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How To Use the Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker

The Keurig Mini is the smallest of all the Keurig models as well as the one using the least amount of power. There are many pros to the Mini, the most obvious of course being its small size. If you’re lacking kitchen counter space or even looking for a coffee maker for your RV, the Mini might be the perfect solution for you. Not only is it small, but it’s also light-weight. This makes it the perfect Keurig if you need to take it with you somewhere.

There are certain ways to brew a cup of coffee and clean a Keurig Mini that will help you get the most out of your coffee maker.

The good news is that operation between all their small form coffee makers is much the same, be it the Keurig Slim or Mini or even the Mini Plus.

How To Brew The Perfect Cup

The Keurig Mini does not have a removable water reservoir or options for cup size when brewing. It will only brew how much water you pour into the reservoir, so you’re in charge of how large of a cup you would like, between 6 and 12 ounces. The best way to get the perfect amount of water is to use the mug that you want to use for your coffee. Fill it up however much you want your coffee to fill, and then pour that amount of water into the reservoir.

If you’re trying to fill up a travel or taller mug, you can remove the drip tray. Once you remove the tray, you can fit a mug up to 7 inches. If you’re wanting a stronger cup of coffee, pick the smallest cup option at 6 ounces. If you prefer a larger, weaker cup of coffee, the 10 or 12-ounce option would be best for you.

Some K-cups give instructions on how much water you need to get the ideal flavor. For example, most Starbucks K-cups give instructions to use with 8 ounces of water. You can use the level markers on the side of Keurig Mini to make sure you get exactly 8 ounces of coffee. Be sure that your mug can hold 8 ounces in order to prevent spillage.

Also see: How Many Watts & Amps Does a Keurig Use?

Once you’re ready to brew, there’s only one button to press on the Keurig Mini saving you from figuring out what buttons to press. All you have to do is lift up the handle and put in your K-cup, close the handle, and press the button on top. You will hear the water pump turn on and see the water disappear from the reservoir. It takes about a minute to heat up the water, and then it will begin brewing your coffee. As soon as your Keurig mini is finished brewing your cup of joe, it will shut itself off.

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How To Keep Your Keurig Mini Clean Between Uses

It’s always best to take the K-cup out of your Keurig when you’re finished using it. This will help  prevent buildup in the needle. The Keurig Mini does cause a little bit of backsplash, so it’s a good idea to wipe down the area above the drip tray fairly often. You should wipe out the drip tray often, as there might be some droplets falling out of the machine after you grab your cup of coffee.

To keep the inside of the machine clean, you can tip the needle area with a damp cloth. Be careful when cleaning this area, as the needle can be damaged. To clean out the cup area, pinch on the sides and push up from the bottom.

Once you take the cup basket out, you can split the two sections apart and clean the inside. If your needle gets clogged, you can use a small object to push through and clear the buildup out of it. It is not recommended to put these parts in the dishwasher, but you can run them under warm water and use a sponge or rag to clean them. Once you’re finished cleaning them, just snap the parts together again. When you’re ready to put the basket back in, the words written on it should be facing you. Make sure the basket snaps all the way back into the chamber.

The water reservoir is not removable, so the best way to clean it is with a damp rag or sponge. This area only ever holds water, so it shouldn’t get too dirty. However, it’s still a good idea to wipe it down occasionally to prevent buildup and preserve the flavor quality of the coffee.

Running A Cleaning Cycle Through Your Keurig Mini

Every now and then you can run a cleaning rinse through your Keurig. Basically, you’ll run a brewing cycle without a K-cup inserted in the basket. You can fill the reservoir all the way to 12 ounces and then press the start button. The machine will heat up the water, but since there is no K-cup, the hot water will simply clean out the appliance. Make sure you still have a mug to catch the hot water that comes out. You can see in the coffee mug if any coffee grounds come out. It’s likely that the water will be discolored. If the water that comes out is very dirty, you can run a cleaning rinse again or consider descaling your Keurig.

How to Descale Your Keurig Mini

Keurig recommends that you descale your brewer every 3 to 6 months. This will help preserve your Keurig coffee machine by clearing out the buildup of minerals, saving the heating elements and other parts that come into contact with water. Descaling will also keep your coffee tasting top quality.

How often you need to descale your Keurig will be affected by how often you use it and what type of water you use. Tap water is high in minerals and will clog up your appliance quicker than filtered water. You can read more about the best type of water to use with your Keurig here.

While some people recommend descaling your Keurig with vinegar, the Keurig brand cautions against this. According to their website, the acidity in vinegar varies greatly across types or brands. Vinegar could end up doing more harm than good, and damage your coffee maker.

Instead of vinegar, they recommend you use Keurig brand descaling solution. This is the only solution that is approved for cleaning any of the Keurig models. Descaling your Keurig is a very similar process to running a cleaning cycle. Instead of using plain water, you will run the descaling solution through the Keurig. Follow the descaling solution instructions carefully in order to get the most out of the process.

If your Keurig is producing foam during this process, that means there was a lot of buildup in your coffee maker. If this is the case, you might have to follow special steps to clean a system with extra build-up.

Keurig Mini Ideal Usage

If you follow these tips and tricks, you’ll not only get the best possible coffee from your Keurig Mini, but you’ll also set yourself up for success in the future. By keeping your coffee maker clean and buildup-free, you’ll continue to get the most delicious cup of coffee for years to come!

home > Quick Questions > How To Use the Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker

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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