Keurig coffee maker Review | How to Use and Clean

The Keurig coffee maker is a dream for many coffee lovers. In just a few seconds, you have hot coffee ready. You no longer wait for Mr. Coffee to fill a big pot or measure those messy coffee grinds. It is also known as K-cup.

If you haven’t purchased a Keurig yet, check out this article to see if it’s the right machine. Keurig machines had been designed to quickly brew not just coffee but also tea, hot chocolate, iced coffee, and a variety of hot beverages.

Contents

Keurig coffee maker

Grounds are pre-measured into a K-cup or Vue cup, a small pod. The machine delivers your chosen brew within 20-60 seconds. It would be best to discard the single pod as it is not good for multiple uses. 

There are several models of the Keurig, ranging from the “Mini-Keurig” to the “Keurig View.” Choosing the right one depends on how often you use your machine. Each water reservoir size varies, and each machine comes with different options.

Keurig coffee maker review

The following pros & cons had given below.

Pros
  • Instant coffee without the instant aftertaste
  • Huge variety of flavors to choose from
  • It makes coffee, hot tea, cold tea, iced coffee (when brewed over ice), lemonade, cappuccinos, lattes, hot chocolate, and more.
  • You can choose your size from a 4 oz small coffee to travel size.
  • Coffee in Seconds makes it easy when you’re on the go.
  • There is No pre-programming to have coffee ready when you wake up.
  • Pre-measured coffee means no mess and no wasted coffee.
  • You can choose your heat and power settings.
  • It heats the water itself, so you don’t have to, so the coffee tastes great and costs less than going to Starbucks.
  • You can buy a reusable filter that you can use with regular coffee.
  • Any pod brewer has a lot of options as far as machinery and settings.
  • Any pod brewer has a lot of options as far as machinery and settings.
  • There are excellent commercial brewers for office or business use. The new VUE cups are reusable..
Cons
  • Pods are more expensive compared to making drip coffee at home.
  • The machine is also very expensive.
  • Single-serve only, so when you have company over, and they’re also using the pods, it costs a lot.
  • Lower-end Keurig models don’t offer many features like brew strength and heat strength, and they have smaller water reservoirs.
  • Only newer models have the right settings to make iced drinks, other models can, but the taste is not the same.
  • Cappuccino and Latte (only found in VUE) is nothing like a real espresso machine.
  • The variety packs don’t have a very good variety.
  • K-Cups are not reusable, and because it is not a drip machine, it does not give you the thick, creamy taste that some coffees offer.
  • VUE is a new machine, so the options with flavors are very limited right now.

How does a Keurig coffee maker work?

Before brewing your cup of joe, your first order of business is to ensure the water tank is complete and the machine is on. 

If you boil it early in the morning, the water may take a few minutes to heat up. Once these actions are complete, you can carry on making your brew. 

  • Insert the K-Cup: 

A needle punctures the top vacuum-sealed aluminum when you place the K-Cup under the lid. It also makes a small hole in the bottom of the cup.

  • Drip Brew:

The Keurig sends water through the top hole, and the grinds inside the K-Cup. It also passes through a filter at the bottom of the cup. 

  • Choosing your coffee: 

After inserting the coffee of your choice, you need to choose what size coffee you want. There is usually a choice of small or large. 

The smaller version is stronger and fills between ½ and ¾ of a standard coffee cup. The larger the size, the more dilute it is, filling in a standard cup. Press any button, and the Keurig will work. 

  • Pouring coffee: 

The bottom puncture hole allows water to flow through the grinds and filter through the bottom hole into your cup placed below. 

That’s it! You can enjoy a tasty mug of coffee in just a few seconds. Furthermore, leaving the machine on keeps the water hot, so you don’t have to wait for it to warm up to enjoy your second cup.

How to make Keurig Iced Coffee?

How to clean a Keurig coffee maker?

How to clean a Keurig coffee maker

What you’ll need: 

  • water 
  • White vinegar or Keurig descaling solution 
  • A neat dish sponge or paper towel soaked in a cup of water and mild soap 
  • Cup to detect the drain of the cleaning solution

Cleaning your Keurig is known as “descaling.”

Empty the reservoir of the machine:

First, turn off your machine. Next, empty your Keurig water reservoir and remove any filters. Do not leave the K-Cup in the bin during cleaning cycles. 

Add the water and vinegar solution and run one cycle:

Run a mixture of equal parts water and white Vinegar via the machine. Run the solution into the reservoir, turn on the device, press the cycle button, and allow the solution to pour into a cup. 

Depending on your Keurig’s dirty, you may need to drain it several times. Keep running the Vinegar and water solution until your machine is clear. 

Flush with water:

Ensure you rinse the parts thoroughly to prevent the “vinegary” taste. Always finish by operating three cycles of plain water to remove any vinegar left in the tank or machine, says coffee roaster Lisette Gavina Lopez of Don Francisco’s Coffee and Cafe La Lav. They also make K-cup versions of their coffees. 

Clean removable parts and air dry:

Remove and clean all removable parts, including the water tank, lid, coffee pod holder, and drip tray.

Wash these removable parts with soap and warm water to remove coffee oils and prevent mold from forming on the water tank and drip tray. 

Wipe the exterior:

Using a clean dish sponge or disposable paper towel, wipe the exterior of the machine and the pod holder area – all accessible surfaces – with mild soap and water, excluding any electrical or mechanical areas.

Carefully wipe the needles puncturing your coffee pods’ top and bottom for brewing. Allow the liquid tank to air dry to avoid lint collection.

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How to Clean a Keurig coffee maker Without Vinegar?

Cleaning supplies you’ll need: 

  • Lemon juice 
  • Large ceramic mug 
  • Water 

Step-by-step Keurig washing instructions: 

Add descaling solution:  Fill the liquid reservoir with half lemon juice and half water. 

Prepare a cup: Place an empty mug on the mug stand. 

Start the machine: Run the brew cycle without placing the K-Cup in the machine. Empty the full cup and repeat until the water reservoir is empty. 

Add water: Fill the Keurig again, but this time with water only. 

Restart the machine: Without placing the K-Cup in the machine, run the brew cycle. Empty the full cup in the sink and repeat the process until the Keurig is empty and you can no longer taste the lemon in the water.

Which Keurig Cleaning Method Is Best? 

The vinegar method cleaned my Keurig coffee maker better than lemon juice. Still, we had to run the water through the machine five times until there was no smell or taste of Vinegar. Even after that, we can still taste it in my coffee for the next few cups. 

The lemon-juice method didn’t seem to clean my Keurig coffee maker completely. Still, it smelled very pleasant and took less water to remove the lemon taste from my Keurig. The happy medium for me is the diluted vinegar method. 

Keurig machine seems to be as clean as using full Vinegar, but we don’t need to run water via the machine to get rid of the vinegar taste. We also don’t have to spend much time squeezing lemons, making my kitchen smell fresh!

Final Words

Although a Keurig coffee maker is a snap, it’s essential to take a few moments to clean it regularly for the best coffee every day. Descale it with a simple solution of equal parts water and white Vinegar will extend the life of your favorite coffee maker and keep your coffee tasting fresh.

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Faqs

1. How many times can you utilize a K-cup?

K-cups are designed for one use only. You use a K-cup once and then throw it away. If you think that’s a waste, and many Keurig brewer owners do, you can get the Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter. It’s a reusable filter that adds loose-ground coffee whenever you want it.

2. Does the Keurig work without the pod?

You can easily get hot water even if your Keurig doesn’t have this option. To do this, lift and close the handle without inserting the pod and brew as you normally would when making coffee. The machine dispenses hot water only.

3. How does a Keurig heat water so fast?

The Keurig heats faster thanks to its unique design. Unlike many drip coffee makers or single-serve coffee makers, Keurig machines keep water ready to brew. That water is already warm, so it’s easier and faster for the machine to bring it to brewing temperature.