Keurig Mini B30 Tip - Trick Out the Cup Sensors to Use Clear Mugs

The Keurig Mini B30 has been shipping for less than a week, and already there's tons of write ins on how to use clear glass mugs with the Mini B30. Since the Keurig Mini B30 uses cup sensors, it won't register a clear glass mug in the brew chamber. We're a big user of clear glass mugs, but had settled in to using our "Skywalker Ranch" mug (yes we've visited holy ground) instead of our Bodum Corona coffee mug.

We can't try the below - as we don't have a magic bullet lying around, but you can see the idea behind other items you might use to trick out the cup sensors. We've actually tried using a coaster, and it works great as well.

I purchased the new Mini B30 Keurig on August 27th at Bed Bath & Beyond and I LOVE it! I really wanted the Mini because of its portability. In fact, I'm going to take it with me in my carry-on luggage next month when I travel to CO to welcome my son home from a tour of duty in Iraq. {{{big Army Mom smile}}}

After using my Mini for a week now, and brewing several cups each day (how else could I decide what flavors I like:-) I have a TIP: the Mini has 2 'cup sensors', one on either side of, and just above, the surface of the 'cup plate' and the BREW button will not activate unless your cup is in place. That's actually a very nice feature except that the directions say, and I can confirm, that you can NOT use a glass mug because the sensors will not "read" the clear glass. But I just bought a whole bunch of double wall thermal cups, mugs, glasses, etc., and was dying to brew the coffee into them. So... I first molded aluminum foil around the bottom of the mug and that worked - the sensors were able to 'read' the foil - but it was a pain in the neck. Then I got the brilliant idea to use a jar lid, which worked, and then, finally, one of the rims from the Magic Bullet set that's collecting dust in my cabinet. The rim is the piece that screws on to the Magic Bullet mug after you remove the screw-on blending device - it's just like a mason jar lid without the center in place. The 'rim' is just high enough for the sensors on the Mini to 'read' it. And voila! I get to watch the coffee being dispensed into my crystal clear thermal wall mug! You could, of course, use any appropriately sized jar lid as well, and probably a cupcake paper liner, but I have a black Magic Bullet rim which matches the brewer and makes me very happy. :-) Just wanted to share.

Thank you so much for such a great website!

Sincerely, Dori Johns

There you have it. Be careful - tricking out any sensor can lead to bad results. But if you need to use clear mugs, this might be the method for you.

Read our full review of the Keurig Mini B30 here.

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Posted by Jay Brewer at September 5, 2008 9:22 AM

I have a better method, as long as you don't mind going without the cup sensor functionality. Right above the drip tray, on either side is a small sensor that looks a bit like a tiny LED. Cover both of these with a small piece of electrical tape/masking tape/etc. (just make sure it's opaque) - It'll always think a cup is there so clear mugs will work.

Posted by: Dave Russell at September 21, 2008 12:07 AM