- The Best Hot Cocoa K Cups
- The 15 Best Hot Cocoa K Cups Reviewed
- Two Rivers Single Serve Variety Pack
- Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa K Pods
- Grove Square Hot Milk Chocolate K Cups
- Starbucks Classic Hot Chocolate K Cups
- Happy Belly Solimo Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Pods
- Brooklyn Beans Hot Chocolate Mexican Chocolate
- Mountain High Natural Hot Chocolate K Cups
- Crazy Cups Hot Chocolate Sampler
- Martinson Singles Hot Chocolate K Cups
- Maud's Dark Hot Chocolate
- Happy Belly Hot Cocoa
- Caza Trail Organic Fat-Free Hot Chocolate
- Junior Mints Hot Chocolate K Cups
- Café Escapes Hot Cocoa
- Victor Allen Coffee Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa
- Buying Guide For The Best Hot Cocoa K Cups
- The Verdict
Keurig is without a doubt a market leader in the one-cup coffee-making space. They have an extremely versatile set of machines that allow you to cater to all of your coffee needs. Although you might not have known that they can also make great-tasting tea or hot cocoa.
Fortunately, there are a lot of options out there. There are so many that it can actually be a daunting process to sort out the best options for your hot chocolate fix. After testing several options, we concluded that the Two Rivers Single Serve Variety Pack is the best of the hot chocolate K cups on the market.
We considered a few different factors: taste and texture, price, compatibility with the various Keurig machines, and overall quality. With that in mind, the Two Rivers collection takes the top spot as the best of all options for hot cocoa pods.
The Two Rivers chocolate hot cocoa collection combines a few key features we were looking for in our best-of: it offers a wide variety of flavors, the price is very affordable, and the pods work well across all Keurig brewers. While some of the flavors are a little experimental, there’s something for everyone.
Keep reading to find out more about the best hot chocolate K cups, and especially about our top pick.
The Best Hot Cocoa K Cups
| Product | Features | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | Two Rivers Single Serve Variety Pack
| 9.7 | Check On Amazon |
Best Nostalgia Pick  | Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa K Cups
| 9.5 | Check On Amazon |
Best Budget Pick  | Grove Square Hot Milk Chocolate K Cups
| 9.1 | Check On Amazon |
Best Premium Pick  | Starbucks Classic Hot Cocoa K Cups
| 8.8 | Check On Amazon |
Best Milk Chocolate  | Happy Belly Solimo Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Pods
| 8.6 | Check On Amazon |
Best Flavored  | Brooklyn Beans Hot Chocolate Mexican Chocolate
| 8.2 | Check On Amazon |
Best Low Sugar  | Mountain High Natural Hot Chocolate Hot Cocoa K Cups
| 8 | Check On Amazon |
Best Variety Pack  | Crazy Cups Hot Chocolate Variety Pack
| 7.7 | Check On Amazon |
Most Eco-Friendly  | Martinson Single-Serve Hot Chocolate K Cups
| 7.4 | Check On Amazon |
Best Dark Chocolate  | Maud’s Dark Hot Chocolate
| 7.2 | Check On Amazon |
Best Classic Hot Cocoa  | Happy Belly Hot Cocoa
| 9.5 | Check On Amazon |
Best Fat-Free  | Caza Trail Organic Fat-Free Hot Chocolate
| 9.5 | Check On Amazon |
Best Mint Hot Chocolate  | Junior Mints Hot Cocoa-Pods
| 9.5 | Check On Amazon |
Best Chocolate Quality  | Café Escapes Hot Chocolate
| 9.5 | Check On Amazon |
Best Kosher Hot Cocoa  | Victor Allen Coffee Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa
| 9.5 | Check On Amazon |
The 15 Best Hot Cocoa K Cups Reviewed
Two Rivers Single Serve Variety Pack
- Contains the largest hot cocoa variety available with over 16 different flavors
- Creamy and delicious
- Compatible with 2.0 Keurig k-cup brewers
Based on the factors mentioned above, I choose the Two Rivers Chocolate hot cocoa pods sampler for the best overall choice. It combines a lot of options, a good number of k cups for the price, and a quality hot chocolate experience that doesn’t require any adjustment or added ingredients with the hot cocoa pods.
Where the Two Rivers sampler pack really shines is in the broad variety of flavors it offers. While there are some of the 16 flavors that are a little more eccentric than others, such as peanut butter cookies, all of the flavors are interesting.
In addition to providing plenty of options, the single-serve variety sampler pack is compatible with all Keurig k cup brewers, and they’re one of the most affordable packs on the list. Two Rivers provides a new flavor of hot chocolate every day, without spending a ton of money, so it’s our top pick.
Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa K Pods
- Made with premium imported cocoa and dried milk, supporting 80 local dairy farms that supply farm-fresh milk every day
- Compatible with all Keurig single-serve k-cup pod coffee makers
- Swiss Miss has been creating the signature taste of hot chocolate since 1961 in a real dairy in Menomonie, Wisconsin
Our choice of Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate hot cocoa k pods is partly based on nostalgia. For many, Swiss Miss hot chocolate is one of the key tastes of childhood, and I’m no exception. The Swiss Miss hot cocoa k cup brings the old-fashioned experience into the modern world, and the hot chocolate k cups Swiss Miss makes are an easy choice for those with kids as well.
The k cup pods are also affordable, and the artificial sweetener isn’t overbearing. The hot cocoa k cup design is compatible across multiple Keurig models, and overall it’s an accessible cup of hot chocolate that’s easy and palatable for kids as well as adults.
Grove Square Hot Milk Chocolate K Cups
- Intense milk chocolate flavor with creamy smoothness
- Compatible with all 1.0 and 2.0 coffee brewers
- Kosher certified
If you drink a lot of hot chocolate, you’re likely interested in a value option, and Grove Square hot cocoa K cups are an excellent choice for budget-minded hot cocoa lovers. The milk chocolate flavored brew is the most affordable option on the list, and the hot chocolate pods are made to be compatible across Keurig 1.0 and 2.0 models.
There are some downsides, in that I found it to be a little weak in flavor, but it makes for a decent cup of hot cocoa at an affordable price point, so if you want to get the best value in your hot chocolate k cups, Grove Square hot cocoa k cup pods are a strong choice.
Starbucks Classic Hot Chocolate K Cups
- Hot cocoa mix made with non-fat milk
- A rich and creamy cocoa flavor
- Keurig genuine k-cup pods
- 22 recyclable k-cup pods per box
- Made with real cocoa
If you’re looking for a coffee shop hot chocolate experience at home, Starbucks hot cocoa K cups are a solid premium hot chocolate. They do carry a premium price tag, of course; but the deep, rich cocoa flavor is very present, and the rich and creamy texture is everything you’d want from a cup of hot chocolate.
While the price is higher, in this case, that is due to high-quality cocoa and other ingredients. The single-cup hot chocolate pods are also compatible with all Keurig machines.
Happy Belly Solimo Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Pods
- 24 milk chocolate flavored single-serve hot cocoa cups
- Compatible with 1.0 and 2.0 k-cup brewers
- If you aren’t satisfied for any reason within a year you’ll receive a full refund
The hot chocolate community is often divided as to whether the ideal hot cocoa is best expressed in milk chocolate or dark chocolate flavor. The Solimo Milk Chocolate hot cocoa k cups provide ample evidence for a creamier, sweeter experience. It doesn’t provide the strongest hot cocoa mix on the list, but the milk chocolate flavor is sweet and light, which has its own charm.
The Solimo milk chocolate hot chocolate pods also provide a good value. The single-serve cups are compatible across Keurig brewers, both 1.0 and 2.0.
Brooklyn Beans Hot Chocolate Mexican Chocolate
- Spicy-sweet Mexican chocolate flavored hot cocoa
- All Brooklyn Bean hot chocolates are gluten, tree nut, and peanut-free
- Cinnamon and chilies are added to create intense tastes
- Creamy hot chocolate made with real cocoa
- Made with the finest premium cocoa beans
- Compatible with most Keurig k-cup makers, including 2.0 brewers
Mexican Hot Chocolate has been a fad for a few years now, and Brooklyn Beans Hot Chocolate Mexican Chocolate k cups make it easy to get the exotic taste at home. The Mexican chocolate-flavored hot chocolate is spicy, intense, rich, and exotic when compared to more traditional flavors.
Gluten-free, and compatible with most Keurig brewers including Keurig 2.0. The Brooklyn Beans Mexican hot chocolate pods are a high-quality option for trying a niche flavor at home.
Mountain High Natural Hot Chocolate K Cups
- 60 milk chocolate pods
- 2.0 compatible single-serve cups
- All-natural and premium ingredients used
If you want a lower-sugar hot chocolate k cup, Mountain High Natural Hot Chocolate k cups are an option worth exploring. They don’t use artificial sweeteners, but high-quality cocoa means they can use less sugar. Mountain High Natural Hot Chocolate k cups are recyclable and while they do have a slightly higher calorie count (80 calories), they’re still low sugar.
The price is reasonable, and the cups are 2.0 Keurig compatible. For a cup of cocoa with rich flavor and low sugar, they are my top pick.
Crazy Cups Hot Chocolate Sampler
- 30 different flavors included
- 15g of premium cocoa is included in each single-serve pod
- Rich, creamy chocolate with flavors like caramel, red velvet hot chocolate, and many more
- Compatible with any coffee machine that brews hot chocolate k-cups including the Keurig 2.0 brewer
While not my top choice overall, the Crazy Cups k cup pods single serve variety sampler definitely takes the top spot for the amount of variety included in the pack. The single-serve flavored hot cocoa k cups come in up to 20 different flavors including salted caramel, cinnamon, and peppermint.
With 15 grams of chocolate per single-serve hot chocolate pod, they’re on the more premium side. If you want to try a different hot chocolate flavor every day, Crazy Cups is a solid option.
Martinson Singles Hot Chocolate K Cups
- 24 single-serve pods included
- Easy to recycle: Let it cool, peel off and discard the filter and contents, then recycle the cup
- Rainforest Alliance Certified seal supports environmental, social, and economic sustainability
- Smooth and mild flavor
- Flavor Max filters keep all of the rich flavors inside every single cup
- Compatible with Keurig k-cup brewers
If you’re trying to choose the options for Keurig k cup brewers that most minimize your environmental impact, Martinson single serve hot cocoa capsules might make the most sense for you. The hot chocolate pods do not provide the richest chocolate taste, but they are very easy to use and are recyclable.
In addition to the recyclable k cups, Martinson Singles hot chocolate k cups are Rainforest Alliance certified, as well as aligned with several ecological and social sustainability efforts.
Maud’s Dark Hot Chocolate
- Very rich yet smooth and complex chocolate flavor with balanced sweetness
- 100% dairy-free and gluten-free hot cocoa. Using the highest quality ingredients to produce to ensure a premium taste
- California blended and 100% solar energy produced
- Compatible with nearly all single-serve coffee makers and Keurig k-cup compatible brewers, including 2.0 machines
- 100% recyclable pods
In the battle between milk chocolate and dark chocolate hot cocoa flavors, I’m firmly on the side of dark chocolate in 90% of cases. So narrowing down the field to one top dark hot chocolate hot cocoa k cup was difficult until I sampled Maud’s Dark Hot Chocolate. Each of the single-serve cups is dairy-free, gluten-free, and full of rich cocoa.
The 2.0 Keurig compatible cups are recyclable, and while they aren’t sugar-free, there’s just enough sweetness to counter the bitterness of the chocolate itself. It’s a rich and decadent-tasting single-cup option for anyone who prefers darker cocoa.
Happy Belly Hot Cocoa
- 24 milk chocolate flavored single-serve hot cocoa cups
- Compatible with 1.0 and 2.0 k-cup brewers
- If you aren’t satisfied for any reason within a year you’ll receive a full refund
A newcomer in the hot chocolate space, Happy Belly Hot Cocoa pods are definitely a hit if you like a classic, middle-intensity hot chocolate experience. It’s not overwhelmingly chocolaty, but each single-serving cup does provide that classic hot cocoa mix experience.
The pods are compatible with both 1.0 and 2.0 Keurig k cup brewers, and they are an affordable alternative to Starbucks.
Caza Trail Organic Fat-Free Hot Chocolate
- 0g of fat per serving
- Made with organic cocoa
- Kosher certified
- Single-serve cups compatible with all 1.0 and 2.0 brewers
Fat-free hot chocolate can be a tricky proposition: so much of the flavor that we associate with hot chocolate comes from some form of fat or another, after all. But for a premium, hot chocolate k cup experience without the fat, Caza Trail is the best option I tasted.
The single-serving hot cocoa is also organic, which can make a major difference for some diet-conscious cocoa fans.
The cocoa from this k cup Keurig offering has a seductive fragrance and a rich flavor, though it may be too intense for some people looking for a milder taste.
Junior Mints Hot Chocolate K Cups
- Smooth peppermint and indulgent dark chocolate
- Contains 40 pods
- Compatible with Keurig k-cup brewers
During certain times of the year, all I want is the taste of mint and chocolate together, and Junior Mints are one of my favorite candies. I was excited to try the Junior Mints hot chocolate K cups for exactly that reason, and the hot chocolate I got did not disappoint.
No artificial sweeteners show up in the ingredients, and yet the cocoa still only tops out at 60 calories per serving.
For a rich peppermint chocolate experience, any time of year and at home, the Junior Mints hot chocolate k cups are the best of a surprisingly crowded field.
Café Escapes Hot Cocoa
- Deeply decadent dark chocolate
- Gluten-free & trans-fat-free
- Caffeine content less than 10mg
While none of the selections on this list lacks quality in the chocolate department, Café Escapes hot chocolate k cups definitely provide the most high-quality chocolate experience. Both gluten-free and trans-fat-free, it tops many other best hot chocolate k cups lists for good reason. It’s a thick, rich chocolate experience, like a melted dark candy bar in a cup.
While it isn’t sugar-free, this dark chocolate hot cocoa option does have less sugar than some of the others, while remaining sweet enough to satisfy.
Victor Allen Coffee Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa
- Includes 42 single-serve pods
- Rich and creamy
- Natural and artificially flavored hot cocoa mix
- 100% gluten-free and non-GMO
- Compatible with all single-serve brewing systems, including Keurig 2.0
Victor Allen Coffee has a reputation mainly in coffee, but the milk chocolate flavored hot chocolate pods are a strong option for those who want a kosher-certified drink at a reasonable price. While a few of the options on this list are certified kosher, Victor Allen’s k cups are the strongest in reputation, and they provide a very good milk chocolate hot cocoa experience.
With nonfat dry milk and a moderate calorie count (70 calories), Victor Allen’s K cups are a good value for those seeking a kosher-certified hot chocolate experience.
Buying Guide For The Best Hot Cocoa K Cups
When looking for the best hot cocoa k cups, there are a few things to keep in mind. Not all hot chocolate k cups are created equal, and getting the best results from your Keurig comes down to a quality cup: high cocoa concentration, appropriate sweeteners, balanced dairy and other ingredients, and of course compatibility with your system.
Let’s dive deeper into what all of these mean.
Cocoa Concentration
The higher the concentration of cocoa in your hot chocolate mix, the better your cocoa is going to be. Although some top-ranked products like the Swiss Miss milk chocolate hot chocolate k cups don’t have the highest percentage of cocoa, most of the best options in the field make cocoa the priority.
Calories
Calories are definitely something to consider, whether or not you’re on a diet. Higher-calorie options tend to have more premium ingredients. If you’re looking to keep to a diet, and want something at 70 calories or below, look for dark chocolate blends and dairy-free options. Check the nutrition label to know what you’re getting.
Sugar And Artificial Sweeteners
Many of the products in this list contain a combination of sugar and artificial sweetener, but some options have either one or the other as well. Generally, I tend to prefer regular sugar in my hot chocolate, but artificial sweeteners and flavors do have their place in helping to create a rounded chocolate experience.
Flavor
Of course, the primary flavor in hot chocolate should be chocolate itself, but there are a lot of brands out there that curate specialty products that harmonize the chocolate with other tastes and textures.
While peanut butter can seem a little strange in hot chocolate, it’s definitely a classic pairing; at the same time, if you’re a purist, go for brands that don’t incorporate artificial flavorings into their cocoa.
Price
One of the few inconvenient things about the Keurig system is the price of k cups. This is as true for hot chocolate as it is for coffee and tea, and it’s unlikely to change.
There are, fortunately, options available for almost any budget; if you’re not passionate about hot chocolate or you want something a little cheaper, there are still a lot of options available, including several on this list.
Brands
As Keurig gets more and more popular, bigger brands are jumping on board to make their own adapted options for the machines.
This does mean that if you have a preferred brand for any given product, you’re likely to be able to find it, it’s just a question of whether the price point is what you’re after.
Premium brands still command premium prices.
Expiration Date
Look out for expiration dates on your hot chocolate k cups! While a stale coffee experience isn’t exactly pleasant, it’s a bigger issue when it comes to hot chocolate.
Since most hot chocolate pods contain milk powder, they’re shelf-stable for a long time, but they also taste awful when they do go bad.
Make sure you verify the expiration date before you buy, and keep an eye on the date while you’re working your way through a pack of k cups.
Pod Compatibility
While all of the k cups mentioned in this list are compatible across multiple Keurig brewers, it’s worth noting that some products on the market are only compatible with earlier generation brewers, and some will only work with certain brewers of any generation. Cross-check your pods with the machine you have.
The Verdict
Of all of the products I sampled on this list, our favorite remains the Two Rivers Sampler, with its wild and intriguing variety of flavors and its overall value at its price point.
While some other selections may have provided a richer chocolate flavor, or a more premium texture, the Two Rivers hot chocolate sampler has the best combination of hot cocoa flavors at a reasonable price.
For its adventurous flavors, sweet price point, and adaptability to any Keurig machine, Two Rivers Single Serve Variety Pack takes the top spot for the best hot chocolate k cups.
