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  • Keurig Basics
    • How a Keurig Works
    • How to Descale a Keurig 2.0
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    • Best Keurig Coffee Makers
    • Keurig 2.0 K250 Review
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    • Keurig 2.0 K475 Review
    • Keurig 2.0 K525 Review
    • Keurig 2.0 vs. Keurig 1.0
    • Keurig K15 Review
    • Keurig K40 Review
      • Keurig K40 vs. Keurig K45
    • Keurig K45 Review
      • Keurig K45 vs. Keurig K55
    • Keurig K50 Review
    • Keurig K55 Review
    • Keurig K145 Review
    • Keurig K150 vs K155
    • Keurig K200 Review
      • Keurig K200 vs. Keurig K250
    • Keurig K300 vs Keurig K350
    • Keurig K425 vs Keurig K475
    • Keurig K425 vs. Keurig K525
    • Keurig K500 vs. Keurig K550
    • Keurig K525 vs Keurig K575
    • Keurig K525C vs Keurig K575
  • Coffee Brands
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    • How to Grind Coffee Beans?
    • How To Reduce Coffee Acidity
    • How Much Caffeine is in a Cup of Coffee?
    • How to Make Espresso Without an Espresso Machine?
    • How Many Ounces Is 600 ML
    • Macchiato vs Latte
    • What Does Coffee Taste Like?
    • What is White Coffee & Where Can I Buy It
    • Difference Between Latte and Cappuccino?

Keurig Basics

How does a Keurig Work? The Only Guide You Need

July 13, 2018 by Miguel Garriga Leave a Comment

source

Have you ever tried a cup of coffee from a Keurig coffee maker, and wondered how these machines work?

Maybe your “inner mechanic” is curious about how these extremely popular machines are put together?

Let’s take a look at how does a Keurig work!

Quick Navigation
What are Keurig K-Cups?
How do Keurig Mini Brewers Work?
How does the Lid Technology Work?
How Does a Keurig Work Inside?
Brewing a Pot of Coffee
How Hot is the Water Inside the Brewer?
Adjusting the Size of Your Beverage
Adjusting the Strength of Your Coffee
How does the Keurig Kold Work?
How to Make Cocoa in a Keurig Coffee Maker
Descaling Your Keurig Coffee Maker
Keurig K-Cup Brewer Maintenance
Cleaning the Keurig K-Cup Holder Receptacle
Conclusion

What are Keurig K-Cups?

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Brewing coffee with a Keurig machine is unlike anything you have used before. Rather than measuring the amount of coffee you need, which can be difficult if you only want a single cup, these machines use the K-cups.

K-cups are small, pre-packaged containers called “pods” that contain coffee that has been freshly ground. You can get the K-cups in pretty much any coffee flavor, blend, roast, etc. Basically, these pods are designed to give you one perfect cup of coffee, every time, with as little effort on your part as possible.

Each K-cup is made from durable plastic, and then there is a filter layer. They are wrapped in a foil layer that is moisture proof, so you never have to worry about your coffee not tasting fresh. These pods are inserted into the Keurig coffee maker, and in a few minutes, you get a cup of fresh, steaming hot coffee to enjoy.

Here’s how it works:

If you were to cut a used K-cup in half, you would see that there is a paper filter that is attached to the top of the cup itself. When you place the pod in the machine, the cup holster puts a hole in the foil layer on top, as well as a small hole in the bottom.

Then, the water runs through the top hole, moving through the coffee grounds. From there, gravity takes over, pulling the water through the coffee and the filter, to give you the perfect cup of coffee in less than one minute.

K-cup

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One of the best things about these coffee pods is cleanup, of which there is practically none whatsoever. All you have to do is toss the pod into the garbage. If you were to use an espresso machine, you would have to tap on the bin to release the coffee grounds, and then rinse the unit out afterwards, to make sure that the porta-filter is clean. Finally, you need to use a brush to clean the metal screen. That seems like a lot of effort to go through for a cup of espresso, especially when you can do things so much easier with the K-cups.

When it comes time to clean up after using K-cups, there is minimal effort involved. Simply lift the handle on the Keurig machine, remove the K-cup, and toss it into the trash. That’s all there is to it. There is minimal cleaning to do, and even the machine maintenance isn’t that much of a chore. Daily cleaning simply involves putting an empty cup through the machine. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

How do Keurig Mini Brewers Work?

Before we get into the nuts and bolts of how Keurig brewers work, let’s look at a quick rundown of how the process unfolds.

We will get into more detail about this later on in this article. These brewers have been designed in a way that they are able to take a lot of pressure, and extremely hot temperatures, to deliver a great-tasting cup of coffee each time they are used.

Keurig Mini Brewers

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Each brewer has a water reservoir that will hold a fair amount of water, so all you have to do is slip a K-cup in and press a button to prepare your morning Jo. Even if you have brewed a cup already, there will still be plenty of water for more if someone else wants one. You don’t have to keep filling the machine with water every time you want a cup of coffee.

When you want a cup of coffee, all you have to do is take the following steps:

Select a brew size by pressing the appropriate button. The water will start running through the pressurized hoses that are located in the heating changers. The water is then heated to the perfect temperature for your coffee

Once the water reaches that perfect temperature, it begins running through a hose that is located at the top of the machine

A K-cup is inserted in the opening piece, which is also located at the top of the brewer. Once the K-cup is in, close the opening piece, which will pierce a small hole in the top of the K-cup. Another small hole is punched into the bottom plastic layer of the pod

The hot water runs into the pod and through the coffee. Then, the coffee runs out the bottom of the cup, through that second hole that was pierced into it, directly into your cup. That’s it!

How does the Lid Technology Work?

Lid Technology

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How do Keurig coffee makers know how to make the perfect cup of coffee every time? They use a special interactive technology that ensures a perfect brew ever time, no matter what size is being used. It can read the lid so it knows exactly how much water to use, how long to brew, etc.

Now that there is the Keurig 2.0 coffee maker, you can brew a full carafe to make coffee for the whole family. Because the technology is designed to read Keurig K-Cup packs, it is recommended that for the best performance, and for safety reasons, that you only use packs that are licensed by Keurig.

How Does a Keurig Work Inside?

All of the Keurig brewers, including the Keurig Mini and the Keurig 2.0, operate in pretty much the same manner. They work like a couple of different types of coffee makers, all rolled into one unit.


Basically, these machines combine two coffee-making methods to create the perfect cup of coffee for you. These machines are part drip coffee maker, and part espresso machine. Take a look at the following diagram to get a better understanding of this.

How Does a Keurig Work

How a Keurig works (diagram):

As you can see in the diagram below, the pods are made from four basic parts: the outer plastic casing, which has been designed to keep out light, air, and moisture so your coffee is always fresh and delicious; a permeable paper filter that is used for the best flavor extraction; a foil seal that keeps the coffee airtight, not allowing in any humidity or oxygen; and a specific amount of coffee, perfectly measured to give you one cup of coffee that tastes just like the last one.

Now, let’s get down to the fun part: brewing your coffee. When using a Keurig machine, the first step in the process is to place the pod or K-cup into the brew chamber. Once it is in the chamber, pull the handle down to close the chamber.

When you do this, a needle will punch a hole into the foil lid of the pod. This needle is small, but creates just the right size hole for the pressurized water that has been heated to a high temperature to run through the coffee. Next, the coffee filters through the paper. Where does it go from there?

When the first needle punches that hole in the lid of the K-cup, there is another needle at the bottom which punches another hole into the paper filter. The heated, filtered coffee will run down through this hole, and into your coffee cup.

So, how does the water get hot in a Keurig coffee maker? It is forced through very small tubes, so it is heated as it moves through the system. Because smaller amounts of water are being heated than an entire pot all at once, it is going to reach the optimal temperature by the time it gets to your cup.

Even though the Keurig brewer technology is revolutionary, it is pretty simplistic when you sit down and really think about it. Basically, what they have done is created a machine that will brew coffee just as a normal machine would, but instead of an entire pot, it is scaled down to single servings.

This is ideal for the single person who doesn’t need to brew a full pot of coffee every morning. In a nutshell, this is a small version of a drip brewer, with a lot more technology used in its creation. Other manufacturers have attempted to copy this technology, but none have been able to match the quality of the coffee that comes out of a Keurig machine. The genuine K-cups have the best flavor over the copycats, bar none.

Check out the following YouTube video that shows you how a Keurig works.

Brewing a Pot of Coffee

If you want to save money with reusable filters, you can use the Keurig 2.0 for brewing your coffee. You can brew it by the cup, or you can use the carafe to brew a pot of coffee that holds 32 ounces, or up to four cups of coffee.

First, remove the lid, and then fill the filter with up to two and a half tablespoons of coffee (depending on how strong you like it). If you use your own coffee beans, use a coarse grind. Do not use tea or cocoa in the filter. Do not compress the coffee grinds, as they should be loose. Replace the lid, place the filter in the brewer, close the lid, select the cup size, and push brew. That’s all there is to it.

See for yourself how easy it is to brew your coffee with the Keurig 2.0 by watching the following YouTube video.

How Hot is the Water Inside the Brewer?

According to Keurig, the optimal water temperature for brewing hot beverages is 89° Celsius, or 192° Fahrenheit.

But, this is only the internal temperature of the water that is inside the brewer. Once the beverage is brewed, there can be various temperatures, depending on a variety of factors.

Keurig 2.0

For instance, the in-cup temperature will depend on the temperature of the cup itself, and the material the cup is made from. If you are using a foam or paper cup, you will have a coffee that is about 82° to 85° Celsius (180-185° Fahrenheit). If you are using a ceramic cup, the beverage will be significantly cooler.

One thing to remember is that if the machine has been idle for an extended period of time, it is likely not going to get to the optimal stream temperature the first time it is used again. It is a good idea to run some clear water through the coffee maker prior to brewing your coffee, which will not only warm up the brewer, but also your cup. Then, you can brew your K-Cup and enjoy your coffee.

One thing to remember is that if the machine has been idle for an extended period of time, it is likely not going to get to the optimal stream temperature the first time it is used again. It is a good idea to run some clear water through the coffee maker prior to brewing your coffee, which will not only warm up the brewer, but also your cup. Then, you can brew your K-Cup and enjoy your coffee.

Adjusting the Size of Your Beverage

Adjusting the Size of Beverage

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You don’t necessarily have to stick with the same size beverage all of the time, especially if you want more or less coffee. When you are using the Keurig coffee maker, the technology inside the machine can identify which type of K-Cup has been inserted, so it brews the perfect cup every time.

You can adjust the size depending on what you want. On the upper right-hand corner of the brewer screen, you will see the optimal size. You can adjust this with the arrow keys, scrolling up and down until you find the size range that is for the type of K-Cup you are using. The machine will then brew a cup of this size.

Adjusting the Strength of Your Coffee

Adjusting the Strength of Coffee

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Once you insert the K-Cup pack into the machine, it will start brewing a cup of coffee of normal strength. If you prefer a stronger brew, it is easy to get. Simply look for the “Strong” option, which is located on the bottom left-hand corner of the brewer screen. Touch the icon to check the empty box and activate the Strong function for a stronger cup of coffee.

How does the Keurig Kold Work?

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Now you can enjoy cold drinks with the Keurig Kold, which is developed through the Keurig/Coca Cola partnership. You can mix and produce carbonated drinks that are immediately cold, unlike the Soda Stream machines that do not give you cold drinks. Enjoy making your own soda in more than two dozen flavors.

You can also make flavored water, energy drinks, iced tea, and more. Using the Keurig Kold is easy. Simply fill the machine with water, open the machine and insert the Keurig pod of your choice, and press the button to activate. In about 90 seconds, your cold drink will be ready.

How to Make Cocoa in a Keurig Coffee Maker

You can make more than just coffee in your Keurig coffee maker! How would you like a delicious cup of hot chocolate?

It’s easy to make. Simply insert the K-Cup hot chocolate pack, and then lower the bail. Press the Hot Cocoa/Other option, followed by the ‘brew’ button, which will be flashing. The K-Cup hot chocolate pack contains cocoa powder.

This is dissolved when the piston pump in the machine pushes air into the water throughout the brewing process. Not only does the cocoa dissolve, it also gets that delicious froth on top. You can also use this setting to make tea, and there are a variety of Keurig teas to choose from.

Descaling Your Keurig Coffee Maker

You will need to descale the Keurig coffee maker from time to time. How often you will need to do this will depend on the mineral content in your water. It is recommended that you use bottled or filtered water to descale your coffee maker.

What is descaling? When there is too much mineral content in water, the brewer may end up with calcium deposits inside. This can make the brewer perform poorly. It is a good idea to get into the habit of descaling the Keurig brewer about every three to six months to avoid this problem. If you have a high mineral content in your water, it may be necessary to do it even more often.

Keurig brewers are smart machines, and they will let you know when descaling is necessary. The system tracks how much liquid passes through, and then will let you know when it is time to descale. It will give a reminder, using the prompt, “time to descale the brewer”. If you do not descale, you will get another reminder in six weeks. It will continue to return regularly until you descale the brewer.

Descaling is easy, and you don’t need any special cleaners. Keurig recommends the Keurig Descaling Solution, but there are other descaling products available as well, such as “Dezcal,” which is Keurig-approved, but you can save a lot of money by using something you already have in your kitchen.

All you need is vinegar that has been diluted with water. Run the diluted vinegar through the Keurig coffee maker, so it goes through all of the pipes and gives everything a thorough cleaning.

Keurig K-Cup Brewer Maintenance

The better you maintain your Keurig coffee machine, the longer it is going to last, and it is going to continue working properly. It is recommended that you clean the external parts of the machine with a non-abrasive cloth that is damp and soapy. Do not immerse the brewer into water or cleaning solutions.

The K-Cup holder, funnel, drip plate, and drip tray (for the Elite, Classic, Ultra, Special Edition, Ultimate, Platinum, Select, B155, K15, K50, K200, K300, K425, and K525) are all dishwasher safe. The water reservoir and its lid are removable, but they are not dishwasher safe and must be cleaned by hand.

Cleaning the Keurig K-Cup Holder Receptacle

In addition to descaling, the K-Cup holder receptacle needs to be cleaned regularly. When it is time to do this, the process is pretty simple. The first step is to take the assembly out of the brewer, and lift the handle to open the cover.

Next, hold the top of the K-Cup holder, and use your other hand to push the bottom of the assembly upward. Push until the assembly releases. Now you can start cleaning the K-Cup holder (some parts are dishwasher safe) by following these steps:

Funnel

The first part to clean is the funnel. Remove it by pulling it until it snaps off. This is one of the dishwasher safe parts.

Exit Needle

The next step is cleaning the exit needle, which is located on the bottom of the K-Cup holder, on the inside. If there are coffee grounds clogging the exit needle, use a paper clip or something similar to clean the exit needle (you will not be able to go all the way through, so don’t worry when you can’t). Then, insert the paper clip into the K-Cup holder tube, and wiggle it around to unclog and remove coffee grounds.

Reinstall

All that is left to do is put everything back together. Snap the funnel back into place, and install the K-Cup assembly back into the brewer. Do this by aligning the tabs on the holder with the opening, so the two front tabs are on the bottom and a single tab is on top. Snap the assembly back into place by pushing on the top rim, and it’s ready to use again.

Conclusion

If you just want a cup of coffee for yourself in the morning, there is no sense in making a full pot in a regular coffee maker. You can save a lot of time, and coffee, by making a single cup in your Keurig coffee maker.

If you do need to make more, there is always the Keurig 2.0, which has a carafe that can hold up to four cups of coffee. It only takes a couple of minutes to make delicious, steaming hot coffee, and you can also make hot chocolate and tea. There are all kinds of coffee flavors to choose from, and you can get the Keurig K-Cup pods in most stores.

Filed Under: Keurig Basics

How to Descale a Keurig 2.0: Ultimate Guide for Owners

July 4, 2018 by Miguel Garriga Leave a Comment

One thing that Keurig coffee makers have in common with all coffee makers - they need to be cleaned regularly…

And they also need to be descaled! This means that the buildup from hard water must be removed. If it isn’t removed, your coffee isn’t going to taste very good, and it could cause problems with the machine itself.

In this complete guide (with pictures and videos), we show you step-by-step how to descale a Keurig 2.0. We also show you how to clean all Keurig coffee makers, including how to clean a Keurig 2.0.

Let’s get started!

Quick Navigation
Cleaning Your Keurig Coffee Maker
Cleaning the Removable Parts
Cleaning the Machine
How to Descale a Keurig 2.0
What is Descaling
Descaling Your Keurig Coffee Maker
How To Descale A Keurig 2.0 With Vinegar
Tips for Keeping Your Keurig Clean between Cleanings
Conclusion

Cleaning Your Keurig Coffee Maker


Keurig 2.0 K200 Plus Series Single Serve Plus Coffee Maker Brewer (Newest Model) Turquoise

Keurig 2.0 K200 Plus Series Coffee Maker Brewer Turquoise

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Yes, we know that this article is supposed to be about descaling your Keurig coffee maker. But, if it isn’t properly cleaned, there really is no sense in bothering with the descaling process.

There are actually three steps involved in cleaning these coffee makers: cleaning the removable parts; cleaning the internal parts; and descaling. So, let’s start at the beginning, and find out how to clean a Keurig coffee maker. Later on, we will offer some tips on how to keep the coffee maker as clean as possible in between regular cleanings.

There are a few items that you will need in order to clean and descale your coffee maker, and you probably already have most of these items in your kitchen already. You will need the following:

  • Keurig Descaling Solution or white vinegar
  • Water
  • The Keurig 2.0 Maintenance Accessory (for the Keurig 2.0 machine)
  • Toothbrush
  • Dish washing liquid
  • All-purpose cleaner
  • Paper clip
  • Drinking straw
  • Paper towels or a microfiber cloth

Cleaning the Removable Parts


The first step in the process is to clean the removable parts of the Keurig or the Keurig 2.0 coffee maker. Obviously, the first thing you need to do is unplug the machine. Never take a Keurig coffee maker apart, or clean it while it is plugged in, as there is a risk of severe shock.

You should be working in an area that is clutter-free, and well-lit. Once you have unplugged the machine, here are the steps you need to follow in order to clean it:

Remove Lid & Water Reservoir

There are instructions beneath the lid that tell you how to clean the lid with nothing more than a damp cloth. The reservoir is dishwasher safe. When you take out the water reservoir, be careful to make sure that you don’t lose the O-ring. Without this O-ring, the coffee maker will leak when used after cleaning.

Remove K-Cup Holder and Funnel

Now you can easily slide out the K-cup holder and the funnel. This is where the needle that punctures the K-cups is located, so be careful not to poke yourself with it.

Remove Drip Tray and Drip Tray Cover

If your model has the drip tray and cover, it needs to be removed. Again, these parts are dishwasher safe.

Even though some of the parts are labelled as being dishwasher safe, we still recommend that you wash them by hand, as dishwashers can tend to be hard on plastic. The plastic can turn cloudy, and the water can get so hot in a dishwasher that it can warp the reservoir.

Let the parts soak for about 10 minutes or longer in warm, soapy water, wipe clean, rinse with clear water, and towel dry. Never scrub the parts, especially the reservoir, and only use a soft cloth to clean it, as it is made of acrylic and can scratch easily.

Cleaning the Machine


Now that you have cleaned the removable parts, it is time to work on cleaning the machine itself. The first step in this process is to clean the K-cup area with a soft toothbrush. Use the toothbrush to get rid of coffee grounds that are still in and around the holder space for the K-cups. Once you have this area cleaned, you can move on to the following steps:

Clean K-Cup Area

Using the paper clip, or the Keurig 2.0 Maintenance Accessory, it is time to clean the K-cup area. If you are using a paper clip, you will need to use the clip to push into the holes that are located in the needles that pierce the K-cups.

These holes get clogged with coffee grounds and mineral buildup, so they need to be cleaned out regularly. Another option is to use a straight pin or a thin needle. If the water line gets clogged during this step, push the paper clip inside to clear the line.

You can also turn the entire machine upside down and tap it lightly on the bottom to knock out debris that is clogging the machine. If you are using the Keurig Maintenance Accessory, the process is slightly different.

Make sure the machine is turned off, and fill the silicone bulb on the accessory with clear water. Place the accessory where you would place the K-cup, and raise and lower the handle four to five times. This will loosen coffee grounds and make them easier to remove.

Clear the Water Line

Now it’s time to clean the water line. Find the water line spout, and attach the straw to it. You may have to hold onto the end of the straw to make sure that it is on tight. Blow some air through the straw, which will remove debris in the water line.

Make sure you blow on the straw good and hard.

Clean the Outside of the Machine

The next step is to clean the outside of the machine, using the paper towel or microfiber cloth with some all-purpose cleaner. It is easiest if you spray the cleaning solution directly onto the cloth rather than the machine, and it ensures that there will be no cleaner getting into areas where it shouldn’t.

You can also use soapy water to clean the machine, and a damp cloth for rinsing. You may have to get in and really scrub some parts, and this is often easier to do with a soft toothbrush.

Clean Water Reservoir and Mesh

Take out the water reservoir, and empty it completely. If your machine has a water filter, remove it now. Run clear water from the tap over the mesh filter to get rid of any debris.

This is an area where you will find a lot of scaling, which is a white-ish film. Put some white vinegar on a paper towel and wipe the area clean. It may be necessary to soak the area with vinegar for a couple of minutes before wiping it down.

How to Descale a Keurig 2.0


Keurig 2.0 Brewer, K200, Black

Keurig 2.0 Brewer, K200, Black

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Now that you have cleaned the machine and all of its parts, it is time to learn how to descale your Keurig 2.0 (and other Keurig coffee makers). Whether you use vinegar or the Keurig descaling solution, the process is pretty much the same.

Before we start, let’s talk about what descaling is, and why you need to do it periodically.

What is Descaling


If you live in an area where there are a lot of minerals in the water, such as calcium and magnesium, you likely have hard water. This is going to leave a white, filmy buildup on any type of coffee maker, including all Keurig models. If your water has a high level of minerals, once it evaporates, you will be stuck with this film that can be difficult to clean off.

When a coffee maker gets too much of this scale, it can greatly affect the quality of your coffee, considering the fact that it is mostly water. The harder the water, the more damaging it can be to coffee makers, because it has a lot of these minerals that can build up and destroy the heating elements inside the machines.

It is a good idea to get into the habit of cleaning and descaling your Keurig coffee maker at least once every month or two. If you do not descale the machine, there are a few ways that the mineral buildup can affect the machine, and your coffee.

Temperature

When there is too much scale on the machine, it can affect the temperature of the water. Your coffee will be hot, but not nearly as hot as it should be.

Flavor

When your coffee is not able to reach the optimal temperature, the full flavor of the coffee beans is not going to be extracted.

Short Cup

If there is a lot of mineral scale in your Keurig, it may result in less coffee coming out, so you get what is referred to as a short cup.

Malfunction

If you do not clean mineral scale buildup, it can clog the machine. Over time, this can cause the coffee maker to stop working all together.

Descaling Your Keurig Coffee Maker


Whether you have the Keurig 2.0, or another model from the same brand, you need to make sure that you descale it regularly. This is a relatively simple process that can make or break your coffee experience, and that is important if you have hard water.

It is a good idea to get into the habit of descaling your Keurig every couple of months. Keurig recommends that you do it every three to six months, but it won’t hurt to do it more often. If you do happen to forget about it, most Keurig models have a light that will come on when the machine needs to be descaled.

Keurig Descaling Solution

While Keurig recommends that you use their descaling solution, it may not be the best thing to use all of the time. We recommend that you alternate between solution and vinegar cleanings, so you are using vinegar twice, and then the solution the next time, and repeat this pattern.

The problem with the Keurig Descaling Solution is that it is citric acid-based, so it tends to leave behind a chemical taste, even after you have done several water only brews. But, if you have been cleaning your Keurig with vinegar only, and you find it isn’t working to get the clogs out, you may need to use this stronger descaling solution to fix the problem.


There are descaling solutions offered by other brands, but many of these are even more acidic than the Keurig solution. Over time, they can actually end up damaging your Keurig machine by causing damage to the inside parts. Make sure that you follow all of the manufacturer’s directions if you are using a descaling solution instead of vinegar and water.

There are a few different processes for descaling a Keurig coffee maker, depending on whether vinegar or Keurig Descaling Solution is used, and the model of your machine. Let’s take a look at how to descale your machine with the Keurig solution, and two ways to do it with vinegar.

Descaling Your Keurig 2.0 with Keurig Descaling Solution

It takes less than a couple of hours to descale your Keurig 2.0, and it is a necessary thing to do regularly, especially if you have hard water. The first step in the process is to turn the power off on the brewer.

Next, take the following steps:

  • 1
    Empty water reservoir
  • 2
    Remove filter
  • 3
    Add 1C Keurig Descaling Solution to water reservoir
  • 4
    Fill reservoir to top with water
  • 5
    Run a brew cycle
  • 6
    Repeat brew cycle until reservoir is empty
  • 7
    Turn off the Auto Off feature
  • 8
    Let brewer sit without brewing for ½ hour
  • 9
    Fill reservoir with water and run a brew cycle
  • 10
    Repeat brew cycle at least 10 times
  • 11
    Replace filter

How to Descale a Keurig 2.0 with Vinegar


Keurig K200 Plus Series 2.0 Single Serve Plus Coffee Maker Brewer- Imperial Red (New Color)

Keurig K200 Plus Series 2.0 Single Serve Plus Coffee Maker Brewer- Imperial Red

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The following instructions are for Keurig coffee makers with no drains on the bottom. You will need a large mug, and a large jug of white vinegar (64 ounces).

  • 1
    Turn off the Auto Off feature
  • 2
    Drain the water reservoir and put reservoir back in place
  • 3
    Pour enough vinegar to fill mug into reservoir, and put the mug in place
  • 4
    Raise and lower bar as if you were putting in a K-cup (do not put in a K-cup)
  • 5
    Press “Brew” and let the machine brew the vinegar
  • 6
    Dispose of the vinegar, put mug back on the drip plate
  • 7
    Repeat until “add water” light comes on, leave brewer on for four hours
  • 8
    Dispose of the vinegar and rinse well
  • 9
    Fill reservoir with water
  • 10
    Use the brew cycle with water, repeat until “add water” light appears

Here are the instructions you need if your machine does have a drain on the bottom. You will need a coffee mug, water, and a 48-ounce jug of white vinegar.

  • 1
    Unplug machine and place in sink
  • 2
    Drain the water reservoir and put reservoir back in place
  • 3
    Remove charcoal filter from Water Fill Area if your model has one
  • 4
    Place brewer with drain facing down in sink, or if no drain, empty the reservoir
  • 5
    Put the cap back in place
  • 6
    Plug in and turn on
  • 7
    Fill reservoir with vinegar
  • 8
    Lift lever but don’t insert a K-cup
  • 9
    When light comes on, push lever down, put mug in place, and push “brew”
  • 10
    Repeat until “Add Water” light comes on
  • 11
    Turn off automatic shut off, leave coffee maker on four hours with vinegar still in
  • 12
    Turn off and allow to cool
  • 13
    Drain
  • 14
    Fill with water and turn power on
  • 15
    When light comes on, put mug in place and repeat steps 8-10
  • 16
    Drain water and replace charcoal filter

Tips for Keeping Your Keurig Clean between Cleanings


If you take steps to keep your Keurig clean between cleanings, you shouldn’t have too much to worry about, as it will be relatively clean all of the time. Here are a few ways that you can keep your Keurig clean.

Drain the reservoir

Never leave water in the reservoir for more than a few days. As the water evaporates, mineral deposits will build up, and you will have to descale the machine more often than normal.

Also, you could end up with mold growing inside the machine, which is going to end up making you sick. Make it a point to drain the water reservoir every five to seven days.

Use distilled water

We mentioned earlier that it is a good idea to always use filtered water for your coffee. You can even take that a step further and use distilled water. Some say that this is not healthy, as there are no important minerals in distilled water. If you are worried about this, stick with filtered water instead.

It still has fewer minerals than regular tap water.
You can also install a filter directly onto your tap. This does need to be changed periodically, but as long as you do so, you can be sure that you are only drinking filtered water. Sure, you can go out and buy bottled water, but this is going to get pretty costly after a while.

Yes, you will have to spend some money on a tap filter or a water filtration pitcher, as well as replacements, but this is still a lot less expensive than buying bottled water, and it’s much better for the environment, seeing as how there are no plastic bottles to dispose of.

Clean after making sticky drinks

You can make more than just coffee in your Keurig 2.0, including hot chocolate, caramel apple cider, etc.

These tend to be sticky drinks, so it is a good idea to get into the habit of running a plain water cycle right after making one of these drinks. This is going to keep any sugar from crystalizing and clogging up the machine.

Replace the Filter

Your Keurig 2.0 has a replaceable water filter that should be replaced at least once every two months, or after every 60 tank refills. The brewer has a water filter alert, which lets you know when the filter needs to be replaced. You can set the alert by going to the settings, then pressing water filter reminder. Press enable, and then press save. The indicator on the machine will come on at the time you have selected, showing a message that says, “time to replace the water filter”.

Press continue, replace the filter, and then press yes to set the reminder for the next time.

Replacing the water filter on a Keurig 2.0 is easy. First, remove the filter holder that is located at the reservoir. Open the holder, and get rid of the old filter. Rinse off the mesh that is on the lower part of the filter holder.

Soak a new filter in water for five minutes or so, and then rinse under lukewarm running water for another minute. Place the new filter into the filter holder, and close the holder. Now you can set the replacement reminder date so you won’t forget to replace it again in another couple of months. Put a filter holder in the reservoir, pushing down until it is in place.

Conclusion

Now you have all the information you need to help you keep your Keurig 2.0, or any other Keurig coffee maker clean, so you always have fresh, great tasting coffee every time. It only takes a few minutes to clean your coffee maker each day, which is going to make the monthly descaling even easier.

The cleaner your machine is, the better your coffee is going to taste. If you let the cleaning slip, you are going to end up with a machine that is clogged and producing inferior tasting coffee.

Filed Under: Keurig Basics

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