Here Comes the Keurig of Everything

Tekla Perry writes: Keurig made a huge business out of single-serving coffee machines. Now, as more complex machinery shrinks in size and cost, many companies are trying to duplicate that success for other types of food and drink. Startups are introducing the Keurig of cocktails, the Keurig of Jell-O shots, and the Keurig of dinner (it makes stir fries, stews, and risottos). The question is: does having a single- or limited-purpose device make really make sense for consumables that aren't coffee? Counter space is not infinite, and most people want more variety out of their lunches, dinners, and nightcaps than they do for their morning pick-me-up. (Also, let's retire this metaphor before we get a Keurig for cats.)

Comments

Follow the Good Eats mantra

[Anonymous Coward]

A kitchen device that can only be used for one purpose is a waste of space.

Re:Follow the Good Eats mantra

[TechyImmigrant]

I categorize kitchen appliances into two categories: Those that can make chicken wings and those that can't.

Only a chicken can make chicken wings.

Re:Follow the Good Eats mantra

[TechyImmigrant]

I categorize kitchen appliances into two categories: Those that can make chicken wings and those that can't.

Only a chicken can make chicken wings.

Only an egg can make chicken wings.

Only a chicken can make an egg. Your move.

Re:Follow the Good Eats mantra

[93 Escort Wagon]

A Keurig is smaller, cheaper, and doesn't let me nuke shitty food. Seriously, my diet improved significantly when my college microwave broke, and I didn't replace it.

Your coffee will improve significantly after your Keurig breaks, if you don't replace it.

Re:Follow the Good Eats mantra

[alexander_686]

To extend, some of the best scrambled eggs I have had was from an espresso machine. The steam made the eggs very fluffy and allowed the proprietor to server breakfast under a "coffee shop" license instead of a "restaurant" license.

PT Barnum (and the Onceler) knew the answer...

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

>> does having a single- or limited-purpose device make really make sense for consumables that aren't coffee?

If you can find enough suckers to buy them and yield big profits, then yes. (See the original Keurig, for example.)

100% Naval grade coffee

[Thud457]

Coffeebots SUCK!
If you're not spending at least 40 minutes on your grind and brew ritual, you're just a philistine drinking gunky swill.

Re: 100% Naval grade coffee

[rickb928]

If you're not brewing your coffee specifically to strip paint and refinish your concrete, you're wasting your time and coffee.

If your community isn't collecting your grounds to pave the local highways, you're not doing it right.

If you bother to stir your coffee and get the spoon back, you're not trying hard enough.

If adding sugar doesn't cause a violent reaction requiring evacuation, you're not doing it right.

Coffee is intended to be a test of endurance and strength. C'mon, man...

It's not even that convenient

[Dasher42]

This is horrible. Keurig coffee is crap, and it creates a huge amount of disposable waste.

Me, I have a small water boiler to get the water up to 208 degrees F, two grinders - a hand-turned grinder and an electric one for when I'm in a hurry and the noise isn't a problem, and a french press. I keep the coffee beans whole in a brown paper bag. Just grind, pour in a way that doesn't leave grounds floating above the water, and I can take the french press back to my desk and pour into a large mug in five minutes.

It's still simpler than a PBJ and I don't create a huge pile of plastic garbage. Jeez, will someone get the marketing departments some psychotherapy already?

Re:I'm having trouble understanding this

[willworkforbeer]

Some would argue that the Yugo was a single serve car experience. So there's that.