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Café Bustelo
Espresso Style Dark Roast K-Cup Pods (24 ct)
Bustelo's dark, cafecito-style roast for Keurig: about as close to espresso as a K-Cup gets, at a budget price.
6.9
Fair
Coffee Reviews score
See the breakdown →
Community
—/10
- Roast
- Dark
- Format
- K-Cup pods
- Caffeine
- Regular
- Price per serving
- $0.70 / cup
- Toast
- Caramel
- Roasty
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Last reviewed October 17, 2026 by the Coffee Reviews editors · How we score
Bustelo's dark, cafecito-style roast for Keurig: about as close to espresso as a K-Cup gets, at a budget price.
Café Bustelo's Espresso Style K-Cups put the brand's classic dark roast into Keurig-compatible pods, sold in 10 to 48-count cartons. Bustelo pitches them for drinking on their own or in coffee drinks, and Tasting Table picked them as the best K-Cup for espresso martinis, noting toast and caramel flavors. They are a cheap, strong option for lattes and coffee cocktails, though they cannot make true espresso.
Best for
- Keurig lattes and café con leche
- Espresso-martini and coffee cocktails
- Fans of the Bustelo can who want pods
What we like
- Strong, dark cup that holds up to milk and sugar
- Budget price per pod
- Easy to find in 10 to 96 counts
- Same Latin espresso-style roast as the famous can
Watch-outs
- Not true espresso despite the name
- Can taste bitter at 4 oz settings
- No origin or bean details
Flavor profile
What it tastes like.
In the roaster’s words
“Sip on bold Latin flavor that invigorates any part of your day. This delicious dark roast coffee is ideal to drink on its own or as part of your favorite coffee beverages.”
- Toast
- Caramel
- Roasty
- acidity
- body
- sweetness
- bitterness
LightMediumDark
How it scored
The breakdown.
6.9Fair
Cup score out of 10, weighted across five factors.
- Flavor & cup quality30%7.2
Dark, bold and toasty with caramel notes; strong enough for milk drinks and cocktails, if a little bitter at small cup sizes.
- Quality & freshness20%6.6
Standard Keurig-compatible pods with no roast date or bean disclosure.
- Value20%7.9
About $0.70 a pod at Target's 24-count price, cheap for a dark roast with this much body.
- Sourcing & transparency15%4.5
Café Bustelo says only that its beans come from suppliers in more than 20 countries.
- Community love15%8.0
A top-25 Amazon pod seller, Tasting Table's pick for espresso martinis and a creator favorite for espresso-style K-Cup drinks.
Creator video reviews
Watch it in action.
1 positive
Independent creators, verified with YouTube and TikTok. We don’t pay for reviews and creators don’t pay us.
What people are saying
From the forums.
Verbatim from Reddit, forums and long-term owner write-ups — linked so you can read the full thread.
Details
The particulars.
- Format
- K-Cup pods
- Caffeine
- Regular
- Best brewed as
- Pod machine, Lattes & milk drinks
- Typical price
- $16.69 for 24 K-Cup pods (checked October 2026)
- Servings
- $0.70 per pod at Target's 24-count price (the brand site does not sell direct)
Community
Member tasting notes & discussion.
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0 member ratings
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Discussion
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FAQ
Good questions.
Can Bustelo K-Cups make real espresso?
No. Keurig brewers do not reach espresso pressure; the pods brew a strong, dark, espresso-style coffee. Tasting Table suggests the smallest cup setting for the most concentrated result.
Are these pods made by Keurig?
No. Café Bustelo says its pods are compatible with Keurig brewers but that the brand is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Keurig.
What sizes are available?
Café Bustelo lists 10, 12, 24, 32 and 48-count cartons of Espresso Style pods.
Sources (6)
- cafebustelo.com/coffee/k-cup-pods/espresso-style
- cafebustelo.com/faqs
- target.com/p/cafe-bustelo-espresso-dark-roast-coffee-pods/-/A-87953643
- amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Grocery-Gourmet-Food-Single-Serve-Coffee-Capsules-Pods/zgbs/grocery/14978414011
- tastingtable.com/1590706/best-k-cup-coffee-espresso-martini/
- tastingtable.com/1577400/keurig-pods-iced-coffee-ranked/
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