If you own a Keurig, you’ve probably wondered, “How does the strong setting on a coffee maker work?” When it comes to brewing method, this is bound to be one of your personal favorites. Using a brew strength selector results in a bold brew coffee that you’ll love.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- The strong brew button extends the brewing time to increase brew strength instead of boiling water to burn ground coffee.
- This feature is exclusive to the Keurig coffee machines, but not every model will have brew strength settings like the bold setting.
- While the strong brew button will make your cup of coffee stronger, it will also extend brew time by around half a minute.
The best coffee maker will produce flavorful brews to maximum potential, even when using a light roast. For coffee shop quality, do plenty of research into the models you’re considering. It is helpful to look for a machine that has an auto shut-off to help prevent burnt coffee and you won’t have to wonder how long you keep a coffee maker on.
What is a Brew Strength Feature?
Hot water is one of the most crucial components of crafting strong cups of coffee. However, using the strong brewing option doesn’t make the water temperature increase. Instead, Keurig extends its brewing extraction process by running your dark roast coffee over a longer time frame. This produces a higher brew strength during the extraction process without compromising the extraction of flavor. With the strong brewing option extending the time of the brew, you may wonder, “How many watts does a coffee maker use?”
If you dread cleaning your regular coffee maker, there are ways around this. Asking “How does a self-cleaning coffee maker work?” is a step in the right direction. Self-cleaning won’t take care of the drip tray, but it’ll ensure your water reservoir isn’t getting nasty from the minerals in your tap water. While self-cleaning is great, be sure to read the manual on how to descale a Keurig and how often it should be done.
Insider Tip
If you start seeing coffee grounds in your cup of coffee, thoroughly clean out your brewing chamber.
Brewing Strong Coffee Every Time
Avoiding weak coffee is a pastime for coffee drinkers everywhere. For the true connoisseur, asking questions is the best defense against awful coffee. Asking questions about optimal brewing temperatures is a great start. “How hot does coffee get in a coffee maker?” will help you understand the optimal temperature.
There are a few things beyond having a proper brew water temperature that helps make sure every cup of coffee is equally as strong:
- Choose darker roasts for your coffee pods
- Use smaller cup sizes to avoid diluting bold coffee
- Try different brewing methods for stronger flavors
Benefits of the Strong Button
Beyond making your hot coffee strong, there are a few benefits to bear in mind:
- Uses the same grams of coffee as the regular setting
- Requires around the same volume of water
Drawbacks of the Strong Button
Here are a few areas where the strong brew option might fall short:
- Has an extended brewing process
- Not an available brew setting on all Keurig models
Warning
Replace the reusable coffee filter in your drip coffee maker after every usage, or you can end up with coffee grounds in your pot of coffee.
F.A.Q.S
Does the brew cycle take longer when using the strong button?
If you have a model like the Keurig K-Select coffee maker, you’ll be lucky enough to have a strong button. Using this add-on feature takes only slightly longer. You can expect to wait an extra 30 seconds.
Which Keurig models have a strong button?
Cheaper models don’t feature the strong button, along with older generations like the Keurig K-Classic. Here is a couple that does:
- Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker
- Keurig K-Select Coffee Maker
What quantity of water should I use in a Keurig K-Classic?
The amounts of water necessary will vary from model to model. While they generally use around the same amount, mini or classic models might need less than advanced models with popular features.
How else can I produce stronger coffee with my Keurig K-Classic?
K-Cup coffee comes in multiple varieties. Purchasing stronger Keurig K-Cups makes a huge difference. Caffeine content matters when producing stronger brews, and highly caffeinated Keurig K-Cups go a long way.
STAT: In 2020, the net sales worldwide for Keurig Dr. Pepper grew larger than 11 billion U.S. dollars. (source)
REFERENCES:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9B7QPw6w8g
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322275315_Nutritional_and_health_effects_of_coffee
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279435173_Coffeer
- https://dam.keurig.com/content/dam/public-assets/kcom_support/PlatinumB70UserGuide.pdf
- https://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Keurig-Machine
