Keurig machines are dependable for making coffee every day. Although these coffee makers are good, they are not perfect. No matter if it’s from normal use or poor craftsmanship, all kitchen appliances will have some problems.
Here are some answers to how to fix a Keurig.
Keurig Coffee Maker Works
The purpose of a Keurig machine is to brew coffee without any prior knowledge or experience. It is beneficial to have a basic understanding of how your machine works. This advice will be helpful when you encounter problems with your Keurig.
The mechanisms for the Keurig original and Keurig 2.0 models are the same. To make a Keurig brew, you first need the machine and then the K-Cups.
place the K-Cup into the brewing chamber The upper needle punctures the top of the container, allowing hot water to enter.
The coffee maker is perforated at the bottom so that the coffee can drip into your cup. When the button to brew is pressed, water from the cold-water reservoir is pumped into the heating chamber.
The water is pumped to the brewer once it reaches the optimal temperature. The water then passes through the grounds in the K-Cup.
The Keurig coffee maker uses a capsule system but the coffee is extracted using a drip method. The pressure extraction method used in Nespresso coffee makers is identical to the one used in espresso machines.
Common Keurig Troubleshooting Issues
The following are common issues you may have with your machine.
1. My Keurig Won’t Switch On
It may seem simple, but if your coffee maker isn’t turning on, you should double-check all of the apparent solutions first:
- Check that the power cord is plugged into the socket properly
- Check that the power socket is functioning by testing other appliances
- Test the Keurig machine in a different outlet
If this doesn’t work, try these steps:
- Hold down the power button for 10 seconds.
- Unplug the machine and remove the water reservoir. Let your Keurig sit unplugged for one hour before reassembling and switching on.
After trying all of the troubleshooting techniques above and the machine still won’t turn on, the next step is to contact Keurig customer care.
2. My Keurig Is Not Heating Water
If your coffee maker is dispensing water but the coffee is coming out cold, the problem could be that the water isn’t being heated properly. The heating mechanism may turn off for safety reasons if it is not pumping water correctly.
The first step to take when trying to fix an electrical issue is to turn the machine off and then back on again. This may help reset the heating mechanism.
The water may not be pumping correctly due to a clog or dirt in the pipes. Use the cleaning instructions below to fix this problem. If you think the problem is with the water pump, try holding down the brew button for five seconds.
This will cause the pump to operate at its highest power. The water pump in your Keurig machine may need to be replaced if none of these steps resolve the issue.
3. My Keurig Is Stuck In Preheating Mode
After you turn on your machine, it will take about three minutes to preheat before it’s ready to brew. If it takes a long time, there may be a problem with the machine.
If your coffee machine isn’t preheating properly, the first thing to try is unplugging it and restarting the preheating process.
An unofficial hack that could solve the problem exists, though it is not guaranteed to work.
If you want to start the brew cycle on your machine, some users have found that filling the reservoir with hot water will work. Keurig only recommends using cold water in the tank, so you should use this solution at your own risk.
4. My Keurig Is Not Dispensing Water Properly
If you find that your Keurig isn’t making a full cup of coffee, try pressing the brew button again. This is a quick and easy fix.
When using your coffee machine regularly, the water line will eventually become blocked with coffee grounds and other debris. This means that not much water will be able to pass through during the set brew time.
If your machine is not working properly, you can try cleaning it using our instructions. After unclogging the water line, you can run the machine on a brew cycle using water only to rinse out any final debris.
5. My Coffee Contains Grounds
This issue is easy to identify and fix. If there are coffee grounds in your cup, this means that your machine needs to be cleaned, specifically the exit needle.
Over time, the coffee grounds from K-Cups can gather in the exit needle, which pushes the grounds along the water line and into your cup. If you brew hot chocolate or other sweet drinks, this is particularly true as the sugars can make the needle sticky.
If your coffee tastes bad, it could be because the needle is dirty. To fix this, clean the needle with the Keurig tool or a paper clip. Once the brew cycle is complete, empty the carafe and repeat the process. After the brew cycle is complete, empty the carafe and run the cycle again with water only to remove any residual grounds.
If you are finding grounds in your coffee when using a reusable K-Cup, the problem may not be with the needle. Make sure the capsule is properly closed, not overfilled, and the recommended grind size is being used.
6. My Keurig Is Leaking From The Bottom
To fix the leak, you need to figure out where it’s coming from. If your machine is leaking water from the bottom even when it’s turned off, the most likely scenario is a leak in the cold-water reservoir.
To see if this is the case, take out the reservoir and check if the water has collected underneath it. Put the reservoir over the sink and check for leaks.
The O-ring is a small rubber band located at the bottom of the reservoir. If the seal around this area is broken or misaligned, water can leak directly into the home. To replace an O-ring, you will need to find one that is the correct size. They are easy to replace on your own.
If your water reservoir is cracked, you’ll need to order a replacement tank from your Keurig supplier.
7. My Keurig Is Leaking When Brewing
Water only leaking during preheating or brewing cycle could be caused by a few things. If you overfill the water reservoir on the K-15 Mini, it can cause problems.
If your machine isn’t working properly, it might just be that it’s clogged and needs to be cleaned.
Another common cause of leaking is an improperly installed or defective upper gasket. This is a silicone part that helps to create a watertight seal between the K-Cup and the water hose.
The gasket should be close to the needle with no gaps in between. If a piece is broken or missing, you will need to replace it.
If your machine is still leaking after trying both of these solutions, the valve or hose inside the machine is probably broken. This will require you to contact customer care.
8. Keurig Only Brews a Little Bit of Coffee
Oh no! Only half a cup! What could be worse? A Keurig brewing a small amount of coffee is easily fixed.
It’s likely that the water reservoir doesn’t have enough water or the water isn’t flowing through the machine correctly, so the machine needs to be descaled. Make sure that the water tank is full and run the descaling cycle according to the instructions below. This should fix the problem.
If the machine is not working, try cleaning the exit needle. Use an unfolded paper clip to poke the needle gently. To unblock a needle that is clogged with debris, this should be done.
If the above solutions do not work, you should call the Keurig customer service line at 1-866-901-BREW (2739).
9. Coffee Tastes Bad
You need three things to make a great cup of coffee: quality water, delicious coffee, and clean brewing equipment. One of three things could be causing your coffee to taste sub-par.
We’ll start by examining the coffee itself. It is not possible to produce a coffee with good flavor if the flavors are not present in the bean to start with.
Try a different K-cup. If you find the coffee tastes burned, you might want to try a lighter roast. If the coffee tastes sour, try a darker roast.
If you haven’t cleaned your Keurig in a while, you should do it now! Run a descale cycle, as mentioned below. The flavor of your coffee should improve dramatically after doing this.
If your coffee tastes good and you’ve recently cleaned your machine, you can move on to the next step: water.
Make sure the water you’re using is clean and has a good taste. If you are not satisfied with the quality of your water, you should consider buying a water filter. Britta filters are a popular option because they are effective and not too expensive. While you might not think that water can make that big of a difference, you might be surprised at how big of a difference using the right water can actually make.
10. Error Message “Add More Water” Stays On
The error message telling you to add more water is probably coming from the water tank or the water sensor. Give these tips a try.
To clean the water tank, remove it and wash it with soap and water before rinsing it well. Replenish the water tank to the highest point and put it back firmly. The water tank must be properly positioned in order to avoid any issues.
If this doesn’t work, try descaling your machine. Descaling the machine can help improve performance by removing mineral deposits that may be clogging water pipes.
If your water reservoir is empty, try shaking it up and down a few times. Some users have had an issue with the sensor on the water tank not working properly. Shaking can help release the sensor.
11. Keurig Keeps Shutting Off
First, try turning the machine off and on again. This is the old, tried and true method. Try unplugging the machine, then plug it in again. Detach the water reservoir and put it back in place. This is often enough to fix the issue.
Try this first, and if it doesn’t work, the problem may be with the power supply. It is best to leave it to the professionals at Keurig. You can reach them by calling their customer care line at 1-866-901-2739.
12. Keurig is Making Weird Noises
This is usually caused by a blockage or build-up somewhere within the machine.
If one of the pipes in a Keurig machine is clogged, one of the possible symptoms is strange noises emanating from the machine.
Run a descale cycle. This will clean the pipes and have you brewing again, as good as new!
13. Keurig Leaves Coffee Grounds In the Cup
This problem is penultimate caused by a block in the release needle of the Keurigs coffee maker. The only tool you need for this fix is a paperclip.
The K-cup needle is located under the brew head. To find it, lift the brew head and look for the needle. Thread the paper clip through the exit needle.
Carefully move the paperclip around, trying to remove any dirt or small pieces that could be blocking the needle. Once the machine is free of any blockages, start a water cycle.
If you want to make sure this issue is fixed, there is one more thing you can do. Descale your machine! This only happens to machines that have not been cleaned in a while. It only takes a short amount of time to descale, and it only needs to be done every few months.
14. Keurig Dispenses Too Much Coffee
If your Keurig isn’t dispensing the right amount of liquid, it’s probably because something is blocking the system.
There are two possible reasons for the problem: either minerals and coffee debris have clogged the exit needle shut, or mineral build-up is keeping a valve open for too long. Either way, there are 5 things you can try.
- First, simply turn the machine off then on again. Try unplugging the unit from the wall, wait 5 seconds, then plug it back in and turn it on.
- Second, make sure your water reservoir is seated correctly on the machine.
- Third, take a paperclip, just like in the troubleshoot above, and see if there is a blockage in the exit needle.
- Fourth, try running a tank full of water through the machine (with no K-cup in). This may flush out any coffee or hot cocoa debris.
- Finally, if none of the previous steps work, try running a descaling cycle.
Conclusion
Eventually, all coffee makers will have issues if used for a long time. The following tips should help you get back to brewing coffee as soon as possible.
If we’ve learned anything from this experience, it’s that the most important thing you can do to keep a machine running well is to keep it clean. To keep your coffee maker happy, you should descale it every 3 months and use quality water.