Keurig Size Buttons – Keurig Buttons Meaning

I have seen a lot of questions about the Keurig size buttons getting asked in our active and vibrant coffee community. This article is a response to the many questions and gives meaning to them and what the different cu size buttons mean and what they do.

Keep reading for the details – every model is listed.

Keurig Size Buttons

Let’s get straight to the Keurig size button, what they are in both ounces and milliliters. There are five cup sizes on most Keurig coffee makers, some only have three.

The coffee makers that only have three are missing the smallest and largest sizes in the list below:

• 4 ounce (120 ml).
• 6 ounce (180 ml).
• 8 ounce (240 ml).
• 10 ounce (300 ml).
• 12 ounce (360 ml).

Let’s get into the meaning of these buttons.

Read: How to descale a Keurig 2.0

Keurig Buttons Meaning

The buttons on your Keurig coffee maker allow you to select a different size of coffee that the machine will pour, meaning each button tells the Keurig to dispense a different amount of water from the water reservoir.

The greater the amount of water, the higher the coffee to water ratio is and since the amount of coffee grounds remains the same, the weaker your cup of coffee will be.

Yes, it also means less water, the stronger and fuller your coffee will taste.

Keurig Cup Sizes of All Keurig Coffee Machines

As I spoke about earlier, not all machines have 5 cup sizes while some have only 3 cup sizes.

Here is the complete list of Keurig coffee makers and their cup sizes.

Keurig K-Express Cup Sizes

8 Oz (240 ml), 10 Oz (300 ml), and 12 Oz (360 ml).

Keurig K Classic Coffee Maker Cup Sizes

6 Oz (180 ml) 8 Oz (240 ml), and 10 Oz (300 ml).

Keurig K-Express Essentials Coffee Maker Cup Sizes

6 Oz (180 ml) 8 Oz (240 ml) and 10 Oz (300 ml).

Keurig K-Mini And Keurig K-Mini Plus Coffee Machine Cup Sizes

6 Oz (180 ml), 8 Oz (240 ml), 10 Oz (300 ml) and 12 Oz (360 ml).

Keurig K-Slim Coffee Maker Cup Sizes

8 Oz (240 ml), 10 Oz (300 ml), and 12 Oz (360 ml).

Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker Cup Sizes

4 Oz (120 ml) 6 Oz (180 ml) 8 Oz (240 ml), 10 Oz (300 ml) and 12 Oz (360 ml).

Keurig K-Select Coffee Maker Cup Sizes

6 Oz (180 ml), 8 Oz (240 ml), 10 Oz (300 ml) and 12 Oz (360 ml).

Keurig K-Supreme Plus & K-Supreme Plus Smart Coffee Maker Cup Sizes

4 Oz (120 ml) 6 Oz (180 ml) 8 Oz (240 ml), 10 Oz (300 ml) and 12 Oz (360 ml).

Keurig K-Supreme Coffee Maker Cup Sizes

6 Oz (180 ml), 8 Oz (240 ml), 10 Oz (300 ml) and 12 Oz (360 ml).

Keurig K-Cafe Coffee Maker Cup Sizes

6 Oz (180 ml), 8 Oz (240 ml), 10 Oz (300 ml) and 12 Oz (360 ml).

Keurig K-Duo & K-Duo Plus

6 Oz (180 ml), 8 Oz (240 ml), 10 Oz (300 ml) and 12 Oz (360 ml).

Is The Keurig Small Cup Size Stronger?

Yes, because there is a reduced amount of water use, the coffee to water ratio is more focused. It is stronger in terms of flavor and body only but not caffeine content as the amount of coffee grounds used remains the same.

It is a stronger tasting brew due to the reduced amount of water used to brew it.

Keurig Large Cup Size Oz

The largest cup size in a Keurig is either 10 Oz (300 ml) or 12 Oz (360 ml) depending on your particular model.

If your model has 5 cup size options, the large cup size on your Keurig will be 12 Oz (360 ml). If your Keurig only has 3 cup size options, the large cup size will be slightly smaller and only 10 Oz (300 ml).

Does Keurig Cup Size Affect Caffeine?

Each Keurig coffee pod has a pre-measured and predetermined amount of coffee; the amount of caffeine in each cup of coffee brewed with them will be the same regardless of the size of the cup of coffee. If you brew a 4 ounce cup of coffee or a 12 ounce cup of coffee, the caffeine content will be the same; just your coffee will taste stronger or weaker based on the amount of water used to brew it.

The amount of caffeine in your coffee will only change if the amount of ground coffee is altered.

Of course the grind size, water temperature and brew time play a role too in terms of how much caffeine gets into your cup of coffee. These are variables that you have no control over with a Keurig.

Read: What grind for Keurig

Why So Many Different Cup Sizes?

Coffee maker technology has changed and got better over the past few years and will continue to do so. A K-Cafe for example now has a milk frother. The different cup sizes on your Keurig allow you to make different types of coffee.

A smaller cup size will allow a stronger brew for lattes and cappuccinos as well as iced coffee. Also, you will use a different cup size for extra bold, dark roasts and caffe Americanos.

The different brew sizes also allow the K-cup pods to expand into making different beverages, which makes the whole machine more appealing to consumers.

How Much Coffee Is In A K-Cup Pod?

Keurig K-cup classic coffee pods hold 0.3 to 0.4 Ounces of ground coffee which is 9-12 grams of coffee grounds.

How strong your coffee will taste will depend on the size of coffee that you brew, as mentioned above the caffeine content will remain the same for all drink sizes, you have the luxury of choosing how strong you want it to taste.

How Many Ounces Per K-Cup Coffee Pod Is Best?

This is a very difficult question to answer as the best answer is “it depends.”

It depends on the type of K-cup pod that you are using and the coffee strength that you enjoy drinking. Some love a big thin cup of coffee, to sip, which I am guilty of while there are people that love a real strong cup of coffee.

The best way is to simply experiment with one particular type of coffee pod and experiment with the different brew size buttons and which best suits your needs and your own personal enjoyment of coffee.

Even if you normally enjoy a large cup of coffee, start off with the small size and work your way up until you get that cup size that you love and enjoy the most.

If you enjoy a small cup of coffee, start with the small size and still try the other sizes too before you make the choice of which size tastes the best for you.

To give you an indication of how your coffee may taste, the following table is a guide for the coffee to water ratio for 9, 10 and 12 grams of coffee for all the cup sizes.

You can see some of these will produce a watery coffee, particularly with a ratio of 1:40.

Frequently Asked Questions About Keurig Size Buttons

What Are The 3 Sizes On Keurig?

The Keurig K-Classic coffee maker has 3 cup sizes which are 6 ounces (180 ml), 8 ounces (240 ml) and 10 ounces (300 ml).

How Many Ounces Is The Smallest Setting On A Keurig?

Keurig cup sizes range from 4 Ounces (120 ml) and increase in 2 ounces (60 ml) increments with the largest size being 12 ounces (360 ml). Worthy of note is most models only have 6 Oz (180 ml), 8 Oz (240 ml) and 10 Oz (300 ml) with the 4 Oz (120 ml) and 12 (360 ml) only available on some models.

Why Is My Keurig Not Making 12 Ounces?

If your Keurig is one of the models that is capable of making 12 ounces (360 ml) and it is not making this size selection of a full cup of this size, the reason could be due to a blocked needle.

Debris like old coffee grinds, mineral build up, foil and more can end up blocking the needles. Use your cleaning tool that came with your coffee maker and clean both the entry and exit needles. Also, use a fine needle or paper clip to give your needles a good poke to dislodge any dirt or grime.

Then descale your Keurig and give it a real good clean.

Read: How to use Keurig

What Two Buttons Do I Push To Descale My Keurig?

To activate the descaling of your Keurig coffee maker, hold the 8 Oz and 12 Oz buttons together for three seconds. When the brew button is flashing, press it to activate the descaling process.

For models that don’t have a 12 Oz button, press the brew button to start a brewing cycle, which will descale the machine also.

What Do The Cup Sizes On Keurig Mean?

The cup sizes on a Keurig are in reference to how many ounces for each cup size. The larger the option you select, the more water will be used to brew your cup of coffee. The smaller the cup size, the stronger the brew as it will be more concentrated. The larger the cup size, the weaker and thinner your coffee will be as it will be more liquid.

What Does The Strong Button On My Keurig Do?

The strong button on your Keuring makes your coffee stronger, bolder and is great for making iced coffee and brewing over ice. As the coffee is stronger it compensates for the melting ice. It is also great to use the strong button when you want to brew a strong cup of coffee.

Final Thoughts – Keurig Size Buttons

You know all about the Keurig size buttons, their meaning and what the effect that selecting different cup sizes has on your resulting cup of coffee.

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Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location