Quick answer: Keurig’s K-Supreme guide says coffee grounds can collect in the exit or entrance needles. Turn off and unplug the brewer, clean the pod holder’s exit needle and the lid’s entrance needle holes with care, then run two cleansing brews without a pod. If the problem started with one visibly damaged pod, test a fresh intact pod after cleaning.
First, identify the pattern
One messy cup after a pod tears is different from grounds appearing with every pod. Note whether the cup contains a few fine flecks, a mound of grounds, or coffee leaking from the pod area. Inspect the used pod only after brewing has ended and it is cool enough to handle. Do not lift the handle while hot water is brewing.
Tools and precautions
Use a straightened paper clip, a mug, fresh water and a soft cloth. The needles above and below the pod are sharp. Keep fingers away from the puncture points. Unplug before cleaning, let hot components cool, and never immerse the brewer. Keurig says service beyond its cleaning and maintenance procedures is not user serviceable.
Clean the exit needle
- Lift the handle and remove the K-Cup pod holder by supporting it from above while pressing upward from below, as directed in the manual.
- Detach the funnel from the holder. The exit needle is in the bottom interior of the pod holder. Keep fingers clear of it.
- Gently insert the straightened paper clip into the exit needle opening to loosen trapped grounds. Rinse the removable holder and funnel, dry as appropriate, then snap the funnel and holder back into place.
Clean the entrance needles and test
- With the handle lifted, locate the entrance needles on the underside of the lid. Carefully clear all their holes with the paper clip; do not force or bend the needles.
- Lower the handle fully. Run two cleansing brews with fresh water and no pod, discarding the hot water each time.
- Brew a fresh undamaged pod. If grounds recur only with one pod type, compare another compatible pod. If they recur with multiple intact pods despite cleaning, contact Keurig support rather than dismantling the housing.
If your cup is short as well
A blocked exit needle may also restrict output. Use the K-Supreme partial-cup guide if the main symptom is a small serving. If the brewer is asking for descaling, follow the complete descale and fresh-water rinse; a needle cleaning is not a replacement for that cycle.
FAQ
Can I poke the needles while the brewer is plugged in?
No. Unplug, wait for hot water and components to cool, and work only from the access points described in Keurig’s guide.
Do I need a replacement pod holder?
Usually cleaning is the first test. If the removable holder is cracked or its needle visibly damaged, ask Keurig for the part compatible with your exact K-Supreme variant.
Source
Keurig K-Supreme Use & Care Guide, pod-holder care, entrance/exit needles and “Grounds in Your Coffee.”