I Tried 40 K-Cups — These Are the 5 Worth Putting in Your Keurig
What to jump: Revv No surrender
That coffee pod didn’t do much to rev my engines.
I found Revv No Surrender coffee disappointing for several reasons:The mixture reminded me of coffee from a coffee maker left on the burner too long. The K-Cup tasted sour and astringent, with a burnt, bitter finish. Second, No Surrender claims to be the boost you need as an early grinder, but it is made from 100% Arabica beans. Pure Arabica means it is likely to have a typical caffeine intake without the naturally higher caffeine content of the Robusta bean. (None of the K-Cup boxes gave any information about caffeine.) Finally, No Surrender arrived unexpectedly in the Keurig Coffee Lovers’ Collection variety pack. I bought a box of the brand to test because No Surrender was not included in the collection on the Keurig website. It’s not a style I wanted more of.
What to try instead: Tactisquatch
Tactisquatch from Black Rifle Coffee is smooth and toasty with a nice hit of caffeine.
If you’re looking for a dark roast without too much bitterness, I recommend giving it a try Tactisquatch by Black Rifle Coffee Company at 68 cents per pod in the 22-count box on Keurig. The flavor is toasty and robust with a smooth finish. Tactisquatch also doesn’t claim to be 100% Arabica beans, so it likely contains Robusta bean for an extra dose of caffeine. This could be the jolt you’re hoping for.
What to jump: Starbucks Verona
After tasting Starbucks’ Verona blend, I’m starting to understand why Romeo and Juliet ended up like that.
Most people who go to Starbucks aren’t looking for its excellent drip coffee, but the Starbucks Verona K-Cup tastes like something that went wrong in the roasting process. This is a tough one for me because it smells burnt, tastes bitter and leaves an unpleasant tannic residue on the tip of the tongue. The brand markets Verona as medium-dark on the label, but it tastes like an overcooked French roast. Are there better options, even from the same brand? Absolutely.
What to try instead: Premium Barista
Try Barista Premium instead of Starbucks Varona.
THE Barista Prima Café Colombia is a single origin alternative with deep toasted nutty notes that don’t dominate. I could see a lot of people looking for that first thing in the morning for an epiphany. I also find it a bit acidic, but it’s a solid option considering it’s a medium roast that leans dark. K-Cups cost 62 cents per pod on Keurig and are available online at retailers like Amazon.
What to jump: Seattle’s Best Breakfast Blend
Seattle’s best was one of its worst.
Although he has tasted this K-Cup several times, the Seattle’s Best Breakfast Blend is a medium roast that offers a combination of sludge up front and a smooth but musty finish. (I confirmed that the best buy date is valid for almost an additional year. Of course, the “best buy” date on a coffee label is not an indicator of freshness.)
Overall, this blend lacks brightness and citrus notes in the can. The earthiness was overwhelming and would require a lot of milk and sugar to balance the flavor. Plus, at 56 cents per pod on the Keurig site, it’s not even the cheapest K-Cup option available.
What to try instead: Illy Classico
Choose Illy Classico over Green Mountain for an average breakfast blend.
Illy Classic is another brand commonly found at the grocery store or on Keurig for $1.30 per capsule. It’s grilled and rounded in flavor for a medium roast without overcooking. It’s not the most complex blend, but it will probably appeal to anyone interested in a solid international coffee.
What to jump: Green Mountain Colombia Select Coffee Roasters
Green Mountain’s Columbia Select started out sweet but finished surprisingly bitter and flat.
I chose the Green Mountain Single-Origin Colombia Select because it was the only option with a certified fair trade label from my local grocery store. While I appreciate the sustainable sourcing, I found this K-Cup inconsistent. Even when it started out sweet, it ended surprisingly bitter and flat.
The aroma is sweet but lacks the tasting notes of cocoa and caramel. The Colombia Select also arrived in the Keurig variety pack and the flavor still disappoints. Granted, it’s not as muddy as some of Green Mountain’s other blends, but the finish contained a twig essence that just couldn’t live up to the brand’s aspirations.
What to try instead: Philz Tesora
I liked Philz Tesora with its sweet, toasty flavor and full-bodied texture.
For a medium roast with responsible sourcing, try Philz Café Tesora mix, at 78 cents per pod on Keurig. Tesora has a sweet, toasted flavor and a full-bodied texture. This pod has notes of chocolate and caramel similar to Colombia Select. The blend is overall brilliant in balancing the nutty taste. More, Cafe Philz boasts a range of partnerships for sustainability, fair working conditions and social programs.
What to ignore: Gevalia Signature Blend
Gevalia’s signature blend was hardly offensive, but there are plenty of others I would choose.
Labeled as a mild blend, Gevalia Signature Blend Light Roast is bright and slightly sour. If you want a good light roast, it’s best to go with another blend because it’s quite toasty. This K-Cup is also more bitter than expected, which becomes mellow as the coffee cools. The Signature Blend also ends with dank, earthy notes that are more musty than grassy. It’s not an offensive mix, but there are simply better options.
What to try instead: Coffee People Morning Blend
Coffee People’s Morning Blend is a delicious light roast for daily drinking.
Coffee People Morning Blend is a better alternative to light roast. Morning Blend is one of the few lightly roasted blends that is truly smooth with low acidity. It also has a nutty flavor with a light body that allows for a satisfying viscosity at the start of the day. While Coffee People Morning Blend Not my first choice for a light roast, I found the pods to be consistent and highly drinkable at 39 cents per pod in 24 counts on Keurig.
