Keurig coffee maker reigns as the king in the coffee-making space. The coffee makers are known to brew quality coffee in no time. They are also the most dependable and durable machines, making them loved by most coffee enthusiasts. However, like most appliances that use electricity to operate, Keurig coffee makers develop common Keurig problems.
If your Keurig machine develops a problem, it doesn’t mean it becomes useless instantly. Chances are, it is a mistake you can solve.
With that in mind, let’s look at 15 common Keurig problems and how you can fix them without necessarily looking for an expert.
Before we do that, first things first …
Table of Contents
How Does a Keurig Work?
Keurig is a single-serve coffee maker that has grown to be the most common coffee maker today. Keurigs have become so popular that they have been featured in movies and TV shows like Gilmore Girls and Friends.
Keurig features a water reservoir. When you press the brew button, water is pumped through the heating chambers. It is heated to the required coffee-brewing temperature.
The hot water passes into the top hose of the brewer to the K-cup opening. Hot water is delivered and distributed into the fresh coffee ground through the coffee paper filters in the pod.
The filtered heated water runs through the second hole straight into your favorite coffee mug.
The Keurig coffee maker has the capability to brew swiftly and easily. When you purchase a Keurig brewing machine, you get a K-cup along with it. But what is a K-cup and how does it work?
What is K-cup?
A K-cup is a little pod that contains pre-measured fresh coffee grounds specially designed to work with the Keurig machine. They are the essence of every Keurig machine.
K-cups come with your preferred type of coffee no matter the roast, blend, origin, or flavor.
How K-cups Work
It is simple how K-cups work. Insert the K-cup into the Keurig machine and press the brew button. A spray nozzle punches a hole in the top and bottom through the cover of the K-cup.
Pressurized water is forced into the K-cup, which allows your favorite drink into your cup or mug.
15 Keurig Problems and How to Fix Them
After understanding how a Keurig machine works, read on to see 15 Keurig problems and how to fix them.
1. Keurig not Turning On
It is problematic handling a coffee maker that won’t turn on. However, this Keurig problem should not get you worried. A broken power cord or a faulty socket can be the reason why your coffee machine is not turning on.
How to fix: First, check and ensure the power outlet is working. Try to connect to another appliance and see if it works. If this does not work contact Keurig customer care.
2. Keurig Brews Little Coffee
A clogged waterline by debris and coffee ground can be the reason for this problem, causing a reduction of coffee you get out of a brewing cycle.
How to fix: Run a brew cycle with water without a K-cup. Also, clean the needle with a paperclip to remove debris and excess ground. After doing this, you should start getting a full dose of coffee like before.
3. Add More Water Error
Your machine might tell you to add water even when the water is full in the reservoir. This could be due to the following:
- A dirty machine
- Clogged water filter
- A poorly positioned water reservoir
How to fix: Carefully remove the water reservoir from the coffee machine. Clean completely in soapy water. Rinse and part-dry with a soft cloth. Put the reservoir back into the machine and completely fill it with water. Run a brew cycle this should help you solve the problem.
In addition, try repositioning the reservoir and make sure the magnetic contacts are touching those on your Keurig coffee maker.
4. Keurig Keeps Turning Off on Its Own
This could be a Keurig problem with the internal contact. For example, if you remove the water reservoir, you have to return it back to the machine properly.
How to fix: Check that the magnets are well aligned with the machine. You can also disable the auto-feature this will prevent the machine from switching off on its self
5. Your Coffee Tastes Bad
There are a few things to blame for why your coffee tastes bad after brewing. One of the reasons could be you are using tap water instead of filtered water.
The other reason is you have not cleaned your Keurig for a while.
How to fix: Use filtered water instead of tap water. Using filtered water helps slow down forming of debris. The build of scales is what causes the coffee to taste bad. Give your machine a thorough clean-up every 3 months.
6. Keurig Won’t Heat Hot or The Water is Lukewarm
A failed water pump that causes the main system to shut down causes this problem.
How to fix: Clean the machine’s bottom, valve, and where the Keurig is placed. If this does not work, try holding the brew button to restart the machine.
7. Keurig Leaking Water While Heating
When your Keurig leaks while heating water, the potential reason could be the coffee maker is clogged. You can always try the spanking methodology. However, before you do any of this, turn off the machine and let it cool off completely.
How to fix: Remove the water tank, turn it upside down and tap the bottom a few times. Put everything back. This should help unclog the machine.
8. Keurig Leaking Water From The Bottom
If the machine leaks from the bottom, usually it is a damaged O-ring at the bottom of the water tank.
How to fix: When Keurig is leaking from the bottom, try to replace the O-ring rubber band.
9. Coffee Ground Cup
Do not use distilled or softened water in your machine if you always get a messy result and coffee grounds in the cup. Try switching to bottled water and filling the reservoir.
How to fix: Fill your reservoir with filtered water. Run a few brew cycles without inserting the k-cup to rinse the machine. Then make your coffee. This should solve the problem.
10. My Keurig Is Not Brewing
The one task of a coffee maker is to brew coffee. It is a shock when it does not accomplish this task. One or a combination of the following can cause this problem.
a) Machine pieces not properly placed
How to fix: quickly check if the components are sitting in the right place.
b) Too much scales and debris built up in the line
How to fix: Try to descale your machine using a descaling solution. The Keurig 3-Month Brewer Care Kit (pictured below) will be the best option.
I have also done a complete article on how to clean Keurig with a descaling solution. You can see that article here. Besides, you might want to know the contents of the Keurig descaling solution.
c) Air bubbles
How to fix: Switch off and unplug the machine. Fill the reservoir with water and shake gently. This will remove what is trapped in the machine which could interfere with brewing.
11. Keurig Won’t Stop Pumping Water
This problem can be caused by the presence of air in the line and this should not give you worries.
How to fix: Unplug your machine and flip it upside down, shake it a little, and tap the base a couple of times. Also, avoid using distilled water.
12. Prime Error Message
When your machine shows the ‘prime error message’, it simply indicates that water is refusing to come out of the reservoir.
How to fix: Clean the reservoir and make sure no air bubbles are present inside. Properly align the reservoir to the coffee maker.
13. Keurig is Noisy When Drawing Water
Keurig machines are slightly noisy when you buy them. When the water line is clogged, it pushes the Keurig to function harder. This makes the machine make a lot of noise.
How to fix: Simply descale to remove the debris in the water line.
14. The Carafe Not Working
This issue is often connected with the Keurig 2.0 models. The carafe of 2.0 is designed to align with the 2.0 coffee makers. Please remember that.
How to fix: remove your Keurig drip tray and place the carafe properly.
15. Water Under Error Pressure Message
This message means the exit needles are clogged.
How to fix: Clean the exit needles using a paperclip. It is that simple.
To Wrap Up
The popularity of the Keurig coffee maker is indeed unmatched. Nonetheless, like any other electric appliance, it is prone to a few problems from time to time.
Thankfully, it is my hope that this article has assisted you to solve these issues fast without involving an expert.
In the event the problem is beyond your ability, you can ask for the help of an expert in your area. Alternatively, you can contact Keurig directly.