How to descale a Keurig coffee maker – expert tips for great tasting coffee

Coffee makers have become a staple appliance in many homes, but with the extra coffee, convenience comes yet another home maintenance task. 

Cleaning a Keurig coffee maker is relatively easy, however descaling even the best coffee maker can be a hassle if you have never done it before, or are using the wrong products. 

Here, experts have shared their advice on how to descale a Keurig coffee maker and how to prevent build-up. 

How to descale a Keurig coffee maker

‘Descaling a Keurig coffee maker can not only help to make your appliance more hygienic, removing bacteria and mold but also helps the appliance to run more smoothly, removing stubborn calcium deposits that may be blocking your appliance's internal tank,’ explains Millie Fender, Head of Reviews at Homes & Gardens. ‘It helps to extend the life of your coffee maker, and keeps your coffee tasting as good as it did when you first brought your model home.’ 

There are hundreds of cleaning tips on the internet for descaling Keurig makers, but this is how the experts get it done. 

Millie Fender

I've been writing for Homes & Gardens since the beginning of 2021, covering all things product-related. A lover of al fresco dining, I'm always on the hunt for the best barbecues and pizza ovens for entertaining friends and family. 

1. Empty the reservoir of water and remove K-cups  

‘Prepare your brewer by emptying your water reservoir of water, removing any K-Cups, and the water filter if applicable,’ advises Diana Crane, director of consumer care at Keurig.

As with cleaning any coffee maker, it is best to do this with the appliance unplugged and cooled down.  

2. Pour descaling solution into the reservoir and add fresh water 

While you can descale a Keurig with vinegar, using the official Keurig cleaner will ensure there is no strange aftertaste left in your machine after cleaning. 

‘For most machines, you should pour the full bottle of descaling solution into the empty reservoir before filling the bottle back up with plain water and adding that in too,’ says Diana. ‘For Keurig mini machines, however, you should add around ⅓ of the bottle before filling the water up to the max fill line. Make sure to check your specific model's instructions beforehand,’ she adds.

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3. Place a large ceramic mug on the drip tray  

‘When it comes to descaling your Keurig machine, make sure to pick the largest mug you own to prevent any spillages as the solution passes through the machine,’ advises Millie Fender. ‘This mug should also be ceramic, as recommended by Keurig, to prevent any reactions between the solution, hot water, or limescale and another material.’  

4. Run ‘cleansing brews’ until the reservoir is empty  

A cleansing brew is a machine cycle without any K-pod, making it ideal for cleaning. ‘To run a cleansing brew, simply select the largest cup size and press brew, allowing the machine to cycle through,’ says Diana. ‘Empty the mug after each cycle and repeat the process until the fill reservoir light illuminates on the front of your machine.’

‘Some Keurig machines come with a descaling program built in. If yours has this, select this instead of running a plain brew to make the process a little quicker,’ Millie Fender adds. 

5. Allow the machine to stand for half an hour  

‘While leaving the machine turned on, leave it to stand for at least 30 minutes after the final cycle to allow any excess solution to drip from the machine,’ explains Millie Fender. ‘Make sure to leave a mug in place during this so you don't have more cleaning on your hands afterward.’  

6. Run a fresh water rinse  

Once the machine has stood, running a cleansing fresh water rinse will help rid your machine of excess solution. ‘Empty any remaining solution out of the reservoir and rinse with plain water before filling to the max fill line,’ says Diana Crane of Keurig. ‘Replace the reservoir and run large brew cycles (without a K-Pod) until the reservoir is empty once again. After this, any descale notification light should switch off.’ 

This fresh water rinse process is also advisable when cleaning any single-serve coffee maker, such as when cleaning a Ninja coffee maker to help refresh your system for great-tasting coffee. 

7. Add or replace the water filter  

Adding a Keurig water filter to your coffee machine, or replacing your old one, can help extend the time between descaling cycles and protect the lifespan of your coffee machine. 

‘To install a Keurig water filter, soak the charcoal cartridge in fresh water for five minutes before rinsing in fresh running water for a minute,’ begins Diana of Keurig. On the base of your machine's water filter handle, press the tabs on either side to separate it from the machine and add the cartridge before reattaching the handle. 

‘Insert the handle back into your empty water reservoir, making sure to push down firmly to ensure it is fully secure.’

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How often to descale a Keurig coffee machine  

‘You should aim to descale your Keurig coffee machine quarterly – or every three to six months,’ advises Diana Crane, ‘however, this can depend on the water you use and its mineral content. Harder water will cause a quicker build-up of calcium deposits than softer water,  which is why we recommend using bottled or filtered water. 

‘Your coffee machine will prompt you to run a descaling cycle, with the reminder only going away once you have run a descaling cycle. Although you can postpone the warning for six weeks, the sooner the descaling the better.’

‘If the brewer will be left unused for an extended period of time, for example over one month, it is wise to descale the coffee machine before putting it into storage,’ adds Diana. ‘You should then also run a descaling or cleaning cycle two or three times before using it again for coffee after the storage period.’ 

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Which is better, Keurig descaling solution or vinegar?  

While both Keurig cleaning solution and vinegar can be used to descale your machine, the official solution is gentler for your machine, helping to prolong the lifespan, and will not leave a lingering aftertaste. That being said, vinegar is much more affordable and readily available, making it okay to use in a pinch for quick descaling every once in a while.  

What happens if I don’t descale my Keurig?  

If you avoid descaling your Keurig, your machine will gradually become less efficient and nearly unusable. A build-up of calcium in the internal tank and pipes will eventually block the flow of water, causing spitting, steam, and loud noises along with poor-tasting, colder coffee. Leaving it for too long could permanently damage or break your machine.