How Keurig saved — and ruined — your coffee
The Verge's 'Version History' podcast explores Keurig's journey from solving bad office coffee to facing environmental and quality criticisms.
Before Keurig, office coffee was often terrible — old, burnt, and poorly made. The single-cup brewer offered an elegant solution: a fresh cup exactly when needed. But as 'Version History' podcast host David Pierce, along with Eater's Melissa McCart and champion barista Morgan Eckroth, discover, convenience came at a cost.
Keurig machines and K-Cups became ubiquitous in US offices and homes, but the system faced backlash over plastic waste and mediocre coffee quality. The company has spent years trying to address these issues while catching up to evolving coffee culture.
This episode is part of 'Version History' season four, focusing on smart home technology. Previous episodes covered the Harmony remote, Roomba vacuum, and Nest thermostat.
