Buying guide for best reusable k-cups

Keurig coffee machines are ultra-convenient single-serve coffee brewers. Pop in a K-Cup and enjoy a piping hot mug of joe in under a minute. With the press of a button, fresh coffee is served! Unfortunately, the cost of single-serving pods adds up quickly, especially if you require multiple cups of hot brown to stay caffeinated throughout the day. Disposable K-Cups are also bad news for the environment. The plastic pods are not always recyclable, and even those that require a bit of extra effort to dispose of properly. But there’s no need to sacrifice the convenience of single-serve coffee! Reusable K-Cups are eco-friendly, easy to use, and bound to save you money in the long run.

We’ve put together this shopping guide to reusable K-Cups to help you find the right ones for you. We’ve also included several of our favorites to make your choice even easier.

Keurig sells its own reusable K-Cup, but be careful. Older versions of the pod might not be compatible with all Keurig brewers. Read the fine print carefully!

Key considerations

Pros and cons of reusable K-Cups

Unsure if a reusable K-Cup is an accessory worth adding to your coffee station? Here are the pros and cons of owning and using these reusable pods.

Pros

• Eco-friendly: It’s easier being green with reusable pods. The only waste produced is leftover wet coffee grounds, which you can toss into your kitchen compost bin.
• Customized grind: With a reusable pod, you can choose to grind your own beans for a fresher flavor. Grinding at home allows you to select the size of the grind and extract more (or less, depending on your palate) flavor from the beans and gives you more control over your coffee.
• More coffee choices: You’re not stuck choosing from limited pod options. Choose from a wide variety of coffees, including beans from specialty brewers.

Cons

• Weaker taste: The flavor of coffee brewed with a reusable K-Cup might not be as strong as that from pods or traditionally brewed coffee.
• More time-consuming: Spooning ground coffee into a reusable K-Cup requires a little bit more time and patience than simply popping in a ready-to-use pod. If you choose to grind your own beans, that’s even more time spent prepping your coffee.
• Potential health concerns: While single-use K-Cups are BPA-free, there’s evidence that the high heat required for brewing might cause chemicals to leach into your coffee.

Coffee maker

Carefully read the manufacturer’s information for your coffee maker. Not all reusable K-Cups are compatible with every Keurig machine. The Keurig 2.0 lineup isn’t compatible with old My K-Cup pods, for instance.

Whole beans or ground

We recommend grinding your own beans for the best results. Freshly ground beans deliver a superior taste, although ground coffee is handy for when you’re pressed for time. Choose dark roast and strong coffee to avoid a watery-tasting brew.

A medium grind is best for reusable K-Cups. Too fine and the coffee grounds will flow through the filter. Too coarse and your coffee will barely have any flavor.

Cup size

Avoid choosing a large cup size when using a reusable K-Cup in your Keurig coffee machine. Too much water will result in a tasteless brew.

Expectations

Hard-to-please coffee drinkers, beware! Some experimentation is required with reusable K-Cups. Play with the grind size and fill level to find the flavor you like.

Reusable K-Cup features

Construction

Choose a filter with a fine mesh to prevent ground coffee from getting through. The design should be sturdy enough to prevent warping with repeated use. Select a reusable K-Cup made of BPA-free plastic or rustproof stainless steel.

Multi-pack

Save both money and time by investing in a package of reusable K-Cups. Have more than one reusable pod on hand for when guests arrive and you won’t need to empty and rinse the pod each time you brew a cup.

Fill lines

New to the world of K-Cups and coffee? Choose a pod with fill lines to guide you in adjusting the strength of your cup of java.

Cleaning

A quick rinse should be enough to clean out a reusable K-Cup when you’re in a hurry, but a thorough run through the dishwasher eliminates any oil and residue buildup. For added convenience, a dishwasher-safe K-Cup is the way to go.

Warranty

If you’re a daily coffee drinker, it’s crucial that your reusable K-Cup withstand the test of time. Choose one backed by a solid warranty.

Reusable K-Cup prices

Reusable K-Cups are more expensive than single-use pods, typically priced between $15 and $20, but that single small investment will last you for years and save you money in the long run. Boxes of 20 to 30 single-use coffee pods cost at least $15. If you drink lots of coffee or often serve hot drinks to guests, that cost adds up. A reusable K-Cup represents significant savings over time.

Tips

• Clean your machine regularly. Wipe down the dust that collects on the exterior, and periodically run the grimy drip tray through the dishwasher. Don’t forget to descale your Keurig from time to time, too.
• Buy the right quantity of coffee. If you live solo or with one person, avoid purchasing large amounts of coffee at one time. It might go stale before you can use it.
• Grind the beans right before brewing. Don’t grind coffee in advance. Enjoy a fresher cup of coffee by grinding whole beans right before you brew.
• Invest in a quality coffee grinder. Choose a coffee grinder that allows you to select the coarseness of the grind.
• Experiment. Try different coffees, grind sizes, cup sizes, and water temperatures to adjust the flavor of your coffee.
• Don’t pour coffee grounds down the drain. Spoon out leftover coffee grounds into the compost or trash, but avoid rinsing the clumps down the drain because they can clog pipes.
• Clean your reusable pod often. A dirty K-Cup may impact the flavor of your next brew.

Other products we considered

There are a whole bunch of reusable K-Cup options out there, including plenty of knockoffs and poor-quality options made of flimsy plastic with ill-fitting lids. We want you to have several solid options to choose from, so we’d like to mention a few additional picks that caught our eye. For the budget-conscious consumer who drinks multiple caffeine-filled cups a day, the 12-pack of Kicoco Reusable K-Cups is a bargain. The pods work with many Keurig machines, including the 1.0 and 2.0 lines. The GoodCups Reusable K-Cup Filters are another cost-effective option. We love that they’re BPA- and lead-free, too. For a premium reusable filter, go with the Fill N Save Elite Series K-Cup. It’s a heavy-duty stainless steel unit with a design that helps maximize flavor extraction. Finally, the Di Oro MaxBrew K-Cup features a unique gold-plated design that doesn’t hold onto odors or residues. The dishwasher-safe pod is backed by an impressive lifetime warranty, too.

Inspect your reusable K-Cup once in a while to look for any cracks that can cause leaks. Don’t use a damaged pod in your Keurig.

FAQ

Q. Do I need to buy filters to put inside my reusable K-Cup?
A. No. There’s no need to purchase paper filters for your reusable pod. Reusable K-Cups have a built-in mesh filter to do the job. Pick a reusable pod with a fine mesh filter to prevent coffee grounds from getting into your java.

Q. Can I reuse the coffee grounds left in the filter after I brew a cup of coffee?
A. You can’t use them to make another cup of coffee – at least not one that tastes great – but you can toss them into the compost or use them in the garden.

Q. Can I fill my reusable K-Cup with anything other than coffee?
A. Most reusable K-Cups are only compatible with ground coffee. Experimenting with other substances like tea or cocoa powder might void the product’s warranty. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines before playing around with your reusable pod. If you do choose to try adding other substances, be sure to rinse between uses to prevent any flavors from transferring to your coffee.

Q. How much coffee should I use in my reusable K-Cup?
A. You might need to experiment to find the amount that works for your taste buds, but typically a six-ounce cup of coffee requires about two tablespoons of ground coffee. K-Cups with fill lines offer helpful guidance here.