More Keurig Feedback

Dan Winkler writes in with some very interesting feedback on owning a Keurig.

"I own a Keurig and use it every day. I like the green tea and peppermint herbal tea.

They offer several kinds of green tea and my favorite is the Celestial Seasonings. Compared to a green tea bag, it is remakably lacking of any bitter taste. Could this be a result of no oxidation? The k-cups are packed in nitrogen, which is air without oxygen, so no oxidation occurs.

I also make a lot of Green Mountain decaf coffee.

I love the convenience of a quick cuppa from this thing. My major complaint is that I wish it could make stronger coffee.

The other downsides are:

1. It's a lot more expensive than the pod machines.

2. It stays on all the time and so draws power periodically. This is how it's ready to brew at a moment's notice.

3. It makes an annoying boiling sound for a few seconds every couple of minutes. I wish they had insulated the water tank better so it wouldn't have to heat so often. I also wish they would heat to a temperature less than boiling so it wouldn't make noise. It makes the lights flicker in my house (the ones on a dimmer anyway) when it heats.

4. The k-cups are quite expensive. 50 cents each for a small cup of coffee or tea. I often use two k-cups to fill a large mug.

So, considering the price of the machine and the k-cups, I wish it were a little better than it is. However, it is good enough for me to keep it and use it. Maybe I'll add a pod machine too for those times when I want a really strong cuppa which Keurig cannot do.

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Posted by Jay Brewer at June 21, 2004 2:34 PM

I saw a coin operated Keurig machine today. It was set up to let the public make their own single serving cups of coffee. It was at the Star Market in Medway, MA but I'm sure they exist at other locations. For $0.75 you can see for yourself what a cup of Keurig coffee is like. To amend my previous comments, I was discussing the strenght of Keurig coffee with a friend of mine who also owns one. She said she thought it was quite strong, so strong that she couldn't drink it without sugar. I had to agree that I always use sweetener myself. So by that measure it is pretty strong. Another occasional problem I've noticed with Keurig is that once in a while you get a K-cup which does not have the foil lid properly sealed. When that happens, the contents of the K-cup leaks out during brewing and makes a little mess inside the machine. It's only happened to me twice so far. Once the defect was visible and once it wasn't. Now that I know, I'm not using any K-cup that is visibly defective. Here's an experiment I'd like to try: what if I were to take a coffee pod, the kind meant for the other single serve machines, and stuff it into the space where the K-cup goes? Wouldn't the Keurig still force hot water through it and make a successful cuppa? Seems like it's worth a try.
Posted by: Dan Winkler at June 26, 2004 7:51 AM

I own a Keurig B50, which is my third machine due to K-cup or machine failure. The company has been good to replace it and has provided replacement coffee. Even with this third machine, I have had some failures. The machine at the end of the cycle blows the grounds into the cup and makes a mess in the machine. I have examined the inside of the k-cup and the filter has failed. I have noticed that on the some of the K-cups that have failed, the pressure is is not as high on the foil lid. Has anyone else had any problems? Good coffee, but very frustrating considering the cost.
Posted by: Greg at September 3, 2005 5:17 PM

Had a b100 since the beginning, sold it Dec 2007 and replaced it with a the new B70. The B70 was defective, so keurig replaced it with a new one and added a few boxes of free coffee. (Truly great customer service). Worked great for 4 months. However, I came home this evening and found water on my counter. I attempted to brew a cup and the B70 started pumping all of it's water out onto my counter from the bottom of the Machine! I contact Keurig and I'm currently waiting for a return call on Monday. There seems to be a reliability problem, I'm kind of worried about this. If they replace it, this will be my third B70 in 4 months.
Posted by: Chris at April 28, 2007 10:37 PM

Count me in on LOVIN' this machine - WHEN it works! I'm so "high" on these that I've bought 3-4 of 'em as gifts for my friends, in addition to one at home and one for my wife at work. Well, my home machine took a dump 6 months ago (B50), after acting up for several sessions. I was always able to "manhandle" it and get it to give up a cup o' Joe eventually; I'm not to be trifled with before my morning coffee! One day - nada; despite my most insistent "tune-ups", so down the outside hardscape steps it went! BTW, they're not very "impact-resistant"...Home came machine #2, in true "Indian-giver" fashion. Now THAT one refuses to give it up to me, even AFTER taking it outside and showing it the remains of its broken-backed breathern. Meanwhile, I've got a pantry FULL of K-Cups, taunting me every day...Guess I'll ring up Keurig and get another one, but I'll sure never order more K-Cups "in quantity"...
Posted by: Ganzman at August 23, 2007 1:57 PM

I experienced the same "Not Ready" failure mode that locks up the Keurig coffee maker after randomly brewing a cup and emptying the internal reservoir. I thought it was a one time issue with the first unit we purchased from COSTCO (Model B66 with extra K-cups bundled), but after quickly going through 3 units (COSTCO processed the returns without issue) and talking to the Keurig Factory Service Department multiple times to ensure we weren't doing something to cause the failure, we became convinced that there was a fundamental manufacturing flaw across all the models that has not been corrected during the past three years judging by the posts on this blog. Our failures came pretty quickly after only 10 cups with the first unit, 5 on the second, and 1 on the third. The Keurig Service Department said we should not plug any other appliances into the same outlet, which we followed precisely on the third unit... it made no difference. Very disappointing to say the least. I also agree, Keurig has a great idea... but poor execution by not being able to quickly fix this obvious flaw.
Posted by: Tom Smith at December 6, 2008 10:04 AM

Have a broken expensive B50 here. Bought a year and 10 months ago. Not used often---talking on average maybe a couple of times a week. Unit was unplugged to clear the counter space for a night. When plugged back in, it tripped the GFi in our kitchen. I tried resetting a few times, and it kept tripping it (even after unpluggin all other items in the kitchen). Tried plugging it into our bathroom- same thing. Called Keurig and after lots of time on the phone, they transferred me to a 'Tech' who basically told me you are out of warranty and we can offer you a discount on a new machine (which isn't any savings compared to discounts online). This model obviously has issues and I am very upset that they won't admit that and offer a replacement. Talk about losing customers.
Posted by: Erin Helfman at November 6, 2009 6:38 PM

If you think that the coffee is too strong, you can reset the brewer again by lifting the handle and pulling it back down, without removing the used coffee K cup, and select either size of brew, and the machine will make another cup for you from the already used K cup, which you can use to dilute your first cup. It also gives you more cooffee for your money if you like a milder cup of coffee. In any case, the coffee is excellent, and no matter how strong, it is not bitter.
Posted by: Bob Banks at June 20, 2005 9:05 PM

Greg, I am also on my third Keurig B50. I was just sent my third unit ten days ago and it is no longer working. It is completely locked up. I love the concept of the machine, but it certainly is not dependable enough to keep using. I have to contact Keurig next week about getting a refund or different model. I am really getting tired of not knowing whether or not the machine is going to work each day. It is a very frustrating way to start the day.
Posted by: Gordon at October 1, 2005 8:44 AM

I am also having poroblems with my Keurig b-50. At times it workls fine and other times it just locks up.The comapny needs to do something about these defects.
Posted by: Al at December 4, 2005 8:41 AM

I'm on my 2nd B-50 and it too is now failing. Starts out as an intermittent problem with the fill cycle ending prematurely, or the keyboard not responding at all. Sometimes after unplugging for a while it seems to feel better, but this one does not want to come back to life. I'm very disappointed. But, in a way I'm glad to see that other folks are having problems as well. Definitely points to a manufacturing defect.
Posted by: Quin at December 5, 2005 3:20 PM

I love my Keurig B50 -- when it's working, that is. This is our third unit and it, too, has gone south. It seems to self-destruct after about 2-3 weeks of use. The symptoms are always the same: it starts a brew, sputters a tiny bit of coffee into the cup and just stops. It will make a great cup of hot water, but put a K-cup in there and the machine seems to forget what to do with it. Extremely frustrating!!!
Posted by: Donna at January 28, 2006 1:32 AM

I have a Keurig Ultra B50 and have been having all the problems you have described. I wish I had read the reviews before I purchased it. I probably would just have stuck with my drip coffee maker. This is convenient but fighting with it to work makes it more of a hassle. It just works when it feels like it. The company has been nice and is sending a replacement but after reading your reviews of being on a 3rd replacement I do not have much hope!
Posted by: Carol at October 16, 2006 11:01 AM

Have had a keurig b100 and had two machine failures. Keurig has been fair about the replacement, but not the recent refurbished model they sent has failed. Love the idea of the Keurig and I'm happy when it works, but $299 for a B100 that lasts a year is rather steep ! The refurbished replacement lasted 2 months :(
Posted by: denise at January 6, 2007 11:14 AM

I BOUGHT 2- B-50 AND THE BOTH HAVE PROBLEMS. ONLY A LITTLE BIT OF WATER COMES OUT THEN NONE AT ALL. I NOW HAVE THE B-70 AND CALLED TO GET MY B-50 FIXED AND THEY SAID I WAS PASSED MY WARRENTY AND NOT WILLING TO DO A THING. THEY SHOULD REPLACE THEIR BAD MODELS AND STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. DISSATISFIED CUSTOMER.
Posted by: Robert Lonas at January 24, 2007 12:22 AM

I BOUGHT MY B-70 ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. I'M NOW ON MY THIRD MACHINE. THE LAST 2 TIMES IT BROKE I WOKE UP AND THE MACHINE SAID "NOT READY". I DID EVERYTHING I COULD THINK OF TO GET IT TO BREW A CUP BUT NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. I TOOK MY FIRST ONE OUT OF STORAGE AND PLUGGED IT IN AND IT ALSO SAID "NOT READY". REPLACEMENT SERVICE HAS BEEN GREAT, BUT I WISH THEY COULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE BREWING SYSTEM IS GREAT AND EVERYBODY WHO HAS A CUP WANTS TO BUY ONE.
Posted by: abe at March 11, 2007 9:49 AM

I just got my B50 on Monday, March 19, 2007. Today (3/21/07) it brewed coffee on it's own, melting the K-Pod and then the left side of the B50 melted. I smelled the melting plastic and made a dash to the kitchen. Now it doesn't work and I am returning the B50 to Costco for a full refund. I really liked the idea of brewing one cup at a time - saves on wasted coffee - but am concerned about the safety of the B50 with what happened today.
Posted by: Carol at March 21, 2007 1:47 PM

I am experiencing the same reliability problems others are reporting. Got my wife a B70 for Xmas 2007, and now - not even four months later - the unit has apparently failed. It just reads "NOT READY" all the time without explanation, apparent reason solution. Great machine, when it worked; but I would not recommend anyone buy a unit with what appears to be endemic quality control problems.
Posted by: JimG at April 11, 2007 11:54 AM

I've gone thru 3 B60's and now they are sending me a B70....everyone had the "not ready" problem. I asked them today if anyone looks at the machines that are returned and the gal said that heating element failed. I guess that's the case with all of the them. I'll try the B70 and then see if I can get $ back and move on. It's a shame that they can't fix this problem, great concept otherwise. My wife has one at work that auto disposes the kups and that is why we got one, becuase it worked so well.
Posted by: Jeff A at April 30, 2007 6:41 PM

I purchased my B70 about 6 months ago and used it daily with the auto on/shut off program. I waited about 5 months for this model to hit the market and was glad I got it until yesterday morning... the dreaded "Not Ready" message. I just contacted to Keurig and am to expect a service call back tomorrow - I'm keeping my fingers crossed and vow not to leave my desk for fear of missing the call! I'll post the outcome. I too wish Keurig would fix the root of the problem - it's a great concept!
Posted by: Julie at August 8, 2007 7:39 PM

I am also on my third b-40 and it just stopped this morning, the heating light stays on and nothing my sister also is on her third and same thing. So I have to call for yet another one it is very frustrating to pack up and send back to the states I am in Ontario..Should they not improve them..
Posted by: Chris at May 28, 2008 11:33 AM

I bought the B-100 2 years ago. A lofty sum for a coffee maker. This is the commercial model and I continued to purchase K-cups from them. Light turned red inside the water level tube and was told that my heater was burned out. Told them I would pay for a new one. Nope-just wanted to sell me a new machine. Said parts do not exist. I call BS on this. I call it bad business. I am not happy and we have decided to find a new and different coffee machine and a new supplier of coffee. They lose, although they think they won.
Posted by: Jay Alberts at August 13, 2008 5:01 PM

I would advise against using them as office machines. They make wonderful coffee but the reliability isn't good enough, I regret switching to Keurig now, I get e-mails from grumpy employees at least once a week because of those stupid flimsy machines. Maybe good for home but forget them for the office. Or buy multiple (AT LEAST 3) machines so when one fails you have others that still work.
Posted by: Jay at October 15, 2009 7:43 AM

My office has a Commercial Grade B140 (free from Office Depot, if we buy the coffee and supplies from them).It has been in service for almost a year. It is powered on 24 hours/day. It brews more than a dozen cups per day. We have never had a problem with it. But if we do, we know that Office Depot will replace it FREE within 24 hours. I am currently looking for a coin-op version for another business.
Posted by: Howard at October 16, 2009 6:04 PM