K-cups Revisited (Again)

When I was given a Keurig coffee maker I was very happy to accept it. In my first blog post about it I raved: it is convenient, fast, not messy, makes good coffee in about 90 seconds, and allows quick access to a variety of flavors and blends. The Keurig system uses K-cups, prepackaged portions of ground coffee or other mixes.

Then I started cost calculations and determined the using K-cups is an expensive proposition, with cost per cup ranging from $0.60 to as much as $1.00. That seemed too high, so I found other sources for K-cups, lowering the cost a bit.

Then I discovered K-cups do not recycle, and each time I used one I permanently use a bit of the earth's resources. Not that I alone make much difference, except in my own head. But the recycling thing bothered me, so more research started.

I found a stainless steel re-usable filter, with filter holder and cap. I bought one. Then, because I use three different blends of coffee, I bought two more (filters only.) I'm not sure I needed the last two filters, but....

After many attempts I found a grind that works well, even with my worn out burr grinder that seems to mash more than grind. I determined an amount of ground coffee that is neither too strong (my first attempts) or too weak. Now I grind beans sufficient to make 10 to 20 cups of coffee, and keep the ground coffee in three resealable, labeled containers that I keep on the counter.

So now I have it.

Except that it take about two and a half minutes to make a cup of coffee (one minute to fill the filter with ground coffee, tamp it down, wash hands, and load the machine.) Usually another 30 seconds is required to wipe the coffee grounds off the counter, “re-organize” it, and rinse the previous filter.

In essence, the convenience of the Keuring is gone. The variety of coffee blends on hand is greatly reduced. There is some mess to clean up. And almost three minutes is required for a single cup of coffee.

The only advantage I see to the Keuring system is the ability to get a fresh cup of coffee in a fairly short period of time, and the coffee making ritual is restored. Oh, and now the cost per cup is well under $0.20.

Having said all the above, I believe I may return in time to the old fashioned way of making coffee in drip brewer and drink slightly stale coffee most of the time.  (Is that vague enough?)

Am I missing something here?