Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsOne Week With My Keurig K55. I Love It!
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2016
There are numerous detailed reviews of the Keurig K55 and other models on Amazon and I see no reason to repeat or refute other reviewers' opinions, so I'll limit my review to my impressions based on one week's use and experimentation with various coffees and other beverages that my wife and I have tried and enjoyed.
I don't consider myself to be a "coffee snob" but I drink a lot of coffee and insist on a good. fresh cup of coffee, properly brewed to my personal taste. For more than 20 years, I've used Saeco super automatic espresso/coffee machines such as this one:https://smile.amazon.com/Saeco-Philips-Intelia-Espresso-Machine/dp/B019771XIE/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1481465394&sr=1-1&keywords=saeco+super+automatic+espresso+machine&refinements=p_89%3ASaeco ranging in cost from about $600 to $2,500 depending on the model. These super automatic machines allow you to load whole bean coffee of your choice into a hopper and at the push of a button, it grinds the beans, loads them into the brew unit, dispenses the coffee, then dumps the used grounds and is ready to brew another cup at the touch of a button. They are completely adjustable so you can brew your coffee as strong as you like, from espresso to fairly weak American-style coffee. They also have a steamer which allows you to make cappuccino and other coffee beverages. I love these machines and they make great coffee, but they have disadvantages. First, because you have to load the whole beans in the hopper, it isn't easy to change to a different coffee if other family members drink decaf, for example, or prefer lighter or darker roasts. Also, they only brew coffees, no other beverages. Lastly, they are complicated and require quite a bit of maintenance.
Enter the Keurig K55, which is their least expensive basic model but does everything I expect. I purchased it for my wife who likes to drink my lighter coffee as well as various teas, hot chocolate, cider, etc. My thought was to let her use the Keurig and to continue making my coffee in my Saeco but I've found that the Keurig makes very good coffee and suspect that my Saeco will be retired because the Keurig is so much more convenient to use and maintain and I'm completely satisfied with the coffee I'm brewing in it, perhaps not quite as "great" as that I make in my Saeco more than satisfactory, and far superior to the coffee I buy in restaurants, donut shops and convenience stores.
I won't recommend particular k-cup coffee brands because there are so many of them and everyone has different preferences. One of the main advantages to the Keurig is that there are so many choices available, with three brew strength/ water level settings, as well as a great variety of other hot beverages such as black and herbal teas, hot chocolates, ciders, and more.
You can also buy reusable k-cup holders and any ground coffee you like. This may save a little money and also allows you to choose your favorite coffee even if it isn't available in K-cups. I ordered a set of these reusable k-cups and have tried them with several ground coffees, comparing them to the prefilled k-cup versions of the same coffees. The k-cup ones are as good or better than the ones I've loaded myself using the reusable k-cups and are SO MUCH easier and more convenient to use. They're a little more expensive but still reasonably priced, particularly if you buy them in bulk from Amazon, Sam's Club, etc., or find them on sale at your local supermarket. On average, I'm paying less around 40 cents a pod for mine. Other k-cup beverages such as teas and hot chocolate tend to be less expensive than the premium coffees I buy.
The real advantages to the Keurig are convenience, ease of use and the variety of coffees and beverages you can make with it, including iced teas and other iced beverages. My wife and I can share a single machine and make our own preferred beverages quickly and easily. After she makes a flavored beverage, I simply run a shot of hot water through the machine to remove any off-taste before brewing my coffee.
Although I won't recommend specific brands due to personal tastes, I will mention that I prefer well-balanced, slightly acidic medium to medium dark roasts. I don't like breakfast blends or other light roasts, nor do I like really dark roasts such as those typical of some coffee shops such as Starbucks, although I have tried some of the dark roasts from Starbucks k-cups and others and they are fine, just not to my taste. I usually use the medium water level (7.25 oz) setting. Depending on the coffee I'm using, this usually gives me a rich, well-balanced, fairly strong cup of coffee. For some lighter roast coffees I prefer the low (5.25 oz) setting. My wife doesn't like strong coffee and usually uses the high (7.25 oz) setting. Teas, ciders and hot chocolate usually taste better with the high water level setting.
If you are considering giving the Keurig a try, I recommend that you consider buying one of the many sampler k-cup packs available on Amazon. Some are coffee only and others include assorted flavored coffee, cappuccino, tea, hot chocolate, cider, etc. The one I bought is this one: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KSIE39I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 . It was a good choice and my wife and I quickly discovered our favorites. We've also bought a few others to try (on sale) at my local supermarket. All were good, even though some weren't to my personal taste. Once you decide on your favorites and the brew strength you prefer, you're all set to make good, fresh coffee and other k-cup beverages easily and conveniently.
I mentioned at the beginning of my review that I'm not a "coffee snob" but I do insist on good fresh coffee, brewed to my personal taste. The Keurig accomplishes this. I realize that many people ARE purists (coffee snobs, in my parlance). If so, you probably won't like the Keurig but for 95% of all coffee drinkers, the Keurig is great. I'm more than willing to give up my "perfect" cup for one that's almost as good and so much easier and more convenient to brew, not to mention all of the other beverages it will make.
I can see why the Keurig has become so popular. It fully deserves the five star rating I've given it. I highly recommend it to most coffee drinkers. I'm less convinced that it's the best solution to brew tea. It's okay but I still think it's worth the effort to brew tea by steeping it (using the Keurig to dispense hot water for brewing it if you wish). However, K-cup hot tea and iced teas aren't bad and are certainly quick and easy.
