May 25 2010
Coffee K Cups
Single cup coffee makers are not completely new to the coffee world. However, the way in which the single-cup coffee maker operates has been revolutionized. Early one-cup coffee makers used a coffee filter and basket system and brewed coffee the same way full-sized coffee makers do. The K-Cup changed this method forever.
Coffee K-cups are single-serve coffees that are designed to be used in the Keurig coffee maker. These individual containers of coffee are placed in the Keurig’s hopper which pierces the plastic container from the bottom and the top and allows the hot water that is forced through them to make the perfect single cup of coffee every time.
Coffee K-cups have become widely popular for many reasons. One is the freshness of the coffee that is served. Every coffee K-cup is designed for a one-time use, there is never coffee left sitting in a glass carafe to become stale or scorched due to excessive heating. Another factor in the coffee K-cup’s popularity is that it doesn’t leave a mess behind. Once the coffee is brewed, the plastic cup is removed from the hopper and disposed of in the trash.
Coffee K-cups are not the only types of K-cups. Keurig and other coffee manufacturers realized the popularity of the machine and added hot teas, iced teas and cocoa’s to the K-cup line up. Keurig has changed the way public offices, private offices and even homeowners serve up their coffee. By using K-cups, individuals can choose more than just what they put in their coffee; they can choose the actual coffee they brew each time they reach for a cup of coffee.
K-cups can be purchased through the Keurig website and in many retail shops that carry the Keurig machine. There are also coffee websites that offer routine shipments on a monthly basis at a discounted price for joining. These memberships make it much simpler to keep a stock of K-cups on hand and never run out. That would be the one downside to K-cups, they are not readily available in local grocery stores and although they can be found in a few retail stores, it is a good idea to find out where in the community one is located unless a coffee club membership is purchased.
While K-cups are a major player in the world of single-serve coffee makers, they are not the only player. There are single-serve coffee makers that use pods rather than K-cups. The end result is still an individualized cup of coffee made fresh on demand.
-Sharon Chapman