A Complete Guide To Mastering Your New Keurig

Keurig coffee machines are quite popular among homeowners as well as in offices since they provide a fast, simple, and hassle-free way to brew a cup of coffee. The wide range of unique K-cup flavors allow users to indulge their taste buds while enjoying a rich and well-balanced cup of coffee.     

Mastering your new Keurig is very simple, since most models work in the same way and come pre-assembled. Before using your Keurig, make sure to run a cleansing brew. Then, choose your preferred K-cup flavor, place the right-sized cup, and press the brew option. 

As you can see, brewing a cup of coffee in a Keurig is easy and convenient. But before you begin, it’s important to familiarize yourself with how these machines work and what the different types of Keurigs can offer you.

How Does a Keurig Coffee Maker Work?

Keurig coffee maker

Although the Keurig coffee maker looks quite similar to a drip coffee brewer, it’s quite different in functionality. A Keurig is faster, more reliable, easy to use, and less messy. The best thing about a Keurig is that you can get your brew in just under one minute! 

Although there are various models of Keurig coffee makers available, they pretty much work in the same way. You need to put in a K-cup, select a cup size, and press brew. 

A K-cup is a small disposable cup that contains a filter and ground coffee. Exposure to heat and moisture can adversely affect the quality of your coffee. That’s why the oxygen inside these K-cups is removed before they’re sealed with a foil topping. 

The paper filter inside these cups contains just enough coffee grounds to make one cup. The whole brewing process happens inside these plastic cups as hot water mixes with the ground coffee before the brew flows out into your mug. In addition to coffee, these sealed cups may contain tea, hot chocolate, or other hot drinks. 

When you put a K-cup inside your machine, a hollow needle punctures the hole in the foil. Hot water is then pumped into the cup at high pressure. This combination of pressure and temperature is responsible for extracting the coffee flavor quickly. 

Another hole is punctured by a second hollow needle at the bottom of the cup, allowing the brew to flow out into your cup. This whole process takes 1 – 5 minutes, depending on your Keurig model.    

How Do You Set Up a Keurig? 

Making a good cup of coffee in a Keurig is very easy, since you don’t need to worry about measuring the water or weighing the coffee grounds. It’s just about pushing the right buttons. First, let’s talk about how you can set it up:  

  1. Remove any packing or tape inside the brewer before plugging it in.
  2. If your brewer comes with a temporary disc, lift the handle and remove it.
  3. Remove the water reservoir and clean it gently with soapy water. (If your brewer doesn’t have a removable reservoir, you can skip this step.)
  4. Prime the charcoal water filter by rinsing and soaking it in a bowl of water for about five minutes.
  5. Massage the filter gently to remove any loose charcoal.
  6. Once the filter is clean, insert it into the reservoir.
  7. Run the first brew on the highest setting without a K-cup to clean out the machine. Dispose of the water in the mug.

Now you’re ready to brew your first cup.

How to Do a Cleansing Brew 

After setting up your Keurig, running a cleansing brew will help remove all the unwanted odors and particles from the machine. Follow the steps below to ensure that you get the best cup of coffee every time:

  1. Fill the reservoir with water until it reaches the maximum line. For a Keurig without a water filter, use filtered or spring water.
  2. Press the power button to preheat your brewer. This could take anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 minutes, depending on your model.
  3. Place a mug on the drip tray.
  4. Run a brew without inserting a K-cup. You’ll need to lift and lower the handle to initiate the brew cycle.
  5. Choose the maximum size brew setting and then press brew.
  6. Make sure that your mug is big enough to hold all the water to avoid any mess.
  7. Throw away the water in the mug once the brew cycle is complete. 

The internal components of your Keurig are now sufficiently rinsed, and you can start using your brewer on a daily basis.

How to Brew Coffee in a Keurig 

Let’s now talk about the steps involved in brewing coffee in a Keurig for all those new owners out there:

  1. Plug in the machine and turn on the power.
  2. Fill the reservoir with water.
  3. Place an appropriate-sized mug on the drip tray.
  4. Choose your flavor of K-cup.
  5. Lift the handle and insert the K-cup in the special slot in the front without removing the foil.
  6. The buttons on the right side of the machine, indicating the cup size, will start to blink.
  7. Choose your cup size.
  8. Some brewers will start brewing as soon as you choose the mug size; with others, you’ll have to press the brew option. 

Remember to discard the used K-cup. Make sure the coffee chamber is unlatched and open between uses.

What Are the Different Types of Keurigs?

Keurig coffee machine

The first Keurig coffee maker was introduced in the early 1990s, and their product range has expanded considerably since then. They come in various colors and sizes to suit all brewing needs and budgets.

These brewers can be broadly categorized into the following groups:

Single-Serve Coffee Makers

These coffee makers are the primary focus of Keurig’s product line. From portable and slim models to brewers designed with large reservoirs, these convenient machines are available in a variety of sizes.

Although all of these models brew faster than drip coffee makers, some are more powerful than others and can make a cup of coffee in less than a minute. 

A great option for first-time users is the Keurig K-Express Coffee Maker (on Amazon).

Drip Coffee Makers

Typically, Keurig is known for its single-serve brewers; however, some of their models can even brew up a whole pot. Although these brewers can still provide you with a single cup of coffee, drip coffee makers offer more flexibility for meetings and entertaining. 

Slightly bigger than single-serve coffee makers, Keurig drip coffee makers (on Amazon) are still a good option for small offices and kitchens.   

Commercial Coffee Makers

The Keurig commercial coffee makers are fast, convenient, and easy to clean. They make it possible for offices and retailers to offer hassle-free and fast refreshments to their customers. These brewers have become so common nowadays that you’ll find a Keurig in a hotel lobby as well as in your mechanic’s waiting area.   

These commercial models range from compact in-room brewers for motels and hotels to large bean-to-cup multi-drink models suitable for convenience stores and restaurants. 

Keurig In Room Brewing System

The Keurig K-Cup In Room Brewing System (on Amazon) is ideal for hotels that want to offer in-room coffee to their guests. Its simple one-button operation makes it easy for everybody to use. Furthermore, operation instructions are printed on the side of the brewer in the form of pictures, making it easier for even international guests to understand. 

Its auto-shut feature ensures that there’s no energy wastage, while its compact size makes it suitable for even the smallest hotel room.  

Keurig Bean-to-Cup Coffee Maker

The Keurig bean-to-cup coffee maker doesn’t make use of K-cups to brew coffee. It’s equipped with a built-in grinder and special spots to keep flavor powders.

These brewers can make anything from a mochaccino to cappuccino to black coffee. The built-in color touchscreen makes it very simple to select your preferred size, drink, and strength. 

Irrespective of the kind of business you have, you’re sure to find a Keurig commercial coffee maker that’s perfect for your needs.

K-Cafe Coffee Maker

The Keurig K-Cafe coffee maker (on Amazon) is ideal for people who want something different from a normal cup of coffee. Designed with an automatic milk frother, the K-Cafe allows you to choose from three brew settings namely cappuccino, latte, or cold froth, and 4 cup sizes. 

K-Latte Coffee Maker

With a Keurig K-Latte, you can make your K-cup serve as a base for a cappuccino or an iced latte. It’s equipped with two brew settings, allowing you to choose between a 2-ounce shot or a full cup. 

How to Choose the Right Keurig

With more than 50 models available, it can be a bit daunting to choose a Keurig model that’s just right for you. To simplify this process, we’ve listed some considerations below that should be kept in mind while looking for your next Keurig brewer:

Cost

Keurig coffee makers fall into different price ranges, with the most economical one starting at around $50 and the most expensive unit costing around $250. Consider the amount of money you want to spend and ensure that you’re getting all the features you want for that price. 

Longevity

Typically, all Keurig coffee makers come with a one-year warranty; however, with proper cleaning and maintenance, they are known to last for up to five years or more. Make sure to flush your machine at least once a month and clean out the limescale build-up with a descaling solution or vinegar.    

Cup Size

All Keurig machines are designed with at least three basic cup sizes, with the amount ranging between six, eight, and ten ounces. If you prefer a stronger brew, you can select the smaller cup size. Keep in mind that the cup size you choose also affects the number of brews your machine can produce before running out of water.

Water Tank Capacity

For people who tend to drink only one cup of coffee every day, a Keurig with a small water reservoir won’t be an issue. However, if you’re a heavy coffee drinker, it’s best to choose a machine with a large water tank to avoid refilling it continuously.

Aesthetics

Keurig coffee makers are stylish, space-saving machines that blend perfectly with any kitchen style. These versatile brewers help to enhance the aesthetics of offices and break rooms as well. 

Brew Strength Options

Some Keurig machines also come with settings that allow users to select their brew strength accurately. These units are more suitable for people who have specific preferences or in places where some people prefer stronger coffee and others prefer a weaker brew.

Auto-On

All brewers from Keurig come with an auto-off function, but there are only a few models that have an auto-on option. With this feature, you can set your machine to brew a cup of coffee at a designated time in the future. This is highly desirable for people who want to wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee.  

User Interface

All Keurig machines are very easy to operate, even for people who have some difficulty with technology. However, instead of buttons, some advanced models are designed with an LCD touchscreen display with customizable wallpaper and a nightlight. These units look quite futuristic but are likely to stretch your budget.

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