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)
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[7]
- Emeril
- Folgers Gourmet Selections
- Ghirardelli
- Gloria Jean's
- Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
- Grove Square Coffee
- Keurig coffee
- Millstone Coffee
- Newman's Own
- revv
- San Francisco Coffee Company
- Starbucks [8]
- Swiss Miss
- Tazo
- Timothy's World Coffee
- Tully's Coffee
- Twinings
- Van Houtte
- Wolfgang Puck[9]
[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 .
- ^ Michelle Stacy. Keurig Shopping Guide. Reading, MA: Michelle Stacy, 2011. Print.
- ^ Michelle Stacy. Keurig Shopping Guide. Reading, MA: Michelle Stacy, 2011. Print.
- ^ "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.
