As I write this, the next generation Keurig machine is moments away from hitting American consumers. Keurig is doing everything to get the word out. I’ve had a sneak preview here and there, places such as SCAA’s recent Conference and the International Housewares Show, where prototypes were on display. I will disclose that they’ve even brought me out here to Los Angeles to witness their opening night amidst a hand-selected group. To their credit, Keurig has not attempted to influence my view of the machine, which I have not of course, had enough experience with to review. I’m to offer tasting notes on some of their blends and discuss food pairing, Actually, it’s refreshing to see a coffee maker manufacturer start off high be discussing both their machine and coffee, but of course this is a benefit of Keurig’s and Green Mountain’s marriage, a company large and sophisticated enough to really understand both the hardware and software aspects of their product.
The Keurig 2.0 has several interesting aspects. Most amazing is its ability to accommodate both the K-Cup and Vue pods. This is fortunate because the Vue was Keurig’s attempt to put forth an improved K-Cup that might appeal to high-end Third Wave coffee holdouts. It held more coffee grounds and used a different piercing technology to introduce water to the pod, with the result of more thoroughly extracting the coffee flavor. It failed as a standalone product only because it caused market confusion. Potential Vue customers had last minute sales resistance about getting hardware that offered fewer software choices. That killed it for many, many enough that Keurig withdrew the Vue this past year.
The Keurig 2.0 employs a complex mechanism to allow their new 2.0 to use both K-Cups and Vue pods. This also offers the public who did invest in Vue hope that their format will continue to be supported. I’m hopeful that 2.0 will retain the Vue’s improved brewing temperature range.
Even more profound for consumers will be the 2.0’s offering an even larger batch size. Keurig realizes that the brewing public wants 1 to 4 cups, and they’ve done that. I viewed their approach and new pod sizes last night and I suspect this will really be well received. Flexibility, with none of the down sides to compromise taste, nor having to figure anything out.
My hobby is brewing coffee, but I’m enough of a realist to know that this is simply not true for most people. They simply want a good cup, quickly, with knowledge equivalent with their other consumer needs. The Keurig 2.0 appears to solve several needs for them. For many coffee drinkers, this introduction is exciting news.
My parents are still hold outs on the Tassimo/T Disc. Do you have any experience with that technology? I would love to get them something at least moderately better, but they are really set on the single cup convenience.
Hi Alex,
I tested a Tassimo and it was a nice machine. No basic issues, but the software might be slim. Like it or not, the K-Cup is the reigning format. Many roasters are gearing up with K-Cups. My humble opinion of course.
Kevin
Thanks for the response, I will attempt to broach the subject once again!
Just purchased Safeway Select Pods for my Keurig 2.0…the machine will not recognize the pods!!! What has changed?
Hi Ray,
Okay, here’s what’s going on. The Keurig 2.0 system features Keurig 2.0 Brewing Technology, which means it reads a code from the inserted pack and brew each beverage in the specific way. It is similar to Kodak’s later film cameras that would automatically set the film sensitivity. However, here’s the rub. For quality-control reasons, single-serve packs from brandhofilm w s that are not part of the Keurig system will not work in Keurig 2.0.
I realize that’s not good news, but Keurig made a choice. I’m sure some will be critical and accuse them of locking out non-licensed products, but there are justifications Keurig could claim, such as making it foolproof using a wider range of products (not just coffee either). There are lots of products that are not backward compatible. This is one of them.
Warmly,
Kevin
I am on my third Keurig and I’m not happy.. same thing happens it get to be about a year , year and a half and it starts acting up or quits working. Number three here is a year a half and is a king up. It will not make chocolate or cappuccino at all and on reg. Coffee it is starting to skip when it makes it. I was so very excited when i got my forst keurig and talked about how great it was- now I am starting to really regret my decision. I’m sad and mad about it. I have about ten different coffees on hand at all times. PLEASE HELP…………….
Keurig made a good machine, but they appear to have grown too fast. Most coffee drinkers graduate to a better K-Cup machine or to something else as they develop their taste buds. This is a problem not limited to Keurig, but to all mass product manufacturers. To my knowledge, there’s no ‘K-Cup Technivorm’, a reference to a top level built-to-last coffee maker using that brewing format. The Bunn My Cafe was about the best one I tested, both for its approximately 195F brewing temperature and its ruggedness. Whether or not it’s built like a Technivorm, it’s likely to last longer than a Keurig machine.