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Best Coffee Pods

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Updated November 30, 2021

We selected the best coffee pod pack by looking at a range of important features such as machine compatibility, eco-friendly initiatives, quantity, quantity to value, and flavor choices. These are all going to be items you’ll need to consider as you head to the grocery store or shop online to restock your coffee K cups supply.

For this reason, we selected San Francisco Bay Coffee’s Breakfast Blend pack with 80 K-cups as our Top Pick and best coffee pods. Even though it only featured one flavor, a large number of coffee pods and, more importantly, its green-conscious design made it our preferred choice. Breakfast Blend is a popular coffee choice with a mild flavor profile that can appeal to the widest range of coffee drinkers. But the compostable design ensures that you can enjoy this Kosher-certified coffee without guilt. Pro pod or not, you’ll want to check out the best coffee maker.

Top 7 Best Coffee Pods Compared

 #1  SF Bay Coffee Breakfast Blend Coffee Pods – Top Pick


WHY WE LIKE IT: An 80-count set of K-cups that are compostable and perfect for green-conscious coffee drinkers. A medium roast breakfast blend coffee that’s ideal for the average coffee drinker and for any time of day.

Pros
  • 80 count K-cups
  • Medium roast breakfast blend
  • Compostable to reduce carbon footprint
Cons
  • No flavor variety
  • Some K-cups may leak coffee grounds

Some people are particular about their coffee both in terms of flavor and corporate social responsibility. Coffee fans who prefer a bold breakfast blend brew will appreciate our Top Pick, San Francisco Bay’s Breakfast Blend Coffee. You’ll like that for a reasonable price, you receive 80 K-cups. While it’s billed as a medium roast, this particular breakfast blend is known for being stronger than competitors.

Eco-conscious drinkers will like that these pods are designed from compostable materials so you don’t have to feel guilty when you brew your coffee. These pods are compatible with most Keurig machines, including the Keurig 2.0. Also, this coffee is Kosher-certified, composed of 100 percent Arabica coffee beans and ground and packed fresh for superior flavor. A great alternative to pods is the Best Pour Over Coffee Maker: Brew Like A Pro.

Related: See also our review of the best coffee creamer dispenser.

 #2  Amazon Brand 100 Ct. Solimo Dark Roast Coffee Pods – Honorable Mention


WHY WE LIKE IT: A bold coffee that’s available in a large quantity with 100 individual K-cups so that you’re never without a fresh cup o’ Joe. Compatible with Keurig 1.0 and 2.0 brewers.

Pros
  • Keurig 1.0 and 2.0 compatible
  • Bold and dark roast
  • Large 100-count quantity
Cons
  • K-cups made of plastic
  • Strong bitter aftertaste

Amazon’s proprietary Solimo coffee offers a dark roast blend that is our Honorable Mention thanks to an intense flavor profile and large quantity at a nominal per-cup value. With 100 K-cups in this set, only the most extreme coffee drinkers will find themselves running on empty. These coffee Kcups are compatible with Keurig’s 1.0 and 2.0 brewers.

Solimo’s coffee is made from 100 percent arabica coffee beans and the brand promises 100 percent satisfaction along with a number to contact them if you aren’t happy with your purchase. If you are a Nespresso fan, the best Nespresso machine might be more your speed. Or, check out our guide to the best cold brew coffee maker.

 #3  InfuSio 96 Count Variety K-cups Premium Roasted Coffee – Best Unique Flavors


WHY WE LIKE IT: Why be limited to one flavor when you can choose from 10 with InfuSio’s 96-count roast Kcups set. We love that you get 10 unique flavors in this package that you won’t see everywhere such as chicory, and a range of lightly roasted profiles — all Kosher-certified and gluten-free — to please a variety of palettes.

Pros
  • 96 K-cups, certified Kosher, gluten-free
  • Range of roasts and 10 flavors
  • Compatible with Keurig 1.0 and 2.0 brewers
Cons
  • K-cup is made of plastic

When’s the last time you had a cup of chicory coffee? If you’re in the mood for flavors that you can’t get from every other coffee maker, you’re going to like InfuSio’s 96-count Variety K-Cup Coffee set. With 10 flavors that include more readily available options like Donut Shop and Colombia Roast, to obscure choices like chicory and chocolate chip, there’s truly something for everyone in this set.

Best of all, InfuSio’s K-cups are compatible with both the 1.0 and 2.0 Keurig brewers. And for those with strict diets, you’ll appreciate that this coffee is certified Kosher and gluten-free. This single-origin coffee is always packed fresh for the best flavor possible. Speaking of great flavor, you may also want to try the best Hamilton Beach coffee maker.

 #4  Two Rivers Coffee Bold & Dark Roast Coffee – Best Budget/Best Budget Sampler


WHY WE LIKE IT: A modestly priced sample pack that features 11 flavors and a total count of 40 coffee Kcup pods. Choose from bold and medium roasts with names that invoke the grittiness of Brooklyn.

Pros
  • Compatible with Keurig 2.0 brewers
  • 11 flavors with multiple K-cups per flavor
  • 40 K-cups per pack
Cons
  • Not compatible with Keurig 1.0 brewers
  • K-cups are made of plastic

This is a great choice if you don’t want to use a Cuisinart coffee maker. Just because you’re shopping on a budget doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be able to have a choice. Two Rivers’ coffee variety pack is our Best Budget selection because you get a solid quantity of K-cups, a range of flavors and all for a modest price. With 40 K-cups, you can choose from 11 flavors, all named with a tongue-in-cheek homage to an iconic New York borough, Brooklyn.

While these K-cups are only compatible with the Keurig 2.0 brewer, you’ll like that you have options from light roast and medium roast to bold and dark roasts to please even the most discerning of coffee drinkers.

 #5  Keurig Coffee Lovers’ Collection Sampler Pack – Best Variety


WHY WE LIKE IT: A solid variety pack sold by the official Keurig coffee brand. 40 K-cups, 20 flavors with 2 cups per flavor, and compatibility with all Keurig machines round out the benefits.

Pros
  • Compatible with ALL Keurig brewers
  • 20 flavors for wide variety
  • Several of the flavors are official brands
Cons
  • K-cups are plastic
  • Coffee grinds may leak into brew

If you’re concerned about K-cup compatibility, you can’t go wrong if you buy them directly from Keurig. This 40-count variety pack features an astounding 20 different flavors, each with 2 K-cups. Pick from popular options like Krispy Kreme, Original Donut Shop, Newman’s Own French Roast, and Laughing Man as well as mainstays from Green Mountain Coffee Breakfast Blend.

Of course, being that these are from Keurig, these K-cups are compatible with all of their brewers. Select flavors are also USDA organic-certified. People love the best keurig coffee maker for good reason.

#6  InfuSio Revival Roaster 96-count Variety Pack – Best Value Per Pod


WHY WE LIKE IT: With 10 flavor choices and a total of 96 K-cups, this is the best value for your money when you calculate the per cup cost. Compatibility with both 1.0 and 2.0 Keurig brewers, a range of roast profiles, and Kosher certification round out the other major benefits from this K-cup pack.

Pros
  • Compatible with Keurig 1.0 and 2.0 brewers
  • 96 K-cups, 10 flavors
  • Kosher certified coffee
Cons
  • K-cups made from plastic
  • Some drinkers may find flavor profiles thin

Some people are all about the per-unit value. And if this is you, Infusio’s Revival Roaster 96-count Variety Pack is going to be a smart buy. With the cheapest per cup cost of all the K-cup packs on our list, you’re not missing out just because you’re shopping economically. Choose from 10 flavors that range from common options like Breakfast Blend and Italian Roast to more unique choices like Butter Toffee and Caramel.

These K-cups are compatible with both Keurig’s 1.0 and 2.0 brewers. Plus the beans are certified Kosher and can also work with other non-Keurig brewing machines.

 #7  Amazon Brand 100 Ct. Solimo Medium Roast Colombian Coffee Pods – Best Bulk Value


WHY WE LIKE IT: For coffee drinkers who hate running out of K-cups, the Solimo 100-count Medium Roast offers the best value for bulk buys. The medium body, 100 percent arabica Colombian coffee is perfect for the coffee drinker who knows what they like and is compatible with Keurig 1.0 and 2.0 brewers.

Pros
  • Colombian 100% arabica coffee
  • 100-count K-cups
  • Compatible with Keurig 1.0 and 2.0 brewers
Cons
  • K-cups made of plastic

If you’re buying in bulk and you know that you prefer one flavor in particular, you’ll like our Best Value selection. Amazon’s Solimo makes our list twice, this time with their medium brew Colombian Roast coffee which is made from 100 percent arabica beans. You’ll like that this is a massive pack with 100 K-cups that are compatible with 1.0 and 2.0 Keurig brewers.

And as with their other coffee entry on our list, Amazon is focused on customer satisfaction. If you’re not 100 percent happy with your purchase, you can contact them directly for support.

How We Decided

Coffee pods or K-cup pods have been around for over a decade and nowadays, there are more choices than ever. When researching the best k-cup/coffee pods, we looked at many factors and determined which ones would be the highest priority. We began by looking at machine compatibility. All of the items we reviewed were kcups pods. But even though they were designed for use with Keurig brewers, you’ll find that some are rated for use with both the 1.0 and 2.0 brewers while others are only compatible with the newer 2.0 models.

We then looked at the carbon footprint. One of the biggest pushbacks about K-cups is that they’re not inherently eco-friendly because of the plastic used to make them, which often isn’t biodegradable. This is why we included our Top Pick, the San Francisco Bay Breakfast Blend. These were the only options on our list that featured a green solution with compostable materials.

Next, we considered the per-unit price. While the total package prices can fluctuate, it’s important to keep unit prices in mind, as this can make a technically more expensive K-cup pack more economical on a per-cup basis. As you’ll see in our guide, we’ve outlined which choice was best for bulk shopping versus general lowest sticker price for the pack, and which offered the lowest per-cup price.

And finally, we looked at the variety. Some coffee drinkers are only interested in one particular flavor. But others may like to have more options. And for this reason, the majority of the K-cup packs on our list include several flavors, with multiple K-cups per flavor.

Another popular option to check out is the Dunkin Donuts Original Blend Medium Roast Coffee, 60 K Cups for Keurig Coffee Makers. Choose the Mixed Roast Variety pack for three flavors, including Dunkin Donuts Original Blend, 100% Columbian, and Signature Series Select Bold. Also, check out Peet’s Coffee! Although it didn’t make our list Peet’s Coffee produce a range of blends from Major Dickason’s Blend – a rich, complex, multilayered blend full of character, French Roast – an intensely bold and flavourful blend, and Brazil Minas Naturais – a thoroughly sweet cup with mild fruits and notes of caramel. Another notable Keurig compatible option is Eight O’Clock Original Coffee.

To compare pricing, specs, and customer reviews, have a look at Amazon.com for other popular choices.

Coffee Pod Buying Guide

The Most Important Features to Consider

  1. Machine Compatibility
    Unsurprisingly, the first thing you need to consider when shopping for coffee pods is machine compatibility. While singleserve coffee machines are a ubiquitous concept, there can be variations in how coffee pods or cups are designed. With options such as “K-cups” which are pods for Keurig and similarly styled coffee makers to pods for more boutique style machines like Nespresso, it’s safe to say that one size doesn’t fit all for kcup brewers. Keurigs kcups are just a small part of the eco system.
  2. Eco-friendly
    If reducing your carbon footprint is a priority, this is going to be an important feature for you. Individual coffee cups and pods have earned a black eye for themselves over the years as ecologically wasteful because of the increased plastic pollution they create. To combat this, many brands have begun incorporating more eco-friendly materials such as biodegradable paper containers. And you can even find refillable K-cups that are designed to be reused. This lets you pick your favorite coffee brand or flavor rather than being limited to what’s readily available in pre-filled K-cups or pods. And that can also mean more cost savings in the long run.
  3. Quantity to Value
    Individual coffee pods or cups can be convenient if you’re the only coffee drinker in the house or only drink it occasionally. But if everyone in the house is an avid drinker, sometimes the total number of pods per container, as compared to what you spend can make single-use coffee more expensive than traditional loose ground coffee. Sometimes when you do the math, you might be better served to opt for a refillable cup or pod, and your preferred bulk ground coffee or beans. At least with these cups, you don’t have to use a coffee grinder.
  4. Flavors and Third-Party Options
    Depending on your coffee maker, you might find that the proprietary capsules or pods sold by the brand are either too pricy or don’t offer flavors that you like. So, looking for alternative options will give you not just more variety, but can help you save money. Of course, to do this, you’ll need to do your research and confirm that you’re intended choice is compatible with your coffee maker.

Some other notable mentions that did not make the cut are Major Dickasons blend, Death Wish, Mountain Coffee Roasters breakfast blend, and Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend. We tried many before finalizing our choices including Green Mountains coffee roasters breakfast, Barista Prima Coffeehouse Italian Roast.

Coffee Pods FAQs

How can I tell if a coffee pod is compatible with my machine?

When shopping for coffee pods or capsules, always read the label to confirm machine compatibility. The packaging will always outline which machine(s) works best with it. While this isn’t necessarily an issue for Keurig machines which have kept their pod trays the same size since the product was launched, this is an issue for Nespresso capsules and other single cup coffee pod or capsule-style machines which can have different pods depending on the machine model.

I’m transitioning to a pod-style machine, but I prefer the coffee I used with my drip maker.

You can still transition to a pod-style machine even if you prefer your ground coffee that worked with your drip machine. You have two options. You can confirm that your favorite brand makes disposable pods for your single-serve coffee makers and purchase them. Or, depending on your machine, you can buy a refillable pod or capsule and continue to use your preferred ground coffee. The second option is the most economical and environmentally friendly of the two choices.

Can I reuse the disposable pods?

Typically disposable pods aren’t designed for multiple brewing. You will need to replace the pod every time you want to brew a fresh cup of coffee. Many people use reusable kcups.

What’s more important, the total cost of a pack or the per-unit price?

This would seem like a straight-forward answer but it’s not. For some people, the total price will be most important because they’re not interested in calculating the per-unit price. However, if you’re focused on getting the most value for your money — especially if you’re buying in bulk — look at the per-unit price. Divide the total cost of the pack by the number of K-cups to find the per unit price. But keep in mind that if you’re focused on factors like flavor, you may need to pay a higher per-unit price — even if the pack price is modest — if you’re shopping for variety packs or more obscure flavors.