Reusable Ok Cup: How you can Save Cash on Espresso

Just a few years in the past I invested in a reusable Ok cup. I did this after switching from brewed espresso to a Keurig machine. The reusable and fillable cup was enticing for quite a few causes.

One, Ok cups on their very own may be costly per serving, even at Costco. Two, business espresso pods use plastic, which I used to be attempting to keep away from. So, having a refillable Ok cup was a extra eco-friendly possibility. And three, I bought uninterested in emptying the spent pods–espresso grounds within the compost bin, aluminum foil high within the trash–so I may recycle that plastic cup.

I imply, why proceed to contribute to the waste stream. I need my espresso and I need to decrease my carbon footprint within the course of. Since then I’ve realized how one can brew the proper cup of espresso at dwelling with my reusable Ok cup and floor espresso.

Additionally, with individuals seeking to tighten their spending belts currently, I assumed it was a good suggestion to revisit the concept of the refillable espresso brewing cup that you need to use with a Keurig.

How you can use a reusable Ok cup filter

These refillable cups work precisely like their business counterparts in addition to a conventional brewed espresso maker. That’s, you fill the cup with floor espresso as you may a filter in a daily drip espresso machine.

So, you’ll take away the lid of this refillable cup, place your floor espresso inside, shut the lid after which put it in your Keurig machine. After that, the Keurig forces scorching water by means of it. Lastly, the espresso drips out into your cup. However as an alternative of a full pot of espresso, you’ve gotten a single cup.

Be aware: if you wish to get monetary savings on espresso, you should purchase complete espresso beans and grind them your self. I discover that in the case of the grind measurement, you need it to be as small as potential. For my part, this makes for a greater cup of espresso. Then once more, I like robust espresso. If, then again, you like a weaker cup of espresso, then go along with a coarser grind.

How a lot espresso to place in your fillable the Ok cup

There’s a trick to getting a cup of espresso with out grounds spilling into the brewed cup. And that is it: solely fill the reusable cup filter basket as excessive because the chrome steel mesh is. Any larger and the water might overflow the highest and get grounds in your espresso.

Additionally, I discovered that after I put an excessive amount of espresso grounds in that Ok cup, the brew cycle didn’t end as shortly as with a daily Ok cup. Additionally, it didn’t all the time give me the ounces I’d chosen on the machine. Sure, I used a measuring cup to examine this out after I thought my cup didn’t look full. So one more reason to not overfill that reusable Ok cup.

Brewing a full cup of espresso

For instance, after I chosen a 10-ounce cup of espresso, generally I’d solely get six or eight ounces. This had nothing to do with the dimensions of the cup I used to be utilizing. This was how I realized that placing decrease quantities of espresso grounds within the refillable cup truly gave me higher outcomes.

That’s, after I brewed subsequent cups of espresso and saved the grounds stage to beneath the chrome steel mesh line, I bought the ten ounces of espresso I desired. And it was scorching and scrumptious.

How you can clear reusable Ok cup

It’s very easy to wash a reusable Ok cup after utilizing it to brew your espresso. One, you may put it on the highest rack of your dishwasher. Or, two, you may rinse it by hand on the sink earlier than filling once more. I’ve a dish scrubbing brush that I take advantage of handy wash dishes, and it really works nice within the reusable Ok cup.

Greatest floor espresso for a reusable Ok cup

I’ll admit that Keurig machines don’t make the very best espresso on the planet. Even the New York Instances agrees with me.

That being stated, you may brew cup of espresso in case you select the correct of grounds. And I’ve discovered that the darkest floor espresso is the very best to make use of with a refillable Ok cup. 

Costco Kirkland model floor espresso

At the moment, I’m utilizing Kirkland Signature Colombian espresso from Costco. I purchase it in three pound cans for about $25. The can says to make use of a few tablespoon of floor espresso per six ounces brewed.

Since I’m consuming a 10-ounce cup, I’ll use barely greater than that. Both means, one in all these three-pound cans of espresso lasts me for months. That very same $25 would have gotten me 5 cups of espresso at Starbucks. Granted, it could have been greater than 10 ounces, however you get the purpose.

Additionally, I grind my very own beans earlier than making my cup of espresso. This ensures that the grounds are as recent as potential and, frankly, they style the very best.

How you can put the cup in your Keurig or different suitable machine

You’ll discover that any reusable Ok cup filter pod you purchase has an indent on the highest, and a notch on the underside. These are each vital for brewing espresso.

One, the indent within the heart of the cup is the place the needle of the espresso machine would usually pierce the business Ok cup. So, it’s simply there as a reminder to accommodate the needle.

Two, the notch within the backside helps you line up the cup within the machine. When you don’t line it up correctly, the highest gained’t shut. And if the highest doesn’t shut, you may’t brew your espresso.

One other vital factor to bear in mind: don’t pressure the lid of the brewer to shut. Somebody who was visiting me as soon as did this and guess what? They broke the needle of the Keurig machine. The refillable cup was wonderful however the machine was ruined. I had to purchase a brand new one.

Reusable Ok cup compatibility

Keurig has gotten sensible about how one can incentivize espresso addicts such as you and me to purchase their business pods. With newer Keurig machines (Keurig 2.0), they’ll solely brew after they learn a barcode on the Ok cup. Don’t have a barcode? No espresso for you!

It’s form of like my HP Shade LaserJet printer. After I change the printing cartridges, it checks for the HP barcode to make sure it’s real ink. If not, it doesn’t print.

Solely works with older fashions of Keurig espresso makers

Anyway, I’ve an older model of the Keurig espresso machine. And in case you’re wanting to do that frugal hack of brewing Keurig espresso, I’d recommend guaranteeing you’ve gotten an older machine, too. You may nonetheless discover older mannequin Keurig machines on Amazon.

Off model Keurig-like machines work with reusable Ok cups, too. In reality, the very first time I attempted one in all these cups, my so-called Keurig brewer was truly made by Mr. Espresso.

On the flipside, if in case you have a Keurig 2.0 espresso brewer, you gained’t have the ability to make use of reusable Ok cups. So that you’ll should resolve if the long-term financial savings are higher in case you purchase a brand new machine, albeit the older model, so you may fill your individual cups of espresso. Or in case you’re OK with sticking with the established order of barcode-enabled Ok cups.

Saving cash with a reusable Ok cup pod

Again after I was utilizing a conventional espresso brewer and was writing my guide All of the sudden Frugal, I decided that my morning cup of espresso price me simply 13 cents. Clearly, that’s an enormous financial savings of shopping for espresso out at Starbucks ($4) and even Sheetz ($.99).

Nevertheless, one yr my household gifted me with a Keurig machine. It was then that I found that my price of brewing a cup of espresso at dwelling jumped to 50 cents per cup with business Ok cups. Sure, that’s nonetheless cheaper than shopping for out, but in addition I didn’t just like the waste.

Espresso prices $20 per gallon

You suppose fuel is dear? By the way in which, whereas brewing espresso at dwelling gained’t make an enormous dent in your finances, consider it this manner: Starbucks espresso prices, primarily, $20 per gallon.

So in case you’re complaining about fuel being $5 a gallon, simply take into consideration how costly Starbucks is by the gallon. And, for Pete’s sake, don’t waste fuel idling in a drive-through for a cup of espresso. Park the automotive, get out and decide it up inside.

Learn how to get free espresso on a meals vacation like Nationwide Espresso Day.

Anyway, as soon as I’d invested in a reusable Ok cup and crammed it with floor espresso I purchased in bulk at Costco, I introduced my price again all the way down to about $.13. That’s a lot better.

The place to purchase a refillable Ok cup

The place can you purchase one in all these refillable Ok cups? Nicely, I bought mine years in the past on Amazon. And you continue to can. They arrive two or extra to a field. Nevertheless, nowadays, loads of different retailers are promoting reusable pods for brewing Keurig espresso, together with Goal.

Satirically, even Keurig, maker of the unique Ok cup, is making and promoting a Keurig model reusable filter for its Keurig machines. Yow will discover them on-line and in shops.

Last ideas on the reusable Ok cup

So, what do you suppose? Is a refillable Ok cup price it to you? My solely grievance through the years is that this: these reusable cups have a flip high. And inevitably, the flip high breaks off.

Nevertheless, the truth that my one piece cup is now in two items doesn’t cease me from persevering with to make my Keurig espresso at dwelling. Certain, lining up the cap with the underside so it closes correctly is a little bit of a ache. However, to me, the cash saving, the eco-friendliness and the comfort makes all of it worthwhile.