Keurig Coffee Recipes and Machine Review

Raise your hand if you love grabbing a Starbucks…this girl right here for sure!  My habit gets pretty expensive though if I do it daily so I try very hard not to.  The pandemic made that possible as most coffee shops were shut down for a bit.  I did what anyone would do. I figured out how to do it at home and I was pretty impressed with the results.  Today I’m sharing 4 at home Keurig coffee recipes that will have you rethinking your daily habit.

I’m a big tea drinker, while Mike on the other hand, is a coffee drinker.  When we got married the merging of households included a Keurig for me.  Daily teas became easier to make and I slowly fell in love with the Keurig.  I also started to drink coffee, on occasion.  However, my coffee drinks include fancy Starbucks drinks with lots of flavoring and milk.  Essentially I don’t drink straight coffee.

 

Keurig Special Edition Cappuccino and Espresso Maker

A few years ago we upgraded our normal Keurig to the Keurig Special Edition Cappuccino and Espresso Maker and boy did it really enhance our lifestyle.  While the primary use of the machine is to make a quick tea or coffee in the morning, it has saved us a ton of money over the years by making specialty drinks.  

 

Over the years I’ve found that there is nothing I love more than a 3pm hot drink, especially in the winter when I don’t want to leave the house.  Being that I don’t drink straight coffee I’ve had to get creative with my at home creations.  That is why this new and improved Keurig is amazing!  The Keurig does so much and the cost is pretty reasonable.  Yes, we could have opted for an over the top machine like a Miele or Breville, which both cost around $2,000, but that was a bit much for our lifestyle.  

 

The Keurig offers the same functionality and drink options, but at a reasonable price point ($200).  It also has a smaller footprint that still looks fancy and high end.  Another selling point for us was there was no need to have beans on hand.  While I do think fresh ground beans taste better, they are more high maintenance to keep up with then a K-Cup Pod.  If you are looking to upgrade your daily coffee experience and don’t want to break the bank the Keurig Special Edition Cappuccino and Espresso Maker is for you.

 

Keurig Coffee Recipes

Here are some classic at home coffee drinks that will make you rethink your daily Starbucks habit.  All you need for these recipes is the Keurig machine (or another coffee maker, with a frother), coffee pods (I’ve included my favorites), sauces/syrups (caramel and vanilla) and a clear glass mug/glass because everything tastes better in a clear glass. 

Hot Drink Recipes 

Vanilla Latte

1. Insert a coffee k cup, press the latte & capp button, and press the big K in the middle.
2. When the coffee is ready add 2 tablespoons of vanilla syrup.
3. Pour cold milk into the frother up to the latte line.  Put the lid on, and press the latte button
4. Slowly pour the milk into the mug and enjoy

 

Chai Tea Latte

1. Fill the frother to the cappuccino line with Tazo Classic Chai Tea liquid
2. Add a splash of hot water to the tea
3. Put the lid on, press the latte button, when done pour into a mug
4. Pour cold milk into the frother up to the latte line.  Put the lid on, press the latte button
5. Slowly pour the frothed milk into the glass with the chai tea, stir gently and enjoy

 

Cold Drink Recipes

Iced Caramel Macchiato

1. Brew a Bustelo K Cup using the Shot option and set it aside
2. Prepare your glass.  Drizzle caramel around the sides and bottom and add 4 large ice cubes
3. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of vanilla syrup into the cup – this is optional, but it will enhance the flavor
4. Pour cold milk into the frother up to the latte line.  Put the lid on, press the cold button then the latte button
5. Pour milk into the glass 
6. Slowly pour the shot of coffee into the cup 
7. Top with more caramel sauce and enjoy

 

Iced Vanilla Latte

1. Brew a Bustelo K Cup using the Shot option and set it aside
2. Pour cold milk into the frother up to the latte line.  Put the lid on, press the cold button then the latte button
3. Prepare your glass.  Add 4 large ice cubes to your glass. 
4. Slowly pour your coffee into the glass
5. Add 2 – 3 tablespoons of vanilla syrup to the glass
6. Pour milk into the glass
7. Sweeten to taste 

 

Tips To Making Keurig Coffee Recipes

This is not rocket science, it’s just at home coffee.  So have fun and experiment, but keep in mind these helpful tips and reminders about your drinks. 

• Milk is interchangeable, you can use cows milk, almond milk or oat milk
• Cold milk always froths better
• Using an espresso pod like Bustelo provides a true cafe experience vs. a regular coffee pod
• A latte layers the coffee and milk, so your first sip is more milky and the caffeine comes in later.
• A macchiato is an upside down latte.  The milk is the base and the expresso is layered on top.  The caffeine hits a lot quicker with this drink.

 

Looking for more coffee?  Check out my at home cold brew recipe.