How to make Keurig coffee taste better

I get lots of emails asking about how to make Keurig coffee taste better. Today I’m sharing some simple steps that are proven to work!

1. Best water for Keurig

Fresh water is the key to making an excellent cup of coffee. A simple habit like refilling the water tank each morning with fresh water will make a big impact and will guarantee better tasting coffee.

The water quality and hardness are important as well. Hard water extracts more flavor than soft water. The great news is that you don’t have to buy expensive bottled water for your coffee. In most parts of the country, tap water is actually ideal for making coffee.

If your tap water is not good or has a strong odor or taste, you can use filtered or bottled water.

Avoid distilled or softened water. Softened water gives poor coffee extraction.

Official Keurig website recommends using bottled or filtered water or using a water filter if you use tap water in Keurig. They also don’t recommend using softened or distilled water in Keurig. The sensor in the water reservoir does not detect softened water well and this often causes leaks.

2. Keurig coffee not hot enough

One of the main complaints about Keurig brewers is that they don’t make a hot cup of coffee. This is true.

Most models brew at 192°F and this can’t be changed. Even the K-Elite which has temperature control doesn’t go above 192°F.

Running one brew cycle without inserting the pod, before you make the coffee can help heat the unit and make coffee slightly hotter.

What really helps is rinsing a mug with hot water before placing it on a drip tray. A warm mug won’t cool down the coffee and it will also keep the temperature steady. Try it!

3. How to make Keurig coffee stronger

We all love a strong cup of coffee, right? If a Keurig makes weak coffee or your Keurig coffee tastes watery, check the roast level on your k-cups and test different cup sizes.

There are three main roast levels: light, medium, and dark roast. Light roasts give light, floral notes and dark roasts give a strong, bold coffee.

To make Keurig coffee stronger and get full-bodied coffee, choose dark roasted k-cups. If you prefer something less bitter and mild, medium roasts can be a good choice as well. I rarely use light roasts. They are too weak, acidic, and have almost no aftertaste.

Need some suggestions? Here’s a list of the best k-cups on the market based on their roast level.

Cup size: Brewing 12 ounces of coffee with a single k-cup will never taste good. Instead, choose a smaller cup setting. The optimal cup size is 6 and 8 ounces.

If you need to fill up a large mug and make 10 or 12 ounces, use two k-cups at a smaller cup setting. This will cost more but at least you’ll have a decent cup of coffee.

4. Keurig coffee doesn’t taste good anymore

When Keurig coffee doesn’t taste good anymore, thoroughly clean the k-cup holder, exit needles, and the area around the holder.

If your Keurig coffee tastes burnt or bitter or has an unpleasant aftertaste, oil buildups might be the reason. It’s really important to clean coffee grounds and dirt from all parts that come in contact with coffee on a regular basis.

Once a month, take out and wash the k-cup holder, clean both exit needles, clean coffee grounds around the k-cup holder, funnel where the holder goes and the bottom side of the handle – around the top exit needle.

Use a soft brush or a paper towel to clean the area around the filter holder from any dirt or coffee grounds.

Here are detailed instructions on how to clean a Keurig.

5. descale every 3 months

Depending on your usage and mineral content of water in your area, it is recommended to descale every three months.

Descaling helps clean mineral build-up inside your machine and can help with poor performance.

6. How to use reusable k-cup

For a good, strong 8 ounce cup of coffee, you need about 14-15 grams of coffee. That’s about 2 full tablespoons. However, most reusable k-cup options don’t hold this much coffee. The easiest way to get a stronger cup is to use dark roasted ground coffee and brew it at 8 or even 6-ounce cup setting.

Fill the filter basket with ground coffee, making sure not to fill past the top of the mesh. If your reusable filter has a Max fill line, simply fill the filter with your desired amount of ground coffee and make sure not to fill past the MAX fill indicator.

Gently tap the filter on your counter and level the top. Do not press or tamp the coffee. Brew at 6 or 8 oz cup setting for the best result.

The best grind for Keurig filter is medium grind level (classic grind for drip coffee makers). If your coffee is watery, the grind might be too coarse. If the water takes a long time to brew or it gets clogged easily, the grind might be too fine.

7. Best coffee for Keurig

If you’re using reusable k-cups in your Keurig, again, choosing the right ground coffee is important.

If you like your coffee strong or you normally use large cup settings, I recommend using dark roasts. Choose coffee that says dark or French roast. Some good medium roasts can also be a good choice (house blends are usually medium roasts).

Breakfast blends are light, and they do taste watery and diluted when brewed at large cup settings, so I would avoid them.