Coffee is a simple way to incorporate a little more festive spirit into your December. Also, this time of year can get a bit boring if you don't spend it in Bora Bora, so adding some actual spice to your morning caffeine routine can help keep things zesty.
Keurig K-Cups come in a wide range of flavors, and many of them are deeply holiday-coded - from cozy spiced blends and refreshing peppermint mochas to beloved pumpkin spice lattes and indulgent sugar cookie espresso.
Not all flavored coffee pods are created equal. After testing 32 different holiday K-Cup varieties, it's clear how wide the delta is between the best and the worst holiday-flavored pods. I've categorized them into three groups to help you find the best seasonal coffee pods to pop into your Keurig.
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 edition) 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
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