Keurig: The K-Cup invasion
Summary
Host David Pierce joins Eater’s Melissa McCart and barista champion Morgan Ekroth to explore the history of the Keurig coffee maker. They trace its origins from a 1980s office solution to a ubiquitous home appliance, discussing the founders' early struggles and the "razors and blades" business model. The episode also covers Keurig’s controversial DRM tactics, the environmental backlash against K-Cup waste, and the co-founder’s eventual regret over the product's impact on coffee culture.
Topics discussed
Intro, ads, and host coffee habits
Guest introductions and personal brewing preferences
The origin story of Keurig and John Sylvestre
Early engineering challenges and the K-Cup invention
The rise of specialty coffee vs. Keurig's convenience
Corporate struggles, funding, and the first home models
Studio demo: Brewing and tasting the B100 Keurig
Market dominance, patent wars, and third-party pods
The environmental backlash and 'Kill the K-Cup'
Alternative pod systems and American coffee culture
Corporate mergers and the new K-Rounds system
The pendulum swing between convenience and quality
Version History Hall of Fame: Keurig evaluation
Final verdict, legacy, and outro
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