COLCHESTER, Vt. -
Green mountain coffee has been a staple of many Vermonters mornings for years. This morning the brewing company woke to a long coming dilemma. One of its products patents has expired.
It's not a secret recipe but the company's "K-Cup" idea. The single cup of brew was patented by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters in September 16, 1992. Now the design is open to other companies to imitate. With Green Mountain Coffee's popularity that might be a good business strategy.
At Dick Mazza's General Store, clerk Kathleen McMahon has no doubt what the most popular product is.
"We sell actually a lot of coffee. It's what we probably sell the most," McMahon said. Green Mountain Coffee is all they offer ready-to-pour.
"It's what starts their morning and it's the staple of their day."
Now other coffee companies may feel they need to make a cheaper single cup competitor to keep up in a market that has exploded but not necessarily for individual consumers.
"They don't usually buy K-Cups. I've probably sold eight boxes (this summer)."
While the K-cups might not be to popular in convenient stores it's still very popular amongst businesses. Some of its fans have no intentions of down grading to a cheaper brand.
"At our office we have the Keurig and the Green Mountain Coffee," Joe Cahill said.
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters has sued several other companies it believes have infringed on their patents. Other brewers will be looking to enter the single cup fray because of the options it gives to many, tailored to each coffee drinker.
"I think they're useful cause everyone gets their own choice," Cahill said.
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters have two important patents for its "K-Cup" design, one which doesn't expire until 2017. Whether or not its newer patent will keep other companies from imitating the "K-Cup" might not be decided right away.
