Even if you have the best coffee maker, you can still run out of coffee grounds. That said, you can use K-cup coffee pods in a standard coffee maker if you’re in a pinch. In addition, you may want to use a K-cup coffee instead of a typical ground coffee. For example, some types of coffee are delicious but are only available in K-cup pods. So, if you want to learn how to use K-cups in a regular coffee maker, read on.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Use your fingers or a tool to open the top of the K-cup pod.
- Next, fill your coffee maker water tank with no more than 6 ounces of water.
- Pour your K-cup grounds into the filter basket and close it. Then, press the brew button to start the coffee maker.
If you know how to use a single coffee maker, you know that brewing coffee with a K-cup coffee pod is a convenient choice. That said, you can open them up and use them in a regular coffee machine. Keep in mind, you’ll need to use multiple coffee pods to make your pot of coffee strong.
You can follow this guide to source your loose grounds if you know how to use a drip coffee maker.
Insider Tip
Most K-cups are a single serving, so use multiple if you want to make a pot of coffee.
How to Use Coffee Pod Grounds in a Regular Coffee Machine
Tools: traditional coffee maker, coffee pod, paper or reusable filter
STEP 1 Open your Keurig K-Cup Pods
While using a standard coffee maker, the coffee pod capsule is useless. So, we need to open up the K-cup. Luckily, most use a thin seal that is easy to remove with scissors or your fingers. Remove the top of the K-cup and set it to the side.
STEP 2 Fill the Coffee Machine Water Tank
If you have a single-serve coffee maker, simply fill the water reservoir with hot water. For a standard machine, use 6 ounces of water per K-cup you use. If you get the water to grounds ratio right, you will have delicious coffee.
STEP 3 Fill the Bean Basket
You need 1-2 tablespoons of ground coffee per cup you want to make, so use multiple pods if you want more than one serving. Luckily, it only takes a bit of time to open additional K-cups if you want a stronger hot coffee. Place a coffee filter in the basket and then pour your K-cup coffee into the filter. Close the filter lid.
STEP 4Brew the Pot of Coffee
Now that you have the coffee filter ready, it is time to brew. Some models have smart-assistive features, but a basic coffee maker will have a Start or Brew button. Now, just wait for the brew time to end.
STEP 5 Serve and Enjoy
Grab your coffee cup and enjoy your amazing coffee. How you construct your coffee mixture is up to you, but feel free to add creamer and sweetener to taste.
Warning
Make sure to clean your reusable coffee filter, but only do so by hand. Most mesh filters are not dishwasher-safe.
F.A.Q.S
Is a Keurig worth it?
For a coffee drinker in a hurry, a Keurig coffee maker might be worth the cost. With a single-serve brewer, you don’t have to worry about a paper filter. It tastes better than instant coffee or the pour-over method.
How much regular coffee do you put in a reusable K-Cup?
Most K-cups hold enough coffee for a single cup of coffee, which is about 1 or 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds.
Is K-Cup coffee the same as regular coffee?
While the form factor is different, K-cup coffee is simply preportioned, loose coffee grounds. That said, most K-cups are single-serve, so they are inconvenient to use in large groups.
STAT: A recent survey from Gallup revealed that only 10% of coffee drinkers say they want to cut back. (source)
REFERENCES:
- https://coffee.org/pages/history-of-the-coffee-maker#:~:text=Ever%20wonder%20who%20invented%20the,the%20quick%20and%20easy%20answer.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/coffee-maker
- http://www.coffeeresearch.org/coffee/brewing.htmr
- https://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/schools/cas_sites/envstudies/pdf/Student%20Research/2015%20project%20paper/paper-1.pdf
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/pressed-coffee-going-mainstream-drink-201604299530
