Getting rid of coffee taste in my brewer

by Brenda Scannell
(Greensburg PA USA)

QUESTION:

We have the k-cup brewer. My husband drinks coffee - no problem. I drink tea - problem. How do we get rid of the stale coffee taste in the k cup holder in order to brew a decent cup of tea or cocoa? Thanks.


ANSWER:

Good question. I also use my Keurig brewer to make tea and hot chocolate.

With the hot chocolate, I don’t really notice any lingering coffee taste. And if I did, I probably wouldn’t mind. : )

But you’re right about the tea, particularly herbal teas.

The answer lies in keeping the lower half of the brew head clean.

First, I take out the K-Cup holder and give it a good wash and rinse. Then I take a large bottle brush to the inside of the lower half of the brew head, followed by wiping all the interior surfaces I can reach with some kitchen towel. It’s a pain to get to all the surfaces, so I probably only do this once every week or two.

But when you don’t do it at all, a layer of fine coffee residue builds up, and that is the source of the taste-transfer when you make tea.

But the news isn’t all bad. As it’s your husband who makes the coffee, it can be his job to do the cleaning! : )