How Keurig's Original Single-Serve Coffee Pod System Works
This 1994 patent describes the original Keurig system for brewing single cups of coffee using a special filter pod that holds coffee grounds and separates them from the brewed liquid.
Original patent title: “Beverage filter cartridge”
This 1994 patent describes the original Keurig system for brewing single cups of coffee using a special filter pod that holds coffee grounds and separates them from the brewed liquid. Granted to Keurig Inc in 1994 with 17 claims and 359 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details a system for brewing beverages, specifically coffee, using a special cartridge. The cartridge has a base and a cover, both impermeable and pierceable. Inside, a filter element divides the cartridge into two chambers: one for beverage extract (like coffee grounds) and another for the brewed liquid. When you use the machine, liquid is injected into the first chamber to combine with the extract. The filter then lets the brewed beverage pass into the second chamber, from where it flows out. ClaimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → 1 and 2 describe the core components: a housing with a brewing chamber, a pierceable cartridge inside, and means to inject liquid and collect the beverage. For example, ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 15 specifies how the liquid inlet might go through one part of the housing and the outlet through another.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Beverage cartridges that are not internally divided by a filter element.
- Systems where the filter element does not create two separate chambers within the cartridge.
- Cartridges that are not pierceable by inlet and outlet means.
- Brewing systems that do not use a removable cartridge.
- Methods of brewing that do not involve combining liquid with a beverage extract stored in a chamber.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The key innovation was creating a self-contained, pierceable cartridge where the filter element itself acts as a divider, precisely separating the grounds from the brewed liquid and ensuring a clean, consistent brew without complex internal machine mechanisms for filtration.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Original Keurig K-Cup brewing machines
Early Keurig coffee pods
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is foundational to the single-serve coffee revolution. It describes the core technology behind the Keurig brewing system, which transformed how people make coffee at home and in offices by offering convenience and variety in a single-cup format.
Filed
September 16, 1992
Granted
July 5, 1994
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Keurig Dr Pepper continues to be the dominant player, leveraging this foundational technology. However, the widespread adoption of single-serve brewing has led many other companies to develop compatible pods and brewing systems, often navigating the landscape of expired and related patents.
Market impact
This patent enabled the creation of the single-serve coffee market. It allowed for the mass production and sale of convenient, pre-portioned coffee pods, fundamentally changing consumer coffee habits and creating a massive new market segment for both brewers and consumables.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details a system for brewing beverages, specifically coffee, using a special cartridge. The cartridge has a base and a cover, both impermeable and pierceable. Inside, a filter element divides the cartridge into two chambers: one for beverage extract (like coffee grounds) and another for the brewed liquid. When you use the machine, liquid is injected into the first chamber to combine with the extract. The filter then lets the brewed beverage pass into the second chamber, from where it flows out. Claims 1 and 2 describe the core components: a housing with a brewing chamber, a pierceable cartridge inside, and means to inject liquid and collect the beverage. For example, Claim 15 specifies how the liquid inlet might go through one part of the housing and the outlet through another.
The clever bit
The key innovation was creating a self-contained, pierceable cartridge where the filter element itself acts as a divider, precisely separating the grounds from the brewed liquid and ensuring a clean, consistent brew without complex internal machine mechanisms for filtration.
What it does not cover
- Beverage cartridges that are not internally divided by a filter element.
- Systems where the filter element does not create two separate chambers within the cartridge.
- Cartridges that are not pierceable by inlet and outlet means.
- Brewing systems that do not use a removable cartridge.
- Methods of brewing that do not involve combining liquid with a beverage extract stored in a chamber.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
11/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$161K – $515K
Midpoint $322K · expired or expiring · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
17 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Sylvan, J. E., & Dragone, P. B. (1994). How Keurig's Original Single-Serve Coffee Pod System Works (U.S. Patent No. 5,325,765). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5325765/keurig-single-serve-coffee-pod
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Keurig's Original Single-Serve Coffee Pod System Works cover?
This 1994 patent describes the original Keurig system for brewing single cups of coffee using a special filter pod that holds coffee grounds and separates them from the brewed liquid.
Who owns patent US 5325765?
Keurig Inc owns this patent, granted in 1994.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 5325765 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 359 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is foundational to the single-serve coffee revolution. It describes the core technology behind the Keurig brewing system, which transformed how people make coffee at home and in offices by offering convenience and variety in a single-cup format.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Beverage cartridges that are not internally divided by a filter element.
Patent monitoring