Hello Keurig... my review of the Keurig 2.0

As an Influenster I sometimes get little perks and this has been by far the best perk yet! I love a good cup of coffee and although I still have my trusty old BHG Grind & Brew at home I'm the only coffee drinker here and making a whole pot of coffee is often wasteful.  I don't mind brewing a whole pot if I know I'm going to use it and over the summer it wasn't bad drinking coffee straight from the fridge, but it gets old fast.  Having the option now to brew just one cup or 3-4 in the carafe is very nice :)

 After taking a little coffee survey I was lucky enough to get chosen to try out the new Keurig 2.0.  After reading the reviews online and seeing the models here I was thinking we were going to get one of the basic models.  I was sure in for a surprise when the box arrived!

What I got was a Keurig 2.0 Model K550 Which is the top of the line model in the 2.0 series.  Lemme tell y'all I am NOT disappointed!  My BF has an older model Keurig and it's so noisy when you start it up and I was really kinda worried that this was going to be as well, BUT it's whisper quiet.

Say Hello to the Keurig® 2.0 K550 Brewing System — the first Keurig system that features revolutionary Keurig 2.0 Brewing Technology™ which is designed to read the lid of each K-Cup™ or K-Carafe™ pack to brew the perfect beverage every time. The K550 brewer allows you to brew a 4-cup carafe with the same ease and convenience of brewing a single-serve cup — all at the touch of a button. It’s so smart, and so simple!

The brewer has other great features including an extra large 80 ounce water reservoir, 2.8 inch color touch display, programmable clock, an auto brew option and a strength control setting for brewing bolder coffee. There’s even a separate setting for hot cocoa and other specialty beverages like lattes and mochas. The K550 model also has a customizable night light in the water reservoir and offers hot water on demand. So many options to choose from — not at all like a typical coffee maker.

Choose from over 250 varieties of coffee, tea and specialty beverages — including iced beverages — from 40 brands you know and love. Just look for Keurig Brewed® seal on your favorite K-Cup pack and K-Carafe pack varieties.

The Keurig 2.0 K550 Brewing System includes a Keurig™ Carafe, a 2.0 Water Filter Starter Kit with one filter, and K-Cup® and K-Carafe™ packs to get you started.

Variety pack includes:

4 K-Carafe™ packs:

• Green Mountain Coffee® Breakfast Blend
• Green Mountain Coffee® French Roast
• Green Mountain Coffee® French Vanilla
• The Original Donut Shop® Regular

6 K-Cup® packs:

• The Original Donut Shop® Regular Extra Bold
• Green Mountain Coffee® Hazelnut
• Green Mountain Coffee® Nantucket Blend®
• Barista Prima Coffeehouse® Italian Roast
• Starbucks® Pike Place® Roast
• Celestial Seasonings® English Breakfast Tea

You can see the difference in size between a standard K-cup and the K-carafe cup here.

 In my box I also received a full box of Decaf Breakfast Blend which I was a little befuddled with at first because I don't drink decaf but I will totally use it in chocolate cake and brownies :)  Since I got my box well after coffee drinking time for me (which I usually cut off to no later than 2 PM otherwise I know I won't sleep) the first one I brewed was the decaf to see how it worked, poured myself a small cup and then poured the remaining coffee into the ice cube trays and toss the cubed into my already strong iced coffee and it's awesome.

I love how quiet the Keurig is

Alright so it may not be the greatest sound in the world, but man do I love my coffee mug from Our Name is Mud.  I got this mug almost ten years ago and it's chipped and I broke the handle once, but it's really held up great and I can't seem to find another one just like it.

All in all, I love this machine, it's quiet, I can brew my coffee while I'm getting ready to haul ass out the door at 7am (I did mention in my last post my child is going to college and it's a two hour train ride each way didn't I?).  Pods can get a little expensive and for now this isn't compatible with any of the reusable cups but if you go to the Keurig site and sign up for special offers and Amazon always seems to have a good deal.  Otherwise every grocery store has them, for the new brewers make sure they have the Keurig logo on them, or they won't work with this machine.  For me it isn't an issue since this is my first Keurig.  I love all the varieties and that The Kid can use it also for tea and iced tea and cocoa when the weather gets cold.

So grab a mug and Enjoy your coffee with the new Keurig 2.0.  I definitely am :)

CocoZia coconut water

I was given the opportunity to try a case of CocoZia from the manufacturer, Epicurex and jumped on it.  The Kid Loves Coconut water and I've never tried it myself.  I figured I'd give it a go, why not?

I ordered the case from Amazon and in two days it was at my door.  I had gotten the package on one of those hot days and I had walked two miles home from the train station, so I was T H I R S T Y!!  I couldn't wait to get home and pour one over a glass of ice and finally sit down and relax for a few before making dinner.

I grabbed the box off my porch and first thing off the bat there was a problem.  Not from the coconut water, but Amazon, they had obviously not taken any care in managing their packaging details because there was a huge gash in the original CocoZia package and one of the cartons was completely empty.  

The amazon box itself was in perfect condition, 

but after sending my feedback to amazon along with pictures I never received a response, so I will think twice before ordering any liquid or food items from them again

I  filled a glass with ice for myself and poured my cocozia in and took my first sip.  I was apprehensive.  I'd read many mixed reviews and the one that stuck in my head was “it tastes kinda like dirt” It didn’t.  It tasted like... well, nothing really.  It has a slight coconutty flavor, very mild but very thirst quenching.

After opening the rest of the package I set one aside for myself and put the rest of the coconut water in the fridge it let it hang out while I went about my business and made dinner.  When the kid came home he opened the fridge and said to me “You didn't tell me you were getting a whole case! Awesome!!” Grabbed two and drank it down in what seemed one big gulp.  Okay, good to know he’s happy, he loves the stuff.

I don't “Love”it, it’s good, it’s good for you and it did a great job at quenching my thirst and the kid really enjoys it so I'll definitely get it again if I see it.

Disclosure
*I was not financially compensated for this post. I received a sample for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.*

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International Delight Iced Coffee

Running through the grocery store the other day, I decided to give this stuff a try since I had a coupon in my purse... figuring the $2 off coupon would make it practically free.  HA!! at $4.59 a carton it took a chunk off, but was it worth it?

No, not really.  it was Okay.  I don't see myself buying it again.

I grabbed a carton of original and after getting home and pouring myself a cup I sat down to look at the nutritional information:

Not too many ingredients, but then again.. nothing that makes is special and at 150 cal for 1 cup not really worth that in my book.  Who drinks just 8oz of coffee anyway?  Surely not me with my gigantic 20 oz coffee mug and 24oz cold cup I carry around with me.

This stuff tastes similar to 7-Eleven iced coffee (which is made from a mix full of odd ingredients) it's got a smooth creamy texture. The flavor was alright but I found it lacking a good coffee flavor and wound up adding a little bit of creamer to it anyway.

I'm better off brewing my own stuff.... or better yet checking out some of the cold  brew techniques for iced coffee and doing it myself (more on that soon).