Why You Should Use 2 Coffee Pods For Every Keurig Brew

Since they became available for household use in 2004, Keurigs have been priceless investments for anyone who can't live without a daily cup of joe. These handy machines rapidly expedite the process of brewing coffee. By using K-cups, small cups prepackaged with coffee grounds, Keurigs can produce a cup of coffee in seconds. However, there is a downside to the K-cup system. What many people don't realize is that the pods were designed to make a 6-ounce brew and contain the appropriate amount of coffee grounds for a coffee of that size. We don't know about you, but 6 ounces seems like a small cup of coffee to us. Many people opt to make a larger cup, but, they're unintentionally creating a watery, weak coffee; a 12-ounce cup of coffee made from a single K-cup is half as strong as the default 6-ounce cup.

Keurigs work by using pressurized air to squeeze hot water through tiny holes the machine pokes into the foil of a K-cup. The water filters through the coffee grounds, turning into hot coffee that is dispensed from the machine into your mug. Besides adjusting the amount of coffee you make (with smaller cups producing stronger coffee and larger cups producing weaker), there's no way to alter the brewing process to make the final product stronger. That's why if you want more than 6 ounces of coffee, you should use two K-cups instead of one.

By using two K-cups instead of one, you can brew yourself more coffee without diluting the flavor. Doubling the K-Cups effectively doubles the coffee grounds, intensifying the brew's strength. This method allows for a more concentrated and robust extraction, providing a richer taste and a heightened caffeine content in the resulting cup.

Start by warming up your Keurig as you normally would, and pop in the first coffee pod. For the best results, press the button for a small 4- or 6-ounce cup of coffee, and let the machine do its thing. Afterwards, simply repeat the process with a new coffee pod, and watch as your cup fills with rich, delicious coffee. If you opt for two 6-ounce cups you'll get 12 ounces of Keurig's standard-strength coffee. If you switch one or both of those cups for a 4-ounce cup, you'll get less coffee, but it will be an even stronger brew. 

After trying this Keurig hack a few times, feel free to experiment with the brew size settings on the coffee maker to find your perfect ratio. You may find that two 4-ounce batches are too strong, while a 4- and a 6-ounce batch is just right. Combining Keurig coffee pods will allow you to play around with flavors and craft unique blends to suit your tastes as well. 

By mixing and matching different K-cups, you can create custom drinks that would be hard to make otherwise. For example, you can brew a mocha at home by using hot chocolate and a regular coffee K-cup. Or, if you need a pick-me-up, you can recreate a double-shot latte by mixing a vanilla or hazelnut-flavored coffee pod and one with a regular bold roast and pouring the brew over milk. And don't forget there is a wide range of tea-filled K-cups that can be used in your Keurig that can also be doubled and mixed up. Blend lavender and chamomile tea for a soothing nighttime beverage, or try mint and green tea for a boost of energy. You could even make a dirty chai at home by brewing a large cup of chai tea with a small espresso pod. Experimenting with different coffee pods can also be cost-effective since you won't have to go to a coffee shop to find your favorite beverage.

Just be mindful of when using multiple coffee pods is how much caffeine you're consuming. Depending on the contents, the average K-cup has 75 to 150 milligrams of caffeine, about the same as a regular cup of coffee. To avoid increasing your caffeine intake, consider swapping the extra coffee pods out for decaf options.

One of the main draws of a Keurig is its efficiency and ease of use, but that can sometimes come at the expense of strong, flavorful coffee. By using the double pod technique, you can ensure that each cup is made to your exact flavor preference, is a satisfying size, and is energizing enough to help get you through your day.