I struggle to get out of bed on the best of days, but the smell of fresh ground coffee does the trick.
Setting my Keurig to auto-brew was a real game changer, and looking back, I'm shocked at how long it took me to use this functionality.
In this guide, I’ll show you the step-by-step process of how to set Keurig to auto-brew your morning coffee so you can have fresh coffee waiting for you whenever you want it.
Follow These Steps To Set Your Keurig To Auto Brew
Setting your Keurig coffee maker to auto-brew is really simple.
The exact auto-brew feature can be different for some Keurig coffee makers, but all the different models will generally follow these steps:
1. Fill Your Water Reservoir To The Max Fill Line
The Keurig coffee maker water reservoir needs to be full for the auto brew feature to work.
The Keurig coffee maker won't start the brew cycle unless it detects water. Fill the water tank with fresh water before you set the Keurig to auto-brew.
2. Insert A K Cup
Keurig coffee makers need K cups to brew (convenient little pods for Keurig coffees).
If there’s no coffee pod, the Keurig coffee machine will either not start the brew cycle or the auto brew feature and only give you hot water.
The Keurig coffee maker auto brew feature will work with any K-cup coffee pod. Just load up your favorite and insert it like you do when you manually start a regular brew cycle.
3. Turn Your Keurig Coffee Maker On
Your Keurig coffee machine needs to be turned on, or it won't start the auto brew feature.
A few times, I've mistakenly set my Keurig to auto-brew and then accidentally turned it off at the wall before, so there was no fresh coffee waiting for me.
Always leave your Keurig coffee machine plugged in and switched on when you use the auto brew feature.
4. Press The Auto Brew Button
Find and press the auto brew button to start the Keurig auto brew mode.
Every model is slightly different, but the button should be on the control panel. Keurig 2.0 models have a touchscreen, and the auto brew feature is one of the options.
Once you find and press this brew button, you should go to the auto brew setup screen.
5. Set The Time You Want Your Coffee
Before you set your Keurig to auto-brew, you must choose when you want it to brew your coffee. Press the H button to set the hour and the M button to set the minutes.
On some models, you hold the H button and M buttons down to cycle through and set your brew time.
Hit the brew button to confirm the desired time.
Your coffee machine will start brewing at the set time, but the finished brew won't be ready then. I want to start sipping fresh coffee at 7 am, so I programmed mine for 6:55 am.
This gives it a few minutes to automatically turn on and brew, and ensures it's ready for when I want it.
6. Select The Coffee Size
Next, you need to choose the brew size. Some Keurig coffee makers let you choose from 3 different brew sizes, whereas others have 5.
The auto-brew mode should let you choose from any of the Keurig cup sizes available.
The options should be clear on the control panel. Press the brew button to confirm your brew size choice.
7. Confirm The Auto Brew
You'll see a flashing brew button after you select the size for your cup of coffee. Press the brew button to confirm the auto-brew process, and the flashing brew button should stop.
This means the auto-brew is all set.
From this point, you should leave the Keurig K cup machine alone. The auto-brew process is set, and it will start the brewing process for your cup of coffee at the programmed time.
8. Place Your Coffee Mug Under The Brew Head
This step should go without saying, but make sure you leave a mug in the machine to capture your cup of coffee.
If not, your Keurig brewer will brew automatically, and coffee will spill everywhere.
Should You Turn The Keurig Off After Each Use?
You generally do not need to shut your Keurig machine off after each use, but it is advisable to turn off your Keurig if it will not be used for 2 hours or more.
Every Keurig model has an auto-off feature that will shut it down automatically. Most models will auto-shut off after 2 hours, but some will auto-shut off after just a few minutes.
Before your Keurig shuts off, it will go into idle mode. In this mode, it draws far less power but still keeps the water partially heated.
This means it will keep the water warm enough to brew quickly without being fully reheated.[1]
The best option is to leave your Keurig to go into idle mode and then use the auto shut-off feature. However, you can simply press the power button to turn the Keurig on and off.
How To Turn On Auto Brew For Top Keurig Models
How To Program Keurig K Duo
With the Keurig K Duo, you can only program the carafe side of the machine, as there is no way to program the coffee pod side.
This is great if you want a whole jug of fresh ground coffee, but not as useful for individual cups.
Here’s how to set Keurig to auto-brew a full carafe:
- Press the power button on the top of the Keurig K Duo. The clock should start flashing on the screen.
- Set the display time on the Keurig using the H and M buttons. You must do this before you set auto so your Keurig knows the accurate time.
- Confirm the time by pressing the K brew button.
- Load up the Keurig Duo with coffee grounds and a filter. Make sure there’s enough preground coffee for your selected brew size.
- Fill the water tank to the max fill line so it can dispense hot water for your coffee.
- Empty your coffee pot and place it back in the machine.
- Press the auto button. The clock should start flashing again.
- Set the time you want your Keurig to start brewing by pressing the H and M buttons (hours and minutes). It takes about 10 minutes to brew, so set it for 10 minutes before you want to enjoy your fresh cup of coffee.
- Select your size on the control panel (6,8,10, or 12 cups).
- Confirm using the K button.
- A clock icon will appear on the screen to confirm that you have set auto brew mode.
- To change any of the settings, press the auto button on the K Duo to access the settings.
You can still brew a hot cup of coffee using a K cup pod even with your K Duo auto brew programmed. To turn off the auto brew mode, press the Auto button.
How To Program Keurig K Supreme Plus Smart
The Keurig K Supreme Plus Smart is the most intelligent Keurig and works over Wi-Fi. You’ll need to use an App to program it, so make sure it’s set up beforehand.[2]
Unfortunately, the K Supreme Plus Smart won’t brew fully automatically.
Instead, you can schedule a brew, and Keurig sends a notification at that time. You’ll have to confirm before it starts brewing.
This feature is convenient and can save you time, but it won’t give you a full cup waiting in the morning. Here’s how to set Keurig to schedule a brew:
- Fill the water reservoir so it can produce hot water.
- Load the K Cup into the brew head. You can use reusable coffee pods instead if you prefer.
- Place a mug over the drip tray for your coffee.
- Open the Keurig App and go to 'Brew.'
- Select the calendar button in the top right.
- Click ‘add’ in the top right to set up a new auto brew.
- Name your brew and tap the save button in the top right.
- Press the day you want it, and then select your time. Make sure you choose AM or PM.
- Tap ‘Brew Settings’ to choose the type and size of coffee. Your Keurig scheduled brew should be ready to go.
- When the time comes, you’ll receive a notification through the App. Confirm this, and your machine will auto-on and start brewing.
How to Program Keurig K Elite
The Keurig Elite machine doesn’t have the option to fully brew automatically, but it does have auto-on and auto-off features.
It won’t brew you a perfect cup of coffee at a specific time, but it does offer some benefits. Firstly, it will heat the water so you can brew coffee instantly.
Secondly, it will have all your settings saved for quicker brewing.
Here are the simple steps to program your K Elite auto-on feature:
- Tap the settings button 3 times. A Sun icon should then appear (this is the auto-on feature).
- Set the time to auto-on.
- Remember, this means it will auto-on and heat the water, but it won't actually brew a coffee for you.
How to Program Keurig 2.0
The Keurig 2.0 series was the first range that let you auto-brew coffee.
The steps outlined further up in this article will help you auto-brew using a Keurig 2.0, but here's a quick summary:
- Fill the water reservoir with enough water to reach the max fill line.
- Load up a K cup.
- Turn the Keurig on and enter the auto brew settings.
- Select a time and brew size.
- Confirm, and then wait for the Keurig to brew your convenient coffee.
Related Keurig Auto Brew Questions
Which Keurigs have auto brew?
All Keurig carafe models (like the Keurig K Duo) have a programmable auto-brew feature that allows you to brew a full carafe of coffee rather than just a single cup. The Keurig 2.0 range, Keurig Supreme, Keurig Elite, and some other newer models also have an auto-on or auto-brew feature.
Do all Keurigs have the auto shut-off function?
Yes, every Keurig machine has an auto shut-off feature, but every model has a specified time period before it shuts down. You can usually change the auto-on and auto-off features in the settings.
Is it better to leave Keurig on or off?
It is more energy-efficient to leave your Keurig machine turned off when it's not in use, but I recommend keeping your Keurig machines on unless they will not be used for 2 hours, or you may be waiting 5-10 minutes for each coffee.
Does leaving a Keurig on use a lot of electricity?
No, your Keurig machine consumes the most power when it first turns on and when it’s brewing. Your Keurig machine will go into idle mode when not in use and consume less energy than a 60-watt bulb.[3]
How long do Keurig coffee makers last?
A well-maintained Keurig machine will last 3-5 years before it starts to wear out, but some models can last up to 10 years.
Final Thoughts
An auto brew feature lets you have your morning coffee waiting for you before you even get out of bed - now that’s priceless.
With Keurigs, it’s simple to brew a cup of coffee automatically. Just fill the water reservoir, put a fresh coffee pod in, and use the auto button to program the desired brew time.
Hopefully, this guide has shown you how to set Keurig to auto-brew, and you can now have coffee waiting for you.
References:
- https://www.ncausa.org/about-coffee/how-to-brew-coffee
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLYLxQde7NE
- https://www.igs.com/energy-resource-center/energy-101/how-much-electricity-do-my-home-appliances-use
