It’s no secret that the Keurig hot chocolate K-Cups don’t quite hit the spot when you feel like a delicious, sweet treat. You absolutely cannot put milk inside a Keurig machine, which is an essential ingredient to brewing a delectable cup of hot chocolate. It’s not ideal, but there are many ways to make your Keurig hot chocolate taste better.
That said, making hot chocolate with Keurig K-Cups saves time and is super easy. You can tap into your inner hot chocolate connoisseur and improve the overall taste of your beverage. It’s worth it. Let’s look at seven ways you can make your Keurig hot chocolate taste better.
1. Let Your Creativity Flow
There are so many ways to get creative when making a cup of Keurig hot chocolate. You can keep it simple by adding a few marshmallows – a tiny nod to a traditional hot chocolate favorite.
Otherwise, you can kick it up a notch. Invent a new recipe with syrups and essences. Get fun toppings like chocolate chips or almond slices and sprinkle them onto a mountain of whipped cream. You can also research traditional hot chocolate recipes from around the world. There are many imaginative ways to make your Keurig hot chocolate taste better.
2. Spice up Your Keurig Hot Chocolate
You may not have time to get creative and experiment with crazy hot chocolate recipes. Adding a pinch of spice to your Keurig hot chocolate takes seconds and creates a richer flavor profile.
The best spices to use are:
- Cinnamon
- Cardamon
- Ginger
- Nutmeg
- Cayenne Pepper (for the adventurous and those who like a little fire)
Cinnamon, cardamon, and ginger work well together. Remember to add only a pinch of each. These spices can overpower your hot chocolate. Be extra careful when adding cayenne pepper. It’s a strong flavor that adds a delicious twist to your hot chocolate but only in perfect proportion. Spices are an easy way to make your Keurig hot chocolate taste better.
3. Add Milk or Froth
One of the worst things about Keurig hot chocolate is that you must make it with water. You will ruin your machine if you add milk to it. You may even find your coffee has a lingering rotten milk flavor every time you use it. Never add milk to your Keurig machine.
That’s only a minor setback. You can add milk to your mug after brewing your Keurig hot chocolate K-Cup. Warm some milk on the stove or in the microwave to make it extra delicious. You can also warm a little extra, froth it up, and put it on top. It’s a quick and effortless way to make your Keurig hot chocolate taste better.
4. Choose the Right K-Cups for You
You can’t put cocoa or hot chocolate powder straight into your Keurig machine. It will cause it to clog and can cause damage. There are many different hot chocolate K-Cups available on the market. Choosing the right one for you will make your Keurig hot chocolate taste better. Here are some things to consider when buying K-Cups.
● Cocoa Content
The quality of the cocoa will impact the overall flavor of your Keurig hot chocolate. All food and beverage packages list ingredients in order of the highest content value to the lowest. Make sure cocoa is listed first or second when buying K-Cups. Sometimes the percentages are listed. A K-Cup with 70-80% cocoa will make your Keurig hot chocolate taste better. Organic and ethically sourced cocoas cost a little more but are better for your body and the environment.
● Calories per K-Cup
Consider the number of calories per K-Cup. It’s important because the number of calories is a good indicator of how many additives there are per cup. A higher calorie count could mean more sugar and preservatives. You can buy reduced-calorie K-Cups.
● Added Sugar
A sweet cup of hot chocolate is comforting, but some people can’t have a lot of sugar. Check the added sugar before buying any hot chocolate K-Cup. It will ruin your whole cup if it’s too sweet for your taste buds. You can always add your desired amount of sugar or sugar alternatives to make your Keurig hot chocolate taste better.
● Flavored Keurig K-cups
Some hot chocolate K-Cups are pre-flavored. You can get vanilla, caramel, peppermint, and so much more. K-Cups also come in milk or dark chocolate, so you can choose the cocoa intensity that’s best for you. It will help you get creative without spending extra money on ingredients. Use a flavored hot chocolate K-Cup, then add some whipped cream and frothed milk to it. In three easy steps, your Keurig hot chocolate will taste better.
● Specialty Hot Chocolate K-Cups
Many famous brands sell specialty hot chocolate K-Cups. Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks, and Hershey’s are a few of the retailers creating their unique flavors. You can try these K-Cups to make your Keurig hot chocolate taste better.
● Price
Always be aware of the price when buying K-Cups. Remember that more expensive doesn’t always mean better quality. Make sure all the other components mentioned above are there before rushing to buy K-Cups that are pricey. Your Keurig hot chocolate will taste better if you use the right K-Cups for you.
Remember to throw away each K-Cup after use. All the hot chocolate seeps into the first cup. Consider reusable K-Cups if you want to make more than one mug from a single pod.
5. Use Your Favorite Mug
Okay, this may seem a little out there, but our minds are powerful organs. A study done at Oxford University by Professor Charles Spence found that people who drank coffee and other hot beverages from their favorite mugs said it tasted much better. It makes the whole experience more personal. Simply using your favorite mug can make your Keurig hot chocolate taste much better.
6. Thicken It With Whipped Cream
Some people enjoy a thick cup of hot chocolate like traditional Mexican hot chocolate. You can do this by whipping up some heavy cream and adding it to your Keurig hot chocolate after brewing. Slurry solutions are another way to thicken your hot chocolate. You can easily make a slurry mixture with cornstarch and water. Thickening Keurig hot chocolate will make it taste significantly better.
7. Try to Make a Café Mocha
Keurig is a coffee machine. Café mochas taste good and give you a little caffeine boost. You can also use decaffeinated coffee if you only want the flavor. Mixing coffee and hot chocolate to make a delicious café mocha can make your Keurig hot chocolate taste better. Add warm milk and cinnamon to make it a little more flavorful and creamier.
8. Get Reusable K-Cups to Make Hot Chocolate
You can’t put cocoa in your Keurig coffee maker, but you can put it in the nifty, reusable K-Cups. You can then use the cocoa or hot chocolate powder you like best. Once you’ve brewed it, add some spices, milk, or flavor to ignite your palate. It’s another simple way to make your Keurig hot chocolate taste better.
We drink hot chocolate for the sheer enjoyment of it. If it doesn’t taste good, consuming all those calories seems like a waste. Make every Keurig hot chocolate taste better with these eight simple ideas. You’ll be a master brewer in no time.
Resources
- https://thecozycoffee.com/how-to-make-keurig-hot-chocolate-taste-better
- https://www.theindoorhaven.com/how-to-make-keurig-hot-chocolate-taste-better/
- https://blog.crosscountrycafe.com/six-ways-to-make-your-kcup-hot-cocoa-even-better
- https://www.favoritecoffeebrew.com/common-questions-answers-keurig-coffee-makers/
- https://troublecoffee.com/best-keurig-hot-chocolate-k-cups/
- https://www.myrecipes.com/extracrispy/favorite-mug-coffee-tastes-better-science