| Type | Private (subsidiary of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters) |
|---|---|
| Founded | Reading, Massachusetts 1992 |
| Headquarters | Reading, Massachusetts |
Keurig is a Reading, Massachusetts-based coffee machine manufacturing company, known for its K-Cup single-serving brewing system.
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Keurig was founded in 1992 by Olaf Keurig. In 2006, they became a subsidiary of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.[1][2]
In North America, Keurig claims the following market presence as of 2010[1]:
K-Cup machines are all designed to quickly brew a single cup of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or other hot beverage. The grounds (or other brew material) are supplied in a prepared, single-serving unit, called a "K-Cup". Once the machine has warmed up, the user inserts a K-Cup into the machine, places a mug under the spout, and presses the brew button; within 20 to 60 seconds, the beverage is ready. By omitting the K-Cup, users can also dispense a mug of hot water.
Keurig machines brew coffee or tea by piercing the foil seal on top of the plastic K-Cup with a spray nozzle, while simultaneously piercing the bottom of the K-cup with a discharge nozzle. Grounds contained inside the K-cup sit within a paper filter. A measured quantity of hot water is forced through the K-Cup, passing through the grounds and through the filter into the waiting cup or mug below. A brewing temperature of 192 degrees Fahrenheit (89 Celsius) is the default setting, with some models permitting users to reduce the temperature somewhat, per preference.
Keurig currently offers the following models:
There are also models from Breville, made by the Australian company of the same name, Cuisinart, and Mr. Coffee all introduced in 2010.
Commercial Keurig machines automatically remove used K-Cups into a disposal receptacle within the machine. Machines intended for home or small office use require the used K-Cup to be removed manually before brewing the next beverage. Another difference between the two classes of machines is that some commercial models are connected to a water supply line, whereas some of the home and small office machines have water tanks that need to be refilled manually.
K-Cups come in a range of varieties, flavored coffee, and roast and blend options. Keurig has ties to a number of coffee roasters, tea makers and other beverage makers, which have created K-Cup versions of their products.
In addition to prepackaged filters, Keurig also produces a reusable filter called the My-K Cup, which allows conventional ground coffee to be used. The My K-Cup is an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable K-Cups, but compatible only with home brewer models; it also allows the use of coffees not available in K-cup form, which can drastically reduce both the expense and waste of K-cups. In addition, some companies have created lids allowing users to reuse spent K-cups.
The following brands offer products in the K-Cup packaging: