Keurig’s Alta brewer combines espresso-style extraction, customizable coffee drinks and automated milk frothing with a lower-waste pod system. Its compostable AltaRounds can be placed in household compost or discarded, while Keurig plans to replace the current foil packaging with store-recyclable paper packaging. In testing, the machine produced rich coffee with crema and offered guided recipes for drinks including lattes, cappuccinos, cortados and Americanos.
The brewer recommends different types of drinks based on the AltaRound being used. After brewing, the used packs collect in a bin and can be placed in home compost or thrown away. The packs currently ship in foil-based packaging, but Keurig plans to eventually switch to paper-based packaging that can be recycled in stores.
This plastic-free coffee delivery system is a first for Keurig and distinguishes the Alta from many other pod machines. I have tested machines such as the Bruvi BV-01, which uses biodegradable pods. Nespresso pods are technically recyclable, but many municipalities require customers to mail them to Nespresso for recycling, which is not always convenient. Keurig has long had a reputation for the waste generated by K-Cups; these AltaRounds take a different approach.
The drinks I tried were excellent. The Alta uses up to 10 bar of pressure to extract espresso rather than relying on concentrated coffee labeled “espresso,” as some pod machines do. The resulting coffee had crema, rich oils and a viscosity not usually associated with pod brewers.
I generally do not enjoy flavored coffee, but the caramel blend was delicious, with a sweet aroma and a pleasant flavor that was not overpowering. Friends who tried the drinks were surprised by both their appearance and taste. My initial doubts quickly gave way to excitement.
Photo: Lauryn Strump
Be your own barista
The Alta brewer features a touchscreen interface that suggests drinks based on the AltaRound in use. You can save recipes to your favorites for quick access, and the menu is easy to navigate, even early in the morning.
The machine offers options for nearly every coffee preference, including flat whites, lattes, cappuccinos, cortados and Americanos. Drinks can be customized by size, temperature and intensity.
The Alta also includes a built-in steam wand with its own container and magnetic whisk. When you select a drink that requires frothed milk, the machine guides you through the process step by step and tells you how much milk to add. A measuring function inside the container helps with the amount, while the system can adjust its settings for dairy, oat, almond or soy milk.
Users can choose wetter or drier foam, as well as cool or cold foam. The milk toppings were rich and silky, adding an appealing finish to standard coffee drinks. The differences between recipes were noticeable: lattes were creamy and smooth, while cortados were lighter and fluffier, with whipped cream on top.
The wand can also be operated manually for more control. Once the milk is ready, it automatically empties into a separate drip tray. The container only needs to be wiped and rinsed, and magnetic storage keeps the wand in place on the machine.
I appreciate that milk frothing is built in and easy to use. Adding flavored syrups would allow for more elaborate drinks, and I would still like to improve my latte art. It feels almost like cheating not to steam the milk manually, but the process is seamless: brew the coffee, froth the milk, combine the ingredients and enjoy the finished drink.
Source: www.wired.com