Starbucks doesn't like Keurig!

Ok... I admit it.... I really like coffee. I drink it when I get up in the morning, when I get to work, after lunch, and then after dinner to relax. For both good and bad, I guess I have become immune to caffeine. It doesn't really wake me up anymore. But because of that, I can feed my habit of drinking more.

I used to spend a lot of money at Starbucks, for a decent cup of coffee in the evening when we were out. I would stop, shell out a couple of bucks and get a full bodied cup of joe to satisfy my evening craving. But like everything else these days, Starbucks is getting expensive, even for a straight cup of black coffee. Oh yes, I need to mention, though I will drink an occasional cup of flavored coffee, my favorite is coffee black and pure, without sugar, cream, or any other flavorings.

I had had a Senseo coffee maker for a while, but it wasn't quite doing it for me. Though the coffee that came from it was decent, I thought something was missing, as compared to what I would get a Starbucks. I had done some research on the Keurig coffee makers but hadn't truly explored them.

I then found they weren't as expensive as I thought. Going to the right store, with the right coupon, I could get a Keurig maker for a reasonable price (more on that later)..... so I did.

I bought the Keurig Platinum System, otherwise known as the B70. All of the Keurig coffee makers use the same principal and all use the same coffee cartridges. It was more a case of what else each particular model could do.

Here are the features of the Platinum B70 model:

* 5 different cup sizes: 4oz, 6oz, 8oz, 10oz and 12oz
* A 60oz removable water reservoir
* Digital clock
* Auto on and off of system
* Iced tea/coffee setting
* Removable drip tray which allows room for tall travel mug
* Adjustable temperature control
* Ability to set and remember your favorite cup size
* Blue lit reservoir and display
* Quiet-brew technology

Physical specs are:

* 120V
* 1,500 Watts
* 12lbs13"H x 10"W x 13.25"D

Simplicity is the concept behind the Keurig system. First you fill the water reservoir. I use water from my Brita system, but tap water works just as well. Put the reservoir into the Keurig system, and turn it on with the switch that is in the back on the bottom right. When you do this, the internal reservoir fills and the water starts to heat. On the display it will let you know when the water is hot and your coffee is ready to be brewed. Raise the handle in the front and drop in the coffee cartridge (known as a K-cup) of your favorite roast or flavor (more on that later too). Select the size beverage you want using the menu on the front of the Keurig and press brew. In less than 90 seconds (depending on the size of your beverage and how much water is being used) you have a beverage ready to drink! Raise the silver bar, remove your cartridge and either pop in another one for someone else, or turn off the Keuring with the same switch you turned it on with in the rear. That's all there is to using a Keuring. It can't get much simpler!

As to the K-cups, as of this writing, there are 141 different coffees available (8 Light Roast, 36 Medium Roast, 18 Dark Roast, 36 Extra Dark Roast and 43 flavored coffees). There are also 41 different tea varieties and 4 different hot chocolates. Some, if not most can be purchased as a single "flavor", and others can be purchased in variety packs. You can buy them almost any way you want. Big named coffee roasters are making K-cups, including Green Mountain, Emeril, Timothy, Tully and Newman's Organic, to mention a few. Bigelow and Celestial Seasonings make some of the tea's available. Keurig has a coffee club with increasing discounts based on how much you buy over time. I was happy buying mine at Bed Bath and Beyond. They have a very nice selection and since they are always sending out coupons it reduces the price even further. K-cups will run you after sales or discounts about $0.45 to $0.50 each. Far cheaper than your local beanery.

With respect to purchasing a Keurig coffee system, be careful where you buy it. On the Keurig website, they say this unit costs $169. If you go to Macy's, as an example, they say it is $229, and they put it on sale occasionally for $169! Again, if you go to Bed Bath and Beyond, you can get it for the $169, minus the 20% coupons they mail out. If you are real lucky you can get it at Kohls if you get one of their 30% off coupons! Buyer beware!

In conclusion, I am very happy with my purchase and Starbucks is not! I find myself at Starbucks maybe once a month as opposed to many times a week! I get to have wide variety of coffees at home whenever I want them, and I don't' need to spend any gas to get them. I highly recommend this unit to anyone that really likes their coffee whenever they want it and not having to travel for it. Fifty cents for a good cup of coffee sure beats two bucks!

Try it... you wont' be unhappy with it.