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Even top coffee machines can get clogged or break – Keurigs included.
I’ve gathered my top Keurig fix-it tips just for you! This guide dives into the usual Keurig coffee maker issues. If your Keurig’s acting up, you’re in the perfect spot.
1. Your Keurig Is Not Brewing
When your coffee machine doesn’t brew, especially if it’s a single-serve one, the usual culprit is scale. This is just a fancy term for mineral buildup inside your machine, particularly in the water tubes.
Minerals in tap water, like calcium, can cause trouble. They build up and harden inside your coffee maker, blocking water flow. This can stop your beloved coffee machine from working. It’s all because of those minerals!
How to fix it
If your Keurig says prime, try priming it. If not, it’s time for a deep descale.
To tackle hard water build-up, Keurig’s descaling solution is a top choice. You can also whip up a DIY mix with 2 parts water and 1 part vinegar. But, be cautious: using vinegar might risk your Keurig’s warranty.
- Empty your Keurig’s water reservoir.
- Fill it to the max line with the appropriately diluted descaling solution. Soak the machine in the solution for 3–4 hours. This is longer than a standard descaling run, but it’s often needed for a nasty clog.
- Place a mug in the machine and run repeated brew cycles until the add water light comes on.
- Fill the reservoir with water and run at least 12 brew cycles to rinse out the machine. Don’t skimp on this step unless you want vinegary coffee!
This trick removes scale, making your coffee machine work like new again.
How to prevent it
Scale can strike any time. How do you shield your coffee maker?
Water plays a huge role in your coffee. Tap water isn’t always ready for brewing—it has minerals. To make it perfect for coffee, it needs filtering and purifying. The mineral content varies by location, and too many minerals might not be good for your brew.
Hard water means your water is full of minerals. You can check your water’s hardness online. If the result shows a high level, consider getting a filter or water softener. This helps keep your coffee maker running smoothly without mineral buildup.
Choosing the right water filter for your coffee comes down to your personal needs. If you don’t have one yet, consider a Brita filter. It’s the choice of many professional baristas, and it’s the one I recommend too!
Even with top-notch water, your Keurig needs descaling every few months. However, soft, filtered water and regular upkeep can keep those pesky clogs away. So, keep your coffee maker happy for a smooth brew every time.
2. Keurig Not Turning On
Fixing a coffee machine that won’t start can be tricky, sometimes needing more help than a simple unclog. The issue might be beyond easy fixes.
Before reaching out to Keurig help, let’s first try fixing it ourselves.
How to fix it
Make sure it’s not the screen that’s malfunctioning
This tip is for Keurigs with touchscreens, such as the Keurig 2.0. However, many newer Keurig models at home lack screens. If yours is one, feel free to skip this step.
A touchscreen glitch doesn’t spell doom for your coffee maker.
Give making your usual coffee a shot, even if it means guessing where to tap on the broken screen. If it brews just fine, then it’s only the screen that’s acting up. Not ideal, sure, but hey, it beats the machine being completely out of action.
Fixing a screen can be easy, but it’s best to ask for help. Head over to Keurig for a quick and affordable fix. With a new screen, your coffee maker will feel brand new, brewing your morning cup just right.
Check the power cord
Beware of damaged power cords! If they get squished or twisted, the inner wires can snap. This means your coffee maker won’t get the electricity it needs to brew your favorite cup.
Inspect your cord closely for any clear damage like sharp bends or cuts. These signs suggest your cord might be the problem.
If your coffee machine’s power cord is damaged, don’t worry! You can easily fix it yourself or call a handyman for help. Luckily, the machine is fine, so it’s a quick and affordable fix. This means you’ll be back to enjoying your coffee in no time!
If these tips don’t solve the issue, it’s probably beyond a quick fix. But don’t stress! You can always ask for help from Keurig support. They’re incredibly supportive and ready to assist.
If your coffee machine won’t even start, don’t worry! Experts can guide you through fixing it. Often, your coffee maker can be fixed and will return to you in a few weeks, ready to brew your favorite coffee as if it never had an issue.
But no Keurig lasts forever.
When your coffee maker breaks and it’s too costly to fix, think about getting a new one. I highly recommend the Keurig K-Supreme Plus Smart. It’s my top pick for a Keurig upgrade. Give yourself a little time to grieve, then check it out. It’s worth considering!
3. Your Keurig Coffee Tastes Off
Every morning starts with a cup of coffee. But one day, you take a sip and it just doesn’t taste right. You might ignore it at first, but the next time you brew, it’s clear: your coffee tastes off.
Maybe your coffee is:
- Acidic
- Watery
- Bitter
- Sour
Hard water buildup, or scale, is probably the culprit we talked about earlier.
When scale builds up and blocks the tubes in your coffee machine, it will stop working. This build-up slows down water flow, affecting your coffee’s taste. Regular cleaning can prevent these issues, ensuring delicious coffee every time.
If water doesn’t flow right, your coffee won’t brew properly. This messes up the extraction, leading to a brew that just doesn’t taste as good.
How to fix it
In the guide above, I showed you how to deep-clean your Keurig. But don’t worry, this time it’s easier. We’ll skip the long wait and use less descaling solution, making it quick and simple.
To clean your coffee maker, simply add a small amount of descaling solution (around 8 ounces) to the water tank. Start a brew cycle without using a coffee pod. After collecting the water, pour it back into the tank and run another cycle.
By now, all the gunk should be cleared out. But, there’s still a step left: flushing out the descaling solution completely. To do this, run a few cycles with clean water through your coffee maker. This ensures it’s perfectly rinsed and ready for your next brew.
4. Your Keurig Coffee Maker Is Leaking
Most Keurig machines are compact, making them easy to move, clean, and perfect for tight kitchen spaces. This is great for coffee lovers with limited room.
They’re quite ergonomic—and that makes them significantly cheaper, too.
The problem lies within the machine’s interior. Most of its parts are the same size as those in any other coffee maker, making the inside of the compact Keurig quite crowded. This cramped space can lead to leaks.
Did you know many coffee makers leak, especially single-serve and drip types? But don’t worry! This problem is usually easy to fix right at home. So, you can get back to enjoying your coffee in no time.
The main reason your coffee maker might leak is the gasket. It’s a silicone or rubber ring designed to keep water from escaping where it shouldn’t.
How to fix it
Take a look at your coffee machine’s manual. Every model is unique, and you might need to remove the grouphead to check the gasket. Expect to find one of two situations.
- No gasket. This can happen, and if this is the case it is a miracle your coffee maker didn’t start leaking right from the start. No gasket means there’s essentially free-flowing water in this area and the leak will be significant.
You need to contact Keurig to find out the dimensions of the gasket and how to go about getting one. - Displaced gasket. The gasket has come off and is either partially attached or not at all. The water leaks to some extent, but it’s not that bad.
When fixing your coffee machine, you’ll need to put the gasket back in place. Don’t worry, you won’t need glue or any sticky stuff; it should fit snugly on its own. If it keeps falling out, it’s too loose, and it’s time to buy a new one.
Installing a gasket is a breeze! Just position it correctly, then gently but firmly press down with your fingertip. Do this all around the gasket, pressing several times until it feels securely attached. It’s that simple!
After brewing, reassemble your machine and make another cup. Watch out for any new leaks that might pop up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I clean my Keurig coffee maker?
To avoid having any sort of problems, you should be cleaning your Keurig coffee maker every couple of days. This can be done simply by rinsing the water tank, using a brush to clean all areas that are exposed to coffee and coffee grounds.
The water tank is the most important place you should be cleaning. Studies find that most coffee makers host yeast and fungi in the water tank because of a lack of hygiene: give it a rinse and use a little vinegar or every once in a while to avoid unwanted organisms in your coffee.
Do not use soap. Soap should only be used in extreme cases like if you’ve gone months without cleaning your coffee maker. Even then, you should try to remove the built-up dirt with just water before resorting to soap.
How often should I descale my Keurig coffee maker?
As a rule of thumb, you should descale your machine every three months. Of course, this number can vary. If the water you are using is very hard, then you probably should descale it more often, about once a month, just to make sure the build-up of scale doesn’t get out of hand.
If your water isn’t hard, three months is fine. In the case that you use bottled water or a powerful filter, you could potentially go on without descaling it forever, as there are no minerals going into your coffee maker.
Still, it’s better to be safe and descale. Mineral build-up in insidious in the way that you can’t see if it’s there, and if it get too big it could cause serious damage to your Keurig coffee maker.
What’s Next?
To fix common issues with your Keurig, these tips should help. For trickier problems, it’s best to reach out to Keurig’s customer service for assistance.
To keep your coffee game strong, start with the basics. Learn how a Keurig operates and dodge common blunders, such as adding milk directly to a Keurig (believe it or not, it happens!). It’s the small steps that make a big difference.
Got your Keurig running? Great! Now, dive into the world of delicious pod coffee. Explore the strongest coffee k-cups or try my top Keurig pod picks. It’s the perfect time to discover your new favorites!
