Keurig Unveils Alta Brewer With Compostable Coffee Pods
Keurig's Alta is its first single-serve machine built for plastic- and aluminum-free AltaRound pods, and the $500 preorder bundle has already sold out.
Keurig announced the Alta, its first single-serve coffee maker designed to work with plastic- and aluminum-free coffee pods. The machine runs on AltaRound pods, a compostable compressed coffee round wrapped in a plant-based seaweed material, according to Wired.
The Alta punctures each AltaRound and applies 10 bars of pressure to extract the coffee. It also includes a built-in milk frother and a built-in K-Cup brewer, so the machine can still handle Keurig's existing pod format.
At launch, AltaRounds will be sold in three styles: single espresso, double espresso, and regular coffee. A pack of eight AltaRounds is priced at $10 to $11.
Sold-out preorder bundle
In the US, Keurig is offering a bundle that pairs the Alta brewer with four boxes of AltaRounds and Flur glasses for $500. That preorder bundle has already sold out.
The launch follows years of work by Keurig to rethink the pod system. The disposable K-Cup first launched in 1998, and Keurig has been beta-testing a prototype of the new pod format in homes as it explored a replacement for the K-Cup.
Quick answers
What are AltaRound pods made of?
AltaRounds are compostable compressed coffee rounds wrapped in a plant-based seaweed material, with no plastic or aluminum.
How much does the Keurig Alta bundle cost?
The US preorder bundle with the Alta brewer, four boxes of AltaRounds, and Flur glasses costs $500. It has already sold out.
Which AltaRound coffee types are available at launch?
AltaRounds come in single espresso, double espresso, and regular coffee at launch, with a pack of eight costing $10 to $11.