How to Clean a Keurig Supreme: Descaling & Troubleshooting

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Learn to clean your Keurig Supreme and bypass the descale light

Co-authored by James Sears and Mason Martinez, BA

Last Updated: March 28, 2024 Fact Checked

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Descaling a Keurig Supreme

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Troubleshooting & Care Tips

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When you’re trying to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee, the last thing you want is a metallic taste. Mineral build-up causes this, and descaling helps prevent it. Fortunately, descaling a Keurig Supreme is an easy task that takes 15-20 minutes to complete. In this guide, we’ll teach you how to use a descaling solution or vinegar to descale your Keurig. We also talked to Professional Cleaner James Sears for tips on how to keep your Keurig clean for longer.

Best Way to Descale the Keurig Supreme

Pour equal parts water and Keurig Descaling Solution or vinegar into the empty reservoir. Place a mug on the drip tray to capture the solution after it’s run through.
Start the descaling process by holding the 8oz and 12oz buttons at the same time. Repeat until the ADD WATER light comes on. Empty the mug as necessary.
Fill the reservoir with fresh water and perform at least 12 rinsing cycles to keep the machine clean.

Section 1 of 2:

How to Descale a Keurig Supreme

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1
Prepare the Keurig with a 1:1 ratio of water and descaling solution or vinegar. While Keurig officially recommends using their Keurig Descale Solution, vinegar can work in a pinch. Pour a bottle of descaling solution or vinegar into the machine’s empty water reservoir. Then, fill the same bottle with tap water and add it to the water reservoir. Place a large (14oz or larger) mug on the drip tray to catch the solution once it runs through the machine. ^{[1]
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- Ensure the funnel or cup holder inside the brewer is empty. Do not place a K-cup inside.
- You can also purchase commercial descaling alternatives if you’re looking for other affordable and accessible options. Solutions may come in liquid, powder, or tablet forms. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to fill your machine.
Start with the machine powered off and ensure it’s plugged in. Then, hold the 8oz and 12oz buttons together for 3 seconds. Wait for the DESCALE light to turn solid. ^{[2]
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Repeat the descaling process until the ADD WATER light illuminates. Look for the flashing “K” brew button atop the machine. Press the brew button to start the descaling process . The solution will run through the machine and into the large mug. Once the cycle is complete, dump the hot liquid into the sink. Repeat this process until the ADD WATER light illuminates. ^{[3]
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- The entire process can take 15-20 minutes.
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Fill the water reservoir with fresh water to start the rinsing process. Empty and rinse the reservoir and refill it with tap water to the max fill line. Wait for a flashing brew light once the reservoir is in the machine. Press the brew button to start the rinsing process. Repeat this step until the DESCALE light turns off. ^{[4]
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- Keep an empty mug on the drip tray to capture the freshly brewed water. It can take 12 rinsing cycles.
- Now your machine is ready for a fresh cup of coffee!

Section 2 of 2:

Troubleshooting & Care Tips

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Many Keurigs have a built-in sensor and DESCALE light that will illuminate when it’s time. However, House Cleaning Professional James Sears recommends descaling every 3 to 6 months or upon visible notice of scale build-up. Look for white calcified spots in the machine or water reservoir.
Descaling removes mineral build-up from the machine and water reservoir. Sears explains, “The harder your water, the more often you should descale. A trick to avoid this would be to consider using distilled or bottled water with low mineral content.” It can lead to less scale build-up and less cleaning maintenance.
There could be two reasons why the descaling light isn’t going away. One reason is an insufficient descaling cycle caused by an improper descaling solution. Try another solution to see if that’s a problem. Otherwise, press the 8oz and 12oz buttons for 5 seconds, and the light will go away. ^{[5]
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Ensure the water reservoir has enough water to avoid overheating. Many Reddit users have experienced overheating or a complete breakdown after performing a descaling cycle. As you go through the cycle, ensure there’s sufficient water in the reservoir tank to keep the machine cool. Avoid running a cycle with minimal to no water or solution.
- One user recommended having at least 28 fl oz (56 US tbsp) of water or solution in the tank.
If you notice the brewer isn’t brewing, Keurig Supreme requires at least 6 fl oz (12 US tbsp) of water in the reservoir to brew. Add 2 fl oz (4.0 US tbsp) of water to be safe. Then, press the brew button to start the cycle. ^{[6]
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