To use your own coffee you must purchase the Universal k-cup reusable pod. For this Keurig you must remove the lower portion of the plastic pod that clips on. See the paper instructions that come with that pod. You must also pop out from the coffee maker the plastic assembly that holds the pod in place while brewing in order to use this reusable pod. The older reusable pods will not work with this coffeemaker as they are too tall to fit. That is why the new reusable pod has the clip-on piece so that it can fit both sizes of machines.