5 Benefits of Using K-Cup Coffee Pods

Americans love their coffee, consuming up to 9.26 lbs. per year per person, far less than Finland, the world leader in coffee consumption.

That hasn’t stopped sales of single-serving coffee machines or K-Cup coffee pods from increasing year on year. Statisticians don’t agree on a figure, but most estimate coffee consumption is growing by about 20% annually.

Find out more about why Americans are choosing to get their daily cuppa from these nifty little inventions.

What Are K-Cup Coffee Pods?

Technically, K-Cups and coffee pods are two different things. A coffee pod consists of a single serving of coffee enclosed in filter paper and sealed.

A K-Cup has a plastic cup containing the coffee and the filter. It’s sealed with an aluminum foil top that keeps the coffee fresh by protecting it from oxygen, light, and moisture.

You can only brew these cups in a K-Cup coffee maker, but pods work in ordinary drip filter machines. Due to their capsule-like appearance, many coffee lovers refer to K-Cups as K-Cup pods.

A Huge Variety to Choose From

In addition to the original Keurig K-Cup coffee pods, there are varieties available for every occasion and to suit all tastes. You can get espresso K-Cups, all kinds of tea, hot chocolate, and even hot apple cider K-Cups.

So, whether you’re inviting friends around, enjoying a quiet cuppa, or running a coffee shop, you’re guaranteed satisfaction.

Convenient and Easy to Use

You don’t need any barista skills to make a cup of great coffee with a K-Cup. You simply place it in the machine and wait for one to three minutes while it brews.

Budget-Friendly

K-Cup coffee makers are expensive at the outset, but they’ll save you a fortune if you usually get your coffee from a coffee shop.

There’s also a lot less waste when you’re only brewing one cup of coffee at a time. With traditional coffee makers, everyone has to drink one blend and there are always leftovers.

When you opt for K-Cups, everyone gets to choose their flavor and pop it into the machine.

Optimum Freshness

When you buy coffee from a supermarket, it comes in an aluminum tin or foil wrapper. This material is excellent for keeping coffee at its best, but every time you open your pack, air and light can degrade your coffee grinds or beans.

A K-Cup stays sealed until after you brew it, so you’re assured of enjoying your coffee at its best.

Easy Cleaning

With K-Cups, you don’t need to clean stubborn, stray coffee grounds out of your coffee maker. You simply dispose of the K-Cup afterward.

Weigh Your Options Carefully

The major drawback of K-Cup coffee pods is that they’re not environmentally friendly. They were initially invented for the limited office coffee market, to save workers money while going about their daily routine.

Manufacturers are feverishly working to correct this oversight, and the first environmentally-friendly varieties will be on the market soon. In the meantime, you should opt for reusable K-Cups that cut down on waste.

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