Not too long ago, coffee lovers had to wait for their pots of coffee to brew before enjoying a steaming cup of java. With the invention of the cups for Keurig, everything changed. Now, you can simply pop a coffee pod into a compatible machine and have a mug of the wonderful hot stuff in about a minute. Convenient? You bet! But the big question on many coffee pod lovers' minds is how many times they can use their k-cup compatible pods before they have to toss them.
Obviously, this is a personal preference question on some levels. Many coffee aficionados balk at the thought of reusing any coffee pod. Nevertheless, we know lots of folks who want to get the most mileage from their coffee, which is why we tackled this growing conundrum.
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What Is a Coffee Pod, Anyway?
To start our investigative journey, we need to consider what a k-cup compatible pod is. Coffee pods are revolutionary little pods that basically offer the convenience of a filter and ground coffee in one compact unit. When placed into the right type of brewer machine, the coffee pod is punctured and flooded with steaming water. The water activates the brewing action, and the result is a quick, delicious cup of coffee on-demand.
The major benefit to the single-serve cups is that it takes away the need for people to measure single-serve mugs of coffee. Plus, coffee drinkers can choose the pod blends they prefer from a variety pack like one from Real Good Coffee Co., meaning that your colleague who wants a cup of coffee in the afternoon can have a single cup instead of making one big pot that might go to waste.
Is It Okay to Use a Coffee Pod Twice?
At this point, you know what a coffee pod is and how to use it to get the good stuff you crave. But can you use a single-serve cup twice?
According to manufacturer's directions, the technical answer is "no." With that being said, many people have noticed that one coffee pod has the capacity to brew different cup sizes of coffee. In other words, if you typically use your coffee pod to make a cup on the small side, you may be able to make two.
Here is the big issue, though. Once the top of a coffee pod is punctured, the brewing machine may not recognize it again. Some people have bypassed this problem by brewing a six-ounce cup of coffee and then immediately brewing an identical one by rapidly pressing down on the machine to restart it. Depending upon the type of brewer, this may or may not work.
However, your machine may not be so sensitive, so it could be worth a try to get a two-for-one boost from some of your coffee pods. Again, you will probably have to experiment with different blends and coffee brands to see which lends itself to being double-brewed without losing flavor or body.
Alternatives to Using a Coffee Pods Twice
If your biggest worry related to using a single-serve cup twice is the environment, we get it. Going green is important, which is why you should look for eco-friendly coffee pods whenever possible. As a quality coffee roaster dedicated to minimizing waste, Real Good Coffee Co. offers packages of coffee pods that are recyclable. This allows you to get the coffee you want without worrying where your single-serve cups end up when you're done with them.
