How to Use a Reusable K-Cup in Your Keurig Machine

Save money (and help the environment) with reusable K-cups

Co-authored by Rich Lee and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: January 30, 2026 Fact Checked

You love how quick and convenient it is to brew a cup of coffee with your Keurig, but the cost of all those K-cups? Not so much. Rather than tossing out a K-cup every time you want more coffee, putting in a reusable filter lets you use any fresh grounds you have at home. Not only does a reusable K-cup cut costs at the grocery store, but it also prevents single-use cups from piling up in landfills. Even though there are multiple reusable K-cups out there, they all work the same way. Keep reading to find out how to fill, load, and clean your reusable K-cup so you can enjoy a hot cup of joe whenever you want.

Things You Should Know

Fill your reusable K-cup with coffee grounds up to the fill line for the coffee size you’re brewing.
Secure the lid and place the K-cup into the holder on your Keurig machine. Close the lid and press the button to start brewing your coffee.
Empty out the grounds and rinse the reusable K-cup under warm water.
Wash your K-cup weekly with soapy water or in your dishwasher’s top rack.

1

Remove the cap from the K-cup.

Unscrewing or popping open the cap lets you fill the filter. If your reusable K-cup has lock symbols on the cap, turn the cap counterclockwise to unlock and lift it off of the filter. If your K-cup has a hinge instead, simply flip the cap open.^{[1]
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- The Keurig Universal Reusable Filter can fit any model of Keurig machine, but other reusable cups may only be compatible with certain models. Check the K-cup’s packaging to see which Keurig machines they work with.

2

Fill your K-cup with coffee grounds.

Coarse grounds work best for reusable K-cups. You can use store-bought grounds or grind your own coffee. If you’re brewing a single cup, fill the reusable K-cup to the first line. For a travel-sized mug, add grounds up to the second line.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Rich Lee
Coffee & Food Program Director, Spro Coffee Lab

Expert Interview} Put the cap back on after you add the grounds.^{[3]
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- Avoid filling the K-cup past the max fill line at the top since it could make your Keurig clog.
- Reusable K-cups are only meant for coffee, so avoid filling them with loose-leaf tea or any other powdered drinks.
- Using finely ground coffee for espressos can clog the mesh screen on the K-cup.

3

Put the K-cup in your Keurig.

Loading the reusable K-cup is the same as using a standard K-cup. Just lift the handle on your Keurig machine to open it up. Then, just set the K-cup inside of the holder so the arrow printed on top lines up with the arrow on your Keurig machine. Then, slowly lower the handle to close your Keurig again.^{[4]
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- If you have a Classic Series Keurig machine, remove the gray adapter on the bottom of a Keurig Universal K-Cup before putting it in your machine. If you have a 2.0 Plus machine, then leave the adapter attached.
- If the K-cup doesn’t fit properly, you may need to remove the original K-cup adapter. Lift the handle on your Keurig to expose the circular adapter that normal K-cups fit inside. Pull the adapter straight up to remove it from the machine. Then, slide the reusable K-cup into the slot so the printed arrows line up.^{[5]
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4

Run your Keurig to brew your coffee.

Your coffee will be hot and ready within a few minutes. Set your cup underneath the Keurig’s spout. Fill your Keurig’s tank with water and press the button that matches the size of the cup you want to brew.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Rich Lee
Coffee & Food Program Director, Spro Coffee Lab

Expert Interview} Run your Keurig through the brew cycle completely before you take the cup from under the spout.^{[7]
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- If your Keurig doesn’t run, try opening the machine’s lid and closing it again to ensure it has a secure fit. If that still doesn’t work, check that the K-cup isn’t too full.

5

Empty the grounds.

Leaving grounds in the K-cup could cause it to clog. Give the K-cup a minute or two to cool off. Then, carefully pull the reusable K-cup out from the holder. Undo the cap and dump the grounds into your trash can.^{[8]
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- Alternatively, add the coffee grounds to a compost bin to add nutrients to a garden.
- Avoid dumping your coffee grounds down your sink drain since they could clog the pipes.

6

Rinse your K-cup after each use.

Hold the K-cup upside-down under warm running water so the residual grounds can rinse out. Then, run water through the top of the cap to clear out any clogs. Set your K-cup out to air-dry completely before you use it again.^{[9]
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7

Wash your K-cup weekly.

Cleaning your K-cup with soap helps remove buildup in the mesh. Gently scrub your K-cup with a washcloth soaked in soapy water to help get rid of any grounds that are still caught in the mesh. Alternatively, set the reusable K-cup upside-down on the top rack of your dishwasher and run your normal cycle.^{[10]
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Warnings

If your Keurig has problems dispensing coffee, the K-cup may be overfilled. Empty some coffee from the filter, but be careful since it could contain very hot water.^{[11]
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Clean your Keurig every few months to help prevent clogs.^{[12]
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