It happens seemingly overnight. The quick cup of coffee you’re accustomed to takes longer to brew than usual. Maybe there’s an “off” smell or a slightly bitter taste that wasn’t there before. Perhaps it is all the above, but either way, the signs are clear: Your Keurig is crying out for some love and affection in the form of a proper descaling.
Most recent Keurig models have some sort of “time to descale” prompt that takes out the guesswork. The standard guidance is to descale every three to six months. Regardless, the great thing is that descaling your Keurig and getting back to that perfect cup again is simple.
The Solution
First, despite there being countless Keurig models, from compact to larger sizes, they all work in essentially the same way and can be disassembled and cleaned in much the same way, too. Second, there are commercially available descaling solutions that work great and are safe to use in the machines. However, you can concoct your own solution using equal parts of just two chemicals: tap water and of course, white vinegar. Because the only thing vinegar can’t do around the house is pay your bills.
How to Descale Your Keurig: The Process
To get started, empty the water reservoir and fill it to the maximum with your descaling solution of choice. Place a large mug or other container on the drip tray. Next, run a brewing cycle as you normally would, minus the K-Cup, then continue running several brew cycles until the solution completely runs out. Fill the water reservoir with clean water and continue to run brew cycles. Removable parts can be washed with dish soap and warm water.
Other Tips
- Before starting the descaling process, check the manual for specific instructions.
- If using vinegar and water to descale, taste the final cup during the clean water phase. That way you ensure that the vinegar taste is completely gone.
- If using the commercial descaler, follow the precise recommendations provided on the solution packaging.
- Descale every three to six months or as frequently as recommended by the manufacturer.
- If possible, clean the brewing needle with a paperclip or other recommended instrument.