Starbucks turns up heat on coffee brewer market

NEW YORK (AP) -- Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is drawing new competition in the single-serve coffee market.

Starbucks will start selling its new single-serve Verismo brewer online this week for $199. The Verismo uses a high-pressure system to make lattes and other espresso-based drinks, along with brewed coffee.

Starbucks' move comes roughly a year after it struck a deal with Waterbury, Vt.-based Green Mountain to make coffee pods for Keurig machines. Starbucks says it will continue to sell its pods for Keurig machines.

Green Mountain's patent on its Keurig K-cup technology expired this month, spawning copycat versions of coffee pods for Keurig machines.

In a statement, Green Mountain says it has built a strong customer base for the Keurig system, and notes it is on track to introduce its own high-pressure espresso system in time for the holiday season.