The 16 best K-Cups in 2023 for every type of coffee drinker (2024)

While there will always be a market for the best espresso machines and the best drip coffee makers, there's something very appealing about a user-friendly and practically foolproof device that'll get you a cup of joe in record time. The best Keurig coffee makers are affordable, easy, and have almost endless coffee options.

The huge quantity of K-Cup coffee on the market is a plus for variety-loving coffee drinkers, but it can make it challenging to distinguish the best Keurig coffee pods from the so-so ones. To help streamline the K-Cup shopping process, I — a pro product tester and an experienced home coffee brewer and drinker — selected the best K-Cup coffee in 8 different categories, each chosen for its flavor quality, consistency, and availability.

The best K-Cup coffee

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• 

  Best light roast

  Starbucks Veranda Blend K-Cup Pods

  If you prefer lighter coffees, then this blend will suit your tastes. The coffee flavor is distinct but not overwhelming, with notes of baking spices and milk chocolate.

• 

  Runner-up light roast

  Intelligensia House Coffee K-Cup Pods

  This artisanal roaster makes pods with a carefully sourced blend of beans from Brazil, Rwanda, and Colombia, delivering complex but still highly palatable flavor.

• 

  Best dark roast

  illy Forte Extra Dark Roast K-Cup Pods

  Illy offers bold flavor with a toasty base note and hints of dark chocolate. It’s not technically espresso, but it’s robust enough to work well in a latte or a cappuccino.

• 

  Another great dark roast

  Starbucks French Roast K-Cup Pods

  A smoky flavor carries the rest of the French Roast taste profile, along with black cherries and cocoa. The low acidity gives this coffee a strong sense of personality.

• 

  Best espresso style

  Lavazza Espresso Italiano K-Cups

  The K-Cup version of espresso is medium-bodied and has floral notes with hints of dark fruit. It works in the context of a straight pour and when paired with milk.

• 

  Runner-up espresso style

  Café Bustelo Espresso-Style Dark Roast K-Cups

  Café Bustelo’s well integrated and deep flavor doesn’t require any add-ons to make it an engaging cup. It’s budget friendly and delicious.

• 

  Best flavored

  Two Rivers Coffee Best of the Best Flavored Coffee Pods

  This selection uses premium Arabica beans and adds whimsical flavors like Andes Mint Chocolate, Cella’s Chocolate Cherry, Blueberry Shortcake, and Cinnamon.

• 

  Runner-up flavored coffee

  Maud's Super Flavored Coffee K-Cup Variety Pack

  Coconut Cream Chocolate, Irish Cream Cheesecake, and Bananas Foster are just a few of the flavors included in this collection, and Maud’s blends them all with mellow medium roast coffee.

• 

  Best medium roast

  Dunkin' Original Blend K-Cups

  The Dunkin’ pods are consistent with their store-brewed coffee. They’ll save you time and won’t require a trip out of the house, plus you’ll get the flavor you love.

• 

  Runner-up medium roast

  Keurig The Original Donut Shop K-Cup Pods

  Keurig developed the Donut Shop pods as an ideal for what a K-Cup should be: a palatable, medium roast that’s easy to enjoy and doesn’t include any jarring flavors.

• 

  Best decaf

  Green Mountain Coffee Vermont Country Blend Decaf K-Cups

  The Vermont Country Blend offers American grown beans, a silky mouthfeel, and gentle aromatics in a caffeine-free brew.

• 

  Another great decaf

  illy Classico Decaffeinated K-Cups

  Decaf coffee often has a bitter finish, but these pods are smooth from start to finish. We appreciate this high-quality coffee flavor and impeccable balance.

• 

  Best for iced coffee

  Green Mountain Coffee Brew Over Ice Classic Black K-Cup

  This dark roast Arabica is formulated to taste great with the dilution that comes from brewing hot coffee over ice. Brew into a plastic tumbler to prevent temperature shock.

• 

  Runner-up for iced coffee

  Dunkin' Cold K-Cup Pods

  These K-Cups feature a bold flavor that won’t get watered down. Be sure to stir for 10 seconds to calibrate the temperature and balance the flavor.

• 

  Best single origin

  The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Sumatra Mandehling Dark Roast Single Origin Coffee K-Cups

  A caramelized nose greets you upon brewing a cup of this coffee. It’s a full-bodied coffee that holds up over ice and has nuanced tasting notes.

• 

  Another great single origin

  Atlas Coffee Club Costa Rica Dark Roast K-Cups

  These K-Cups, which clock in at less than $1.25 per cup, offer an easy way to experience high quality coffee beans with a rich finish and balanced acidity.

Keurig pod FAQs

Do K-Cups expire?

According to Keurig, "The Best-Used-By date is a guideline for optimal freshness recommended by the Roaster; it's not an expiration date." Because K-Cups pods are, as Keurig says, "nitrogen-flushed, sealed for freshness and impermeable to oxygen, moisture, and light," the coffee within doesn't technically expire. There are no food safety concerns associated with drinking a K-Cup after its best-by date, although you may notice a stale flavor.

Are K-Cups recyclable?

Keurig claims that, as of 2020, all K-Cup pods are 100% recyclable. K-Cups are made with polypropylene (or PP) plastic, which is also used for dairy product containers and can be recycled, although there are disputes about how much #5 plastic actually makes it through the recycling process. Check your local recycling codes and policies to determine whether you'll be able to recycle K-Cups in your home city.

Are K-Cups as good as regular coffee?

Any coffee expert will tell you that the best coffee comes from freshly ground beans. Since K-Cup coffee is pre-ground and the pods are sealed to be shelf-stable, you inevitably lose a certain depth of flavor. However, brands do use the same coffee in K-Cups as in pre-ground bags, so the base notes of a roast will remain.