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My Keurig Won't Brew: What To Do?
Are you having issues brewing your up of Joe in your Keurig coffee maker? Don't worry, we've got your back!
Published February 26, 2022
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Vasileia Fanarioti
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
If you've ever had the frustrating experience of your Keurig not brewing, you know it can be a real pain. But don't worry, we're here to help! In this post, we'll walk you through some common causes of this problem and how to fix them. Keep reading to get back to enjoying your morning cup of coffee in no time!
A bit of background on Keurig
The Keurig brewing system is a coffee brewing machine which is used to make coffee, tea, hot cocoa and other drinks. The system is designed to brew a single cup of coffee at a time.
It was first introduced in 1998 by Keurig, Inc. and has since become the leading single-serve coffee brewing system in North America. The company's headquarters are located in Waterbury, Vermont.
Keurig's main product line includes the classic K-Cup pods as well as the more recent K-Carafe pods for larger cups of brewed coffee and other beverages such as hot cocoa and iced beverages. They also offer a variety of brewers including home brewers and commercial brewers for restaurants and offices.
How to brew coffee in a Keurig
The process of brewing coffee in a Keurig is pretty straightforward when you know how. All you need is the right ingredients and the right steps.
Keurigs come with three different sizes of cups - small, medium and large - which means that no matter what size cup you prefer, there will be one that fits your needs.
Brewing coffee in a Keurig is not as hard as it seems. All you need to do is follow these simple steps.
1) Fill the water reservoir with cold filtered water and put it back in the machine.
2) Press the button for your desired cup size and brew strength.
3) Put your favorite coffee grounds into the filter basket, then press down on the lid until you hear a click sound.
4) Put a mug under the spout and press start to brew your favorite drink!
Common Keurig issues
Whether it's a coffee maker, dishwasher, or any other appliance, there are many reasons why it might not work. It could be as simple as forgetting to turn the appliance on or off, or pressing the wrong button. Sometimes there is an issue with the power cord. Other times, it could be a problem with the machine’s heating element or circuit board.
Keurig coffee makers are popular for their convenience and ease of use. However, there are some common issues that people face with these machines.
Some of the most common issues with Keurig coffee makers include:
- Won't turn on
- Won't brew
- Turns on/off on its own
- Shows "Add water," but the tank is full
- Coffee grounds in the cup
- Leaks from the bottom
- Descaling Keurig doesn't work
How to fix a keurig that won't brew
Let’s explore some options on how to fix the above issues:
1. The machine won't turn on or brew
If your Keurig won't turn on, you may need to reset it by unplugging it and plugging it back in again. If that doesn't work, try turning off the power at the circuit breaker and then plugging it back in and turning on the power at the circuit breaker again. If your machine still won't turn on after those steps, replace its power cord with a new one.
2. The machine turns off or turns itself off
Keurig machines are designed to automatically shut down after a certain period of inactivity. This is because the machine needs to conserve power and keep its internal components cool. The machine will usually turn off after 90 minutes of inactivity. There are some ways to get around this feature, though.
If you find that your Keurig machine turns off when it’s not supposed to, you can try turning the machine on first and then adding water to the reservoir before turning it back off again. You should also make sure that there’s enough water in the reservoir before using it for a long time period. The best way to prevent this from happening is by making sure that there’s enough water in the reservoir every time you use your Keurig machine.
3. The machine shows “add water” but the tank is full
If you have a Keurig machine that shows "Add water," but the tank is full, you can try to fix it with these solutions.
1. Check the reservoir - If your reservoir is empty and you press the "Add water" button, the machine will not show an error. It will just wait for water to be added before it starts brewing coffee again.
2. Fill up the reservoir - If your reservoir is full and you press the "Add water" button, an error message will appear on your screen telling you to fill up your tank before brewing more coffee.
3. Clean out any debris that may have accumulated in your filter - If there is any debris in your filter, this can cause a blockage in the tube leading from the reservoir to the brewer head
4. There are coffee grounds in your cup
Keurig machines are designed to make a perfect cup of coffee, tea or hot cocoa. However, sometimes we get coffee grounds in our cups. The reason for this is that the filter is not properly inserted into the machine.
The first thing you should do is check if there’s any kind of obstruction on the filter. If there isn’t anything blocking it, then you need to clean it thoroughly with water and a little soap. After that, make sure that you dry it and put it back into the Keurig machine properly.
You can also try rinsing the filter in water before inserting it back into the machine. If this does not work, try using a paper towel or cloth to clean out the inside of the filter area and then reinserting it into the machine. If this still does not work, your last resort would be purchasing a new filter for your Keurig machine.
5. Keurig machine leaks from the bottom
A Keurig machine leaks from the bottom if there is a buildup of water in the tank or if excess water has been dispensed into the cup before brewing begins. This can happen when you overfill your cup or if you brew too many cups before cleaning out your machine.
If this is the case, we recommend filling up the reservoir with less water and waiting a few minutes before making another cup of coffee. Another reason could be that there is too much coffee in the filter holder and it may be blocking up your keurig machine's filter basket. This can easily be solved by removing some of your coffee grounds.
6. Descaling Keurig doesn't work
If you have a Keurig coffee machine, then you might have come across the problem of the descale light staying on. This means that your machine is not descaling properly and needs to be descaled.Descaling is a process that removes calcium buildup in your coffee maker which can cause an overflow of water during brewing.
The process also removes any mineral deposits that form on the heating element, preventing them from burning onto the inside of your coffee maker and creating a burnt flavor in your coffee. The best way to descale your Keurig is to use a mixture of soft water and vinegar or citric acid. These are natural products that will help remove mineral deposits from the inside of your Keurig machine.
FAQs
How do you know if your Keurig is broken?
If your Keurig is not working, you might be wondering if it's broken. There are a few ways to tell if your Keurig is broken and you need to get it fixed or replaced.
1) Check the power switch on your Keurig. If it is in the "on" position, then it may be plugged in properly and just needs to be unplugged and plugged back in.
2) Check the small screen on the front of your Keurig for an error code. If there is no error code, then there might be a problem with your water reservoir or filter.
3) Check if there are any lights on the front of your machine. If all lights are off, then there might be a problem with your power cord or circuit breaker.
If none of the above works, try flipping the switch that turns on your machine from "OFF" to "ON." If that doesn't work either, try unplugging and replugging in your machine one more time.
How long is the Keurig warranty?
Keurig offers a warranty for all of its coffee makers. The warranty is valid for two years from the date of purchase. The warranty covers all defects in workmanship and material under normal household use.
However, the warranty does not cover wear and tear that occurs as a result of normal use, abuse or misuse. This includes damage to the product caused by accident or fire as well as damage caused by unreasonable use such as dropping it on the ground or using it in an area with high humidity levels.
How to clean a Keurig with vinegar?
To clean your Keurig, first you need to remove the water tank and the filter. Next, fill up a pot with water and pour it into the reservoir. Then add 1-2 cups of white vinegar and brew for 3 minutes on high pressure. After that, empty the pot and rinse it out. Here is a youtube video on how to do it!
Final Thoughts
If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having a Keurig that just won’t brew, don’t worry. We’ve got your back with the above solutions! Our team has also put together a comprehensive guide on how to buy the best K-Cup pods for your machine so you can get brewing again as soon as possible. Check it out and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments!
About the author
Vasileia Fanarioti
My name is Vasileia and I’m here because i decided to combine my two favourite things: writing and coffee. I love travelling around the world and visiting coffee shops but my biggest goal is to visit a coffee farm, to see where it all starts! You can follow my coffee adventures via my blog: thewanderingbean.net
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