Inescapable; that’s one word to describe the best K cup coffee. Coffee pods have invaded many home kitchen counters and office spaces.
The chances are you yourself have used a delicious tasting K cup at one point or another. Why would you be looking for the best of the best otherwise, right?
Whatever the case, it’s undeniable that most coffee brands are now manufacturing single-serve K cups. This means there’s a huge variety of coffee pods out there.
So which ones are worth your dollars?
And more importantly, which ones are well-equipped to satisfy your taste buds? The answer lies below.
You can’t go blindfolded looking for the finest coffee pods. So didn’t I. And that is why I have divided the reviews section into different parts.
Each one consists of K cups that cater to specific types of common caffeine cravings. Keep on reading to get to know more.
Table of Contents
- Best K Cups Coffee- Breakfast Blend
- Flavored K Cups
- Dark Roasted K Cups
- Death Wish Coffee Single Serve Capsules
- Timothy’s World Coffee Rainforest Espresso K-Cup
- Green Mountain Coffee Dark Magic K-Cup Pods
- Barista Prima Coffeehouse Italian Roast Coffee K-Cup
- Java Factory Da Bomb Extra Bold K Cup
- Peet’s Coffee House Blend Dark Roast K-Cup
- Eight O’Clock Dark Italian Roast K-Cup Pod
- Best Decaf K-Cups
- Medium Roast, Balanced K-Cups
- Variety Packs
- Best Coffee K-Cups Buying Guide
- Final Words
Best K Cups Coffee- Breakfast Blend
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Breakfast Blend
So let me begin with this breakfast blend by none other than Green Mountain Coffee.
It’s for those who prefer a light roast. And not a coffee that bites you each time you take a sip.
The flavor is vibrant, lively, and classic. If I had to describe the taste, here’s what I would say. The breakfast blend is citrusy, crisp, and snappy.
Mixed with enough depth, body, and sweetness. The latter part is what works best first thing in the morning.
The light roast, rich flavor, and medium acidity are the most enticing aspects.
That and the Keurig-compatibility of these K cup pods. You can use them with just about any Keurig single-serve machines.
It is an in-house creation of Keurig after all.
Tully’s Coffee Breakfast Blend K-Cup Pods
Tully’s Coffee is very popular as the brand makes it a point to maintain specific standards. That goes a long way when it comes to taste and flavor.
And it’s this particular breakfast blend that ranks as its top-selling K cup coffee.
The exceptional flavor is the result of the use of 100 percent Arabica coffee beans.
It’s a light roast with hints of citrus. The overall essence is mild and mellow. Perfect for your morning routine!
As for compatibility, use the pods with any single-serve brewers.
Including the Keurig 2.0 and 1.0 models. But excluding the Keurig Vue Coffee System.
You’re very likely to love this coffee. Thanks to its bold and rich taste. That’s not the least bit bitter or strong.
Martinson Breakfast Blend Coffee Capsules
Are you not a morning person? But you still somehow manage to wake up? Then you deserve the gentle smoothness of this breakfast blend by Martinson.
The coffee flavor is perfectly mild for your morning enjoyment. Except for the Keurig Vue, these capsules go with all Keurig brewers. And not just that, the pods are easy and convenient to use as well.
The mild roast is absolutely delicious. That’s because the brand has meticulously selected each coffee bean. On top of that, the manufacturer also supports economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
This means the K cups are recyclable.
So you can enjoy the strong but not-acidic and not-bitter coffee without any sort of guilt.
Flavored K Cups
Cinnnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll
It’s time to make room for a combination of irresistible aroma and indulgent taste. In the form of Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Rolls. Prepared with the finest and genuine Arabica beans.
The flavors, in this case, are definitely extraordinary. And you don’t even have to step out of your house to introduce your taste buds to them.
The brew is plenty smooth. It’s light roast after all.
The flavors included are certainly decadent. They include Cinnabon cinnamon, the legendary frosting, and brown sugar. Just a single sip of this coffee. And you feel like you’re having Cinnabon’s delicious cinnamon rolls right off the oven.
And yes, you can use these K cup pods with your Keurig 2.0 coffee maker. In case you’re wondering! With that and any single-serve Keurig creations.
Green Mountain Coffee Caramel Vanilla Cream K-Cup
Now here’s another Green Mountain Coffee creation. The caramel vanilla cream is completely different from the breakfast blend I reviewed earlier.
How different? Well, for starters, this is flavored. It’s got hints of buttery and sweet caramel with brown sugar. And let’s not forget the twirl of sumptuous vanilla cream.
But just like the breakfast blend, this coffee is a light roast. And it also works with any coffee maker manufactured by Keurig.
If you think the caramel is too sweet or overpowering, you’re wrong. And I’m certain you’re glad to be wrong here.
So if you love coffee and trying new flavors, this one’s worth a shot. Trust me.
San Francisco Bay OneCup, French Vanilla
When a product has more than 20,000 reviews on Amazon, you know there’s something special about it.
That’s how popular these French Vanilla flavored K cups really are. San Francisco Bay uses plant-based sustainable resources. The pods are compostable by the way. Isn’t that amazing!
Speaking of the taste, be prepared to savor the luxuriously creamy and rich flavor. Freshly-ground, high-quality French vanilla coffee beans are put into action. And so are wild, natural German hazelnuts.
The fusion of that with smooth, creamy vanilla is very nutty. Almost a recipe that you might just get addicted to!
Use the K cups with the majority of Keurig brewers without a worry. Even the 2.0 and 1.0 coffee makers.
Starbucks Flavored Coffee K-Cup Variety Pack
It’s time to believe the rumors. Starbucks flavored coffee K cups do exist. And they come not in a single flavor but six different AND exquisite flavors. These include Cinnamon Dolce, Toasted Graham, and Toffeenut. They are the signature flavors. The classic flavors are hazelnut, caramel, and vanilla.
Hazelnut is smooth and mellow with an exclusively sweet hazelnut essence. Caramel is also a smooth medium roast.
But it’s combined with buttery, sweet caramel. Vanilla is as natural and luscious as expected. With a light-roast flavor!
Cinnamon Dolce has a very rich character. That’s fused with brown sugar and warm cinnamon. Toasted Graham is toasty and warm.
Thanks to the inclusion of cinnamon and honey with roasted graham. And Toffeenut is buttery and rich due to sweet toffee. And comfortingly warm due to toasted nuts. A variety of taste, isn’t it? So go ahead and use any one with any single-serve Keurig brewing system.
Dunkin’ Donuts French Vanilla K-Cup Pods
If you can’t get enough of creamy, sweet vanilla, expose your senses to this French Vanilla flavor. The pods are light yet very scrumptious and joyful. Feel free to pop the K cups in any Keurig brewer.
The medium roast is made of premium, original Arabica beans. The flavor, no doubt, is full bodied.
But what is it that makes this coffee stand out from the rest? There is a unique quality indeed. Dunkin’ Donuts specially roasts and blends the coffee. No wonder they can achieve the quintessential taste the brand is so popular for.
If fancy flavors and strong vanilla essence is your thing, you know what to turn to.
Wolfgang Puck Jamaican Me Crazy Coffee Capsules
The current capsules offer an outstanding tropical taste. The blend is a medium roast. And it offers a very rich coconut twist. The experience is nothing but savory if you ask me. So if you’re wondering why you should buy this, I think I have given you a good enough reason, haven’t I?
The capsules work with all brewers manufactured by Keurig. But if you want to buy them, do it for the tropical taste. And also for the bold aroma!
Once your taste buds get in contact with the coconut essence packed in here, there’s no turning back. Hazelnut coffees are usually weak. Or they come with that unpleasant chemical/artificial bitterness.
Lucky for you, this Jamaican Me Crazy coffee has none of that. It’s stronger and smoother than most such hazelnut flavors. So go for it if you’re a coconut fan.
Dark Roasted K Cups
Death Wish Coffee Single Serve Capsules
The product and brand name say it all. If you prefer a dark roast, try Death Cups. If you prefer extra bold coffee pods, try Death Cups.
If you want to expose your taste buds and caffeine cravings to the strongest flavor, try Death Cups.
The beans are expertly and carefully selected plus roasted. This meticulous handling is what provides you with the caffeine kick you demand. And the bold taste as a matter of fact.
Keurig brewer compatibility is also in your favor. Meaning you can use these coffee K cups with 2.0 and 1.0 brewing machines.
What about the taste though? How is it different from the others? With every sip, the silk-like smoothness with zero bitterness gets heightened. The subtle notes of smokiness are also very difficult to turn down once you taste them.
To make the experience even more enchanting, the coffee is packed in mesh cups. And not solid plastic. So the brewing process is much quieter, which adds bonus points.
Overall, the strength and flavor truly come through. You deserve good coffee, and that’s exactly what you get here.
Timothy’s World Coffee Rainforest Espresso K-Cup
Here’s the best news. This Rainforest Espresso blend contains more coffee (27 percent more). In comparison to the brand’s standard K cups. And why is that? You’ll learn soon enough.
The coffee pods are equipped with full-bodied, strong coffee. That has the ability to offer a rich, smooth, and sweet flavor.
What’s even more appealing is the guilt-free pleasure. The manufacturer has a Rainforest Alliance certification.
Meaning they don’t forget to protect wildlife and rainforests along the way.
Once you try it, you’ll come to a realization. That the coffee is not just a part of your daily morning coffee routine.
The blend is also packed with subtle chocolate. This added taste is not the least bit overwhelming. Think of it as the delicious dessert you crave after every meal.
Green Mountain Coffee Dark Magic K-Cup Pods
Yet another Green Mountain Coffee discovery! This time it comes in the form of Dark Magic.
The blend is deep, intense, and dark. As much as your caffeine cravings like it to be. The intensity of this coffee is well-balanced.
By the subtle sweetness and complexity. Plus, the pods are suitable for all single-serve Keurig brewers.
This is extra bold with zero artificial ingredients. The use of genuine Arabica coffee beans means high quality. The flavor is rich and the taste bold and strong. With a little bit of sweetness to make your mornings delightful.
So if dark roasts are your preference, Dark Magic is worth your time. The dark roast remains strong. Irrespective of whether you brew a large or small cup!
Barista Prima Coffeehouse Italian Roast Coffee K-Cup
No one knows dark roasting as well as the Barista Prima Coffeehouse. Their Italian roast has the cleanest and brightest finish. With a touch of smokiness!
Each Keurig-compatible cup is deliciously heavy bodied and robust. The blend is combined with ripe berry and fruity notes. To top it off, every pod is an airtight, patented container. It doesn’t let in any moisture, light, and oxygen. While keeping the flavor and freshness locked in.
This Italian roast introduces your taste buds to a stronger brew. That doesn’t necessarily also has to be bitter tasting.
The fusion is very flavorful, bold, and rich without any bitterness. So if you want to try stronger coffee but are skeptical about it, this seems like the safest bet.
As a coffee lover, you might also want to know that each pod offers more coffee. Comparatively-speaking, of course.
So if you have any doubts about this brand and their K cups, you should consider getting rid of all of them.
Java Factory Da Bomb Extra Bold K Cup
The warning sign presents itself in the form of the words Da Bomb. What does this imply? That this Java Factory blend contains double the amount of caffeine.
In comparison to the regular cups of coffee. It’s an extra bold flavor after all. And, no doubt, every K cup leaves you buzzing. So the current option is the best to wake you from your slumber in the morning.
The dark roast is made of high-quality, great-tasting Arabica beans. The filter system involved is improved. So you can expect more taste with each pod.
The roasting system at Java Factory makes sure that the taste is smooth and full-bodied. With no bitterness and acid profile!
So if you think you can handle the double caffeinated action, you have no reason to not buy this dark roast. That comes in K cups compatible with Keurig 2.0 and 1.0 single-serve coffee makers.
Peet’s Coffee House Blend Dark Roast K-Cup
Before I start raving about this Dark Roast House Blend, you need to know this. Peet’s Coffee offers dark, medium, and light roast.
The light roast is smooth and mild. The medium roast is aromatic and also smooth. As for the dark roast, much like this one, it’s full-bodied and smoky.
Quality flavor is an important part of the experience here. The manufacturer takes care of that.
More often than not, dark roasts tend to give off a burnt taste in the mouth. But, fortunately, this house blend is nothing like that. In fact, it’s very smooth without tasting bitter at all.
Another common issue with dark roasts is that such K cups prepare a weaker brew. Not if you use the biggest brew size.
And once again, lucky for you, this coffee is armed with an enjoyable amount of strength. And zero bitterness!
You can try as many dark roasts as you like. And you won’t find anything that comes close to the taste of this delicious house blend.
Also, it has a K logo. This means the coffee pods work with 2.0 Keurig machines as well.
Eight O’Clock Dark Italian Roast K-Cup Pod
What makes this Dark Italian Roast so popular? It’s the full-bodied, bold, and chocolatey flavor.
This caffeinated dark roast coffee is the outcome of pure Arabica beans. I highly recommend it to you if you have a hard time livening up in the morning. Or if you’re a cappuccino and espresso lover!
The richness and depth are not at all upsetting to the stomach. That’s because the acid profile is minimal here. So don’t worry about having to deal with an upset tummy all day long.
What’s also worth mentioning is the roasting method of the company. They roast the coffee beans in controlled batches.
This is done so that the original flavor is not lost. That’s the unique selling point of every Eight O’Clock K cup. This and the fact that each pod can be used in any Keurig coffee maker.
One more thing caught my attention here. It’s the aftertaste of the Dark Italian Roast. Not many American brands are known to provide this kind of coffee experience.
However, you might have to brush your teeth to get rid of that coffee breath!
Best Decaf K-Cups
Green Mountain Coffee Dark Magic Decaf K-Cups
Green Mountain Coffee has definitely taken the top spot. As the best K cup coffee brand out there! This is their fourth product recommendation in this article so far.
The current one is the decaf version of the Dark Magic flavor. Needless to say, the essence is as rich as its other siblings.
The decaf blend is also extra bold. Fused with chocolate and dried fruit! The final taste in the mouth feels subtle and sweet.
The manufacturer has made it a point to use only 100 percent Arabica coffee beans.
As for the compatibility part, the pod and Keurig brewer go hand in hand. No matter the model of the latter.
There’s no chance you won’t love the genuinely strong coffee taste. It’s not like the watery decaf K cups you get stuck with. With no actual flavor! Green Mountain Decaf Coffee consists of a full body. That satisfies your taste buds and coffee cravings.
Barista Prima Decaf Italian Roast
Have you looked everywhere for a smooth and strong decaf coffee?
For your single-serve Keurig brewing system! And haven’t found K cups of your choice? If yes, you should seriously consider getting this Decaf Italian Roast.
The heavy bodied and robust blend has delightful notes of berry and ripe fruit. Such an essence epitomizes the quintessential Italian dark roast tradition.
It’s bold, and at the same time, well-balanced. The bright and clean finish fuses exquisitely with the touch of smokiness that’s also packed in here.
The flavor profile is uniquely potent. After all, the manufacturer is an expert at creating dark roasts. The most inviting aspect is that the full-bodied character lasts for the whole K cup. And not just a part of it!
The combination of smoothness and strong flavor is what’s worth spending your money on. Not many decafs out there taste like this. They’re mostly bitter, unlike the Italian roast here.
The Original Decaf
This is the original decaf version by Eight O’Clock Coffee. The brand has definitely evolved and come up with new varieties over the years.
But they have managed to stay true to their roots. The classic flavors are pretty much the same. Such as this decaf one here.
The Eight O’Clock K cup I reviewed earlier was caffeinated dark Italian roast. So now you know how that one is different from the current option. This is a medium roast that delivers a balanced flavor and great taste. Minus the caffeine of course.
The tasting notes are sweet and fruity. Another positive takeaway is that these pods are Keurig-friendly. No matter the model!
Even so, if you still decide to buy them, I know you’ll be doing it for the genuine Arabica coffee beans used.
Isn’t it wonderful when decaf coffee tastes just like regular caffeinated coffee! Or even the best half-caff decaffeinated K-cup!
Newman’s Own Organics Special Decaf Coffee K-Cups
What you’re looking at here is a Central American medium roast.
Combined with an Indonesian dark roast! This, in itself, suggests how extraordinary the blend is. The body of the decaf coffee is ample. It can withstand all the sugar and cream you prefer adding to the mix.
Bold and strong yet refined and smooth. That’s how I would describe this a medium roast. It’s decaf, and it’s organic.
That’s like hitting two birds with one stone.
The coffee filled in the K cups is decaffeinated using the healthiest water-based method. It means no harmful chemicals are a part of the process. Even the taste lives up to your expectations.
So leave all worries and hesitation behind. And savor a K cup at any time of the day! But that’s only if you don’t have a 2.0 Keurig model. Although the pods are compatible with 1.0 Keurig coffee makers.
Medium Roast, Balanced K-Cups
Newman’s Own Organics Special Blend K-Cup Pods
Apart from Special Decaf (above), the Special Blend is also a review-worthy product. This one is the caffeinated version of course. But like the decaf coffee, it’s medium roast. It’s also bold, refined, strong, and smooth. Everything is pretty much the same.
There’s no unpleasant or bitter aftertaste. In case that’s what’s on your mind!
You might also appreciate the consistency of the full body. One thing I would like to mention here is that Newman’s Own Organics coffee is always stronger than most. Irrespective of whether it’s decaf or caffeinated!
There’s tons of depth to look forward to. So if that’s your kind of thing, I don’t see why you shouldn’t go for this. You’re more likely to enjoy the bold taste of these Keurig-compatible K cup pods.
Eight O’Clock Coffee The Original K-Cups
The one Eight O’Clock Coffee reviewed earlier is a dark Italian roast. The second one is the decaffeinated version of a medium roast. And the current K cup is a caffeinated medium roast.
The brand has put into action pure Arabica beans. That offers a full-bodied and smooth flavor.
But what sets it apart from the previous two Eight O’Clock K cups is this. The caffeinated medium roast here is mellow. Yet it has the power to leave a pleasantly mild aftertaste. Sort of like something that makes you feel you haven’t had enough.
Your Keurig, any Keurig, won’t have any issues with these coffee pods. Also important to note is the low acid profile of The Original blend.
Not too weak. And not too strong to leave a bitter taste in the mouth either.
The best part is not even done yet. Just how quickly the coffee livens your mood is a thing to appreciate. If you’re a true caffeine lover!
The Original Donut Shop Keurig Single-Serve K-Cup Pods
Your Keurig 2.0 coffee maker needs a companion, right? Or is it the 1.0 machine that’s feeling lonely? Either way, these medium roast pods rank as great tasting buddies.
The blend is bold, flavorful, and fresh most of all. It’s a classic K cup that contains top quality, pure Arabica coffee beans.
And the fact that the warm aftertaste lingers for long says a lot about how delicious the experience can be.
The medium roast is extra bold. That’s for sure. So don’t underestimate the roast profile. Also don’t downplay just how perfect the balance between too bitter and too harsh really is.
If straight up medium roast coffee is how you roll, get this.
Peet’s Coffee Big Bang Medium Roast Coffee Pods
Now is the time for the medium roast blend of Peet’s Coffee. As I have already reviewed the dark roast flavor.
The Big Bang is what came first. The manufacturer decided to honor the legacy of Mr. Peet. By creating a fresh blend of a medium roast.
The quantity is great and aftertaste not bitter. The perfect balance it strikes between mild and strong is definitely worth every penny.
The flavor is absolutely delicious. So you can make the most of each pod. As long as you have a Keurig brewer, any model is fine.
It’s certainly lighter than the dark roast I’ve reviewed earlier by the same brand. But don’t think too little of the full-bodied character. That remains unchanged for sure.
Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend, Single Serve Coffee K-Cup Pod
You already know this is medium roast. But do you also know that the coffee is classic and smooth? And that it is environmentally sustainable? Well, now you do.
This Caribou blend is very stomach-friendly. So if you have tummy or digestive issues, don’t think twice before drinking it. At whatever time of the day! Obviously not at night since it’s not decaf.
Moving on, there’s lots of smoothness but not bitterness. Once you taste it, the coffee is very likely to become a part of your daily routine. It’s perfect to get you up and ready first thing in the morning.
What’s also worth discussing is the presence of zero grounds in here. Unlike K cups manufactured by cheap brands.
The coffee rests in the middle ground between too bold and too light. And once again, let’s not forget that the blend’s acid profile is nearly non-existent.
So don’t hesitate to buy this for your Keurig machine. Including the 2.0 and 1.0 brewing systems!
Folgers Classic Roast Coffee Keurig K-Cups
Medium roast? Check. K cup container airtight for locking in flavor and freshness? Check. Enjoying a brew at any time of the day? Check. It’s time for me to introduce you to the Folgers Classic Roast K-Cups.
Like I’ve already mentioned, each portion pack locks out humidity, light, and oxygen. At the same time, it protects all the original flavor and freshness.
How does this coffee compare with other high-quality K cup pods?
The primary difference between them and Folgers is that the latter leaves absolutely nil funky aftertaste. In fact, Folgers even offers more pure flavor and aroma of coffee.
The brand has been a part of the industry for a very long time. Still, their coffee tastes excellent.
So if your taste buds are more inclined toward milder coffee, they might actually groove on this flavor. Time to put your single-serve Keurig brewer to use!
Variety Packs
Variety Packs K Cup Pod
Now here’s something you don’t normally come across. The Variety Packs K Cup Pods are like dreams that somehow manage to come true.
The whole assortment is packed with nothing but delicious possibilities. That you can savor with just about any Keurig coffee maker. As long as it’s a single-serve model!
The collection you see has 72 pods. This includes five of the most popular brands and six different varieties. The former consists of Green Mountain, Original Donut, Tully’s, Caribou, and Newman’s Own Organics.
As for the roast options, you get access to dark, medium, and light roasts. On top of that, there’s flavored and organic coffee as well.
Each flavor is great. You can try one each day.
The variety pack gives you the opportunity to allow your taste buds to decide what works and what doesn’t. No doubt the flavors are funky. But the fact that dark, medium and light roasts are all included makes the assortment even more enticing to purchase.
Best Coffee K-Cups Buying Guide
Do you sometimes wake up to the thought of drinking delicious and creamy coffee?
Like it’s the only thing that could make your day better and exciting! It’s time to stop paying for an overpriced flavor. And buy something that you actually love.
People buying K cups know something that you don’t. And that is the experience of drinking fresh coffee every morning.
And what makes that possible? It’s the best K cup coffee, of course!
This article will walk you through all the essentials of buying and using K cups. And also introduce you to a good variety of K cups and their different flavors.
Chances are you’ll ditch the world of instant coffee jars right away after this reading. And replace them with authentic K cups that are easy to use.
Can I Improve the Flavor of My KCup Coffee?
If you think there isn’t room for improvement in a K cup.
I’m happy to tell you that you’re wrong. It’s possible that you may find a K cup bland, tasteless, or bitter. So what do you do then?
Don’t feel shy to try out these barista-inspired tricks to make Keurig coffee taste delicious.
Use Two K cups – Who said you can only use one K cup at a time? Set the machine to the lowest ounce setting. The cups will lose their strong flavor during the highest ounce setting. This should intensify the flavor and you get to reuse the cups afterward.
Grind Your Own Coffee – I’m sure you’ve heard of reusable coffee cups by now? A lot of coffee enthusiasts hand-grind their own coffee beans to use in a machine. And with reusable K cup filters, this is the best thing you can do is increase coffee flavor.
Buy Stronger Coffee – It’s true that you have way too many K cup flavors to choose from. From light to medium to darker roasts. And the only way to make Keurig coffee the best-tasting is to buy a darker roast. The ounce setting will turn lighter roasts into coffee-flavored water. It does taste like coffee but only weaker.
Use Vinegar to Clean the Machine – If you find that something’s missing in your Keurig coffee. You have to dig deeper into why that may be happening. The funny taste in your Keurig coffee may be bacterial buildup.
Coffee machines that haven’t been cleaned with vinegar have plenty of buildup. And the only way to clean it is by brewing the cups with vinegar. On the last cycle, you can use plain water to get rid of the vinegar smell after cleaning.
K-Cup vs. Coffee Pod
The debate between using K cups and coffee pods is stronger than ever. Yes, both options are single-serve only. You can’t use a K cup in a pod machine or a coffee pod in a K cup machine.
But if you were to buy something that offers both brewing options.
Then you can switch between K cup and coffee pod. Especially without thinking about their differences! But wouldn’t you feel better if you knew the difference?
A K cup contains coffee in a plastic cup covered in a foil top. Some K cups feature a paper filter under the foil top. You place the K cup in a Keurig machine.
Then the hot water passes through this filter by punching one or two needles through the lid.
So you brew one cup of coffee with a single-serve K cup. Or maybe two K cups for a stronger flavor.
The hot water can pass from top to bottom or from bottom to top. That depends on the type of coffee machine you buy.
A coffee pod contains coffee in a paper filter bag.
Making them softer and flatter than K cups. But like the brewing mechanism of a K cup, hot water passes through the filter. There is no needle puncturing the lid. Coffee pod machines use either air pressure or gravity to create a flavorful cup.
How Much Do I Need to Pay for K-Cups?
Who doesn’t want to know how much they’re spending on coffee? Particularly when it’s a bargain as delicious and necessary as that of coffee!
You’re better off in the light than you are in the darkness.
By now you know how much you’d spend on buying a small coffee from your nearby coffee shop. If it’s anything above $1 per cup – there’s no doubt that it’s expensive.
But how does that compare to brewing other types of coffee?
I looked at the costs of preparing coffee in your average coffee brewer. And the costs of buying a single small cup of blended coffee from a café.
Lastly, the cost of buying K cups for Keurig’s single-serve coffee system.
The results gave me this.
Say you want to buy ground coffee of any signature blend. You need about 20g of ground coffee in a single cup. And a general store should give you an average of $5 to $10 per pound. A pack of ground coffee is somewhere between $40 and $60.
Conversely, most people buy a pack K cups, at a time. It’s never a single K cup that you’re paying for.
The number of K cups in a single pack start from 24 up to 80 cups. And the average price, per cup, is generally between $.50 and $.70 per cup. This amounts to $12 to $17 for an entire pack containing 24 K cups.
Coffee that you buy from a Starbucks or your local coffee shop is not less than $1 per cup. And you know how expensive Starbucks can get for blended coffee.
Do that math and see for yourself which type of coffee is the least and most expensive.
Shocked, right? I was too. Compare buying K cups to buying from a coffee shop. In that case, K cups are, hands down, the least expensive option.
What’s in a K-Cup Coffee?
There is no incontestable way to know what is in a K cup. That is because there are different types of K cups. With different flavors, roasts, and blends! But what I can tell you is the amount of coffee in a K cup.
A single blend of light roast has 9 to 10 grams of coffee.
A single medium roast blend has 10 to 11 grams of coffee.
And a single dark roast blend has 11 to 12 grams of coffee.
This also includes K cups with extra bold roasts.
Sometimes, these blends have as much as 14 grams of coffee.
These are the boldest coffee flavors on the market.
But you just don’t want to know about the coffee, do you? You’re more interested in the caffeine kick than you are about coffee’s rich aroma and flavor. Well, I don’t blame you for asking.
The amount of caffeine in any K cup is, again, not fixed. But as far as my research goes, an 8-ounce cup of coffee has about 120 to 160 milligrams of caffeine.
A brand like Starbucks is known all over the world for its coffee. Its coffee, when brewed, contains over 560 milligrams of caffeine in a 16-ounce cup.
As you can see, the caffeine content in specialty coffee varies significantly.
How Much Coffee Can I Make From a Single K-Cup?
This also depends on your flavor preferences. Are you using a single K cup for brewing? Then you need around 6 ounces of water to go with it.
As noted above, a single K cup has an average of 10 grams of coffee – that is 2 teaspoons of coffee.
In that way, 6-8 ounces of water equals to a coffee cup. You don’t need to be a mathematician to do the math. But are you in for a stronger and bolder taste? If yes, you can use the same amount of water (about 8 ounces) for 2 K cups.
Can I make K-Cup Coffee Without a Keurig Machine?
The answer is yes. But you have to be really careful. There’s a pour-over method that’s the easiest. And there’s a tea bag method which is also a good way to a mess-free coffee experience.
Pour Over Method – You start with emptying out all the coffee grounds into one of the coffee mugs. Make sure the coffee flows from top to bottom without anything getting in the way.
Then add hot water to the coffee mug with the coffee grounds. After a few minutes, pour the coffee water in the K cup, through the paper filter, into another coffee mug.
Finally, add your choice of flavored milk or cream.
Tea Bag Method – First, empty out all the coffee grounds from the K cup into the filter. Twist the coffee filter to make a tea bag. And make sure you don’t shut the filter, from the top, too tight. This allows the coffee grounds to move around as you pour hot water through it.
Use a normal string and tie the top of the filter. Then place it inside a coffee mug. And pour hot water and allow the “coffee” tea bag to seep. For 5 minutes or longer depending on how strong you want your coffee.
Then add milk or cream to give your coffee a unique flavor.
How Long Do K-Cups Last?
The way a K cup is made is unique as it does its best to keep bacteria and moisture from getting in. The foil top has an airlock seal to keep those elements away.
Some high-quality K cups are made of light-, heat-, and moisture-resistant materials. Since air gets into anything, nitrogen replaces it in a standard K cup.
But the construction of a K cup can preserve coffee’s flavor only for so long. After that, they will go bad, become bland or bitter, and expire.
What does work, however, is the Best Before Date on most K cups. Starting from the manufacturing date, avoid using a K cup past its expiry date.
Not that it means the coffee has gone bad. But there will be a slight alteration in its flavor, scent, and texture.
My research tells me that K cups last for about 3 to 8 months. But this also depends on how you store the K cups for optimal freshness.
Final Words
Many aspiring home coffee brewers want to know more about K cups. Are they really worth the hype?
Are they more convenient and cost-friendly than traditional coffee?
So if you’re one of those who prefer using a single-serve K cup. Then you need to buy the best K cup coffee pods. Now you know which ones they are. And how to choose them!