How to Clean (Eliminate Mold in Water Reservoir) and Care for a Keurig and other Coffee Makers

Coffee has become an ubiquitous part of our society.  I can hardly function without my morning brew.  Recently, Keurig coffee makers have become very popular because of their convenience and the high quality taste of the coffee they brew.  These coffee makers brew single cups of gourmet coffee in just a few seconds.  But in order to keep the Keurig functioning properly and the coffee tasting great, users must clean their machine from time to time and care for it on a regular basis.  Here are some great tips to get the most from your Keurig!

Keurigs and other coffee makers can often get clogged with hard water buildup and function sub optimally. The best way to remove this buildup is to use white vinegar to flush it out. This process is also known as descaling the Keurig.

Pour an equal mixture of white vinegar and water into the water reservoir of your Keurig or coffee maker. Let this sit for a few minutes to clean the reservoir and clean up the water intake hole. Next, run this solution through the machine with no K cup inserted. If your Keurig has never been cleaned or is badly clogged, you may need to repeat the above process. Once you have run the white vinegar solution through your machine, you should run plain water three or more times to rinse out all of the vinegar before you brew coffee again. NOTE: If you have a Keurig that is not for single servings and has a large reservoir that is never empty, you will either need to rinse the reservoir out or run many more plain water operations through your machine.

One way to avoid the need to clean your Keurig is to use bottled water instead of tap water. Bottled water should have much less minerals than tap water and therefore will cause little or no buildup on your machine. Since using bottled water for your everyday coffee needs can get expensive, a more affordable alternative could be to use a filter such as a Brita to remove most of the mineral content of the water before you pour it into the reservoir.

Always use a clean cup to fill your machine. Using a dirty cup can introduce bacteria and molds to your machine which can affect the taste of your coffee and possible impact your health.

If you use a Keurig Mini or other single serving coffee machine, you may want to consider leaving the reservoir lid open when not in use. This will allow the water tank to dry. A wet tank that is not used for a few days will promote the growth of mold that will end up in your coffee the next time you use your machine.

Additionally, the platform tray that mugs are placed on should be removed and cleaned from time to time. Excess water and coffee are drained into this tray and can cause it to get pretty gunked up. If you use your Keurig often, this will likely have standing liquid and mold in it. Just use some dish soap and wipe away with a damp cloth.

I hope you found this Hub useful.  If you liked what you read, please rate this hub and/or leave a comment.  Thanks!