It was a yr in the past that Keurig introduced it had begun working with CoffeeB to create its next-generation compostable espresso pod. The brand new pod, a puck-shaped consumable known as the Okay-Spherical, contains a absolutely compostable, plant-based container and was launched alongside the corporate’s next-generation single-serve espresso brewer, the Alta.
So when the corporate introduced final week that each the Okay-Rounds and the Alta brewer are at the moment present process beta testing in shopper houses, I used to be intrigued, because it appears to be like like we could lastly be inching nearer to a post-plastic future on this planet of single-use espresso. In response to Keurig Dr Pepper, they’re leveraging insights gathered throughout shopper testing to optimize the unboxing expertise, brewer efficiency, and the style and aroma of the drinks produced.
Keurig stated it has launched operations at a brand new, proprietary pilot manufacturing line at its R&D heart in Burlington, Massachusetts, the place it’s producing the preliminary batches of Okay-Spherical pods for beta testing. This facility will function the inspiration for refining the manufacturing course of as the corporate scales towards mass manufacturing. Keurig additionally famous it has damaged floor on a brand new roasting and manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
The corporate offered updates on the Alta’s variable strain brewing know-how, which permits for changes in brewing strain to create several types of barista-quality espresso—together with a golden, velvety crema (lastly giving them the power to rival Nespresso’s centrifuge-derived crema). Keurig says 4 forms of Okay-Rounds have been developed and are at the moment present process testing, with plans to broaden the choice within the coming months.
The corporate additionally disclosed it’s present process third-party testing to certify that its Okay-Spherical pods are compostable in each industrial and residential settings. They are saying they’re on observe to attain certification forward of the broader product launch, aligning with their aim to make 100% of their packaging recyclable or compostable by 2025 (and to additional distance themselves from previous criticism over unfulfilled sustainability claims).
Whereas Keurig’s progress on a sustainable pod system validates CoffeeB’s know-how (Keurig’s system incorporates CoffeeB’s tech together with a few of its proprietary IP), the Swiss-based division of Delica AG has been experiencing speedy progress by itself, doubling the variety of brewing programs within the discipline from 200,000 in September 2023 to 400,000 by early 2024.
