"The King" Waffle Sandwich And I Explore The Keurig 2.0 K550 Brewer

**I received a K550 Keurig 2.0 Brewer directly from the company in hopes I would share my honest opinions here on the blog. All statements and images below are copyright Momma Told Me 2014.

Momma Told Me: New technology, new headaches!

Of course there was a coffee maker in our house growing up; compared to a modern single-cup brewer it was an antique, and I'm pretty sure Momma laughed out loud the first time I asked if her 'coffee machine' could make me hot chocolate. My parents also indulged primarily in the topic of kitchen appliances, which I've touched on before, and I'm quite sure the 4 buttons on our little KitchenAid coffee maker were in them-self overwhelming as functions. Let's just say Momma fed her caffeine addiction outside the house at coffee shops and grocery store 'complimentary' displays. So, when I tell you I've inherited my mother's fascination with coffee, and my parents obsession with appliances, I literally mean I have owned 4 Keurig brewers. (And yet that cherry red Keurig, that would match my kitchen appliances, still eludes me.)

I could be all 'Rah! Rah!' and tell you the newest in the Single Cup Brewing Revolution; the Keurig 2.0 K550 is astoundingly intuitive and a must have convenience for anyone who drinks fluids (yes, let's be that broad.) But, as a modern consumer I also realize not everyone is going to drop $200 on an appliance most associate with brewing coffee when one CAN get by with a $20 coffee maker and ground coffee. And making the leap from a standard Keurig system to the 2.0 range will offer a range of perks and changes that you should understand when deciding whether this model is right for you. First, you must know that Keurigs are much more than 'coffee machines,' but 'brewing systems' that offer a range of hot and cold beverages brewed by the cup, or now with a 2.0 compatible carafe (up to 5 cups at a time.)

Unfortunately I don't think the company quite considered that their main consumer of this new 2.0 machine would be existing owners and brand consumers. If you are reading this right now there is a high probability that you either own a Keurig or have used one on several occasions at the office or a friend's home. The K550 2.0 brewer, and other 2.0 range models, offer an enhanced intelligence of properly brewed cups and varied 'strength' selections. In order for this technology to be integrated the brand had to put in place a readable system for the machine to identify the type and size of K-Cup. They did this in a way that the 2.0 and all previous brewers could brew standard single K-Cup size cups.

The unfortunate snafu, is that this 'redesigning' and modern innovation in 2.0 systems means that the system is unable to 'communicate' or 'read' K-Cups that were previously produced without the communicative colored outer rim. While the brand has been working for months prior to launch to get 'old' K-Cup packages off shelves so the transition would be smooth I had to toss out 146 K-Cups that were no longer compatible with my new 2.0 brewer- some of which had best by 2014 dates and were bought as recently as August. If you purchase incompatible K-Cups (with the old labeling) you will receive and 'Oops' message when attempting to brew, and are advised to contact customer service asap. Read more about the important labeling and K-Cup identification on my Facebook discussion.

Part of the appeal in upgrading to a new Keurig 2.0 system is the digital intelligence built into the functions which promises several exciting options as the development team progresses. I also look forward to learning more about brewer 'skins' which will help personalize the look of your 2.0 brewer externally. For now, the colorful touch screen navigation is playful an offers customizable colored wallpapers. Among the new features and frills for the K550 brewer are 'profiles' which let you pre-save strength and brewing preferences, a (multi-color) exterior tank lighting feature for night ambiance, and enhanced strength and portion control.

Of course, most notable is the Keurig 2.0's ability to not only brew in various single serve sizes (4, 6, and 8oz) but a compatible carafe (pot) that brews up to 6 cups of coffee at once, thanks to the new Carafe K-Cup Packs. In order to brew 'carafes' you must have the compatible Keurig branded carafe, at this time, which triggers a 'docking' sensor and informs the machine of it's presence. Carafes are most functional when paired with Carafe K-Cups, which are larger in appearance (and currently pose a storage conundrum for me) and available in a limited number of varieties an brands at this time. While we, personally, don't entertain often in our small condo, the carafe has found a home on the top shelf of our fridge over the past week, as we brew a pot of iced coffee once a day. I hope to see the Snapple and Tea range expand into Carafe K-Cups very soon- as having a 'pitcher' around would be great!

There's a lot we haven't covered; and I've cooked up a devilishly sweet Hallow's Eve themed coffee infused treat to share- so keep your eyes peeled for a follow up post soon! In the men time, let me break down some of the biggest questions an concerns with the new Keurig 2.0 system as I enjoy a cup of freshly brewed Donut House coffee and 'The King' waffle sandwich (Pinterest Image at bottom):

*You said the new Carafe K-Cups are larger, how does the machine brew both the smaller and larger K-Cups? The new 2.0 systems have a spring loaded K-Cup compartment that expands to accept the larger Carafe K-Cups during use. No buttons are necessarily to switch to this function, simply insert the Carafe K-Cup in and the system will recognize it!

*Are all of my old K-Cups compatible with the new 2.0 system? I suggest you read up a little on how to identify compatible K-Cups prior to buying a new system, and use any old K-Cups first. While the brand has worked hard to ensure all K-Cups on shelves are compatible, stock issues and individual chains may not have removed old inventory. A newer 'best by' date does not guarantee your K-Cups have the compatible 'rim.' Look for the "For Use In All Keurig K-Cup Brewers' stamp on boxes, and 'Keurig Brewed' band on K-Cup rims. For more information see my discussion here.

*The 2.0 brews Carafes, does that mean it is larger than my current/old Keurig? My first Keurig was a 'mini' the most compact and not compatible with tumblers, and my most recent was the K75. We have our K550 in the same space as our old unit, it is only an inch or so wider, and about the same depth. The tank on the K550 is larger, but comes forward to wrap around the unit more. Check measurements of your model before buying, but I do not anticipate the size will be an inconvenience if you currently own a brew outside of the compact Mini or Elite systems.

What Daughter Says: As with any new technology there will be some bugs to work through in the first few productions; if you're on the fence, wait- However, I think it's well worth the money.