How to use ground coffee in a Keurig machine?

Do you know how to use ground coffee in a Keurig machine? I must admit, we have a great Keurig coffee machine (K-Mini Single Serve) at my parents and the coffee it makes tastes fantastic. But I must admit that grinding your beans and brewing coffee is hands down the best way to go. So how to use ground coffee in a Keurig machine? Let’s go over a few essential aspects that you should know before brewing a Keurig beverage with ground coffee.

Can you actually brew Keurig coffee with coffee grounds?

The answer is a resounding Yes, but you’ll need to be creative and use a few things that aren’t featured in the machine including a mesh filter or flat-bottom paper filters for the carafe side or a reusable filter for single cups.

How to use the Keurig universal reusable filter with coffee grounds

Let’s take a look on how to go about using the universal reusable filters with coffee grounds.

Keurig Universal Reusable Filter components

Keurig universal reusable filter consists of four elements:

• a plastic housing
• a demountable adapter at the bottom
• and a filter that gets into the housing
• And a lid

The filter’s price is at $15.99 and its maximum capacity is 17g of ground coffee.

Let’s now go over the steps you should take to make Keurig coffee with ground coffee:

• Holding the housing firmly, spin the lid of your Reusable My K-Cup Universal Filter counterclockwise to unlock. The filter basket can be removed by opening the lid.
• Coffee grinds should be added to either the single-cup line or the travel cup line in the basket.
• Turn the cover to the “lock” position, place the filter cap on, and place the filter in the holder. Remove the filter basket, put the cover on it, then put the basket into the holder if the cover is not snug. To lock, turn the cover clockwise.
• Push the K-Cup holder from the bottom of the brewer while lifting the handle to release it.
• To replace the K-Cup pod holder, place the reusable filter in the brewer with the arrow on the lid pointing toward the brewer and away from you.
• Snap the handle shut. Make sure the water level in your brewer’s reservoir is at the fill level.
• Prepare your coffee in the required volume.
• Remove the used grounds by opening the handle. Take pleasure in your hot coffee.

How to Brew a Carafe of Coffee in a Keurig Using Ground Coffee

You can use either the flat-bottom paper filters or the gold-tone mesh filter to brew ordinary coffee in a Keurig carafe coffee machine.

1. How to effectively use Keurig Gold-Tone Mesh Filter

The Keurig Duo Single Serve and Carafe Coffee Makers and the K-Duo Essentials are two models that can brew coffee in a carafe and are compatible with the gold-tone mesh filter. (Do you know how to clean an espresso filter the right way?)

Here’re the steps you need to take:

• To a coarser to medium grind size, grind your beans. Did you know that you can regrind your coffee
• The mesh filter should have 1 tablespoon of coffee grounds added to it for every 6 ounces of water, or a 1:18 brew ratio. To make a stronger or weaker brew, you can change the coffee ratio.
• The reusable carafe filter should be inserted into the handle opening on the carafe side of your brewer before you close the handle.
• Put a carafe on the auto drip tray for the carafe and you’re good to go.

(Make sure the water tank is filled to the top and brew your coffee in a carafe.)

2. How to Use a Paper Filter in a Keurig Carafe Brewer with Ground Coffee

It’s essential to know how to use your coffee maker. Likewise, Here’re the steps to take:

• Your flat-bottomed paper should be rinsed in warm water to get rid of the papery flavour.
• Insert the paper filter carefully into the coffee maker’s handle on the carafe side.
• Close the handle after adding the grounds.
• Verify the reservoir’s capacity.
• On the carafe side of the drip tray, place a carafe.
• Make some coffee.
• Open the handle, carefully remove the wet filter from the brewer after the brewing is finished, and then throw the filter and the grinds away.
• In a cup, pour some coffee, and then indulge.
• The K-Duo, K-Duo Plus, and K-Duo Essentials are all compatible with these PureHQ biodegradable single-use paper filters.

Grind size on a Keurig

Similar to other coffee makers, the size of your grind affects the process when using ground coffee in a Keurig. Starting with a grind size more akin to that of a French Press (coarser grind) is what  Keurig advises. To discover the ideal grind size for your brew, work your way up to a medium to medium-fine grind.

A finer grind will clog the reusable filter and cause the brewing process to take longer or be stopped entirely. The filter basket will allow very fine grounds to pass through and get into your coffee cup (and you don’t want that to happen).

Grounds to Water Ratio in a Keurig

As a great rule of thumb coffee grinds should be used at a ratio of 1-2 teaspoons per 6 ounces of water. You can modify the amounts of grounds to create a ratio that meets your needs using this ratio as a rough guide.

5 Benefits of Using Coffee Grounds in a Keurig

Here are five good reasons to use coffee grounds in your Keurig:

1. Drink great coffee

Your coffee will taste better if you use fresh grounds in your Keurig. Let’s face it, freshly ground coffee tastes great. And you can always increase the strength of your brew by changing the coffee-to-water ratio.

2. Make your brew the way you like it

With various coffee beans, you can customise and use your favourite coffee beans to create a brew that you’ll really relish.

3. Spend less on coffee

Compared to a single-serve pod of coffee, a tub costs less and provides more product. And unlike K-cups, which are exclusively compatible with single-serve brewers, you can use the same batch of coffee in multiple coffee makers, such as pour-over coffee makers. Talking of saving money, it’s also important to know how many watts your coffee maker uses to keep your electricity bill as low as possible.

4. A more sensible decision

It is more practical to use coffee grounds in a Keurig, particularly if you live somewhere where K-Cup pods are not readily available. Most supermarkets and convenience stores carry coffee beans in stock.

4. Save the planet

The Keurig is more environmentally friendly when coffee grounds are used. You do away with the frequent disposal of K pods.

Mistakes to avoid when brewing coffee with Keurig and reusable pods

Let’s go over common mistakes we can avoid when brewing coffee with Keurig and reusable pods:

Don’t fill your pod up too much

I know some of us can’t resist the temptation of filling the pods too much with coffee, but it’s no good doing this; it blocks your machine and it also forces it to work harder to brew your coffee. Also it’s good to give the needle a good wash before using it, otherwise your Keurig is going to brew just half a cup each time.

Use your machine’s smallest cup setting

6,8 or 10 oz are the most common cup sizes a Keurig coffee machine has. So this means the bigger the cup size the weaker your brew will be. If you crave a strong coffee cup, you should go for 6 oz.

Use freshly brewed Carrabassett coffee

Whether you’re partial to organic, blonde roast or Arabica coffee beans it’s wise to keep them in an airtight box in your cupboard, keeping them away from moisture and sunlight.

How to make coffee in a Keurig without K-cups

Who needs K-cups? Let’s walk through the process of making coffee in a Keurig without K-cups

What you’ll need:

• Ground coffee
• Reusable K-Cup filter

Brew your coffee in 3 easy steps:

1. Fill the filter with coffee grounds up to either of the two lines (travel mug or regular).
2. Just put the filter into your Keurig, the same way you would with a K-cup and put the lid on.
3. Once you’re done with the brewing you’re good to go.

Wrapping it up

So there you have it! Your guide to using ground coffee in a Keurig machine. It’s really not as complicated as it seems, and once you get the hang of it, you can enjoy your favourite blends without having to leave home. Did you know that Keurig has also a special feature for high altitude? If you have a Keurig Supreme, you can learn how to descale it here.

FAQ

Let’s go over two burning questions that many Keurig owners have.

What if your K-Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filter doesn’t fit

My K-Cup universal reusable filter includes a detachable converter that must be removed in order for it to fit in your brewer because it is incompatible with the Keurig Classic series.

By pressing firmly on the adapter aperture with your thumb while holding the top of the filter housing with your other hand, you can separate the adapter and use the reusable universal filter with the K-Classic series coffee machine. Place the filter into your brewer and set the adaptor aside.

What Is The Best Possible Way To Clean Up Reusable Coffee Filters?

A reusable K-Cup or a reusable gold-tone filter should be cleaned by:

• Take off the brewer’s filter, then put the grounds in a trash bag.
• To get loose grounds out of the filter, run water through it.
• If your reusable filter can be washed on the top rack of the dishwasher, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• If the item isn’t dishwasher-safe or you don’t have a dishwasher, immerse the filter basket in hot water and stir the grounds out of the mesh with a plastic brush.
• Soak the basket overnight in a 1:2 solution of vinegar and water to get rid of tough oils and fine grinds.
• After soaking, clean away any remaining coffee grounds with a plastic brush.