Paper Filters for the My K-Cup: Fit Guide

Paper filters come in one common size, and most reusable pods take it. The Keurig My K-Cup Universal is the exception: its basket is taller, so a standard filter sits too low and grounds get past the edge. You need the taller size, the one sold for the K-Carafe.

This guide shows which size fits your pod, how to fit it properly, and how to fix the usual problems.

Which size fits your pod

Reusable pod	Filter size	Notes
Keurig My K-Cup Universal	Taller (K-Carafe size)	The basket is deeper than other pods. A standard filter sits too low.
EkoBrew	Standard	What our filters were first made for
EZ-Cup (Perfect Pod)	Standard	Built around a paper filter
Solofill	Standard
Simple Cups, iPartsPlusMore, Fill N Save, Eco-Fill	Standard
Stainless steel refillable pods	Standard, usually	Check the paper isn't wider than the basket
Original My K-Cup (older black filter with a holder)	Try the taller size first	Its basket is also deep. If the paper stands above the rim, fold the edge over.
K-Carafe reusable filter	Taller (K-Carafe size)	What that size was made for

Taller filters for the My K-Cup Universal and K-Carafe · Standard filters for everything else

How to tell which My K-Cup you have

• Original My K-Cup. The older black filter that sits inside a separate plastic holder. Made for older brewers such as the K10 Mini Plus, K15, K40/45, K55, K60/65 and K70/75/79. It doesn't fit Keurig 2.0 machines.
• My K-Cup Universal. The current one for single-needle brewers: K-Classic, K-Select, K-Compact, K-Elite, K-Duo and most 2.0 models.
• My K-Cup Universal with MultiStream Technology. For brewers that spray water from several needles, such as the K-Supreme and K-Supreme Plus.

Quick check: open your brewer's lid and look at the needle above the pod. One needle in the middle means single-needle. Several small needles in a ring means MultiStream. Both versions of the Universal have the same tall basket, so both take the taller filter.

Fitting the filter, step by step

1. Take the pod out of the brewer and open the lid.
2. Press the filter into the basket so the paper lines the sides and the top edge reaches the rim. It doesn't need to touch the bottom. Many reusable pods have small ridges near the base for the paper to rest on, and the little gap underneath lets water move around the grounds, which can improve the taste.
3. Tuck the top edge under the lid hinge so it stays put when you close the lid.
4. Add medium-ground coffee up to the fill line. Don't press it down.
5. Close the lid, put the pod in the brewer and brew.
6. Lift out the paper with the grounds inside and toss it. Rinse the pod at the end of the day.

Do you need a paper filter at all?

No, the mesh basket brews on its own. People add paper because:

• No sludge. Mesh lets the finest grounds through. Paper catches them.
• No rinsing between cups. Lift the paper out and brew again.
• Cleaner taste. Paper holds back some of the coffee oils, which gives a lighter, brighter cup. If you like a heavy cup, brew without it.

Keurig sells paper filters for the My K-Cup as well, so this is a normal way to use it, not a workaround.

Fixing the four common problems

Grounds still in your cup. Usually the paper is too short for the basket, so coffee slips over the edge while brewing. In a My K-Cup Universal, use the taller size and make sure the top edge reaches the rim and is tucked under the hinge. The paper doesn't need to reach the bottom; a gap there is fine.

The filter tore. Wet paper can split if something presses up into it. It shows up most in pods with a spring or a raised point at the base, such as some EZ-Cup models. Three things help: sit the paper on the ridges instead of forcing it down onto the spring, use a medium grind so water doesn't pool, and try the white filters, which use a slightly sturdier paper than the unbleached ones. If a filter tears on you, tell us which pod you use and we'll sort it out.

Water overflows out of the pod. The grind is too fine, or the coffee was pressed down. Paper adds resistance, so go one step coarser and keep the grounds level.

Coffee brews slowly or tastes weak. A slow trickle usually means clogging, from fine grounds or old coffee oils in the mesh. Wash the basket with warm water and a soft brush.

The lid won't close. The paper is bunched at the top. Push it down into the basket and fold the top edge inward before closing.

White or unbleached?

Both brew the same. White looks clean and classic; unbleached keeps the paper's natural brown colour because it skips the bleaching step. The taller K-Carafe-size filters come unbleached.

Common questions

Why is the taller filter sold as a K-Carafe filter?
Because that's what it was made for: the Keurig carafe filter. It happens to be the right height and shape for the My K-Cup Universal basket too, so one box covers both.

How long does a box last?
One filter per cup. A 100-count box lasts about seven weeks at two cups a day.

Can I cut a regular basket filter to size instead?
Yes. Here's how to make your own K-Cup paper filters. Cut the circle a little wider for the My K-Cup, since the basket is deeper.

Does paper change the taste?
A bit. It holds back some coffee oils for a cleaner, brighter cup.

Are they biodegradable?
Yes, plain paper. Grounds and filter go out together.

Not sure which size your pod takes? Send us a photo and we'll tell you.