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Kevin doesn’t drink coffee that much. While making his morning tea like two billion other people around the world, his eyes move to his wife’s Keurig brewing machine. It feels like magic every time it brews a quality cup of coffee in less than sixty seconds. He is tempted to brew his favorite loose leaf tea in the machine. On most mornings, due to his bustling schedule, he skips it. His mind ponders whether it would be a feasible idea. Could the device that revolutionized caffeine in America fulfill his tea cravings swiftly as well?
If you can relate to Kevin, you are in the perfect place. It is safe to assume that with Americans consuming 1.42 million pounds of tea every single day, there are plenty of ways each of us prefers to brew our tea. Today, we are going to look at how you can get a great cup of tea with the help of a reusable coffee filter, the best K cup tea, and your Keurig.
Choosing the Right Kind of Tea to Brew in Your Keurig
Deciding Which Tea Is Best
You can’t steep your tea in a Keurig machine; hot water is run through the leaves instead. This process is more appropriate for certain types of tea than others. The water temperature of around 192°F is perfect for oolong teas, a lot of green teas, and most black teas. Teas of the finer kind such as Japanese sencha and the high-quality silver needle could be a good choice as well. They can be re-brewed too.
Broken or Whole Leaves?
You should opt for broken tea leaves even though full leaves release significantly more flavor. They do so only after being steeped for a long time. Broken and whole leaves thus also differ in taste. If you prefer a more intense flavor, use broken Assam leaf instead of full Assam leaves.
Teas You Should Avoid
The simple rule is: Don’t choose any tea that calls for extra patience and effort. You should stay away from any tea powders. They may absorb water and get stuck. Moreover, ones like matcha need to be prepared traditionally for whisking and foaming. Some teas require to be brewed at a specific temperature, so avoid them since your Keurig may not have the option to customize the temperature. Darjeeling black tea and Japanese gyokuro green tea can turn bitter in excessively hot water.
Since teas with uncrushed spices usually take extra time to fully release flavor, you should avoid them unless you want to make do with a weak cup of tea. You may opt for blends with crushed ingredients instead.
Where You Can Buy Loose Leaf Tea
Loose-leaf teas must be available at traditional tea shops, supermarkets, and Asian grocery stores. Nowadays, a lot of online stores sell them as well. Given the plethora of benefits and flavors, caffeinated or not, it might be difficult for you to choose which tea to buy. You should pick up regular everyday teas such as black tea, green tea, and oolong tea to get the best results. However, stronger or flavored blends can also be used.
Steps to Follow to Brew a Tasty Cup of Tea
First, turn on your Keurig and pre-heat the water. To trigger the ‘brew hot water’ function, you need to lift the lid and then close it. You need to confirm hot water brewing by pressing ‘Yes.’ Take your favorite mug or cup and place it under the dispenser. After choosing the water level, you have to press start to begin dispensing water. You will throw away this water because it is the step that ensures no residue is left from your last brew. Repeat the steps from closing the lid, only this time do not discard the dispensed water.
You can now either add two teaspoons of full leaf tea or a heaped teaspoon of broken leaf tea. With the water temperature at around 190°F, you can now press start to begin the brewing process. Your tea is now ready to be enjoyed! If you take a sip and feel like it’s too weak, you can add another teaspoon. You can also crush them using your hands by wrapping them in a clean cloth. Another alternative is taking out your K-cup and allowing it to steep for long while in your mug or cup.
To Sum It All Up
Since most teas require to be steeped to release their full flavor and complete benefits, you may be better off using a teapot when you have the time.
Coffee has a strong flavor and may distort milder teas. You may use oxidized oolongs and stronger black teas instead of delicate ones if you mostly use your Keurig to brew coffee.
With its easy button controls, a Keurig is your ultimate go-to on days when you need a quick and easy cup of tea. Next time you are craving a cup, feel free to resort to it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can You Put Milk in a Keurig?
No, a Keurig can only be filled with water. You can heat your milk separately or use a milk pod instead.
How Frequently Should I Clean My Keurig?
Go through your machine manual to learn the comprehensive steps for any cleaning method. The quality of water will play a huge role in tea flavor. Thus, to ensure you have safe water, clean the water reservoir and pod holder every week. Keurig also makes rinse pods that you can use.
What Are Alternatives to Using Loose Leaf Tea?
You can use K-cup teas or tea bags/sachets.
What Can I Do About the Vinegar Taste in My Keurig?
It’s quite simple actually! Fully dissolve half a teaspoon of baking soda in some water and then run it through your Keurig. The acidity of the vinegar should be neutralized.