Recycling Used K-cups

We've been gathering ideas for you to recycle those used k-cups. Here are our favorite ideas:

• Use them to hold finger paints, if the pod has a hole punched in the bottom, dry it off very well and place some good tape over it to keep the paint from leaking out.
• Make your own place-card holders for dinner parties by wrapping cute paper around the K-Cups. Cut slits on the bottom to hold the cards.
• Use to start vegetable seedlings.
• Use them to create stampers.

Or you can purchase a reusable coffee filter system to use in your Keurig.

What ways have you reused your k-cups?

Coffee During Old Timey Days

In older times, before the coffee maker was invented, but after coffee was discovered, people had methods of creating a coffee beverage so that they could enjoy the benefits that coffee can provide.

Brewing coffee has typically been the most utilized method of creating a coffee drink. Some pioneers would boil the coffee grounds then allow them to settle in the bottom of their cup before drinking in order to make their coffee.

Those that were lucky had a coffee percolator pot. Many pioneers would use the percolator as it was easier to use during long trips. They would hang the pot above their fire to allow their coffee to brew.

Photo Taken at Smokey Mountain Heritage Center

You may have also heard of cowboy coffee, which is a method that cowboys would use where they boiled the ground coffee beans, then the drink was strained through cloth, usually an old sock.

Photo Taken at Shockley's Old Timey Days

The modern coffee maker has changed how coffee is made, it has made coffee much easier, especially the one cup coffee brewers that are now on the market. Have you ever tried the more primitive ways of making coffee from the days of old?

Brewing Coffee Measurements

There are many things that determine a good cup of coffee, some of these things are the freshness, type of bean, when the coffee was ground, how it's been stored, well the list goes on, but did you know that having the proper ratio of coffee to water when brewing is just as important as all of the other factors that go into making a good cup of coffee?

Many coffee houses use more coffee grounds than most people use at home in their own coffee maker. Coffee houses usually use 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds per 6 ounces of water. In order to get this ratio right you will need to determine what size your coffee maker's pot considers to be a cup. In typical kitchen measurements a standard cup is 8 ounces, but many 8 and 10 cup coffee makers use a varied measure on this standard. Some use a 6 ounce standard; some though consider a cup to be even less. Check your coffee maker's manual or test your pot using a proper measuring cup because you want to use the right coffee to water ratio for the best tasting coffee.

So keep in mind:

2 Tablespoons Coffee Grounds to 6 Ounces Water

Create Your Own Coffee Bar

Ever wish you had a dedicated area to make your own coffee? Or just a place that you can keep your coffee things within easy reach, but still have it look neat and organized? A coffee bar may be just the solution that you need.

A coffee bar can vary from extremely simple to a bar that is decked out with coffee, tea, and other hot beverage items.

A small buffet or dresser can work as the base for your coffee bar. Then of course you will need your coffee maker  and some shelves above the bar for extra storage,. You will want to have space to store all your coffee related items from your coffee mugs, to your coffee grounds/beans, coffee grinder, etc.

If you need to hide some of your coffee items, then baskets on the shelves will help to keep smaller easily cluttered items organized for you. Mason jars also work well for helping add storage to your coffee bar.

Original image by insidious_plots.

Are you working on your own coffee bar? Already have one? What tips for storage, etc do you have for someone who is starting their own?

Coffee At College

With the students back in college, some are probably beginning to realize that it can get a bit pricey to purchase coffee from a coffee house each day. So what are some options for the thrifty student who loves their coffee?

If you consider that purchasing just 1 coffee a day 5 days a week can run from a little over $20 a month to as much as or more than $100 a month (depending on where and what type of coffee is purchased) You can easily justify purchasing a coffee maker, so long as it is taken care of it will surpass the time limit it needs to pay for itself.

Most people will go the route of purchasing a small drip coffee maker, just big enough for one, or a single serve coffee maker. But what about those who are used to a different tasting coffee? There is always the coffee press, but in a dorm room, you need a way to heat up water. In this case, you will want to look into an electric kettle, so that the option of having heated water to use with your french press is available.

Be sure to take care of your coffee appliances, and feel free to create your own unique coffee recipes to find the perfect coffee for you.

Need ideas for coffee recipes, want more info on coffee makers? Visit some of our previous blogs:

Coffee Recipes

How to use a Melitta One Cup Coffee Maker
How to Use a Reusable Coffee Filter with Keurig
How to Brew Great Coffee In a Drip Coffee Maker

How to Use a Coffee Percolator

For an old fashioned coffee taste you will want to learn how to use a coffee percolator. Many people will argue that coffee is not as good of quality when used in a percolator, but it just depends on what your own particular preference of taste is. Also a percolator is an ideal way to fix coffee for a large group of people.

First you will need a coffee percolator, coarse ground coffee, a measuring spoon, if your percolator is a stovetop then you will need a stove, if it is electric, an outlet, and you will also need water. Water definitely tends to help in the coffee making process.

Use the markings that are inside of your percolator pot to know how much water you want to add. Place the coffee pot basket in (use your percolator instructions for this as some are a little different). If you want to use a paper coffee filter in the basket, now would be the time to put it in.

For each cup of water that you have put into your coffee percolator you will want to add one tablespoon of your coarsely ground coffee grounds to the coffee pot basket. You can adjust this amount if you prefer stronger or weaker coffee, just tweak to your preferred taste.

Put your basket cover on top of the basket. Then put on the percolator top, being sure that it closes securely.

Here is where the instructions will vary depending on what type of percolator you have:

For a stove top percolator: Place the percolator on the stove and cook over medium heat. You will know that your coffee is done brewing when the coffee is the desired color in the clear glass knob on top of the percolator.

For an electric percolator: Plug it in and allow to percolate until it is done.

Once your coffee is done, remove from heat or unplug and serve. Be careful as percolated coffee can sometimes be a bit hotter than drip coffee.

10 Alternatives to Coffee

Maybe you are trying to cut back on your coffee intake, or just want something a little bit different. We have composed a list of 10 alternatives to coffee. So let your coffee maker take a break and try out these beverages:

1. Smoothies with nut butter, the protein from the nut butter gives you a bit of an energy boost. Get out your blender and try creating some unique smoothies.
2. Wheatgrass juice is bragged about for it's healthy benefits, want to try it? You may need a wheatgrass juicer if it becomes a daily habit.
3. Chai Lattes are similar enough to coffee that if you are cutting coffee to cut back on caffeine then you can trick your brain into thinking it is getting coffee. Chai does have some caffeine in it, but not as much as coffee does.
4. Lemon water. The citrus taste will help give you a bit of a jolt. 
5. Pomegranate juice. Drink alone or mix with a smoothie.
6. Prune juice, drink alone or dilute with water or apple juice.
7. Peppermint tea. The minty flavor will tingle your tastebuds helping you to perk up.
8. Green tea. Many people like green tea since it helps some to feel more energized.
9. Hot chocolate. 
10. Warm fruit ciders.