If you’re hoping for some festive coffee flavors this holiday season, Keurig has them in spades. The world’s most popular single-serve coffee maker has inspired dozens of companies to offer a wide variety of seasonal specialties, from spicy Christmas blends and refreshing peppermint mochas to tried-and-true pumpkin spice lattes and indulgent sugar cookie espressos.
But not all K-Cups are on Santa’s wish list this year. I put my palate (and stomach) to the test by sipping 32 flavors to identify the best of the best (the Beautiful List), the just OK ones (middle of the pack), and the ones to skip (the Naughty List).
I brewed up all the holiday coffee pods to find these 10 bangers.
Although taste is subjective, I kept the brewing methods and preparation consistent. Each pod was prepared with a standard 8 ounce setting and combined with a tablespoon of vanilla cream and half a packet of sugar.
Although nothing was the caffeinated beverage equivalent of hot coal, some inevitably glowed brighter than others. Here’s a comprehensive ranking, keeping in mind that there are dozens of other companies and flavor offerings that we weren’t able to get to in time.
And if you don’t like sweet or spicy coffee, here are the best K-Cups (excluding holidays) out of 40 that we tested.
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10 Best Holiday K-Cups: The Great List
The notes were more like caramel and toffee, but it was a huge hit and practically called for spiced rum and whipped cream.
The apple flavor was weak, although somewhat artificial. That said, it tasted delicious with a bit of added sweetness and cream, making it one of the most unique of the bunch.
It didn’t taste like pumpkin spice, but I found its sweetness, especially when it came from a plastic cup, exceptional. And for true coffee lovers who much prefer a press or espresso machine, we’ll appreciate anything that comes a little closer to the gold standard.
If you’re looking for the best peppermint K-Cup, Starbucks has you covered with their Peppermint Mocha. Although it didn’t smell great, the mint didn’t overwhelm and paired perfectly with the chocolate mocha. It’s definitely not as good as the store-bought variety, but it makes a great at-home alternative if you’re trying to save some hard-earned money for gifts.
This was a shock to me, as I’m guilty of gravitating towards fancy dessert flavors rather than signature holiday mixes. But Starbucks really hit the North Pole with this roast that’s probably fueling Rudolph’s red nose, because the caffeine hits like an oversized snowflake.
It’s crazy how roasting coffee hints at that freshly baked cookie flavor that can only be captured by an oven. While it’s not something I would drink every day, I felt like it had just enough seasonal spice to make it part of a December rotation.
It was probably the most seductive on the nose, then it more than delivered with a spicy upgrade to a plain old cup of coffee. Pair it with a flavored creamer to really up the ante and take advantage of its versatility.
Certainly, this K-Cup received the biggest buzz from friends, family members, and colleagues, so it was no surprise that it ranked so high. It’s sweet, spicy, and – dare I say – buttery, making it a welcome addition to cold winter mornings in flannel pajamas and holiday shopping dreads.
Since it’s presweetened and with milk, it definitely has a benefit. And while the Judge Judy-looking egalitarian in me wanted to eliminate him from the competition for the sake of fairness, I felt like I needed to share him with the world as a decadent break from the norm.
Warning: it’s ultra-smooth, ultra-creamy, and worth taking an Uber to find.
As author of Basic BitchenI know a good pumpkin spice latte when I taste one. And it’s one of the best ever from a single-serving pod. There was an incredible balance between its clove and cinnamon notes, unlike most mainstream brands that pile on headache-inducing amounts to mask cheap java.
I didn’t go into this taste test assuming a pumpkin spice offering would strike gold, but here we are, and here I am, about to serve it to Santa on Christmas Eve with his cookies.
Middle of the pack: Holiday K-Cups I liked but didn’t like
These holiday K-Cups were just okay.
Crazy Cups Peppermint Chocolate Mocha: It smelled and tasted so much like chocolate that it overpowered the peppermint. This is no easy task and somewhat defeats the purpose of purchasing a product containing the notoriously potent ingredient.
Maud’s gingerbread spices things up: Spice It Up didn’t spice up my life. In fact, it was a little too one-dimensional and could have benefited from more robust additions, like real ginger.
Maud’s It’s the Great Pumpkin, Mrs. Brown: Spoiler alert: It’s not that great, Ms. Brown. The pumpkin was there but it was overshadowed by the cinnamon which virtually eliminated any natural sweetness.
Green Mountain Vacation Blend: A cafe without all the holiday bells and Santa’s reindeer whistle. It didn’t disgust me, but it faded into the background compared to most alternatives.
Crazy Cups Vanilla Pumpkin Spice: This is where things started to improve. Although I didn’t particularly like this vanilla pumpkin spice, it did not disappoint. A solid option for those whose main diet is white bread, mashed potatoes and dried chicken.
McCafé Horchata Latte: This one left me perplexed. It was brewed pre-sweetened but tasted almost like clove-infused sugar water. That said, I couldn’t stop drinking it either, so I guess “I love it”.
Starbucks Toasted Coconut Mocha: I’m not entirely sure if this qualifies as a holiday flavor, but it is labeled as a limited edition in December. I loved the toasted coconut flavor, but I almost wish they would pair it with white chocolate to please true Christmas aficionados.
Maud’s Holiday Spices: I liked that it didn’t assault the taste buds like some of Maud’s other flavors, which were a little heavy in the spice department. A solid choice after a holiday dinner to complement cakes, cookies, and GI upset.
Crazy Cups Caramel Eggnog: There was nothing “natural” about this flavor combination and yet I appreciated its attempt to capture the essence of the most festive Christmas drink and top it with even more sugar.
Starbucks, pecan and maple: This had a wonderful maple aftertaste that made me want to sip it with a stack of pancakes or waffles.
The Naughty List: Holiday K-Cups You Can Skip
Here are some holiday K-Cups you can skip.
Zenbean Pumpkin Spice: It tasted more like spruce than anything pumpkin or cinnamon.
Pumpkin Spice DonutCafe: Coffee shouldn’t taste sour like a pickle, and yet this pod proved me wrong.
Zenbean Holiday Spices: A Play-Doh aftertaste put this “holiday spice” strain at the bottom of the list.
Entenmann’s Pumpkin Spice: I love their baked goods, but I hated this pumpkin spice version, which was, dare I say, burnt and almost smoky.
Zenbean Peppermint Mocha: If you’re looking for a coffee that tastes like drywall mixed with menthol, this is the one for you.
Peppermint Bark The Original Donut Shop: It developed a cult following and I may be in the minority, but peppermint was only a whisper and not a starring role.
Maud’s happy cherry: I was, admittedly, very excited for this one because I love Nespresso’s fruit-based pods, but it was straight-up Robitussin masked by an incredible smell.
Caribou Coffee Reindeer Blend: There was nothing wrong with this cafe but I found it basic, boring and forgettable.
Maud’s Cinnamon Sugar Cookie: Too much cinnamon and not enough cookies, which is never a good problem.
Skinnygirl Pumpkin Spice: The only word I wrote was “bleh,” which can be better translated as lack of depth and personality.
Crazy Cups Spicy Gingerbread: I don’t know why it tasted like a Macy’s perfume department, but what gingerbread lacked it made up for in floral notes?
Maud’s Frosted Mint Chips: Although the mint flavor is subtle, it leaves the lasting impression of mouthwash. I guess sipping it kills two birds with one stone, which may be appealing to those who prioritize oral hygiene.
