The Organic Coffee Co. OneCUP Breakfast Blend Coffee Pod Review

USDA Organic coffee in a certified commercially compostable K-Cup compatible pod

A USDA Organic Breakfast Blend in a compostable K-Cup compatible pod. The compostable claim comes with a catch about who can actually compost it.

Spec-led review. Built from the manufacturer’s published specification and price rather than hands-on testing. Figures we could not find stated are left blank instead of estimated. Updated when we get one in.

Our rating
7.5/ 10
Very good
5 of 5 scored, out of 87.8 points · 12.2 not judgeable from specs

How we rate coffee pods : what each criterion measures, and what we cannot.

What Is In The Capsule7.0 / 10
worth 26 of 87.8 · partly evidenced
how we got 7.0

what this measures, and what we cannot

What it was scored onScored from specs that predict this rather than measure it. 60% published.
Dosenot in our data2.0 / 4.0
Tasting notes publishedSweet vanilla bean and toffee, with a citrus fruit finish2.0 / 2.0
Origin structureBlend1.0 / 2.0
Not flavouredNot flavoured2.0 / 2.0

The rows that apply here are worth 10.0 between them and this one took 7.0, which is 7.0 out of 10. That 0 to 10 result is what the criterion's 26 of 87.8 points are then scaled by.

The 4.0 points we could not find a figure for are scored at the middle of the scale rather than as a zero, which awards 2.0 of them: the greyed figures above. We will not guess a specification and we will not mark the product down for our own missing research.

Cost Per Cup, and Per Kilo6.4 / 10
worth 22 of 87.8 · partly evidenced
how we got 6.4

what this measures, and what we cannot

What it was scored onScored from the specs the maker publishes. 70% published.
Cost per pod0.714.9 / 7.0
Cost per kilonot in our data1.5 / 3.0

The rows that apply here are worth 10.0 between them and this one took 6.4, which is 6.4 out of 10. That 0 to 10 result is what the criterion's 22 of 87.8 points are then scaled by.

The 3.0 points we could not find a figure for are scored at the middle of the scale rather than as a zero, which awards 1.5 of them: the greyed figures above. We will not guess a specification and we will not mark the product down for our own missing research.

Recycling & Disposal (home compostable and kerbside recyclable not scored)7.0 / 10
worth 9 of 87.8 · 9 unpublished · partly evidenced
how we got 7.0

what this measures, and what we cannot

What it was scored onScored from the specs the maker publishes. 60% published.
Capsule materialPlant-based, BPI certified commercially compostable2.5 / 3.0
Home compostableNo, commercially compostable only, not scored in this category—
Kerbside recyclableNo, not recyclable, not scored in this category—
Take-back scheme namednot in our data1.0 / 2.0

The rows that apply here are worth 5.0 between them and this one took 3.5, which is 7.0 out of 10. That 0 to 10 result is what the criterion's 9 of 87.8 points are then scaled by.

The 2.0 points we could not find a figure for are scored at the middle of the scale rather than as a zero, which awards 1.0 of them: the greyed figures above. We will not guess a specification and we will not mark the product down for our own missing research.

System, Range & Availability7.8 / 10
worth 18 of 87.8 · partly evidenced
how we got 7.8

what this measures, and what we cannot

What it was scored onScored from the specs the maker publishes. 55% published.
System stated plainlyK-Cup3.0 / 3.0
Cup size statednot in our data1.0 / 2.0
Decaf in the rangenot in our data1.25 / 2.5
Box size802.5 / 2.5

The rows that apply here are worth 10.0 between them and this one took 7.75, which is 7.8 out of 10. That 0 to 10 result is what the criterion's 18 of 87.8 points are then scaled by.

The 4.5 points we could not find a figure for are scored at the middle of the scale rather than as a zero, which awards 2.25 of them: the greyed figures above. We will not guess a specification and we will not mark the product down for our own missing research.

Sourcing & Certification10.0 / 10
worth 12.8 of 87.8 · 3.2 unpublished · well evidenced
how we got 10.0

what this measures, and what we cannot

What it was scored onScored from the specs the maker publishes. 100% published.
Origin publishedCentral America (countries not named)3.0 / 3.0
Roaster namedSan Francisco Bay Coffee2.5 / 2.5
CertificationsCertified USDA Organic; BPI certified commercially compostable2.5 / 2.5
Direct tradenot published in this category—

The rows that apply here are worth 8.0 between them and this one took 8.0, which is 10.0 out of 10. That 0 to 10 result is what the criterion's 12.8 of 87.8 points are then scaled by.

How The Organic Coffee Co. OneCUP Breakfast Blend tastes

The roaster’s own notes, in the order they list them. Roasters lead with what they want tasted first, so the bars follow that order rather than any score of ours.

The verdict

An 80 count box of USDA Organic, medium-light Breakfast Blend in a plant-based OneCUP capsule that the maker says fits most K-Cup brewers. The maker sells the 80 count at $56.49 and says the pods are BPI certified commercially compostable, not home compostable or recyclable.

Pros

  • Certified USDA Organic
  • Plant-based capsule, BPI certified commercially compostable
  • The shipping bag is also BPI certified commercially compostable
  • About 71 cents a pod at the maker's 80 count price
  • Compatible with most K-Cup brewers, with published tasting notes

Cons

  • Commercially compostable only, so not home compostable and not recyclable
  • Compatible with most K-Cup brewers, not all, and not made by Keurig
  • Origin countries are not named, only Central America
  • Dose in grams and cup size are not published
From $56.49

The Organic Coffee Co. OneCUP Breakfast Blend is a USDA Organic, medium-light blend in a plant-based capsule that fits most K-Cup brewers. It is a pod for people who want organic coffee and a capsule that is certified compostable at a commercial facility, sold in an 80 count box.

What is the Organic Coffee Co. OneCUP Breakfast Blend?

The Organic Coffee Co. is a label sold by San Francisco Bay Coffee, which roasts and packages it in the USA. The Breakfast Blend is described as a medium-light blend from Central America with flavors of sweet vanilla bean and toffee, and a citrus fruit finish as it cools. The maker lists the roast level as Medium / Light and states that it is 100% Arabica.

The pod is a OneCUP, the maker's own capsule design, not a Keurig product. The maker says it is compatible with most K-Cup brewers and notes that San Francisco Bay is not affiliated with Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. The 80 count box is the largest size, next to 12 and 36 count options.

Organic Coffee Co. Breakfast Blend OneCUP specs

SpecAs published
Count80 pods
Maker price$56.49 for 80 count (about 71 cents a pod)
RoastMedium / Light
BlendMedium-light blend from Central America, 100% Arabica
Tasting notesVanilla bean, toffee, citrus fruit finish
CertificationCertified USDA Organic
CapsulePlant-based, BPI certified commercially compostable
Brewer fitCompatible with most K-Cup brewers
Roasted and packedUSA

How does the OneCUP capsule work and can you compost it?

A OneCUP drops into a K-Cup brewer like any other pod. What differs is the shell. The maker says the pods are made from plant-based compostable materials and are BPI certified compostable in a commercial or industrial composting facility. It also states the pods meet the BPI requirement of 90% breakdown within 84 days under ASTM D6400 conditions, and that the bag they ship in is BPI certified commercially compostable too.

The maker is direct about the limits. The pods are commercially compostable, which it contrasts with home compostable, and it says used pods should go in the garbage if you have no commercial composter nearby. It also says they are not recyclable and not naturally biodegradable. That means the compostable claim only pays off if a local facility accepts BPI certified materials, and the maker suggests calling yours to confirm.

Organic Coffee Co. Breakfast Blend vs San Francisco Bay OneCUP 100% Colombian

These two pods come from the same maker and use the same kind of capsule, so the choice is about the coffee. The San Francisco Bay OneCUP 100% Colombian is a single-origin medium roast. The Breakfast Blend is a medium-light blend from Central America, and it carries the USDA Organic certification, which the Colombian does not list.

Pick the Colombian if provenance matters to you, and the Breakfast Blend if organic certification and a lighter roast do.

Organic Coffee Co. Breakfast Blend vs Green Mountain Breakfast Blend K-Cup

The Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Breakfast Blend K-Cup is a light roast in a number 5 polypropylene cup, sold as a Keurig-owned brand, and lists Kosher as its certification. At 72 pods for $58.47 it works out to about 81 cents a pod. The OneCUP costs less per pod, adds USDA Organic, and swaps the plastic cup for a compostable shell. In return it is not Keurig's own pod, so it is sold as compatible with most K-Cup brewers rather than made for them.

Is the Organic Coffee Co. Breakfast Blend OneCUP worth it?

On paper the case is clear. At about 71 cents a pod it costs less than the Green Mountain pod, and for that price you get organic certification and a certified compostable capsule. The caveat is the same as for any compostable pod: the benefit depends on a commercial composter within reach, and without one the pod goes to the garbage like any other. The maker does not publish a dose in grams or a cup size, and the tasting notes are the maker's own, so read them as a guide to the style.

Who should buy the Organic Coffee Co. Breakfast Blend OneCUP (and who should not)

Buy it if you own a K-Cup brewer, want USDA Organic coffee, and have access to commercial composting or simply prefer a plant-based shell to plastic. The 80 count box suits a household that drinks several cups a day.

Skip it if you want a single origin or a dark roast, since this is a medium-light blend. Skip it too if you rely on a brewer that is picky about third-party pods, because the maker says only that it works in most K-Cup brewers. If you want a pod that composts at home, this is not it. See more options in coffee pods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Organic Coffee Co. Breakfast Blend OneCUP work in a Keurig?

The maker says OneCUP pods are compatible with most K-Cup brewers and that it is not affiliated with Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. The Amazon listing names Keurig 2.0 compatibility. It does not publish a list of brewers that do not work.

Is it USDA Organic?

Yes. The maker's page states Certified USDA Organic, and the box shows the USDA organic seal.

Are the pods compostable at home?

No. The maker says they are BPI certified commercially compostable, meaning they need an industrial composting facility. It says to throw used pods in the garbage if you have none nearby.

Can you recycle the pods?

No. The maker says the pods are not recyclable because they are made of a combination of plant-based materials.

What roast and flavors does it have?

The roast is Medium / Light. The maker lists sweet vanilla bean and toffee, with a citrus fruit finish as the coffee cools. It is not a flavored coffee.

Where does the coffee come from?

The maker calls it a medium-light blend from Central America, and also says 100% Arabica coffee from around the world. It does not name the countries. The coffee is roasted and packaged in the USA.

The Organic Coffee Co. OneCUP Breakfast Blend appears in

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