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Food KEURIG

Discussion in 'Tilted Food' started by DAKA, Aug 22, 2012.

  1. DAKA

    DAKA DOING VERY NICELY, THANK YOU

    I broke down and bought a Keurig coffee maker...I am/was hoping that I could make my hombrew coffee taste like the takeout coffee from DUNKIN DONUTS.
    Nope, I tried the Dunkin pods, and all of the sample pods that come with the machine.
    They are all a bit too bitter for my taste.
    I may just return the machine and go back to the mess of the Cuisinart if I can't make super tasting, less acidic coffee...
    HELP, anyone please, I love coffee in the morning, but it seems to be upsetting my old tummy.
     
  2. the_jazz

    the_jazz Accused old lady puncher

    When people ask me what I think of the Keurig because I have one at work, I reply that "it makes a good cup of instant coffee." Those who are smart enough can read between the lines. Those that are totally indoctrinated into the Cult of the Keurig won't chop my head off.

    There can be only ONE!
    I generally have a low opinion of the things. If you have one of the models that allows you to adjust settings, you might find a happy medium. Otherwise, I think you're stuck experimenting with different pods until you find one your stomach can tolerate.

     
    • Like Like x 1
  3. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    I can't think of something more overrated at the moment.

    But, yes, it sure is convenient...if you don't mind the quality or the waste.

    And about the acid: Have you looked into something like this? Puroast Low Acid Coffee You could even load it up in one of those reusable pods.
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2012
    • Like Like x 1
  4. DAKA

    DAKA DOING VERY NICELY, THANK YOU

    The waste and cost per cup are a problem that I can justify, IF I can get a cup of coffee that I like..
    Otherwise I am driving about 2 miles to Dunkin ( and forcing myself not to buy a doughnut) to get a cup of "pleasurable" coffee.
    Seems that years ago when I was still working a cup of ZABARS freshly ground made in a Mr Coffee in the office was great....
    Baraka-Guru thanks, I just ordered some low acid coffee from Puroroast, and if that works the Keurig will be returned....
    Geezze, all I want is a good cup of coffee...and world peace, and win the Powerball, and......................
     
  5. Lordeden

    Lordeden Part of the Problem

    Location:
    Redneckhell, NC
    If it was just the pods that came with the machine, the pods might have been bad. Who the hell knows how long those pods sat in that box in shipping/storeroom somewhere. I'd try getting some newer pods before throwing the thing out the window.

    Also:

     
    • Like Like x 3
  6. Japchae

    Japchae Very Tilted

    Try a few drops of lemon juice. It sounds weird but the acid counteracts the acid in the coffee somehow. My husband accidentally squeezed his lemon into his coffee cup instead of the water glass (don't ask, it was a long night) and it was remarkably good. You couldn't taste it, but the bitter was gone. And the milk he puts in his coffee wasn't affected.
     
  7. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    The acid response isn't directly correlated to the acidity of the food. As far as I know, lemons are good for your digestion.
     
  8. Japchae

    Japchae Very Tilted

    But how do you account for the decrease in bitterness of the coffee? I'm curious... because that was horrible coffee until we added a little lemon. The Italians serve espresso with a little slice of lemon rind, too. Both are horribly bitter but seem to cancel each other out. I need to ask @Starkizzer. Isn't she a food chemist or something? Not that I don't trust you all... It was a great solution to the blargh-bitter coffee problem for us, though.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  9. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    I was thinking the same thing about asking her.

    From what I've gathered, lemons, though acidic, have an alkalizing effect in the digestion process. I think this is partly why people drink warm water with lemon in the morning.

    I'm not all that certain, but I'm curious to know if this is the case. My assumption is that coffee is acidic and acid-forming, while lemons are acidic and alkalizing. It's a bit confusing, but that's kind of the case when it comes to chemistry, which always boggles my mind.

    Acids are not all alike.

    Coffee has caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid, while lemons have citric acid.
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2012
  10. snowy

    snowy so kawaii Staff Member

    Hubby, the chemical engineer, says he doubts that lemons actually make it less acidic. He thinks it probably just changes the taste to make the drinker think it's less acidic because it's less bitter.

    Either way, he's on the case.

    His conclusions after some poking around: Lemon makes the coffee more acidic, but it's a different kind of acid, and therefore changes the flavor of the coffee, which may make it more pleasant to drink.
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2012
  11. Joniemack

    Joniemack Beta brainwaves in session

    Location:
    Reading, UK
    I'm living in the UK now and had to leave my beloved Keurig behind. Yes, beloved. I'd tried almost every pod choice out there and was disappointed by many but delighted by others. I always add 2 tsps of sugar and some half and half to my coffee so bitterness is not usually an issue What I'd been looking for was full body and strong flavor. I finally settled on Starbuck's Pikes Roast pods which gave me both (and are no more expensive in the supermarket than the other brands). I don't get the Keurig snobs. I find they make a much better cup of coffee than drip coffee makers and are far more convenient than most any alternative. If convenience isn't an issue then there probably are alternatives that make a better cup of coffee.

    I suggest you shop around and try out different pod selections. A spritz of lemon might do the trick but I'm not sure what would happen if you add milk or cream to your coffee. Might not be affected, as noodle suggests, but I've done the cream and lemon thing in my tea and ended up with curdling. Yuck.

    As a side note, I had a filtering problem with my first Keurig coffee maker 16 months after I purchased it. I called Keurig looking for some troubleshooting advice. They did better than that. The sent me out a new replacement that day without the requirement I send back the original (which I got working again and had used as a spare or in tandem with the other, if I'd had a few people over). Customer service matters to me and I was well impressed.

    I know they have a new model out now called the Vue system which might offer more in the way of brewing strength choices.
    --- merged: Aug 22, 2012 at 12:02 PM ---
    Perhaps the bitterness in coffee is not due to the acid content? Just wondering out loud.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 29, 2012
  12. Random McRandom

    Random McRandom Starry Eyed

    I still can't figure out how these things became so popular.

    A: They are highly wasteful
    B: They make horrid coffee
    C: Too pricey to justify A & B

    Seriously. Are people so consumed with just having a cup o' joe that they can't even tell the difference between a good cup/brew any more? Wait..I think that's most likely a stupid question considering the Starbucks insanity.

    I'll stick with grinding my own and using my french press.
     
    • Like Like x 6
  13. Stan

    Stan Resident Dumbass

    Location:
    Colorado
    I use a snooty Italian espresso maker. However, I have to watch acidic foods very carefully. Sumatran coffees seem to be the least acidic.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  14. ASU2003

    ASU2003 Very Tilted

    Location:
    Where ever I roam
    I can't figure out why so many people are addicted to coffee. It all tastes horrible.

    I make hot chocolate in the one we have at work because it is there and is free. It doesn't taste as good as the packs that you dump into a cup and add water to and microwave. And I find that it makes you thirsty again in 30 minutes.
     
  15. DAKA

    DAKA DOING VERY NICELY, THANK YOU

    Well,
    The Keurig still makes terrible coffee, it's bitter and I'm not enjoying it. I've tried at least 3 different kinds of "pods "the DUNKIN pods and all the samples that are supplied with the machine....The PUROAST LOW ACID coffee is ahhhh....not great either...
    Why can't I duplicate the DUNKIN DONUTS take out coffee....
    I don't have room in my kitchen for a DUNKIN commercial machine.....:(
     
  16. genuinemommy

    genuinemommy Moderator Staff Member

    Are you using chicory coffee blends? That's one of they key ingredients of Dunkin.

    Where do you purchase your beans? At Dunkin, or at the grocery store? Do you purchase pre-ground or whole bean?
    The beans at the Dunkin Donut shop are fresher, and are potentially from different sources than the grocery store beans. Never purchase coffee pre-ground. Coffee companies use "throw-away" beans because there's no need to show overall bean quality, they often use their smallest beans that have been over-roasted, or older beans with fewer oils.

    How do you store your beans? Room-temperature in sealed containers, in the bag they give you, or in the freezer? Never freeze coffee. It destroys it. Not only do you impose freeze-thaw cycles on the bean but it picks up the odors from the other items in your freezer/ fridge. If you leave the coffee grounds in a poorly-sealed container it will go bad within a week.

    Bitterness develops over time. Freshly-roasted beans rarely have the flavor you despise.
     
  17. the_jazz

    the_jazz Accused old lady puncher

    genuinegirly, the Keurig doesn't allow you to purchase beans. It uses pre-packaged "pods" with instant coffee inside.

    The concept sucks.

    Real coffee is insanely better.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  18. Plan9

    Plan9 Rock 'n Roll

    Location:
    Earth
    IIRC, there are fill-it-yo'self Keurig cups.

    That and coffee snobbery is way trite.

    The old "I drink it for the flavor."

    Right, grouchy motherfuckers.

    Have a Red Bull and shaddup.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  19. Speed_Gibson

    Speed_Gibson Hacking the Gibson

    Location:
    Wolf 359
    I do not drink coffee but I see those machines and packs for them at work and they strike me as damn expensive. For that much money you had better get high quality stuff.
    If you are forced to use their prepackaged things and not even given the choice to buy whatever flavour/type of bean you prefer then you had better like what they offer.
     
  20. snowy

    snowy so kawaii Staff Member

    Dude. I DO drink it for the flavor. And if I were to use a Keurig. I would likely use the reusable basket. I don't, however.

    Rather, I use a fancy Cuisinart with a good spray over the basket (critical) and I burr grind.