There’s a reason that K-Cups have become one of the biggest names in the home coffee space. Keurig is a commercial coffee maker that is convenient, affordable and offers a delicious cup of coffee in under two minutes. It also comes with settings to enhance your coffee experience, like the “strong” setting.
Keurig’s strong setting is designed to brew coffee at a higher pressure, which results in a bolder, richer cup of coffee. This setting is perfect for people who want to enjoy a bolder cup of coffee with little added effort.
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Read on to learn more about how the strong setting works, how to troubleshoot the button if it’s not working, and what you can do to get strong, quality coffee from your Keurig.
Keurig’s Strong Setting: What You Should Know
What Does the Strong Setting on a Keurig Machine Do?
One of the biggest draws of a Keurig machine is how simple it is to use. Insert the K-cup capsule into the machine, close the receptacle, and hit the brew button.
But if you use the strong setting on your Keurig, what does it actually do to make the coffee stronger?
Simply put, the strong button on your Keurig creates a bolder and more intense cup of coffee by brewing the coffee for longer and steeping the grounds in hot water for a longer period of time. Therefore, it’s worth a try if you like your coffee strong!
Normally, a Keurig takes about a minute to brew a cup of coffee, but the strong setting increases that time to allow the coffee to steep in the water longer.
It also releases the water at a slower rate and in intervals, rather than a steady stream, which causes the coffee grounds to become more saturated in the water.
Does the Keurig Strong Setting Really Work?
There’s no question that the “Strong” button on the Keurig will produce a more intense cup of coffee, simply because it increases the number of coffee particles in the water.
However, the taste is subjective, and not everyone will feel that the strong setting makes much of a difference or creates a bolder taste. So to find out you’ll have to try it for yourself!
Try conducting a taste test by brewing two cups of coffee, one brewed with the strong setting and one without. You may also notice the intensity of your coffee differs based on the kind of coffee you use or the coarseness of the grounds.
Does the Strong Brew Have More Caffeine?
There’s a misconception that just because you have a stronger cup of coffee, it will contain more caffeine.
The issue is, the term “strong” could mean different things to different people. Strength is generally defined as the caffeine content in a given amount of coffee, but in more subjective terms, strength could refer to the intensity of the taste or the water-to-grounds ratio.
It’s important to note that stronger coffee doesn’t necessarily have more caffeine, since the strength or bold taste of your coffee could come from the roast level or grind size, not just the caffeine content.
A dark roast cup of coffee may have a punchier taste than a light roast, but if they were both made with the same water-to-coffee ratio and brewed for the same amount of time, it will contain the same amount of caffeine.
What to Do if Your Keurig Isn’t Brewing Strong Coffee
Are you having trouble getting your strong button to brew? While it could be an issue with the machine, it’s always better to troubleshoot the problem first.
If your Keurig used to brew strong coffee without an issue but has started to brew weaker coffee recently, then try descaling and cleaning your machine. Any mineral deposits that are clogging the machine will be flushed through, which will help the strong setting brew more efficiently.
Next, make sure you’ve opened and securely closed the K-Cup receptacle, since the strong setting will not activate if the receptacle hasn’t been opened and closed firmly.
Finally, if your Keurig machine has temperature controls, be sure that you turn up the heat while brewing. Since the brew time on a Keurig is so short, the water doesn’t have much time to saturate the grounds, therefore, a higher water temperature is a must.
If you’ve tried these tips and are still having no luck with the strong setting, you may want to consider contacting Keurig customer support and getting your machine either repaired or replaced.
Tips to Make Your Coffee Brew Stronger
If you’re finding that your coffee isn’t strong enough even while using the strong button, there are several things you can do to up the strength of your coffee.
Here are a few tips:
Use Keurig Extra Bold K-Cups
One of the quickest and easiest ways to brew stronger coffee in your Keurig coffee maker is to use the Keurig Extra Bold K-Cups.
They’re made with higher caffeine content and created specifically to work with the Keurig brewing process, as well as the strong setting.
Switch to a Reusable Coffee Capsule.
Rather than using single-use Keurig K-Cups, switch to a reusable coffee capsule and choose your own coffee.
Freshly ground coffee from your favorite roaster will almost always beat out premade K-Cups. You’ll also gain more control over the number of grounds you’re brewing since a reusable K-Cup filter can hold more coffee than the standard cups.
Experiment With the Grind Level
If you choose to grind your own coffee, make sure that you experiment with your grind level until you find the perfect size for your machine.
It should be coarse enough that it doesn’t clog the machine but fine enough that it doesn’t come out watery.
Choose a darker roast coffee
Choose a darker roast coffee for a more intense taste. Be sure to do your research and find darker roast coffees that don’t become too bitter, especially if you plan to brew it with a strong setting.
Final Thoughts
The strong setting on your Keurig machine is a quick and easy way to upgrade your morning cup, but only if you use it in conjunction with the right amount of coffee, the right grind size, and the right cup size.
There’s so much that goes into the strength of your coffee, so it’s important to consider all those points when choosing your coffee or K-Cups.
Happy brewing!
