One of the benefits of using a Keurig Coffee Brewer is you are able to brew a single cup of coffee in less than 3 minutes using conveniently pre-packed cups that are available in a variety of flavors.  These pre-packaged cups allows for the grounds to be fully contained before, during, and after the process thereby dramatically reducing the mess.  There are many different varieties available; however they are not available for all.  For example, it you enjoy the Starbucks blend (not available in a K-Cup) or to ground your own beans, you will not be able to have them unless you find a way to make your own K-Cup.  Fortunately Keurig did consider this and created the My K-Cup for Keurig Coffee Brewers.  These cups allow you to make your own K-Cup using the coffee of your choice.  This product can be used on all of the Keurig brewers with the exception of the B100.  This reusable coffee filter will cost approximately $15 and is available at some stores that carry the brewers and pre-packaged K-Cups.  As I recall, it was a little difficult finding one but we were able to locate one at Bed Bath & Beyond.

The My K-Cup for Keurig Coffee Brewers is simple in design and made of only three parts.  A filter basket made out of a thin mesh sits in a holder that has a removable lid.  This hold keeps the filter in the proper placement in the machine and the grounds contained.  The grounds themselves are added to the filter basket when you are ready to brew a cup. 

Usage
Using the My K-Cup for Keurig Coffee Brewers is extremely easy and you will have a more difficult time choosing which selection you want to buy.  Prior to using, you will want to wash all parts of the filter with warm soapy water and dried thoroughly.  Once the filter is clean, you are ready to begin:

1.  Remove the K-Cup holder in the Keurig machine by pushing it up from the brewing section.  You will need to leave the handle of the brewer first.  The holder will pop out easily if done correctly.

2.  Fill the filter basket of the My K-Cup for Keurig Coffee Brewers with the desired amount of coffee.  The amount recommended for usage is 2 Tablespoons for every 6 ounces of water.  The personalized K-Cup will hold up to 2.7 Tablespoons so you can adjust to your own preferences.  This may take some trial and error on your part before you find your ideal amount.

3.  Place the filter cup inside the holder and replace lid using a clockwise motion.  Be careful not to turn too hard as it may cause the lid to break.

4.  Lower the handle of the Keurig brewer and proceed as you normal would with a pre-packaged K-Cup.

5.  After brewing, remove the My-Cup and discard of the remaining grounds and rinse all parts prior to storing it away.  The filter holder and basket may be hot after removing from the machine.

The My K-Cup for Keurig Coffee Brewers includes markings making it easy to measure the amount of grinds that have been placed inside the filter basket.  I recommend starting as the standard 2 Tablespoon mark and adjust as needed.  Cleaning the filter is easy as it can be rinsed well or put in the top of a dishwasher.

When using the My K-Cup for Keurig Coffee Brewers it is important to remove the original K-Cup holder when using the filter basket, as the needles in the original set-up may damage the basket.  Using a pre-packaged K-Cup in the basket will result in over-pressure in the brewer. We have not done this and I would anticipate that it would lead to a leaky mess. 

If you are grinding your own beans, here are a few things to remember:

* You will want to begin with a coarser grind that is similar to a French press grind.

* Avoid a find espresso blend as it can clog the screen resulting in poor extraction.

I highly recommend having the My K-Cup for Keurig Coffee Brewers in your possession if your own one of their brewing machines.  This will allow you some more flexibility in your coffee choices.  The K-Cups are not available in most grocery stores and are more difficult to locate than your standard brands.  It is also more cost effective to purchase the bagged grounds or grind your own beans versus the pre-packaged K-Cups.  We prefer to keep both readily available in the house.  We use the My K-Cup for Keurig Coffee Brewers when we are making a decaf blend as we did not care for the K-Cup version and use the pre-packaged cups for the leaded formulas.

The filter itself seems extremely secure and after quite a few weeks of near daily use, it still works great and the mesh is in good condition.

$15 may seen expensive for a coffee filter, but it will last and provide you many more options.  The brewer was purchased in order to have a quality cup of coffee, but it should not limit your choices. 

Although not specifically outlined, the instructions do not indicate if tea can made as it specifically mentions coffee only.  I would not try and brew your own hot tea and stick with the pre-packaged K-Cups for this.

Recommended: Yes