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The best pods & capsules

K-Cup, Nespresso Original and Vertuo pods scored on cup quality, freshness and cost per cup.

8
products scored
7.1
average score
24
video reviews
Browse all 8 Our top picksBuying guide

Top rated

The podium.

1
Death Wish Coffee Co. Dark Roast Single-Serve Pods (50 ct)
7.5

Death Wish Coffee

Dark Roast Single-Serve Pods (50 ct)

Good
2
Nespresso Melozio Vertuo Coffee Pods (7.77 oz coffee)
7.4

Nespresso

Melozio Vertuo Coffee Pods (7.77 oz coffee)

Good
3
Peet's Coffee Major Dickason's Blend K-Cup Pods (22 ct)
7.3

Peet's Coffee

Major Dickason's Blend K-Cup Pods (22 ct)

Good

Pods and capsules hold a pre-measured dose of ground coffee sealed against air, so a machine can brew a cup in about a minute. Three systems dominate: Keurig K-Cups, Nespresso Original capsules for espresso-style shots, and Nespresso Vertuo capsules, which come in sizes from a single espresso to a large mug. They aren't interchangeable, so start with the machine you own.

The pod decides most of the result. A good one uses fresh, well-roasted coffee in a tight seal with a dose suited to its cup size; a weak one stretches too little coffee across too much water. Running a bigger cup through the same pod dilutes it, so choose pods sized for how you drink. Original-format capsules are made by many roasters, which widens your choice and often lowers the price per cup. Vertuo machines read a barcode on each capsule to set the brew, and the range is mostly Nespresso's own.

Our Cup score weights flavor 30%, quality and freshness 20%, value 20%, sourcing and transparency 15%, and community love 15%. For pods, value is price per cup against other pods, quality includes packaging and how easily it recycles, and sourcing rewards brands that say where their coffee comes from.

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8 products

Death Wish Coffee Co. Dark Roast Single-Serve Pods (50 ct)
Best overall

Death Wish Coffee

Dark Roast Single-Serve Pods (50 ct)

7.5Good

The 'world's strongest coffee' as a Keurig pod: about 180 mg of caffeine per 6 oz, organic and Fair Trade, and surprisingly smooth.

3$1.20 / cup
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Breakfast Blend K-Cup Pods (24 ct)
Trending Trending

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters

Breakfast Blend K-Cup Pods (24 ct)

6.8Fair

Keurig's bright, light-roast morning cup: clean, low in bitterness and among the cheaper name-brand pods.

3$0.70 / cup
Starbucks Pike Place Roast K-Cup Pods (22 ct)
Trending Trending

Starbucks

Pike Place Roast K-Cup Pods (22 ct)

6.7Fair

The Starbucks house cup for Keurig: tastes like the café's drip, which means dark, roasty and divisive.

3$0.83 / cup

Buying guide

How to choose pods & capsules.

  1. 01

    Start with your machine

    K-Cups fit Keurig brewers, Original capsules fit Nespresso Original machines, and Vertuo capsules fit only Vertuo machines. 'Compatible' on a box refers to one specific system, so check which one before you buy.

  2. 02

    Match the pod to your cup size

    Each pod holds a fixed amount of coffee. Brewing a K-Cup at the largest setting stretches that dose and tastes thin, so for big mugs look for pods made for larger cups or brew two smaller ones.

  3. 03

    Look for roast and origin details

    Better pods name the origin, roast level and often the roaster, just like bagged coffee. Intensity numbers describe how dark and full-bodied a coffee is, not how good it is.

  4. 04

    Do the per-cup math

    One pod makes one cup, which makes this the easiest category to compare fairly. Check price per pod across pack sizes and subscriptions, and compare it with your drip or espresso at home if cost matters.

  5. 05

    Plan how you'll recycle them

    Keurig says its K-Cup pods are made from #5 polypropylene: peel off the lid, empty the grounds, and recycle the cup only where your local program accepts it. Nespresso runs a recycling program for its aluminum capsules, so check how it works where you live.

  6. 06

    Keep pods sealed and use them by the date

    Pods keep longer than an open bag, and the National Coffee Association says they stay fresh until the best-by date. Store boxes away from heat and sunlight, and don't stockpile more than you'll use before that date.

Video reviews

Watch before you buy.

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FAQ

Questions, answered.

Are Nespresso Original and Vertuo capsules interchangeable?

No. Original capsules are small and brew espresso-style shots under pump pressure. Vertuo capsules are larger and domed, carry a barcode the machine reads to set the brew, and cover sizes from espresso to mugs and carafes. Neither fits the other machine. Original is an open format with many third-party and roaster-made capsules, while Vertuo choices are mostly Nespresso's own.

Do pods have more or less caffeine than drip coffee?

It depends on the pod and the cup size more than the format. A pod holds a fixed dose, so its caffeine is roughly what that much coffee would give in any brewer, and some brands list milligrams per pod. Brewed coffee varies widely too; the FDA lists 113–247 mg for 12 oz of regular brewed coffee. If you track intake, use the brand's stated figure where it exists.

Are K-Cups recyclable?

Keurig says all its K-Cup pods are made from recyclable #5 polypropylene. To recycle one, peel off the lid, empty the grounds into compost or trash, and put the cup in recycling only if your local program accepts pods, since not every facility that takes polypropylene does. Keurig also offers a mail-in option for areas with limited recycling.

Do coffee pods go stale?

Slowly. Pods are sealed against air and light, so they keep much longer than an open bag of ground coffee; the National Coffee Association says pods stay fresh until their best-by date. After that the coffee is safe but flatter. Store boxes away from heat and sunlight, and avoid buying more than you'll use before the date.

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