Strongest K Cup Coffee: Top 8 Picks

In a hurry? Our best option is death wish coffee k-cups!

every once in a while we need a little extra jolt in our morning cup of coffee.

Reading: Strong k cup coffee

keurig k cups make great coffee, but they’re not always super strong.

In this article, I will review the strongest cup of K coffee available.

I will summarize the best options and choose my favorite.

let’s get to it.

strongest k cup coffee: top 8 picks

death wish coffee k-cups (best overall)
wild jo extra strength organic k-cups (the best organic option)
wake up at once! k-cups (best for a coffee community)
dark magic k-cups (best for all keurig machines)
napalm k-cups (the best fully Arabica coffee)
valhalla java k-cups (best medium roast coffee)
black rhino k-cups (the best to support a good cause)
cups of black rifle coffee (the best blend of robusta)

k-death wish coffee cups

The name really says it all with these k-cups.

I had a good friend in high school whose father swore by death wish coffee. he claimed that your heart would stop if you drank too much.

That’s not really true, but it sounded scary enough to make me think.

The reality is that death wish coffee uses both Arabica and Robusta coffee beans. robusta beans have twice the caffeine of arabica beans.

so when death wish claims they make the strongest coffee in the world, they may not be far behind. the caffeine count for a 12 oz cup is 728 mg. (That’s more than twice the average brew!)

another advantage of using robusta beans is that robusta coffee is less acidic than arabica coffee. that makes death wish coffee less sweet, it tastes super strong, but it’s still easy on your stomach.

caffeine: 728 mg/12 oz

advantages

super high amount of caffeine will keep you focused and ready all day long
robusta coffee beans are less acidic than arabica beans, which means these coffee pods will be easy on the stomach
They only use USDA organic and fair trade coffee, so you can be sure your coffee isn’t harming farmers
compatible with all keurig machines, so you don’t have to worry about making sure the coffee pod works

cons

Because of the robusta beans, death wish coffee does not have as complex a flavor as a full Arabica blend
caffeine count is very high so if you are sensitive to caffeine you should be careful

wild jo extra strength organic k-cups

wild jo is one of the highest rated organic k-cup makers on the market.

keurig k cups are often criticized for being wasteful and harmful to the environment. and that’s generally a fair claim.

wild jo is trying to break that cycle by using a fully compostable k-cup design. everything from the plastic in the pod to the rim itself is compostable.

but what about the coffee itself?

that’s also a safe purchase for the environment. they only use organic and fair trade coffees.

They use a dark French roast for their coffees. that’s on the darker side of roasts. so you can be sure your wild jo coffee will taste bold, strong and dark.

one drawback is that roasting this dark removes some of the caffeine content.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly how much caffeine is in a wild jopod, but it’s most likely on the low end of average. (between 80 and 100 mg in an 8-oz. cup)

caffeine: ~90 mg/8 oz

advantages

a fully compostable k-cup design means you don’t have to worry as much about the impact on the environment
dark french roast gives your cup a bold, dark flavor, perfect for mornings when you need a boost
organic and fair trade coffee just means you are not contributing to exploitative farming practices
all arabica bean blends add complexity to your cup and a slightly sweeter flavor

cons

less caffeine due to the darker roast, so you’ll need more coffee to feel more upbeat
not compatible with keurig vue or rivo

wake up! k-cups

wake up! coffee pods from utica coffee roasters offer a good balance between quality coffee and strength.

They use a blend of arabica and robusta beans to give you a little more caffeine. but they don’t use a lot of robusta beans in their mix.

That means your mix remains smooth and flavorful.

on top of that, they use a medium dark roast coffee instead of a full dark roast coffee. that keeps the flavors fresh and light.

Your Keurig coffee pods are recyclable. but you do have to separate the coffee and filter from each pod before recycling.

I like that you wake up! is more than a brand of coffee. they are actively trying to use their coffee to inspire their community. they see their coffee as a challenge for their customers: take a risk and seize the day.

caffeine: 300-350 mg/12 oz

advantages

Extra caffeine from blended Arabica and Robusta coffee beans gives you more caffeine per cup
recyclable coffee pods so you can mitigate some of the environmental impacts that come with single-serve k-cup pods
medium-dark roast keeps flavors fresh and light, so you don’t have to worry about your cup tasting tarry or burnt
strong community aspect, the brand aims to be more than just a morning wake-up call

cons

the extra step of disassembling the keurig k cup can be a deterrent to recycling coffee pods
I’m not convinced by the taste, roasting the beans from robusta to medium dark instead of dark invites some oxidized flavors to the cup

dark magical vessels

dark magic k-cups from green mountain is a k-cup from keurig.

green mountain and keurig are actually the same company. that means dark magic k-cups are designed specifically for keurig machines.

Is that really a benefit? I would say that. gives you the assurance that your coffee will be consistent and taste great.

But how strong is dark magic? it is roasted, as its name implies, to a dark level. that gives you a strong and daring flavor.

dark magic is 100% arabica beans, so you get all the sweet, complex flavors of arabica coffee and none of the more rustic flavors of robusta beans.

The downside, however, is that Arabica beans don’t have as much caffeine as Robusta beans. to get the caffeine content as a robusta blend, you’ll need an additional cup or two.

It’s also one of the only kosher-certified k-cups on the market.

caffeine: 80-100mg/8oz

advantages

These coffee pods are designed in-house so you can be sure of great results
all arabica beans mean you get complex, sweet flavors in your cup without the oxidized, dark flavors of robusta beans
fully recyclable coffee pods eliminate some of the environmental impacts of k-cups
compatible with all keurig machines

cons

have a lower caffeine content due to 100% arabica blends
because green mountain is a large producer, the coffee will not taste as unique as smaller brands

napalm glasses k

despite what its name might imply, this coffee won’t actually kill you. but it will give you a good boost to start the morning.

good times coffee company, which makes napalm k-cups, uses 100% arabica beans for this blend.

which gives you a smooth and slightly sweet taste in your cup. but it also means that the caffeine content is a bit lower than that of an arabica/robusta blend.

but hey, if you’re just looking for a strong cup without a lot of caffeine, this is a great option.

I’m not totally convinced about the taste. dark roast coffees from medium producers like the good old days tend to be muddy and bland.

however, they are roasted in small batches. that helps with flavor because the roaster can change roast levels based on the outside environment.

Basically, this is a smooth cup of coffee that won’t make your heart explode.

caffeine: ~100 mg/8 oz

advantages

100% Arabica coffee gives you a rich, smooth flavor, so you don’t sacrifice caffeine for a tarry taste
roasting in small batches means there will be some consistency from pod to pod
the coffee pods are compatible with all keurig machines, so don’t worry about which keurig coffee machine you have
recyclable capsules are more environmentally friendly

cons

an extra dark roast takes some of the caffeine and flavor out of the coffee
without many nuances in the coffee, it is meant to be strong and bold

valhalla java k-cups

valhalla java coffee pods are death wish’s medium roast coffee.

They are made with a mixture of 5 origins from Indonesia to South America.

I like these coffee pods for their medium roast. I’ve found that medium roast coffees taste smoother and more tolerable than dark roast coffee.

Valhalla coffee uses a blend of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans. this gives your coffee much more caffeine per ounce than simply using arabica beans.

There is a prejudice against robusta beans in the coffee world due to their rustic, earthy and nutty flavors. but if you’re trying to make a super strong high-caffeine coffee, they’re definitely the way to go.

The fact is that Valhalla Java has 660 mg of caffeine per 12 ounces of coffee. so keep in mind that when they say this coffee is strong, it really is that strong.

caffeine: 660 mg/12 oz

advantages

a blend of 5 countries of origin gives valhalla java a really nice, smooth taste
robusta beans are less acidic than arabica beans, so valhalla java will be easier on the stomach
if you’re looking for a ton of caffeine, this coffee has enough to keep you going for a long time
certified organic and fair trade, meaning they do not contribute to exploitative farming practices

cons

robusta blend may be too earthy for some people
high caffeine content makes it easy to drink too much

black rhino k cups

black rhino is good times coffee’s roasted espresso blend. they only use arabica beans in this coffee with a dark roast.

which gives your cup a nice smoky aroma and strong flavor.

all their coffee capsules are recyclable. and, check this out, a portion of every black rhino coffee sale is donated to black rhino conservation in southern and eastern Africa.

so not only do you get a jolt, but you can help save an endangered species.

I’m not convinced by the taste. the smoky aroma carries into the cup, which makes the taste a bit bitter for me.

Its espresso roast is quite dark. but that does two things: first, it makes the coffee strong and bold. second, it takes away some nuances from the flavor.

but I like this coffee for someone who wants strong coffee and likes the idea of giving money to a great cause.

caffeine: ~100 mg/8 oz

advantages

100% Arabica blend gives you a smooth flavor in every cup
recyclable pods help keep environmental impact low
a portion of each sale goes towards black rhino conservation in Africa
small batch roasting means you get consistency from box to box

cons

the smoky aroma of espresso roasting can enter the cup, washing out some of the mild flavors of the arabica bean
Because it’s a blend, some of the unique flavors can be confused, leaving you with a strong flavor and nothing more

cups of coffee black rifle coffee

black rifle caf coffee grounds (intended to be a reference to bullets) are a medium roast blend.

They use Brazilian and Colombian coffees, which are a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans. they give you a great caffeine boost to start the day.

Using a blend of Arabica and Robusta gives your cup more caffeine. it also softens the flavors and gives you a balanced taste.

A portion of all black rifle sales goes to support veterans and first responders. so if you like the idea of supporting those groups, this is a great option.

The black rifle is actually owned by a veteran.

I’ll be honest and say that the coffee will be ordinary. there is nothing special about these cups other than the brand and the amount of caffeine.

They even have a disclaimer on their website that warns of the effects of overdosing on caffeine. the reality is that it takes a lot more caffeine than you could ingest to overdose.

the disclaimer is there for display.

caffeine: 150-200 mg/8 oz

advantages

the blend of arabica and robusta gives you a ton of caffeine per cup
using only Brazilian and Colombian coffee gives you consistency from cup to cup
a portion of sales goes to support first responders and law enforcement
It’s a medium roast coffee, so you’ll get some unique flavors and have a smoother drinking experience than a dark roast

cons

the brand is tough, these capsules are not as strong as black rifle wants you to think
It’s a standard cup of coffee with a high caffeine content, there are better tasting options with as much caffeine

4 ways to strengthen your k-cup

sometimes keurigs don’t brew strong enough. they are meant to be fast, which means you can rush and not fully brew.

here are some tips for making stronger coffee with your keurig:

use the “strong” button. some keurig machines have a “strong” button. that simply means that your keurig will brew your coffee a little longer and stronger than normal. This is probably the easiest way to make stronger coffee.
run a water cycle before brewing. running a hot water cycle without a pod on the brewer will preheat your keurig, making your coffee hotter and stronger when you brew it.
Put a full pod into a reusable pod. I know this sounds strange, but adding a single-use pod to a reusable pod effectively doubles your steeping time and adds strength to your cup. you can also use your own ground coffee in a reusable pod to make it stronger.
Use the smallest cup setting. A good ratio is essential for a strong cup of coffee, so using the smallest setting on your keurig will give you the strongest cup.

things to consider before buying

When looking for the strongest k-cup for your Keurig coffee maker, you need to consider the two definitions of coffee “strength”:

caffeine content
flavor

When we say a cup of coffee is “strong,” we generally mean that it tastes thick, rich, and bold. like a classic cup of coffee poured from those round pots we all grew up with.

but we can also refer to the caffeine content.

Ask yourself what you mean when you say “strong” coffee. that’s the first step.

The second step is to assess how much coffee you want to drink.

Looking for a smaller cup with a massive caffeine kick?

or do you prefer a strong flavor in two or three cups?

Answering those questions will help you narrow down your options. Please note that each machine has slightly different cup sizes.

verdict

Death wish k-cups are definitely my go to.

the blend of arabica and robusta beans doesn’t change the flavor too much. you still get a rich, smooth and bold flavor without being too nutty or earthy.

robusta beans are also less acidic than arabica beans. that means your coffee will be a little easier on the stomach.

The amount of caffeine (728 mg of caffeine per 12 oz cup) is, frankly, astounding. a cup will keep you awake for the whole day.

That said, all of the coffees on this list are good options. you just need to find one that works for you!