DRM exists for only one reason: to screw paying customers.

That said, can't you just take the electronics from a valid K-cup and solder its contacts to whatever detection mechanism detects that the pod is valid? I'd really love to see an analysis of the "security".

Meanwhile, I use a crazy system of brewing coffee involving inundating ground coffee with boiling water. No electronics involved! Primitive! The vendor of this brewing system also makes cool frisbees.

(Whoops, did I just use a registered trademark in a generic sense? Sic the lawyers on me immediately!)