Review: Keurig Vue Brewing System...

Here's something most of you don't know about me: I’ve never been much of a coffee drinker. In fact, until a few weeks ago I’ve never even owned a coffee maker. Hard to believe? It's true! If I got the taste for a latte, I’d just pop into that name-brand coffee shop and have one. Now, I can just walk into my kitchen…and I’m good to go! No long lines, it's more cost-effective…and I can even be in my pajamas. All of this is thanks to Keurig Vue. Last month, Keurig  generously sent me one of their new Vue brewing systems to try out and share my thoughts with you. I jumped at the chance to test drive the Vue, and it’s been a really great experience. I’ve been intrigued by the concept of Keurig machines for ages: individual cups of coffee and other drinks ready in about a minute. Since I don't drink much coffee, I wrongly assumed that it wasn't something I'd use enough to justify it taking up space on my counter. I've heard family and friends rave about their Keurig machines for the past couple of years. After using my Vue for a few weeks, I totally understand why! This machine is amazing, even if you don't drink coffee. This versatile machine can be used to make cocoa, tea, and even iced drinks. 

Vue is Keurig’s newest model, and it’s got all the bells and whistles! It’s tagline is, “Brew what you love, the way you love it.” That pretty much sums it up, folks. The Vue’s reservoir holds 77 ounces of water, so you only have to refill it every few days. You can even adjust the strength, as well as the size, of  your drink -- 4, 6, 8, or 10 ounces -- via its interactive touchscreen. Heck, you can even adjust the temperature level of your drinks to avoid a burnt tongue. It also features pre-set brewing modes for coffee, cocoa, tea, and iced drinks. However you like your drink, the Vue can personalize it! I received the machine and a 10-pack variety of Vue cups that included an assortment of coffee, cocoa, and tea. Setup was easy, and I was ready to brew my first drink in about 15 minutes. Let me show you how easy it is to brew a cup of hot cocoa. Once the machine is set up and filled with water, it takes about a minute to brew a fresh cup of cocoa!

Simply set your favorite mug on the pedestal, directly under where the beverage will brew out. Add a Vue cup to the machine and close the lid. Use the touchscreen to select the Cocoa setting, and decide how big you want your drink to be -- 8 ounces was suggested for cocoa. Finally, press the Brew button...within a few seconds, the cocoa is brewing and into your cup. How you choose to top it is up to you...I added bit of peppermint extract and topped my cocoa with whipped cream and chopped peppermint for a fabulous holiday treat!

Step 1: Set your mug on the base of the machine...and decide
what you want to brew.

Step 2: Add the Vue cup to the machine and
close the lid. Select the Cocoa setting and your desired
drink size.

Step 3: Press the Brew button...and your cocoa starts
brewing immediately. About a minute later? Cocoa time!

Step 4: Add your own personal touch: peppermint extract,
whipped cream, and crushed peppermint works for me!

Within the first few days, we enjoyed cocoa, tea, and latte with our Vue. I’ve already purchased full-size packages of Milk Chocolate Cocoa and Vanilla Latte. I especially love the vanilla latte, because I can doctor it up with extracts and flavorings depending on my mood. One of my favorites is a bit of hazelnut syrup! I have a few coffee Vue cups on hand for when the mood hits…or for  we have company. Now that I have the Vue brewing system, our guests who drink coffee won’t have to run out in the mornings to get a cup of coffee. It’s a win-win: my guests will be happy, and I’ll feel like the hostess with the mostest!

Keurig sells a nice variety of Vue Cups from well-known brands, including: Green Mountain Coffee, Celestial Seasonings, Gloria Jean’s, Newman’s Own, and Emeril’s. If you already own a standard Keurig, keep in mind that K-cups are too small to be used in a Vue machine. Vue Cups don't currently come in as many flavor options as K-cups, but a Keurig representative tells me that more flavor options will be added in the coming months. After using this machine for just a  few weeks, I’m a huge fan! Keurig Vue would be a fabulous holiday gift for anybody on your shopping list who enjoys convenience and quality beverages. To learn more about Keurig Vue and find out where they can be purchased, visit the Store Locator at the Keurig webpage. You can also Like Keurig on Facebook to be among the first to know about their latest news and special offers!

Disclosure: Keurig provided me with a free Vue brewing system and a sample pack of Vue Cups to facilitate this review and resulting post. The opinions expressed in this post are mine.