Stretch your dollar when buying K-Cups

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Coffee experts say 30 percent of coffee drinkers are using coffee pods, and the little cups aren't cheap.

The Coffee Icon Superstore is a one-stop shop for coffee lovers. There are fresh beans, single blends, and over 300 varieties of K-Cups.

"What makes the magic here you get to try it before you buy it, so while you are shopping you get to brew anything here for free," said Coffee Icon Superstore co-owner Paul Endres.

Prices are $1 per pod when you purchase them individually, but there's a better bargain if you fill a variety box of 18 pods for $15.99.

The best deal at the store is Coffee Icon's own brand of coffee pods called French Kiss. The box of 70 pods is $29.99, making them $0.43 each.

At the grocery store, the best price we found was for Kroger's Private Selection Signature Blend, which sold for $8.99 for 20 pods, or $0.45 per pod. If you stock up and buy four boxes, the price goes down to $0.40 each.

Online at Amazon, we were able to find a 36 pack of San Francisco Bay Coffee cups for $15.99, or $0.44 each.

If you are in the market for a new Keurig machine, the newest models will only accept the Keurig branded cups.

"They are basically locking out the competition, and locking out customer choice," said Endres.

You won't be able to use any other coffee pods from other brands. Also, you cannot use your own coffee in the reusable coffee pods.

To read more on the changes, click here.

Click here for instructions on how to properly clean a Keurig machine.