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#REDIRECT [[Keurig#Keurig_K-Cup_brewing_systems]] |
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{{Advert|date=July 2012}} |
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[[Image:K-Cup-Silo.gif|thumb|right|Five K-Cups]] |
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[[File:InsideKCup.jpg|right|thumb|The inside of a used K-Cup, with the top foil and the used coffee grounds removed. This shows the filter inside.]] |
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'''K-Cup''' portion packs are a form of single cup brewing system first introduced in 1998 by [[Keurig]] incorporated. Initially used only for coffee, k-cup varieties now include [[coffee]], [[tea]], [[hot chocolate]], iced tea and coffee, as well as fruit drinks, lemonade and apple cider. Each K-Cup is a plastic container with a [[coffee filter]] inside. [[Coffee bean|Ground coffee beans]] are packed in the K-Cup and sealed air-tight with a combination plastic and foil lid. When the K-Cup is placed in a Keurig brewer, the brewer punctures the foil lid in the bottom of the K-Cup and forces hot [[water]] under pressure through the K-Cup and into a mug. Keurig licenses its K-Cup technology to coffee roasters and tea makers such as [[Green Mountain Coffee Roasters]], Diedrich/[[Gloria Jeans]], [[Timothy's World Coffee]], [[Van Houtte]], [[Caribou Coffee]], [[Celestial Seasonings]], [[Bigelow Tea Company]], [[Twinings]], [[Tully's]], [[Coffee People]] and [[Newman's Own]]. |
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Keurig's patents on the original K-Cup design expired in September 2012.<ref>http://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intelligence/2012/11/28/the-k-cup-patent-is-dead-long-live-the-k-cup/</ref> Keurig holds at least one additional, still-active US patent<ref>http://www.google.com/patents/US6645537</ref> and another patent application,<ref>http://www.sandiegopatentattorney.pro/2012/07/green-mountain-coffee-roasters-patent-expiration-could-create-glut-of-k-cup-copies.html</ref> detailing improvements that have subsequently been incorporated in their K-Cup design. |
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==K-Cup Varieties== |
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Keurig K-Cups come in a range of varieties, flavors, and blend options. They offer single-origin coffees from [[Costa Rica]], [[Mexico]], [[Nicaragua]], [[Guatemala]], [[Colombia]], [[Brazil]], [[Kenya]], [[Ethiopia]], and [[Sumatra]]. They also offer custom coffee blends, Organic Coffees, Fair Trade and flavored coffees. And a variety of roasts including Extra Bold Roasts - with 30% more ground coffee, Dark Roast, Medium Roast, Light Roast, Flavored, Decaf, Fair Trade Certified and Organic Coffee Roasts. |
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[[File:Keurig K-cup patent drawing.jpg|thumbnail|left|Patent drawing showing the placement of the filter in the plastic "cup".]] |
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K-Cups also offer English Breakfast, Chamomile and Earl Grey decaf, Chai, Peppermint and Mango [[tea]], from a wide range of companies such as Bigelow, Cafe Escapes, Celestial Seasonings, Gloria Jean's Tea, Timothy's Tea and Twinings Tea. |
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They also offer premium hot chocolate from brands such as Cafe Escapes, Green Mountain Coffee, Timothy's and [[Ghirardelli Chocolate Company]]. |
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==K-Cup Controversy== |
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Keurig K-Cups are often cited as an environmental concern because they are not easily recyclable.<ref>[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2012/01/keurig-environmental-impact.html LA Times - Keurig Environmental Impact]</ref> Keurig has developed a reusable k-cup that is fillable with any fine ground coffee.<ref>[http://www.keurig.com/accessories/my-k-cup My K-Cup]</ref> |
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K-cups also are more costly than brewing a regular cup of coffee. Many estimates put the cost of a k-cup at double the price of a regular cup of coffee.<ref>[http://moneyland.time.com/2012/02/09/beans-vs-single-serve-cup-just-how-much-more-does-k-cup-coffee-cost/ Time Magazine]</ref> Some estimates of the same brand of coffee point out that although a k-cup may cost three times as much as brewing a regular cup at home, it is still only one third the cost of buying that same cup at a coffee shop.<ref>[http://www.coffeehouseexpress.com/k-cups/are-k-cups-cost-effective.html]</ref> |
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==See also== |
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{{portal|Coffee}} |
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* [[Coffee pod]] |
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* [[Coffee service]] |
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* [[Easy Serving Espresso Pod]] |
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* [[T-Discs]] |
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* [[Flavia Beverage Systems]] |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.keurig.com Official Keurig web site] |
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*[http://www.justkups.com/history_of_k_cups.php History of K Cups] |
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[[Category:Packaging]] |
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[[Category:Coffee brands]] |
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[[Category:Drinkware]] |
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[[Category:Single-serving coffee]] |
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Latest revision as of 06:01, 20 September 2016
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