other contents, and is nitrogen flushed, sealed for freshness, and impermeable to oxygen, light, and moisture. The machines brew the K-Cup beverage by piercing the foil seal with a spray nozzle, while piercing the bottom of the plastic pod with a discharge nozzle. Grounds contained inside the K-Cup pod are in a paper filter. Hot water is forced under pressure through the K-Cup pod, passing through the grounds and through the filter. A brewing temperature of is the default setting, with some models permitting users to adjust the temperature downward by five degrees. The key original patent on the K-Cup expired in 2012. Keurig has later patents, including on the filtration cartridge used in K-Cups, and has also launched a number of new pods since the beginning of 2012. Brewing system models Keurig sells many brewing system models, for household and commercial use. Licensed models from Breville, Cuisinart, and Mr. Coffee, were introduced in 2010. Its brewing systems for home use include single-cup brewers, and brewers that brew both single-cups and carafes. Keurig also sells commercial brewing models for offices and commercial venues. Beverage varieties and brands Through its owned brands and through its partnerships and licensing, as of 2015 Keurig's K-Cups and other pods offer more than 400 beverage varieties from 60 brands, including the top ten best-selling coffee brands in the U.S. The beverages include coffees, teas, hot chocolates and cocoas, dairy-based beverages, lemonades, cider, and fruit-based drinks. Keurig also offers Brew Over Ice pods for cold versions of teas, fruit drinks, and coffees. Keurig-owned brands As of 2015, brands owned by Keurig/Keurig Green Mountain, and used in its K-Cup and other pods, include: Adagio Green Mountain Coffee Green Mountain Naturals Barista Prima Coffeehouse Barista Brothers Brûlerie Mont-Royal Brûlerie St-Denis Café Escapes Café Gila Café Punta del Cielo Caribou Coffee Cinnabon Coffee People Diedrich Coffee Donut House Collection Emeril's Forto Gloria Jean's Coffee High Brew Holly's Coffee Kahlua Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Laughing Man Laura Secord Newman's Own Organics Orient Express Panera Bread The Original Donut Shop Peet's Coffee Revv Timothy's World Coffee Tully's Coffee Van Houtte Vitamin Burst Awards Keurig was named Single Serve Coffee Maker Brand of the Year for four consecutive years from 2012 to 2015 by the Harris Poll EquiTrend Study. Some of Keurig's additional awards since 2012 have included: 2013 "Best All Around" in Best Single-Serve Coffeemakers – Keurig Vue (Good Housekeeping Research Institute)