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A refreshing cup of coffee each morning can help you get a great start to your day. The convenience of a Keurig machine means making a tasty cup of coffee is even easier when you wake up. Getting your coffee fast and effortlessly doesn't mean you have to sacrifice the flavor and quality of your brew. Here are ways to get the most out of your K-cup coffee and improve the taste of your morning brew.

Clean Your Machine

Coffee lovers can start to improve their Keurig's output by regularly cleaning their machine. Each part of the machine should get regular cleaning whenever possible. The water filter cartridge should get cleaned about once every two months, and the inner parts of the machine can get attention every three to six months. One way to remove the mineral buildup inside of the machine is to run a cycle with white vinegar instead of water. Afterward, be sure to run a few cycles of water to get rid of the vinegar taste.

Use Coffee Grounds

Another way to get your coffee just the way you like it is to use your own coffee grounds instead of a prepacked pod. K-cups offer coffee enthusiasts many different types of coffee drinks, but if you just want a simple, smooth cup of coffee, you may want to get whole beans and grind them fresh. Use the machine's coffee ground pod setup to get a custom, freshly ground tasty cup of coffee.

Select the Lowest Pour Setting

An additional tip that may help you get a stronger brew is to opt for the lowest pour setting when making your cup of coffee. The brew settings on your machine don't change the amount of coffee grounds you'll get. What they do change is the amount of water that your cup of coffee is made with. Choosing the larger volume settings for your pour adds more water and ends up diluting the coffee taste.

Choose Different Varieties

You can also customize the exact flavor experience you'll get with your morning brew by choosing different varieties of K-cup pods. K-cup pod companies offer endless combinations of flavors and many types of coffee drinks. There are K-cup options such as different roasts, flavor profiles, hot chocolates, teas, cappuccinos, and more. 

Do a Cleansing Brew

Keurig owners also report that a cleansing brew between uses may also help improve the quality of their drinks. If your Keurig gets heavy usage between all of the different members of your family, it may make sense to give your machine a little reset between uses by running a hot water brew before setting up your own cup of coffee. This can help remove any leftover taste or residue from the previous user's drink.

Add a Second Pod

For those who love a strong cup of coffee, a second pod may help strengthen their brew. For most average coffee drinkers, a single pod should be enough to get the right flavor and strength for their morning cup. Those who need a stronger, bolder tasting cup of coffee can choose to customize the level of java they get by using two pods instead of one. Some have found brewing two pods right after each other at the lowest setting for one cup of coffee gives them more flavor.

Choose Bolder Roasts

If the coffee that comes out of the Keurig is still tasting a little weak, check out the roast details and make some adjustments. Light roast coffee pods may not be enough for some coffee drinkers who like a little more oomph. Instead, go for a darker, bolder roast when making a morning cup of joe.

Opt for Recyclable Pods

Lastly, no matter what type of coffee style you choose, make an effort to select pods that can be recycled to help reduce the amount of waste you produce. Some K-cup companies are working to make the pods easier to recycle. The standard K-cup product can actually be recycled in most cases. Drinkers may need to peel off the foil top and remove the coffee grounds first before recycling the plastic reservoir cup.

If you love the convenience and ease of the Keurig machine but miss the bespoke craft brew from your favorite coffee house, there are several ways you can improve the quality of your morning cup. Choose your custom coffee brew from the selection at 11^th Street Coffee today and make your daily dose of java delicious.

It's the second month of quarantine and social media has responded with viral posts ranging from push up challenges to "Don't Rush" videos on Tik Tok and Instagram. One can hardly scroll down their social media timeline without viewing another millennial succumbing to the previously Gen Z Tik Tok craze. However, on a more savory spectrum, photos of freshly baked sourdough bread and two-toned coffees have brought a mouth-watering distraction from the dismal news pouring in from every side. 

Hankering to try some popular quarantine treats? Here's how to make perfect types of coffee drinks while you're social distancing. 

Iced Coffee

As the weather begins to warm and the trees begin to flower, you may start craving your favorite summer brew. But without the local coffee shop fueling your caffeine addiction, how will you be able to get your iced coffee drinks fix? Luckily, a DIY brew requires only a few ingredients—high-quality types of coffee beans, sugar, vanilla extract and milk. 

Make a simple syrup by combining the sugar and water over medium heat. Once the sugar has dissolved, mix in the vanilla extract and set aside. Brew the coffee the night before and whip up a large batch of simple syrup ahead of time so you can have one of your favorite cold coffee drinks whenever the craving hits. 

Dalgona Coffee

In early March, Tik Tok user Hannah Cho posted a 15-second clip of her making a gorgeous coffee concoction. The clip went viral and has been viewed over twelve million times and whipped coffee soon became a social media staple. While making this whipped dalgona coffee might take a little longer than your standard brew, it's a tasty and caffeinated way to spruce up another day of social distancing.  

All you'll need for this two-toned concoction is some instant coffee, sugar and hot water. Whip together for a long time and watch as the mixture transforms from foamy to frothy. Spoon the fluffy caramel-colored blend over a cup of iced milk. 

Then, take some photos for the 'gram before diving in to enjoy your creation. 

Latte

While the weather might be warming up outside, there is never a bad time to enjoy your favorite warm and frothy latte. Even without a latte or milk foaming machine at home, you can still whip up the perfect foamy concoction. This will work best if you already have an espresso machine. However, if you don't, you can make some strong coffee with a french press or Keurig.  

To create the foam, pour some milk into a sealed jar and shake until thick. Then, pop it in the microwave for a few minutes to create layers of gorgeously frothy topping. 

A Great Cup of Joe

While you might love trying various popular coffee varieties, there's something to be said about the classic cup of Joe. There are many techniques on how to make good coffee, but all of them begin and end with the coffee beans. High-quality beans paired with an exceptional roast will create a cup of joe you'll dream about for the rest of time. 

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you use to make your coffee—it all comes down to preference. Some coffee connoisseurs swear by their French press, while others prefer their grinders or just a simple coffee pot. However, the following steps will ensure your coffee is brewed to perfection, no matter the method. 

1. Use cold and filtered water.
2. Measure your coffee. Use two tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water. 
3. When heating your water, aim between 195 and 205 degrees. Boiled water will heat up to 212 degrees, which will be too hot for your coffee. 
4. Use a clean filter. 
5. To get the most flavor out of the coffee, stagger when you pour the water. Stop when the grounds begin to get puffy, let the water trickle down for 30 seconds, then pour some more.
6. Drink your freshly brewed coffee as soon as it's done. Don't let it sit around all day. 
7. While coffee may be essential to life, it's a tricky concoction to get exactly right. Luckily, you probably have lots of time on your hands in order to perfect your favorite recipe. Whether you prefer your coffee in the form of a simple cuppa or a two-toned masterpiece, make sure you have enough grounds to keep you caffeinated and positive as you stay home and stay safe. 

No matter which style of coffee you choose, shop 11^th Street Coffee for unbeatable prices on your favorite brands.

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