Many Keurig coffee machines offer the option to use a water filter, but is it necessary to operate the machine?
A water filter isn’t required for the function of your Keurig brewer, but it improves the quality of your coffee and prolongs the life of your coffee machine.
However, there are instances when you can alternate the water filter for other options that will give you the same results.
Understanding the Basics: What Does a Keurig Water Filter Do?
To fully appreciate the benefits of using a water filter for your Keurig, it’s important to understand the basics of how water filters work and the role they play in ensuring the quality of your brewed coffee.
Water filters are designed to remove impurities and contaminants from tap water, resulting in cleaner and better-tasting water.
Before it even reaches your home, tap water goes through a purification process at a water treatment facility. This process involves the removal of various impurities such as sediment, bacteria, and chemicals. However, even after purification, water can still pick up additional impurities and contaminants as it travels through old pipes and plumbing systems.
This is where a water filter comes into play. By further filtering the water that comes out of your tap, a Keurig charcoal water filter can remove any remaining impurities, ensuring that the water used in your coffee brewing is of the highest quality.
When You Should or Shouldn’t Use The Water Filter
If you used bottled or already filtered water in your Keurig, then there’s no need for the water filter kit. The water filtration has already been done. However, if you are using tap water, the use of a water filter cartridge is highly recommended.
So it’s a matter of how you want to filter your water. Using the water filter cartridges is less expensive than using bottled water and is an environmentally friendly option.
Why Using It Is Recommended for a Better Cup of Coffee
When it comes to enjoying a satisfying cup of coffee, every detail matters. From the quality of the beans to the brewing method, each element contributes to the final taste and aroma. But have you ever considered the role of water in your coffee?
Using a water filter for your Keurig can make a significant difference in your coffee experience, enhancing the flavor and aroma of each cup.
How Water Composition Affects the Taste of Coffee
Water makes up 98% of your coffee brew. The composition of the water used can greatly impact the flavor and overall quality of your coffee. Different regions have varying water compositions, with minerals, chemicals, and impurities that can alter the taste of your coffee.
Unfiltered tap water may contain chlorine, which can result in a bitter taste. Hard water, which contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium, can affect the clarity and flavor of your coffee.
By using a water filter cartridge for your Keurig, you can make your coffee taste a lot better.
Filtered Water Prolongs the Life Of Your Keurig Machine
The benefits of using a water filter for your Keurig extend beyond immediate taste improvements. Consistently using a water filter can also have long-term benefits for your coffee maker.
One of the main advantages is the prevention of mineral buildup in your Keurig. Hard water can leave mineral deposits, known as scale, in the internal components of your coffee maker. Over time, this scale can affect the machine’s performance, leading to clogs, slower brewing times, and even damage.
Using a water filter helps to reduce the mineral content in the water, minimizing the risk of scale buildup. This not only improves the lifespan of your Keurig but also ensures that it consistently brews high-quality coffee cup after cup.
If you’re experiencing a Keurig that alerts you to descale the machine more frequently than usual, hard or unfiltered water can be the main cause.
Which Water Filter Works with My Keurig?
Keurig’s water filter cartridges work on all models interchangeably. Whether you have a model with a side reservoir and long handle or a rear short handle, the cartridge is the same.
Also, you don’t have to buy Keurig’s own branded water filter kits. Many brands make Keurig-compatible water filters like Roobi, which offers a complete cleaning kit that includes 6 water filters, a descaling solution, cleaning tablets, and a cleaning pod filter.
Options for Keurig Models with No Water Filter Handle
Small Keurig brewers like K-Mini don’t have a water reservoir, but a small tank that you fill with fresh water for every brew.
In this case, you must use filtered water like bottled water because the machine itself doesn’t have the option of filtering the water for you.
You can use either:
- Bottled Water
- A water pitcher with a built-in filter (like Brita, for example)
What Happens If You Don’t Replace the Water Filter In Your Keurig
As I mentioned earlier in this article, a water filter is not required for your Keurig brewer to function. So if you don’t replace the water filter, your coffee machine will continue to brew as normal.
But soon enough, you’ll start to notice some problems with the brewer:
Bad coffee quality: the first thing you will notice is a change in the taste of your usual cup of coffee. Without a water filter, your coffee will contain unwanted minerals and residue that will reflect in the taste of your coffee.
Increased descale alerts: using non-filtered water causes a quicker build-up of limescale and minerals in your coffee machine. So you’ll start noticing the descaling alert coming on more frequently.
Temperature and performance issues: when a Keurig starts to fill up with scale and minerals, it starts to underperform. The coffee temperature starts to drop or you’ll face issues like leaking or clogging.
Where Is the Water Filter Located And How To Change It
The water filter cartridge is a small pod-like object that goes inside the water reservoir of your Keurig. The pod goes inside a handle that is fixated inside the reservoir.
To install a new water filter cartridge, follow these steps:
- First, you’ll want to soak the new filter in water for 5 minutes. Then rinse it.
- Open the lid in the filter handle and insert the cartridge in the upper part of the handle. Snap the lid back to secure the water filter cartridge.
- Place the water filter handle inside the reservoir and make sure it locks into its place.
Water filter cartridges should be replaced every 2 months or every 60 water tank refills. It all depends on your usage of the machine. If you don’t use your Keurig daily, you won’t need to replace it as much.
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