For coffee lovers, the type and quality of their coffee beans are crucial to making a perfect cup of joe, but most don’t give much thought to the water they use.
Bad water can easily ruin the taste of coffee. After all brewed coffee is 98% water.
In addition, the type of water you use in Keurig coffee makers also affects their longevity. As minerals in water can cause scaling build-up inside the machine, which eventually leads to clogging and leakage problems.
So, What’s the best water to use in Keurig?
It’s always a best practice to use filtered or bottled water in Keurig. As well as preparing the most flavorful cup of coffee, filtered water has the perfect amount of minerals, typically less than 100 ppm, which leads to less scaling inside the machine and a perfect cup of coffee.
Let’s take a closer look at the different types of water you can use in your Keurig, but first, let’s discuss why it actually matters which water you use.
Why you should care about the water in Keurig?
The major concern with the water you are using in your Keurig is the hardness of the water.
Minerals in hard water, such as calcium and magnesium, accumulate inside the valves and tubing of Keurig coffee makers, which causes clogging and blockages inside the machine.
You can test the water hardness level using this kit.
Generally, if the hardness is below 100 ppm, it is acceptable. It is strictly not recommended use water with hardness above 200 ppm as it will require frequent descaling of the machine and may also seriously damage your machine.
Don’t get me wrong here and don’t start using distilled water that is completely free from minerals to make coffee.
A trace amount of Minerals in water are useful in extracting flavors from coffee grounds and preparing a delicious cup of coffee.
Here are the standards of water from the Specialty Coffee Association:
- Total dissolved Solids (TDS) of 75-250 ppm
- Calcium Hardness 17-85 ppm
- pH of 6-8
What is the best water to use in a Keurig?
The water you use in Keurig for brewing coffee is very important. Below are the four common types of water and why or why not they are a perfect fit for your Keurig.
Bottled Water
Bottled mineral water is perfect to use in a Keurig brewer.
Not all bottled water is the same! You can use purified or filtered spring water that contains some amount of minerals. But don’t use distilled water in your Keurig.
Why can you not use distilled water in a Keurig?
Distilled water is a pure mixture of hydrogen and oxygen that goes through a boiling or reverse osmosis process to remove all the minerals.
Although distilled water is perfect for the machine and prevents the buildup of minerals but it’s still not perfect for brewing coffee.
As mentioned earlier, a trace amount of minerals are required for the perfect extraction of flavors from coffee beans and actually enhance the flavors of your drink.
Moreover, some Keurig machines don’t allow you to make coffee using filtered water as they have sensors to detect mineral content in water.
Tap water
Filling the water reservoir directly from the tap is the easiest way, but it may be problematic in some cases.
The quality of tap water varies from place to place. Some locations have better drinkable water while other locations have very bad quality water.
You can use tap water in Keurig if it’s drinkable and has less amount of minerals.
Do some research and find out whether the water in your area is good or not and how much mineral content it contains.
Never use undrinkable tap water in your Keurig machine (It’s obvious though! I don’t why I am saying that)
Filtered water
Purified Filtered tap water is also the best option for Keurig and probably the most convenient and affordable option.
There are plenty of options when it comes to water filters that you can attach directly to your tap. Make sure you research the purity of your tap water before choosing a water filter as not all water filters are the same.
Water filters for Keurig
If you are using tap water it is recommended to change the cartridge water filters present inside the Keurig water reservoir.
These filters remove chlorine, calcium, and other impurities in the water to improve the taste of your coffee and better the functioning of the machine.
Also Read: Do all Keurig have Water filters
Final Thoughts on Best Water for Keurig
With Keurig, you can use any type of water you want. The types mentioned in the article are recommended to make the machines work properly and to make beverages that taste better.
I personally use filtered tap water to brew coffee in my Keurig Elite. It’s only because I prefer some amount of minerals in water as it delivers high-quality coffee.
I don’t really prefer to use distilled water in Keurig mainly because I don’t like the taste. Anyways, you can use it if you like the taste.
FAQs
How Long Can You Leave Water In Keurig Reservoir
Water can safely be left in a Keurig for 1-2 days, as the risk of being ill from that water is low. However, don’t use the water which is left in Keurig for more than 2 days as there is a possibility of contamination from bacteria growth, water staleness, and mineral deposits.
How Often You Should Descale Keurig?
It is recommended to descale Keurig once in every 3 to 6 months or after brewing 300 cups of coffee whichever comes first.
Descaling on time is very important for the proper functioning of the machine. Otherwise, minerals in water can cause scaling buildup that can damage your machine.
