Having the ability to brew a single cup of coffee is something that has gained popularity in recent years for pretty obvious reasons. After all, all of us are busier than ever before and can be an inconvenience to wait on a full pot of coffee to brew first thing in the morning while trying to get ready to rush out the door.
Because of their convenience and our busy lives, single-serve coffee makers have become a very popular option for many coffee lovers. Of these single-serve coffee makers, the brand that seems to be everywhere you look, is Keurig.
Does this mean that everyone needs a Keurig coffee maker in their home?
Not necessarily and there are a few questions that you should ask yourself before deciding if investing in a Keurig is the best option for your coffee needs.
Is a Keurig Worth the Money?
For some people, a Keurig coffee maker will be a very worthwhile investment. For others, you’d be far better off purchasing a more traditional coffee maker, depending on your needs.
While the answer above may seem a bit confusing, it’s important that you know that there is no one concrete answer to the question. This is because everyone has their own unique needs when it comes to their coffee makers and what may work best for you may be completely different than what works for someone else.
Before you decide whether a Keurig would be a solid investment for your needs, it’s important to think about just a few things.
How Much Coffee Does Your Household Drink Each Day?
Let’s face it, Keurig coffee makers are designed to provide a way for you to be able to brew a single cup of coffee quickly and conveniently.
While yes, some of the newer generation machines can brew a full pot of coffee and Keurig 2.0 machines could brew a carafe, the core function of Keurig coffee makers is that they are able to make a fresh cup on demand.
So, if your household typically drinks a full pot of coffee or more daily, then a Keurig may not be a good fit your needs or you may want to consider one of the Keurig K-Duo style machines that allow you to brew either a single cup of coffee or a full pot when needed.
Does Everyone in Your Home Enjoy the Same Type of Coffee?
Another reason that Keurig’s have gained as much popularity as they have is the fact that they allow multiple people to use the same machine while making individual servings of their favorite beverages.
Notice how I said beverages and not coffee?
That’s because one of the biggest advantages that Keurig coffee makers deliver is the ability to make many different beverages with one machine.
You can use the same machine to make hundreds of different varieties of coffee, hot chocolate, tea, soups and other drinks.
In households like mine, this is great as while I love coffee, my wife prefers tea or hot chocolate.
If your family prefers different types of coffee or different beverages altogether, then you’ll most likely gain value from having a Keurig brewer.
Do You Enjoy Coffee at Different Times of Day?
If you’re like me, you may enjoy drinking coffee at different times of the day. Personally, this is the biggest reason that I enjoy my Keurig machine.
When you have that occasional craving for a cup of coffee after dinner or sometime in the mid-afternoon, but don’t want a full pot, a Keurig machine can be your best friend.
True, you could just make a full pot or grab an instant coffee, but I know that this is when I really appreciate having my Keurig.
Reasons You May Not Want to Buy a Keurig
After taking the questions above into consideration, there are a few more things you may want to think about before deciding if a Keurig coffee maker is right for you:
Environmental Impact
Let’s face it, K Cups are not that great for the environment. The good news is that with a little effort, you can recycle them or you can purchase a reusable filter and use your own coffee in them (my personal preference.) Also, there are some more eco-friendly K Cups out there. If you’d like to learn more, please check out our article, “Are K Cups Bad for the Environment.”
K Cup Costs
K Cups are not the cheapest way to enjoy coffee. Some can cost upwards of $1 per serving or more while others can be as inexpensive as $0.33 or less per cup. There are a few things you can do to save money on K Cups or you can opt for using a reusable K Cup that will let you use your favorite coffee to make a single serving.
Weaker Coffee
If you enjoy a strong cup of coffee, then you may struggle to find a good fit with a Keurig coffee maker. Many people, myself included, who enjoy one brand of coffee find that the same brand’s K Cups aren’t nearly as strong. The good news is that while they can be hard to find, there are some brands of stronger K Cups available.
Frequent Maintenance
Every coffee maker, regardless of brand, requires some maintenance. The thing is with Keurig coffee makers, they typically require a little bit more maintenance than other brands. To get the best lifespan possible from a Keurig machine it’s crucial to perform maintenance like descaling and always try to use the best type of water possible for your machine. If you’d like to learn more, please check out our article, “What Type of Water Should You Use in Your Keurig?”
Final ThoughtsKeurig’s aren’t a good investment for everyone. With that said, the people who do enjoy their Keurig machines tend to love them.
For example, while I was writing this article my mother called and I asked her if I could call her back saying, “I’m working on an article called are Keurig coffee makers worth the money?” Before I could even say another word, she immediately responded, “Ummm, yes!”
While both she and I thoroughly enjoy our Keurig’s, at the end of the day, before you choose whether or not purchasing a Keurig is worth the money to you, I encourage you to at least try a cup of coffee from one before you make your purchase.
Trying a cup from one and thinking about the questions above will hopefully help you decide whether a Keurig is an investment you can have benefits from in the future.
What Do You Think?
Do you own a Keurig machine? Have you owned one in the past? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your experiences, questions, and comments below and as always, we hope you enjoy another cuppa joe!
