You know what’s good about hot chocolate? Everything! And here’s another good thing about Keurig – it makes great hot chocolate.
The convenience of single-serve and the awesomeness of best hot chocolate K cups is an amazing combo. There’s something awesome about hot chocolate. It helps that it is chocolate! Many of us have fond memories of drinking and enjoying hot chocolate.
Our Top 15 Keurig Hot Chocolate Pods
- Two Rivers Chocolate Hot Cocoa Pods, Single Serve Variety Sampler Pack
- Mountain High All Natural Hot Chocolate K Cups
- Tootsie Roll Junior Mints Chocolate Mint Hot Cocoa Pods
- Indulgio Mint Chocolate Hot Cocoa
- Crazy Cups Premium Hot Chocolate Single Serve Cups Variety Pack
- Café Escapes Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa K-Cups for Keurig Brewers
- Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate K Cups
- Starbucks Hot Chocolate K Cups
- Happy Belly Hot Cocoa Pods
- Maud’s Hot Chocolate Single Serve Dairy Free Hot Cocoa Pods
- Pingo Single-Cup Hot Cocoa for Keurig K-Cup Brewers
- Dunkin’ Donuts Hot Chocolate K Cups
- Martinson Single Serve Hot Cocoa Capsules
- Crazy Cups Molten Chocolate Souffle Caffeinated Hot Chocolate
- Solimo Hot Cocoa Pods, Milk Chocolate Flavored
Editor’s Choice: Two Rivers Chocolate Hot Cocoa Pods, Single Serve Variety Sampler Pack
Okay, this isn’t a single K cup or brand, but as best hot chocolate K cups go, I could write a love song about this variety pack. Okay, maybe not a love song, but I sure can admire and appreciate the thought that went into this pack. It has the best hot cocoa k cups available and makes an excellent symphony of flavors.
Unless you have a very strong preference (or abhorrence) for a particular brand or hot chocolate, this pack is all you need. In fact, if you have a particular preference for a single brand, get this pack anyway and test out the other awesome options available.
Reviewed: Top Keurig Hot Chocolate Pods You’ll Want to Try
1. Two Rivers Chocolate Hot Cocoa Pods, Single Serve Variety Sampler Pack
Two Rivers Chocolate Hot Cocoa Pods, Single Serve Variety Sampler Pack is the editor’s choice for this category. I’ve already gushed about it in that section, so I’ll try to be more level-headed when reviewing it here.
This is a well-curated sampler pack that contains hot chocolate offerings from some very well-known names. In fact, you’ll find many of its contents on this list as well. I guess, one of the reasons this is the top pick is because it contains all my individually favored options as well.
It’s fairly well-balanced with simple hot chocolate and flavored K cups. The assortment of chocolates and flavors ensures you don’t end up feeling the overbearing force of a single flavor.
You know, like the time when you buy an 80-pack of a hot chocolate thinking you’ll love it, but can’t bear it after five cups. No? Just me? Well, yeah… never happened to me either… I was talking about a friend.
2. Mountain High All Natural Hot Chocolate K Cups
Mountain High All Natural Hot Chocolate K Cups is made from natural ingredients and doesn’t have any synthetic additives. The hot chocolate looks deliciously velvety. However, it lacks flavor and flair. It looks great but isn’t that hot in taste.
Its pods are made from recyclable plastic, but it’s still plastic. There are times it does brew a lovely cup. I think the problem with these K cups is that the chocolate doesn’t always mix well with water. So it can be a hit and a miss on the taste scale.
3. Tootsie Roll Junior Mints Chocolate Mint Hot Cocoa Pods
A taste of chocolate with a burst of mint is surprisingly refreshing and very delicious. Tootsie Roll Junior Mints Chocolate Mint Hot Cocoa Pods deliver true to expectations. The cup is velvety rich with hot chocolate and the mint flavor is easily enjoyable.
There isn’t a synthetic aftertaste, which bodes well for the flavor of this K cup. It is a candy-flavored hot chocolate pod, and it does justice to both sides. The taste of the candy and the flavor of hot chocolate are well-preserved in these pods.
4. Indulgio Mint Chocolate Hot Cocoa
Indulgio Mint Chocolate Hot Cocoa follows the style of hot chocolate with mint. It’s quite a pleasing flavor and fairly enjoyable. The one thing it doesn’t do so well on is value for money. It seems expensive for the price, but that’s an arbitrary distinction.
If you feel like trying this one, go for it, the taste and flavor are well worth the effort. The pod is only compatible with Keurig 1.0 brewers, so check compatibility with your machine before you buy it.
5. Crazy Cups Premium Hot Chocolate Single Serve Cups Variety Pack
We’ve already seen a Crazy Cups Hot Chocolate on this list, but there’s more to offer! The brand has a fairly good range and diverse offering, so a variety pack makes good sense.
Enjoy hot chocolate in different flavors and you will appreciate pretty much all of them. The only thing this variety pack doesn’t have going for it is the price. It is a bit on the higher side of things, which pulls it down where value for money is concerned.
6. Café Escapes Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa K-Cups for Keurig Brewers
Café Escapes Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa K-Cups for Keurig Brewers advertises itself as “decadent”. It’s a pretty good cup of hot chocolate, but I think they may be partial to themselves! If only ever so slightly.
These hot chocolate K cups are available in dark chocolate and milk chocolate flavors. I am partial to the dark chocolate, but wouldn’t write down the milk chocolate variant just yet!
There is some sugar with the dark chocolate, but it’s just enough to balance the taste. It doesn’t overpower the hot chocolate and lets it stay enjoyable.
However, if you don’t like sweetness with dark chocolate, this K cup will definitely feel too sugary. In that case, skip these K cups in favor of sugar free hot chocolate K cups.
7. Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate K Cups
Oh… hey there! I say “hot chocolate” and you can say “Swiss Miss”. For a very long time, Swiss Miss has been amongst the defining brands for hot chocolate. The expectation is of rich, creamy, and delicious hot chocolate. Mostly, they deliver, but it seems K cups have trouble keeping up with the expectations.
Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate K Cups aren’t as satisfying and amazing as we would expect. Perhaps a big reason for this is that K cups inherently work with water, and milk goes better with this hot chocolate. However, if the watery touch doesn’t bother you, go for it!
8. Starbucks Hot Chocolate K Cups
An expectation when we buy Starbucks Hot Cocoa K Cups is that the taste would be Starbucks quality. It’s understandable if it doesn’t quite hit store-quality, but it should get close. These Keurig hot chocolate pods make a valiant attempt, but they don’t hit the spot.
You could say these pods are okay, but then there are several better hot chocolate pods available at a more competitive price. These seem like an expensive product but with average performance.
9. Happy Belly Hot Cocoa Pods
Happy Belly is a new Amazon brand and its hot cocoa pods offering is practically phenomenal. Before I go deeper into this, does anyone have a count on the Amazon brand floating around? It seems a new one pops up every other day. I guess there’s no reason to complain as long as they’ve got the quality factor going for them.
Coming back to the topic, the Happy Belly Hot Cocoa Pods are pretty good at their job. They seem to have been positioned as a competitor to Starbucks hot chocolate K cups. So far, it looks like they’re doing a pretty good job.
It’s a yummy treat that creates a thick, enjoyable cup of steaming hot chocolate. These K cups are pretty enjoyable, though the artificial sweetener content can feel like overpowering. If you like ‘em sweet, you’ll love this one.
10. Maud’s Hot Chocolate Single Serve Dairy Free Hot Cocoa Pods
Maud’s Hot Chocolate Single Serve Dairy Free Hot Cocoa Pods are quite an option for the purist. These pods are gluten-free, dairy-free options that provide a rich hot cocoa experience.
Keep in mind, this is hot cocoa and it has a very different taste and texture compared to what we’re used to with hot chocolate. It’s a pretty great brew by itself, but it’s not something you’ll want until you know exactly what you’re picking up. It is one of the best hot cocoa K cups currently available.
The pods are made from #5 plastic, which is easily recyclable. Number 5 plastic is a superior option for recycling and facilities for its use are more readily available as compared to other, lower quality plastics.
11. Pingo Single-Cup Hot Cocoa for Keurig K-Cup Brewers
Pingo Single-Cup Hot Cocoa for Keurig K-Cup Brewers has plenty of flavors to offer. Many of the available flavors are candy-inspired, though there is the classic milk chocolate available as well.
The flavors vary and so does the experience. Generally, however, the impression is towards the positive side and the hot chocolate is enjoyable. I’ll recommend the Candy Cane Peppermint flavor. Oddly enough, the classic milk chocolate is the one flavor I didn’t find good in these offerings.
All pods for these are gluten-free and Kosher certified.
12. Dunkin’ Donuts Hot Chocolate K Cups
Pretty much a classic, Dunkin’ Donuts Hot Chocolate K Cups manage to be impressive and delicious. It is a bit on the expensive side of things, but the overall quality and taste of the brew more than make up for it. I would still call it good value for money.
No watery hot chocolate here! It looks absolutely divine. If appearance was something to go by, these K cups could settle to be the best ones available. If all you want is an awesome cup of hot chocolate, these K cups will pretty much do it for you.
13. Martinson Single Serve Hot Cocoa Capsules
Martinson Single Serve Coffee Capsules takes a smooth and mild approach to hot cocoa. It isn’t something that’ll blow you with taste and flavor. However, it is comforting and smooth, which makes it an excellent choice.
I think it’s something of an odd and interesting combination. It isn’t immediately noticeable, but it isn’t middling either. In a way, this is like something familiar, even if it’s the first time you brew this hot chocolate! The plastic K cups used with these hot chocolate K cups are recyclable.
14. Crazy Cups Molten Chocolate Souffle Caffeinated Hot Chocolate
Caffeine and hot chocolate – two of our favorites in a single K cup! We’ve always enjoyed coffee with the undertones of chocolate and the good old mocha, so hot chocolate with an undercurrent of caffeine seems just about right!
Crazy Cups Molten Chocolate Souffle Caffeinated Hot Chocolate gets the flavor right and the caffeine involvement adds a depth to the flavor. The drink is velvety smooth and shies away from the watery touch that many hot chocolate cups fall victim to.
15. Solimo Hot Cocoa Pods, Milk Chocolate Flavored
Solimo Hot Cocoa Pods strike the balance between value for money and quality. The hot chocolate here is fairly creamy, but isn’t rich. It has a great flavor, but is also accompanied by a tendency to go to the watery side.
I’ll suggest setting your Keurig for 6 oz but removing the cup before the last 1-2 oz of water pour in. It’s the same old trick we’ve all used for a stronger coffee and works as well for hot chocolate too.
Quick Rundown To Choosing The Right Hot Chocolate Pods
You Want Rich Cocoa
A rich cocoa is an essential ingredient to a satisfying hot chocolate. It enhances the flavor and makes it taste like the hot chocolate you love. It can be more important when you’re brewing in a single serve machine since it uses water and that can make your drink weak.
No one likes a watery hot chocolate. A rich cocoa should get you out of this jam. However, many of us are simply wired to enjoy hot chocolate with milk. The dry milk in the K cups just might not cut it.
A useful idea is to brew small portions. Most hot chocolate pods will recommend a 6 oz or 8 oz setting. If the recommended volume doesn’t work for you, go a step lower. If you think you have to switch to go lower, it might be time to get a different K cup. However, it is perfectly okay if you want to avoid the last few (watery) drops from the machine from hitting your cup.
Watch Out For The Sugar And Calories
Hot chocolate is loaded with calories. You can easily expect 70-80 calories from each cup. A good way around this is to pick sugar free hot chocolate K cups. That will considerably lower the calorie count of your hot chocolate.
Skipping milk too and enjoying hot cocoa in its original glory is a great option. Honestly though, it’s not for everyone. Hot chocolate tastes best as hot chocolate, not plain hot cocoa. If you’re moving to the plain hot cocoa, it’s probably better to switch to coffee instead.
So What’s Your Favorite Hot Chocolate K Cup?
It’s not just the countless flavors and variants of coffee, your Keurig machine can brew some kickass hot chocolate as well. The beverage is very popular for Keurig and the machine is capable of brewing a rich, smooth, and velvety cup of cocoa.
Get the best hot chocolate K cups for an amazing hot chocolate experience on your Keurig machine. My top choices and recommendations are covered in the review here. Rich cocoa, possibly with flavors, and smooth chocolate is exactly the comforting drink all of us want.