How to Use Your Keurig Coffee Maker & Reusable Filter

The best thing we bought recently was the Keurig B31 Mini brewing machine. We don’t have a lot of counter-top space so I didn’t want one of those large units with the huge water tanks on the side, so we opted for the personal Keurig coffee maker. It requires that you put enough water in for each cup of coffee you want to make but is fine with us. When we set it up you would think we would have read the manually but noooo, who does that. So, it took us a few times to actually follows the steps – which are easy and laid out for you on the machine in bright blue lights – before we knew what we were doing.

Since I thought maybe other people also do not read manuals or look for indicators on the machine on how to use it, why not write up a quick set of instructions with pictures to show you how to use your Keurig machine properly.

First, turn on the the Keurig coffee maker. A blue indicator light will flash showing you that you need to open the top lid. Lift the lid.

Inside this water reservoir area you will see a piece of plastic that shows you the cup sizes and ounces needed for each to make that size cup of coffee. This is kind of what confused me because the indicators have holes in each so you think you need to pour the water directly in those holes for it to work properly. I am inquisitive by nature so I removed that piece of plastic to find that it has nothing to do with anything but to let you know how much water you will need to make a specific size cup of coffee.

We use a measuring cup for the water to make sure we are getting the right amount each time but as you get used to your Keurig machine you probably won’t have to do this. Once you have the right amount of water to make the size cup you want, pour the water ANYWHERE in the reservoir area. Remember, you don’t have to pour it on those holes.

Close the water reservoir lid. Now you will see a blinking light indicating that you need to open the Kcup compartment. Lift the handle and then put your Kcup inside. Close the Kcup compartment and then you will hear the water gurgle down into the machine. Make sure you let ALL of the water go into the reservoir or it won’t brew.

Now the large BREW button will blink blue. Press that once and wait for your coffee to be brewed. While the coffee is brewing the light will change from blue to red indicating that it is working. You do not need to press this button but once and definitely not when it is blinking red.

In 30 to 60 seconds your freshly brewed cup of coffee will be ready to enjoy and maybe, if you’re lucky you will have a cool Star Trek mug to put it in.

If you have a larger cup you can remove the tray that the cup sits on. There is a small button on the top left that you press down and the slide it right out.

You can easily clean this tray if needed by removing it and then removing the silver drain section on the top.

Note: if you put more than 10 ounces of water in the Keurig it will overflow into the drip tray below. We have tested it over and over and it does the same thing everytime. You won’t know there is water in there either because it is just enough to be under the drain piece and doesn’t show. You don’t see it drip down either. Eventually you will know when it comes over the top. You should check from time to time to make sure it’s not full of water. If all of the water won’t drain into the Keurig it could be because the drip pan is full of water.

We received the My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter with our Keurig coffee machine. Some people we talked to said their My K-Cup filter actually leaked but we didn’t have a problem and I want to show you probably why.

With the My K-Cup Filter you get the grey housing unit, twist on lid, and filter basket that goes inside.

To use it, first you MUST remove the black filter unit that is inside of the Keurig machine. Lift the handle where the KCup is placed and remove it. If you don’t remove it and try to just put the filter basket inside it will definitely leak. If you try to put the entire My K-Cup Filter unit inside it won’t fit.

To get a full-bodied cup of coffee, just like a K-Cup would make, you will need to put 1-1/2 Tablespoons of ground coffee into the K-Cup filter and 10 ounces of water to make the largest size this personal Keurig can make. We use Maxwell House, French Roast ground coffee when using the filter to make out own.

The My K-Cup Filter unit is going to replace the existing black filter unit inside of the machine. Using the My K-Cup Reusable filter is a great way to own a Keurig and save money by using your regular coffee and not buying KCups.

We love our new Keurig coffee maker. It is so convenient and I can make a cup of fresh coffee or hot tea whenever I like. It is definitely faster than waiting for water to boil for tea or making a whole pot of coffee. And, with the reusable filter it is affordable too.