Cup Half Full

'Left: old machine in white;
Right: new black Keurig K Duo

We first came across Keurig's single-cup brewing system 12 years ago, when its then-owner, Green Mountain, rented Justin Herman Plaza to promote its wares.

At the time we were unimpressed:

The coffee tasted just okay.

It was expensive on a per-cup basis.

There were a lot of plastic pods to dispose of.

Last year we bought a cheap Keurig knock-off. The coffee was good, not great; the garbage problem is manageable at one cup a day; the pods are only 40 cents each. Most importantly, set-up or clean-up takes less than minute.

Addicted to the convenience, we bought a new Keurig Duo (it comes with a carafe if one has to brew for a group) when the old machine broke. Fortuitously, the Duo was on sale at Costco for $170.

Over the years the Keurig has become lighter and cheaper and also has more quality and features. The world is getting worse in some respects, but I prefer to focus on how it's getting better. In other words I'm a cup-half-full kind of guy.