Ready to get more from your Keurig? I use mine for tea, hot chocolate, ramen, and even oatmeal! It’s all because I know how to use my Keurig to get instant hot water.
Most people don’t know how to get hot water from Keurig machines, but it’s actually really simple.
In this guide, I’ll show the 4 simple ways to use your Keurig for hot water, so you can see how much more your Keurig can do.
Easy Steps To Get Piping Hot Water From Your Keurig!
All Keurigs can dispense hot water, but you need to know how to get hot water from Keurig coffee makers.
First, you need to make sure the water is hot enough. To do that, you need to fill the water reservoir, turn on the Keurig, and leave it for 2-3 minutes to get hot.
This will let the water reservoir in the coffee machine heat the water, so it's good to go.
Once it’s heated, there are 4 methods for getting hot water from Keurig machines:
1. The Hot Water On Demand Button Is Your Friend!
Keurig recognizes that sometimes you need hot water, so they designed the Keurig K Elite with a specific hot water button for dispensing just hot water. Here's how to do it:
- Put your mug or bowl underneath the brew head.
- Press the hot water button.
- Choose your cup size like you would with a K-cup coffee.
- Wait while the Keurig dispenses hot water.
- When the blinking brew button stops, the brew cycle is over, leaving you with a cup of plain hot water.
This is the easiest way to get hot water from Keurig machines, but unfortunately, only the Keurig K-Elite has this functionality.
Hopefully, other Keurig models add this functionality in the future.
2. Use The Disappearing K-Cup Hack
If your Keurig coffee machine doesn’t have a hot water dispenser, you can use the disappearing K-Cup hack. Here’s how:
- Place a coffee mug or bowl underneath the brew head like you would if you’re brewing hot coffee.
- Open the K cup holder but don't put a K cup in. Just pull the handle to close the K cup holder compartment again. This will make it think there's a K-cup pod inside.
- Keurig 2.0 models (like the Keurig K-Slim, Keurig K Select, and Keurig K Supreme) will recognize that there’s no pod and ask if you want hot water. Press continue. You'll then need to select a cup size for your hot water.
- Other Keurig models (like the Keurig K mini, Keurig K Plus, Keurig K Cafe, and Keurig K Duo) will only allow you to brew 6oz of hot water, so you don't need to select your desired cup size.
- Press the brew button to start a hot water cycle in your Keurig brewer. If you don't have a Keurig 2.0 model, you may need to hold the brew button down.
- Your Keurig will dispense hot water directly into your mug or bowl.
This is a quick and easy way to get water from Keurig coffee machines and will work with every model.
The only issue is that, unlike the Keurig Elite hot water dispenser, some different Keurig models only dispense 6oz of hot water. You'll need to repeat the process if you need more hot water.
3. Reusable K-Cups To The Rescue!
Reusable K cups offer an easy way to have your Keurig dispense hot water:
- Place a mug or bowl underneath the brew head.
- Open the K cup holder.
- Insert your empty reusable K cup in the Keurig machine. This will make the Keurig machine think there's a regular K cup inside.
- Close the K cup holder and select your desired cup size.
- Press the brew button on the Keurig machine.
- Your Keurig will start a hot water cycle like it would to brew coffee. As there is no coffee in the reusable coffee pod, the hot water will flow straight into your cup.
- Once the brew indicator light stops blinking, you can remove your mug of hot water.
This method works in every Keurig machine if your reusable K cup fits. Just make sure the reusable K cup is empty and clean of coffee residue. If not, your hot water may have a slight coffee taste.
4. Use The Clean Cycle Trick
Descaling your Keurig keeps limescale and mineral deposits from causing blockages. However, hacking the cleaning cycle lets you get hot water from your coffee maker:
- Start by turning off your Keurig.
- Place a mug or bowl under the brew head on top of the drip tray.
- Hold the 8oz and 12oz buttons for 3 seconds. This turns the Keurig on and activates descale mode. The brew button should start flashing.
- Press the brew button to start the descaling cycle. This produces hot water, just like a regular brew cycle.
- The hot water should pour directly into your cup.
Every Keurig model should have a descale mode you can activate using this trick. It goes without saying, but don't use any cleaning or descaling solution, or the hot water won't be drinkable.
What Exactly Is A Keurig & How Does It Heat Water?
A Keurig is a type of coffee maker that makes it easy to brew high-quality coffee at home.
Keurigs brew single servings of coffee using K cups, which are plastic pods with a single serving of pre-packaged ground coffee. This is how it works:
- The K cup is placed into the device.
- The brew head uses entrance and exit needles to punch holes in the K-cup pod.
- The Keurig coffee machine starts heating water.
- The brew head will start dispensing water when you press brew.
- Hot water from your Keurig flows into the K cup, through the coffee grounds, and through a
- K cup filter. The amount of water will depend on the chosen cup sizes.
You're left with a cup of delicious coffee.
It takes about 30 seconds from when you start brewing to create your coffee.
Keurigs heat water using a stainless steel heating element that heats the water to a preset temperature. This is located in a separate heating reservoir.
Unlike other models, Keurigs preheat the water in this heating reservoir to keep it warm. When you press brew, the Keurig has already partly warmed the water, and it only needs to heat it slightly for brewing.
That's why Keurigs brew coffee so quickly (something every coffee lover appreciates), and that's why you can use your Keurig to make hot water almost instantly.
How Hot Does Keurig Water Get? (Does it Boil?)
Keurig brews water to 192 degrees Fahrenheit (around 88 degrees Celsius). This is just below boiling point but within the range of optimal temperatures for brewing coffee.[1]
The ideal temperature for other food and drink may be different. If adding hot water to tea, oatmeal, ramen, or instant soup, it’s important to check whether the water from a Keurig will be hot enough. If not, you may need to boil water separately.
Why Won't My Keurig Dispense Hot Water? (We Cracked The Code!)
If you notice your Keurig starts dispensing water or coffee that’s too cold, there’s something wrong. It’s usually one of two things:
Mineral Build-up In The Machine
The most common reason why your Keurig isn't dispensing hot water is because of an internal limescale build-up. This decreases the efficiency of the machine and can stop it from working altogether.
Here’s what to do:
- Empty the water in the reservoir and replace it with a descaling solution (or white wine vinegar).
- If you have the Keurig K Elite, press the hot water button and select a 12oz cup size. If you don’t have a Keurig K Elite, open and close the Keurig, but don’t put a K cup in there. Then choose a 12oz cup size.
- Hit the brew button. This will start a brew cycle that draws the descaling solution through the Keurig, dissolving the limescale and any dried-up grounds in the system.
- Repeat the process until the water reservoir is empty.
- Leave the Keurig machine to stand for 30 minutes.
- Pour water into the reservoir and hit brew to complete a rinse cycle and remove any traces of the cleaning solution.
Limescale and mineral build-up happens naturally but is more common in areas with hard water.[2]
I recommend you perform a descale every 3-6 months to keep your Keurig functioning.
Heating Element Is Not Working
If you've descaled and the Keurig's hot water is still running cold, it's probably an issue with the heating element.
Over time, heating elements will lose conductivity and stop reaching the maximum temperature. This can happen due to standard wear and tear or internal damage in the Keurig machine.
Contact customer service and ask for help.[3]
They may be able to replace the Keurig coffee maker or order a replacement part.
Related Keurig Hot Water Questions
How long does it take for a Keurig to heat water?
When you turn your Keurig on, it will take 2-3 minutes for the water to get hot. Once hot, the Keurig machine keeps it warm, so it can start dispensing hot water as soon as you press brew.
Why do Keurig machines heat water so fast?
Keurig machines have an efficient heating element and warm the water continuously. This keeps the water at a warm temperature, so it doesn’t need much heating to make hot water when you press the coffee button (or hot water button).
Do all Keurigs dispense hot water?
Only the Keurig K Elite has a button for dispensing hot water. However, you use the methods above to get a hot cup of water from any Keurig model.
Is Keurig water hot enough for tea?
Keurig hot water is hot enough for tea but not the optimal temperature of 90-98 degrees Celsius (194F), so you won't get the best flavor.[4]
Is Keurig water hot enough for instant noodles?
Yes, noodles will cook at temperatures above 80 degrees Celsius (176F), so Keurig water is hot enough for instant noodles.
Can Keurig water make you sick?
Yes, getting hot water from your Keurig can make you sick if the coffee maker isn't clean. Ensure your water reservoir and internal mechanism are clean before you brew hot water.
What to do if hot water from Keurig tastes like coffee or looks brownish?
Brown hot water that tastes like coffee is a sign that you have coffee residue in your Keurig. Throw it away, clean your coffee maker, and brew hot water again.
Final Words
I have found that getting instant hot water from your Keurig opens a whole new world of possibilities.
You can make hot tea, hot cocoa, oatmeal, or even instant soups in minutes, giving a whole new dimension to your Keurig.
Hopefully, this guide has shown you how to get hot water from Keurig coffee makers and has given you new ways to use your coffee maker.
References:
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-73341-4
- https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/understanding-and-dealing-hard-water
- https://www.keurig.com/appliances/register-brewer
- https://www.tea.co.uk/make-a-perfect-brew
