How to Descale a Keurig K-Supreme Plus: 6 Simple Steps

Cleaning your Keurig K-Supreme Plus is key to great coffee. Regular descaling keeps flavors fresh and your machine running smoothly for a long time.

In this post, we’re diving into descaling: what it is and how to do it for your Keurig K-Supreme Plus (including K-Supreme and K-Supreme Plus Smart models). Plus, we’ll tackle your top questions about cleaning your Keurig and share plenty of useful tips.

What Scale Is in a Keurig K-Supreme?

Scale is like a pesky blockage in your coffee maker, caused by hard water. Minerals like magnesium and calcium in your water stick around in your Keurig, leading to clogs and messing with your coffee’s taste.

Wondering if your water is hard? Check if it appears slightly milky as it flows from the tap. Also, a quick look at your faucets or shower heads can tell you a lot – a chalky buildup is a clear sign of hard water in your home.

Water always contains minerals, meaning your coffee maker, like the Keurig K-Supreme Plus, will need descaling eventually. Yes, even with filtered water, hard water build-up is inevitable. So, it’s important to stay on top of cleaning!

Cleaning Vs. Descaling Your Keurig K-Supreme Plus

You probably know a bit about cleaning and descaling your coffee maker, especially regarding hard water buildup.

It’s important to know: cleaning your Keurig first makes descaling more effective. This step truly gets your coffee maker’s system sparkling clean! 

Keeping your coffee maker sparkly involves a few easy steps. Start by taking out the used coffee pod. Then, sweep away any stray coffee grounds. Don’t forget to wipe off the leftover coffee oils from the brewing chamber. Simple, right?

If your Keurig looks a little grimy, it’s time for a clean-up and maybe even a descale. Regular cleaning is a daily must, but descaling? That’s just a few times a year task.

How To Descale A Keurig K-Supreme Plus

Step 1: Ready your machine

To descale your Keurig K-Supreme Plus, begin by getting it ready. If you’ve just used it, give it some time to cool down before you start. This ensures it’s safe to handle and ready for cleaning.

Next, remember to take out any pods from your machine if you haven’t already. Also, if your machine uses a charcoal water filter in the water tank, it’s time to remove it. You might need to gently twist it to pull it out.

Step 2: Add the cleaning solution

Time to descale your coffee maker! If you have Keurig’s descaling solution, follow the bottle’s instructions. No solution? No problem! Mix equal parts vinegar and water instead. Fill the reservoir completely with your chosen cleaner.

Step 3: Catch the waste

Place a ceramic mug under the pod chamber of your machine, as if you’re about to make a cup of coffee. Opt for a large mug – you’ll be draining the whole reservoir into it.

Step 4: Run the descale cycle

First, plug in your Keurig K-Supreme Plus but keep it off. Then, on top of the machine, find the symbols for the 12-ounce and 8-ounce coffee options.

Hold both buttons down together. Keep them pressed for 3 seconds. Remember, the machine must stay on, or you won’t enter the descaling mode.

When it’s working, the K-light on top will blink. Soon, a “descaling” light will appear, signaling it’s time to clean your machine.

Hit the K-button once it lights up.

Imagine making the worst cup of coffee ever, but instead of coffee, your mug is filled with a descaling solution. It’s a crucial step for a clean machine!

Expect to empty your mug 5 times before you’re done brewing.

Step 5: Rinse the machine

After all the cleaning solution has passed through the machine, a light will flash, signaling it’s time to refill the water tank. Simply remove the tank, give it a few rinses to wash away any leftover residue, and you’re all set to brew again!

Fill it with fresh water, but hold off on replacing the filter for now.

Turn the K-light back on, then press it to fill your mug. Repeat this around five times to fully empty the reservoir.

If your machine seems off but asks for more water, it’s not done yet. Go ahead and do the steps one more time. After the second round, give the water tank another good rinse. Trust us, you don’t want your next coffee to have even a hint of vinegar or cleaner taste!

Step 6: Finish up

Power up your Keurig K-Supreme Plus. Notice the cool neon lights showing “strength” and “temperature” settings.

Replace the filter.

This process should reset the descale light on Keurig K-Supreme Plus.

How Often Should I Descale A Keurig K-Supreme Plus?

To keep your coffee tasting great, it’s key to descale your machine every 3 to 6 months. If you’re in a place with hard water, you might need to do it more often. Also, if your coffee starts tasting off, your Keurig brews slower than usual, or shows a prime message, it’s time for a clean.

How Will I Know If I Need to Descale?

The Keurig has a handy warning light, kind of like a mini neon sign. On the Keurig K-Supreme Plus, you’ll find this light right on top, easy to see. It’s a useful feature to keep an eye on! 

Plus, your coffee maker might start looking chalky. It won’t work as smoothly, and water will drip slowly through its tiny parts.

Just like a shower head can get clogged with hard water, your coffee machine can too. Over time, those pesky deposits block the pipes and spouts. If you’ve seen this happen at home, your coffee maker might be facing the same issue.

Hard water can really mess with your coffee. It might change how much your Keurig makes, mess up the taste, or even make it cooler. Trust us, none of these changes are good news.

Do I Need a Special Descaling Solution?

No need for fancy cleaners! A simple mix of half white vinegar and half water usually does the trick for regular descaling. However, if your coffee machine has heavy buildup, this vinegar solution might not cut it.

You can also get a special Keurig descaling solution made just for your machine. It’s designed by Keurig, so it’s guaranteed to work perfectly with their coffee makers.

This powerful blend tackles tough buildup better than white vinegar and is designed to be kinder to your Keurig’s sensitive pipes. If you choose the manufacturer’s descaling solution, always follow the bottle’s instructions to mix it correctly.

What’s Next?

Want your coffee to taste amazing and feel like it’s giving you superpowers? Make sure to clean your Keurig often! Minerals from water can build up in your Kuerig K-Supreme, K-Supreme Plus, or Keurig K-Supreme Plus Smart, making your coffee taste off and your machine sluggish.

To make your Keurig last longer, taking good care of it is key. No matter which model you own, a bit of TLC ensures your beloved coffee k-cups taste perfect every time. Check out these tips to keep your Keurig brewing smoothly.