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Keurig Owners - Which one to get?

This is a great thread- I never really knew much about these things but have always been curious.

I'm thinking of getting one of these for my girlfriend for Christmas, but am also having issues picking a model.

From what I've seen, there are the following models: B40, B60, B70, and some special/limited editions which most that I have seen are just B60s.

Given the prices (without coupons/deals) you can get a B70 (highest end that I'm looking at) for only $179 new on Amazon. Is it worth getting this over one of the lessor models considering the smallish price increase? (~$20-30)

My girlfriend is a relatively new coffee drinker, but she really loves it. She probably has one cup a day now, but would drink probably two cups a day (maybe 3) if she had a nice maker like this. As far as size, she typically fills like a 12-16oz size cup, but that's only once a day. I want something that works great, looks good (for some reason I HATE how the B40 looks), and will also last a long time.

EDIT: Wow, found new B70s from the US for $139 on eBay. Pretty good price.
 
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Abyssgh0st said:
Given the prices (without coupons/deals) you can get a B70 (highest end that I'm looking at) for only $179 new on Amazon. Is it worth getting this over one of the lessor models considering the smallish price increase? (~$20-30)
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In my opinion, yes. The reservoir is larger, there are more available brew sizes, and it just plain looks great. I also love being able to program it to turn on and off, change the brew temperature, etc.
 
As Tomorrow mentions, the main difference in models is the number of choices that you have for brew size and the reservoir size. The B-40 for example, only offers 2 cup sizes (8 oz and 10 oz) and a 48 oz reservoir. While the Cuisinart has 5 cup sizes (4 oz., 6 oz., 8 oz., 10 oz. and 12 oz.) and an 80 oz reservoir.

There are a few other differences as well, such as some have options for hot water and rinse. The rinse feature can be very handy if you use it for more than just coffee. That way it will rinse the remaining coffee out of the system, so that it can be better followed up with a tea, cocoa, cider, etc.

Some machines, such as the Cuisinart model, also make use of the Quite Brew Technology, which is a quieter water draw with less vibration than some some of the cheaper models.

With anything like these machines, you just have to compare specs and figure out which ones really benefit you enough to pay the price difference for them. For many folks, the B-40 is machine enough, but others will want to pick and choose features.
 
The B70. All of the options makes it wonderful.

I will say this, I am on my 3rd machine. They're wonderful about it really and the warranty re-starts with each new machine. My first two went because I had water with high calcium content. It wasn't obvious until I moved. I'm on the 3rd and it seems to do ok. I do descale every 30-45 days and I do use the add-on filter that you can buy.
 
FWIW, I got one as a gift when I moved into my new place 3.5 years ago and it's still going strong. I only use filtered water in it.
 
I have a B70 which I think I've had since Christmas 2006. I bought one for my parents for Christmas and everyone liked it so much that I got another one for myself! Mine has been running fine for all these years, although perhaps it is louder now than I remember it being when it was new.

The reason I love these things is because I really don't drink a lot of coffee at home, and despite the higher individual K-cup price, I think I'm saving in the long run compared to making full carafes at a time that get wasted, or having to re-buy coffee grounds or beans because they go stale.

I do use the hot water function a lot for tea, hot chocolate, instant soups, oatmeal, etc.

If you're shopping for a new unit I would look for one that has a large reservoir and is quiet. Otherwise, they're all pretty much the same.
 
Mr. McMac said:
After 2 B60's (each one failed after approximately 2 years of moderate use), I purchased a Cuisinart SS-780PC from Costco for $164. Comes with 54 K-Cups and a 3 year warranty. Also, this thing is MUCH quieter than the B-60's I had.
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We got this one for our office. We've had it about a years and a halg now. Probably gets 6-8 K-Cups a day usage. Really impressed with this unit.

Coffee:
I have found that the Newman's Own Organic Special Decaf Medium Roast has a really good smooth taste. Not bitter.
 
Mr. McMac said:
The reason I purchased the Cuisinart over another Keurig, the warranty is much longer, 3 years vs 1. Since I had 2 Keurig's go bad after about 2 years, I thought it was the smarter choice.
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That is exactly why I purchased the Cuisinart as well. The added bonus was that it was much quieter.
 
jessica. said:
The B70. All of the options makes it wonderful.

I will say this, I am on my 3rd machine. They're wonderful about it really and the warranty re-starts with each new machine. My first two went because I had water with high calcium content. It wasn't obvious until I moved. I'm on the 3rd and it seems to do ok. I do descale every 30-45 days and I do use the add-on filter that you can buy.
Click to expand...

I bought the filter kit, and it seems to do a great job. I think between that and turning off the machine when I'm not using it, I've only descaled once. Does the machine tell you when it's time to descale?
 
Tomorrow said:
I bought the filter kit, and it seems to do a great job. I think between that and turning off the machine when I'm not using it, I've only descaled once. Does the machine tell you when it's time to descale?
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It does. Mine has only asked me to descale once in 3.5 years.
 
I bought a Keurig today. A B70 on eBay (new) for $119 shipped. I think we're going to love it! Now if only I could find decent sugar-free hot chocolate..
 
Abyssgh0st said:
Now if only I could find decent sugar-free hot chocolate..
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Let me know if you do - I haven't found ANY decent hot chocolate yet.

Seems like there isn't enough cocoa in the K-cup for me. It takes two K-cups to get me a decent coffee mug full of hot chocolate. YMMV, of course.
 
r.j.s said:
I can't stand that stuff; it's too bitter.

My favorite: Dunkin' Donuts.
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It is not really bitter, its a a stronger roast, more like expresso. I am still going through the sampler, gonna hit the Newman blends next.
 
Tomorrow said:
Let me know if you do - I haven't found ANY decent hot chocolate yet.

Seems like there isn't enough cocoa in the K-cup for me. It takes two K-cups to get me a decent coffee mug full of hot chocolate. YMMV, of course.
Click to expand...


FWIW, I just saw a new brand of hot chocolate in the supermarket. Think it was by Pepperidge Farm.
 
Dropped mine off at a friends who had broke his Keurig. I like the concept of quick coffee, but it ended up being Worst coffee I have ever had, just bitter coffee flavored hot brown water in most cases.

Switched back to grinding fresh beans, and either using my expresso machine, or slow drip.
 
MacNut said:
So far my favorite is Tully's extra bold French Roast.
Click to expand...

r.j.s said:
I can't stand that stuff; it's too bitter.

My favorite: Dunkin' Donuts.
Click to expand...

MacNut said:
It is not really bitter, its a a stronger roast, more like expresso.
Click to expand...

r.j.s said:
IMO, it's bitter - but then I drink my coffee black.
Click to expand...

I'm gonna have to side with r.j.s on this one; I haven't had a Tully's yet that I could finish. Newman's Own Extra Bold is halfway decent, though.

Nevertheless, I still stand by my Caribou Obsidian recommendation for dark-and-robust-yet-smooth. You'll have to go to Target or online; I've never seen Obsidian in a sampler.
 
If you buy a Keurig at Bed, Bath, and Beyond they will let you swap a broken unit out....no questions asked, no warranty needed. I have done this a few times now. The first unit failed after 2 years of use. Brought it into BBB, and they gave me a free new unit in under 5 minutes.
 
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