Recently, we learned that Canadian customers are having a hard time finding K-Cups through B2B or online search engines. If you are a home coffee roaster or a small business owner looking to customize your daily single-serve coffee, or just someone who wants to reduce waste, searching for empty K-Cups can be like hunting for hidden treasure.
We can understand your frustration. Pre-filled K-Cups flood the market. However, finding empty K-Cups to fill yourself can be difficult. This guide will help you navigate this landscape and locate the empty K-Cups you need in North America, or even beyond if necessary.
Prefill K-Cup Products
Empty K-cup Wholesale
Understanding the “Empty K-Cup Coffee Pods”
It’s important to clarify what an “empty K-Cup”, or K-Cup, can mean before we get into specific suppliers. Overall, it means an empty coffee pod container with a lid that is compatible Keurig coffee brewing machine and allows for filling ground coffee to sell.
- Reusable K-Cup Pods: They are usually made from plastic or stainless steel and can be filled with your grounds. These pods are widely available to individual consumers.
- Disposable/Wholesale empty K-Cups: These types of empty coffee pods are used by manufacturers and roasters to fill with their coffee and seal. They come in various materials (PP, aluminum, compostable/recyclable options) and are usually sold in bulk. For coffee roasters, factory owners, and coffee shop owners, empty K-Cups with private labels and wholesale could be used for commercial filling.
Where to buy empty K-cup for Businesses
Businesses and individuals who are interested in purchasing disposable K-Cups in bulk for filling their own specialty ground coffee and showing company logo should explore the following options:
Direct from empty K-Cup manufacturers
- Often, the most cost-effective way to get high-quality K-Cups is directly from manufacturers
- SANEU specializes in the supply of K-Cup compatible empty coffee pods and related packaging machines. We offer standard K-Cups as well as private label K-Cups. This allows you to brand and market your own coffee pods. These empty K-Cups can be used with K-cup brewing system 1.0 or 2.0, which ensures compatibility. Choose from a variety of materials, including Polypropylene (PP) and Aluminium (Alu). and sustainable alternatives are also available. Our over 12 years in the industry allow us to customize cups, lids, and even provide finished K-Cups that have been nitrogen-flushed. Connecting directly with us is the best way to ensure a consistent supply of K-Cups and meet your specific requirements. You can find detailed information about our K-Cups on our website (www.saneu.com).
Industrial packaging & food service providers
Large-scale industrial packaging or food service suppliers may carry empty K-Cups. This is especially true if the companies supply coffee roasters and co-packers. You may need to make direct inquiries if you want to find these. They are unlikely to be found by a simple search online for “empty K-Cups”.
Specialty coffee packing supplier
Some distributors focus on packaging coffee solutions. Some distributors may not only offer bags and pouches but also have empty K-Cups in stock. You could contact companies that provide packaging for local roasters.
Reusable K Cups for Individual Consumers
For consumers who want to fill their favourite coffee into coffee pods, you can find a reusable K-Cup pod in-store and online easily.
Major Retailers
- Amazon.ca has a large selection of reusable K-Cups, many in multi-packs. Search for “refillable K-cups for Keurig” or “reusable K-cup filters.”
- Walmart Canada carries a variety of brands and types of reusable K-Cups or pods. They are often found in their coffee accessories section.
- Canadian Tire: They often stock the official Keurig My K-Cup Universal Reusable Filter.
- Real Canadian Superstore also carries the Keurig K-Cup Reusable Universal Coffee Filter.
- Home Hardware also carries the Keurig My K-Cup universal reusable coffee filter.
Keurig Canada website:
The “My K-Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filter” is available on the official Canadian Keurig website (keurig.ca), and it’s designed to work with all Keurig K-Cup Coffee Makers.
Specialty Coffee Shops & Kitchen Stores Local coffee shops and kitchen supply stores may also carry reusable K-Cups, providing a more customized shopping experience.
Compare the K-Cup wholesalers (like SANEU) with K-Cup Co-Packing factories
It’s important for businesses to understand the distinction between a co-pack K-Cup factory and a K-Cup wholesale supplier/manufacturer like SANEU. The choice you make depends on the business model that you have and what your needs are.
Co-Pack K-Cup Factory:
- Co-packers take your roasted beans (or coffee ground), fill them into K-Cups and seal them. They often package them in retail boxes under your brand. They provide a full manufacturing service.
- When should you use them? You have your own brand of coffee, but do not want to invest money in filling machines, empty pods, or the production process. The company will handle all the filling and packaging.
- Output : Receive finished K-Cups that are ready to sell.
K-Cup Wholesale Supplier/Manufacturer (Like SANEU):
- SANEU is a wholesaler that provides K-Cups in their empty form (and, often, the lids and foils). Raw packaging materials are sourced from us. We often provide the equipment needed to fill these pods and seal them yourself.
- When should you use them? You can choose SANEU if you want to do the K-Cup roasting, filling, and production in-house. You will need to purchase your own filling and coffee equipment.
- Output: You will receive bulk quantities of empty K-Cups as well as the filling and sealing machines.
In essence, the co-packer will do the Filling for you while a wholesaler like SANEU will provide the Empty Pods that you can fill yourself. SANEU gives you the ability to start your own K-Cup manufacturing.
What to Consider When Buying Empty Keurig K-Cups
Here are a few important things to consider, no matter what your scale:
| Compatibility | Make sure the empty K Cups are compatible with the model of Keurig that you have (Keurig 2.0, Supreme , etc. |
| Material | Polypropylene (PP): Common plastic that is often recyclable in certain areas. Aluminum (Alu), which is widely recyclable, offers excellent barrier properties to freshness. Sustainable Alternatives: A category that is becoming increasingly popular, including compostable alternatives (check with local composting facilities to confirm acceptance) and recyclable options |
| Type of filter | Internal mesh filters or paper filters. |
| Type of Lid | Standard for commercial filling are heat-sealable aluminium foil lids. |
| Minimum Order Quantity | Be aware of minimum order quantities, especially for bulk orders. |
| Shipping and Tariffs | When ordering internationally, consider shipping costs, import taxes, and duties. |
Partnering With SANEU For Your Empty K Cup Needs
SANEU can be a great partner for businesses looking to source empty K Cups in bulk. We provide a complete solution, including the empty K-Cup coffee pods (standard, private label, and sustainable options compatible with K-Cup brewing systems 2.0 and 1.0) and the machines needed to fill and seal them. We have a global understanding of the various markets, including Canada, and are committed to offering competitive pricing and customized solutions.
Do not let the hunt for empty K-Cups hinder your coffee journey. Knowing where to look and what to search for, will help you keep your K-Cups flowing.
