My Thoughts on the Keurig B70

The B70 uses the same k-cup system as the rest of the range, the idea was to make it as easy as possible to brew your coffee with the smallest amount of mess. Each k-cup is a sealed little tub that contains your chosen pre-ground coffee beans, or there are tea and cocoa varieties you can get too. It also contains a filter so there is no need to put one in the main machine, and it is the place where your drink is brewed before being dispensed into your cup (the machine pierces the lid and injects the water into the cup), all this means the mess is contained within the cup and you can just throw it away after you have used it.

You can get some inventive flavors of k-cups, including Golden French Toast, Butter Toffee, Cinnamon Pastry, Pumpkin Spice and French Vanilla Supreme, you can even get a variety of decaf too. Plus you can get all kinds of different but more normal coffee types like Kona Blend, Breakfast Blend and Colombian.

The k-cups don't cost much in comparison to posh coffee when you are out and about, you can get them for less than 50 cents each and as low as 25 cents in quantity, but if you want to save money and/or want to use your favorite coffee that they don't provide in a k-cup, then there are two ways you can do that.

Probably the most popular alternative is the 'My K-cup' reusable filter which allows you to put whatever coffee you like in it, then it sits where the normal k-cup would go and serves in the same way. However there are mixed reviews on Amazon.com and as it is reusable then you need to wash it out every time you use it which is a bit of a fuss.

The My-Kap is less popular but has better reviews, this is literally a new cap for a used k-cup, you empty out the used contents (it includes a brush to help) and then you fill it back up with a new coffee/tea and put the cap on and use it like normal. You can't reuse the k-cups indefinitely, so you will need a supply of k-cups to use as the base for this, but some people have reported being able to reuse their k-cups by as many as 10 times, which really helps cut down the costs involved.

You can get k-cups from places like Costco and Macy's, or just go to Amazon.com

You don't have to be a professional coffee connoisseur to recognize a good cup of coffee from a bad one. The real issue is learning exactly what makes that good cup taste so much better than the other one. The answer is all in the beans.

Bean Basics
The coffee bean, which is the seed of the coffee plant, grows best near the equator-so it's no surprise that countries in areas such as Latin America, Africa, and South Asia tend to be the top coffee growers. While its origin determines most of the beans' attributes, all beans should feel smooth, look well-shaped, and-of course-smell enticing. It's also important to note that coffee beans must be roasted before they can help make your morning cup of joe, which explains why freshly roasted beans make better coffee.

Serious coffee drinkers tend to buy a bag of whole beans instead of the previously ground versions. Thanks to home coffee grinders, new beans can be used each morning for a fresher taste. Grinders cost anywhere from $15 - $200 depending on the type, which most coffee lovers agree is an investment well worth the cost.

Ultra java junkies usually insist on taking an additional step to ensure bringing home the best coffee. In lieu of the supermarket brands, these coffee nuts prefer shopping at specialty coffee shops where the employees understand coffee and can advise on the best beans to buy.

Flavor Facts
Considering that approximately 70 different countries produce coffee, it makes sense that the beans can vary a great deal from place to place. For example, Latin American coffee beans, which come from countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Peru, Columbia, Puerto Rico, Honduras, or El Salvador, tend to create coffee with medium body and medium acidity. These beans are also known for their wonderful aromas and wonderful spectrum of tastes-from earthy and nutty to "chocolatey" and even fruity.

Meanwhile South Asian beans, which come from countries such as India, Java, Sumatra, and New Guinea, have earned a reputation for rich, spicy, and earthy flavors. These coffees are also known for high body and low acidity.

For low body and high acidity, African beans, which can be found in countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, and Uganda, are the best bet. Coffee drinkers be prepared: these beans usually pack a bolder taste than other brews.