It just got more difficult to find a cup of coffee (and many other beverages) without Starbucks' imprint on it. The company vastly expanded its arrangement with an extension of its agreement with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, tripling the number of branded items made for Keurig single-serve coffee machines.

Starbucks saved analysts and journalists the trouble of evaluating the deal by calling it a "global single-serve coffee industry game changer" and a "win-win-win agreement for both companies and for premium coffee consumers around the world" in its press release.

Specifically, Starbucks will add new single-serve cup cartridges for Keurig machines under the Seattle's Best Coffee, Torrefazione Italia coffee, Teavana Teas and Starbucks Cocoa brands in addition to Starbucks branded coffees. Sales of Starbucks coffee K-Cup packs rose more than 75 percent in March compared with the prior year.Continue reading...

Starbucks wants to KO the K-cup.

Only six weeks after its vigorous launch of Via instant coffee, Starbucks has announced a new at-home brewing option in partnership with Bosch and the Tassimo beverage machine: T-Discs, available online starting today and in stores Dec. 1, adding two flavors: Starbucks Latte Primo and Starbucks Cappuccino Primo. The T-Discs have been available in Europe since March.

Starbucks promises consumers the same level of quality as the in-store experience, thanks to the Tassimo machine’s ability to read “each encoded disc and adjusts the temperature, brewing time and amount of water to guarantee a great latte or cappuccino.” The retail price for a package of eight beverages is $10.99.Continue reading...

Berkshire acquires remaining stake of Burlington Northern. [WSJ]

Sony Ericcson unveils first Android smartphone, on sale early next year. [NY Times]

Starbucks dumps "Gold" loyalty program in favor of "My Starbucks Rewards." [Business Insider]

Lloyd's and RBS agree to sell assets for further federal aid. [NY Times]

UBS expects further client hemorrhaging. [NY Times]

Year-for-year sales at Toyota decline. [WSJ]

Carmakers grapple with pronounciation of "2010." [NY Times]

Embattled Liz Claiborne CEO renews contract for three years. [WSJ]

(More headlines: Peets, Illy, Starbucks, Vegemite iSnack rises).Continue reading...