The 9 Best Espresso K-Cups (For Espresso Lovers)

Last Updated on September 13, 2021 by John Moretti

Unlike other coffee drinks, espresso is stronger and more flavorful. However, it is challenging to make a cup of authentic espresso given various factors involved, like pressure and grind size.

Nevertheless, do not let this discourage and prevent you from enjoying that flavorful and strong morning coffee. All you need is to get yourself the best espresso K-cups, and everything will be easy. However, it can be challenging to find the best espresso K-cup with numerous options on the market.

To make it easier for you, I have reviewed some of the best espresso K-cups in the market today.

Illy Extra Dark Roast Espresso K-Cups

Illy’s coffee comprises the finest Arabic coffee beans sources globally and is roasted to perfection. The air is then cooled, creating a distinctive and smooth balanced taste in single-serve coffee pods.

Pop these K-Cups and enjoy your bold rich, flavored coffee using either a 1.0 or 2.0 Keurig coffee machine. This intense blend is characterized by a unique aroma with deep cocoa and a robust taste.

Pros

  • It is smooth with a dark roast flavor
  • It is compatible with every Keurig K-cup brewer
  • Made from the finest Arabic varieties around the globe

Cons

  • It is expensive

Starbucks Dark Roast K-Cups

Starbucks Dark Roast K-Cup Coffee Pods — Italian Roast for Keurig Brewers — 6 boxes (60 pods total)
$56.99 ($5.70 / Count)
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If you love coffee, you surely must have heard of Starbucks – the world’s largest coffeehouse company. With Starbucks Dark Roast K-Cups, you can continue to enjoy the greatness of Starbucks from the comfort of your home.

The K-cups are made from fully-grown beans, providing you with a dark blend and complex flavor. Also, you can expect a hint of sweetness that balances well with the bitterness of the espresso.

Pros

  • It brews authentic and high-quality espresso
  • It offers a complex flavor
  • Allows you to enjoy the same quality of espresso you would have from a Starbuck shop at the comfort of your home.

Cons

  • It might taste like burnt chocolate
  • It is pricey

Lavazza Perfetto Espresso K-Cups

Lavazza is one of my favorites, the best-selling coffee in Italy. It is known to deliver top-quality bold Italian dark flavor and a lasting caramel taste. The espresso roast of the coffee beans ensures that you get a well-balanced level of sweetness and bitterness.

However, when purchasing, ensure it has the Keurig logo and uses Keurig K-cup packs. This ensures that you enjoy Keurig brewer, giving you the best possible beverage.

The packaging is a bit wanting, but the K-cups offer excellent Italian espresso coffee, as expected, with a distinct flavor and taste that will blow your mind away.

Pros

  • It offers a bold Italian dark flavor with a caramel taste
  • It is an excellent choice for Italian espresso fans
  • It is affordable

Cons

  • It’s not intense

GLORYBREW – The Knight Dark Roast

Glorybrew is blended from the finest coffee beans from South and Central America. The K-cups brew a full-bodied and intense espresso that we enjoy. This K-cup is certified by the Rainforest Alliance, which guarantees sustainably grown coffee beans without any preservatives.

Glorybrew pods are made of bio-based materials that are 100% biodegradable. They have full compatibility, allowing the user to use them with different coffee machines.

The superior taste offers a high level of satisfaction compared to the usual plastic coffee pods. However, the pods are of low quality as they easily blow out the filter and the packaging too needs improvement.

Pros

  • It is made of environmentally friendly materials
  • It is compatible with all Keurig machines
  • It offers a full-bodied, dark, and flavorful taste
  • It is certified by the compostable and rainforest alliance
  • It is affordable

Cons

  • The package comprises limited packs
  • It is less crema

Barista Prima Espresso Roast Coffee Keurig K-Cups

Barista Prima Espresso Roast Coffee Keurig K-Cups, 18 Count
$27.90 ($1.55 / Count)
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03/22/2023 12:00 am GMT

Barista Prima Espresso is a dark roast K-cups that does not disappoint. It’s inspired by the classic Italian espresso and offers a strong and delicious taste and unbeatable flavor.

Barista Prima Espresso has a wonderful and rich flavor that is not bitter. Unlike other espressos, this coffee is roasted perfectly and is not burnt, ensuring an excellent taste. It is delicious and offers what you are looking for.

Pros

  • It is compatible with all K-cup brewers
  • It offers a delicious and excellent taste
  • Perfectly roasted without getting burnt
  • It has a beautiful rich flavor

Cons

  • It was a bit expensive

SF Bay Coffee Espresso Roast

SF Bay Coffee Espresso Roast 80 Ct Dark Roast Compostable Coffee Pods, K Cup Compatible including Keurig 2.0 (Packaging May Vary)
$43.99 ($0.55 / Count)
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03/22/2023 12:05 am GMT

SF Bay Coffee is an American family-owned company with rich traditions. The SF bay coffee is compatible with K-cup style single-serve brewers, including Keurig K-cup 1.0 and 2.0. SF is a compostable coffee pod that is compatible with all K-cups, including Keurig 2.0.

If you cannot handle strong caffeine, this product is perfect for you as it is decaf.

This brand has a fantastic coffee taste and is also economically friendly. In addition, the product is environmentally friendly as it comprises recyclable and compostable materials.

Pros

  • It has a high level of compatibility
  • It is economical
  • It offers an excellent taste
  • It is eco-friendly
  • It can be brewed into various types of coffees

Cons

  • It has a strong taste of a decaf
  • It gets watered when using a large K-cup

Brooklyn Beans Express-O

Brooklyn Beans Express-O-cups are some of the most purchased K-cups available on Amazon. Brooklyn Beans are filtered and freshly roasted using the highest quality of Arabica beans. It is, therefore, a high-fueled espresso offering you a great day, especially for those who need an extra boost in the morning.

The espresso beans of Brooklyn are perfectly roasted to provide a bold flavor for an excellent supper taste.

The product is offered in decent cups and within a reasonable price range. Also, they come in different varieties, whereby you can find 40 K-cups available in 15 different flavors that are none-decaf.

The mild color is excellent for those who do not like dark roasts. However, it can be disappointing to those who love a ginger or gingerbread taste in their drink.

Pros

  • It is cost-friendly
  • The K-cups come in a different range of varieties
  • It is compatible with various brewers
  • It is made of 100% Arabica beans

Cons

  • It lacks ginger or gingerbread taste
  • It does not offer decaf

Café Bustelo Espresso Style

Café Bustelo Espresso Style Dark Roast Coffee, 72 Keurig K-Cup Pods
$34.00 ($0.47 / Count)
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03/21/2023 09:16 pm GMT

Café Bustelo is known to produce high-quality Cuban-type espresso. The coffee is brewed from 100% top pure quality coffee beans.

They are then roasted perfectly, producing a dark roast coffee with a strong, full-bodied, and enticing aroma. It is excellent even without cream or sugar.

Since decaf espresso K-cups are not yet available, buying a can of coffee seems like the best thing to consider. It is also suitable for your Keurig, and it is easy to make Café Bustelo by just adding reusable K-cups.

Café Bustelo K-cups are high quality and do not brown off when brewing the coffee like some brands. The delicious flavor of this coffee makes it more popular among coffee consumers.

Pros

  • Compatible with Keurig k-cup brewers
  • It is perfect even without cream or sugar
  • The dark roast offers a strong and delicious flavor
  • It is made with top quality beans
  • Fast brewing

Cons

  • It is not recyclable in all communities
  • K-cups easily cog the brewing machine

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Vanilla Espresso Roast

The Vanilla Espresso Roast, as the name suggests, is an excellent espresso roast made with vanilla. This brings a balanced taste of espresso and a mild touch of vanilla, removing the lingering bitterness common in most coffees.

It has a high level of compatibility as coffee made with a K-latte brewer can be used by Keurig brewer. Get to enjoy a natural taste of vanilla as the products do not contain artificial sweeteners.

Pros

  • It is compatible with other brewers
  • It doesn’t contain added sweeteners or artificial sugar
  • It offers a well-balanced taste of bold flavor and mild vanilla
  • It is a certified Kosher

Cons

  • It is expensive

Factors To Consider When Buying Espresso K-Cups

• Price

The price is always a significant factor when deciding what to buy. Some espresso K-cups are overly expensive. Therefore, if you are on a budget, you should consider looking for pocket-friendly K-cups for your espresso.

• Flavor

K-cups are available in numerous flavors ranging from vanilla, mild roast, or dark roast espresso, giving you a chance to select the most preferred flavor cup. The choice here will depend on your personal preferences.

• Compatibility

It’s essential to check whether the K-cups you want to buy are compatible with your brewing machine. This is because not all K-cups are compatible with any brewing machine. Thus, ensure you buy the right one or go for the universally compatible k-cups.

Final Thoughts

K-cups have many benefits. For instance, they reduce coffee wastage, are easy to clean, guarantees you a fresh cup of coffee every time, and provides you an opportunity to be creative when making your favorite coffee drink.

I believe the above review will make it easier to choose the best espresso K-cups for you. Happy brewing!