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Keurig Coffee Maker Problems
Common issues with Keurig coffee machines and how to solve them.
Published December 14, 2021
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Jennie Backteman
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Today, Keurig has become one of the most well-known, reputable, and popular brands of coffee maker around the world. While you can usually rely on Keurig to provide you with a top-quality coffee maker for your home, just like any brand of coffee maker, you might encounter some problems. The good news is that if you’re dealing with Keurig not working, Keurig not brewing, Keurig stopped working, Keurig broken, or Keurig won’t turn on, then the good news is that you don’t have to panic about the Keurig machine not working. You will be able to get perfect Keurig coffee quicker than you think with these Keurig troubleshooting tips.
Not Dispensing Water
Keurig not brewing? If you’re doing everything right and the Keurig has stopped working when it comes to dispensing water, this can be a frustrating issue to deal with. Thankfully it’s one of the Keurig coffee maker problems that might have an easy fix depending on the underlying issue that has caused it. If the machine has stopped pumping water the moment you switch it on or off, try turning it off, removing the container, and turning it upside down before shaking it gently. Tap the floor a few times until it switches on and off.
It’s also worth trying to descale the machine as the water dispensing might be impacted by a blockage in the internal parts of the machine caused by a build-up of mineral deposits. The water pipe becoming clogged can also lead to nasty gunk making its way into your coffee. If descaling the machine does not fix this issue, you may need to repair or replace the water pump.
Leaking
One of the common Keurig problems that you might encounter with Keurig drip coffee makers, or a Keurig cappuccino maker, is leaking. If you have noticed that your coffee maker has begun to leak, whether it’s dripping out hot coffee or hot water, it could be a minor or a major issue. However, no matter the cause of the leak, the most important thing is to find the root of the problem and figure out a way to fix it as soon as you can. If the leak is coming from the tank, this might be easily solved by simply getting a replacement tank. Otherwise, cleaning the machine might be the right strategy for fixing a Keurig that’s clogged.
Cleaning: If your coffee maker is clogged and this has caused a leak, using a mixture of water and white vinegar to clean it can solve the problem. Use eleven cups of vinegar diluted with one cup of water for a 12-cup capacity machine. Pour the mixture in and go through a brew cycle as if you were making a cup of coffee.
Pump Valve: If cleaning doesn’t solve the problem, another Keurig 2.0 troubleshooting tip is to check the pump valve. Water needs to go somewhere when the coffee machine is working, and if it’s impossible for it to flow through the fill tube, it might leak out. If the issue is the pump valve, try cleaning it to remove any clogs from minerals or coffee ground build up. If this doesn’t work, you may need to replace it.
Coffee Tastes Bad
If your Keurig won’t brew the great-tasting coffee that you expect and instead leaves you with a beverage that you immediately want to dump down the drain, this can also be a really frustrating problem. After all, people usually decide to invest in a Keurig to get great coffee in the morning, not because they want to waste money on throwing away coffee because the Keurig is broken. The first thing to check with this problem is the K-cup that you are using. If you’re using the same K-cups, there’s no reason why your coffee should taste bad. If this is happening with a specific K-cup, then check the date on the package to make sure that they have not gone out of date, as even though they last a while, they do have an expiration date and using the K-cups that have been in the back of your cupboard for five years is probably going to produce a bad taste.
More commonly, your coffee might be tasting bad if you haven’t cleaned the machine for a while. This can lead to your machine clogging up and the older coffee grounds will build up over time, causing nasty old coffee bits and mineral deposits to leak into your fresh coffee now, impacting its taste. The best thing to do if your coffee tastes bad is to descale and thoroughly clean your machine and you will usually notice a difference. Most Keurig coffee machines will inform you when they need cleaning.
Not Brewing Enough Coffee
If you’re just trying to get a cup of coffee in the morning and getting a tiny amount of coffee, you might be wondering ‘why is my Keurig not working?!’. No doubt you are getting increasingly frustrated as you waste coffee and water just trying to get your morning caffeine hit. This is a common issue when it comes to a Keurig machine not working for any reason, and the good news is that it might be a simpler fix than you think.
Firstly, check your setup – it might just be that your water level is too low to make the full cup of coffee that you want. Other common reasons for experiencing this problem include a clogged or dirty filter that is blocking the coffee from being fully extracted after being used a lot. Cleaning the filter thoroughly and descaling your machine to remove any other internal blockages might be a simple way to make sure that you get the amount that you expect from your next cup. To prevent this from happening, you should routinely clean your machine.
Not Heating
Unless you are making a specific cold brew K-cup then you’ll definitely need some Keurig mini troubleshooting if your machine isn’t heating up, as the coffee is supposed to be hot and ready to drink. When this happens, it might be due to an issue with the water pump, which often involves the heating mechanism being shut off. This happens if the water is not pumping correctly through the machine, to prevent it from overheating.
To do this, you’ll need to reset the Keurig water reservoir. Hold your brew button for at least five seconds, which signals the machine to purge any remaining water in the tank. If this doesn’t fix the issue, make sure that all the parts are aligned. If this still doesn’t work, this might be a sign of a bigger problem such as an issue with the motherboard, in which case you will need to contact the brand’s customer service team for help.
Slowing Down
If you have had your coffee maker for a long time, it’s not uncommon that it might be working slower than it used to, just like any electronic device or appliance that has been used repeatedly for a long period of time. If it’s just down to age, it’s not usually a huge problem, and you can either decide to live with it or consider replacing it with a newer model.
On the other hand, if you’re getting this problem with a fairly new machine, it may be due to a water line blockage. This happens when the small needle that the coffee passes through gets blocked, and you will need to fully clean the machine to rectify the problem.
How to Reset Your Machine
Just like any other electronic device you might have, Keurig coffee makers can sometimes glitch or malfunction, leaving you missing out on your morning cup of coffee. The good news is that sometimes, the good old trick of turning it on and off again might be all it takes to fix the problem, but a reset might be necessary if you have done this, and nothing has improved. To reset the machine, press and release the medium and small buttons at the same time. Once you’ve released the buttons, press the menu button three times. The clock should read 6:09. Then, press menu again, and the display should show ‘brew 0:00’. Press and hold the medium mug, while pressing and releasing menu at the same time. Keep medium mug held down, press small mug, and then release both buttons together. This should start a full reset of your machine. If your Keurig won’t turn on or is still displaying the same issue after doing this, contact customer service for further support.
Getting Extra Support
While lots of problems can be fixed with troubleshooting and cleaning the machine, in some cases you’ll need to get in touch with customer services for help. Don’t get stressed out if you’re not able to fix your machine at home as the customer service team are experts in fixing these machines and will be able to help you find the solution that you need.
Keurig is one of the best and most popular coffee brewer options out there. While major problems are rare, it’s easy to run into one of these common issues, so it’s always good to know how to solve them.
About the author
Jennie Backteman
I´m a ultramarathon runner, landscape designer and a coffee lover.
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