Skip to main content

As sales plummet, Keurig promises to bring back refillable K-cups

keurig brings back refillable kcups
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Back when Green Mountain Coffee Roasters first announced that it would be including a DRM-like system in its new line of single-serving Keurig coffee machines, practically everybody hated the idea except company execs. The new system was designed to block people from brewing coffee pods from other brands, and despite an overwhelmingly negative response from consumers, the company maintained that implementing this system was a good idea.

But now they’re singing a different tune. After sales of it’s DRM-equipped Keurig 2.0 machines dropped a whopping 23 percent compared to last year, the company is finally starting to realize it messed up and is taking steps to turn itself around. Moving forward, the company plans to bringing back reusable cups and allow users to brew whatever type of coffee they want, just like the good ol’ days.

In a Q2 earnings call, Keurig president and CEO Brian Kelley announced that the company will be reintroducing My K-cups: special, non-disposable pods that can be refilled with any type of loose coffee the user desires. “We heard loud and clear from consumers who really wanted the ‘My K-cup’ back,” Kelley said during a call with market analysts. “Quite honestly, we were wrong. We underestimated the passion the consumer had for this. We missed it. We shouldn’t have taken it away. We’re bringing it back.”

Don’t bother digging your old My K-Cups out of the back of the pantry, though. Even if you’ve still got one of the old models, Keurig 2.0 brewers will still require a new My K-Cup. “We are creating a My K-Cup designed specifically to work in Keurig 2.0,” a company spokesperson said.”Keurig 2.0 has a different pod receptacle, so prior My K-Cup models will not work in Keurig 2.0″

Basically, this means that Green Mountain is giving customers the ability to brew their java of choice, but isn’t doing away with the DRM-like system that blocks out competitor cups. Instead, it appears that the company plans on keeping the DRM system and aggressively pursuing unlicensed coffee brands so they can start producing compatible pods.

If you can’t beat ’em, force ’em to join you.

Editors' Recommendations

Drew Prindle
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…
FuboTV set to stream every game of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in 4K
USWNT vs Mexico

Ira L. Black/Corbis  Image used with permission by copyright holder

Soccer fans are about to be treated to the biggest event of the year: The massive, month-long 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup being held in France, from June 7 to July 7. It's a monster match, with 52 games scheduled between 24 countries. With the U.S. women's team returning as defending champs, Americans have more reason than ever to watch the action unfold. If you've already cut the cord and are now looking for a way to see the games using a live TV streaming service, your best bet is FuboTV. The sports-centric service will be streaming every game of the series in 4K, making it the only online streaming service to do so.

Read more
Amazon slashes prices on Keurig single-serve K-Cup pod coffee makers
how to descale a Keurig

Amazon slashed the price on Keurig's K475 Single-Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker for two daily deals, one with and one without a 40-pod K-Cup Green Mountain Coffee Roasters favorites collection. This deal expires tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Amazon also cut the price of the Keurig 2.0 Thermal Carafe, which can be used with the K475 Coffee Maker when you want to brew more than a single cup.

Read more
Roku (yes, Roku) make a home security camera, and it’s discounted today
The Roku Smart Home Indoor Camera on colored background.

Roku might not seem like the first brand you think of when it comes to security camera deals but you’ll be surprised how cheaply you can get a security camera at Walmart right now thanks to the discount going on. Currently, you can buy the Roku Smart Home Indoor Camera SE 2-pack for just $35 instead of $50 so you’re saving $15 while scoring some great cameras for less. Want to know more? Here’s everything we know.

Why you should buy the Roku Smart Home Indoor Camera SE 2-pack
Roku doesn’t feature in our look at the best home security cameras but don’t let that put you off. It has everything you could need from inexpensive indoor security cameras. Each camera enables you to see an entire area with 1080p HD picture in full colour. That includes at night, all via the Roku Smart Home app. It’s possible to set specific motion detection zones so you can cut down on false alerts while the camera can detect motion or sound with smart sensors even detecting body heat so you won’t see them be activated by something like a curtain moving in the wind.

Read more