Keurig’s Ok-Brew and Chill espresso maker chills out drinks for pod lovers

I simply used Keurig’s new hybrid Ok-Brew and Chill machine that may shortly settle down freshly brewed pod espresso (and fruity “refreshers”) to a temperature “as chilly as, if not colder,” than an iced espresso and candy drinks you could possibly order at an area espresso store. For me, there was one thing unexpectedly satisfying about making an immediately chilly drink from a standalone and solidly constructed machine — even when the cup of La Colombe medium roast it made tasted disappointingly burnt.

I’m undecided why I used to be anticipating a greater style — it’s not just like the machine makes use of some premium new espresso. It begins with simply your run-of-the-mill Ok-Cup and doesn’t help any of the corporate’s fancy Ok-Carafe, Ok-Mug, Vue, or Rivo pods. Like many fashions, you pop one into the chamber and use the deal with to clamp it, though this machine has the “Multistream” function that pokes 5 holes as a substitute of 1 to higher saturate the grounds.

From there, I pressed the Chilly button, chosen 10 ounces, and pressed the large Ok button within the center. Then, one thing sounded sudden. “You heard that little click on, which is a little bit bit completely different for a Keurig,” the corporate’s SVP of espresso advertising, Becky Opdyke, tells me throughout a dwell demonstration. “It’s closing it out so as a substitute of the recent espresso popping out right here, it’s now going by the bypass and into the chilly system.”

Keurig’s new cooling system, referred to as “Fast Chill Know-how,” guarantees to relax a drink “in beneath three minutes,” so that you don’t should brew a typical sizzling beverage over ice that may soften and dilute the drink to one thing worse than, properly, pod-brewed espresso. The corporate says that after the machine extracts the recent espresso, it cools it to “sub-60 levels” by liquid cooling the espresso at the back of the machine earlier than returning it to the entrance spout. It’s form of like an AIO cooler inside customized PCs — you simply drink the cooled processor.

However don’t confuse the ensuing drink with “chilly brew espresso,” which entails steeping coarse espresso grounds in chilly water for an prolonged interval. That is sizzling espresso that’s been promptly chilled. Corporations like SharkNinja actually name its reduced-temperature espresso over ice “chilly brew,” which may confuse prospects as “chilly” espresso machines proceed to development.

Each the temperature and brew time claims by Keurig labored as marketed throughout my demonstration. Nonetheless, you could additionally account for a rinse cycle to clear the pipes, which, in keeping with Opdyke, takes 45 seconds after each chilly drink course of. And also you’ll have to clear the drip tray as soon as it fills up.

Out of the field, the Ok-Brew and Chill wants you to fill its rear chill tank with water, which is separate from the principle reservoir (and doesn’t combine with the drinks). It’s going to initially take six hours to “cost up” the system so you may make chilly drinks. As soon as each chilly indicator lights are lit up, you will get about 4 12-ounce chilly drinks in a row earlier than it has to recharge, which may take as much as 4 hours.

A earlier Keurig try at an instantaneous chilly drive machine was the “Kold” dispenser in 2016 that would make a tasty instantaneous Coca-Cola, however it was shortly discontinued on account of excessive price and low demand. Opdyke tells me the Ok-Brew and Chill goes past the Kold’s know-how.

The Ok-Brew and Chill is the primary in a line of merchandise, with choices coming that might be cheaper than the present $199.99 worth. “We all the time wish to have a great, higher, finest,” Opdyke says.

In line with Opdyke, Keurig is advertising the machine to budget-minded Gen Z and Millennials who go to the espresso store loads. Keurig calculated that every drink is about one-fifth the price of an iced espresso from Starbucks. Nonetheless, that will not account for the additional desserty variations of iced coffees that Starbucks popularized, which helps masks the horrid-tasting espresso it sells.

If I wasn’t clear earlier, pod espresso is just not my factor. However the fruity “refreshers” drinks Keurig has are a great worth add to the Ok-Brew and Chill since they style good and have the correct amount of sweetness (and caffeine) inbuilt. Moreover, instantaneous iced tea can also be welcome.

Prices apart, I believe the Ok-Brew and Chill could also be robust to market to the meant buyer, particularly with the gaining recognition of high-end espresso, native roasteries, and machines just like the Breville Barista Specific, which supplies a craft coffeemaking expertise at residence. Nonetheless, I believe Keurig may promote this to present prospects who’re proud of the corporate’s Ok-Cup espresso choices and are prepared for a strong substitute — individuals like my dad, who has a cupboard filled with Donut Store pods and Splenda packets and simply loves his workplace Keurig.

Nonetheless, there are nonetheless questions concerning the environmental impression of pod drinks from corporations like Keurig and Nestle. Opdyke says the pod’s plastics are recyclable, and a few locations like NYC course of them in commonplace recycling. The corporate can also be launching a ship-in recycling service later this yr.