We’ve had them in every family kitchen that I’ve ever walked into.
asserted
I → have → that
We practically used K-cups as decor.
asserted
We → use → decor
Coffee makers are changing, though.
asserted
makers → change → ?
Lavazza’s Tabli brews compressed coffee tabs without a capsule.
asserted
Tabli → brew → capsule
Caraway’s new drip coffee maker has a stainless steel and glass brew path.
asserted
maker → have → path
Now, Keurig has the Alta, a $499.99 coffee and espresso maker built for its new plastic-free AltaRounds.
asserted
Keurig → have → AltaRounds
It still takes K-cups.
asserted
It → take → cups
We received the Alta before launch and spent three weeks testing it alongside other coffee makers.
asserted
We → receive → makers
I concentrated on the espresso drinks because those are what I spend money on when I’m out.
asserted
I → concentrate → money
My most recent large iced latte, with regular milk and three shots of espresso, cost $9.53.
asserted
latte → cost → 9.53
At that price, I did a little arithmetic.
asserted
I → do → arithmetic
What is the Keurig Alta Single Serve Coffee and Espresso Maker
The Keurig Alta is a single-serve coffee and espresso maker with a built-in milk frother.
asserted
Alta → build → frother
It brews AltaRounds, portions of ground coffee (think: small chocolate bonbon) pressed into a round and covered with a plant-based coating in place of a plastic or aluminum capsule.
asserted
It → brew → capsule
When we spoke with the Keurig team, they said the plant-based ingredient was seaweed.
asserted
ingredient → speak → team
It also accepts regular K-Cup pods.
asserted
It → accept → pods
The machine reads a code on each round to set the brewing style, pressure and temperature.
asserted
machine → read → style
Its touchscreen has drink recipes, and the frother can prepare hot or cold milk foam.
asserted
frother → have → foam
It can connect to Wi-Fi, allowing new drink recipes to be automatically added during system updates.
asserted
recipes → connect → updates
You can also texture the milk manually.
asserted
You → texture → milk
How I tested it
We tested the Alta over three weeks, including comparisons with other machines in our office.
asserted
We → test → office
I spent most of my time on the espresso drinks.
asserted
I → spend → drinks
I wanted to see how those drinks tasted, how much counter space the machine needed and whether the cost made sense against my coffee shop purchases.
asserted
cost → want → purchases
We measured its footprint against the Lavazza Tablì and Caraway coffee makers, compared its milk-frothing noise with our office Keurig and checked what happened when used rounds sat in the waste bin for several days.
asserted
rounds → measure → days
My experience with the Keurig Alta
I liked the Alta’s looks and the flexibility of having coffee, espresso and a milk frother in one machine.
asserted
I → like → machine
What we like
It looks good on the counter
The matte white finish is sleek, and the machine is about 11 inches wide.
asserted
machine → like → counter
That feels reasonable for a brewer with a milk frother beside it.
asserted
That → feel → it
I liked how the two fit together without needing room for a separate appliance.
asserted
two → like → appliance
You can keep using your K-cups
The Alta accepts both AltaRounds and regular K-Cups.
asserted
Alta → keep → AltaRounds
That makes the switch easier if you already have a favorite coffee or a cabinet full of pods.
asserted
you → make → pods
You can try the rounds and still brew the coffee you already own.
asserted
you → try → coffee
We still recommend using a reusable K-cup versus the disposable ones, due to the environmental impact of the traditional K-cups.
asserted
We → recommend → cups
It also gives the Alta some flexibility while Keurig adds more coffees to the new format.
asserted
Keurig → give → format
For my family, compatibility with the existing stash is a selling point.
asserted
compatibility → exist → stash
The waste bin has a useful drain
asserted
bin → have → drain
With some other plastic-free pods our testers have tried, we’ve seen visible mold develop quickly when we didn’t empty the waste container every day.
asserted
we → try → container
We left several used AltaRounds in the Alta’s bin for several days and didn’t see the same thing.
asserted
We → leave → thing
The bin has two levels, with used rounds above and water draining below.
asserted
bin → have → rounds
Keeping the two apart may have helped.
uncertain
Keeping → keep → two
Potential drawbacks to keep in mind
The flavor is still very Keurig
To our testers, the coffee tasted much like standard Keurig coffee, perhaps with a small improvement in flavor.
asserted
coffee → keep → flavor
If you already enjoy Keurig, that may suit you perfectly.
uncertain
that → enjoy → you
…and 55 more, not listed.
The Aporia
