Popular K-Cups, Ranked Worst To Best

If you are a person who loves coffee, then you probably have your own personal favorite way to make coffee at home. And, sure, it might be nice to get some Starbucks on your way to work every day, but at some point, you realize that's not financially feasible. You've got to make your own coffee at home. Whether you're a black coffee fan, prefer to add cream and sugar, or maybe you like to add steamed milk or drink your coffee over ice, you can probably make your perfect cup of coffee with a Keurig machine.

While Keurig might not make the kind of gourmet coffee you can get at a coffee shop, there's no denying the fact that it's super convenient. And compared to buying coffee shop stuff every day, it's also cost-effective. But, if you're new to the world of Keurig and K-Cups, you might feel a little overwhelmed at all the options out there to try. Fortunately, we've ranked some of the most popular K-Cups out there, from worst to best. So, keep reading to figure out which K-cups are worth trying, and which ones are worth leaving on grocery store shelves.

If you're a fan of Starbucks, you might be surprised that one of their K-Cups has ranked so low on this list. Now, obviously, if you choose this K-Cup, then odds are you're wanting to emanate the Starbucks Caramel-flavoring at home. Unfortunately, this blend just isn't the same.

According to reviews of the K-Cups, this coffee carries more fake caramel flavor than the in-store stuff and lacks some serious depth. One reviewer even went so far as to proclaim that "This coffee is by far the nastiest thing I've ever tasted." Others complained of a weirdly artificial, even plastic-infused taste. If you want to make a caramel macchiato or latte at home, this might seem like a great first step, but honestly, this isn't a great K-Cup option even for a dedicated Starbucks regular. Steer clear of the caramel flavoring, however, and you may be safer snagging other options from this coffeehouse giant.

In terms of easy, inexpensive, and relatively moderate-tasting coffee, Eight O-Clock Coffee The Original blend might seem like a pretty great option, but these K-Cups are actually some of the worst out there. If you've never tried them, consider yourself lucky.

Online reviewers pretty much described the coffee as being bland, and foul-tasting. "I found the taste to be bitter and the aroma cardboardy," one wrote. "This is ok coffee, but not really delicious or interesting — sorta one dimensional taste," another added.

Still, one reviewer noted that there were some quality control issues with the K-Cups that made the coffee pretty nasty, overall. "The coffee must have been ground too fine, as it left grounds at bottom of the cup." Um, gross (unless you like chewing on your coffee for some reason). Eight O-Clock Coffee The Original K-Cups might be tempting if you like a medium, smooth coffee, but they just won't deliver.

Chances are pretty good that, if you've stayed at a hotel or rental that had a Keurig in it, you've probably seen Green Mountain Breakfast Blend K-Cups near those coffee machines. For whatever reason, the Green Mountain Breakfast K-Cups are super popular here, as the company claims that its coffee has a very mild, smooth taste that just about everyone can enjoy. But these K-Cups aren't all they're cracked up to be.

In fact, reviews of these K-Cups basically describe the coffee as being pretty lackluster. "Coffee is ok – nothing special but also good enough to get the job done every day," one person explained. Others complained that the resulting blend lacked body and was disappointingly weak and watery. The Green Mountain Breakfast Blend is basically the middle-ground of K-Cups. It's not terrible, to be certain, but neither is it the absolute best of the best.

Another super popular K-Cup option you've probably seen around is The Donut Shop Original. The coffee is a regular, medium roast blend that would seemingly appeal to a lot of people, and it definitely appears in plenty of hotels and rental spots. But not everyone is a fan of these ubiquitous K-Cups. On the contrary, the coffee is actually pretty bland for some, while others found it unpleasantly bitter.

One review claimed that the K-Cups didn't have a ton of flavor or depth. "I like dark coffee without sugar, creamer, or flavorings and I think this is just too weak for me. I'm sure if you like light coffee it would be fine," the reviewer wrote. Others found it too intense. "A little too strong on the burnt/cigarette taste for me, but not a bad cup of coffee." Overall, it seems as if this will do in a pinch, but few are raving about The Donut Shop's taste.

Much like Caribou Coffee is a popular region chain, so too is Tim Hortons. Though Tim Hortons is mostly a Canadian favorite, the chain has quite a few locations in the United States and some super loyal and dedicated fans. So, if you love Tim Hortons, their Original Medium Roast K-Cups might be perfect for you. Overall, the coffee is tasty, and while it's not quite as good as the coffee you get in person, it's pretty close.

In fact, that's what true fans of Tim Hortons have said in their reviews of the coffee. "Its not QUITE canadian timmys, but it is decent," one wrote. "It is a bit more mild than expected," another added. But another reviewer noted that there were also some manufacturing issues that could plague your coffee drinking experience. "The flavor of this box was weak and so many cups have failed to keep grounds inside of said cup," they explained.

Though it's a chain that's mostly found in larger cities, Peet's Coffee can also be easily found on grocery store shelves and in a few smaller places. Anyone who has tried the coffee chain knows that the brand has some seriously tasty offerings. No matter what kind of coffee you like, Peet's probably has something for you. And as far as their K-Cups are concerned, the Peet's House Dark Roast Coffee is actually pretty impressive.

For the most part, people can't get enough of the K-Cups, raving that the flavor is bold, smooth, and exactly what you want. Well, for the most part. One review did note that the flavor was a bit off. "​​I got this thinking it would be stronger nice mild favor, it was ok not what I wanted," they explained. Still, most coffee drinkers really enjoyed it. "Good choice for an everyday coffee. Neither too dark nor too light. Good body," they wrote. The K-Cups are a good middle ground for just about any coffee drinker, so if you want something for your Keurig that will please everyone, these are a pretty safe if unadventurous bet.

Just to be clear, the Green Mountain Dark Magic K-Cups aren't actually magic. For the most part, they're decent enough, and while many customers really enjoy them, they're still not for people who prefer a lighter coffee experience. The Dark Magic is obviously a dark roast, and as far as dark roasts go it's pretty good.

Reviews of the coffee make it seem as if anyone who has tried it wants to order it again. "The Dark Magic has an excellent bold flavor without the typical 'burnt' flavor of many bold roasts," one person wrote. "Amazing flavor. Bold and tasty. Perfect blend for strong coffee lovers," another added. 

Still, the coffee isn't perfect, as others have noted being rather bored by the results of the Green Mountain K-Cups. So, if you want to try out a new dark roast, give the Green Mountain Dark Magic a try — it might surprise you!

For a quality coffee that's sure to please just about everyone and their own unique taste buds, the Starbucks Pike Place K-Cups might be your best bet. After all, the Pike Place blend is super subtle and smooth, and the K-Cup translates that into a convenient and tasty at-home alternative. And really, the reviews speak for themselves.

One coffee drinker exclaimed that the K-Cups were good, though they weren't exactly perfect. "I always go for Pike's Place when I visit a Starbucks; however, it just doesn't taste exactly the same with the K-cups. Still very good though," they wrote. Others praised the K-Cups for their convenience, while some noted that it was cheaper overall than going into the store and ordering the same brew. However, one reviewer also took the time to note that the coffee really wasn't that great. "I was disappointed with this coffee. It had a bitter taste and wasn't worth the money," they explained.