The best part of owning a Keurig Supreme is having a fresh cup of brewed coffee every morning, but that can quickly turn sour if the machine isn’t kept fresh and cleaned often.
The number one way to take care of your favourite coffee machine is to descale it. To help you out, we have curated a comprehensive guide on how to descale Keurig Supreme with answers from the company itself and some homemade solutions for a quick fix.
We’ll also cover ways to avoid having scale buildup and fix any mechanical errors when descaling Keurig Supreme.
So here’s a how-to guide you won’t want to miss if you love having a good cup of coffee in the morning.
How to Descale Keurig Supreme – Official Keurig Answers
A step-by-step guide on how to descale Keurig Supreme has been highlighted by the company itself. This takes the guesswork out of the situation and eases the process. Here’s everything that you’ll need:
- Keurig Descaling solution (pouch/bottle)
- Distilled water
Here’s what you need to do:
- Empty out the water reservoir and pour in the Keurig descaling solution.
- Add distilled water to the reservoir (if you have the descaling solution bottle, fill it with water after emptying it out or add 3 cups of water if you have the descaling solution pouch).
- Empty out the K-Cup pod holder, then place a large mug on the drip tray.
- Power off the brewer (press and hold the 8oz and 12oz buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds).
- After Descale mode is activated, it will start flashing, which is your cue to press the brew button.
- The machine will now start descaling. Keep pressing the brew button until ADD WATER lights up.
- Rinse the water reservoir thoroughly, then fill it again with distilled water up to the MAX line.
- Press the brew button again to start the rinsing process.
- Continue pressing the brew button and let it rinse itself until DESCALE notification turns off.
Can a Descaling Solution Be Prepared at Home?
Yes, there are many alternatives to using a Keurig descaling solution, and most of them can be prepared right at home. Using homemade descaling solutions is better than buying branded ones as they are readily available, cost-effective, and can be prepped in bulk.
The number one ingredient for a homemade descaler is white, distilled vinegar. Instead of adding a branded descaler pouch or bottle, you could use a natural, inexpensive, and effective method to clean your Keurig Supreme. Though the scent of vinegar does linger in the coffee, it fades after a couple of brews, and it’s better than adding unknown chemicals into the reservoir.
If you just can’t get past the scent of vinegar, try using citric acid pellets. They will not leave a weird taste or smell in your coffee and have a lower pH than vinegar. Simply pour in 3L of water mixed with 1 tbsp citric acid pellets into the water reservoir and start brewing. Then, rinse with distilled water 3 to 4 times until it runs clear.
You could also use baking soda or lemon juice to descale your Keurig Supreme, but the former has a lengthy process, and the latter requires a lot of elbow grease.
How to Descale a Keurig Supreme With Vinegar?
The most common and readily available method to descale a coffee machine is using white, distilled vinegar. It is natural, effectively removes the scale buildup, and costs half as much as a branded descaling solution.
To descale a Keurig Supreme with white vinegar, here’s what you need to do:
- Pour in 20 oz or at least 4 cups of white, distilled vinegar into the water reservoir.
- Add equal parts water and let it sit for at least 30 minutes before starting the brewing process.
- To get rid of the vinegar taste and lingering scent, pour distilled water into the reservoir and run the rinse process until the smell is gone.
Make sure to avoid pouring in balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or any other flavored vinegar. It can clog up the insides of the Keurig Supreme and be a mess to clean up afterward.
It is also important to let the vinegar sit for at least 30 minutes before brewing to help it break down and dissolve the mineral deposits effectively. The more the vinegar sits in the Keurig Supreme, the longer you’ll have to rinse with distilled water to get rid of the smell and taste of acid in coffee.
Here’s Why the Descale Light Won’t Turn off and How You Can Fix It Easily
Thanks to its smooth brewing, multiple coffee options, and easy process, the
Keurig Supreme is one of the best and most purchased coffee machines.
However, it does have a common problem – the descale light sometimes does not turn off. It has been affecting many users and turning them against descaling their machines, which can cause problems in the long run.
The descale light on the Keurig Supreme may light up for two reasons, and they are:
- The Keurig Supreme needs a thorough cleaning.
- The water flow inside the Keurig Supreme is blocked or restricted.
The main solution to turn the descale light off is to clean it using a descaler, branded or homemade. If that doesn’t work, try seeing if the water flow in the Keurig is restricted by buildup or a bad pipe.
If you have descaled the Keurig Supreme and the water flow doesn’t seem to be restricted from the inside, it could be the exit needle underneath the K-cup that is causing the problem.
Coffee grounds, the wrong descaler, or even filter particles can build up at the exit needle and prevent coffee from coming out. Simply take a needle and clean the gunk.
Why is Descaling a Coffee Machine Important?
When ground coffee is regularly brewed in a machine, it can build up in the small crevices. But that is not the only thing that can hinder your Keurig’s performance.
When minerals like calcium deposits or scale from the water used start building up inside, you’ll notice that brewing becomes slower, and your cup may not fill up with coffee as much as it is supposed to.
Since the mineral build-up is non-toxic, it will not affect your health in any way but may break the coffee machine if left for too long. To fix this, it is recommended that users descale their coffee machine once every few months and clean the rest of the parts weekly.
Tips on How You Can Prevent Scale Buildup in a Coffee Machine?
Though it is non-toxic, scale buildup can be quite harsh on the performance of the Keurig. To prevent it, here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Do not use hard water.
- Keurig recommends using spring water. It makes the coffee taste better and does not cause scale buildup.
- Distilled water is the best way to avoid scale and calcium deposits, but it will affect the taste of your coffee.
- Filter your water.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I clean my coffee machine?
Experts recommend cleaning out your coffee machine weekly. This includes the exterior, the drip tray, the water reservoir, and the pod holder. You can replace the filter every two months. Where descaling is concerned, once every three months is enough or whenever the coffee machine’s descale light turns on
Will descaling the Keurig with vinegar leave a bad taste in my coffee?
No, descaling with distilled vinegar may leave a faint smell in the coffee but it does not affect the taste. The key to effectively using vinegar to descale the coffee machine and get rid of the smell is to properly rinse with distilled water once the brewing process is complete.
Can I use detergent while cleaning my Keurig Supreme?
No, using any chemicals other than proven homemade descalers or branded descaling solutions will leave a toxic residue, a soapy scent, and a bitter or chemical-like aftertaste in the coffee. Detergents are not meant to descale the machine, will not rinse off properly from the Keurig, and must be avoided.
Final Thoughts
Since its humble beginnings in Ethiopia, coffee beans have come a long way, and appliances like the Keurig Supreme have transformed brewing methods.
Like everything in life, the coffee machine runs on a give-and-take policy. It gives you a smooth, freshly brewed coffee every morning. In return, it needs to be cleaned weekly and descaled every few months.
Now that you’ve read our guide, we hope you’ve learned how to descale Keurig Supreme, its importance, and alternatives to branded solutions. We also hope you’ve found answers to some common problems and noted all the ways to prevent scale buildup in the first place.