Coffee for oneCoffee for one

James Scarpa

Single-serve coffee systems have been in the news with recent announcements by Starbucks Corp. and Dun-kin’ Donuts that they would add products for the brewers to their retail mix for consumers. But a growing number of operators aiming to serve a good, fresh cup of coffee with a minimum of labor, skill and waste also are adopting the single-serve brewing methods already popular in homes, hotels, offices and coffeehouses.


Single-cup technology and techniques range from so-called “pod” and “disc” products — or single-serve coffee portions that are packaged in filter material for drop-in-for-use simplicity in special brewers — to cone-and-filter setups or newer variations that incorporate a small pitcher/receptacle, to the Keuri...