Before Keurig, office coffee was terrible. Old. Burned. Made by someone who’d rather eyeball than measure. Just gross.
After Keurig? You made your own cup, exactly when you needed it. The single-cup brewer was an elegant fix for a common problem. At least, that’s how it started.
The Verge’s podcast Version History digs into how Keurig got way bigger than anyone expected. K-Cups took over US offices, then invaded homes. But convenience came at a cost — to your wallet, the environment, and the whole idea of what “good coffee” means.
This episode features Verge editor-at-large David Pierce, Eater’s Melissa McCart, and champion barista Morgan Eckroth. They explore Keurig’s years-long struggle to reckon with the waste problem while trying to keep up with a coffee culture that might be leaving it behind.
It’s the fourth episode of season four’s smart home theme. Previous episodes covered the Harmony remote, Roomba, and Nest thermostat. Keurig’s story might be the most relatable. Who hasn’t stared at a K-Cup and wondered if the convenience is worth it?
