Coffee is an easy way to add a little holiday cheer to your December. Plus, this time of year can feel a little boring unless you spend it in Bora Bora, so adding a little spice to your morning caffeine fix can help keep things spicy.
Neat K cups There's a wide range of flavors available, and many of them are deeply rooted in the holidays—from cozy spice blends and refreshing peppermint mochas to beloved pumpkin spice lattes and delicious espresso sugar cookies.
Not all flavored coffee capsules are created equal. After testing 32 different varieties of holiday K-Cup, it's clear just how big the difference is between the best and worst holiday-flavored pods. I've divided them into three groups to help you find the best seasonal coffee pods for your Keurig.
I brewed all the holiday coffee pods to find these 10 coffees.
While taste is subjective, I followed consistent brewing and cooking methods. Each pod was cooked at the standard 8 ounce setting and mixed with a tablespoon of vanilla creamer and half a packet of sugar.
While nothing was the hot coal equivalent of a caffeinated drink, some inevitably shone brighter than others. Here's a detailed ranking, taking into account that there are dozens of other companies and flavor offerings that we weren't able to get to in time.
And if you're not a fan of sweet or spicy coffee, here's best K-Cups (non-holiday edition) out of 40 we tested.
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10 Best Holiday K-Cups: Good List
The notes were more caramel and toffee, but it was a huge hit and practically called for spiced rum and whipped cream.
The apple flavor was faint, although somewhat artificial. However, it tasted great with added sweetness and cream, making it one of the most unique of them all.
It didn't taste like pumpkin spice, but I found the smoothness, especially when it came out of a plastic cup, to be exceptional. And for true coffee connoisseurs who prefer a press or espresso machine, we'll appreciate anything that comes even slightly close to the gold standard.
If you're looking for the best peppermint-based K-Cup, Starbucks has you covered with Peppermint Mocha. Although the smell wasn't very pleasant, the mint wasn't overpowering and paired flawlessly with the chocolate mocha. It's certainly not as good as the store-bought variety, but it makes a great alternative at home if you're trying to save your hard-earned money on gifts.
This came as a shock to me as I am guilty of preferring gimmicky dessert flavors over signature holiday blends. But Starbucks has really hit home from the North Pole with its fried meats, which probably fuel Rudolph's red nose because the caffeine hits like a giant snowflake.
It's amazing how coffee roasting hints at the taste of freshly baked cookies, which can only be detected in the oven. While I wouldn't drink this every day, I thought it had enough seasonal flair to be part of the December rotation.
This was probably the most appealing to the nose, and then it was more than complemented by the addition of spices to a regular cup of coffee. Pair it with a creamy flavor to really up the ante and take advantage of its versatility.
Admittedly, this K-Cup received the most fanfare from friends, family and colleagues, so it was no surprise that it placed so highly. It's sweet, spicy, and dare I say it, buttery, making it a welcome addition to those cold winter mornings in flannel pajamas and the dread of holiday shopping.
Since it comes pre-sweetened and with milk, it definitely has an edge. And although Judge Judy– observing the egalitarianism in me, I wanted to exclude it from competition for reasons of fairness, I felt that I needed to share it with the world as a decadent deviation from the norm.
Warning: It's super sweet, incredibly creamy, and worth taking an Uber to track down.
As an author Basic bitchI know a good pumpkin spice latte when I try it. And it is one of the best products ever to come out of a single serving capsule. It had an incredible balance of clove and cinnamon notes, unlike most mainstream brands that pile on headache-inducing amounts to mask the cheap java.
I didn't try this taste test, figuring the pumpkin spice offering would strike gold, but here we are, getting ready to serve this to Santa on Christmas Eve with his cookies.
Middle of the pack: Holiday K-Cups, which I liked but didn't love.
These holiday K-Cups were okay.
Crazy Cups Mint Chocolate Mocha: It smelled and tasted so much like chocolate that it drowned out the peppermint. This is no easy task, and somewhat defeats the purpose of purchasing a product with a known powerful ingredient.
Gingerbread Maud, spice them up: “Spice It Up” didn't spice up my life. In fact, it was too one-dimensional and could have benefited from more meaningful additions like real ginger.
Mod “It's a big pumpkin, Mrs. Brown”: Spoiler alert: It's not all great, Mrs. Brown. There was pumpkin, but it was overshadowed by the cinnamon, which took away almost all of its natural sweetness.
Green Mountain Holiday Blend: Coffee without holiday bells and Santa's whistle. It didn't disgust me, but it took a backseat to most of the alternatives.
Crazy Cups Vanilla Pumpkin Spice: This is where things started to change for the better. While I wasn't particularly fond of this vanilla pumpkin spice, it didn't disappoint. A solid option for those whose main diet consists of white bread, mashed potatoes and dry chicken.
McCafe Horchata Latte: This one has me stumped. It was cooked pre-sweetened, but it tasted almost like sugar water infused with cloves. However, I couldn't stop drinking it either, so I guess “I like it.”
Starbucks Toasted Coconut Mocha: I'm not entirely sure this qualifies as a holiday scent, but it does say limited edition for December. I loved the toasted coconut flavour, but I almost wish it had been paired with white chocolate to please the true Christmas fans.
Holiday Spice Mod: I appreciated the fact that it didn't assault the taste buds like some of Maude's other flavors that were a little on the harsh side in terms of spice. A good choice after a holiday dinner in addition to cake, cookies and gastrointestinal distress.
Crazy Cups Caramel Eggnog: There was nothing “natural” about this flavor combination, but I still liked its attempt to capture the essence of the most festive of Christmas drinks and add even more sugar to it.
Starbucks Maple Pecan: It had a wonderful maple aftertaste that made me want to sip it with a stack of pancakes or waffles.
Naughty List: Holiday K-Cups You Can Skip
Here are some holiday K-Cups you might want to miss.
Zenbean Pumpkin Seasoning: It tasted more like spruce than anything remotely resembling pumpkin or cinnamon.
DonutCafe Pumpkin Spice: Coffee shouldn't be sour like a pickle, and yet this pod proved me wrong.
Holiday Spice Zenbean: The Play-Doh aftertaste puts this “holiday spice” variety at the bottom of the list.
Entenmann's Pumpkin Spice: I love their baked goods, but hated this version of pumpkin spice, which, dare I say, was burnt and almost smoky.
Zenbin Peppermint Mocha: If you're looking for a coffee that tastes like drywall mixed with menthol, this is the coffee for you.
The Original Peppermint Bark Donut Shop: It created a cult following, and I may be in the minority, but mint played only a supporting role, not a leading one.
Merry Cherry Mod: I'll admit, I was pretty excited about this because I love fruit-based Nespresso capsules, but this was real Robitussin disguised by an amazing smell.
Caribou Reindeer coffee blend: There was nothing wrong with this coffee, but I found it simple, boring and unforgettable.
Sugar cookies Maude with cinnamon: Too much cinnamon and not enough cookies, which is never a good problem.
Skinny Pumpkin Spice: The only word I wrote down was “bleh,” which can best be translated as a lack of depth and personality.
Spicy gingerbread Crazy Cups: I don't know why it tasted like something from the Macy's perfume department, but what it lacked in gingerbread it made up for in the floral notes.
Frosty Mint Chips Mod: Although the mint flavor was subtle, it left a lasting impression on the mouthwash. I think consuming it kills two birds with one stone, which may be attractive to those who prioritize oral hygiene.
