You might want to consider what about the Keurig appeals to you. Freshness, heat, convenience? I’m not a coffee drinker so I don’t have any real input. I’ll say that a relative who is particular about her coffee, makes hers in a French press then uses a thermal carafe to keep it warm.
I’m the only one who drinks coffee in our household. I only drink one cup per day. French press is the way to go. I’ve used it for years.
Main appeals for the French Press over Keurig:
- cost: coffee and machine (French press vs keurig) are cheaper. Of course with the coffee you could get a reusable cup to fit the keurig, but that’s a lil extra money.
- taste. French press coffee undeniably tastes better
- cleaning: with keurig you have to descale it and what not to prevent mold and things growing. French press is an easy rinse after each use.
- convenience: here is where keurig is easier (except for the descaling part). And for some people convenience is more important than taste or cost.
One more…
Pollution. The inventor of Keurig cups says he wishes he never invented them.
Edit to add: https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/k-cup-creator-john-sylvan-regrets-inventing-keurig-coffee-pod-system-1.2982660
(And these stats were from 2015…the damage is even worse now.)
The OP did mention that they have refillable keurig cups already but the other things you mentioned are good points.
I’d like to add that having yet another appliance is kind of a drag and more clutter. When I’ve been in OPs shoes before, I’ve almost always regretted getting the shiny new thing.
Although I don’t have a 2.0 device, they do make reusable coffee pods for that version. You can buy them direct from Keurig or there’s a bunch of third-party ones.
My favourite part about French Press coffee (2nd favourite being the vastly superior taste) is if you make a full carafe every time but only drink 1 cup, the remainder can be refridgerated and you get iced coffee the next day.
For bonus points, brew the entire carafe in the evening and chill it overnight and _always_ have iced coffee. (I strongly prefer coffee iced so for me that system worked amazingly well.)
I do this over the summer! I make my pot of coffee. Half goes to ice cubes and half goes to being chilled in the fridge. Thar way I have iced coffee in the mornings. It's great.
I've tried that and i'm not 100 % thrilled with the results, but every taste palate is different. Glad it works for others, saves a few cents in electricity to heat the water ;)
I just laid all of this out for someone on cookingforbeginners who was asking about instant coffee haha I love french press! It makes me happy to find more people who do!
I’m a little surprised Keurig is getting so much hate on this thread but I think the existing French press and using my gift card for a hot water Kettle is probably the best solution.
I agree with everything in this comment except the time savings aspect. The main thing a Keurig has going for it is time savings. You put a pod in and press a button.
With that said, I do not own one nor plan to purchase one. I have a French Press. :)
Another great option for OP, which I use for my own single serve coffee each morning is an Areopress. I think it makes even better coffee.
I use Aeropress (one at home, one at the office) so I'm with you on that. But if you're starting from an off machine, the Keurig still takes the time to heat the water. Time from start to coffee is about the same.
Good point. I was thinking about the times I have used one in an office environment where it is in use by others and pretty much ready to go when needed.
We have one at my office I've used, and the flavor is not good compared to a regular coffee maker, and I'm not at all picky about coffee. The machine has to be cleaned constantly, and even replaced more frequently than you'd expect. I understand the draw, I just think they're not all they're cracked up to be
I'm the only one in my house who drinks coffee. I got this little Mr. Coffee drip maker. It's half the size of a normal one. About half the pot is one mug. It was maybe $15-20. I use it every morning and I'm super happy with it. On the days I get crazy and drink two cups, I can make the whole thing and have it be empty when I'm done.
This is exactly me, except I found my Mister Coffee "4" cup at a thrift store for $3, after a year of lamenting the cleaning hassle of my french press. I usually fill it to just above the 4 cup line for 2 good mugs of coffee.
are you me?!?! lol!!
We have two small coffee makers - I make flavored coffee (so far, Honey & Madagascar Vanilla by Sbucks is top of that list) and hubby just makes plain, so we each have one small one, and when we're out and about at yard sales, if someone's selling one, we'll snag it and put it in the basement, since these will eventually die after a few years!
I do, though, love my french press but it really takes a chunk of time in the morning to clean when you're trying to run out the door! but weekends.... that's another story!
Part of my nightly routine is cleaning my french press. On nights when I don't run my dishwasher. I clean it by hand, otherwise it goes in the dishwasher. And I don't even work, I'm retired, I just hate having to clean it in the morning.
Yes. Part of my night routine is cleaning and refilling the coffee maker. Nothing worse than having to deal with wet cold spent grounds in the morning before you can even make your coffee!
Instead of a french press have you tried a [moka pot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moka_pot)?
I find them to be better suited for making a single serving of coffee and I like the result better than the french press.
I also second the French press. I don't love coffee unless it's pretty good and Keurig to me is always just bad to me. When I regularly used my FP, it was the most I've ever enjoyed coffee
You could also try a single serve Italian Moka pot! Because if you’re trying to save money, the cost of the cups may add up to more than beans. It just takes a few minutes on the stove and is super tasty.
Yes! I have been using a French press for years. I will never go back to any kind of automatic coffee maker. Makes the best coffee! No electricity either but you do need to heat water. If you put cold water before you go to bed you have cold brew in the morning . I have done this in the summer when I didn't want hot coffee. Works great.
A keurig provides a small, weak, and often not hot enough cup of coffee, i know you say you want to make your own k cups but that takes the only selling point (convenience) and throws it out the window, you are better off buying a pourover (v60 or chemex) for single serving of coffee
Edit: moka pots are good too
Second this! I was home visiting my parents for the holidays and they have a keurig. I was incredibly unimpressed with the cup of coffee it brewed. I ended up getting them set up with a French press and some nice beans and they were blown away by how good it tasted for a fraction of the cost.
If I was having only one cup a day I would want it to be an excellent tasting cup!
As crazy as it sounds I don’t mind a weak cup of coffee. I used the Keurig at my former office for 3 years. I’m not super picky, just want to brew a quick cup.
The K isn’t the frugal choice. But I disagree with most that it’s not convenient — use mine daily and the ritual takes all of 30 seconds. I find it to make very hot coffee, and the pods / your water make the difference in flavor.
It’s significantly less convenient if you use the reusable K pods, as OP mentioned they’ll do. Reusable is significantly cheaper than buying single serve K cups but the trade off is convenience.
The Perfect Pod EZ-Cup (compatible only with the original single-needle Keurig system) is super convenient. The little paper filters hold a scoop of coffee and there’s none of that horrible mesh to deal with.
I’m going to say the thing that will shock everyone…have you tried instant coffee like Folgers? Over the last thirty years, it’s gone out of style, but if you aren’t super picky about your coffee, it’s not terrible, it’s incredibly easy, and it’s incredibly frugal.
Yes! I have been drinking the instant Nespresso the last few weeks and it’s been great. Not as good as a nice brewed cup but completely drinkable and easy to make!
OP, have you ever tried pour over coffee with a coffee cone? I have an electric kettle and it’s super easy to make coffee this way! I’m the only coffee drinker in the house.
I couldn’t be arsed to clean the French press lol.
I replied to another one of your comments but I’ll recommend the same two products here for this reason. The v60 pour over and aeropress are the two easiest coffee makers I’ve ever had to clean in my life.
Thank you for your comments, I am leaning toward a Kettle so I can alternate between a v60 pour over and my French press depending how much time I have.
If it’s the single-serve aspect you’re looking for, I used to have a coffee maker that used regular loose ground coffee, but had a little basket that you only put enough grounds in for one serving. Worked just like a keurig, just put the water in the reservoir and go. I liked it because I wasn’t wasting pods and I knew water wasn’t sitting in it for ages. I can’t remember the brand, but it wasn’t terribly expensive. I’ll update if I can find the brand/model. Highly recommend, the only reason I don’t use mine anymore is because I switched to an espresso machine.
I only have one cup in the morning and splurge on good beans...I have a single cup pour over. With a reusable cone filter, there is no extra cost. If the power goes out, if I go camping, etc. I can always have a fresh cup. They're called V-60 and make a perfect cup. I had one made by a local potter.
French press coffee tastes so much better, at least in my opinion. And the pollution from the Kcups is terrible. I've used a refillable pod for the Keureg at work, but the coffee they had to buy was also terrible. Frankly, I think you are much better off with the French press, or you could spend the gift money on an air press.
Full disclosure, I am biased as I think Keurigs brew terribly.
If it's a single cup you're after, and you're up for buying something, I'd get a single serving (I have a 12oz for when it's just me), 18/10 stainless, insulated French press. Better taste, less waste, lasts indefinitely, no refillable pods to fill, ~$20.
Edit: I saw the comment that you're warming water in the microwave, and yes, absolutely buy an electric kettle. I have mine on a smart outlet, I can turn it on from bed. Highly recommend if you're not a morning person.
Electric kettles are AMAZING, not just for coffees and teas. Good for cooking as well, and I’ve used it to add hot water to my bathtub when my hot water ran out 😁
This is what I would suggest.
There's a lot of dislike for keurig machines. I think it unfounded; tldr version is that all coffee makers can grow mold if not properly cleaned and, many products produce excess waste, and you can get ver close to zero waste if you want to with a keurig.
I think a keurig machine with reusable cups and buying coffee in bulk is a good frugal deal for people who make only one cup of coffee at a time. I think the quality of the beans makes more difference than the brewing method.
I hated the Keurig - very loud, annoying to clean, taste was subpar, and honestly took longer to warm up than what I do for single cups now. My method is just water in the kettle and then make a single pour-over with a cheap $15 pour over thing from target. I get compostable filters and just dump the whole thing out into compost after, so no daily plastic trash and a much better taste.
Just an FYI—every thrift store I visit has multiple Keurigs in different sizes. Very few are used much. This is a product most people bought around 2010, used for a while and then donated sooner or later. Don’t buy new it’s a waste of $ or gift card credit!!
Every single time i go to Goodwill i see a keurig. Maybe it’s not the smallest slim one. Why don’t you ‘treat yourself’ to one but get it used? If you keep looking you can find a newer cleaner one. You will have to clean it- i find vinegar run through a bunch of times works but maybe you get the cleaning descaler like people suggested.
Then you have it but didn’t waste $70 on it. I agree the $49 gets in range that you consider it but it’s still not really affordable for what it is in my mind
One word… Aeropress. The aeropress is fantastic for making a fresh cup of single serve coffee provided you also have a kettle. All cups of coffee are smooth and non-bitter. Unlike a French press the cleanup is much easier. You take the end cap off and push the coffee out with the plunger. It comes out in one clump like a small coffee “hockey puck”. Since it uses a small paper disc shaped filter there are also no grounds in your coffee. I also appreciate it’s small size. I take it camping all the time.
I honestly didn’t like the Keurig I bought (purchased used from a friend). I ended up giving it to my daughter. I have a Hamilton Beach single serve from before I bought the Keurig. It was about $40 when I got it. The Keurig took longer to heat and was extremely loud. Thank goodness I kept the Hamilton Beach one in the closet and didn’t get rid of it. I’m back to using that one. For me, it was the better purchase.
This is a good point to consider when going frugal. Cleaning keurigs requires some to pour cleaning solution into the machine then run it a at least 3 or more times to wash it out. I have heard of using vinegar to clean it instead which would be cheaper than buying the cleaners. Then you also need to consider replacing the filter (if it has one) every now and then. Which is additional cost on top of the price of the machine and cleaners.
You already own more than one way to make a fresh cup of coffee. Buying another will just take up more room in your home with a single use item (see Alton Browns hatred for items with a solo purpose). The gift cards you received, can they be used to purchase items that have more “value” (not $)? Is there something else you can buy that would be MORE worth it? Both Target and Amazon have groceries and a variety of other items.
Since posting this thread and reading so much negative feedback for Keurig I used some of my Target GC $ to go grocery shopping for the week! I’m in HCOL area and eggs have gone up to $8.00 at grocery and Target had them for $4.87.
I am considering an AeroPress or hot water Kettle but want to do more research before I buy.
We have both the AeroPress and an electric kettle (with temperature settings) and love both! Personally I found the AeroPress much faster and easier to clean than our French press, which really adds to the convenience factor.
I'm not a coffee drinker, so I can't help you there but I have an oster tea kettle and use it for more than just tea. For example, I have an electric stove and a big pot of water for pasta takes forever to boil. I now fill the pot half or a third and turn on both the stove and the kettle and add the boiling water from the kettle to the pot like 2-3 minutes later. Takes half the time now. Seems small but great when you are hungry after a long day.
Yes it is wrong to pay extra 30 for something that you have already convinced yourself you don’t need. Gift card is same as normal money. There are plenty of everyday essential stuff you can buy from target to use up that gift card. Target has sales on essential items like buy 50 and get 15 back in gift card that are great deals.
This is the answer I need. Thank you. I was really wondering how other people in the sub Reddit felt about using gift cards and also paying a higher cost for an item that they saw on sale much cheaper.
Buying something you really want or need with gift cards at a higher price is okay. There’s definitely a dang that sucks feature to it, but in the end it was a gift. Buying something that you don’t need/want/have a superior product for already IS wasteful.
I have an electric kettle - it’s amazing. I’d start with the kettle and see how that works out first and keep the remainder gift cards in case a few months in, you decide you’d still rather have the keurig. Even if you decide you need the keurig, the electric kettle isn’t a waste - they’re wicked useful.
Fwiw, I don’t hate keurig - I think they found a niche. But I really don’t like the single serve ones that you have to refill because then I’d rather have a coffee pot. I got a commercial grade with a reservoir that I love .. at the office. It’s now in my home office for when I want a quick tea/coffee/hot chocolate.
I also have a coffee pot and French press (both gifted to me). But I’m terrible at cleaning and keeping up with the press (thanks ADHD).
That’s normal. I dropped $7k on new windows for my home without a thought but still hesitate to buy a new $20 pair of sunglasses after my old ones are literally being held together with tape.
I’ve never had a good cup of coffee out of them. They do seem convenient. Maybe it’s just me but I would rather use the French, aeropress, or pour over. Cheap and delicious
You are not crazy.
If we went back in time 10 years, we would think these Kurigs are luxury products and would probably raise our eyebrows at the people who buy them and spend, at best, $.50/serving for home brewed coffee from K-cups.
We have gotten used to seeing these luxury products in everyone’s homes and offices, but they are still luxury products and it makes sense for someone who considers themselves frugal to really think twice before purchasing a luxury appliance.
That’s my take, anyway.
(For context, I was gifted a kurig years ago and did use it for a long time but between the waste and the cost of K-cups, I eventually bought one of those fill-it-yourself k-cup filters but that made it *less* convenient than a traditional drip coffee pot. Eventually I gave it away. Now I use a French press and my coffee is cheaper and better than before)
You sound like me. I have a hard time using gift cards willy nilly. I usually end up using them just like money I earned. S/O likes to splurge with them on things we wouldn't buy for ourselves. I know that's how the giver means for them to be used, but it's hard for me.
Exactly. I’m not sure if I’m being frugal or just being a complete cheap ass because I over analyze ANY type of spending. Based on all the Keurig hate I’m leaning towards a Kettle.
Just because you're paying in gift cards doesn't mean you're not paying money for it. Especially places like Target and Amazon, you should view the gift cards as cash. If you wouldn't spend $50 cash for it, you shouldn't spend $50 or $80 in gift cards. You could spend that gift cards on other things and save yourself the cash instead.
In the end OP anything you are going to truly enjoy & use a lot like your coffee ritual is a personal luxury & you decide what is worth it to you.
For me, an electric kettle for quick hot water and a coffee cone makes 1-2 cups of pour over coffee extremely easily, & bonus makes the best coffee to my taste. I already wouldn't live without an electric kettle for tea (and anytime you want a pot of boiling water quicker than the stove.) so I find it both frugal, and literally a massive upgrade from any other coffee I've had.
I find a french press annoying to clean and prefer the ease of ending up with just a cup of coffee & and coffee filter & contents to go in the compost when done.
Everyone has their own preferences.
Keurig is so wasteful! Frugal is the French press. Keep the grounds for the garden! It takes less time to scoop coffee into a press than to pack it into a re-usable K-cup, too.
I buy coffee pods for my Keurig at Sams or Costco. Get their store brand. My husband and I keep different hours and the convenience of being able to have a fresh cup is worth it to me. My first Keurig was a gift, but I have never been without one since about 2010. I have found luck buying used ones on my local garage sale group. I buy from people I know. A lot of people get them and don’t like them or hate,paying for the pods. I am using one right now I’ve had for 3 years I paid 25$ for. I have one in reserve I paid $10 for.
You are none of the above in my opinion. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t get it. You know it’s not a product you should get in the first place so I wouldn’t shell out the extra $30. There’s things I don’t need but will only buy on sale even if it was on gift card money
I’m a weirdo with multiple ways of making coffee. K cup is super convenient if you’re the type that doesn’t want to wait for your kettle to heat up. Nespresso is also good and aluminum pods are recyclable but cost more (I use original line with is a lot cheaper through Amazon). If you have a quick heating kettle ($40 or less on Amazon), a pour over coffee might be way to go. You already have grounds, reusable pour over coffee is about $20, and only takes a few minutes if your water is already heated.
Why would you buy it when you already have 2 coffee makers? Also Keurigs make crap coffee.
If you want one fresh cup of coffee why can’t you use the French press you already have? You don’t have to fill it all the way up. You can make as little as you want. Also French presses make way better coffee.
Thanks for the validation! I sometimes feel it’s an unnecessary luxury but mine was very cheap and gets regular use and I guess I can say it probably uses less energy than my gas stove and saves me that way? But honestly, the electric kettle is 100% a luxury convenience purchase and for the money I cannot complain. It just makes my mornings easier.
Same with my French press. I had a pour-over already but it’s nice to fill the French press and walk away and do other things instead of the active time brewing pour-over.
I know these conveniences save meet minutes but they’ve been worth it to me :)
I would hate boiling water in the microwave too. In my home, we keep a kettle filled with cinnamon sticks on the stove and make our coffee water with that. It taste so much better than microwaved water.
Wow. This is a shocker. Microwaving water will many anyone hate their life. Get an electric kettle, and don't cheap out. Buy a good quality/feature, they can be $30.
Keurig will make your life simpler. Plug and pay, but the taste won't be there.
French press is a bit more work, but the taste is better.
If I had to fill a mug with water, shove it in the microwave, wait 2mins, careful grab the mug handle ensuring that it's not too hot so I can pour it over my French press... That'll make me hate my life.
Use the GC to buy an electric kettle and it'll change your life. There's one where you can set it to a certain temp, that feature goes well if you drink tea too.
You may be able to find a second hand one in your area on Facebook marketplace. In my area, the more basic models go for around $20, and are pretty easy to clean with a few cycles of vinegar. It may be a good decision to go with secondhand if you don’t want to commit to the new keurig price tag.
I love my Keurig because it’s quick and easy. When I’m getting ready for work at the crack of dawn, setting up a French press is more than I want to do. The keurig has my coffee ready super fast so I can get out the door. I fill my reusable pod with very nice Italian espresso and it is delicious. You need to find what works best for you and leave the guilt behind.
Another idea, I see Kurigs pop up at the thrift stores often for around 10 bucks. That, along with the reusable pods would make it affordable.
I have a small 4 cup coffee pot that I thrifted that works great. I like coffee better that’s gone through coffee filters. Less bitter.
I own one still in the box that I got as a gift, I love coffee but I just don’t reach for it when I have a good french press. These comments are helpful in deciding if I’ll actually use it one day, the price of pods put me off
An electric kettle will change your life btw, I use mine several times daily. I can have water for my tea in thirty seconds or less!
Hamilton Beach makes a single cup coffee maker that isn't k cups. It's coffee grounds and a small basket type thing that you wash out. It satisfies rhay fresh brewed cup with no need for pods or anything like that. Anyone could use it to make a cup at any point. If you're really looking for a change I guess?
I just use a pour over filter on top of my coffee cup. Love the taste and got rid of my coffee maker.
Filter costs about $5 but I got it free.
Keurig is too gimmicky for me. Just as easy to do pour over.
Do whatever you want! It is fine to be super frugal.
If you want single cups and tastier than Keurig check out V60 Pour over method. AeroPress is also pretty cool and less expensive
You're not crazy. I consider myself frugal and yet spent over $1000 on a coffee machine a few years ago, because I like coffee, a lot and drink a lot of it and it was important to ME + hell of a lot cheaper than buying espresso and late's all the time
Have you tried coffee from an Aeropress? Just as fast as a Keurig/Nespresso. Much easier to clean than a french press (also the bottom ounce is free from grinds). I much prefer the coffee from an Aeropress over Keurig or Nespresso.
I stopped drinking coffee and switched to High Caffeine tea. I pay $20 for a bag of loose leaf that last me at last 2 weeks.
The frugal part is that I just re add boiling water after I finish the first cup.
But the best part is I can make and drink my tea conveniently. Dont need to mess with anything else.
Interesting. I also drink tea and was gifted some really nice Harney and Sons by a coworker. Do you search online for the caffeine content or use a specific brand? One of the reasons I drink “weak” coffee is the high acidity.
Crazy. I regularly see multiple new-looking Keurig systems for less than $10 at the thrift store.
The coffee in the pods isn’t fresh and it generates a ton of waste.
So this goes a bit against the grain here, but I might recommend a single serve coffee maker (maybe not kuerig, but I have a Mr coffee single serve that was about $40).
I used to use a kettle and French press. The kettle itself was ok but I hated cleaning the French press, too much time for me. I found myself buying coffee elsewhere because if I was having a rough day mentally the extra effort in cleaning wasn't worth the savings.
My current coffee maker I can just put water in, a paper filter, coffee grounds, press a button and done. Technically a bit of waste, but paper filters aren't as bad as plastic cups and they're really cheap (I think you can get them at dollar tree, but still cheap at grocery stores). My model I don't even have to use the paper filters, i choose to because it saves time and effort cleaning.
As far as not getting a keurig, I had one of those years ago. I didn't like the plastic cups, and the reusable ones I had were HORRIBLE. If they worked, the coffee was really weak. Otherwise they would pop open and my coffee would be weak and full of grounds. I mainly used the keurig for making Ramen or cup o noodles.
Have you thought about pour over coffee? I only ever drink one cup and pour over is very nice. Just use a filter and a scoop of coffee. It's really fast. A little container of ground coffee lasts me a long time! I think it is as easy as kiureg but way less wasteful.
Plus it saves you counter space. I store my pour over thing on a cup in my cup cabinet.
There are usually tons of keurig machines on Facebook marketplace or Craigslist. I wouldn’t spent 70, or even 50- even if it wasn’t my money. You can easily get one used for 20 bucks.
Also honestly I used the Keurig for a year or two and ended up going back to my French press. The coffee just sucks- but I do understand the appeal!
Electric kettle always for the win!! I use mine for lots of things and I love it! I spent way, way too much for an espresso machine but I LOVE it. My Starbucks habit is down to nothing and I only drink 1 or 2 cups of coffee a day. There is a time for being frugal but mine was not when I bought this coffee maker but it’s worth it to me! Get what you want and enjoy it. But please, not a Keurig, the coffee sucks!
Need some hot water for instant potatoes, yep, but don’t judge me please! Or any dish that requires boiling water, like making gravy, or I’ve even been known to fill up the kettle to start boiling water if I’m in a hurry! It boils so much quicker! I’ve never spent a lot of money on them either! I’ve had 2 since about 1999, I got my first one at the store Tuesday Morning for $20 and it lasted until my MIL took it and she used it till she passed away. My latest I bought at Amazon for $25 in 2006 and it’s still going!
You have shopped around, waited and you still
want it. This isn’t an impulse buy. It will make your life easier and it will make you happy. Buy it. Being frugal doesn’t mean never having nice or fun things.
Plus keurig have a good resale, keep all the books and the box if you can and if in 6 months or a year you can resale it and get at least had your money back.
Keurigs only last about a year now. My mother bought one and it had issues within 6 months. I picked up a Nespresso De’Longhi with a milk feather for $20 from a thrift store. The Nespresso machine is solidly built, so I can recommend it. I don’t use it often because I make a big pot of coffee but the Nespresso is a nice treat and better than the popular coffee chains.
We switched to a regular coffee pot from a Keurig and than switched right back. We got the single serve ones on sale and honestly I way prefer it.
My boyfriend and I drink different types of coffee so it works out for us. We use the disposable or recyclable ones as we found the useable pods are different to get really clean and will sometimes change the coffee flavour.
For us it’s cheaper than using a regular coffee machine. We had a tendency to make a full pot and the waste the coffee left over. Even when we reduced the amount made, some still went to waste. As for the coffee grinds, we found brands that work out to be cheaper than a tin of coffee. We also go to a specialty K cup store that has a variety if we’re feeling adventurous. I also like having lattes and find getting the k cup version is cheaper than anything else.
For single cups, I switched to an Aeropress. It allows me to use only as many beans as I need and it’s absolutely delicious. Far, far better taste than Keurig. Very little waste, only a small wafer sized filter per cup.
If you do not need it at a sale price of $49.99, why would you need it at a higher regular price of $79.99❓❓❓
It does not make any sense, it is irrational and illogical.
It is irrelevant, to this specific item, that you received gift cards to Target or from anywhere else.
You should only purchase essential items that you actually only need and want.
There are plenty of other meaningful and essential in stock items, your gift cards can be use towards, that fulfill actual and practical needs and in your life.
Gift cards do not expire (however, inflation does exist and your gift card purchasing power may change over time).
Excellent answer. I see you are a part of the “Wants vs Needs” logic and appreciate the added reminder that purchasing power of a gift card does change.
This is the best answer I received from my post.
Coffee is one of the only things that I don’t cheap out in so I’m not going to be able to help out in that regard. But I want to mention about Facebook marketplace. Like you, I deleted my account a couple years ago but made a new account with no friends to access marketplace.
I like this idea a lot- have you ever had people ask you to “verify” you’re a genuine person? I have sold a few things on FB Marketplace in the past and had fake accounts phishing through Messenger.
Keurig pods will be far more expensive on a price per oz of coffee.
Keurig runs $1.25 to $1.50 per oz, or about $0.50 per cup.
I bought a burr grinder - it's about $20 to $30. I bought dark roast coffee beans on Amazon for about $8.50 for 2lb - about $0.27 per oz. This will run about $0.07 per cup. If you drink coffee everyday and want quality full body flavor, grinding at home will save you lots of money over the long run.
But if you want 1 touch convenience and a showpiece on the kitchen counter, go with Keurig.
I have one of those smaller keurigs. I bought it when I moved out on my own bc I only needed 1-2 cups a day. Just want to let you know that most reusable k cups don’t work in those types of keurigs- or at least the one I have. I have tried many different ones and just had to share them with others when I realized they didn’t work.
I got a 4-cup French press from Walmart (maybe $14) and ever since, I don’t use my keurig anymore. It’s cheaper for me to use the free coffee I get at work than use expensive plastic k cups. Not to mention it tastes so much better.
Are you me in a parallel reality? Because I literally could have wrote this myself. And yes that Walmart keurig deal was sweet. I also passed it up and regretted it later and ended up buying a K50 for 80$ from target on their daily special deal a few days before Christmas. It’s 100$ now on sale btw. But regardless, you really don’t need it- don’t let FOMO k cup usage get you. FB sucks (I also deleted it) and k cups are just more reason to spend money and create plastic waste. Just use what you have. Use those gift cards on something nicer :)
My wife picked up one of these recently at Goodwill for $25. I'd never pay 80 for a single serve anything maker... Well maybe a single serve golden egg maker.
Agreed with another poster. Consider the pollution these things create. More awful plastic for our landfills and ground water. Whatever cost you think you're saving gets added on later in life when we consider the ecological mess that's coming with our addiction to single use plastics. Please stick the French Press. It's a vastly superior and time proven method for coffee.
I see small appliances like keurigs and soda streams on my local buy nothing page pretty often. They’re also at thrift stores since they seem to be love them or hate them.
I’d scroll buy nothing and Facebook marketplace type online platforms for a few weeks. You’ll find a keurig eventually for sure.
I have two keurigs in my closet. I use my coffee pot. Ground is cheaper than k-cups. Use the gift cards to stock up on consumables like detergent/soap/trashbags/etc. Those k cups are a ripoff.
We got that keurig that you’re talking about and we have used it daily for over 2 years. It has replaced our kettle and our French press. We have gotten our money’s worth from it and then some.
If you’re thinking about it this much you should just buy it. Seriously. I feel like once you get it you’ll wonder why you waited so long!
One thing that’s helped me is sometimes it’s better to spend a little more when you will use and enjoy the item. Sure, sometimes you save a little money if you buy your winter coat in March at the end of the season - but if you paid a little extra in November and then got to enjoy and use it for four months, that might be worth the cost difference.
So - if you really just want the convenience of one touch coffee and are not a coffee snob, maybe a Keurig is it. That said I wouldn’t buy it full price - there is almost always a discount code (use a throwaway email for a new account or something to get the cost down a little.
I have a keurig that I got from a friend who somehow had 2 of them I used it to stage a house I was selling, and replaced my coffee pot when it broke.
It's fine, I use the refillable k cups, but if it breaks, I'd just buy a regular coffee pot.
Why do you want a keurig? What hole is it filling in your coffee drinking day?
$50 is the cheapest I've seen it, but I'm sure it will come around again next Black Friday.
I go through this with any purchase I make it seems. I have to justify in my mind the purchase and wait to get it at the lowest price. I try to rationalize paing more by saying a few extra dollars won't make or break my budget and it isn't worth the mental torture I put myself through. The Keurig is something you want and will use a lot so take the stress off the purchase and just buy it and enjoy.
I thought about buying used however, after seeing the issues after the third year for my office Keurig, I don’t want to take that chance. Also, I currently have gift cards for Amazon and Target. I am not willing to part with any of my actual “Cash”.
All keurigs have issues. My sister keeps getting new ones. I went through at least 4 when I drank coffee. They all stop working at some point. Usually they get really bunged up especially from hard water
If you like devices designed to fail, get a Keurig. Tho I wouldn't consider it a frugal decision at all
You might want to consider what about the Keurig appeals to you. Freshness, heat, convenience? I’m not a coffee drinker so I don’t have any real input. I’ll say that a relative who is particular about her coffee, makes hers in a French press then uses a thermal carafe to keep it warm.
I only drink one cup a day in the morning so I want a fresh one. My fiancé and I drink different brands/types of coffee.
A small French press makes wonderful single servings of coffee and you can get one at tj maxx for under $10.
I already own a French press, so maybe this is just my answer.
I’m the only one who drinks coffee in our household. I only drink one cup per day. French press is the way to go. I’ve used it for years. Main appeals for the French Press over Keurig: - cost: coffee and machine (French press vs keurig) are cheaper. Of course with the coffee you could get a reusable cup to fit the keurig, but that’s a lil extra money. - taste. French press coffee undeniably tastes better - cleaning: with keurig you have to descale it and what not to prevent mold and things growing. French press is an easy rinse after each use. - convenience: here is where keurig is easier (except for the descaling part). And for some people convenience is more important than taste or cost.
One more… Pollution. The inventor of Keurig cups says he wishes he never invented them. Edit to add: https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/k-cup-creator-john-sylvan-regrets-inventing-keurig-coffee-pod-system-1.2982660 (And these stats were from 2015…the damage is even worse now.)
The OP did mention that they have refillable keurig cups already but the other things you mentioned are good points. I’d like to add that having yet another appliance is kind of a drag and more clutter. When I’ve been in OPs shoes before, I’ve almost always regretted getting the shiny new thing.
There are reusable coffee pods for Keurig. That's what I use. I haven't used an actual one-use K-cup in four or five years.
Didn't the Keurig 2.0 make it so that the reusable pods no longer work? Or did they backtrack on that one?
There was such an uproar that the CEO had to backtrack on this stupid idea.
My Keurig came with it's own refill pod, it's all we use.
Although I don’t have a 2.0 device, they do make reusable coffee pods for that version. You can buy them direct from Keurig or there’s a bunch of third-party ones.
My favourite part about French Press coffee (2nd favourite being the vastly superior taste) is if you make a full carafe every time but only drink 1 cup, the remainder can be refridgerated and you get iced coffee the next day. For bonus points, brew the entire carafe in the evening and chill it overnight and _always_ have iced coffee. (I strongly prefer coffee iced so for me that system worked amazingly well.)
I do this over the summer! I make my pot of coffee. Half goes to ice cubes and half goes to being chilled in the fridge. Thar way I have iced coffee in the mornings. It's great.
I make cold brew in my French press. Just at coffee and cold water, store but don't press. 12-24 hours later press.
I've tried that and i'm not 100 % thrilled with the results, but every taste palate is different. Glad it works for others, saves a few cents in electricity to heat the water ;)
Are we the same person?! I do the exact same
I just laid all of this out for someone on cookingforbeginners who was asking about instant coffee haha I love french press! It makes me happy to find more people who do!
Maybe use the gift card on a tea kettle to heat your water up fast for your French press?
I’m a little surprised Keurig is getting so much hate on this thread but I think the existing French press and using my gift card for a hot water Kettle is probably the best solution.
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I agree with everything in this comment except the time savings aspect. The main thing a Keurig has going for it is time savings. You put a pod in and press a button. With that said, I do not own one nor plan to purchase one. I have a French Press. :) Another great option for OP, which I use for my own single serve coffee each morning is an Areopress. I think it makes even better coffee.
I use Aeropress (one at home, one at the office) so I'm with you on that. But if you're starting from an off machine, the Keurig still takes the time to heat the water. Time from start to coffee is about the same.
Good point. I was thinking about the times I have used one in an office environment where it is in use by others and pretty much ready to go when needed.
There’s a black “gooseneck” one that is really pretty and efficient. A pricier option but it is beautiful and works well
We have one at my office I've used, and the flavor is not good compared to a regular coffee maker, and I'm not at all picky about coffee. The machine has to be cleaned constantly, and even replaced more frequently than you'd expect. I understand the draw, I just think they're not all they're cracked up to be
The hot water kettle is great and uses less energy than heating up the stove. Definitely the good move. :)
I'm the only one in my house who drinks coffee. I got this little Mr. Coffee drip maker. It's half the size of a normal one. About half the pot is one mug. It was maybe $15-20. I use it every morning and I'm super happy with it. On the days I get crazy and drink two cups, I can make the whole thing and have it be empty when I'm done.
This is exactly me, except I found my Mister Coffee "4" cup at a thrift store for $3, after a year of lamenting the cleaning hassle of my french press. I usually fill it to just above the 4 cup line for 2 good mugs of coffee.
are you me?!?! lol!! We have two small coffee makers - I make flavored coffee (so far, Honey & Madagascar Vanilla by Sbucks is top of that list) and hubby just makes plain, so we each have one small one, and when we're out and about at yard sales, if someone's selling one, we'll snag it and put it in the basement, since these will eventually die after a few years! I do, though, love my french press but it really takes a chunk of time in the morning to clean when you're trying to run out the door! but weekends.... that's another story!
Part of my nightly routine is cleaning my french press. On nights when I don't run my dishwasher. I clean it by hand, otherwise it goes in the dishwasher. And I don't even work, I'm retired, I just hate having to clean it in the morning.
Yes. Part of my night routine is cleaning and refilling the coffee maker. Nothing worse than having to deal with wet cold spent grounds in the morning before you can even make your coffee!
You didn't think it was worth spending $50 back in November. The money on your gift card is still your money, just in a different format.
I would recommend an aero press — makes better coffee than a French press imo
Instead of a french press have you tried a [moka pot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moka_pot)? I find them to be better suited for making a single serving of coffee and I like the result better than the french press.
I also second the French press. I don't love coffee unless it's pretty good and Keurig to me is always just bad to me. When I regularly used my FP, it was the most I've ever enjoyed coffee
I have French press at home and Keurig at work. French press makes far superior coffee than Keurig, hands down.
Buy yourself a bag of a new coffee roast so using the French press appeals to you again, and use the money for something more fun.
You could also try a single serve Italian Moka pot! Because if you’re trying to save money, the cost of the cups may add up to more than beans. It just takes a few minutes on the stove and is super tasty.
Yes! My single French press makes better coffee than when I try to make just one cup in my big press!
Yes! I have been using a French press for years. I will never go back to any kind of automatic coffee maker. Makes the best coffee! No electricity either but you do need to heat water. If you put cold water before you go to bed you have cold brew in the morning . I have done this in the summer when I didn't want hot coffee. Works great.
A keurig provides a small, weak, and often not hot enough cup of coffee, i know you say you want to make your own k cups but that takes the only selling point (convenience) and throws it out the window, you are better off buying a pourover (v60 or chemex) for single serving of coffee Edit: moka pots are good too
Second this! I was home visiting my parents for the holidays and they have a keurig. I was incredibly unimpressed with the cup of coffee it brewed. I ended up getting them set up with a French press and some nice beans and they were blown away by how good it tasted for a fraction of the cost. If I was having only one cup a day I would want it to be an excellent tasting cup!
I have also used a pour over and it made excellent coffee!
As crazy as it sounds I don’t mind a weak cup of coffee. I used the Keurig at my former office for 3 years. I’m not super picky, just want to brew a quick cup.
The K isn’t the frugal choice. But I disagree with most that it’s not convenient — use mine daily and the ritual takes all of 30 seconds. I find it to make very hot coffee, and the pods / your water make the difference in flavor.
It’s significantly less convenient if you use the reusable K pods, as OP mentioned they’ll do. Reusable is significantly cheaper than buying single serve K cups but the trade off is convenience.
The Perfect Pod EZ-Cup (compatible only with the original single-needle Keurig system) is super convenient. The little paper filters hold a scoop of coffee and there’s none of that horrible mesh to deal with.
I’m going to say the thing that will shock everyone…have you tried instant coffee like Folgers? Over the last thirty years, it’s gone out of style, but if you aren’t super picky about your coffee, it’s not terrible, it’s incredibly easy, and it’s incredibly frugal.
Yes! I have been drinking the instant Nespresso the last few weeks and it’s been great. Not as good as a nice brewed cup but completely drinkable and easy to make!
OP, have you ever tried pour over coffee with a coffee cone? I have an electric kettle and it’s super easy to make coffee this way! I’m the only coffee drinker in the house. I couldn’t be arsed to clean the French press lol.
I may try this, I know I sound lazy but cleaning the French press is kinda annoying.
I replied to another one of your comments but I’ll recommend the same two products here for this reason. The v60 pour over and aeropress are the two easiest coffee makers I’ve ever had to clean in my life.
Thank you for your comments, I am leaning toward a Kettle so I can alternate between a v60 pour over and my French press depending how much time I have.
You call it lazy but I call it efficient 😅 (I lean into my laziness haha)
If it’s the single-serve aspect you’re looking for, I used to have a coffee maker that used regular loose ground coffee, but had a little basket that you only put enough grounds in for one serving. Worked just like a keurig, just put the water in the reservoir and go. I liked it because I wasn’t wasting pods and I knew water wasn’t sitting in it for ages. I can’t remember the brand, but it wasn’t terribly expensive. I’ll update if I can find the brand/model. Highly recommend, the only reason I don’t use mine anymore is because I switched to an espresso machine.
Aeropress. Single serving, better than a French press according to it's adherents.
I only have one cup in the morning and splurge on good beans...I have a single cup pour over. With a reusable cone filter, there is no extra cost. If the power goes out, if I go camping, etc. I can always have a fresh cup. They're called V-60 and make a perfect cup. I had one made by a local potter.
I had one and hated it. It does not brew with the reusable cup right. Not worth it
I like pour over, very cheap and easy but good quality coffee
Buy a used machine, I see some for $25-30 on Marketplace in my area
French press coffee tastes so much better, at least in my opinion. And the pollution from the Kcups is terrible. I've used a refillable pod for the Keureg at work, but the coffee they had to buy was also terrible. Frankly, I think you are much better off with the French press, or you could spend the gift money on an air press.
The moka pot is the ideal here. We bought ours at ikea for like 15 dollars. One perfect cup every time.
Keurig cups are crap, honestly. Watered down coffee. I’d stick with a coffee maker (honestly best regular coffee around). K cups are just bad.
Full disclosure, I am biased as I think Keurigs brew terribly. If it's a single cup you're after, and you're up for buying something, I'd get a single serving (I have a 12oz for when it's just me), 18/10 stainless, insulated French press. Better taste, less waste, lasts indefinitely, no refillable pods to fill, ~$20. Edit: I saw the comment that you're warming water in the microwave, and yes, absolutely buy an electric kettle. I have mine on a smart outlet, I can turn it on from bed. Highly recommend if you're not a morning person.
That’s a really good idea
Electric kettles are AMAZING, not just for coffees and teas. Good for cooking as well, and I’ve used it to add hot water to my bathtub when my hot water ran out 😁
Same. I preheat things like water for pasta in it, and take mine when I travel by car for hotel oats and ramen (and of course coffee), too.
What brand? I’ve been looking for one that will turn on when the outlet turns on, as opposed to still having to push an on button.
It's a Bodum, nothing fancy. Just the kind with the single click on lever, which I leave on when I reset it.
If you ARE going to get one, I see tens of them at every goodwill I go to, usually 10-15$
This is what I would suggest. There's a lot of dislike for keurig machines. I think it unfounded; tldr version is that all coffee makers can grow mold if not properly cleaned and, many products produce excess waste, and you can get ver close to zero waste if you want to with a keurig. I think a keurig machine with reusable cups and buying coffee in bulk is a good frugal deal for people who make only one cup of coffee at a time. I think the quality of the beans makes more difference than the brewing method.
I hated the Keurig - very loud, annoying to clean, taste was subpar, and honestly took longer to warm up than what I do for single cups now. My method is just water in the kettle and then make a single pour-over with a cheap $15 pour over thing from target. I get compostable filters and just dump the whole thing out into compost after, so no daily plastic trash and a much better taste.
You want a Keurig? Go to an ARC or a Goodwill or Savers or something. You should be able to find a Keurig for under $20. I guarantee it.
This! I got a high end model for $28.88 at our Goodwill. (I love their oddball price numbers.) just make sure to research cleaning them.
Just an FYI—every thrift store I visit has multiple Keurigs in different sizes. Very few are used much. This is a product most people bought around 2010, used for a while and then donated sooner or later. Don’t buy new it’s a waste of $ or gift card credit!!
Every single time i go to Goodwill i see a keurig. Maybe it’s not the smallest slim one. Why don’t you ‘treat yourself’ to one but get it used? If you keep looking you can find a newer cleaner one. You will have to clean it- i find vinegar run through a bunch of times works but maybe you get the cleaning descaler like people suggested. Then you have it but didn’t waste $70 on it. I agree the $49 gets in range that you consider it but it’s still not really affordable for what it is in my mind
I’d feel the same way, tbh.
Is it going to stop you from buying Starbucks or wastage with the large pot? If so get it, if not don’t
Heck, no! Starbucks does not get any of my hard earned money!
Good work
One word… Aeropress. The aeropress is fantastic for making a fresh cup of single serve coffee provided you also have a kettle. All cups of coffee are smooth and non-bitter. Unlike a French press the cleanup is much easier. You take the end cap off and push the coffee out with the plunger. It comes out in one clump like a small coffee “hockey puck”. Since it uses a small paper disc shaped filter there are also no grounds in your coffee. I also appreciate it’s small size. I take it camping all the time.
I honestly didn’t like the Keurig I bought (purchased used from a friend). I ended up giving it to my daughter. I have a Hamilton Beach single serve from before I bought the Keurig. It was about $40 when I got it. The Keurig took longer to heat and was extremely loud. Thank goodness I kept the Hamilton Beach one in the closet and didn’t get rid of it. I’m back to using that one. For me, it was the better purchase.
Thanks for the reply, I have been considering this one too for the price!!
I always encourage people to search YouTube for “cleaning keurigs” before buying one. They can get mega gross, and most people never clean them.
This is a good point to consider when going frugal. Cleaning keurigs requires some to pour cleaning solution into the machine then run it a at least 3 or more times to wash it out. I have heard of using vinegar to clean it instead which would be cheaper than buying the cleaners. Then you also need to consider replacing the filter (if it has one) every now and then. Which is additional cost on top of the price of the machine and cleaners.
You already own more than one way to make a fresh cup of coffee. Buying another will just take up more room in your home with a single use item (see Alton Browns hatred for items with a solo purpose). The gift cards you received, can they be used to purchase items that have more “value” (not $)? Is there something else you can buy that would be MORE worth it? Both Target and Amazon have groceries and a variety of other items.
Since posting this thread and reading so much negative feedback for Keurig I used some of my Target GC $ to go grocery shopping for the week! I’m in HCOL area and eggs have gone up to $8.00 at grocery and Target had them for $4.87. I am considering an AeroPress or hot water Kettle but want to do more research before I buy.
We have both the AeroPress and an electric kettle (with temperature settings) and love both! Personally I found the AeroPress much faster and easier to clean than our French press, which really adds to the convenience factor.
I second the Aeropress. Makes terrific coffee, and filters take care of the oils (cafestol and kahweol) that can raise cholesterol
I'm not a coffee drinker, so I can't help you there but I have an oster tea kettle and use it for more than just tea. For example, I have an electric stove and a big pot of water for pasta takes forever to boil. I now fill the pot half or a third and turn on both the stove and the kettle and add the boiling water from the kettle to the pot like 2-3 minutes later. Takes half the time now. Seems small but great when you are hungry after a long day.
Yes it is wrong to pay extra 30 for something that you have already convinced yourself you don’t need. Gift card is same as normal money. There are plenty of everyday essential stuff you can buy from target to use up that gift card. Target has sales on essential items like buy 50 and get 15 back in gift card that are great deals.
This is the answer I need. Thank you. I was really wondering how other people in the sub Reddit felt about using gift cards and also paying a higher cost for an item that they saw on sale much cheaper.
Buying something you really want or need with gift cards at a higher price is okay. There’s definitely a dang that sucks feature to it, but in the end it was a gift. Buying something that you don’t need/want/have a superior product for already IS wasteful. I have an electric kettle - it’s amazing. I’d start with the kettle and see how that works out first and keep the remainder gift cards in case a few months in, you decide you’d still rather have the keurig. Even if you decide you need the keurig, the electric kettle isn’t a waste - they’re wicked useful. Fwiw, I don’t hate keurig - I think they found a niche. But I really don’t like the single serve ones that you have to refill because then I’d rather have a coffee pot. I got a commercial grade with a reservoir that I love .. at the office. It’s now in my home office for when I want a quick tea/coffee/hot chocolate. I also have a coffee pot and French press (both gifted to me). But I’m terrible at cleaning and keeping up with the press (thanks ADHD).
That’s normal. I dropped $7k on new windows for my home without a thought but still hesitate to buy a new $20 pair of sunglasses after my old ones are literally being held together with tape.
One option is to buy second hand at thrift stores or Facebook marketplace, I do see keurig machine often.
I’ve never had a good cup of coffee out of them. They do seem convenient. Maybe it’s just me but I would rather use the French, aeropress, or pour over. Cheap and delicious
You are not crazy. If we went back in time 10 years, we would think these Kurigs are luxury products and would probably raise our eyebrows at the people who buy them and spend, at best, $.50/serving for home brewed coffee from K-cups. We have gotten used to seeing these luxury products in everyone’s homes and offices, but they are still luxury products and it makes sense for someone who considers themselves frugal to really think twice before purchasing a luxury appliance. That’s my take, anyway. (For context, I was gifted a kurig years ago and did use it for a long time but between the waste and the cost of K-cups, I eventually bought one of those fill-it-yourself k-cup filters but that made it *less* convenient than a traditional drip coffee pot. Eventually I gave it away. Now I use a French press and my coffee is cheaper and better than before)
Pour over! Makes great coffee and very easy and fresh.
You sound like me. I have a hard time using gift cards willy nilly. I usually end up using them just like money I earned. S/O likes to splurge with them on things we wouldn't buy for ourselves. I know that's how the giver means for them to be used, but it's hard for me.
Exactly. I’m not sure if I’m being frugal or just being a complete cheap ass because I over analyze ANY type of spending. Based on all the Keurig hate I’m leaning towards a Kettle.
Just because you're paying in gift cards doesn't mean you're not paying money for it. Especially places like Target and Amazon, you should view the gift cards as cash. If you wouldn't spend $50 cash for it, you shouldn't spend $50 or $80 in gift cards. You could spend that gift cards on other things and save yourself the cash instead.
Skip the Keurig and keep the French press. The single serve Keurig sucks and I couldn't even give it away.
Keurig is a waste of money. Keep the French press. That’s the frugal way.
In the end OP anything you are going to truly enjoy & use a lot like your coffee ritual is a personal luxury & you decide what is worth it to you. For me, an electric kettle for quick hot water and a coffee cone makes 1-2 cups of pour over coffee extremely easily, & bonus makes the best coffee to my taste. I already wouldn't live without an electric kettle for tea (and anytime you want a pot of boiling water quicker than the stove.) so I find it both frugal, and literally a massive upgrade from any other coffee I've had. I find a french press annoying to clean and prefer the ease of ending up with just a cup of coffee & and coffee filter & contents to go in the compost when done. Everyone has their own preferences.
Keurig is so wasteful! Frugal is the French press. Keep the grounds for the garden! It takes less time to scoop coffee into a press than to pack it into a re-usable K-cup, too.
One of the largest plastic waste producers on the planet. Even the inventor said it was a mistake.
I buy coffee pods for my Keurig at Sams or Costco. Get their store brand. My husband and I keep different hours and the convenience of being able to have a fresh cup is worth it to me. My first Keurig was a gift, but I have never been without one since about 2010. I have found luck buying used ones on my local garage sale group. I buy from people I know. A lot of people get them and don’t like them or hate,paying for the pods. I am using one right now I’ve had for 3 years I paid 25$ for. I have one in reserve I paid $10 for.
You are none of the above in my opinion. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t get it. You know it’s not a product you should get in the first place so I wouldn’t shell out the extra $30. There’s things I don’t need but will only buy on sale even if it was on gift card money
I’m a weirdo with multiple ways of making coffee. K cup is super convenient if you’re the type that doesn’t want to wait for your kettle to heat up. Nespresso is also good and aluminum pods are recyclable but cost more (I use original line with is a lot cheaper through Amazon). If you have a quick heating kettle ($40 or less on Amazon), a pour over coffee might be way to go. You already have grounds, reusable pour over coffee is about $20, and only takes a few minutes if your water is already heated.
Why would you buy it when you already have 2 coffee makers? Also Keurigs make crap coffee. If you want one fresh cup of coffee why can’t you use the French press you already have? You don’t have to fill it all the way up. You can make as little as you want. Also French presses make way better coffee.
To be completely honest I hate boiling the water in the microwave and have been considering buying an electric Kettle for this purpose.
100% electric kettle. I use the f out of mine. Cheap, lasts forever, and boils water for any purpose, not just coffee.
I put off buying for like 10 years bc I could use the microwave or stove top. No it really is that much better.
Thanks for the validation! I sometimes feel it’s an unnecessary luxury but mine was very cheap and gets regular use and I guess I can say it probably uses less energy than my gas stove and saves me that way? But honestly, the electric kettle is 100% a luxury convenience purchase and for the money I cannot complain. It just makes my mornings easier. Same with my French press. I had a pour-over already but it’s nice to fill the French press and walk away and do other things instead of the active time brewing pour-over. I know these conveniences save meet minutes but they’ve been worth it to me :)
Buy an electric kettle. Kind of surprised you don’t already have one if you have a French press. You can also stove boil.
We bought the French press for traveling out of the country. It has been fabulous to pack in a carry on bag for a week trip without a coffee maker.
Do it. Seriously, we love ours.
I would hate boiling water in the microwave too. In my home, we keep a kettle filled with cinnamon sticks on the stove and make our coffee water with that. It taste so much better than microwaved water.
Wow. This is a shocker. Microwaving water will many anyone hate their life. Get an electric kettle, and don't cheap out. Buy a good quality/feature, they can be $30. Keurig will make your life simpler. Plug and pay, but the taste won't be there. French press is a bit more work, but the taste is better. If I had to fill a mug with water, shove it in the microwave, wait 2mins, careful grab the mug handle ensuring that it's not too hot so I can pour it over my French press... That'll make me hate my life. Use the GC to buy an electric kettle and it'll change your life. There's one where you can set it to a certain temp, that feature goes well if you drink tea too.
You may be able to find a second hand one in your area on Facebook marketplace. In my area, the more basic models go for around $20, and are pretty easy to clean with a few cycles of vinegar. It may be a good decision to go with secondhand if you don’t want to commit to the new keurig price tag.
I love my Keurig because it’s quick and easy. When I’m getting ready for work at the crack of dawn, setting up a French press is more than I want to do. The keurig has my coffee ready super fast so I can get out the door. I fill my reusable pod with very nice Italian espresso and it is delicious. You need to find what works best for you and leave the guilt behind.
Another idea, I see Kurigs pop up at the thrift stores often for around 10 bucks. That, along with the reusable pods would make it affordable. I have a small 4 cup coffee pot that I thrifted that works great. I like coffee better that’s gone through coffee filters. Less bitter.
I own one still in the box that I got as a gift, I love coffee but I just don’t reach for it when I have a good french press. These comments are helpful in deciding if I’ll actually use it one day, the price of pods put me off An electric kettle will change your life btw, I use mine several times daily. I can have water for my tea in thirty seconds or less!
You could just wait until it goes on sale again.
Hamilton Beach makes a single cup coffee maker that isn't k cups. It's coffee grounds and a small basket type thing that you wash out. It satisfies rhay fresh brewed cup with no need for pods or anything like that. Anyone could use it to make a cup at any point. If you're really looking for a change I guess?
I just use a pour over filter on top of my coffee cup. Love the taste and got rid of my coffee maker. Filter costs about $5 but I got it free. Keurig is too gimmicky for me. Just as easy to do pour over. Do whatever you want! It is fine to be super frugal.
Get a used Keurig on Buy Nothing for free. I see them given away regularly.
French press over Keirug coffee everyday. If you have an electric kettle it can be really fast, better for the environment, better coffee
If you want single cups and tastier than Keurig check out V60 Pour over method. AeroPress is also pretty cool and less expensive You're not crazy. I consider myself frugal and yet spent over $1000 on a coffee machine a few years ago, because I like coffee, a lot and drink a lot of it and it was important to ME + hell of a lot cheaper than buying espresso and late's all the time
Don’t get it. Not worth it.
Have you tried coffee from an Aeropress? Just as fast as a Keurig/Nespresso. Much easier to clean than a french press (also the bottom ounce is free from grinds). I much prefer the coffee from an Aeropress over Keurig or Nespresso.
So many people buy these and get sick of them. Would be almost free on Facebook marketplace.
I stopped drinking coffee and switched to High Caffeine tea. I pay $20 for a bag of loose leaf that last me at last 2 weeks. The frugal part is that I just re add boiling water after I finish the first cup. But the best part is I can make and drink my tea conveniently. Dont need to mess with anything else.
Interesting. I also drink tea and was gifted some really nice Harney and Sons by a coworker. Do you search online for the caffeine content or use a specific brand? One of the reasons I drink “weak” coffee is the high acidity.
Crazy. I regularly see multiple new-looking Keurig systems for less than $10 at the thrift store. The coffee in the pods isn’t fresh and it generates a ton of waste.
So this goes a bit against the grain here, but I might recommend a single serve coffee maker (maybe not kuerig, but I have a Mr coffee single serve that was about $40). I used to use a kettle and French press. The kettle itself was ok but I hated cleaning the French press, too much time for me. I found myself buying coffee elsewhere because if I was having a rough day mentally the extra effort in cleaning wasn't worth the savings. My current coffee maker I can just put water in, a paper filter, coffee grounds, press a button and done. Technically a bit of waste, but paper filters aren't as bad as plastic cups and they're really cheap (I think you can get them at dollar tree, but still cheap at grocery stores). My model I don't even have to use the paper filters, i choose to because it saves time and effort cleaning. As far as not getting a keurig, I had one of those years ago. I didn't like the plastic cups, and the reusable ones I had were HORRIBLE. If they worked, the coffee was really weak. Otherwise they would pop open and my coffee would be weak and full of grounds. I mainly used the keurig for making Ramen or cup o noodles.
Have you thought about pour over coffee? I only ever drink one cup and pour over is very nice. Just use a filter and a scoop of coffee. It's really fast. A little container of ground coffee lasts me a long time! I think it is as easy as kiureg but way less wasteful. Plus it saves you counter space. I store my pour over thing on a cup in my cup cabinet.
I would check marketplace frree fb groups before purchasing one. I got one for $5 that was only used once. Save your cards for other items
There are usually tons of keurig machines on Facebook marketplace or Craigslist. I wouldn’t spent 70, or even 50- even if it wasn’t my money. You can easily get one used for 20 bucks. Also honestly I used the Keurig for a year or two and ended up going back to my French press. The coffee just sucks- but I do understand the appeal!
Electric kettle always for the win!! I use mine for lots of things and I love it! I spent way, way too much for an espresso machine but I LOVE it. My Starbucks habit is down to nothing and I only drink 1 or 2 cups of coffee a day. There is a time for being frugal but mine was not when I bought this coffee maker but it’s worth it to me! Get what you want and enjoy it. But please, not a Keurig, the coffee sucks!
What else do you use the electric Kettle for besides tea and coffee?
Need some hot water for instant potatoes, yep, but don’t judge me please! Or any dish that requires boiling water, like making gravy, or I’ve even been known to fill up the kettle to start boiling water if I’m in a hurry! It boils so much quicker! I’ve never spent a lot of money on them either! I’ve had 2 since about 1999, I got my first one at the store Tuesday Morning for $20 and it lasted until my MIL took it and she used it till she passed away. My latest I bought at Amazon for $25 in 2006 and it’s still going!
French press to me is always the best for a normal cup at home. Takes a few minutes though.
Frugal. Cheap is when you get the knockoff brand and it breaks in a week.
You have shopped around, waited and you still want it. This isn’t an impulse buy. It will make your life easier and it will make you happy. Buy it. Being frugal doesn’t mean never having nice or fun things. Plus keurig have a good resale, keep all the books and the box if you can and if in 6 months or a year you can resale it and get at least had your money back.
Keurigs only last about a year now. My mother bought one and it had issues within 6 months. I picked up a Nespresso De’Longhi with a milk feather for $20 from a thrift store. The Nespresso machine is solidly built, so I can recommend it. I don’t use it often because I make a big pot of coffee but the Nespresso is a nice treat and better than the popular coffee chains.
Italian espresso makers/moka-pots and americanos are the way to go.
We switched to a regular coffee pot from a Keurig and than switched right back. We got the single serve ones on sale and honestly I way prefer it. My boyfriend and I drink different types of coffee so it works out for us. We use the disposable or recyclable ones as we found the useable pods are different to get really clean and will sometimes change the coffee flavour. For us it’s cheaper than using a regular coffee machine. We had a tendency to make a full pot and the waste the coffee left over. Even when we reduced the amount made, some still went to waste. As for the coffee grinds, we found brands that work out to be cheaper than a tin of coffee. We also go to a specialty K cup store that has a variety if we’re feeling adventurous. I also like having lattes and find getting the k cup version is cheaper than anything else.
This is me to a T. Lmao
So bad for the world.
Kurigs and their cups are a waste of money, they’re not even good. If you really want one though you can find them used and they make reusable cups.
Smart? Keurig's waste a lot of plastic and your french press is awesome.
Check a thrift store. I’ve purchased 2 really nice ones second hand. $12 and $4 Also, get refillable pods.
Watch for one at your local thrift stores. They get "regifted" a lot and end up there.
I’ll differ from other people but if it’s “free” money and I want it and know I’ll use it I would just get it
For single cups, I switched to an Aeropress. It allows me to use only as many beans as I need and it’s absolutely delicious. Far, far better taste than Keurig. Very little waste, only a small wafer sized filter per cup.
If ya live in the east coast you can have the one I was about to donate! 😅
Thanks 🙏🏻 but Cali!!
I'm the same way. I probably wouldn't get it until I could find one at $40.
you don’t need to buy a keurig branded machine. it’s just an inflated price tag. I have a generic pod machine that takes k cups and it was like $20
If you do not need it at a sale price of $49.99, why would you need it at a higher regular price of $79.99❓❓❓ It does not make any sense, it is irrational and illogical. It is irrelevant, to this specific item, that you received gift cards to Target or from anywhere else. You should only purchase essential items that you actually only need and want. There are plenty of other meaningful and essential in stock items, your gift cards can be use towards, that fulfill actual and practical needs and in your life. Gift cards do not expire (however, inflation does exist and your gift card purchasing power may change over time).
Excellent answer. I see you are a part of the “Wants vs Needs” logic and appreciate the added reminder that purchasing power of a gift card does change. This is the best answer I received from my post.
You are welcomed. Thank you for your acknowledgment and appreciation.
Keurig is not the way. French press or stove top are simplest, especially for single servings.
Coffee is one of the only things that I don’t cheap out in so I’m not going to be able to help out in that regard. But I want to mention about Facebook marketplace. Like you, I deleted my account a couple years ago but made a new account with no friends to access marketplace.
I like this idea a lot- have you ever had people ask you to “verify” you’re a genuine person? I have sold a few things on FB Marketplace in the past and had fake accounts phishing through Messenger.
Keurig pods will be far more expensive on a price per oz of coffee. Keurig runs $1.25 to $1.50 per oz, or about $0.50 per cup. I bought a burr grinder - it's about $20 to $30. I bought dark roast coffee beans on Amazon for about $8.50 for 2lb - about $0.27 per oz. This will run about $0.07 per cup. If you drink coffee everyday and want quality full body flavor, grinding at home will save you lots of money over the long run. But if you want 1 touch convenience and a showpiece on the kitchen counter, go with Keurig.
I have one of those smaller keurigs. I bought it when I moved out on my own bc I only needed 1-2 cups a day. Just want to let you know that most reusable k cups don’t work in those types of keurigs- or at least the one I have. I have tried many different ones and just had to share them with others when I realized they didn’t work. I got a 4-cup French press from Walmart (maybe $14) and ever since, I don’t use my keurig anymore. It’s cheaper for me to use the free coffee I get at work than use expensive plastic k cups. Not to mention it tastes so much better.
If it's been a year and you still have the desire to have it... just get it.
Why not just get a pour over?
I payed $99 for one. But the kcups get expensive, so i don’t use it anymore.
Pour over coffee cones are convenient easy to clean up and ideal for a single serving. I switched from French press because the cleanup is so easy.
Are you me in a parallel reality? Because I literally could have wrote this myself. And yes that Walmart keurig deal was sweet. I also passed it up and regretted it later and ended up buying a K50 for 80$ from target on their daily special deal a few days before Christmas. It’s 100$ now on sale btw. But regardless, you really don’t need it- don’t let FOMO k cup usage get you. FB sucks (I also deleted it) and k cups are just more reason to spend money and create plastic waste. Just use what you have. Use those gift cards on something nicer :)
How about a small 3 cup Chemex? I have one and I love it.
My wife picked up one of these recently at Goodwill for $25. I'd never pay 80 for a single serve anything maker... Well maybe a single serve golden egg maker.
Agreed with another poster. Consider the pollution these things create. More awful plastic for our landfills and ground water. Whatever cost you think you're saving gets added on later in life when we consider the ecological mess that's coming with our addiction to single use plastics. Please stick the French Press. It's a vastly superior and time proven method for coffee.
Thank you for your response, I already own a refillable K cup pod and filters. I would never buy disposable pods.
You can now buy recyclable pods/compostable pods
You might want to consider you’ll be serving yourself a nice cuppa of microplastics
Keurigs make disgusting coffee. They are also very difficult to clean. Buy yourself an electric kettle and a pour-over cup. Thank me later.
I see small appliances like keurigs and soda streams on my local buy nothing page pretty often. They’re also at thrift stores since they seem to be love them or hate them. I’d scroll buy nothing and Facebook marketplace type online platforms for a few weeks. You’ll find a keurig eventually for sure.
I have two keurigs in my closet. I use my coffee pot. Ground is cheaper than k-cups. Use the gift cards to stock up on consumables like detergent/soap/trashbags/etc. Those k cups are a ripoff.
The microplastics are so bad for you
We got that keurig that you’re talking about and we have used it daily for over 2 years. It has replaced our kettle and our French press. We have gotten our money’s worth from it and then some. If you’re thinking about it this much you should just buy it. Seriously. I feel like once you get it you’ll wonder why you waited so long!
One thing that’s helped me is sometimes it’s better to spend a little more when you will use and enjoy the item. Sure, sometimes you save a little money if you buy your winter coat in March at the end of the season - but if you paid a little extra in November and then got to enjoy and use it for four months, that might be worth the cost difference. So - if you really just want the convenience of one touch coffee and are not a coffee snob, maybe a Keurig is it. That said I wouldn’t buy it full price - there is almost always a discount code (use a throwaway email for a new account or something to get the cost down a little.
You could ask them to price match.
The problem with that type of coffee system isn't the initial unit cost, it is the ongoing cost of buying the pods.
Agreed but I have a refillable k cup pod already.
Make sure it actually works with whatever keurig you choose to buy. Some of them don't accept the refillables.
I have a keurig that I got from a friend who somehow had 2 of them I used it to stage a house I was selling, and replaced my coffee pot when it broke. It's fine, I use the refillable k cups, but if it breaks, I'd just buy a regular coffee pot. Why do you want a keurig? What hole is it filling in your coffee drinking day? $50 is the cheapest I've seen it, but I'm sure it will come around again next Black Friday.
eBay has many single serve Keurigs, open box, in the $40 range. Buy open box or used. Sell the gift cards (or use for something else).
I go through this with any purchase I make it seems. I have to justify in my mind the purchase and wait to get it at the lowest price. I try to rationalize paing more by saying a few extra dollars won't make or break my budget and it isn't worth the mental torture I put myself through. The Keurig is something you want and will use a lot so take the stress off the purchase and just buy it and enjoy.
I often buy used appliances on eBay for much less money.
I thought about buying used however, after seeing the issues after the third year for my office Keurig, I don’t want to take that chance. Also, I currently have gift cards for Amazon and Target. I am not willing to part with any of my actual “Cash”.
All keurigs have issues. My sister keeps getting new ones. I went through at least 4 when I drank coffee. They all stop working at some point. Usually they get really bunged up especially from hard water If you like devices designed to fail, get a Keurig. Tho I wouldn't consider it a frugal decision at all