I was really enjoying the Keurig until...

Unfortunately, it stopped working after three months.  I called the number provided by them and was connected to a fellow who thought he could tell me how to fix it.  First of all, he asked what water we were using.  I told him our water goes through a water softener; I didn't bother to tell him that without the water softener, no coffee pot can take our super-calcium-laden water for more than a week.  Believe me, I learned this from experience.  I wish I recalled how many grains per whatever the content is, but just trust me: when the Culligan man tested it, he was shocked.  On the bright side, think of all the years I got my calcium supplemented by drinking water.

Turns out you are supposed to have a filter of some kind in place if you use a water softener, or else you can buy water.  Up until now, this whole Keurig experience has shown me two things:  1.  Fresh-made coffee every time is wonderful.  2.  Keurig requires very expensive coffee. 

The guy had me unplug the pot, plug it back in, dump out the water in the reservoir and refill it.  It still wouldn't work, so he said "Oh, did you use cold water?" and I said yes.  "I should have told you to use room-temperature or luke-warm water."  I filled it again per his instructions, knowing in my heart this was not going to make it work.  Oh, it came on and made some noise, but no water came out.  

Finally he gave up and said they'd send me a new pot.  I am to send them the K-cup holder part of my present one so they will know I'm not making up a story just to get a new coffee-maker.

I think we over-use the Keurig.  I doubt whether they were intended to put a gallon or so of coffee through that little pin-hole every day.  Fresh coffee is so good, we have actually been drinking even more than ever.  

It reminds me of the time Cliff and I bought a treadmill at Sears, so we could walk in wintertime.  Each of us used it for an hour a day.  Within a month, it needed fixing.  The guy who came to the house informed us these treadmills aren't designed for that much use; you have to go to a specialty place and buy a professional model.  

We returned it, because what good is a treadmill you can't use?  

I'm not buying a filter, and I won't be buying water.  I dragged the old Bunn out of the closet for the present.  When the replacement Keurig comes, we'll use it as we have been.  If it quits again in three months, we'll just have to get used to coffee as we've been drinking it for years.  Thats what I had this morning.  I can get used to it again.  

It's just one more price we pay for living in the country and using well water.    

I only hope our new bread-maker holds up longer than the Keurig!