You spent countless hours finding the perfect coffee maker and settled on a Keurig. It worked great until it started tasting weird. Time for a thorough descale! No need to hunt for solutions—you’ve found the right guide. Let’s get your Keurig back to its one-button brewing glory.
Limescale, a buildup of calcium carbonate and magnesium from your water, is the culprit behind your Keurig’s issues. Over time, this buildup can clog your machine, resulting in bitter or burnt coffee. Descaling is essential for all coffee machines to keep them running smoothly. Using distilled or soft water can help reduce limescale buildup, but eventually, your machine will need to be descaled.
So, when should you descale your machine? Keurig recommends every three months, but if you’re in a coffee-loving household, every two months might be better. Some models will alert you when it’s time for a descale. Look out for an off-white, chalky buildup as a visual cue.
Descaling not only improves taste but also clears your machine’s reservoir and lines of bacteria and dirt. So what should you use? A manufacturer-recommended descaling solution or white vinegar? Both work, but there are trade-offs. Descaling solutions are designed to avoid damaging your machine’s components. Vinegar, while effective, can leave a smell and potentially harm rubber seals and gaskets in your Keurig.
If you opt for vinegar, start by detaching removable parts and cleaning them separately. Then, pour a mixture of two parts water and one part vinegar into the reservoir. Run brew cycles until the mixture is gone, then flush with clean water multiple times to remove any vinegar residue. Optionally, run a cycle with coffee grounds afterwards to ensure no lingering vinegar taste.
For a descaling solution, follow a similar process. Pour one bottle of descaling solution and an equal amount of water into the reservoir. Run brew cycles until the liquid is depleted. Some models need to rest for 30 minutes during the process—check your manual. Flush with clean water afterwards for about 12 brew cycles to remove any chemical residue.
Maintenance tips include changing your water filter every two months and using a rinse pod to clean out the brew head, especially if you use different types of pods. If descaling doesn’t solve your problem, there are troubleshooting tips available to address common Keurig issues.
Descaling your Keurig is straightforward and makes a noticeable difference in your coffee’s quality. Whether you choose vinegar or a descaling solution, regular maintenance will keep your brewer in top shape. Remember, a clean machine means better-tasting coffee every time.