How Long A Keurig Is Supposed To Last (And How To Extend Its Lifespan)

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

A few different Keurig models landed on the positive side of our ranking of the best and worst single-cup coffee makers, and Keurig is indubitably popular as a brand. Dr Pepper, the surprising parent brand of Keurig, has managed to finagle the coffee maker into an estimated 40 million households and enjoys 90% brand recognition for Keurig. If you've invested in one of these percolators, like the space-efficient K-Express that brews a single cup at a time, you may be wondering exactly how long you can expect your machine to last. The answer, as is the case with so many mysteries in life, is "it depends."

With normal household use of one to four cups brewed per day, your Keurig should have a lifespan of between three and five years. Basically, the more you brew, the less time you can expect your faithful brewer to last. If you've purchased a Keurig for a high-traffic location like a doctor's office waiting room, where it's being used intermittently all day long, you might only get a couple of years out of this workhorse.

The best way to keep your Keurig ticking is to take care of it properly, which really amounts to following its recommended maintenance tips. Remove cooled K-pods from the machine once they are used, make sure to wipe down internal and external components regularly — don't forget to clean the coffee pot needle — and to change the water filter and descale it quarterly. A clean Keurig is a happy Keurig and will be more likely to give you many years of reliable use.

With all the Keurig coffee maker tricks we know for everything from ramen and pasta to hot tea, it's intuitive to turn to this appliance for anything and everything requiring hot water. Even with the best and most diligent maintenance, however, every Keurig has an expiration date. After some unknown time — it could be 18 months, it could be six years — your Keurig might start showing signs that it's winding down. You may find that your coffee's taste isn't consistent from day to day, or that your machine makes unusual noises while brewing. In some cases, you might even notice components starting to leak. These are red flags for imminent mechanical or physical failure, and are good indicators that it's time to start shopping for your next brewer. Obviously, if you wake up one day and your machine simply won't turn on, that might be another glaring sign that your Keurig has flown away to Coffee Maker Valhalla.

All appliances are subject to eventual, inevitable failure; it's just a question of how long you have with them. A Keurig's reliability compares favorably with that of other competitors like Ninja or Mr. Coffee, as long as you maintain your machine the way you should. Make sure to follow Keurig's instructions for cleaning and descaling, and to change disposable components when necessary. Overall, keeping your machine un-gunked will encourage it to run smoothly and maximize its lifespan.