Single cup coffee has been around for many years in varying forms, but it was not until recently that serious coffee drinkers have taken an interest. Over the years there have been attempts in the commercial office coffee environment, to come up with a decent single cup coffee system but most have fallen short of the quality that true coffee lovers desire. One big reason for the failure was that the coffee was not truly fresh brewed but rather freeze dried.
Then it arrived…. It was ten years ago that Keurig® came on the scene and changed everything. Partnering with Green Mountain Coffee®, Keurig® managed to start a revolution in the workplace with a single cup coffee system that was simple to use, required very little user maintenance and produced an excellent cup of fresh brewed coffee. Not only could we get a great cup of coffee but we also had a choice. In the beginning choices ranged from somewhere around 10-20 varieties of roast profiles and flavored coffees. Our jobs were now worth going to, knowing the steaming hot cup that awaited us, but wait what about weekends??
Good coffee at home….While Keurig® was busy in the workplace people were looking for ways to fill the void at home. Along came coffee pods! Melitta® was one of the first on scene in the U.S. to offer a reasonably priced single cup coffee pod maker, the One:One. Coupled with coffees like “Buzzworthy” and “Cafe Kind of Day” not only did we now have a reason to wake up on Sunday but we also had coffees that fit our mood. About the same time Senseo® arrived in the USA and with it’s smooth frothy topping and cute “elbow macaroni” design people instantly feel in love. Mr. Coffee® and Black & Decker® soon followed along with the “Home Cafe” pod brewer. Great single cup coffee had finally made it’s way into our kitchens.
Keurig® comes home…One comment always made by employees with a Keurig® in their office was “I wish I had one at home”. Keurig® was well aware of the commotion they started in the workplace and after a few years of waiting finally delivered the B100, their first home brewer. Keurig® has since realeased 3 more models, the B40, B60, and B70 units.
Single cup coffee is here to stay, most of us who have tried it could never turn back!