Keurig
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| Type | (subsidiary of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters) |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Reading, Massachusetts |
| Parent | Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc, |
| Website | www.keurig.com |
Keurig is a Reading, Massachusetts-based coffee machine manufacturing company, known for its K-Cup single-serving coffee pod brewing system.
Contents |
[edit] Company
Keurig was founded in 1990 by Peter Dragone and John Sylvan (who have since left the company),[1] with later support from co-founder and current Vice President of Contract Manufacturing & Quality Assurance Dick Sweeney in 1993.[2] In 2006, they became a subsidiary of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.[3][4]
In North America, Keurig claims the following market presence as of 2010[3]:
- 2.5 million beverages dispensed per day
- 200,000 office installations
- 6% of all coffee brewed in offices in the USA
[edit] K-Cup system
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.
[edit] Machine models
Keurig currently offers the following models:
- Household use only
- B30 Mini (available in multiple colors)
- B31 Mini Plus (available in black, red and platinum)
- B40 Elite
- B44 Classic (available from grocery stores)
- B60 Special Edition
- B66 Ultimate Edition (available from Costco)
- B70 Platinum (available primarily in black, but also in "Cinnamon" from Kohl's, Costco, Bed Bath & Beyond and Bon-Ton department stores)
- B79 Platinum Plus Edition (has rinse feature and hot water dispensing feature)
- Commercial use
- B3000SE
- B200
- B155
- B150
- B140
- OfficePro
- DeskPro
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.
[edit] K-Cup varieties
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.
[edit] List of brands
-
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
The following brands offer products in the K-Cup packaging:
- Barista Prima Coffeehouse
- Bigelow Tea Company
- Cafe Escapes
- Caribou Coffee
- Celestial Seasonings
- Coffee People
- Diedrich/Gloria Jean's/Coffee People (Donut Shop Coffee)
- Donut House
- Dunkin' Donuts[5]
- Emeril
- Folgers
- Ghirardelli
- Gloria Jean's
- Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
- Grove Square Coffee
- Keurig coffee
- Millstone Coffee
- Newman's Own
- revv
- San Francisco Coffee Company
- Starbucks [6]
- Swiss Miss
- Tazo
- Timothy's World Coffee
- Tully's Coffee
- Twinings
- Van Houtte
- Wolfgang Puck[7]
[edit] See also
[edit] Sources
- "Keurig Brewing". Keurig. http://www.keurig.com/explore/brew.asp. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- "About K-Cups". Keurig. http://www.keurig.com/explore/choose.asp. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
[edit] References
- ^ "Taking a Niche Player Big-Time". Jan 1, 2004. http://www.inc.com/magazine/20040101/casestudy.html. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
- ^ "NJIT Alumnus Dick Sweeney, Co-Founder of Keurig, Receives NJIT's Entrepreneurial Award". Nov 30 2006.
- ^ a b "Corporate Profile" (PDF). Keurig. http://www.keurig.com/keurig_CoProfile.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ^ "Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. to Acquire Remaining 65% of Keurig, Incorporated." Business Wire: 1. ABI/INFORM Complete. May 02 2006. Web. 12 Dec. 2011 .
- ^ "Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. and Dunkin’ Donuts to Make America’s Favorite Coffee Available in K-Cup Portion Packs for Keurig Single-Cup Brewers" (PDF). Keurig. http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/GMCR/1391385852x0x449105/b6802d18-e99c-4584-81f8-8591cbbfa44d/GMCR_News_2011_3_10_Corporate_Releases.pdf. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
- ^ "Starbucks Corporation and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. Enter Into Strategic Manufacturing, Marketing, Distribution and Sales Relationship" (PDF). Keurig. http://investor.gmcr.com/common/download/download.cfm?CompanyID=GMCR&FileID=449105&FileKey=b6802d18-e99c-4584-81f8-8591cbbfa44d&FileName=GMCR_News_2011_3_10_Corporate_Releases.pdf. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
- ^ "Keurig - gourmet coffees from premium brands - KCups". Keurig. 2010. http://www.keurig.com/shop/k-cups/all-k-cups?hdnCategoryFacets=Brand%3AWolfgang%20Puck. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
