Why does my Starbucks K cup rattle? (What’s inside of Starbucks Keurig K-Cup?)

K-cups are great for when you want a fresh cup of coffee in the morning or any time of the day for that matter. Thanks to them you don’t have to go through the hustle of brewing a full pot and having the rest of the coffee go stale, by the time you are coming around for your next cup. Another plus is the process is much faster, so you don’t have to skip on your morning cup of coffee because you are late for work.

Many consumers have, however, been concerned about the rattling noise that the Starbucks K-cups have. If you’ve been wondering the same thing then you’ll be happy to know that it’s not because the coffee ground slipped through the paper filter. The reason why the Starbucks K-Cups rattle is because of a small clear plastic filter-like ring that’s at the bottom of the cup. How do I know this? Read on to find out.

What’s Inside Of Starbucks Keurig K-Cup? 

To understand why the Starbucks K-cups rattle, it’s best to understand what is inside them, or in other words, what makes up a Starbucks K-cup. My curiosity led me to open up one of the K-cups and do a little bit of research, which is how I was able to find out the reason behind the rattling.

A normal K-cup is made up of degassed ground coffee. That means coffee beans that have been roasted to release carbon dioxide. The ground beans are then packed in the paper filter that’s been fixed to the plastic cup with a food-safe adhesive. The air in the cup is replaced with nitrogen to prevent any spoilage. The cup is sealed tightly with foil which prevents exposure to moisture, light, and heat.

Now for the Starbucks K-cups, aside from everything that was mentioned you’ll also find the plastic filter like rings in the cup, below the paper filter. I’m not clear on what the plastic ring is for, but my best guess would be to prevent the coffee grounds from slipping through while brewing. Funnily enough though, not all K-cups from Starbucks rattle, and that’s because they don’t have that plastic ring inside them, hence the conclusion.

Are Starbucks Keurig Cups Good? 

Aside from why these cups rattle, another common question is whether the Starbucks K-cups are any good. Based on the reviews and my personal experience, Starbucks K-cups are among the best in the market. You get a variety of flavors from mild to strong depending on your preference. You also get rich-tasting coffee, just like walking into a Starbucks and buying it there.

The only issue is that Starbucks may not be the cheapest brand out there. But if you value quality over price, then that shouldn’t be an issue. Also if you are caffeine sensitive then you might want to reconsider some of the Starbucks K-cups, since they may have high caffeine levels that won’t be good for your health. I would also advise trying one cup before committing to a whole box of it because the taste is all about preference.

Lastly, if you are buying the cups from an online platform like Amazon, then be careful about which buyers are selling. Some customers have complained about receiving expired cups and knock-offs. That is why I encourage online buyers to always read through the reviews before buying from a particular buyer. That way, you won’t have to go through the hustle of calling to return the cups and get a refund or probably end up wasting your cash.

Why You Shouldn’t Use K-Cups? 

While there is a lot to love about K-cups, there are some negatives to them, just like everything else in this world. The following are some of the negatives many have pointed out about these cups:

They are environmentally unfriendly

As you know most K-cups come in plastic. Only four brands as of 2016 were using recyclable plastic, and although the number is increasing, you can be sure that most people aren’t recycling their K-cups. Considering that and the amount of K-cups produced so far, then you’ll understand why environmentalists would have a problem with them. By 2015 alone, 10 billion of these cups had already been produced, imagine that!

The K-cups are pricey

Although we have the convenience of making a cup of coffee faster, we do have to pay more for it. At first, it may seem that K-cups are a cheaper alternative to regular coffee, but that is not the case. An average American consumes about 1-2 normal mugs of coffee per day. That is equivalent to 5 K-cups a day, which cost $2.50, or 1-2 regular cups of coffee a day, which costs $2. So in the end, you are better off buying your regular coffee especially when you are on a budget.

K-cup brewing machines are also ridiculously expensive

To be able to use a K-cup, you need to purchase or have access to brewing machines like Keurigs. There are other brands but each of them is still a pricier choice compared to a normal coffee maker. A Keurig machine will probably cost $100 while a good coffee maker will be about $30. And that’s without the cost of the daily K-cups. So again, this may not be the best choice if you are living on a budget.

Instant gratification isn’t always worth it

While fast coffee is great for when you are in a rush out the door, as a coffee lover you have to admit that there is something special about taking time to brew your coffee by hand. It promotes focus, clarity, and not to mention a delicious cup of coffee. Also, the best conversations always happen over a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

Conclusion

A Starbucks K-cup rattling is nothing serious, just a plastic filter at the bottom of the cup. And if you are wondering whether it’s worth purchasing some, then that boils down to preference. As I have already explained, price is its biggest downside, but if you don’t mind it, then you’ll be getting convenience and a variety of flavors.

FAQ

Are Starbucks Keurig Cups reusable?

As of June 22, 2021, Starbucks began reintroducing reusable plastic cups, so their K-cups may be reusable as well.

How do you make Starbucks K-cups taste better?

There are a few solutions you can try, but the best one is using a creamer and sugar.