The 10 Best Decaf K-cups

Anyone who wants a bold cup at night should start with Peet's Decaf House Blend, a deep, sweet dark roast that still tastes like real coffee, black or with milk. Peet's says every decaf it sells is water processed before roasting, something few big brands spell out. The beans are all arabica, and the pods fit any K-Cup brewer. The roast runs smoky, so people who like a light, bright cup may find it heavy.

For an organic cup, Newman's Own Special Blend Decaf carries both the USDA Organic seal and Fair Trade certification. It's a medium roast that tastes strong yet smooth, with little bitterness when drunk black. The pods are genuine K-Cups, and the plastic cups can be peeled, emptied and recycled where local programs take them. It mostly comes in one big box, which is a lot of coffee if you only brew a cup now and then.

Starbucks Decaf House Blend is a safe choice for anyone who already likes the coffee shop's house cup. It's a medium roast with toffee and cocoa notes, made from all arabica beans, and it takes milk and syrups well. The box doesn't say how the caffeine is removed, so it's not the one for anyone set on a water-only process. Each pod costs more than a store brand, which is hard to justify for a daily habit.

Dark-roast drinkers who want a chemical-free decaf can turn to San Francisco Bay French Roast, since the company uses the Swiss Water Process for every decaf it sells. The flavor leans toward dark chocolate and spice with a smoky finish. The pods are made from plant-based materials and can go to a commercial composting site. They have paper lids instead of foil, so they go stale once the bag is open, and some brewers struggle to pierce them.

Made for people who load their coffee with cream and sugar, The Original Donut Shop Decaf is a full-bodied medium roast that keeps its flavor under the extras. It has a big following for a mellow cup with no bitter bite, and the box carries a kosher seal. A single box lasts a daily drinker more than a month. Its thin filters can split now and then, which leaves grounds at the bottom of the mug.

McCafe Premium Roast Decaf brings the fast-food chain's smooth medium roast home at a modest price per pod. It's made from arabica beans and finishes clean, with a pleasant aroma as it brews. The cup is mild, which suits a quiet evening coffee, but it can taste thin to anyone who drinks it black and strong. A smaller box lets you see whether the taste suits you before you stock up.

Shoppers who want organic beans and a water-only decaf in one box can look at The Organic Coffee Co. Gorilla. The beans are shade-grown and certified organic, decaffeinated with a natural water process, then roasted to a full, strong cup that stays mellow. The pods fit most K-Cup brewers, newer Keurig models included. It costs more per cup than most supermarket decaf, and the pods break down only at a commercial composting site, not in a backyard pile.

If dark roasts taste burnt to you, try Green Mountain Breakfast Blend Decaf, a light roast that's clean and bright with a nutty sweetness. It's all arabica, and its gentle strength makes a calm morning cup without the jolt. Green Mountain doesn't print its decaf method on the box. People used to a bold cup can find it weak, so brewing on a smaller cup setting gives it more body.

Shoppers watching the grocery bill can count on Eight O'Clock The Original Decaf, a medium roast from a coffee brand that dates back to the 1850s. It uses all arabica beans and aims for a smooth cup close to the regular blend. The price per pod is low for a name brand. It's on the mild side for anyone who likes a smoky, heavy cup, and the maker doesn't say how it removes the caffeine.

Anyone not sure which decaf to commit to can start with the Keurig Decaf Variety Pack, which mixes four blends in one small box. It holds Green Mountain Breakfast Blend, McCafe Premium Roast, The Original Donut Shop and Newman's Own Special Blend, all decaf and all genuine K-Cups. That makes it a cheap way to find a favorite before buying a big box. There's no dark roast in the mix, so fans of a heavy cup will come up short.