How To Clean Keurig Needle: Easy Maintenance For 2.0 & Other Models

When you brew a K-cup, there are needles inside your coffee maker that make holes at the top and bottom of the pod. This allows hot water to pass through the capsule and make its way to your cup. The ground coffee in the pods can get stuck around the needle. If left there, they will eventually become dry and hard. This is especially likely to happen if you don’t discard your pods soon after brewing. Keep reading to learn how to clean each Keurig needle to remove this buildup.

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Signs That You Need To Clean The Needles

If your coffee starts to taste bitter, it is probably because old brewed coffee grounds are falling from the needle into your cup of coffee. You may even be able to see them in your coffee mug.

Another sign that you needle to clean the needles is that your Keurig starts to take longer to brew, doesn’t make a full cup, or only drips slowly. The build up of coffee grounds in the needle will increase the time it takes for the filtered water to move through your brewer.

Keurig 2.0 machines will display needle maintenance messages when cleaning is needed, including the water under pressure error.

How To Clean Keurig Needle Using A Paper Clip

For other Keurig models you can use the paper clip method. To do so follow these steps, while using caution around the sharp needles.

1. Straighten one end of a paper clip.
2. Turn off the brewer and unplug it and remove the water reservoir.
3. Grab the sides of the pod holder and remove it from the brewer by gently pulling away.
4. Press the button on both sides to separate the holder from the housing. Push the lever to show the exit needle, then hold it down while flipping the holder over.
5. Insert the straight end of the needle and then move it around in a circle a few times. Rinse the pod holder with water and set it aside.
6. Open the handle and look underneath to see the top entrance and exit needles. Insert the paper clip in each and move it around to clean.

Keurig 2.0 Needle Maintenance Using The Needle Cleaner

The easiest way to do Keurig 2.0 needle maintenance on a regular basis is with the orange Keurig needle cleaner. Most models will come with one. However, if you lost yours you can buy a new one for just a few dollars.

1. Turn off the power. Unplug the machine from the wall.
2. Fill the silicone bulb in the middle of the brewer maintenance accessory with water.
3. Life the handle to open your brewer. Place the maintenance accessory in the pod holder. Make sure the arrows on the ring are pointing down. Push firmly down.
4. Raise and lower the handle five times to draw out coffee grounds.
5. Remove the brewer maintenance accessory. If you look inside the bulb, you’ll see the coffee grounds that were removed.
6. Perform a cleansing brew. You can use only water and no pod or, preferably, you can insert a cleansing rinse pod. Use your touchscreen to brew a 6 ounce cup, letting the hot water or cleansing rinse flow through the machine. When done, discard the cup’s contents.
7. Clean the maintenance accessory by washing with warm water and let it air dry.
8. Put the pod holder back into the machine. Make sure it clicks. Then put the water tank back in place.