The Best Reusable K Cups

Buying Guide for Reusable K Cups

Why buy a reusable K cup?

The two most significant factors influencing a person’s choice to use a reusable K cup are environmental and financial. Disposable K cups are not great for the planet as they contribute to our already excessive landfill problem. But financially, purchasing replacement K cups can add up, especially if you’re the type who drinks several cups of coffee a day. Swapping out disposable for reusable cups can save you significant money as cans of coffee grounds and bags of beans tend to be significantly cheaper. Consider how many cups of coffee you can make from a can of grounds or beans and compare that with how many K cups you can buy from a traditional brand.

What should you consider when buying a reusable K cup?

• Machine Compatibility: Not all K cups are the same size, even within a specific brewing brand. For example, Keurig (the brand standard for single-cup brewing) has multiple machines with K cup receptacles that vary in size, so you’ll need to ensure that the reusable K cup you want to use is compatible with your specific machine. Usually, you need to look for your machine’s model number.
• Design: Along with not being the same size, reusable K cups can vary in material design. Some feature mesh paneling to allow hot water to flow over coffee grounds, while others have sturdy stainless steel sides. Of the two, stainless steel will almost always be more durable than mesh.
• Maintenance: Most reusable K cups can be easily cleaned by hand. But not all of them are dishwasher safe, so it’s essential to keep that in mind as you shop for one. Additionally, just like you need to descale your single-cup coffee maker, don’t forget to deep clean your K cup occasionally. Limescale buildup in your K cup can throw off the taste of your coffee.

Can you use any kind of coffee with a reusable K cup?

This will depend more on the type of coffee machine you have versus the K cup. For example, if you have a machine that brews espressos but uses cups or pods, then, in theory, you can make espresso through a K cup. But if you have a traditional drip single-cup brewer, then no, you can’t make espresso with a standard drip coffee maker.

Our Picks for the Best Reusable K Cups

Pros: You can’t go wrong with a two-pack of reusable K cups. More importantly, this pick has a wide machine-compatibility range for the Keurig. This includes the K-Duo, K-Mini, 1.0, 2.0, K-Series, and Select single-cup coffee makers. Note that it’s also compatible with some Breville, Cuisinart, and Mr. Coffee single-cup coffee brewers. The included two-tablespoon scoop ensures that you pour the right amount of coffee grounds every time.

Cons: While most people love these reusable K cups, the lid struggles to stay closed during brewing.  Additionally, this wasn’t always compatible with Keurig 2.0 machines.

Bottom Line: A wide range of machine compatibility, along with a two-tablespoon scoop for the perfect amount of grounds every time, makes this a solid choice for most coffee drinkers.

 

Pros: If you find that traditional reusable K cups tend to fall apart after a while, these stainless steel versions from Noalto are a much better option. The durable food-grade material is designed to last and features 360-perforation for effective water saturation that translates to a better-tasting cup of coffee. This set is compatible with a wide range of Keurig, Breville, and Mr. Coffee single-cup brewers.

Cons: Although the brand promises that these reusable K cups work with slim and mini brewers from Keurig, they aren’t compatible. The lid seals tend to experience fatigue fairly quickly, allowing liquid to seep.

Bottom Line: This is a solid option if you want something more durable than the soft mesh reusable K cups you usually find.

 

Pros: If you have a lot of coffee drinkers in your home, then a traditional two-pack of reusable K cups isn’t going to cut it. This six-pack is a solid investment designed to work with Keurig 1.0 and 2.0 brewers. Note that this pick is compatible with some revile and Mr. Coffee models. You’ll also be happy to find that these are dishwasher safe.

Cons: Unfortunately, this pick is only compatible with the 1.0 and 2.0 brewers, which means that many slim or mini styles won’t work with these reusable K cups. Even for 2.0 brewers, you may have to insert the cups in a specific way for them to fit properly.

Bottom Line: Serious coffee drinkers who can’t get by with one cup a day will appreciate this large six-pack of reusable K cups.

 

Pros: For some households, not only are there a lot of coffee drinkers, but everyone’s favorite brew is different. A common complaint with some K cups is that things can start to taste the same. At the same time, part of this results from not descaling your brewer. If you’re constantly mixing and matching grounds, you can get flavors left behind by the oils emitted from the grounds during the brewing process. This seven-pack of rainbow-colored K cups ensures that you can assign different coffees to each color to prevent flavor crossovers.

Cons: You may frequently experience coffee coming out the side of the cups and out of the brewer during the brewing process.

Bottom Line: Whether you have a house full of coffee drinkers or love the idea of rainbows, this seven-pack of reusable K cups is a great investment.

 

Pros: When in doubt, buy accessories from your brewer’s manufacturer. If you’re not interested in gambling on aftermarket reusable K cups, this pick from Keurig is a consistent quality choice that should work for you. It comes with a lid, red line plug, filter basket, filter holder, and an adapter to work with any Keurig brewers. It’s also dishwasher safe.

Cons: Note that this is only intended for Keurig brewers, unlike other aftermarket competitors that promise compatibility with brands like Breville or Mr. Coffee.

Bottom Line: Take the guesswork out of finding a good reusable K cup by picking this one from Keurig.

Final Thoughts

Keep your conscience and wallet in check by exchanging your disposable K cups for reusable ones. As a single coffee lover or a family who runs on caffeine, there are plenty of options for reusable K cups that fit differing lifestyles from single cups to variety packs. Consider our recommendations to help you enjoy that cup of joe without making a dent in the bank or planet.