As a latte lover, you might have wondered, or even been tempted to, put milk into your Keurig in an attempt to make a delicious milk-based coffee beverage. However, do not do this. I repeated, DO NOT PUT MILK INTO YOUR KEURIG COFFEE MAKER. You will ruin the machine by doing so.
To understand why this is, we will briefly discuss how Keurig machines work. Furthermore, we will also go over the better options for making milk-based coffee beverages, rather than breaking your Keurig!
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How Keurig Machines Work
Though there are various models of machines made by Keurig, they all basically function the same.
You take your single serve coffee pod, called a K-Cup, and put it into the machine. Once you close the lid, the coffee pod gets punctured. The needle that punctured the pod has a secondary function. It also pumps water.
After you close the lid where you inserted the pod, you pour water into the reservoir. The machine will then heat the water and pump it through the needle into the coffee grounds.
Finally, delicious hot coffee begins to pour into your cup.
Not mentioned, is the water filter in the water reservoir or the pressurized hoses that the water passes through. These are hugely important parts of the Keurig machine, and two big reasons not to put milk into your machine!
Why It is a BAD Idea to Put Milk into Your Keurig Machine
As previously stated, there is a water filter in the water reservoir. The operative word in that sentence is WATER. Your Keurig was designed to move and filter water only. If it did not wreck the filter immediately, milk would surely wear it down much faster.
Next, you should realize that milk burns due to naturally occurring sugars (namely, lactose). This means that whatever internal workings the heated milk encounters are going to end up with a layer of scalded milk, which will be impossible to clean.
Plus, coffee is made by running hot water through grounds, not milk. Which means, even if you managed to successfully run milk through the machine, you would only end up with weird coffee flavored milk, not a latte.
All around, it is just a bad idea. Even if you just run water through your machine, you still need to maintain it.
Keurig recommends replacing the water filter every two months, or 60 brews. Plus, you need to use the Keurig Descaling Solution every 3-6 months. Keurig basically recommends using the Descaling Solution every other filter change to keep your machine in tip top shape.
So, if using water makes it require that kind of maintenance, imagine what using milk would do!
What are Alternatives to Putting Milk into Your Keurig Machine?
Okay, so you know not to put milk into your Keurig machine, but you still love a decadent latte or cappuccino. So, what do you do? What are your options?
Option 1
Heat and froth your milk separately. Need a milk frother? Check out our post, “Best Milk Frother for Almond Milk, Soy Milk, Dairy Milk” for some guidance!
Option 2
Purchase milk pods. Milk pods are typically made from dry whole milk. Now, the issue here is that Keurig doesn’t make these milk pods, so you may have to hack your machine to get them to work. Which is another way to damage your machine. Then after you make your milk pod, you would still have to brew your coffee.
Option 3
Get the K-Café Special Edition Single Serve Coffee, Latte & Cappuccino Maker. Instead of having to brew coffee and then make a milk pod (that you really shouldn’t be using in a Keurig), or brewing coffee and heating and frothing your milk separately, get you a machine that does both!!!
This bad boy is an all-in-one coffeehouse brewer that will allow you to brew your favorite coffees, creamy cappuccinos or frothy lattes. The best part is that you do it all in one place, so it’s effortlessly simple. Plus, the frother is dishwasher safe, because convenience is key!
With this machine, you can make coffee shots, control brew strength, choose your cup size. It even allows you to brew 6 cups before having to refill the water reservoir. Plus, it reminds you when to maintenance it, helping you keep this gem in pristine condition!
In Conclusion
Never, ever, ever put milk into a Keurig. It is pretty much the quickest way to ruin your Keurig Coffee Maker You are likely going to damage your filter and pressurized hose. Plus, any other machine parts that the scalding milk comes into contact with. Even just using water, as you should, requires you to maintenance your machine in some way every two months.
However, you don’t have to sacrifice making milk-based coffee beverages in the convenience of your own home just because you can’t put milk into your Keurig. There are a few options. Some more convenient than others.
The first thing you can do is heat and froth your milk separately, a perfectly viable option. However, this can be a bit time consuming.
The next thing you could do is purchase milk pods, but these aren’t meant to go into your Keurig because they are made by a different company. In fact, depending on your Keurig, it might not even be possible to use them.
Finally, your last option is to get a K-Café Special Edition Single Serve Coffee, Latte & Cappuccino Maker. If you love your Keurig machine and you love milk-based coffee beverages, this is your best option. It allows you to brew coffeehouse quality coffees, lattes and cappuccinos right in your own home.
Plus, the milk frother is right there on the machine making this the most convenient way to froth! No secondary tools needed. Then, when you are done with your morning Mochaccino, just pop the cup and the milk frother right into your dishwasher!
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