What type of water should I use in my Keurig brewer?

Because coffee is 98.5 - 98.85% water, good quality drinking water is necessary for a good cup of coffee. If water is not pleasant to drink, it should not be used to make coffee. Never use softened water. Sodium ions in softened water form a gelatinous mass around the coffee grounds, slowing down the extraction process and causing over-extraction. This can also clog your brewer. Solutions for Several Common Coffee-Brewing Water Problems: • Problem: Chlorine in the water gives the coffee an off taste • Solution: Use charcoal filtering devices to remove chlorine residue • Problem: "Chemical" tastes such as sulfur or iron Solution: Correct taste contamination with charcoal or other filters • Problem: A build-up of magnesium and calcium scale (water hardness) • Solution: Maintain and clean your Keurig brewer using the provided de-scaling instructions at least every 3-6 months. Do not use well water even if put through a softener. • Problem: Coffee grounds become gooey and the brew tastes ...  more

The right water makes a difference because coffee is 98.5 - 98.85% water. For the best tasting gourmet coffee, tea or hot cocoa, Keurig recommends using bottled or filtered water. We do not recommend using distilled or reverse osmosis water. Water quality varies from place to place. If you notice an undesirable taste in your cup of coffee such as chlorine or other mineral taste, we recommend you consider using bottled water or water from a filtration system. Additionally, never use softened water. Sodium ions in softened water form a gelatinous mass around the coffee grounds, slowing down the extraction process and causing over-extraction. This can also clog your brewer. Solutions for Several Common Coffee-Brewing Water Problems: • Problem: Chlorine in the water gives the coffee an off taste • Solution: Use charcoal filtering devices to remove chlorine residue • Problem: "Chemical" tastes such as sulfur or iron Solution: Correct taste contamination with charcoal or other filters • ...  more