Keurig is a coffee machine manufacturing company that is a subsidiary of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc.. Its machines are all designed to quickly brew a single cup of coffee or tea. The grounds are in prepared, single-serving K-Cups. The user simply inserts a K-Cup, places a mug under the machine, and presses a button; within 30-60 seconds, a small, medium, or large cup of coffee or tea is prepared. By omitting the K-cup, users can also prepare a mug of hot water, which can then be used for hot cocoa, tea, instant soup, or other hot drinks.
Currently there are four models of Keurig offered for household use only: the Elite, Special Edition, Platinum, and the Breville made by the Australian company of the same name. There are also four models offered for commercial use: the B3000, the B200, the B140, and the Office Pro. There is also a model rated for both household and commercial use called the Mini which, unlike any other model, is offered in three colors: black, white, and red.[1]
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 commercial machines 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.
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 pressurized 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 is the default setting, with some models permitting users to reduce the temperature somewhat, as per preference.
Keurig has ties to a number of coffee roasters, tea makers and other beverage makers, which have created K-Cup versions of their products. Many of these companies offer fair-trade and organic varieties of their beverages. Van Houtte, Timothy's, and Emeril's are among the dozens included in the list.
Since the flavour of each beverage is contained within each single-use disposable K-Cup, the Kuerig machine can be used to brew different beverages.
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 it is only compatible with home brewer models.
See also
References
- ^ General information taken from keurig.com and gmcr.com
External links
