If spiced, seasonal coffee is on your holiday wish list, Keurig K-Cups deliver more fun flavors than Santa could ever fit in one sack. Single-serve coffee pod producers have sparked a sprawling marketplace filled with festive options -- think warming spiced blends, cool peppermint mochas, classic pumpkin spice lattes and sweet sugar cookie espresso.
When it comes to flavored coffee pods, quality varies significantly. After brewing and sipping 32 different holiday K-Cup flavors, I've categorized them into three groups: standout winners worth stocking up on, middling options that get the job done and a few disappointing flavors that are better left on the shelf.
I brewed all the holiday coffee pods to find these 10 bangers. Joey Skladany/CNET
While taste is subjective, I kept brewing methods and preparation consistent. Each pod was prepared with a standard 8-ounce setting and combined with a tablespoon of vanilla creamer and half of a packet of sugar.
Though nothing was the caffeine beverage-equivalent of hot coal, some inevitably shone brighter than others. Here is a comprehensive ranking, keeping in mind that there are dozens of other companies and flavor offerings that we were unable to obtain in time.
And if you're not into sweet or spiced coffee, here are the best K-Cups (non-holiday) out of 40 we tested.
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10 best holiday K-Cups: The Nice List
Starbucks 10. Starbucks Smoked Butterscotch The notes were more caramel and toffee-like but this was a huge hit and practically demanded spiced rum and whipped cream. $65 at Amazon
Donut Shop 9. The Original Donut Shop Caramel Apple Pie The apple flavor was faint, though somewhat artificial. That said, it tasted lovely with a bit of added sweetness and cream, making it one of the most unique among the bunch. $20 at Amazon
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