Want the Best Possible K-Cup? I Tested More Than 40, and These Are My Picks
This coffee pod did little to rev my engines.
Katherine Peach/CNET
I found Revv No Surrender coffee disappointing for a few reasons:The blend reminded me of coffee from a pot that was left sitting on the burner for too long. The K-Cup tasted sour and astringent, followed by a burnt and bitter finish. Second, No Surrender claims to be the jolt you need as an early grinder, but it's made with 100% arabica beans. Straight arabica means it's likely to possess a typical caffeine boost without the naturally higher caffeine content of the robusta bean. (None of the K-Cup boxes gave caffeine information.) Finally, No Surrender arrived unannounced in the Keurig Coffee Lovers' Collection variety pack. I bought a box of the brand to test because No Surrender wasn't listed as part of the collection on the Keurig website. Not a style that I needed in excess of.
What to try instead: Tactisquatch
Tactisquatch by Black Rifle Coffee is smooth and toasty with a nice jolt of caffeine.
Keurig
If looking for a dark roast without much bitterness, I recommend trying Tactisquatch by Black Rifle Coffee Company at 68 cents per pod in the 22-count box on Keurig. The flavor is toasted and robust with a smooth finish. Tactisquatch also doesn't claim to be made with 100% arabica beans, so it likely includes the robusta bean for an extra dose of caffeine. It could be the jolt you're hoping for.
What to skip: Starbucks Verona
After tasting Starbucks' Verona blend, I'm starting to see why Romeo and Juliet ended up like it did.
Katherine Peach/CNET
Most people heading to Starbucks aren't going for its excellent drip coffee, but the Starbucks Verona K-Cup tastes like something has gone wrong in the roasting process. It is a hard pass for me because it smells burnt, tastes bitter and leaves an unpleasant tannic residue on the tip of my tongue. The brand markets Verona as a mid-dark on the label, but it tastes like an overcooked French roast. Are there better options out there, even by the same brand? Absolutely.
What to try instead: Barista Premium
Try Barista Premium instead of Starbucks Varona.
Keurig
The Barista Prima Coffeehouse Colombia is a single-origin alternative with deep toasted notes of walnut that don't overpower. I could see many people reaching for this first thing in the morning for an eye-opener. I also find it a little acidic, but it's a solid option considering it's a medium roast that leans dark. The K-Cups are 62 cents per pod on Keurig and found online at retailers like Amazon.
What to skip: Seattle's Best Breakfast Blend
Seattle's Best was one of the worst.
Katherine Peach/CNET
Despite tasting this K-Cup several times, the Seattle's Best Breakfast Blend is a medium roast that delivers a combination of muddiness upfront and a sweet yet musty finish. (I did confirm the best buy date is fine for almost one more year. Of course, the "best buy" date on a coffee label isn't an indicator of freshness.) Overall, this blend lacks the brightness and citrus notes listed on the box. I found the earthiness overwhelming and would need plenty of milk and sugar to balance out the flavor. Plus, at 56 cents per pod on the Keurig site, this isn't even the cheapest K-Cup option available.
What to try instead: Illy Classico
Choose Illy Classico over Green Mountain for a medium breakfast blend.
Illy
Illy Classico is another brand commonly found in the grocery store or on Keurig for $1.30 per pod. It's toasted and rounded in flavor for a medium roast without verging into overcooked. This isn't the most complex of blends but it's likely to please anyone interested in a solid, international coffee.
What to skip: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Colombia Select
Green Mountain's Columbia Select started smooth but finished surprisingly bitter and flat.
Katherine Peach/CNET
I selected the Green Mountain Single-Origin Colombia Select because it was the only option with a Fair Trade Certified label from my local grocery store. While I appreciate sustainable sourcing, I found this K-Cup to be inconsistent. Even when it started smooth, it finished surprisingly bitter and flat. The aroma is sweet but is missing the claims of cocoa and caramel tasting notes. The Colombia Select also arrived as part of the Keurig variety pack and the flavor still disappointed. Granted, it's not as muddy as some of the other Green Mountain blends but the finish carried an essence of twig that just couldn't meet the label's aspirations.
What to try instead: Philz Tesora
I liked Philz Tesora with its smooth, toasted flavor and full-bodied texture.
Philz
For a medium roast with responsible sourcing, try Philz Coffee Tesora blend, at 78 cents per pod on Keurig. Tesora has a smooth, toasted flavor and full-bodied texture. This pod also claims notes of chocolate and caramel similar to the Colombia Select. The blend is bright overall to balance the nuttiness. Plus, Philz Coffee claims a range of partnerships for sustainability, fair labor conditions and social programs.
What to skip: Gevalia Signature Blend
Gevalia's signature blend was hardly offensive but there are plenty of others I would choose over it.
Katherine Peach/CNET
Labeled as a mild blend, the Gevalia Signature Blend light roast is bright and a little sour. If you want a true light roast, though, then it's better to go with another blend because this one is quite toasted. This K-Cup is also more bitter than I anticipated, which does mellow as the coffee cools. The Signature Blend also finishes with wet, earthy notes that are more musty than herbaceous. This is hardly an offensive blend, but there are just better options out there.
What to try instead: Coffee People Morning Blend
Coffee People's Morning Blend is a delightful light roast for daily drinking.
Coffee People
Coffee People Morning Blend is a better light-roast alternative. The Morning Blend is one of the few light-roasted blends that is truly mild with low acidity. It's also nutty with a light body that allows for a satisfying viscosity at the start of the day. While Coffee People Morning Blend isn't my top choice for a light roast, I found the pods consistent and highly drinkable at 39 cents per pod in a 24-count on Keurig.
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