Keuring was one of the first brands worldwide to patent a coffee capsule system, the K-Cup. It began its journey into the world of coffee capsules with office coffee machines in 1998 and jumped into the homes of millions of people in 2004, more than 18 years ago. Today it is one of the most recognized brands in the United States, generating more than $11.6bn in sales.
Keurig coffee machines are characterized by the fact that they are excellent machines that allow us to obtain coffee quickly and effortlessly. However, after a long time, they can present some issues which, fortunately, in most cases, can be solved easily and without any prior technical knowledge.
To make things easier for you, we have prepared this article in which you will find the most common problems that these coffee machines can have, and we will also tell you how to solve them. Before we start, we suggest you download the user manual for your Keurig coffee machine model, as we are sure that it will solve some of your doubts if you consult it.
My Keurig coffee machine is clogged: how to clean and unclog it?
The most common problem with these capsule coffee machines and all brands, in general, is clogging due to the accumulation of too much residue and limescale. Fortunately, this problem can be solved quickly and effectively if you clean your Keurig correctly.
It’s funny how coffee machines are the appliance that tends to accumulate the most dirt in our home, but there is a reason for this, and it affects everyone equally. People usually drink coffee after waking up, and if we’re still sleepy or low on energy, how are we supposed to clean anything?
How do I clean my Keurig coffee machine?
So that little build-up of residue in your Keurig is justified. However, it would help if you cleaned the outside of your coffee machine at least once a week and the inside once or twice a year. We’ll talk about this interior cleaning in the next section, but now let’s start with the exterior:
- Turn off the coffee maker and disconnect it from the mains.
- Remove the water tank, ensuring that the water inside is not too hot. If you have recently used the machine to make coffee and the water is still hot, you should wait for it to cool down before removing the tank.
- Then remove the drip tray and the capsule holder.
- Proceed to wash each of the parts you removed using liquid soap and hot water.
- Using a damp cloth, gently wipe each part to remove any residue and limescale that may have adhered to it.
- While rinsing each piece thoroughly, be sure also to remove any coffee residue you find.
- Dry each part thoroughly before reassembling.
How do I descale my Keurig coffee machine?
The first sign that your Keurig coffee maker’s performance and smooth operation are being affected by the mineral build-up and other residues is detected through the taste of the coffee. Sometimes, we may also notice that our coffees have less and less quantity or that the coffee takes longer to come out of the machine.
Before your Keurig coffee machine clogs up completely and no coffee comes out, you should notice the above signs. If your coffee maker can still brew coffee, you can still perform one or more descaling operations. If, on the other hand, your coffee machine does not brew any coffee at all, you will have to disassemble it and investigate other causes, which we will discuss later in this article.
When it comes to decalcification, it must be said that Keurig coffee machines did not have a “decalcification mode” until relatively recently. So let’s see how to decalcify an older Keurig coffee machine and a more modern machine with decalcification mode and light code.
Video about how to descale a Keurig coffee maker without “descaling mode”:
Video about how to descale a Keurig coffee maker with “descaling mode”:
How to unclog the spout of the Keurig coffee maker
If none of the above helped, the clog in your Keurig coffee maker is likely not inside the pipes, the pump, or the heating element but in the water injector needle. Don’t panic; this is good news! Follow the steps in the video below:
The problem when the Keurig coffee machine doesn’t pierce the pods
There are different reasons why a Keurig coffee machine does not pierce the coffee pods correctly. Fortunately, most of the solutions are easy to apply, and in a few minutes, your coffee machine will be as good as new.
Here are the possible causes and their solutions.
Problem 1. Keurig needle may be dirty or clogged
If the needle is dirty or clogged, it will not pierce the coffee pod properly. To clean the needle, you can use a cotton swab and alcohol. Be sure to let the machine dry completely before using it again.
As shown in the previous sections, if your Keurig coffee machine is a 2.0 system, you can use a cleaning disc.
Problem 2. The water tank may not be full enough
If the water tank is not full enough, it will not create enough pressure to pierce the coffee pod properly.
Ensure you let the machine heat the water before using it again. If you notice this happening and know that your reservoir is not empty and full of water, the pump could have a problem.
Problem 3. There may be a build-up of pressure in the pod holder
There may be pressure inside the pod holder if too many pods are placed. This will cause extra pressure when you try to brew coffee because there is more than one pod in the machine.
To solve this problem, remove all but one pod from the machine and place them back into the machine. If this does not solve your problem, make sure there are only one or two K-cups in the pod holder from now on.
Problem 4. There may be a problem with your Keurig pump
If you notice this happening and no pods are in the machine, the pump could have a problem. If this seems to be your problem, don’t use your machine until you have fixed it.
Problem 5. Remnants of a previous coffee pod create a blockage
Coffee residue from previous pods can cause blockages in the needle and the capsule holder. If this debris is too large, it can block the way the water flows properly.
To avoid problems from coffee grounds build-up, clean the coffee grounds from the needle before using it again. To remove coffee grounds clogged inside the pod holder, open and clean it carefully.
Problem 6. Defective pods with deformations, holes or tears
To solve this problem, you must buy a new set of pods for your machine to continue working properly. If you don’t want to go through the problem, don’t use that brand until you get a replacement that the manufacturer guarantees you won’t have this kind of problem again.
My Keurig coffee machine does not work; it does not turn on
If you are having trouble getting your Keurig machine to work and it won’t turn on, the first thing to do is to ensure the power cord is plugged in properly. We know it may seem obvious, but many people don’t realize that the solution was much easier than they thought.
If your coffee machine is plugged in and still doesn’t work, try plugging it into another socket. And if your coffee machine still does not turn on, here is a procedure that has been performed for many other people:
- Turn off your Keurig coffee machine
- Unplug it from the wall outlet
- Hold down the On/Off button (Do not release it yet)
- Plug the coffee machine into the wall outlet
- Release the On/Off button
Sometimes this does not work, and you have to go further:
My Keurig coffee machine turns on and off by itself
It is one of the most common problems reported by users of Keurig coffee machines. These machines are made with state-of-the-art technology and, especially the new and improved models, have many functions that, in some cases, the owners are not fully aware of and do not realize that they are active, such as the automatic brewing function.
In this sense, it is advisable to make sure that the problem of the coffee maker turning on and off is not caused only by having this automatic function activated; if it is, it will be enough to deactivate it so that the machine works normally.
My Keurig coffee machine is too noisy
Noise in these coffee machines is normal in most cases, so don’t be alarmed if your Keurig coffee machine makes strange noises. But if you don’t clean the machine properly, this can damage the pumps and cause annoying noises. Knowing this, pay special attention to cleaning it; if you read above, you will learn how to clean it properly.
However, in the case of the early models of the B60 model, they were very noisy and vibrated excessively. The video below compares an older Keurig B60 with the same model manufactured more recently.
The new Keurig models are manufactured with “Quiet Brew Technology,” indicated on the box. So make sure before you buy your new Keurig that it is an upgraded model.
My Keurig does not heat the water
If your Keurig stops heating water, as we have already mentioned, you should first check that the machine is completely clean and free of any residue that could clog it and prevent it from working properly.
But if your coffee machine is clean and still does not heat, this problem may mean that you should pay close attention to the water pump because if it is not working properly, it will prevent the heating system inside the machine from working properly. If the damage is to the water pump, you may need to replace it with a new one.
My Keurig coffee machine is leaking water
This problem can be quite annoying, as it is not pleasant to clean the water leaking from your coffee machine frequently. You should mainly check that the leak is not coming from the water tank, because if the problem is there, you will probably have to replace it.
Check that the tank is correctly positioned and fits in its place. If you remove it by placing it over the sink, you will be able to check if the water is leaking from any side crack. If you realize that the leak is not coming from the water tank, you will need to check other parts, which, if incorrectly fitted, could also cause dripping problems. Make sure that all the gaskets are properly aligned.
Once we have discarded the water tank, its installation, and the rubber seals, we must check the internal water circuit. In this video, we can see how a small check valve caused the problem:
My Keurig brews too little coffee
Once again, we must rule out any blockages by having your coffee maker properly cleaned, as this can directly affect the quality and quantity of coffee it brews.
You can try to unblock the coffee maker by preparing a few rounds without using the coffee so that when the water passes through the system several times, it will wash away any dirt obstructing the coffee outlet.
If this doesn’t work, you should give your coffee maker a much more thorough cleaning; it is recommended that you clean it every 3-6 months, depending on how much use you make of it.
My Keurig coffee maker is dispensing too much coffee
If your brewer is dispensing more coffee than it should, first check that the water reservoir is firmly seated and that all parts of the brewer are aligned correctly.
If the problem persists, switch off, unplug the machine, and clean the spout needles very carefully, as described above.
How do I reset my Keurig coffee machine?
Although resetting your Keurig coffee machine is not difficult, sometimes it is impossible to do it for some reason. Sometimes, the coffee machine has damaged or dirty parts, it is not properly assembled, or its internal computer systems are not working properly.
So, make sure that everything is OK first, and then you can restart it without any problem by following these instructions:
- Switch off and unplug the coffee machine.
- Remove the water tank and wait a few minutes.
- Plug the machine in and switch it on again.
- Put the water tank back in place.
- And finally, open and close the cup holder.
Another method is:
- Turn off your Keurig coffee machine
- Unplug it from the wall outlet
- Hold down the On/Off button (Do not release it yet)
- Plug the coffee machine into the wall outlet
- Release the On/Off button
And the last one. If all the lights stay on on your Keurig and it won’t let you brew any coffee, you can do this:
- Keep the capsule holder closed
- Press and hold the power button
- Press the small button
- Press medium button
- Press large button
If you can still reset your Keurig coffee machine after this, you may need expert help, so we recommend contacting Keurig customer service directly.
The “Add more water” message is permanent on my Keurig coffee maker
If the “add more water” light does not turn off, even though the water tank has been filled correctly and to the correct level, the tank may need a thorough cleaning.
Remove the tank, use warm water and liquid dish soap, gently wipe the entire tank with a damp cloth until all dirt is removed, and then dry it thoroughly before putting it back in place. If the problem persists, please get in touch with Keurig customer service.
Related: Keurig coffee machine button lights and their modes.
