue with something other than the machine, like the sales person.

I remember reading about that time that the cheap home machines were very limited because they only worked on steam pressure. A good home machine added something like a pump to force water and supposedly worked better. There was some mention about the various force levels--drip coffee (gravity only) with a really pitiful number. Home steam based machines better, but outclassed by pump systems.

The "force" is apparently very important, making the difference between coffee and espresso. Despite this, a high school French teacher--who was pretty incompetent--tried to claim that if we wanted to sample espresso, we could just make coffee at 2x strength. Er, no...you just get strong coffee.

 

[WriteNow]

Truthfully, what the food nerd in me WOULD like is an espresso machine but I dont have the time to maintain one right now - they are alot of effort compared to the 120 seconds it takes me to rinse and prep a new pot of coffee.

As I mentioned in my last post, my mother had an espresso machine, but it was reserved for special occasions/weekends. Most of the coffee she made was made in a drip maker. I think there is something to be said for that approach, but (of course) it may not be practical tying up money and space for something used once a week.

 

[eyoungren]

As I mentioned in my last post, my mother had an espresso machine, but it was reserved for special occasions/weekends. Most of the coffee she made was made in a drip maker. I think there is something to be said for that approach, but (of course) it may not be practical tying up money and space for something used once a week.

It occurs to me as well, that a machine of this type needing more prep work and cleanup than a drip coffeemaker might also suffer just from the occasional use rather than consistent use. I suppose that may have been the issue with my wife's old espresso machine (and I believe it was Krups). It was hardly used when I started using it and once I discovered how bad it made 'espresso', I too hardly used it.

But, that's just speculation on my part.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

So you didn't buy all that Keurig stock the other day in hopes that we'd rush out and buy a Keurig, making that stock super valuable! LOL

As I mentioned in my last post, my mother had an espresso machine, but it was reserved for special occasions/weekends. Most of the coffee she made was made in a drip maker. I think there is something to be said for that approach, but (of course) it may not be practical tying up money and space for something used once a week.

Since both my wife and I are big coffee drinkers, I figure by the time I’m retired and my kids have flown the nest, I’ll have all the time in the world to be nerdy about, make & drink espresso on the daily and maintain a quality espresso machine.

 

[eyoungren]

Since both my wife and I are big coffee drinkers, I figure by the time I’m retired and my kids have flown the nest, I’ll have all the time in the world to be nerdy about, make & drink espresso on the daily and maintain a quality espresso machine.

My wife and I have a deal as she surrendered her room to my son when he was born and I surrendered mine when my daughter was born. When my son moves out, she gets his room and when my daughter moves out I get her room. Then stuff goes back to normal (pre-2003) where there's the master bedroom and she has a room and I have a room.

At that point, you'll see all my Macs and stuff moved out of the front room and the garage to where they should be.

How is this related to coffee? Or your post?

I'm finding that this side of 50 (be 55 in September), moving stuff around is a lot less enjoyable, is more involved, and that I have less energy/interest in doing it. Both my wife and I said we'd get our lives back when the kids moved out. I just never considered that not having the energy or desire would be a thing.

I don't like messing with espresso machines now. I'm highly unlikely to want to be messing with them after the kids leave. And retirement? Rigghhhhtttt. Hard to retire when your entire life has been paycheck to paycheck.

Sorry, not trying to be a downer here. I'm just wondering how much time and energy I'm going to have to pursue anything I used to do once the kids are moved out. Retirement isn't even a thought - I've got a mortgage to pay off before I die.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

I read things like this and am often reminded about what I myself don’t want to do now and the omnipresent honey list that gets them done anyway.

At some point your wife may want her living room back.

 

[eyoungren]

I read things like this and am often reminded about what I myself don’t want to do now and the omnipresent honey list that gets them done anyway.

At some point your wife may want her living room back.

Oh, she'll get it back. That was the agreement, LOL. And a large part of that is that I will get my own room back. At which point I no longer have to worry about how my setup affects anyone else.

But my poor attempt was to relate the lack of 'energy' and 'desire' to making coffee. Or specifically, to espresso machines and such. You may finally be able to get to that in retirement. I'm just saying that at that age, for me, I might lack the will and energy to mess with a machine. I may decide I have better things to do and then go do them while grabbing my espresso based drink at Starbucks.

If it turns out I can churn out something just as good that is worth the expenditure of time and energy then that may be different. I just may not have that energy and desire to find that out.

I find that the things I had no issue doing in my 20s, 30s or 40s I now have to consider if it's worth the effort.

Or read another way…just how lazy is Erik? I guess we'll find out.

 

[MBAir2010]

I'm finding that this side of 50 (be 55 in September), moving stuff around is a lot less enjoyable, is more involved, and that I have less energy/interest in doing it.

I hear yee, eyoungren!

Our house had that "cat just run out of the house to chase a rabbit"
along with storing a new place for a cardboard bicycle box as this morning was "moving things"
in that carport were the cat spend all sunlight day and evening was four hours worth of work this morning!
then, my neighbor needed a hand with getting rid of some house-old items to the curb, so i lent a hand or two
that and a very windy fourteen mile bike ride to the library knocked me out now, i'm exhausted!

I wonder if a nice cup of coffee and playing on my macbook air 2010 is in the cards now?

 

[WriteNow]

My wife and I have a deal as she surrendered her room to my son when he was born and I surrendered mine when my daughter was born. When my son moves out, she gets his room and when my daughter moves out I get her room. Then stuff goes back to normal (pre-2003) where there's the master bedroom and she has a room and I have a room.

At that point, you'll see all my Macs and stuff moved out of the front room and the garage to where they should be.

How is this related to coffee? Or your post?

I'm finding that this side of 50 (be 55 in September), moving stuff around is a lot less enjoyable, is more involved, and that I have less energy/interest in doing it. Both my wife and I said we'd get our lives back when the kids moved out. I just never considered that not having the energy or desire would be a thing.

I don't like messing with espresso machines now. I'm highly unlikely to want to be messing with them after the kids leave. And retirement? Rigghhhhtttt. Hard to retire when your entire life has been paycheck to paycheck.

Sorry, not trying to be a downer here. I'm just wondering how much time and energy I'm going to have to pursue anything I used to do once the kids are moved out. Retirement isn't even a thought - I've got a mortgage to pay off before I die.

A bit of a downer, perhaps, but very valid thoughts that are worth talking about!

I know energy and enthusiasm levels are something I'm considering more and more. And a lot of things I thought I might like to do or have once are no longer of interest.

Even keeping some things I already have is questionable. I'll likely have to move in a few months, and I may end up drastically downsizing. Partly because of reality (less space). But I reflect that a lot of things I've held onto are things I don't care enough about anymore to be worth keeping.

 

[WriteNow]

At some point your wife may want her living room back.

Why? Who could possibly want a mere living room when they could instead have a Macintosh Storage Room? LOL

 

[WriteNow]

Maybe an espresso machine isn't necessary--I remembered some brand of (I assume) instant that was advertised in the 1990s on TV. The ads featured a character in the kitchen making the coffee, while making espresso machine noises so as to pretend it was being made with a real machine. In the fantasy world of TV ads, of course, the guest was always fooled by the end product.

 

[GalacticStag]

Personally i love the fact that i've got audio output AND input + that the RAM is easily accessible. Plus running Snow Leopard is so fun!

 

[WriteNow]

I wandered through a Goodwill today, and noticedan espresso machine on the shelf. I have to admit part of me has a gory curiosity about how this machine would perform, but I was able to resist temptation.

They also had a Keurig. You know something is established and common product when you can find it at Goodwill.

Forgive the photos--I only had a low end Android device with me.

I also can't remember pricing--but I'd guess $15-$20?

 

[eyoungren]

I wandered through a Goodwill today, and noticedan espresso machine on the shelf. I have to admit part of me has a gory curiosity about how this machine would perform, but I was able to resist temptation.

View attachment 2482349

They also had a Keurig. You know something is established and common product when you can find it at Goodwill.

View attachment 2482350

Forgive the photos--I only had a low end Android device with me.

I also can't remember pricing--but I'd guess $15-$20?

That's the thing about Goodwill - prices are usually low enough that taking a chance on something seems less of a gamble. I've picked up a few items that have worked out and a few that haven't.

PS. Goodwill is my ethernet and power cable supply store.

 

[WriteNow]

That's the thing about Goodwill - prices are usually low enough that taking a chance on something seems less of a gamble. I've picked up a few items that have worked out and a few that haven't.

PS. Goodwill is my ethernet and power cable supply store.

I've shopped thrift shops pretty heavily over the years, partly due to limited means, partly due to inherent cheapness that goes past those means. Goodwill has not only been the source of cables, but--at one time--actual hardware. In the early 2000s, I got a lot of older Apple hardware. It was outdated, but it could run some legacy software I still used. And it was fun buying hardware for only a few dollars that once would have seemed unobtainable.

The meanies running the local Goodwill stores no longer allow computer hardware, though. 😭

I am a bit surprised anyone, however, needs a power cable source... I--and I'm sure many others--have more generic power cables than anyone could use in a lifetime!

And, thinking of coffee, this morning's coffee was made in percolator (coffee purists can now shudder) that I got at Value village. I don't use this percolator much, but every so often, it's fun to make coffee in it. (And I think a good percolator used with care will make better coffee than a lousy drip maker that is sloppily used.)

 

[eyoungren]

The meanies running the local Goodwill stores no longer allow computer hardware, though. 😭

At some point they realized they could make more money by putting electronics on Shop Goodwill

I am a bit surprised anyone, however, needs a power cable source... I--and I'm sure many others--have more generic power cables than anyone could use in a lifetime!

Sometimes people dump stuff on the street for bulk pickup, usually without the standard power cable. I do have spares, but with all the stuff I've collected over time most of the cables are spoken for. So every once in a while I grab a few. Never know what someone else might dump on the street.

Ethernet cable I pick up all they have any time I'm in there.