Keurig is making a great effort in modernizing the look and feel of their machine. It clearly shows in the design of the Keurig K-Mini Plus, just like it shows in the design of K-Elite and K-Select. The biggest difference here, why make a new machine? Is it any different or better than the old K-Mini (K15 or K10), and if you already have a K-Mini, should you upgrade to a new one? That’s what I’ll be answering in this post.

Features of the Keurig K-Mini Plus:

• The slimmest Keurig machine to date (as of writing), at 5″ wide only.
• The taller design now allows to place a travel mug up to 7″ tall when removing the drip tray.
• Brews four cup sizes: 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz.
• Strong brew option for brewing a bolder and stronger cup.
• Removable one cup reservoir is now easier to refill. You still have to refill only as much as you want to brew.
• Includes a 9-pod storage that fits right into your brewer. Perfect for using on the go.
• Compatible with all K-Cup pods, including refillable filters (sold separately).
• Available in different colors.

Click here to learn more about Keurig K-Mini Plus, read the customer reviews and buy it.

K-Mini Plus vs. K-Mini, What’s The Difference?

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Title	Keurig K15 Single Serve Compact K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, True Blue	Keurig K-Mini Plus Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, with 6 to 12oz Brew Size, Stores up to 9 K-Cup Pods, Travel Mug Friendly, Matte Black
Feature	COMPACT: Small and personal; great for small spaces and portable design goes anywhere. BREW SIZES: Brews your perfect amount, any cup size between 6-10 oz. Use the 6 oz. cup size for a bolder brew. WATER RESEVOIR: Single cup water reservoir for ultimate portability - just add fresh water for each brew. DRIP TRAY: Removable drip tray accommodates travel mugs up to 5.2" tall, and holds a full accidental brew for easy clean-up. ENERGY EFFICIENT: Automatic shut-off turns the brewer off after each brew, helping to save energy. Material: Plastic The Keurig K15 Coffee Maker brews all K-Cup pods. Choose from over 500 brands and varieties of K-Cup Pods. For the best quality be sure to look for the Keurig logo on each K-Cup Pod.	Fits anywhere: less than 5 inches wide, perfect for small spaces. Strong brew: brew a stronger, more intense cup. Your perfect amount: brew any cup size between 6-12oz with Keurig K-Cup pods. Removable one cup reservoir: just add fresh water for each brew. Removable reservoir makes for easy cleaning and filling. Pod storage: holds 9 K-Cup pods and Fits in your brewer for ultimate portability and saves counter space.
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There’s a lot of added improvement to the K-Mini Plus over the K-Mini, for sure.

Serving Sizes:

The K-Mini Plus has one extra serving size, which is 12 oz. This serving size has always been requested by customers and Keurig has listened.

Strength Control:

K-Mini Plus has the Strong Brew option which the K-Mini lacks. This button makes your coffee taste stronger by brewing it for a longer time.

Dimensions of the Machine:

K-Mini Plus is only 5″ wide, this makes it quite slim and space saving. It’s about 2″ less wide than the K-Mini, so that’s quite a difference in size. But the K-Mini Plus is also taller, and the reason is that it can finally accommodate travel mugs when removing the drip tray.

Water Reservoir:

The K-Mini Plus still has a water tank similar to the K-Mini’s in the sense that you have to fill in a fresh cup at every brew and fill it up to the size of your choice. The difference is that on the K-Mini Plus, the tank is removable, which makes it easier to refill.

Pod Storage:

This is a nice addition to the K-Mini Plus. Since it’s quite compact in design, it’s actually also very portable. If you decide to take your machine on the go, you’ll find the 9-pod storage quite handy. It fits right into the machine when not in use (it goes where your cup is usually placed).

Who Should Buy the K-Mini Plus? Should You Upgrade Your Current K-Mini?

The Keurig K-Mini Plus is a great compact machine. It’s a great choice for a single or two users at most, the reason I say that is because it takes about 2 minutes to brew a cup, and you’ll have to fill it up at each brew. If a large family is going to use it, there’s going to be a long wait and lots of refilling to get every body their cup of jo’. For a larger family, I always recommend a larger Keurig like the K575 that can brew larger amounts faster.

It’s also the best option for someone who needs to save as much counter top space as possible. At 5″ wide, you don’t have to worry about K-Mini Plus taking space at all.

If this is going to be your first K-Mini, then by all means, go for it. But if you already have a K-Mini, should you upgrade to the new Mini Plus?

There’s three reasons to consider upgrading for:

• The 12 oz serving.
• The Strong Brew option,
• and the travel mug accommodation.

If none of these matter to you, then there’s no reason for an upgrade, your older K-Mini will be just as fine.

See the K-Mini Plus in Action:

Keurig has added new members to its family of single-serve brewers. The new brewers, named K-Select and K-Elite, offer you the same delicious coffee and same convenience that Keurig has always brought to our homes, but it also offers a lot of improvement features and design wise.

In this post, I’ll talk in details about each machine in the new line and how it compares to either new or older Keurig brewers.

Features of Keurig K-Select Coffee Maker:

The K-Select coffee maker will mostly remind you of its preceder the K55 model (now known as the K-Classic coffee maker). But they’re not the same (more on this later)… here are features of the Keurig K-Select:

• Single-serve coffee maker compatible with all K-Cup pods, including My K-Cup reusable filter.
• Brew cup sizes: 6oz, 8oz, 10oz and 12oz.
• Brews a full cup in under a minute.
• Water reservoir capacity: 52 oz
• Strong Brew button to steeping coffee longer and making a stronger cup of coffee.
• Quiet Brew technology makes the machine less noisy when brewing.
• Accommodates different cup sizes including travel mugs up to 7.4” tall.
• New sleek design made with finger-print resistant material.
• Package includes 6-count K-Cup® Pod variety pack, one water filter handle, and one filter cartridge.
• Backlit button controls.
• Auto shut-off.
• Descale maintenance reminder.
• Available in three colors: black, white and red.

Click here to learn more about Keurig K-Select, read the customer reviews and buy it.

Keurig K-Select vs. K-Select B, What’s The Difference?

K-Select B is a bundle that packs more accessories includes: 24 K-Cup pods, 1 water filter handle and 2 water filter cartridges.

What’s The Difference Between Keurig K-Select vs. K55?

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Title	Keurig K-Select Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker with 12oz Brew Size, Strength Control, Matte Black	Keurig K55/K-Classic Coffee Maker, K-Cup Pod, Single Serve, Programmable, Rhubarb
Feature	WHAT'S IN THE BOX: A bonus 6-count K-Cup pod variety pack, one water filter handle, and one filter to help ensure your beverages taste their absolute best BREWS MULTIPLE K-CUP POD SIZES: (6, 8, 10, 12 oz.). Enjoy the most popular cup sizes all with quiet brew technology, minimizing noise during use STRONG BREW: kicks up your coffee's strength and intensity.Accommodates travel mugs up to 7.4 inches tall;Programmable auto off SIMPLE BUTTON CONTROLS: just insert a Pod, select your desired cup size, and brew a great-tasting cup in under a minute LARGE 52oz WATER RESERVOIR: allows you to brew 5 cups before having to refill, saving you time and simplifying your morning routine. Removable reservoir makes refilling easy BREWER MAINTENANCE REMINDER: alerts you when it is time to Descale your Coffee maker. Descaling is an important process that removes built-up calcium deposits, ensuring the best-tasting brew possible	Note: Box model name is K55 but product inside contains K40 model. The Classic Keurig K-Cup Single Serve Coffee Maker. Includes 4 K-Cup pods and a water filter handle + 2 water filters to help your beverages taste their best Brews multiple K-Cup Pod sizes (6, 8, 10 oz.) - the most popular K-Cup pod brew sizes. Use the 6oz brew size to achieve the strongest brew. A large 48 oz. water reservoir allows you to brew 6+ cups before having to refill, saving you time and simplifying your morning routine. The water reservoir is removable, making it easy to refill whenever you need to. Simple button controls make it easy to brew your favorite beverage. Just insert a pod, select your desired brew size, and brew a fresh, great-tasting cup in under a minute Dispense hot water only by opening and closing the brewer handle (without a pod), and selecting your desired brew size. A removable drip tray at the base of the brewer catches drips and makes for easy clean-up Auto-off: An auto-off feature is easily programmed to turn off your brewer after it has been idle for two hours, helping to save energy
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Like I mentioned in the beginning of this post, the Keurig K-Select is a lot similar to the older version called K55 and now has been renamed to K-Classic. So, what’s the difference between them?

Cup Sizes:

• K-Select: 6oz, 8oz, 10oz, 12oz.
• K55: 6oz, 8oz and 10oz.

Water Reservoir Capacity:

• K-Select: 52 oz
• K55: 48 oz

Pod Compatibility:

• Both models are compatible with all K-Cup pods including refillable filters.

Controls:

• Both models use button controls.

Strength Control:

• K-Select has Strong Brew option to make a stronger brew.
• K-55 does not have strength control.

High Altitude Setting:

• K-Select: Has this feature.
• K55: Does not have this feature

Which Is Best? K-Select or K55 (K-Classic)?

• One of the biggest features of the K-Select is that it can finally brew 12 oz, which is perfect for a travel mug. This is something users have always wanted from Keurig brewers, and has been available in more expensive models only.
• K-Select also has a larger water reservoir, Strong Brew option and High Altitude setting.
• Overall, K-Select has a sleeker design and a nicer finish than the K55.

I do prefer the K-Select over the K55 for these features. You can read more about Keurig K55 here.

Features of Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker:

The Keurig K-Elite brings even more features and style to your coffee brewing experience:

• Choose from 5 cup sizes: 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz.
• 75 water reservoir capacity.
• Increase the strength of your drink using Strong Brew option.
• Adjustable temperature control, brew between 187° and 192°.
• Iced setting brews hot over ice without losing strength of flavor.
• Hot water on demand allows you to dispense hot water with a push of a button.
• Quiet Brew technology.
• Compatible with all K-Cup pods and My K-Cup refillable filter.
• Auto on and Auto off options.
• High Altitude setting.
• Premium brushed finish with metal details.
• Removable tray allows you to accommodate travel mugs up to 7.2” tall.

Click here to learn more about Keurig K-Elite, read the customer reviews and buy it.

Keurig K-Elite vs. K-Select, What’s Different Between Them?

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Title	Keurig K-Elite K Single Serve K-Cup Pod Maker, with Strong Temperature Control, Iced Coffee Capability, 12oz Brew Size, Programmable, Brushed Silver	Keurig K-Select Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker with 12oz Brew Size, Strength Control, Matte Black
Feature	WHAT'S IN THE BOX: A bonus 6-count K-Cup pod variety pack, one water filter handle, and one filter to help ensure your beverages taste their absolute best. BREWS MULTIPLE CUP SIZES: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12oz Enjoy the most popular cup sizes. STRONG BREW BUTTON: Increases the strength and bold taste of your coffee’s flavor. ICED SETTING: Brew hot over ice at the touch of a button for full-flavored, delicious iced coffee. HOT WATER ON DEMAND BUTTON: Perfect for instant soups or oatmeal. COFFEE IN NO TIME: Brews K-Cup pods in under a minute. LARGE 75oz WATER RESERVOIR: Allows you to brew 8 cups before having to refill, saving you time and simplifying your morning routine. Removable reservoir makes refilling easy. REMOVABLE DRIP TRAY: Accommodates travel mugs up to 7.2” tall and holds a full accidental brew for easy cleanup.	WHAT'S IN THE BOX: A bonus 6-count K-Cup pod variety pack, one water filter handle, and one filter to help ensure your beverages taste their absolute best BREWS MULTIPLE K-CUP POD SIZES: (6, 8, 10, 12 oz.). Enjoy the most popular cup sizes all with quiet brew technology, minimizing noise during use STRONG BREW: kicks up your coffee's strength and intensity.Accommodates travel mugs up to 7.4 inches tall;Programmable auto off SIMPLE BUTTON CONTROLS: just insert a Pod, select your desired cup size, and brew a great-tasting cup in under a minute LARGE 52oz WATER RESERVOIR: allows you to brew 5 cups before having to refill, saving you time and simplifying your morning routine. Removable reservoir makes refilling easy BREWER MAINTENANCE REMINDER: alerts you when it is time to Descale your Coffee maker. Descaling is an important process that removes built-up calcium deposits, ensuring the best-tasting brew possible
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Cup Sizes:

• K-Elite has 5 size options: 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz.
• K-Select has 4 size options: 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz.

Temperature Settings:

• K-Elite allows you to adjust the temperature of your beverage between 187 and 192 degrees.
• K-Select does not have temperature control.

Iced Drinks Setting:

• K-Elite has iced setting for making iced coffee or tea. This setting brews your K-Cup pod in a way that allows it to retain full flavor even as the ice starts melting in your cup.
• K-Select does not have Iced setting.

Hot Water on Demand:

• K-Elite has water on demand, which provides you with hot water instantly, perfect for making instant meals or soup.
• K-Select does not have hot water on demand.

Water Reservoir Capacity:

• K-Elite has a 75 oz water reservoir.
• K-Select has a 52 oz water reservoir.

Auto-On/Auto-Off:

• K-Elite has auto on, where you can select a time for your machine to switch on. You can also program the period of time your machine shuts off automatically after your last brew.
• K-Select has auto-off option only.

Keurig K-Elite vs. Keurig 2.0 K575 , Which Of These Should You Buy?

Keurig 2.0 is another line by Keurig, and its biggest feature is that it can brew a full pot in addition to single-serve sizes. This is something that Keurig K-Elite or K-Select can’t offer.

There are several models in the Keurig 2.0 line, which you can read our full guide about here. But here are the main differences between Keurig 2.0 vs. K-Elite:

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Title	Keurig K575 Coffee Maker, Platinum	Keurig K-Elite K Single Serve K-Cup Pod Maker, with Strong Temperature Control, Iced Coffee Capability, 12oz Brew Size, Programmable, Brushed Silver
Feature	Now with a 12oz. K-Cup pod brew size and temperature control! Choose between five temperature settings to customize your perfect cup 80oz water reservoir allows you to brew more before having to refill with our largest reservoir option Extra large color touch screen Hot water on demand K-Cup Pod brew sizes: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12oz., K-Mug Pod brew sizes: 12, 14, 16, 18 oz. and K-Carafe Pod brew sizes: 22, 26, 30 oz.	WHAT'S IN THE BOX: A bonus 6-count K-Cup pod variety pack, one water filter handle, and one filter to help ensure your beverages taste their absolute best. BREWS MULTIPLE CUP SIZES: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12oz Enjoy the most popular cup sizes. STRONG BREW BUTTON: Increases the strength and bold taste of your coffee’s flavor. ICED SETTING: Brew hot over ice at the touch of a button for full-flavored, delicious iced coffee. HOT WATER ON DEMAND BUTTON: Perfect for instant soups or oatmeal. COFFEE IN NO TIME: Brews K-Cup pods in under a minute. LARGE 75oz WATER RESERVOIR: Allows you to brew 8 cups before having to refill, saving you time and simplifying your morning routine. Removable reservoir makes refilling easy. REMOVABLE DRIP TRAY: Accommodates travel mugs up to 7.2” tall and holds a full accidental brew for easy cleanup.
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Cup Sizes:

• Keurig 2.0 can brew sizes from 6 oz to 12 oz for single serve, up to 16 oz for tall mug sizes or 22, 26 or 30 oz carafe sizes.
• Keurig K-Elite has single serve sizes only 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz.

Pod Compatibility:

• Keurig 2.0 only work with Keurig branded pods. Pods available for Keurig 2.0 are K-Cup, K-Mug and K-Carafe pods. There’s a My K-Cup refillable filter available for Keurig 2.0 too.
• K-Elite is compatible with any K-Cup pod available, does not have to be Keurig branded. It is also compatible with refillable K-Cup filters.

Controls:

• Keurig 2.0 has touch screen display for controls. It can be black/white or colored depending on the model. Size of the screen differs from one model to another, too.
• Keurig K-Elite has button controls

Strength/Temperature Control:

• Strength control is available on both K-Elite and Keurig 2.0 models.
• Temperature control is available on K-Elite, but is not available on all Keurig 2.0 models.

Which Do You Choose?

• I believe the first thing you should consider is the available cup sizes and whether you really need to brew up to 30 oz of coffee instead of single serve cups, since that’s the biggest difference between the two lines.
• Keep in mind that using Keurig 2.0 you have to buy Keurig branded pods. They’re available from a wide range of brands and in different type of beverages, but they’re not as widely available is the non-branded kind. You can still use refillable filters with both K-Elite and Keurig 2.0.
• Usability wise, K-Elite is a much simpler machine to use. There’s a dedicated button for each cup size, hot water and it has a digital clock. Keurig 2.0 isn’t exactly hard, but it takes more clicks to adjust and select your settings. It is not as straight forward as the K-Elite (or K-Select).

Should I Upgrade My Keurig Coffee Maker?

If you currently own a K-Classic (K55/K50) Keurig Brewer, you’ll get some benefits from upgrading to a K-Select brewer:

• Larger water reservoir (from 48 oz to 52oz), an additional cup size (12 oz) and a Strong brew button.

If those are things you feel like you’re missing on from your current brewer, then an upgrade would be a good idea for sure.

Going from a K-Classic to K-Elite would make much more sense and a difference in your experience, the K-Elite gives you:

• a much larger water reservoir (75 oz), two additional cup sizes (4oz and 12 oz in addition to the other serving sizes), strong brew, iced setting, hot water on demand, a digital clock for auto on/off, and adjustable temperature.

What Is Keurig’s High Altitude Setting?

I list ‘High Altitude Setting’ as a feature for both K-Select and K-Elite brewers. But what does this feature do exactly? And do you really need it?

Keurig coffee makers are designed to be used at areas elevated at 6,000 ft at most. If you live in an area higher than that, Keurig recommends two things:

• Pre-puncturing the pod before brewing. You can do that by placing the pod in the chamber and pressing down the pod so it is punctured by the needle. This is used to release pressure inside the pod and avoid exploding K-Cup pods.
• You are also recommended to lower the temperature of the brew.

The High Altitude setting on K-Select, K-Elite and some Keurig 2.0 machines automatically adjusts the parameters of the machine to avoid any problems that can come due to high altitude so you don’t have to keep adjusting temperature manually. If you live in a high altitude area, it’s highly recommended that you either buy a Keurig with High Altitude setting or a machine with adjustable temperature settings.

What Is a K-Carafe Pod?

If you’re an owner of a Keurig 2.0 coffee machine, then you already know that one of the new things about it is that it can brew a carafe. K-Carafe pods are just like K-Cup pods, but they’re made especially for brewing a carafe serving. K-Carafe pods are designed to contain more coffee ground so your brewed carafe serving is strong and delicious and not being watered down.

How Do I know Which Pod Is For a Carafe?

Each pod for Keurig 2.0 has an icon that identifies if it’s for a cup, mug or carafe. In the case of a K-Carafe, like pictured above, you’ll notice the icon of a carafe to indicate that it’s a K-Carafe pod.

Where Can I Buy K-Carafe Pods?

K-Carafe pods are widely available in major stores (Walmart, Best Buy, Bed Bath and Beyond, Costco… ) or online. If you prefer to purchase online, you can buy them directly from Keurig’s website or Amazon.

This K-Carafe variety pack includes three different coffee blends: Donut House Coffee, Green Mountain’s French Roast and Green Mountain’s French Vanilla.

Newman’s Special Blend is a blend of Fairtrade certified and USDA Organic coffee. This blend is a mix of medium and dark roast coffee.

This variety pack contains a mix of 10 different coffee blends, including flavored coffee and no decaf.

What Is The Difference Between a K-Carafe and K-Cup?

This is what a K-Cup looks like. It looks the same as a K-Carafe for the most part. But a K-Cup contains enough coffee ground to brew only a cup of coffee. While a K-Carafe contains enough coffee ground to brew a carafe of 4 cups. That’s the only difference between them.

How Many Ounces Does a K-Carafe Make?

The maximum you can get out of a K-Carafe is 30 ounces. Keurig’s carafe has the capacity of 32 oz.

Can You Reuse a K-Carafe Pod?

No, neither a K-carafe or K-cup pod are reusable.

Is There a Refillable K-Carafe Pod?

Yes, absolutely! You can buy a refillable K-Carafe filter, and that can be reused as many times as you like!

K-Carafe vs. Keurig Vue, Are They The Same?

If you’re familiar with Keurig’s Vue system, you might be wondering if their pods will work with a Keuirg 2.0 or vice versa, since they do look the same. According to Keurig’s website, Vue pods will work in Keurig 2.0 machines, however, they are not available in a carafe size. But they’ll work for brewing a single cup.

If there’s one downside to Keurig’s K-Cups, it’s the fact that it can turn into a big plastic waste. Unfortunately, most K-Cups are still non-recyclable. But luckily, there are some brands that are working towards providing a great selection of K-Cups that are eco-friendly and recyclable. One of these brands is Intelligent Blends.

Intelligent Blends offers coffee and tea K-cup pods that are packed in Eco-friendly recyclable pods. That’s not the only great part, though. Intelligent Blends’ pods are also factory-direct, which means, you’re getting them for the cheapest price possible.

What Kind of Recyclable K-Cup Pods Can I Buy?

Intelligent Blends offer coffee pods, tea pods, variety packs, samplers and subscriptions.

What Keurig Machines Are These Pods Compatible With?

They’re compatible with Keurig, Keurig 2.0 and any K-Cup brewer from any brand. For Keurig 2.0 compatibility, confirm with the package before buying.

How Much Do Intelligent Blends Recyclable K-Cup Pods Cost?

Like we said, one of the great things about Intelligent Blends is that there is no middle-man, you’re buying factory-direct. The pods are available for as low as 39¢ to 49¢ per pod.

Which Pods To Buy? Here Are Our Recommendations:

If this is your first time trying out Intelligent Blends, here are our recommendations to start with:

Variety Packs:

Dark Roast Variety Pack:

This pack has 3 different blends of the darkest roasts. Roast profiles go from 8 (Darker roast) to 10 (Darkest Roast). If you like your coffee strong, this is going to be your favorite pack. If you prefer a milder taste, there are also variety packs for light and medium roasts.

Click here to learn more about this pack and buy it.

Organic Single-Origin Variety Pack:

This pack has 4 type of single-origin, organic and fair-trade certified coffee. These pods also contain 30% more coffee in each pod. The coffee origins are: Colombian, Guatemala, Sumatran and Ethiopian.

Click here to learn more about this pack and buy it

Flavored Coffee Collection:

For those with a sweet tooth, this variety pack contains 6 different blends of medium roast flavored coffee. The flavors are quite intriguing, and we imagine adding a hint of milk with bring out these flavors even better:

• French Toast Roast: cinnamon with a taste of maple syrup and butter.
• Sister Hazelnut: smooth flavor of toasted hazelnut and vanilla.
• Gone Banana’s Fosters: Subtle notes of banana and vanilla ice cream with buttery brown sugar, cinnamon and dark rum.
• Raspberry Choco-Latte: taste of raspberry blended with chocolate flavor and powdered sugar.
• Hottie Biscotti Vanilla Almond: notes of Vanilla Ice cream with toasted almonds.
• Jamaican Rum Yum: Notes of sweet molasses, caramel coconut and vanilla.

Click here to learn more about this pack and buy it

Organic Tea Pods Variety Pack:

Our tea loving friends, we have not forgotten you! This variety pack includes 4 tea blends:

English Breakfast, Passion Green Envy, Earl Grey, Peppermint Tea.

Click here to learn more about this pack and buy it

Sampler Packs:

If you’re not sure you want to buy in large quantities just yet, buying a sampler pack is the way to go. Sampler packs contain 8 pods of each kind, and you only pay for shipping and handling. This way, you get a taste of the coffee and tea pods before buying large quantities.

Click here to learn more about this pack and buy it

Of course, you can buy each type of blend individually and you can select from other variety packs as well. Visit Intelligent Blend’s website to see all available pods.