10 Best K-Cup Coffee (2023) - Keurig Coffee Can Be Fresh!
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 Coffee Maker?
Keurig coffee makers use a pod-based brewing system. They prepare regular drip coffee. The single-serve coffee machines are manufactured by Keurig Dr. Pepper, hence their name. They are similar to Nespresso coffee machines, which prepare espresso-like drinks.
Pros of a Keurig Coffee Maker
- Keurig coffee makers are single-serve and well-packed inside pods. So they are unlikely to lose their aroma and go stale when compared to coffee bag ground coffee.
- They are compact, so great for small spaces, including tiny homes.
- There is 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 coffee pods from brands other than Keurig itself.
Cons of a Keurig Coffee Maker
- The coffee is not as fresh as coffee beans, so it’s not going to be as high quality. K-cup coffee is ground, possibly weeks beforehand (with a few exceptions).
- K-cups are not environmentally friendly since many K-cups are disposable and contain plastic.
What is a K-Cup?
A K-cup is a small cylindrical container or pod that is a plastic and paper filter with ground coffee beans inside. K-Cups are inserted inside a Keurig to produce your hot coffee.
We should add that reusable K-cups exist. Besides being more environmentally friendly, they have the added advantage of freshness. You could theoretically buy and grind your own coffee, and use it in your Keurig machine!
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
What Is The Best K-Cup Coffee?
Check out our overviews below and click on "Read More" to jump down to the in-depth reviews:
no. 1
Atlas Coffee Club K-Cup Coffee Subscription
Best Overall
Check Prices From:
- Specialty grade, single-origin, and hand-picked coffee.
- Freshly roasted coffees from around the world
- Beautiful packaging with coffee cards
- $0.34 per cup (72 K-cups)
- Read More ⇒
no. 2
Victor Allen’s Morning Blend
Light Roast Pick
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- Reputable brand
- 100% arabica beans
- Kosher
- Hazelnut tones
- $0.28 per cup (80 K-Cups)
- Read More ⇒
no. 3
Starbucks Veranda Blend K-Cups
Light Roast Pick
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- They’re a global brand for a reason
- 100% arabica beans
- Mellow with cocoa notes
- Recyclable K-Cups
- $0.51 per cup (60 K-Cups)
- Read More ⇒
no. 4
Green Mountain Breakfast Blend K-Cups
Light Roast Pick
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- Well-established American company
- 100% arabica beans
- Kosher
- Crisp and citrusy
- $0.43 per cup (96 K-Cups)
- Read More ⇒
no. 5
McCafé Premium Blend K-Cups
Medium Roast Pick
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- Who doesn’t know McDonalds?
- 100% arabica beans
- Rich aroma
- $0.34 per cup (96 K-Cups)
- Read More ⇒
no. 6
The Original Donut Shop K-Cups
Medium Roast Pick
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- Classic American diner coffee
- 100% arabica beans
- Rich and sweet
- Kosher
- $0.45 per cup (72 K-Cups)
- Read More ⇒
no. 7
Dunkin’ Original Blend K-Cups
Medium Roast Pick
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- Much loved franchise
- 100% premium arabica beans
- Simple and smooth
- $0.55 per cup (128 K-Cups)
- Read More ⇒
no. 8
Folgers Black Silk Blend K-Cups
Dark Roast Pick
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- Around since 1850
- Bold and smooth
- $0.42 per cup (128 K-Cups)
- Read More ⇒
no. 9
Starbucks Sumatra Blend K-Cups
Dark Roast Pick
Check Prices From:
- Single-origin Sumatra Coffee
- 100% Arabica beans
- Notes of herbs and spices
- $0.53 per cup (96 K-Cups)
- Read More ⇒
no. 10
Peet’s Coffee French Blend K-Cups
Dark Roast Pick
Check Prices From:
- San Francisco Specialty coffee roaster
- 100% arabica
- Wood smoke and burnt caramel
- $0.68 per cup (54 K-Cups)
- Read More ⇒
Now stick around so you can learn more about each product we mentioned and what you should look for when you're shopping for one!
People Also Search for: The Best Low Acid K Cups + Several Other Favorites!
1. Atlas Coffee Club K-Cup Subscription Plan
Best Overall
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 cajeta (a type of dulce de leche), custard, and banana notes.
- A medium-to-dark roast from Tamil Nadu, India, which features roasted almonds, 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 to each country, as well as a coffee card with details about your coffee.
"What is the secret?" you might ask. The answer is their subscription-based service allows them to deliver freshly roasted K-Cup coffee. You can also find them on Amazon if you don't want a subscription, but most likely the coffee won't be at its freshest.
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!
2. Victor Allen’s Morning Blend
Light Roast K-Cup Pick
Victor Allen's Morning Blend is made with 100% arabica beans. It's 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.
3. Starbucks Veranda Blend
Light Roast K-Cup Pick
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.
4. Green Mountain Breakfast Blend
Light Roast K-Cup Pick
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.
5. McCafé Premium Blend
Medium Roast K-Cup Pick
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 beans sourced from Central and South America, this coffee is kosher and offers a smooth and balanced coffee flavor. There is a touch of dryness when you drink it and a strong aroma.
6. The Original Donut Shop
Medium Roast K-Cup Pick
These are amongst the most popular K Cups, and are made by Keurig to remind you of a typical American diner. There are no artificial flavors, and they are kosher. The pods can be recycled which makes you feel less guilty about using them (and less scared about David Attenborough shouting at you).
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.
7. Dunkin’ Original Blend
Medium Roast K-Cup Pick
Who doesn’t love Dunkin’ Donuts? I’m not sure whether you care about their coffee when there are rows of brightly iced donuts staring at you. But whether you’re a fan of their donuts or their coffee, these Donut Shop Original 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.
8. Folgers Black Silk Blend
Dark Roast K-Cup Pick
This brand has been going since 1850. They double-dry their beans to give them a deeper and more even taste. They use 100% Colombian coffee for a bold, smooth, and silky taste. The coffee is a little on the stronger side but is low acidity. It has a depth of flavor that traditional black coffee drinkers will enjoy.
9. Starbucks Sumatra Blend
Dark Roast K-Cup Pick
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 still enjoyable 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.
10. Peet’s Coffee French Blend
Dark Roast K-Cup Pick
Peet’s use single-origin coffee and hand roast them in small batches for fresher and better quality coffee.
Made with 100% arabica beans, this French Roast is 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 your coffee.
This darker coffee blend has a dense flavor as the beans are grown in high altitudes in Latin America. The smell rising from your cup should hint at wood smoke and burnt caramel.
11. Crave Coffee Variety Pack
Bonus K-Cup Pick
To liven up your morning, try this variety pack that has 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 coffee expire?
Eventually yes. They generally have a best-before date. After this time the coffee loses its flavor, and if you wait even more it could go stale.
How do you maintain your Keurig?
You need to rinse out the water tank, K-Cup holder, and drip tray regularly. It will also need to be descaled just. The frequency will depend on your local water hardness.
What is the best coffee to make in a Keurig?
In our opinion, the Atlas Coffee Club K-Cup subscription service has the best K-Cup coffees. Its subscription system allows them to deliver freshly roasted coffee from different parts of the world.
What kind of coffee do you use in a reusable K-cup?
You should use a medium-coarsely ground medium roast coffee.
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!
