10 of the Best K Cup Coffee - Majority Opinion 2023
Do you want a quick and easy way of making coffee? Don’t want to go through the hassle of grounding coffee beans? Want to know what are the best K cup coffee pods on the market today?
Keep reading to find out what the majority have voted as the best k-cup coffee pods. We review each including the brand, the beans, and of course the flavor.
There’s nothing better in the morning than the smell of fresh coffee to wake you up. It’s like a warm embrace to get you motivated for your busy day ahead.
What is a Keurig?
A Keurig is a brewing system. It’s basically similar to a Nespresso coffee machine. Known for its single-serve coffee, it is manufactured by Keurig Dr Pepper, hence its name.
Pros of a Keurig
- The Keurig coffee maker is single serve, so it doesn’t go stale and yucky.
- They are compact, so great for small spaces, including tiny homes.
- No need to start faffing about with filters, just plop the K cup coffee pods into the machine and hit a button. Good for those of us who aren’t morning people.
- These machines are compatible with brands other than the Keurig coffee brands.
Cons of a Keurig
- The coffee is not as fresh as coffee beans, so it’s not going to be as high quality. As K cup coffee is ground, possibly weeks beforehand, fresh coffee is best for better flavor and for extracting all the health benefits.
- A lot of the K cups are not environmentally friendly as each K-cup is disposable and contains plastic. Careful, you might find David Attenborough on your doorstep giving shit for polluting our oceans, haha!
How to use a Keurig
- Simply fill with water.
- Lift up the top.
- Place the K cup coffee pods, with the lid up, in place.
- Press the top back down.
- Select the strength you want by selecting the small cup or larger cups. Of course, don’t forget to put a cup under it or it’ll be all over your floor.
- N.B: if your Keurig Descale Light stays on, then you might need to troubleshoot this...
What is a K-Cup?
A k-cup is a small container or pod that is a plastic and paper filter with ground coffee beans inside. It is placed in the Keurig to produce your hot coffee.
There are some reusable filters now that are made of rubber and mesh. A disposable paper is used, similar to a mini filter that you use for drip coffee. Then you put ground coffee into it, which by the way, has the added advantage of freshness! Place it in the machine where the k-cup goes, press a button and there you have it, a fresh cup of steaming coffee magically appears!
Our Top 10 Picks for the Best K Cup Coffee
- Atlas Coffee Club K-Cup Subscription
All Roasts - Victor Allen’s Morning Blend
Light Roast - Starbucks Veranda Blend
Light Roast - Green Mountain Breakfast Blend
Light Roast - McCafé Premium Blend
Medium Roast - The Original Donut Shop
Medium Roast - Dunkin’ Original Blend
Medium Roast - Folgers Black Silk Blend
Dark Roast - Starbucks Sumatra Blend
Dark Roast - Peet’s Coffee French Blend
Dark Roast - BONUS BLEND
Keep reading to discover what it is!
What coffee beans do K cups use?
There are two main types of coffee beans, arabica and robusta. The best k cup coffee will use arabica beans, which are generally better quality.
Arabica beans:
- Grown in tropical climates close to the equator
- Tends to have a soft, sweet flavor
- Less caffeine and less bitter
- Better quality
Robusta beans:
- Grown in the Eastern Hemisphere
- Generally stronger than Arabica beans
- Easier to grow
- Lower acidity
Summary of the Best K Cup Coffee
All Roasts & Editor's Pick
Atlas Coffee Club K-Cup Subscription
- Specialty grade, single-origin and hand-picked coffee.
- Freshly roasted coffees from around the world
- Beautiful packaging with coffee cards
Light Roast
- They’re a global brand for a reason
- 100% arabica beans
- Mellow with cocoa notes
Light Roast
Green Mountain Breakfast Blend
- Well-established American company
- 100% arabica beans
- Crisp and citrusy
Medium Roast
- Classic American diner coffee
- 100% arabica beans
- Rich and sweet
Medium Roast
- Much loved franchise
- 100% premium arabica beans
- Simple and smooth
Dark Roast
- San Francisco specialty coffee roaster
- 100% arabica
- Wood smoke and burnt caramel
Are single-origin beans better?
This list of the best flavored K cups coffee we are reviewing here are all single-origin. But does that make them better quality?
Typically yes! It means the quality is higher because they are not mixed with other beans of lower quality.
A Closer Look at the Best Flavored Coffee K-Cups
Editor's Pick - Atlas Coffee Club K-Cup Subscription Plan
We recently got wind that Atlas Coffee Club is now offering subscription-based K-Cup coffee pods! Given their reputation of offering single-origin specialty coffee from around the world, we knew we had to try their K-Cups and update this post!
We received four types of coffee, each from different a different country. We tested the following coffees:
- A medium-to-dark roast from Gisagara Rusizi, Rwanda, which features rhubarb, dark chocolate and lime notes.
- A medium-to-dark roast from San Fernando, Nicaragua, which features a medium-to-dark roast with cajeta (a type of dulce de leche), custard and banana notes.
- A medium-to-dark roast from Tamil Nadu, India, which features roasted almond, dark chocolate and prune notes.
- A medium roast Beshasha, Ethiopia, which features lemonade, custard and blueberry tones.
All four K-cup coffees arrived packaged in beautiful cardboard boxes featuring art patterns specific for each country. For example, the cardboard box for the coffee from Tamil Nadu, India features tigers and pinwheel flowers which are native to the region.
In each box you will find a postcard of the country of origin and a coffee card with details about your coffee, including the coffee's region, processing methods, altitude and coffee tasting notes.
I am happy to report that all four coffees were distinctive and delicious. Even though I prefer whole bean coffee and tend to avoid pods, the Atlas Coffee Club pods left me wandering whether I was actually drinking a pour-over from my local coffee shop instead of K-cup coffee. No joke here, K-Cup coffee can indeed be delicious!
"What is the secret?" you might ask. The answer is their subscription-based service allows them to deliver freshly roasted K-Cup coffee.
Atlas Coffee Club offers their K-Cup coffee through a subscription service. You can select how many coffee cups you'd receive (72, 48 or 24 cups), how often you'd receive them (every 2, 4 or 6 weeks) and your preferred roast type (light to medium, medium to dark, or all roast types.
Finally, if you are worried about waste, Atlas Coffee Club uses recyclable pods. Also, their packaging does not feature plastic - only beautiful recyclable cardboard boxes.
If you want to step up your K-cup game, we highly recommend Atlas Coffee Club!
Light Roasts
Victor Allen’s Morning Blend
Made with 100% arabica beans, this morning blend is gluten free, non-GMO, and kosher. It’s blended and roasted in the USA.
Victor Allen has been around for over 35 years, so they should know a thing or two about their coffee. They source beans from all regions of the world and roast one batch at a time making their coffee fresher.
This blend is more like a cappuccino than a black coffee. It has a full flavor with hints of hazelnut.
Starbucks Veranda Blend
Who hasn’t had a Starbucks coffee with one on every corner? With this blend you can enjoy the great taste of Starbucks without leaving your home.
Starbucks is known for its focus on sustainability and ethical sourcing while providing high-quality coffee. It sources beans from more than 30 countries within the ‘coffee belt’.
It is made with 100% arabica beans from Latin America. It is a blond roast, so it is light and mellow, with notes of cocoa and spice.
Green Mountain Breakfast Blend
Green Mountain coffee roasters are specialty roasters offering a range of roast styles. They focus on sustainability by planting trees and giving the communities they farm in access to clean water.
Made with 100% arabica beans that are single-origin and kosher.
The beans are sourced from central America giving them a crisp and citrusy taste while the beans from Indonesia give a sweetness. The two blended together create a citrusy, sweet flavor with a bit of a tang, a little bit acidic, and it gives a silky feeling on the tongue.
Medium Roasts
McCafé Premium Blend
Yes, you can get McDonald’s coffee at home. Will you be lovin’ it? Hopefully, (I’m sorry, I had to).
Made with 100% arabica bean sourced from central and south America. The beans are kosher with a smooth and balanced flavor. There is a touch of dryness when you drink it and a strong aroma.
The Original Donut Shop
These beans are made by Keurig and remind you of a typical American diner. There are no artificial flavors, and they are kosher. The pots can be recycled which makes you feel less guilty about using them (and less scared about David Attenborough shouting at you).
As it is made by Keurig, they fit perfectly into the Keurig coffee maker. The design of the k cup means there is even pressure to extract the coffee which makes for a better flavor.
With 100% arabica beans, this is a simple coffee with a bold and balanced flavor. There’s no bitterness or dryness as an aftertaste. It’s not overly strong with a rich and sweet taste and a heavy coffee aroma.
Dunkin’ Original Blend
Who doesn’t love Dunkin’ Donuts? I’m not sure whether you care about their coffee when there’s rows of brightly iced donuts staring at you. But whether you’re a fan of their donuts or their coffee, these k-cups taste like you just bought coffee from their store.
The coffee is rich and smooth (a little like George Clooney) and can be used to make iced coffee. They have a range of flavors, from decaf to French vanilla.
Dark Roast Coffee
Folgers Black Silk Blend
This brand has been going since 1850. They double-dry their beans to give them a deeper and even taste. They use 100% Colombian coffee for a bold, smooth, and silky taste. The coffee is a little on the stronger side but without any acidity. It has a depth of flavor that traditional black coffee drinkers will enjoy.
Starbucks Sumatra Blend
It’s not surprising Starbucks is on our list twice. This blend is again made with 100% arabica beans.
While it is a dark roast, it is light enough to drink at any time. It has a full-bodied flavor, with earthy, spicy, and herbal notes. Delicate hints of chocolate come through in this nuanced blend.
Peet’s Coffee French Blend
Peet’s use single-origin coffee and hand roast them in small batches for a fresher and better quality coffee.
Made with 100% arabica beans, they are kosher, and blended together for a balanced flavor.
The k-cups are recyclable making them a good choice if you want to be environmentally friendly while still enjoying a k cup.
The beans for this blend have a dense flavor as they are grown in high altitudes in Latin America.
The smell rising from your cup should hint at wood smoke and burnt caramel. It’s just like a freshly brewed coffee.
BONUS BLEND
Crave Coffee Variety Pack
To liven up your morning, why not try this variety pack for the best k-cup coffee. With a wide range of flavors from butter toffee to blueberry vanilla. There are no sweeteners or calories.
With 100% single origin arabica beans, they are kosher, and a great way to mix it up for your morning cup of coffee, or any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can k cup coffees expire?
Yes and no. They generally have a best before date. After this time the coffee loses its flavor, and it could end up being one stale cup of coffee. So to have the best K cup coffee, make sure to have it before the expiry date.
How do you maintain your Keurig?
You need to rinse out your water compartment, k cup holder, and the drip tray regularly. It will also need decaled just like your kettle.
Wrapping Up
There you have it! Although these coffee pods are not ideal for brewing espresso based coffee drinks, you can still have fun trying out some of the best K cup coffee. They offer a great taste just like coffee shop quality but in the comfort of your own home.
And if you also own a Nespresso machine at home, then make sure to check out our list of the best reusable Nespresso Pods!
