Quick Summary: When looking for the Best Keurig K Cup Coffee Pods, you want one that is going to give you amazing taste for a good price. We selected Green Mountain Coffee Caramel Vanilla Cream for Keurig K-Cup Brewers. This is a light roast that offers the taste of drizzled buttery caramel mixed with brown sugar and topped with vanilla cream. This coffee is one you can feel good about as Green Mountain care about the environment and the people in the community. They care about everyone from the farmer picking the beans to the customer drinking their coffee.
Mornings are incomplete without a good cup of coffee but, they also get very hectic with long, complicated coffee making procedures. If an energetic, strong flavored cup is the quick fix you need then the best coffee pods are surely a ‘must have’ item for you.
K cup coffee pods prepare coffee very quickly-this means that you don’t have to take out extra time to make just a cup of coffee. If the monotonous taste of coffee bores you, then these can even help you with that as they are available in multiple flavors.
These small coffee pods are hugely underestimated and are thought of to create a mild tasting coffee. This is not true as a cup of coffee made with these pods is equally strong and flavorful like traditional coffee.
The K cup coffee pods are very easy and simple to use as you don’t have to brew or grind the coffee beans manually-instead you just place these pods in a Keurig coffee machine and it will do all the work for you.
Lastly, you don’t have to stress about cleaning carafes, spilled coffee, or any such thing with these. Wait no more and check out our best Keurig coffee pod list.
Quick Navigation
- 10 Best Keurig K Cup Coffee Pods Comparison
- Reviews of Top 10 Keurig K Cup Coffee Pods
- K Cup Vs. Coffee Pod
- How To Choose Best Keurig K Cup Pod
- FAQs
10 Best Keurig K Cup Coffee Pods Comparison
 | 1. The Original Keurig Single Serve K-Cup Pods (Best overall)This set of 72 recyclable k cup pods is ideal to prepare a well-balanced cup of coffee. The medium roast given to these k cup pods ensures that your drink is neither too strong nor too weak in flavor. | Read Our Review |
 | 2. Green Mountain K Cup Coffee Pods (Best Budget)A single cup made with Green Mountain coffee pods is rich in flavor. The light roast of these k cup pods works magically to create a harmonious blend of flavors consisting of caramel, brown sugar, and vanilla cream. | Read Our Review |
 | 3. Starbucks French Roast K-Cup for Keurig BrewersEnriched with deep and strong flavors- Starbucks coffee k cup pods are a treat for serious coffee lovers. With its authentic french toast, these k cup pods instantly produce the perfect coffee. | Read Our Review |
 | 4. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters K Cup Coffee PodsThese coffee k cup pods are filled with 100% Arabic beans which have been given a light roast. While these k cup pods are packed with flavors-they are not strongly caffeinated and ideal for people who prefer decaf coffee. | Read Our Review |
 | 5. Peet's Coffee French Roast Single Serve K-Cup Coffee PodsPeets k cup coffee pods can be easily used in every type of Keurig K cup brewers. The 100% authentic Arabica beans with their dark roast produce strong notes of burnt caramel and wood-smoke instantly. | Read Our Review |
 | 6. Eight O'Clock Coffee Dark Italian Roast Keurig K-Cup PodsThese small organic Arabica bean k cup pods are full of bold and intense flavors. You can enjoy a fully caffeinated drink made with these pods which will also have improved and enhanced taste notes of chocolate. | Read Our Review |
 | 7. Peet's Coffee Colombia Luminosa K-Cup Single Cup Coffee PodsPeet’s new range of K-cup coffee pods is a delightful treat for coffee drinkers who want to experience new flavors. The underlying flavors of passion flower and stone fruit will instantly satisfy all of your tastebuds. | Read Our Review |
 | 8. Green Mountain Special K Cup Coffee PodsThese k cup pods are a favorite of every coffee lover. The medium roast accompanying these coffee beans creates a well-balanced, smooth flavor. These handy K cup pods are suitable to use in every type of Keurig brewers. | Read Our Review |
 | 9. Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend Single-Serve Keurig K-Cup PodsEnjoy sweet and spicy notes of Indonesian bean with Caribou coffee blend k cup pods. The bittersweet cocoa and cedar finish of these beans gently create a rich, flavorful, caffeinated drink. | Read Our Review |
 | 10. Eight O'Clock Coffee Hazelnut Single-Serve Keurig K-Cup PodsTreat yourself with highly dense flavors of hazelnut and coffee with Eight O'clock hazelnut coffee pods. The 100% organic Arabic beans are roasted lightly to give a nutty, delicious taste to your drinks. | Read Our Review |
Reviews of Top 10 Keurig K Cup Coffee Pods
To find the best Keurig coffee pods, we closely examined the reviews and ratings from consumers and experts. From all the different Keurig cups we looked at, these 10 stands out as the best based on their quality, taste, and price.
Best Overall
1. The Original Donut Shop Keurig Single-Serve K-Cup Pods, Regular Medium Roast Coffee
What You Will Love: These Original Donut Shop have the best Keurig variety pack with the simplest ingredients and no artificial ingredients.
The donut has missed its coffee companion. The Original Donut Shop has brought back the perfect coffee for dunking. It is simple and fresh.
It is extra bold, which means it has extra coffee than a regular dark roast. Extra bold does not refer to the coffee’s roast profile. This is the perfect blend. It is not too bitter, or harsh.
The Original Donut Shop coffee is certified orthodox kosher. The Original K-Cup Pods Coffee does not contain artificial ingredients. These are the best you can get for a coffee shop or home and compatible with all Keurig coffee makers that are single-serve. Each will brew up to 12 ounces of the freshest that can be found.
Each cup is brewed perfectly every time because they are the perfect grind crafted specifically for Keurig. These take the guesswork out of how to roast.
Pros:
- Does not contain artificial ingredients.
- Certified Orthodox Union Kosher.
Cons:
- There have been some complaints about the quality.
- Some reviews say that it messes up the pressure in their Keurig.
Best Budget
2. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Caramel Vanilla Cream Flavored Light Roast Coffee
What You Will Love: This Green Mountain coffee is a high quality coffee that mixes the sweet tastes of caramel, brown sugar, and vanilla cream.
This Green Mountain coffee is a caffeinated and light roast that offers the taste of drizzled buttery caramel mixed with brown sugar and topped with vanilla cream.
This is a 24 count of single serve pod for all Keurig brewers. There has been a change in the manufacturing of these which changed the packaging but the product is the same.
You get the same quality with every cup of coffee you make thanks to the special design. This is an Orthodox Union Kosher. One thing to consider is that the terms regular, bold, and extra bold is a description of the amount of coffee. It does not refer to the actual roast.
You can feel good about drinking Green Mountain coffee because they plant new trees for their coffee farms. They provide access to cleaner water and offer better pay to farmers and employers.
Pros:
- Orthodox Union Kosher
- Environmentally conscious
Cons:
- Can only be shipped within US.
Best for French Roast
3. Starbucks French Roast K-Cup For Keurig Brewers
What You Will Love: This French Roast coffee is a dark and bold roast variety pack that comes with the Starbucks coffee shop quality you expect.
Starbucks coffee is stronger than your typical run of the mill coffee and this one is no different. This is a dark, bold roast and not intended for someone that wants a blonde or lighter roast.
When a coffee is called a French roast it refers to the roast degree that is applied to the beans.
A French roast creates a dark brown coffee bean. The surface of the bean is often shiny as a result of the oils in the bean. This starts with the highest quality coffee beans that can hold up to the intense heat needed to create a French Roast coffee.
These beans are roasted to the edge. This intense roasting creates an unbelievably smoky and intense cup of coffee. Starbucks K-Cup Brewers is a case of 96 count pods that a single use and can be used on any Keurig coffee brewer.
Pros:
- Dark and robust roast.
- Starbucks quality you expect.
Cons:
- Can only be shipped in the US.
- Not ideal for someone who wants a lighter roast.
Best for Decaf
4. Green Mountain Coffee K-Cups, Breakfast Blend (Melange) Decaf
What You Will Love: This Green Mountain coffee maintains crisp full bodied flavor even though it is decaf.
The bean is Indonesian and it contains no caffeine. This has a nutty flavor and is balanced with a little sweetness and unbelievably smooth.
The bean is Indonesian and it contains no caffeine. This coffee has a nutty flavor and is balanced with a little sweetness and unbelievably smooth.
Green Mountain Breakfast Blend provide the best dark roast that is decaf every time you brew it. These Green Mountain Coffee K-Cups can be used in the Keurig 2.0. This is a 96 count of single serve pack.
Green Mountain is a company you can be proud to support. They are constantly giving back and finding ways to be environmentally friendly. They are constantly planting new trees for the farms. They are sure to offer better pay to their farmers and provide access to cleaner water.
Pros:
- Kosher coffee
- Gluten free
Cons:
- This item can only be shipped in the US.
- Some of the goods that have been received are defective.
Best for Single Serve
5. Peet’s Coffee French Roast Single Serve K-Cup Coffee Pods
What You Will Love: Peet’s Coffee is a smoky and full-bodied variety pack to start your morning.
Alfred Peet opened for business many years ago and has had a reputation for a quality coffee product ever since. He carefully roasts his beans for full flavor.
He has given that same attention to making it one of the Best Keurig Pods available.
These single use pods allow you to get the same flavor in your coffee without the waste of brewing an entire pot.
Peet’s K-Cup Coffee Pods dark roast is smoky with full bodied flavor making you want to savor every sip. The beans from this French roast can stand up to a longer and hotter roast. Many beans can’t handle that type of roasting. This is a package of 60. They are packaged in six boxes containing 10 cups each.
Pros:
- These offer the same quality as all of Peet’s coffee.
- Less expensive than other.
Cons:
- Items can only be shipped within the US.
Best Italian Roasted Flavour
6. Eight O’Clock Coffee Dark Italian Roast Keurig K-Cup Pods
What You Will Love: These Eight O’clock coffee pods are made with 100 percent Arabica coffee for a bold flavor.
Eight o’clock coffee has a history that is as rich as its coffee. They have been manufacturing coffee since 1859. They are
They hand select their beans, then roast them in controlled batches so they can watch them carefully. It is packaged by hand so no flavor is lost.
They take pride in their process and in who they hire, as they only hire the most experienced individuals. They want their coffee to be crafted with passion and skill.
While they have changed their look over the years and jumped into the world of single serve coffee with their products, they never left their classic flavor behind.
This dark Italian roast is full bodied and bold. It has notes of dark chocolate and made with 100 percent Arabica beans. Eight O’Clock K-Cup Pods is perfect for espresso and cappuccino. It is Orthodox Union Kosher.
Pros:
- Orthodox Union Kosher
- Perfect for espresso and cappuccino.
Cons:
- Some cups have been delivered with very little amount of coffee.
Best Blend for Breakfast
7. Peet’s Coffee, Colombia Luminosa, Light Roast K-Cup
What You Will Love: Peet’s Coffee light roast is a mild and smooth blend of perfect coffee with every cup.
Alfred Peet maintains the same reputation for quality coffee today that he had when he opened his business many years ago. His beans are carefully roasted to get the fullest flavor.
These allow you to get the same mild smoothness in your coffee cup without wasting an entire pot. This light roast is a mild and smooth blend of Columbian and Ethiopian coffee giving you enjoyment with every sip.
This is not for those that want a strong or bold flavor. Peet’s Coffee K-Cup is a mild and mellow flavor for those that do not want the bitter taste. They are packaged in six boxes containing 10 cups each.
Pros:
- No bitter taste.
- Smoothness of a light roast.
Cons:
- Items can only be shipped within the US.
- Will taste weak to some as it is not a strong coffee.
Best for Medium Roast
8. Green Mountain Coffee Newman’s Special Blend, Medium Roast K-Cup
What You Will Love: This organic, fair trade coffee appeals to those who want a strong but smooth roast.
This is a blend of Green Mountain coffee and Newman’s Own Foundation. The two companies come together to make a superb coffee.
This is for everyone as it is strong and bold, but smooth at the same time. It will make lovers of both dark and light roasts happy.
These have a special design that protects them from all elements that are harmful to coffee, like light, moisture, and air. These brew a perfect cup of coffee every time. They are made specifically for Keurig single cup brewers and are compatible with the new Keurig 2.0.
Newman’s Own Foundation has made a commitment to donate all royalties to charity. You can feel good about purchasing this product and know you are giving back to worldwide communities. This is not only organic, but it is also Fair Trade coffee. That means that you are drinking the absolute best and cleanest you can buy.
Certified organic ingredients
Green Mountain K-Cup Coffee also keeps chemicals out of the water and soil, which makes the community a healthy place to live for generations.
Fair Trade means that the farmers planting and harvesting the coffee beans are paid a fair price for their product. This allows farmers to continue to do what they know and invest in the crops and community.
Pros:
- The coffee is organic.
- It has Fair Trade certification.
- A perfect blend for lovers of both light and dark roasts.
Cons:
- It can only be shipped in the US.
1st Runner-Up (Medium Roast)
9. Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend, Medium Roast K-Cup Pod
What You Will Love: Caribou Coffee has teamed up with the Rainforest Alliance to provide a sustainable medium roast coffee.
Caribou provides a medium roast coffee that presents a classic smoothness. This blend contains Indonesian beans that have woodsy notes that are balanced with fruity flavor.
This delivers the bittersweet taste of chocolate at the finish. All of the beans are hand picked from the best harvests to ensure maximum quality.
Caribou is an organization that believes in supporting communities as well as providing the world with an amazing cup. They use only the best beans they can find to create a sustainable coffee.
Caribou has teamed up with the Rainforest Alliance to ensure their coffee receives the highest level of certification. The Rainforest Alliance verifies that the farmers planting and harvesting the beans are compensated fairly and that the environment is protected throughout the planting and harvesting process.
Caribou is the first coffee manufacturer that is 100 percent Rainforest Alliance certified. Caribou Coffee K-Cup Pod is also a kosher coffee.
Pros:
- Teamed up with the Rainforest Alliance certification program.
- The coffee is kosher.
Cons:
- It may feel heavy on your tongue.
- It is a super bold flavor.
Best Flavoured
10. Eight O’Clock Coffee Hazelnut, Medium Roast K-Cup Pod
What You will Love: This has a rich hazelnut flavor while maintaining a light flavor.
This 100 percent Arabica bean coffee is a medium roast and caffeinated. The beans are roasted lightly to maintain a nutty flavor. The hazelnut flavor stands out because it is rich but not overpowering. It is Orthodox Union Kosher.
Eight o’clock coffee is rich in its history. They have been crafting coffee since 1859. They believe in hands-on processing with every step along the way. They hand-select their beans, then roast them in controlled batches where they are carefully watched.
No flavor is lost in packaging as that is done by hand. They take pride in their process and in who they hire, as they only hire the most experienced individuals.
While they have changed their look over the years and jumped into the world of single serve coffee with their products, they never left their classic flavor behind. Each Eight O’Clock Coffee Hazelnut is perfecting manufactured for a perfect cup of coffee every time.
Pros:
- Rich hazelnut flavor without being overpowering
- Orthodox Union Kosher
Cons:
- It can only be shipped within the US.
- May not have as much of a kick as other brands.
K Cup vs. Coffee Pod
A K cup and a Coffee Pod are not the same things and they cannot be used on the same machine. There are machines that will brew both, but you need a specific machine to do that. You can also purchase an adapter that lets you use both.
A pod is filter paper with coffee or tea sealed inside. They are flat, round, and soft. They are often wrapped in foil or sometimes lose in a resealable bag. It is a plastic cup that has coffee or tea sealed inside with an aluminum foil top. Inside the cup is a type of filter that keeps the coffee during the brewing process.
Keurig cups brewer puncture the foil lid with a needle above the cup. There is another needle that punctures the bottom of the cup. Boiling water then goes into the top hole and coffee comes out of the bottom hole.
The pod has less waste, a better aroma while brewing, and overall better extraction. However, they can be difficult to find and way far fewer options.
They are incredibly convenient and a large number of options are available just about anywhere. They tend to be more expensive and have much more waste. Some coffee lovers think the flavor of them are not as good as that of a pod.
How To Choose Best K-Cup Pods
When looking for the best, you want something that will deliver the flavor and taste you want at a price that you can afford.
Flavor
You want to make sure you pick the kind of coffee roast you like. If you want a subtle, smooth roast that does not taste bitter, then a dark french roast is not for you. If you want something that packs a punch, dark roast is your best bet.
Price
This should always be a factor, but one out of many. Do not buy the most expensive one, just because it is expensive and you think it will taste the best. The price does not always indicate taste.
Socially / Environmentally Conscious
You want to purchase from a company that cares about people, the community, and the product. Find an organic coffee that is also Fair Trade.
Ingredients
Always make sure you know what is in your coffee. Your coffee should be made with the best beans and the finest ingredients. Make sure there are no additional chemicals.
Availability
When looking for Keurig cups, you want it to be something you can easily find and buy more. Let’s face it, no one wants to be without coffee.
FAQs
How Natural are K Cups?
Natural is not the word that comes to mind when talking about Keurig. The pod itself is BPA free and made from #7 plastic, which meets or exceeds FDA standards. However, when tested, they were positive for estrogenic activity.
This means that the chemicals in the plastic mimic the hormone estrogen. These chemicals bind to a cell’s normal estrogen receptor. The plastic pod may also contain polystyrene, which may be a carcinogen that is bad for the nervous system.
The film on the top, which is punctured by the machine, is made from aluminum. Aluminum could be bad for the brain and has other health issues.
Are K Cups for Coffee Snobs?
The short answer is no, they are not for the coffee snobs of the world. A Keurig is intended to brew a single cup of coffee quickly. This does not lend itself to the highest quality experience.
Most coffee snobs want a full coffee experience, and they want it to their exact specifications. They also want to smell the coffee while it’s brewing and dripping into their cup. That simply is not going to happen.
Can K-Cups Be Used with Other Pod Coffee Machines?
Again, the answer is no. The Keurig functions in a specific way to get the coffee out of the K cups. Both the top foil and the bottom of the plastic must be pierced so water can go through.
The water is under pressure as it moves through the K cups and into your coffee mug. It has both coffee grounds and a filter inside the sealed cup.
The Cost of K Cups vs. Traditional Coffee
I do not think anyone is surprised that using K cups is more expensive than traditional coffee. However, just how much more expensive they are may be surprising. Starting with the machine, a run of the mill coffee maker still only cost about $35, but the least pricey Keurig is about $100.
The cost of the coffee in a K cup comes to about $40 per pound. That is way more than a pound of even the most expensive ground Starbucks coffee. It works out to be about 66 cents per cup of coffee with a K cup and 28 cents per cup of traditional coffee.
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