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!
What are Keurig K-Cups?
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.
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.
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?

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 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.

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

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

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?
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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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.
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