Single Cup Brewing Systems – Why Is Keurig Leading the Way in This Market?
There are many products available today for single serve brewing at home or in the workplace. You may have seen commercials on TV for Keurig, Senseo, and Dolce Gusto and dd cup
wondered how each brew system works and which one is the best. The latter really is dependent on things like the amount of money you are willing to pay, what features you require, and what coffees you prefer. In this article, you will be introduced to the Keurig brewing system, and discover not only how it works, but where you can get brewers and drinks at the best prices.
The Keurig Story
Keurig originated in 1992, upon a foundation centered on excellence. In fact, the name ‘Keurig’ is the Dutch word for excellence. Keurig wanted to produce a brewer that was small enough to be used at home, yet effective at brewing up a consistently fresh coffee every time. However, the brewer itself would be only part of the equation. The end result would be a total system that would include single portion packs that would do away with the need for measuring, and provide an easy clean-up. Through research, innovation and trials, by 1998 they had debuted their first single-cup brewer. An essential element of this system is the portion packs, which they named K Cup, short for ‘Keurig cup’. This patented technology allows a single cup to be brewed in under a minute, and with the exact pre-measured amount of grounds in each k cup consumers can rest assured to have consistent taste from cup to cup.
What Exactly is a K Cup and How Does It Work?
K cups are composed of plastic, and each cup contains a filter and coffee grounds, cocoa, tea or whatever the intended beverage. The benefit of this little single portion pack is that you don’t have to grind and measure and hope for a consistent taste each time you brew. It’s all done for you. The coffee is pre-ground and pre-measured in a convenient little cup. The k cups are sealed with a foil lid, which locks out moisture and oxygen, both of which degrade the freshness and flavor of coffee.
To brew you simply place a k cup in the brewer and as the lid closes the foil lid, as well as, the bottom of the plastic cup are punctured. Through a nozzle, hot water flows into the k cup steeping the grounds and flowing through the filter and down into your mug. It really is that simple. To clean up, remove the spent k cup and throw it into your trash can.
What Kinds of Coffees and Other Drinks Are Available in K Cups?
The Keurig brew system has a great variety of beverages available in k cups. Very well-known brands such as, Caribou, Tully’s, Timothy’s World Coffee, Gloria Jean’s, Emeril’s, Newman’s Own, Wolfgang Puck, Folger’s, Green Mountain, Coffee People and many more can easily be found online, as well as, in your local stores. There are actually over 250 different flavors of coffee, tea, cocoa, and other specialty drinks available on the market for Keurig brew system users. From decaf, to breakfast blends, dark roasts, extra bold, flavored coffees, world-class hot chocolates, ciders and more, you will have scores of options when using the k cup system for your single-cup brewing.
Can I Use My Own Coffee?
One of the benefits that set the Keurig single-serve brew system apart from the competition is the fact that you can use your own coffee grounds. This opens the options and possibilities tremendously for the user. Not only does it help diminish waste and expense, but it allows you to use your favorite brands, flavors, and grind. Using your own grind level and getting to find your optimal amount of grounds used in relation to the cup size you brew gives you the ultimate control over the flavor and strength of your coffee. When looking at single serve brewing systems, you will find that single serve brewing is not a cheap endeavor. Finding an option that allows you as much freedom with not only the selection already on the shelves in single portion packs, but the ability to use your own grounds makes it a little less limiting than the competition and the decision becomes a little easier to make.