The Routine - Quick & Easy, a Choice
“Coffee is as complicated as you want to make it.” It is something I say often and the first thing I tell people after I have already taken them into what they perceive as the “deep” (3 ft.) end of the pool. There is a lot of hullabaloo (hullaba-brew) around single dose coffee machines. They have many names, many features, and in some cases many celebrity endorsements. There are many reasons against the use of single dose coffee machines, from the specialty coffee perspective and their brew quality to the waste they can create. However, it is important to understand that people are going to stick to their routines. It is hard to combat convenience and speed. Instead of fighting the issue, and trying to convert people, why not look and evaluate what they have to offer, attempt to optimize their potential, and let the people choose?
Words on the Street - Messages from Keurig Users
“I tried the the ratios you recommended, and man, it was too strong.”
“I need like 2 to 3 cups of coffee to wake up.”
“I tried the amount of coffee you recommended, and that’s waaayy more than I usually use.”
“I switched over to making coffee the way you suggested, and I just felt too jittery. It was really strong.”
The above are a few comments sent to me from those changing from single dose coffee machines (Keurig) to more traditional methods (e.g. pour overs, french press, and drip coffee makers) using recommended ratios/recipes. Now while the reason is not to get people to convert from a Keurig, I did find these comments intriguing. Whether it being a lack of flavor or lack of getting that morning pep, what I found was that when compared to specialty coffee brew methods, the amount of coffee used was significantly less. So when they brewed using more traditional methods with a recommended amount of coffee and water, people were often shocked at the difference in flavor and level of caffeine they were able to achieve.
But how big of a difference is it really? Coffee is coffee…right?
A Keur. for “Well… I Guess” - Numbers & Ratios
In a previous post, the topic of brew ratios was discussed (linked here: "How Much Coffee Should I Use"). Below, you can find data recorded comparing recommended brew ratios to that of the brewing ratios found on a Keurig K-duo.
Chart comparing coffee:water ratio between recommended and Keurig brew ratios. All Keurig ratios calculated on a K-duo Keurig machine (Keurig) using the single dose “8 oz, 10 oz, and 12 oz” settings with the unit of measurement in grams (g). SCA “Golden Ratio”, not displayed, set at 1:18. *All dosing was done using the recommended “Max Fill” line on the Pure Line Reusable Keurig K-cups.
In column 1, on the left, you can see the recommended brew ratios of 1:15 - 1:17 (coffee : water in grams). These ratios are set to help balance flavor and extraction during the brew process. Simply put, this helps determine the level of concentration, what many describe as “strong or weak”, with a 1:17 being the least concentrated of the 3 ratios (SCA “Golden Ratio” is set at 1:18). To the right, in column 2, are the ratios for the Keurig. In contrast to recommended ratios, the Keurig brewed a drastically less-concentrated beverage, leaving the coffee watery, lacking flavor, and causing many to drink multiple cups just to get that “morning pick me up.”
One important factor in all of this the fact that the Keurig does not allow much room to adjust how much coffee you can use. All of the coffees brewed with the Keurig were brewed with a reusable K-cup that was filled to the recommended “Max Fill Line” allowing for about 12.3 g of coffee. This means that no matter the size of drink you choose, the quantity of coffee remains the same. The only factor that changes is the amount of water used. This is the reason for such high ratios and why the coffee tasted more and more diluted as drink size increased.
More Water and Less Coffee, Makes for a Dull Brew
So, if we have maxed out the amount of coffee we can use and the amount of water used is predetermined, what can we do to improve this lackluster liquid?
The answer: Grind Finer (because you are already grinding fresh).
Grinding finer allows for more extraction and a way to get a bit more flavor. Without going too deep, the idea of a finer grind is based around increasing surface area. The finer you grind the beans, the more coffee you have in contact with the water, and thus a greater chance for extracting the flavors we want out of the coffee.
Optimus Grind - So how do I get the full flavor?
After several tests, grinding, and experimenting, I was unable to find a grind that would yield the same flavors as a pour over, french press, or quality drip brewer. While this was not a surprise, I did find that at the finest possible grind, I was able to taste some of the flavors that came from the medium roast Minca, Peru and even some of the fruity notes in the Guji Adola, Ethiopia, but both coffees still tasted extremely watered down and lacked a lot of flavor.
Unfortunately, the limitations of the K-Duo by Keurig prevented me from accessing all of the amazing flavors each coffee had to offer. Even after grinding the coffee as fine as possible, the machine seemed to brew extremely slowly (almost negating the benefit of speed these machines tend to offer). I decided against fining the grind further as I feared it would completely clog the machine, and possibly damaging a machine that was not mine.
In keeping with the purpose of this article, I am not here to bash the Keurig or even attempt to convert those who use them. As I said at the beginning, people are going to stick to their routines, and it is hard to combat convenience and speed. My goal was to conduct a simple experiment and address some of the comments I have received from those who switched from Keurigs by comparing brew ratios and analyzing the results. My hope is to provide the information and allow for people to choose based on what they want out of their coffee. Sadly, I was unable to find a true balance between convenience and quality, between simplicity and specialty, to have your kup with specialty too.