As far as java sippers go, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is hot. They love its Keurig single-cup brewers and K-cups. Investors see a different company entirely, and the outlook for that one appears bitter.
The convenience of single-cup coffeemakers is undeniable: They're simple. They're fast. They're clean. What they aren't, unless you're comparing them to a Starbucks habit, is cheap. Think $50-a-pound coffee. But it's possible reduce the cost of your K-cup caffeine hit.
The longtime coffee rivals may be discussing a merger that could provide the smaller player with a boost in the single-cup market. And Peet's, which has longstanding deals with grocery chains, could steer Starbucks towards a smoother grocery distribution strategy.