When instant coffee becomes a gourmet standard for home-brewed coffee the times have certainly changed about the perfect cup. Keurig, a brand best known for single cup brewing systems, is owned by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (NASDAQ: GMCR) and held roughly 80 percent of the US market for single-serve coffee category, making it a desirable, acquisition target for larger consumer beverage companies such as Coca-Cola or Nestlé. But, that was more than a year ago when its shares traded above $40. With 34 patents on its K-Cup design expiring this September, competition for the single serve category will be even more fierce.
Related articles:
"Green Mountain is a costly cup of coffee," Businessweek, 2/28-3/6/2011, pp. 44-45
