Keurig Dr Pepper Testing Plastic-Free Coffee Pods With Consumers

Keurig Dr Pepper has spent the last year developing a new plastic- and aluminum-free coffee pod innovation. 

The upcoming K-Round pods and complementary Keurig Alta brewer will include a variable pressure system so consumers can brew a wide variety of beverages, including espresso, cups of coffee, cold coffee, and more.

The company is currently in beta testing with consumers, through which it garners insights from real-world use around the end-to-end product experience, including unboxing, brewing performance, taste, and aroma. 

Keurig Dr Pepper began with blind taste tests before creating a small consumer test group, which it expects to expand in the coming months. It has trialed four variations of pods with differences in coffee origin, roast levels, grind size, and blends.

Also read: AI Is Accelerating Product Development Launch Cycles

Getting to Mass Production

Part of its production innovation strategy has also included creating a brand-new proprietary manufacturing process for its pods, with a new pilot line installed in its Burlington, Mass., R&D center that supports the trialing operations. 

To prepare for mass production, the company is opening a new roasting and production facility in Spartanburg, N.C.. The multimillion-dollar investment will be dedicated solely to manufacturing the new pods, which are going through third-party testing so they can be certified compostable.