Keurig B-70 B70 Platinum Single-Cup Home Brewing System
by Keurig
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List Price: Our Price: $163.99 You Save: $66.00 (29%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $90.00 (click here) Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Keurig B-70 B70 Platinum Single-Cup Home Brewing System
Customer Review: I'm A Convert! Single-Cup Brewing Rocks!
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been skeptical of all single-cup brewers (as I am an admitted coffee snob), and had resisted even trying them until recently. A friend had the Tassimo system at home, and I found my trials with his machine acceptable, but not remarkable. It wasn't until I had opportunity to try a commercial version of the K-Cup system at a business recently and was impressed with the coffee it produced, as well as the variety of coffee options. However, I was still skeptical that a home version of this same system could produce the same quality level, but I was willing to give it a try. So, we ordered the B-70 based on its' feature set and larger reservoir size.
We're a month into the trial, and this brewer is NOT going back. This machine rocks and has quickly become our favorite appliance. The coffee is great and above all, consistent. We love the flexibility of the brew volume, the huge variety of available coffees and teas, and the fact that it is brew-ready whenever we want it (= fresher coffee). The brew flexibility is probably our favorite aspect in that I like a bold cup, and prefer a double of the Extra Bold cups with a 5.25oz brew volume, whereas my wife prefers the standard cups (often flavored) at a 7.25oz volume, or Extra Bold at 9.25oz (the 11.25oz is too thin for our liking). Guests love the novelty to select from our variety of coffees and teas, and we haven't found the brew time to be an issue at all.
Other benefits we've discovered along the way include that we're making fewer stops to our favorite local coffee shops (and saving money as a result); the whole process is so much cleaner than traditional methods of brewing (particularly as one who had ground his own beans); and that it really is a good idea to set the auto-off timer so that we aren't tempted to brew a cup of caffeine in the late afternoon/evening. I did acquire a "My K-Cup" system in case I wanted to use my own coffee, but have yet to use it as we've been too busy exploring the available K-Cups.
Bottom line - the initial outlay is not low, but the overall cost to us has been less, and we are very satisfied with the coffee and convenience. We recognize it's not for everyone, but if you're so inclined, we believe the Keurig and its' wide variety of available K-Cups is the best of the single-cup brewers. Good luck!
Customer Review: Makes me feel pampered
Summary: 5 Stars
I do not buy on impulse, so I spent a lot of time reading the reviews here and at other websites. I visited the machine in stores. Then there was the decision as to whether or not to buy the top-of-the-line B70 or a mid-model. If you have decided you are going to spend the money, then you might as well get everything you want, hence the B70. It's like buying a perfect car and getting navigation!
It is fast, simple to use, and very stylish. You cannot beat the freshness of the coffee and the perfect temperature. And the pampered part is that it brews one cup at a time perfectly, just for me! Quiet? It is plenty quiet for me - what's wrong with a little quiet "espresso" sound while the machine does all the work for you? I find it comforting and it simply cannot be heard from the other room.
And cleanup could not be easier - remove and toss. You could do it with white gloves if you wanted.
If you are still not convinced, here I some of the questions I had and the answers to help:
1) K-cups are made by a LOT of coffee and tea companies, not just Keurig. You will see many of your favorites and never run out of choices. They are on line, in grocery and in kitchen stores.
2) Yes, it does heat back up right away so you can have a line of people, no waiting.
3) If you prefer your own brand of coffee, the "filter" works really well. It is actually 3 pieces which contain a filter, and you just use regular grounds.
4) Yes, it will take a tall thermal commuter mug - just remove the drip tray and make sure you use the largest size (12 oz). If you have a giant, giant mug (and don't mind a little weaker coffee), you can lift the k-cup cover so it thinks you put another one and add another 4 oz.
5) Not sure about the size of the machine? Just check to make sure you have the room from side to side. It is no deeper or taller than most coffee makers so it will fit better than you expect. It'll look better on your counter than the photos you see of it by itself (which make it look big).
Hope you are convinced and will have as much fun with it as I do. I am saving up for another for the office. I don't want to go through withdrawal when I am away during the week!
Customer Review: ***Sigh***
Summary: 5 Stars
My husband surprised me with this for Christmas after we saw a commercial for it on television. I did not get a good night's sleep for two weeks after receiving this gift...... not because I was drinking MORE coffee, but because I was DREAMING about waking up in the morning to have more coffee. I love my Keurig so much! Initially, I was worried about the cost of buying K-cups, but actually we are not wasting coffee in a pot anymore, or having to drink leftover coffee, so it really is worth it in the long run, plus- being able to have a fresh cup in literally less than a minute's wait, PLUS- having the flavor of your choice!
Some of the reviewers stated how the coffee is weak, but I drink my coffee strong and have not had a problem with it! The smaller the cup, the stronger the coffee. I am using the Bold French Roast, and Timothy's Tropical Espresso- they are both sooooo good! The weakness of the coffee depends on what kind you buy. The Keurig comes with a sampler box and I tried some that were in there. The French Vanilla is extremely weak; the hazelnut is good in a small cup. I made some Earl Grey tea and it was very decent, especially because I was drinking it within a minute of brewing it. I am looking forward to trying the iced tea/coffee feature and trying the hot chocolate (when Amazon gets it back in stock).
All in all, I would have to say that this is one of the best gifts I've ever received! I absolutely love it!!!
***EDIT: 2/27/10***
This morning my Keurig stopped working. STOPPED! It's been 6 hours now and I tried absolutely everything from removing the tank, removing the filter cup, descaling won't work because it won't suck in water anymore. I called Keurig about an hour ago. After getting on the phone with a customer service rep almost immediately (like NO wait time) and going through troubleshooting, it was only 20 minutes later that they informed me they would replace my machine. Just like that! Did I mention that my one-year warranty is two months expired? Keurig has outstanding customer service, hands down. I'll be drinking from my beloved Keurig once again in 3-10 days.
Customer Review: Extremely impressed... and actually a little bit embarrassed
Summary: 5 Stars
I tend to research my appliances and electronics rather thoroughly, and after a couple months of reading both professional and consumer opinions around the 'net on higher-end coffee makers, I decided on the Keurig B70. After owning it for a week, I'm extremely happy with my decision.
The two points that worried me the most with this machine turn out to not really be issues: One was that I would be locked into K-Cups and at the mercy of their pricing and availability, but it's not so. You can brew your own coffee with this machine, just buy the 10 dollar "My K-Cup" adapter, which is a small two-scoop filter you can place in the machine instead of a K-Cup.
The other sticking point was here and there I'd read people say it made weak coffee, but a ha, this really depends on the type of coffee you're using and your brewing size option. After trying about 25 different types so far, I have found that the various dark roast and "extra bold" K-Cups are very strong and flavorful, while the medium and light roasts tend to be on the lighter side. From there, you can tweak the strength of your coffee by choosing the brew size. It's all up to you. Making 7oz. cups of various dark roast blends turns out to be quite a bit stronger and more flavorful than when I used to load up my Mr. Coffee with my own freshly-ground beans.
And that's where the embarrassment from my review title comes in -- I thought I was already making great coffee. I'd pester friends and relatives to try my coffee thinking it was top notch, but I'm tasting so many more subtle flavors and and notes in these various K-Cup blends that it almost seems like I didn't know what I was doing before. Eek.
So, overall I couldn't be much more impressed, but two quick notes:
- That panel on the right side of the machine under the LED panel, I thought that might be brushed chrome, and it's not. It's plastic.
- If you ask me, the machine ideally makes 7oz. of great tasting coffee per one K-Cup. So if you usually drink coffee from giant mugs or travel mugs, realize you will have to use two K-Cups per fill.
Customer Review: Keurig has done it again!!
Summary: 5 Stars
For the last 4 years I have been using the Keurig B50 to make my yummy coffee. I decided to sell it (after 3 plus years and still in great working order) and upgrade to the new B76 (yes it says B70 on the box, check the serial number for the real model code). It is absolutely amazing! It has 5 brew sizes, so fits all our family's needs for brewing. The water pump is practically silent! It draws in water, and there is little to NO vibration even. My husband made a cup of coffee with it and after a minute we both turned around and wondered if the machine had even done anything. He pressed brew, went back to getting ready for work, and VOILA! A great (and silently performed) brewed cup of coffee in his travel mug. No more lifting the handle and brewing some more to fill his cup.
I've looked at almost all of the reviews on amazon just to see what others have said. First of all, if your coffee is watery, you either have a defective machine, or you are used to a stronger more acidic cup of coffee from your old brewer and you're running too much water through a light roast. You do have to use the right intensity for your tastes. With so many choices though, it's hard for me to believe that you wouldn't be able to find "just the cup".
Furthermore, Keurig, like any other company, is not infallible. Sometimes things break in transit, or production even. Get over it. Return it and they'll make it right. I've never had anything but pleasant help from them. One person here left a review stating that for $200 the machine should easily last over 5 years....while that would be nice, it's not reasonable. Over 5 years, I had paid more than $200 for "pot stlye" brewers that always malfunctioned before a year of age, and the coffee they produced was horrible. By his math, a $1200 refrigerator should function flawlessly for what....30 years? :)
The keurig brewer is not for everyone, but it should be. Give it a chance. Also with a 20% discount from BB and Beyond, it's not over $140 for a purchase price not including tax.