Keurig Green Mountain develops new countertop carbonated drink appliance to up sales

Keurig Green Mountain, the coffee-brewing company, has rolled out a one-button countertop carbonated drink appliance that can be used at home; a move to offset the drop in its primary business of single-serve coffee pods and brewers.

The company had earlier this year announced that it intended to introduce a home sot drink fountain, which is priced at $369.99.

As the sales of carbonated drinks have been dropping in the US over the last ten years, Coca-Cola is trying tap the home market, and has lent its support to Keurig’s new home fountain. Coca-Cola holds a 17% stake in Keurig.

Keurig invested around $100m this year on the development of the machine and plans another $100m in the next fiscal as well. It expects the new appliance to drive its fortunes.

Keurig Green Mountain CEO Brian Kelley was quoted by the New York Times as saying: "We’re literally bringing a bottling plant into the home with this machine."

The company claimed that this appliance is different from other carbonated machines, as it can produce drink without the requirement of a carbon dioxide canister.

The countertop pod machine works with Kold Pods, which are available for anywhere between $4.49 and $4.99.

Kold Pods, which chill beverages to almost freezing point in 19 seconds, are available in a four-pack, and consist of carbon dioxide beads.

For the last six years, the firm has been working on this technology and has drawn some components, as well as processes from the aerospace and defence industries.

Keurig primarily faced three issues while developing this machine; temperature, carbonation and taste. The carbonation problem was addressed by creating pods with carbon dioxide beads.

The company entered into agreements with Coca-Cola and the Dr Pepper Snapple Group in order to allow its home customers to find their chosen soft drink brands.

Currently, Keurig Kold has been rolled out in six US cities; Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York, and plans to launch the machine across the country by the 2016 holiday season.

By December, the firm intends to extend the technology to other non-alcoholic mixers as well.