Few things are as enjoyable as a delectable cup of homemade hot chocolate, and for us, any time of year is perfect for enjoying a hot cup of cocoa. Thankfully, making this delicious beverage is as simple as loading a hot chocolate pod into your single-serve coffee machine. You can be your own barista and begin making freshly made hot cocoa from the comfort of your own home. As long as you choose pods that don’t get rejected by your coffee maker, you’ll soon have a piping hot cup of chocolatey goodness.
If you’ve already begun your search for the best hot chocolate k-cups, you’ll have seen just how many are available. Although it’s nice to have options, it can be overwhelming to choose the one that’s best suited to your taste. To help you narrow down the many options, we put together this list of reviews and a buyer’s guide. Hot chocolate perfection is just a few paragraphs away!
Table of Contents
The 10 Best K Cup Hot Chocolate
1. Starbucks Hot Cocoa K-Cup Pods
- PREMIUM COCOA IN A K-CUP POD: Starbucks delivers exceptional hot chocolate with these six 10-count boxes of Starbucks Naturally Flavored Hot Cocoa K-Cup Pods for Keurig coffee makers
- STARBUCKS HOT COCOA: Made with real cocoa, Starbucks Naturally Flavored Hot Cocoa is a rich and creamy way to treat yourself, sip after satisfying sip
- CAFÈ QUALITY: Starbucks adheres to the highest quality standards—shipping you the same carefully crafted hot cocoa we make in our cafés
These Keurig hot chocolate pods from Starbucks are our all-around favorite. They’re made with nonfat milk, contain no artificial sweetener, and pack in under 100 calories per serving, making them perfect for guilt-free indulgence.
Despite the low calories, they provide a very rich, luxurious creaminess that is utterly satisfying, and the taste is decadent and perfectly sweet.
These are genuine Keurig pods, so you won’t have any issues with pod rejection. They come in large quantities, so you’ll easily be able to stock up. Especially given the amount you get when you purchase these, the cost per K cup is very low, making them a great, affordable option for any hot chocolate lover.
They do only come in a classic chocolate flavor, so if you’re looking for variety to spice up your hot chocolate experience, you may want to look elsewhere.
Lastly, these kcup pods are recyclable, so you can feel good about your impact on the environment while you’re sipping on your hot chocolate.
2. Cafe Escapes Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa K Cup Pods
- Milk chocolate creaminess, the way hot cocoa was meant to be
- Contains Milk
- Caffeine content less than 10mg
These instant hot chocolate K cups from Cafe Escapes are also made with nonfat milk, so you can enjoy delicious hot cocoa for just 60 calories per serving.
The hot chocolate we made with these pods is rich and full of flavor, so it never tastes thin like some other options. It has a beautiful mouthfeel and delivers a wonderful chocolate flavor in each sip.
The hot cocoa cups are made by Keurig, so you shouldn’t experience too many problems with pods getting rejected by your coffee maker. These pods aren’t recyclable, so they aren’t as suitable for those who are environmentally conscious.
They only come in classic chocolate flavor, so they won’t be ideal for those looking to experiment with different flavored hot chocolates. They also contain artificial sweeteners, so they may not be suitable for those who avoid them in their diets.
Cafe Escapes hot cocoa K cups come in large quantities, so you won’t have to worry about restocking constantly. They’re also very affordable.
3. Two Rivers Chocolate Hot Cocoa Pods
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These hot chocolate K cups from Two Rivers come in a large variety pack, so you’ll be able to choose from a wide selection of flavors. Some of these flavors – like the peanut butter cup hot cocoa – are better than the others, but all of them are sure to please!
These are made with nonfat milk, making each serving between 60 and 70 calories depending on which flavor you choose. As such, this sampler pack offers an excellent variety of guilt-free hot chocolate mixes. They do, however, contain artificial sweeteners.
The pods aren’t recyclable, and they only come in moderate quantities. While you won’t have to reorder frequently – and you will want to reorder! – you may go through them quickly if you drink multiple cups of hot chocolate a day or live with others who will enjoy them as well.
They’re very affordable for the quantity and variety you get, and they’re fully compatible with Keurig machines, so you won’t have to worry about wasting money on rejected pods.
4. Grove Square Hot Cocoa Dark Chocolate K Cups
- Grove Square Hot Cocoa: Step into a sensory adventure and enjoy this delicious treat filled with intense dark chocolate flavor with creamy smoothness; rich-tasting hot cocoa mix gives you the...
- Perfect Blend: Holds the perfect amount of cocoa and milk for luxuriously deep flavor and smooth texture with a creative twist that lifts your spirits and warms your soul
- On-the-Go Treat: Enjoy a cup of sunshine with our steaming cup of dark chocolate cocoa that takes you back to simpler times; convenient for busy mornings or whenever you need
These dark chocolate K cups from Grove Square are downright delicious and offer a bit more bitterness. They contain sucralose in addition to sugar to balance the bitterness, so we recommend against these if you don’t consume artificial sweeteners.
The artificial sweetener does allow a massive amount of decadent flavor and richness while maintaining just 60 calories per serving, so they do make for wonderful hot chocolate that you can enjoy without too much guilt.
The flavor is excellent, but you will only get one regular flavor, making these a good option for standard hot chocolate only.
The pods are compatible with Keurig 1.0 machines only. As such, you may experience some pod rejection when using these K cups.
The pods are not recyclable, and they only come in small quantities. You may find yourself restocking regularly to continue enjoying this hot chocolate.
5. Junior Mints Hot Chocolate Pods
- Junior Mints Hot Cocoa has the dark chocolaty taste you crave with a fresh burst of mint you'll love.
- Enjoy this awesome lineup of hot cocoa based off of iconic chocolate brands. Each cup brews a perfect individual serving of velvety hot chocolate Candy made with real cocoa. Brew on low setting for...
If you’re anything like us, you enjoy the refreshing-yet-decadent taste of mint-flavored hot chocolate. If that’s the case, these pods will not disappoint! They offer a thick, creamy mouthfeel, intense cocoa flavors, and a touch of Junior mints chocolate that is anything but overpowering.
These K cups do only come in one flavor, so while they’re great for lovers of mint hot chocolate, they’re not the best option for variety.
They come in moderate quantities, and while they’re affordable on a per-pod basis, you will likely find yourself restocking relatively often.
This hot chocolate contains artificial sweeteners, but they are made with nonfat milk and contain just 60 calories per mug.
The pods are not recyclable, and we did have some issues with our coffee maker accepting them. They’re made a bit more expensive in the long run due to rejected pods.
6. Best Hot Chocolate K Cup Variety Sampler
- We combined 8 of our best hot cocoa and created this sampler box based on the reviews and feedback we received. Contains: Milk, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Pods contains trace amounts of peanut.
- Contains 8 different flavors of creamy and candy flavored hot chocolate. Individual flavor may vary!
This is another single serve variety sampler pack of premium hot chocolate, but it includes fewer options than the previous one on our list. It contains a fair amount of standard hot chocolate flavors and some of the more popular flavored options, so it’s a great mix for those who want variety but also enjoy regular, unflavored hot cocoa.
This sampler contains some of the best Keurig hot chocolate that are decadent and creamy, so they are sure to satisfy even the most extreme chocolate craving.
They come in moderate quantities, so you’ll likely find yourself restocking regularly. However, they are very affordable, especially given the number of pods you get. We didn’t have any problems with pod rejection, but we did find that some of the foil on the cups came unsealed during shipping. This defect was a minor issue, but it does effectively raise the cost a bit.
They contain artificial sweeteners, which allows flavorful hot chocolate at a guilt-free 60-70 calories depending on the flavor you select.
7. Brooklyn Beans Mexican Hot Chocolate K-Cup Brewers
- A warm cup of hot cocoa is one of life's simple pleasures, but this freshly spicy sweet Mexican chocolate flavored hot cocoa will have your taste bud dancing all winter long. Each cup brews a perfect...
- Since cocoa as a drink was first prepared in Mexico it’s fitting to bring a little south-of-the-border flavor to our hot cocoa line. Mexican chocolates are known for the different spices like...
These Keurig kcup brewers from Brooklyn Beans are perfect for those hot chocolate lovers looking to spice up their day! They make Mexican hot chocolate, which contains just a bit of spiciness from cayenne pepper to cut through the milk and cocoa fats.
These pods make delectable and unique hot chocolate, but you will only get one flavor. As such, you should only purchase these if you know you’ll enjoy a spicy hot chocolate.
At just 60 calories per serving, you can enjoy these complex hot chocolates without feeling bad. They contain artificial sweeteners, though, so avoid these if you keep aspartame out of your diet.
These K cups come in moderate quantities, so you may find yourself restocking reasonably often. However, they’re very affordable and won’t offer compatibility problems with your coffee maker, so you at least won’t feel bad about how much you’re spending on getting your chocolate fix.
8. Happy Belly Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Pods
- This product was previously a Solimo product. Now it’s part of the Happy Belly brand, the product is exactly the same size and quality
- 24 Milk Chocolate flavored single serve hot cocoa cups
These hot chocolate K cups from Happy Belly offer a delicious cup of hot cocoa at just 60 calories per serving. While you won’t need to worry too much about caloric density, you should be aware that these contain artificial sweeteners.
They only come in one flavor, making them suitable for those who don’t mind standard chocolate flavor in their cup. They also feel less dense and a bit thinner than most other options on our list.
While they’re very affordable on a per-pod single serve basis, they only come in small quantities, so you’ll have to restock regularly or buy multiple boxes at once.
These hot chocolate single serve cups are compatible with both 1.0 and 2.0 Keurig machines, but we did experience some pod rejection, making the ones that were accepted just a bit more expensive.
9. Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Milk Chocolate K Cups
- Includes SWISS MISS Hot Cocoa Hot Milk Chocolate K Cups 16 Count (Packaging May Vary)
- Brewing occurs inside the K-Cup so no flavor residue is left behind to spoil the next cup.
- Single-serving packaging means no mess or wasted pots of coffee; for use with Keurig brewers
These hot chocolate pods from Swiss Miss offer a very chocolatey and delectable flavor, as well as a thick, creamy mouthfeel that is very satisfying. These are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth or chocolate craving, and at just 60 calories per cup, you can do so guiltlessly.
These pods don’t contain any artificial sweeteners and instead use corn syrup and cane sugar. The taste of the Swiss Miss milk chocolate is excellent, and we were happy to see another option with natural ingredients.
They only come in one flavor, so they won’t offer any variety to those who enjoy flavored hot chocolate as well as traditional.
We didn’t have any problems with pod rejection. However, the natural hot chocolate powder inside these K cups tends to clump, making some of the pods unusable as intended. Even without the clumping problem, these pods are very expensive.
These only come in small quantities, so you’ll go through a box relatively quickly, especially if you drink multiple cups a day or have others in your home who will share these pods.
10. Dunkin Donuts Hot Chocolate K Cups
- Cozy up to the warm, chocolatey taste of our hot cocoa
- Dunkin’ hot cocoa is a great tasting treat that everyone in the family can enjoy
- Enjoy in any Keurig K-Cup Brewer for an authentic Dunkin' Experience in no time
- Enjoy the great taste of Dunkin’ at home
- Contains 6 boxes of 10 K-Cup Pods (60 count Total), for a limited time, you may receive either box while we update our packaging, both contain the same great Dunkin' Coffee
These Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate K cups come in just one flavor, so they’re not ideal for anyone looking for some variety in their hot cocoa mix. They do, however, deliver a wonderful flavor and an enjoyable, creamy mouthfeel.
They contain sucralose, so you may want to avoid them if you don’t consume artificial sweeteners. However, the low amount of real sugar makes these K cups just 70 calories each, so you can enjoy your hot chocolate without feeling like you’ve ruined your diet.
These pods are compatible with all programmable Keurig machines, and we didn’t have any problems with pod rejection or defective foil.
However, even without wasted pods, these are very expensive and will cost more on a per-cup basis than most others on our list.
They do come in large quantities, so if you want to stick to a brand name you know and love and don’t mind spending a bit extra, these may be a good option for you.
Buying Guide for the Best K Cup Hot Chocolate
As you can see, finding the best hot chocolate for use in your single-serve coffee maker isn’t quite as easy as you thought it would be! Several factors should go into your decision for the most enjoyable hot cocoa experience. Whether you select a hot chocolate we’ve reviewed here or not, keep the below in mind as you shop.
Richness
Of course, the most critical factor when it comes to delicious hot chocolate is how rich and creamy it is! You should ensure that your hot chocolate is made with real cocoa for that delectable and satisfying creaminess, as this will produce the most alluring and desirable hot chocolate.
Some hot chocolate K cups feel thinner than others, and they’re never as enticing.
Caloric Density
With more and more people becoming health conscious, the calories per serving are probably as important to you as they are to us. We know hot chocolate is going to be decadent and relatively dense, but some hot chocolate options are significantly higher in calories than the ones we’ve reviewed here. If you’re concerned at all about caloric intake, choose a hot chocolate that you can enjoy without feeling bad.
Quantity
Next, you’ll want to consider the quantity of K cups you get with your order. As long as you choose a hot chocolate that doesn’t have a high caloric density, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy two or even three cups of hot chocolate per day!
If you don’t want to have to remember to restock regularly or if you’ll be sharing the pods with others in your home, make sure you choose hot chocolate pods that come in large quantities.
Price
Of course, just as important as quantity is the price you’re paying for your chocolate fix. There are many options out there that provide delicious hot chocolate at a very affordable price, while others can be twice as expensive. Make sure you take quantity into consideration when choosing a hot chocolate K cup, as the cost per serving is what you’ll want to focus on most.
Variety
Regular hot chocolate is great, but sometimes you may want to spice things up a bit. If you’re more of an adventurous hot chocolate drinker, you may wish to choose K cups that come in a variety sampler pack.
There is no shortage of hot chocolate flavors out there, so if you want to have a variety of tasting options, hot chocolate that comes in multiple flavors will probably be best for you.
Ingredients
You’ll also want to focus on the ingredients in your hot chocolate. Many producers of hot chocolate K cups include artificial sweeteners like aspartame or sucralose in their powders to keep caloric density low. Depending on your preference, you may want to avoid those hot chocolates.
Regardless of the presence of artificial sweeteners, most hot chocolate will contain some natural sugar to balance the bitterness you get from cocoa. If you’re looking to limit the calories you intake from sugar, a hot chocolate with artificial sweetener may be better for you. Also keep in mind that powdered hot chocolate mix will sometimes contain caffeine. If you are trying to avoid caffeinated beverages, be sure to check the box before purchasing.
Recyclable
Single-serve pods are great for convenience, but they do put some added strain on the environment. As such, you may want to choose recyclable pods, as you’ll feel better using those on a daily basis than non-recyclable plastic pods.
Compatibility
Lastly, you need to consider how compatible your K cups will be with your single-serve coffee maker. Not all pods are endorsed or created by Keurig, and some third-party pods tend to get rejected by coffee makers.
Choosing a Keurig-specific pod isn’t necessary, but you should make sure the ones you choose will work with your machine.
The effective price of the working pods can go up significantly if you end up throwing away incompatible ones, not to mention the frustration they can cause when you come back to your coffee machine only to realize your hot chocolate never brewed!
Which Hot Cocoa Pods Are Best?
Do you love to start your day with a variety of hot beverages? Hot chocolate has never been so complicated! We know there’s a lot of information here, but we only dove so deeply because we wanted to find the best hot chocolate K cups available. It may take some work to find the best one, but you won’t be disappointed once you do!
Our top pick for creaminess, richness, and all-around deliciousness are Starbucks Hot Cocoa K Cup Coffee Pods. The Starbucks classic hot cocoa contains no artificial sweeteners, and they still deliver delectable hot chocolate in a low-calorie, low-cost serving. We’d also highly recommend Cafe Escapes Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa K Cup Pods for a guilt-free cup of chocolatey goodness at a very affordable price.
