Reusable K Cup Guide: Brew Fresher Coffee and Save Money

Reusable K-Cups solve one of the most frustrating problems in single-serve coffee: paying $0.70 to $1.20 per pod for coffee that tastes stale before you even brew it. A quality reusable K-Cup costs $8 to $15 once and lets you fill it with any whole bean coffee you grind fresh, cutting your per-cup cost to $0.15 to $0.40 while giving you full control over grind size, dose, and coffee origin.

This guide covers every aspect of reusable K-Cups: how they work, which mesh sizes and materials produce the cleanest cup, the correct grind size and dose for best extraction, the top reusable K-Cup options at every price point, troubleshooting weak or bitter results, and how to keep them clean for consistent performance.

What Is a Reusable K-Cup and How Does It Work?

A reusable K-Cup is a refillable filter basket designed to fit inside any Keurig brewer in place of a single-use plastic pod. The brewer’s needle punctures the foil lid on a standard pod; with a reusable version, the same needle punctures a silicone or hard plastic lid that you press onto the basket after filling it with ground coffee.

Hot water at approximately 192°F (89°C) flows through the grounds under pressure from the Keurig pump and drains through a fine mesh or perforated stainless steel basket into your cup. The mesh acts as the filter, trapping grounds while allowing dissolved coffee solids to pass through.

The basket holds 2 to 3 teaspoons (roughly 8 to 12 grams) of ground coffee depending on the model. Most Keurig machines brew at approximately 7 to 8 bar of pressure, which is lower than a dedicated espresso machine but enough to push water through a medium-fine grind in 45 to 90 seconds.

Reusable K-Cups are compatible with Keurig 1.0 and 2.0 machines, the Keurig K-Elite, K-Classic, K-Select, K-Supreme, K-Duo, and most current Keurig models. A small number of older proprietary machines require brand-specific adapters.

Why Does Grind Size Matter So Much for Reusable K-Cups?

The single biggest factor in reusable K-Cup cup quality is grind size. Keurig machines brew with a short contact time of 45 to 90 seconds and moderate pressure. This combination requires a specific grind range to hit the SCA’s target extraction yield of 18 to 22%.

The correct grind for a reusable K-Cup is medium to medium-fine, approximately 500 to 700 microns. This is slightly coarser than pour over grind (500 to 800 microns) and significantly coarser than espresso (200 to 400 microns).

Too fine a grind (under 400 microns) increases resistance so much that water backs up in the basket, contacts grounds for too long, and extracts bitter, harsh-tasting compounds. It can also clog the mesh and damage the Keurig needle over time.

Too coarse a grind (over 900 microns) produces weak, sour, under-extracted coffee because water flows through too fast to dissolve enough soluble compounds. The result tastes watery and flat regardless of coffee quality.

This happens because extraction rate is directly proportional to surface area. Finer grinds expose more surface area per gram of coffee, increasing the rate at which water dissolves soluble flavor compounds. The condition for balanced extraction in a Keurig is a medium grind that slows water flow enough to reach 18 to 22% extraction yield without over-extracting bitter chlorogenic acid degradation products.

If your reusable K-Cup coffee tastes weak and sour, grind finer by two to three settings on your burr grinder. If it tastes bitter and harsh, coarsen the grind by two to three settings and reduce your dose by 0.5 grams.

Here is a reference table for grind size by brewing method to show where reusable K-Cup sits in the spectrum.

For most reusable K-Cup users, setting a burr grinder to the medium or medium-fine setting (roughly 500 to 600 microns) is the best starting point and produces balanced results across the widest range of coffee origins and roast levels.

How Much Coffee Should You Use in a Reusable K-Cup?

The correct dose for a reusable K-Cup is 10 to 12 grams of ground coffee, which fills the basket approximately two-thirds full. This produces a brew ratio of approximately 1:12 to 1:16 depending on the cup size you select on the Keurig (6 oz, 8 oz, or 10 oz settings).

Most Keurig machines offer three or four cup size settings. The 6 oz setting delivers approximately 120 grams of water, the 8 oz setting delivers approximately 230 grams, and the 10 oz setting delivers approximately 300 grams.

Use the table below to match your dose and cup size to the resulting brew ratio and expected flavor strength.

Do not overfill the basket past the maximum fill line. Overfilling compresses the grounds against the needle puncture point, restricts water flow, and causes the Keurig to produce an error or force the brew cycle to stop early. Leave 2 to 3 millimeters of headspace below the lid.

For most users, 12 grams of medium-ground coffee on the 8 oz setting is the best starting dose. It produces a 1:19 brew ratio that sits within the SCA’s brewed coffee target range and delivers a balanced cup with enough body to carry milk or creamer without tasting diluted.

Best Reusable K-Cups: Top Options Compared

The best reusable K-Cups differ in mesh type, material, lid design, and Keurig compatibility. Stainless steel mesh models produce cleaner cups with less sediment than plastic-framed mesh versions. Lid seal quality determines whether grounds escape into the brew chamber and cause clogs.

Use the table below to compare the top reusable K-Cup options across the features that matter most for daily use.

The Keurig My K-Cup Universal Reusable Filter is the safest first purchase for new reusable K-Cup users because it is made by Keurig specifically for its own machines. It fits all current Keurig 1.0 and 2.0 models, the K-Supreme, K-Elite, K-Classic, and K-Select without modification.

For cleaner cup quality and lower long-term cost, stainless steel mesh models like the Delibru stainless steel reusable K-Cup outperform plastic mesh versions. Stainless steel mesh holds its shape after repeated brewing and washing, while plastic mesh can warp slightly after 60 to 90 uses and begins to allow fine particles into the cup.

For the cleanest cup with lowest sediment, use a reusable K-Cup that accepts disposable paper filter inserts. Paper filters absorb coffee oils and trap micro-fines that stainless mesh lets through, producing a clarity closer to pour over than standard metal-filtered drip coffee.

For users who brew for multiple people, the Cafe Cup 4-pack reusable K-Cup set lets you pre-fill four pods before a morning rush so each person can brew in sequence without refilling between cups.

The best overall choice for most users is a stainless steel mesh reusable K-Cup in the $8 to $12 price range. It delivers the best cost-per-use ratio, compatible construction, and consistently cleaner cup quality than plastic alternatives.

What Coffee Should You Use in a Reusable K-Cup?

Any whole bean coffee ground to medium or medium-fine works in a reusable K-Cup. The best results come from beans roasted within the past 2 to 4 weeks and ground immediately before brewing. Pre-ground coffee loses 40 to 60% of its volatile aromatic compounds within 15 minutes of grinding, according to research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Roast level affects grind density and the dose you need. Medium roast beans are the most forgiving starting point. They have moderate density (approximately 0.42 to 0.45 g/mL bulk density) and extract cleanly at 500 to 700 microns in a Keurig without requiring fine dose adjustments.

Light roast beans are denser (0.46 to 0.50 g/mL) and require a slightly finer grind or a higher dose of 1 to 2 grams extra to reach the same extraction yield. Grinding light roast coffee to 450 to 550 microns in a reusable K-Cup produces noticeably more sweetness and clarity than grinding it at the same setting as medium roast.

Dark roast beans are less dense (0.38 to 0.42 g/mL), more brittle, and extract faster. Using the same grind setting as medium roast with dark beans often produces over-extracted, bitter results. Coarsen the grind by 1 to 2 settings when switching from medium to dark roast and reduce the dose by 1 gram.

Single-origin coffees from Ethiopia (washed process, light to medium roast) perform exceptionally well in reusable K-Cups because their higher acidity is tempered by the short brew time. Colombia and Brazil medium roasts are the most forgiving for dialing in because their flavor profile is balanced enough that small variations in grind or dose do not push the cup into sour or bitter territory.

For a starting point on choosing high-quality beans for your reusable K-Cup, the top-rated whole bean options reviewed for flavor and freshness include single-origin and blend recommendations across every roast level and price point.

Avoid using flavored coffee beans in a reusable K-Cup. Flavoring oils coat the mesh and are extremely difficult to remove with standard rinsing. They transfer flavor to subsequent unflavored brews and shorten the usable life of the filter by clogging mesh pores within 10 to 20 uses.

How to Use a Reusable K-Cup: Step-by-Step Guide

Here is the complete process for filling, brewing, and emptying a reusable K-Cup correctly on the first attempt.

Weigh your dose with a small kitchen scale accurate to 0.1 grams until you find a dose and cup size combination you prefer. Once you identify the right combination, you can switch to a measuring spoon for daily convenience. One level tablespoon of medium-ground coffee weighs approximately 5 to 6 grams.

Reusable K-Cup vs Single-Use K-Cup: Cost, Quality, and Environmental Impact

Switching from single-use K-Cups to a reusable version saves $0.50 to $0.90 per cup, which translates to $182 to $328 per year for someone who brews one cup per day. Over three years of daily use, a single $10 reusable K-Cup saves between $546 and $984 compared to buying name-brand pods at $0.65 to $1.05 per pod.

Use the table below to compare single-use pods against reusable K-Cups across cost, quality, convenience, and environmental impact.

The only genuine advantage of single-use pods is convenience. There is no grind step, no fill step, and no cleaning required beyond disposal. For someone who values those 90 seconds per morning above all else and does not mind paying $0.50 to $0.80 more per cup, single-use pods are a rational choice.

For everyone else, the reusable K-Cup produces better-tasting coffee from fresher grounds at roughly one-quarter the cost per cup. The difference in quality between a freshly ground medium roast from a specialty roaster and a pod made from pre-ground commodity coffee sealed months earlier is significant enough to taste without a trained palate.

How to Clean a Reusable K-Cup: Daily and Deep Cleaning

A reusable K-Cup that is not cleaned after every use develops rancid coffee oil buildup on the mesh within 3 to 5 days. Rancid oils cause each subsequent cup to taste increasingly stale and sour regardless of the freshness of the new coffee loaded into it. Coffee oils go rancid through oxidation, a process that accelerates rapidly at room temperature when exposed to the oxygen in residual brewing water trapped in wet grounds.

Daily cleaning takes under 60 seconds and prevents 95% of flavor contamination problems.

Daily Cleaning Protocol (after every use):

1. Remove the reusable K-Cup immediately after the brew cycle ends.
2. Open the lid and tap the inverted basket into a bin or compost container to release the spent grounds puck.
3. Rinse the basket and lid under hot running water for 15 to 20 seconds, directing water through the mesh from the inside out to push trapped grounds outward.
4. Shake off excess water and leave the basket open on the counter to air dry completely before the next use. Storing a wet basket closed traps moisture inside and promotes mold growth.

Weekly Deep Cleaning Protocol (every 7 to 10 uses):

1. Disassemble the basket, lid, and any silicone seals or removable parts.
2. Soak all parts in a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts hot water for 15 to 20 minutes. White vinegar dissolves coffee mineral deposits and emulsifies rancid oil buildup without leaving a chemical residue.
3. Use a small stiff-bristle cleaning brush to scrub the inside of the mesh basket, paying particular attention to the mesh pores at the base and sides.
4. Rinse all parts thoroughly under hot water until the vinegar smell is completely gone.
5. Allow to air dry fully before reassembling and using.

Dishwasher cleaning is safe for most stainless steel reusable K-Cups on the top rack, but the high heat drying cycle can warp plastic lid components over time. Hand washing extends the usable life of plastic parts by 30 to 50 additional uses compared to regular dishwasher cycling, according to community testing data from r/Coffee.

Replace your reusable K-Cup mesh basket when the mesh shows visible distortion, tears, or when grounds regularly appear in your brewed cup despite correct grind size. Most quality stainless steel mesh baskets last 200 to 400 brews before performance degrades noticeably.

Troubleshooting Reusable K-Cup Problems

The four most common reusable K-Cup problems are weak coffee, bitter coffee, grounds in the cup, and the Keurig machine failing to complete the brew cycle. Each has a specific cause and a specific fix.

Problem 1: Coffee tastes weak and watery

Cause: Grind is too coarse (over 800 microns), dose is too low (under 8 grams), or cup size setting is too large for the dose used (producing a brew ratio above 1:25).

Fix: Grind 2 to 3 settings finer on your burr grinder. Increase dose to 12 grams. Switch to a 6 oz or 8 oz cup size setting.

Problem 2: Coffee tastes bitter and harsh

Cause: Grind is too fine (under 400 microns) causing over-extraction, or oil residue from insufficient cleaning is contaminating the cup.

Fix: Coarsen the grind 2 to 3 settings. Deep clean the basket with white vinegar soak. Reduce dose by 1 gram and test again.

Problem 3: Grounds appear in the brewed cup

Cause: Mesh is damaged or distorted, the lid is not sealed correctly, or grind size is too fine for the mesh hole size.

Fix: Inspect the mesh for tears or warping. Re-seat the lid firmly before brewing. Try grinding slightly coarser. If grounds persist, replace the filter basket.

Problem 4: Keurig stops mid-brew or shows an error

Cause: The basket is overfilled, the grounds are too fine and are clogging the needle, or the Keurig’s exit needle needs cleaning.

Fix: Reduce the fill level by 2 to 3 grams. Coarsen the grind. Clean the Keurig’s exit needle with a paperclip or the included cleaning tool, following the needle cleaning procedure in your Keurig manual.

Clean the Keurig brewer’s needle every 2 to 3 weeks when using a reusable K-Cup. Ground coffee particles escape the basket at a higher rate than with sealed pods and accumulate around the needle. A clogged needle restricts water flow, reduces brewing temperature below 192°F (89°C), and produces consistently under-extracted, flat-tasting coffee.

Reusable K-Cup Compatibility: Which Keurig Models Are Supported?

Universal reusable K-Cups marketed as “Keurig 2.0 compatible” fit the widest range of current Keurig models. Keurig 2.0 machines (K200, K300, K400, K500 series) originally used digital scanning to reject non-Keurig-branded pods, but all 2.0-compatible reusable K-Cups include a white-lid design with the Keurig license text that passes the scanner.

Use the table below to confirm compatibility before purchasing a reusable K-Cup for your specific machine.

If you own a Keurig K-Mini or K-Mini Plus, standard universal reusable K-Cups will not fit because the K-Mini uses a smaller pod chamber than all other Keurig models. Purchase a K-Mini-specific reusable pod designed for that machine’s narrower holder.

Best Coffee Brands to Use with a Reusable K-Cup

The best coffee for a reusable K-Cup is whole bean coffee roasted within the past 2 to 4 weeks, ground immediately before each brew. This approach produces 30 to 50% more aromatic complexity than pre-ground coffee stored in a bag for 4 to 8 weeks, because volatile aromatic compounds (primarily esters and aldehydes responsible for brightness and sweetness) begin off-gassing within hours of grinding.

Brands that roast to order and ship within 24 to 48 hours of roasting deliver the freshest coffee for reusable K-Cup brewing. Subscription roasters including Onyx Coffee Lab, Counter Culture Coffee, and Stumptown Coffee Roasters all ship within 1 to 3 days of the roast date and print roast dates on every bag.

For supermarket-accessible options, Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic Espresso Blend and Lavazza Super Crema are reliably fresh at major grocery chains and perform well at medium grind settings in a reusable K-Cup. Both are medium roasts with enough body to hold up to the moderate pressure and short brew time of a Keurig.

Single-serve coffee pods from Starbucks and Dunkin available in grocery stores are pre-ground and sealed for shelf stability of 9 to 12 months, which is why they taste flatter in a reusable K-Cup than fresh-ground coffee from the same brands’ whole bean bags.

For a full breakdown of which whole bean brands and roasters produce the most consistently fresh, well-sourced coffee for home brewing, the highest-rated specialty and grocery coffee brands ranked by freshness, sourcing, and flavor covers the full range from budget supermarket picks to direct-trade specialty roasters.

If you want to explore single-origin coffees and understand how processing method (washed, natural, honey) affects flavor in a reusable K-Cup, the complete guide to coffee origins, roast levels, and brewing fundamentals explains how origin and process directly shape the flavor you taste in the cup.

Reusable K-Cup Savings Calculator: How Much Will You Save?

The amount you save by switching to a reusable K-Cup depends on how many cups you brew per day and how much you currently spend per pod. The table below shows cumulative savings at different consumption levels comparing a $0.85 average pod cost against a $0.25 reusable K-Cup cost (12g dose, $18 per 12 oz specialty bag, approximately 40 cups per bag).

Frequently Asked Questions About Reusable K-Cups

Can I use espresso grind in a reusable K-Cup?

Espresso grind (200 to 400 microns) is too fine for a reusable K-Cup and will cause three problems: clogged mesh, prolonged contact time that over-extracts bitter compounds, and pressure buildup that can stop the Keurig mid-cycle. The correct grind for a reusable K-Cup is medium to medium-fine (500 to 700 microns), which is 2 to 3 settings coarser than espresso on most burr grinder adjustment scales.

If you want espresso-style concentrated coffee from a Keurig, use the 6 oz cup size setting with 12 to 14 grams of medium-fine grind. This produces a brew ratio of approximately 1:9 to 1:12 that is more concentrated than standard drip but will not damage the mesh or clog the needle the way espresso grind does.

Why does my reusable K-Cup coffee taste weak even when I fill it all the way?

Filling the basket to the maximum fill line does not guarantee strong coffee if the grind is too coarse. At a coarse grind (over 800 microns), water flows through too quickly to dissolve enough soluble coffee compounds, producing a brew ratio output with low total dissolved solids (TDS) regardless of how much coffee is in the basket. The fix is to grind finer (to 500 to 600 microns) before increasing the dose, and to select the 6 oz or 8 oz cup size rather than the 10 oz or 12 oz setting.

A second cause of weak reusable K-Cup coffee is a dirty Keurig water tank or scale buildup restricting water temperature. If the machine has not been descaled in 3 to 6 months, mineral scale on the heating element reduces water temperature below 185°F (85°C), which extracts fewer soluble compounds and produces a noticeably flat, thin cup. Run a descaling cycle using Keurig descaling solution and test the coffee again.

How long does a reusable K-Cup last before I need to replace it?

A stainless steel mesh reusable K-Cup lasts 200 to 400 brews with daily rinsing and weekly deep cleaning. Plastic mesh versions typically last 60 to 120 brews before the mesh begins to warp or allow fine particles through into the cup. The most reliable indicator that replacement is needed is visible tearing or distortion of the mesh, or consistently finding grounds in your cup despite using the correct grind size.

The lid and silicone seal on most reusable K-Cups are the first components to fail. A lid that no longer snaps firmly into place or a silicone gasket that shows cracking or compression fatigue allows hot water to bypass the grounds and brew a weak, pale cup. Many brands sell replacement lids separately for $2 to $4, extending the usable life of the stainless steel basket significantly.

Is it safe to use a reusable K-Cup? Are there any health concerns?

BPA-free plastic reusable K-Cups are food-safe when used as directed. All major reusable K-Cup brands sold in the United States (including Keurig-branded, Delibru, and Ekobrew) are made from BPA-free polypropylene or stainless steel and meet FDA food contact standards. The primary health concern with reusable K-Cups is not the material itself but mold growth from insufficient drying. Storing a wet reusable K-Cup in the Keurig between uses creates conditions for Aspergillus and Cladosporium mold to colonize the mesh within 24 to 48 hours at room temperature. Allow the basket to air dry fully and open between every use.

Stainless steel mesh versions are the safer long-term choice because they have no plastic components in contact with hot water during brewing, eliminating any residual concern about plasticizer migration at elevated temperatures. The brewing temperature in a Keurig (approximately 192°F / 89°C) is within the safe operating range for BPA-free polypropylene, but stainless steel has no migration risk at any temperature.

Can I use pre-ground coffee in a reusable K-Cup?

Pre-ground coffee works in a reusable K-Cup, but the grind size must match the medium to medium-fine range (500 to 700 microns) required for the Keurig brew cycle. Most pre-ground coffee sold as “drip” or “auto-drip” grind is ground to 600 to 800 microns, which is on the coarser end of the acceptable range. Pre-ground “espresso” products are too fine. Pre-ground “French press” grind is too coarse and will produce a weak, sour result.

The flavor compromise from pre-ground coffee is significant. Pre-ground coffee loses 40 to 60% of volatile aromatic compounds within 15 minutes of grinding, according to research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. A bag of whole bean coffee ground fresh before each brew will produce a noticeably more aromatic, complex cup than the same coffee purchased pre-ground. The difference is most pronounced with light roasts and single-origin coffees where the origin-specific flavor characteristics are most volatile and most degraded by oxidation.

What is the difference between a reusable K-Cup and a reusable K-Pod?

“Reusable K-Cup” and “reusable K-Pod” refer to the same product category: a refillable filter basket designed for Keurig single-serve brewers. The terms are used interchangeably across brands and product listings. “K-Cup” is a Keurig brand trademark for their single-use pods; “K-Pod” is a generic descriptive term used by third-party sellers to describe the same pod format without infringing the trademark. Both types use the same basket-and-lid design, the same mesh filter construction, and the same Keurig holder insertion mechanism.

Do reusable K-Cups work with the Keurig strong brew setting?

Yes. The strong brew setting on Keurig K-Elite, K-Supreme, and K-Classic machines reduces water flow rate through the pod, extending contact time by approximately 20 to 30 seconds. This increases extraction yield and produces a more concentrated cup with a reusable K-Cup, particularly noticeable when using lighter roast coffees that extract more slowly at medium grind settings. Use the strong brew setting with a 10 to 12 gram dose at medium grind to produce a cup closer to 1.35 to 1.55% TDS, compared to 1.15 to 1.30% TDS without the strong setting.

Why does my reusable K-Cup leave grounds in the bottom of my cup?

Grounds in the cup from a reusable K-Cup have three causes: mesh damage (tears or warping that allow particles through), grind size that is too fine for the mesh hole size (under 400 microns passing through a coarser mesh), or a lid seal failure that allows grounds to bypass the mesh entirely and travel directly into the brew stream. Inspect the mesh under good lighting for visible tears or distortion first. If the mesh is intact, coarsen the grind by 2 settings. If grounds persist, test the lid seal by pressing it firmly onto the basket and checking for gaps around the perimeter before brewing.

Can I use a reusable K-Cup to make iced coffee in a Keurig?

Yes. Use the 6 oz cup size setting and brew directly over a cup filled with ice. The 6 oz brew volume and a 12 to 14 gram dose produces a brew ratio of 1:9 to 1:10, which is concentrated enough that dilution from melting ice brings the final strength to approximately 1:13 to 1:15, within the range for a well-balanced iced coffee. Medium to dark roast coffees work best for iced brewing over ice because their flavor compounds are more heat-stable and less affected by rapid chilling than the delicate floral notes of light roast single-origin coffees.

How many times can I reuse a K-Cup filter per day?

You can use a reusable K-Cup multiple times per day without restriction, as long as you rinse and dry it between brews. There is no use limit per day. The only requirement between sequential brews is to empty the spent grounds, rinse the basket under hot water for 15 seconds, and allow 1 to 2 minutes of drying before refilling. Brewing through a basket that still contains spent wet grounds from the previous brew will extract rancid, stale flavor from the old grounds into the new cup.

Which reusable K-Cup works best for strong coffee?

The Ekobrew reusable K-Cup has the largest capacity of widely available models, holding up to 14 grams of ground coffee compared to 10 to 12 grams in most competitors. On the 6 oz setting, 14 grams produces a brew ratio of approximately 1:9, which is the strongest concentration achievable in a Keurig without modifying the machine. Pair this with a medium-fine grind at 450 to 550 microns and a dark or medium-dark roast coffee for the most body and concentration from a reusable K-Cup brew.

Do I need to use a burr grinder for a reusable K-Cup, or can I use a blade grinder?

A burr grinder produces significantly better results than a blade grinder for reusable K-Cup brewing. Blade grinders chop coffee unevenly, producing a mix of very fine powder (under 200 microns) and large chunks (over 1,200 microns) in the same batch. The fine particles over-extract and contribute bitterness while the large chunks under-extract and contribute sourness, producing a cup that tastes simultaneously bitter and flat. A burr grinder cuts all particles to the same target size, enabling consistent extraction across the entire dose. An entry-level hand burr grinder like the Hario Mini Slim costs $30 to $40 and produces dramatically cleaner results than a blade grinder at three times the price.

Can I use a reusable K-Cup in a non-Keurig single-serve machine?

Standard Keurig reusable K-Cups are not compatible with non-Keurig single-serve machines from Nespresso, Dolce Gusto, Tassimo, or Hamilton Beach. These machines use entirely different pod formats, holder sizes, and puncture mechanisms. Each brand has its own reusable pod format: Nespresso uses stainless steel reusable capsules (Capmesso or Waycap designs), Tassimo requires the Tassimo My-Way T-Disc format, and Dolce Gusto has its own refillable capsule system. Purchasing a Keurig reusable K-Cup for use in any of these machines will not produce a compatible fit.

Switching to a reusable K-Cup is one of the simplest and most cost-effective upgrades available for any Keurig owner: buy a quality stainless steel mesh model for $8 to $15, set your burr grinder to medium, dose 10 to 12 grams, and select the 8 oz setting to start. You will save $200 to $400 per year while brewing noticeably fresher coffee than any pre-ground pod can deliver.