Nearly three decades after Keurig created the single-serve coffee category, the brand has taken the plastic pod out of the equation. Its new Keurig Alta system brews from AltaRounds, small discs of pressed coffee wrapped in a plant-based coating, and is built to make coffee and espresso from the same machine.
The move is aimed at the more than 47 million households in the United States and Canada that already use a Keurig brewer, and at a wider audience looking for café-style drinks without single-use plastic. Keurig Dr Pepper, the company behind the brand, positions the system as a reinvention of single-serve coffee rather than an addition to it.
Keurig Alta – Highlights:
Pressed coffee wrapped in plants
At the centre of the system is the AltaRound. Coffee beans are ground, pressed into a compact round and wrapped in a proprietary plant-based coating made in part from alginate, a material derived from seaweed. The format is inspired by the way a barista tamps espresso, so water flows through the pressed coffee as it would through a packed portafilter. The coating replaces the plastic and aluminium of a conventional pod.
“The plant-based coating of the AltaRounds makes this system possible. It withstands the pressure authentic espresso requires while delivering the simplicity consumers expect from Keurig. After brewing, the grounds and coating come out as one piece that can be composted or disposed of like coffee grounds,” says Neha Mallik, Senior Director of Product Development at Keurig Dr Pepper.
Each round carries a recipe code that the brewer reads, so pressure, temperature and the water-to-coffee ratio adjust automatically for each drink. The grounds and their coating come out as a single piece, certified by BPI as home and commercially compostable, with the coating itself NSF-certified.
Coffee and espresso from one machine
The Keurig Alta can reach up to 10 bars of pressure for espresso while using a gentler profile for coffee, and it includes an integrated milk frother. That combination moves the menu from drip coffee to single and double espresso, cortado, cappuccino and a list of iced drinks, all prepared at the press of a button. The range runs from rich coffee and velvety espresso to luscious lattes, an espresso martini or a salted caramel latte.
“Everyone should be able to make exceptional coffee at home, without compromise or complex techniques. To make it possible, we removed the plastic pod so nothing stands between you and the coffee,” says Phil Drapeau, Senior Vice President, Future Coffee Systems for Keurig Dr Pepper.
The first range, Keurig Alta Coffee and Espresso, launches in six varieties: Single Shot, Double Shot, Bold Ambition, The House, Fresh Take and Sweet Spot. The assortment spans light, medium and dark roasts, with a caramel-flavoured option rounding out the line, and the coffee is responsibly sourced.
A system built to grow
The brewer stays backward compatible with K-Cup pods, so existing Keurig users can keep their favourite varieties while moving to AltaRounds. Peet’s Coffee is set to follow as a foundational brand in the system, with more coffee brands expected over time.
Keurig Alta is available in the United States at KeurigAlta.com for $499.99, in three finishes — white, sandstone with satin stainless, and graphite. AltaRounds sell in packs of eight, priced from $9.99 to $10.99 depending on variety, with AutoRefresh recurring delivery for restocking. A limited pre-order sold out in under 24 hours. The result, Keurig argues, is a system that keeps the convenience single-serve coffee is known for while removing the packaging that has defined it since the category began.
Editorial Team
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