Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Well, I have to fess up. I now own a Keurig. Well, a different brand single use pod machine, but basically the same thing.

A friend gave it to me. I think she got it from a Buy Not a Thing list. That shouldn’t matter, but it does. I was going to use it in the attic but that didn’t work out because of not enough plugs. Still with me?

In the kitchen, I’ve used a French Press for several years. My first one wore out and my second one is on its last legs. So I decided to dance with the devil in my attic rather than buy another appliance.

Remember when I reviewed the Keurig machine in 2014? It was the type with regular pods and big carafe type pods. I didn’t like the company’s environmental impact, the design of the machine, or the price. The reusable pod thing didn’t work in this machine. The pot of coffee had no thermal layer so it was sort of silly.

Still, making an influencer cry because I gave it a thumbs down review was a genuine highlight of my year.

But I was disappointed when another “Influenster“ (a reviewer through the website Influenster.com) used some shaming tactics on me via Instagram. She took the stance that I had no business accepting a free product then criticizing it, especially when so many other people would have been grateful to get the free machine.

“This is disrespectful. If you really care about the environment then you shouldn’t have accepted the Keurig in the first place. There are thousands of other influensters who would have loved to receive one of these. I had to comment because this just saddens me.”

In other words, she missed the point of product reviews. Of course, the companies hope for a great review, but I think they distinguish between “free publicity from people who gush about our product/service” and “semi-objective critique of the product/service on its merits.” They want both, but there’s a distinction.

So let’s discuss the Famiworths Single Serve Coffee Maker.

This is considered a lower end, started single brew machine, averaging $25-40 depending on the purchase place and the specific model. It came with the machine assembled, a small drip plate, a plastic water holder to be inserted, a pod holder and a reusable holder for my own coffee grounds. Plus, they sent some ‘descaler’ to clean the machine. Plus, a manual.

So getting it ready to go was easy. It is slim so I put it next to the toaster and didn’t have to move things around too much. I popped in the pod (Giant Eagle brand pumpkin spice), poured the water and let her go. Took a few minutes to heat the water, then another minute to brew and drip.

The pros.

• Simple to assemble, easy to use.
• Packaging all recyclable
• Handles, nobs, buttons simple to manage
• Coffee tastes fine
• Gadgets can all be placed on top rack in the dishwasher

Cons:

• Coffee isn’t hot. It is almost hot, but not quite.
• The water tank is hard to read and very narrow so pouring in water always results in a mess.
• I have no idea what to expect from the scaling cleaner but that’s really their fault.

My understanding is that pods can be recycled in the City of Pittsburgh. Can anyone confirm that? So that’s a big win. Coffee grounds can be composted.

It would be nice if they included a small pouring device with quantity marked and a slim spout to fit the narrow water container. I’ve tried cups, glasses, a measuring cup. I think it is because of my hand tremor. But it is pretty narrow. I think I need a coffee creamer ceramic thing.

The lack of hotness is just slightly a problem. Not big enough to make me throw in the towel, but I’m unsure I would purchase this brand. I do like hot coffee. I guess I could try using hot water but that feels so wrong.

I bought some pumpkin spice pods from Giant Eagle, store brand, and gave it a whirl. It comes with a reusable thingie so I can use my own ground coffee.

The main reason I like this is that I can have two servings of semi-hot coffee. My French Press was glass and did not keep that second serving hot or even warm. The joy of sipping from your favorite mug is not the same as drinking from a reusable thermal mug. Dirtying a reusable mug for its thermal purposes while also using a mug is just too much? I used to put the French Press in the microwave, but usually forgot about it …

I’ve found that if I start a second serving, the prep time equals the time I spend giving my mug a rinse, getting the oat milk out of the fridge, etc.

All things being said, I would probably invest in a higher end model if I were going to spend money on it. The average lifespan of a pod machine is 2-3 years (like a blog) so in 2-3 years, I’ll have to face that decision.

I am incredibly grateful that my friend obtained this for me and that someone sent it through a giving economy tool – I am in no position to spend this sort of money for coffee makers.

The Famiworths Single-Serve Coffee Maker is a decent starter or modest investment device.

BTW, I heard that Keurig is producing vegetable fiber pods that are biodegradable. Cool.

UPDATE: Today the water dispenser seems not to work right. It might just be ajar. I’ll let you know.