How to Use a Reusable K-Cup in Your Keurig Machine

Save money (and help the environment) with reusable K-cups

Co-authored by Hunter Rising

Last Updated: February 18, 2023 References

You love how quick and convenient it is to brew a cup of coffee with your Keurig, but the cost of all those K-cups? Not so much. Rather than tossing out a K-cup every time you want more coffee, putting in a reusable filter lets you use any fresh grounds you have at home. Not only does a reusable K-cup cut costs at the grocery store, but it also prevents single-use cups from piling up in landfills. Even though there are multiple reusable K-cups out there, they all work the same way. Keep reading to find out how to fill, load, and clean your reusable K-cup so you can enjoy a hot cup of joe whenever you want.

Things You Should Know

Fill your reusable K-cup with coffee grounds up to the fill line for the coffee size you’re brewing.
Secure the lid and place the K-cup into the holder on your Keurig machine. Close the lid and press the button to start brewing your coffee.
Empty out the grounds and rinse the reusable K-cup under warm water.
Wash your K-cup weekly with soapy water or in your dishwasher’s top rack.

1

Remove the cap from the K-cup.

Unscrewing or popping open the cap lets you fill the filter. If your reusable K-cup has lock symbols on the cap, turn the cap counterclockwise to unlock and lift it off of the filter. If your K-cup has a hinge instead, simply flip the cap open.^{[1]
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- The Keurig Universal Reusable Filter can fit any model of Keurig machine, but other reusable cups may only be compatible with certain models. Check the K-cup’s packaging to see which Keurig machines they work with.

2

Fill your K-cup with coffee grounds.

Coarse grounds work best for reusable K-cups. You can use store-bought grounds or grind your own coffee. If you’re brewing a single cup, fill the reusable K-cup to the first line. For a travel-sized mug, add grounds up to the second line. Put the cap back on after you add the grounds.^{[2]
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- Avoid filling the K-cup past the max fill line at the top since it could make your Keurig clog.
- Reusable K-cups are only meant for coffee, so avoid filling them with loose-leaf tea or any other powdered drinks.
- Using finely ground coffee for espressos can clog the mesh screen on the K-cup.

3

Put the K-cup in your Keurig.

Loading the reusable K-cup is the same as using a standard K-cup. Just lift the handle on your Keurig machine to open it up. Then, just set the K-cup inside of the holder so the arrow printed on top lines up with the arrow on your Keurig machine. Then, slowly lower the handle to close your Keurig again.^{[3]
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- If you have a Classic Series Keurig machine, remove the gray adapter on the bottom of a Keurig Universal K-Cup before putting it in your machine. If you have a 2.0 Plus machine, then leave the adapter attached.
- If the K-cup doesn’t fit properly, you may need to remove the original K-cup adapter. Lift the handle on your Keurig to expose the circular adapter that normal K-cups fit inside. Pull the adapter straight up to remove it from the machine. Then, slide the reusable K-cup into the slot so the printed arrows line up.^{[4]
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4

Run your Keurig to brew your coffee.

Your coffee will be hot and ready within a few minutes. Set your cup underneath the Keurig’s spout. Fill your Keurig’s tank with water and press the button that matches the size of the cup you want to brew. Run your Keurig through the brew cycle completely before you take the cup from under the spout.^{[5]
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- If your Keurig doesn’t run, try opening the machine’s lid and closing it again to ensure it has a secure fit. If that still doesn’t work, check that the K-cup isn’t too full.

5

Empty the grounds.

Leaving grounds in the K-cup could cause it to clog. Give the K-cup a minute or two to cool off. Then, carefully pull the reusable K-cup out from the holder. Undo the cap and dump the grounds into your trash can.^{[6]
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- Alternatively, add the coffee grounds to a compost bin to add nutrients to a garden.
- Avoid dumping your coffee grounds down your sink drain since they could clog the pipes.

6

Rinse your K-cup after each use.

A warm water rinse prevents grounds from getting stuck in the screen. Hold the K-cup upside-down under warm running water so the residual grounds can rinse out. Then, run water through the top of the cap to clear out any clogs. Set your K-cup out to air-dry completely before you use it again.^{[7]
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7

Wash your K-cup weekly.

Cleaning your K-cup with soap helps remove buildup in the mesh. Gently scrub your K-cup with a washcloth soaked in soapy water to help get rid of any grounds that are still caught in the mesh. Alternatively, set the reusable K-cup upside-down on the top rack of your dishwasher and run your normal cycle.^{[8]
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Warnings

If your Keurig has problems dispensing coffee, the K-cup may be overfilled. Empty some coffee from the filter, but be careful since it could contain very hot water.^{[9]
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Clean your Keurig every few months to help prevent clogs.^{[10]
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