How To Use Your Own Ground Coffee With Your Keurig My K-Cup Insert

Can you use your own ground coffee in a Keurig? You bet! When done correctly with the My K-Cup reusable filter, using your own coffee grinds is simple and convenient. It can be a great way to try a wider variety of good coffee too. Plus, you’ll save money and the environment at the same time.

The Pros & Cons of Using A Reusable Keurig Filter

Pros

• Variety: There are hundreds of K-cups to choose from, but for some of us that’s not enough. Maybe you have a favorite ground coffee brand that you love more than anything else. Or maybe you like to try lots of different types of brands, including local ones. Getting a reusable ground coffee insert is a convenient way to brew your favorite ground coffee using your Keurig for hot or iced coffee.
  
• Saving Money: Reusable filters can be quite economical compared to buying Keurig K-Cups. Regular K-cups can cost up to 75 cents each. If you buy a 12 oz bag of coffee beans for $8, you can make 16 cups from it. That’s only 50 cents per cup! You’ll get a better tasting cup of coffee too compared to brewing a regular K-cup twice.
  
• Sustainability: Keurig has made an effort to make the K-Cups easier to recycle, but sustainability is a big concern when it comes to single serve pod coffee makers. Just because the K-Cups can be recycled, doesn’t mean that people do it. That’s means a lot of plastic pods just end up landfills. When you switch to reusable filters, you are throwing away less plastic.

Cons

• Time: One of the most common reasons people buy Keurig coffee makers is because they are so easy to use. Pop in a K-cup, press a button and enjoy your drink. Using a reusable filter will require you to grind your coffee, measure it out and then clean it. It’s not a huge hassle, but it is less convenient than just using a disposable K-cup.
  
• Only For Coffee: The reusable filters cannot be used to prepare tea, hot chocolate, or other powder-based drinks. You’ll have to get the regular plastic K-cups if you want to use your brewer to prepare these types of drinks. Or you can just use your Keurig to make hot water and prepare the drinks in your mug.

The Best Keurig Reusable Inserts For Ground Coffee

My K-Cup (New Design)

The newest version of the Keurig My K-Cup filter was designed to include MultiStream Technology. If you look at the top of the filter, you’ll see several holes instead of a single hole in the earlier version and in most off-brand models. This design allows more water to flow through the ground coffee. The result is more flavor and aroma when you use it to brew. The removable lid makes filling and cleaning easy. The official Keurig reusable filter is made of durable plastic and is BPA-free. It is top-rack dishwasher safe which makes cleaning a snap. It is compatible with all Keurig home coffee maker models.

Off-Brand Reusable Keurig Filters

You can also find several highly rated off-brand ones on Amazon. The main advantage of these is price. If you want to have a handful of these reusable filters around, you can get them for less than buying several of the branded ones. However, you must be sure to check the details on the product page to determine whether or not this filter is compatible with your Keurig model.

Carafe Gold Tone Mesh Filter (For K-Duo & K-Duo Essentials)

If you have a K-Duo model, you can use your coffee maker to brew carafes. There are carafe K-cups, or you can use this Gold Tone Mesh Filter with your own coffee grounds. It holds up to 15 tablespoons of regular coffee, or 12 of decaf. Unlike the My K-Cup, the gold tone mesh filter can only be washed by hand.

How To Use The New My K Cup Universal Reusable Filter

1. Pop out the pod holder in your Keurig machine.
2. Unless you have a Keurig 2.0 or Plus model, you need to remove the gray plastic adapter from the bottom of the My K-Cup filter. Grab the top with one hand. With your thumb on other hand, push down on the adapter opening while grasping the base.
3. Turn the lid counter clockwise to unlock it. This will allow you to remove the gray basket from the black holder.
4. Take the lid off. Add in your ground coffee. There are two max lines – one for a cup size and one for a travel mug. Fill to the max line for whichever size you are making. Do not fill above the max line!
5. Replace the lid and return the filter to the black holder. Turn the lid clockwise to lock it. Don’t turn it too far as you can break it.
6. Put the reusable insert in your brewer. Make sure the white arrow faces the back of the Keurig.
7. Lower the brewer handle. Select your desired drink size (I recommend 6 oz for a stronger cup).
8. Discard the used grinds from the filter. Take it apart completely before washing. Wash by hand with warm soapy water or in the top rack of your dishwasher.

How To Use The Gold Tone Mesh Coffee Filter For K-Duo Carafes

1. Fill the water tank to the max line.
2. Lift the basket cover and insert the gold mesh filter.
3. Add your grinds to the filter. The recommendation is to use one tablespoon of grinds per cup of coffee. Never use more than 15 tablespoons of regular coffee or 12 of decaf. If you do, it may overflow.
4. Close the filter basket and put the carafe of the warming plate.
5. Press the power button and then select the carafe size. Press the brew button to begin.
6. When done, discard the used grinds. Rinse the gold mesh filter, and wash it by hand with warm soapy water.

How To Use A Paper Filter With Ground Coffee For A K-Duo Carafe

If you don’t have the Gold Tone Mesh Filter, you can use the paper filter brew method to make a carafe in your K-Duo machine.

1. Fill the water tank to the max line.
2. Lift the basket cover and insert a paper filter.
3. Add your grinds to the filter. The recommendation is to use one tablespoon of ground coffee per cup of coffee. Never use more than 15 tablespoons of regular coffee or 12 of decaf. If you do, it may overflow.
4. Close the filter basket and put the carafe of the warming plate.
5. Press the power button and then select the carafe size. Press the brew button to begin.
6. Discard the used paper filter when done.

What Grind Size Is Best To Use For Keurig Machines?

You can use pre-ground coffee or prepare the ground beans yourself if you have a coffee grinder. What grind for Keurig reusable filters is best? You’ll want coarser coffee grinds. Keurig recommends starting with coarser grinds similar to what you would use in a french press. If you find that the water is going through too quickly and the coffee is weak, you can try something in between a coarse grind and medium fine grind. You just want to avoid fine espresso grind as the grinds will either clog the insert or pass through it and end up in your cup.

How Much Coffee Do You Put In A Reusable K-Cup?

Depending on the model you get, the reusable filter will likely hold anywhere from 10 to 17 grams of ground coffee. Most experts recommend around 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for an 8 oz drink. 2 tablespoons is generally weighs around 10 grams.

Ground Coffee In Keurig Troubleshooting

These are some of the most common issues people have when using a Keurig reusable filter with their own ground coffee. The good news is they are all very easy to correct.

Why Your My K-Cup Reusable Filter Doesn’t Fit

There are two reasons why you might be finding your Keurig brand My K-Cup filter isn’t fitting in your machine. Before inserting, you have to pop out the K-Cup pod holder. Then, unless you have a Keurig Plus series or Keurig 2.0 model, you need to remove the gray adapter at the bottom. Grab the top with one hand. With your thumb on other hand, push down on the adapter opening while grasping the base. It will pop right off. My K-Cup filter should easily fit in your coffee maker. If you are using an off-brand reusable insert, it’s possible you bought one that is not compatible with your model.

Taking Long Time To Brew With Reusable Insert

When you are filling your reusable K-cup, there are two mistakes to avoid. First, you should never fill it past the max indicator line. Second, you shouldn’t press the grinds down inside the pod in an attempt to fit more coffee in. Compacting the grinds will make it harder for the water to pass through them. It will slow down the brewing process and block up your Keurig which isn’t good for your machine or end up in your cup.

Coffee Tastes Watered Down

Many Keurig models will give you the option to brew different cup sizes. 6, 8 or 10 oz is most common, though some new models also have a 4 oz and 12 oz option. However, you’ll get the best cup if you choose the 6 oz size when using your reusable adapter. You can try 8 oz too, but beyond that you’ll likely just end up with a coffee that is watered down. If you like dark roasts and stronger brews but you want a bigger size, I suggest brewing coffee in 6 oz single cups twice, with new grinds in the filter each time.