Woman wanted Starbucks discs, settles for $250

OKEMOS, Mich. - A Michigan woman who wanted home-brewed Starbucks coffee will accept $250 to end a lawsuit over the company's decision to stop making discs for a specific single-serve coffee machine -- the one that she happened to own.

Pam Montgomery of Okemos said she bought a Tassimo brewer by Kraft Foods because Starbucks supplied coffee discs for it. But Starbucks ended its deal with Kraft and came up with its own machine. It also makes discs/pods for Keurig machines.

The Grand Rapids Press reports that Montgomery recently settled her lawsuit for $250 after more than two years of litigation against Kraft and Starbucks in federal court.

U.S. District Judge Gordon Quist declined to make it a class-action case.

Tassimo brewers can make other coffees. But attorney Timothy McCarthy Jr. said Montgomery wanted what she paid for: a machine to brew Starbucks coffee. It's "gold," he said, adding that he, too, prefers Starbucks, reports CBS Detroit.

(Editor's note: No one at Crimesider is moonlighting as a Starbucks barista)

Kraft said the settlement -- reported above as for $250 -- was for a "modest amount." Starbucks said it looks forward to "resolving this matter."

In a court filing, Starbucks attorney Ed Perdue said the coffee giant never promised Tassimo discs would be made forever.

"Business arrangements end, and products are discontinued all the time," he said.