Last Day for $100 Keurig VUE Brewer!

I  NEVER do this, but sometimes a deal is too good for me to not pass on...

Me and my BFF, we are officially VUE fans 

Last week, I was chosen as a hostess of a Keurig VUE house party! They sent me everything I needed to host, INCLUDING the brand new Keurig VUE V500 brewer! All I had to do in return was tell people about it.

Trying out the VUE together..so much fun!

I am not a sales person, and I care about peoples opinions, so I went into this with an open mind.... and here is what I found...







I've been a Keurig Platinum owner for 2 1/2 years. I've been a die hard Keurig fan! Every time someone I know gets a Keurig for the first time, I love to put together "welcome to the club" packs for them, including some of my favorite k-cups.

So I wasn't quite sure what could possibly be better than my platinum....which I talked about here

until I tried the VUE!

I like my coffee strong, so I always had to brew two separate cups in my platinum to fill my spill proof travel mug. The VUE has a setting to brew strong, so I no longer have to make two separate cups. As a matter of fact, the VUE works blissfully slower than the former Keurigs', taking its sweet time, steeping those precious grounds to strong-brewed perfection!!!

I had watched a presentation of the VUE on QVC a few weeks ago, and saw it creates two step beverages. I didn't know what the big deal was. I could already make lattes in my platinum. But there is a difference. A big one! The VUE will brew and froth milk, giving you a "real" latte, one that rivals those $6 drive thru ones! I only got to try one, since this was the first box of VUE cups to be emptied at my party. Everyone loved them!

I can also still make my favorite iced teas, and VUE cups come in lots of different flavors and brands, and the list keeps growing.

I also contacted Keurig after my party wondering about a "my VUE cup". I have an aunt who roasts gourmet coffee, so I've sort of become a coffee snob. I love to make her VIDA coffee in the My K-Cup, in my platinum. But there is no My VUE Cup...yet ;) They assured me that they are perfecting the engineering of it and expect it to be out within the spring/summer season. But if you can't wait, there is  an off brand one available here.

Have I convinced you yet? If not, I still have a coupon code that they gave me, and it expires TODAY!! (Saturday, May 11) It will get the VUE V500 in your hands for only $100! That's 40% off the regular price. I don't even know if you can find a good condition used Keurig for that price.

Use code H53GGJM at checkout- all caps, only for use of the V500 model.

Please feel free to ask me any question you may have...otherwise, enjoy your 40% off !


Angie

Brewing a STRONG Travel Mug of Coffee in Your Keurig

This is the inside of a k-cup. It has actual ground coffee in it, not instant coffee, and a teeny tiny cute mini filter, which is what makes them famous for fresh tasting coffee :)

I have a love affair with my Keurig. I got it a year ago, and the honeymoon phase is still not over! But it wasn't always like that. Last Christmas when I opened it (a gift from dear ol' Dad!) I couldn't wait to brew that first "perfect cup of coffee". So I woke up Christmas morning, fired it up, stuck in my travel mug, set it for a 12 oz cup and brewed. A weak, watery cup of coffee. Thinking it was a fluke, I tried another. And got a weak, watery cup of coffee. This was bad, because I yearn each morning to fill my 16 oz mug and sip away! But I want my coffee to TASTE like coffee. Even if it's in a big cup. I guess I want my cake and to eat it to ;)

I did a little research online and discovered it is not recommended that you make a cup larger than 8 oz. What?!?! Then what is the point of the 12 oz setting? The problem seems to be that the water runs through the grounds quickly, which is fine and dandy if you want a small cup. But if the water runs through quickly for a large cup, the grounds aren't saturated enough, so you get a weak cup of coffee. Does that make sense?  One well meaning blogger suggested you pop the lid halfway through brewing to pause the cycle and give the grounds time to steep. I did this for a while, which did in fact make a  much stronger cup but realized that this can cause damage to the air pump in the machine. SO DON'T DO IT THAT WAY :)

After some trial and error, here is my best method for brewing a perfect 16 oz travel mug of STRONG coffee :)

Start with a dark, or bold coffee. We all have different tastes, so test the different flavors and see what you like. Some of my faves are Dark Magic, Santas Buzz, Kona Blend, and Neumanns Own Extra Bold. Or, use a my kcup and fill it with whatever brand you like.

Set your machine to brew an 8 oz cup. If you have a smaller machine, it will automatically be an 8 oz setting. Hit brew, and walk away for a minute while it works. (I am a multi-tasker. I can't wait the 30 seconds it takes to brew!) I usually do 15 other things here such as make lunches, eat breakfast, yell at kids to hurry up. It's ok, the coffee can steep for a few minutes ;)

Get out your creamer if that's what you like. Today I was in a vanilla mood.... BTW, I'm loving the new natural creamers. Why did it take us so long to discover that real cream tastes better. HELL-OOO!

After brewing that first 8 oz cup, I add my creamer. This allows the second part of the coffee to mix the cream in, no stirring needed. Hello! No spoon to wash= less time cleaning up!

To brew the second phase on a platinum, you must lift the lid and re-close it to reset the brewing cycle. DO NOT change your K-CUP! Now that the grounds sat damp, they will let out more flavor :)

Brew the second cup and voila, a nice, strong cup of coffee. MMMMM.

This method works with any k-CUP that steeps, even apple cider.(although some will be stronger than others, so I only make a 12 oz apple cider, at the MOST)  If you aren't sure, open up an empty k-cup and see what's left behind. Hot chocolate or Chai Latte, for example will be empty, because they are instant. Don't try this method with those, they WILL get really watery.

Please let me know if you've learned any fun tricks with your Keurig! I'd love to hear them :)