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Can You Use Distilled Water in a Keurig?

putting distilled water in a keurig

Since water makes up a huge portion of coffee, it’s really no surprise that the type of water used to brew it will have an effect on the flavor of the coffee. There is much debate about what water is the best water to use when making coffee, but what it comes down to is personal preference.

That being said, not all Keurig machines can use distilled water.

While we zero in on the Keurig coffee maker in this article, note that you can use distilled water in most other expensive or cheap k cup coffee maker branded machines.

What Is Distilled Water

Water is distilled by being boiled and then condensed back into a liquid. During this process, 99.9 % of the minerals are removed. Many people assume that distilled water would make the best coffee since it has no impurities. Not only that, but Keurigs and other K Cup brewers tend to get mineral build-up, requiring you to descale your machine occasionally. Since distilled water has no minerals, you wouldn’t have this problem as often.

Some people think that distilled water will give coffee a flat taste, but others prefer it since it is impurity-free. Their argument is that because all of the natural minerals have been removed, you will diminish the flavor of the coffee. Distilled water is also known to break down some of the metal components in your Keurig.

Whether you have a personal preference for distilled water or you simply only have distilled water on hand, you might be wondering if you can use distilled water in your Keurig coffee maker or not. The answer depends on what model you have.

Also see: Can Keurig Make Hot Water?

Keurig 1.0

These were the very first Keurig machines. The generation of coffee makers that changed the game and made coffee preparation a breeze and simplified our mornings. Compared to the newer models, they are a bit larger in size and don’t have touch screen options. They are still a favorite among a lot of Keurig users and deliver a delicious fresh cup of coffee.

You can use distilled water with a Keurig 1.0 coffee maker. If you still have one of these older models, you will have no problem using distilled water to make coffee if that is your preference. Since these old machines did not use the same water sensors as the 2.0 models, you won’t encounter any issues.

If you do decide to use distilled water with your Keurig 1.0, keep in mind that this may affect the taste of your coffee. If you’re unsatisfied with the flavor, you can try playing around with different types of water. Another downside of using distilled water with your Keurig 1.0 is that it may affect longevity. However, water that still has minerals can clog up the machine and require descaling.

At the end of the day, both of these concerns come down to a personal preference. If you like distilled water, you can use it just fine with a Keurig 1.0.

Keurig 2.0

Keurig 2.0 is the second generation of Keurig machines. The technology on these machines took it up a notch. They can make your coffee in just a matter of seconds, offer a wide variety of additional options that the first machines didn’t have, and they have a more advanced interface.

One of the new technologies on these machines is their touch screens. Initially, when the Keurig 2.0 came out, they also had a technology to prevent consumers from using K-cups from other brands. However, buyer push back was too much for Keurig and they quickly back-peddled. Now you can continue to use K-cups from any brand with your Keurig machine.

Another added technology was a new water sensor, allowing the machines to sense when there was water in the reservoir or not. This new water sensor has now made it impossible to use distilled water with a Keurig 2.0. That’s because these new sensors use the mineral content to detect whether there is water present or not.

Since distilled water has no mineral content, the sensors do not register that there is water in the reservoir. Even if you have already added water, the machine will think the reservoir is empty. If the machine cannot sense any water present, it will not run the cycle to make your coffee.

For this reason, you cannot use distilled water with a Keurig 2.0.

What Type of Water Is Best for a Keurig?

There is a lot of debate when it comes to which type of water is the best to use with your Keurig. With options like tap water, spring water, filtered water, or distilled water, how are you supposed to know which one is best? Check out our guide on choosing the best water for your Keurig here <INSERT LINK>. We determined that filtered tap water is the best to use.

Distilled Water May Work Depending on Your Keurig Model

While distilled water might not be the most recommended option, if you have a Keurig 1.0 it will work in a pinch. If you’re dead set on using distilled water to make your coffee, you can still purchase one of the original generations of Keurigs to make your coffee. If you have a Keurig 2.0, you will have to find another type of water in order to crank up your machine.

home > Quick Questions > Can You Use Distilled Water in a Keurig?

Evelyn J Stafford

Evelyn is a Coffee enthusiast and writer for Wins Coffee Bar. Her work has appeared in Bean Scene, The Home Kitchen and other publications.

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