Keurig Troubleshooting: 16+ Common Problems & Questions And How You Can Fix Them
I know Keurig machines aren’t intelligent (…yet), but sometimes it feels like a conspiracy when they only fail on the days I want coffee the most. Here are the Keurig troubleshooting tips I’ve learned so you can get back to enjoying your coffee and working on the important things.
Products And Lifespans
These are the questions and problems people have with Keurig products and compatibility.
Why does my Keurig not recognize K-cup?
There are two common reasons that Keurig may not recognize a K-cup.
The first is you might be using a knock-off pod. Some companies create products that say things like “compatible with Keurig brewers” on their labels, but unless it has the official Keurig seal, chances are it’s a knock-off product, and it won’t work. Return the whole box to the store, let them know they’re carrying fakes, and replace it with genuine Keurig products.
The second possibility is that you’re using older cups. Newer Keurig machines may not be compatible with older cups, so you may need to buy different cups to make your machine work. Similarly, older machines may not always recognize new cups. Check K-cup boxes carefully to be sure they’re compatible with your machine.
What is the difference between Keurig 2.0 and K-cup?
This is a surprisingly common issue that people have. The K-Cup is the coffee pod that you put into your Keurig brewing machine to get coffee with. The Keurig 2.0 was a newer system that provides a variety of advanced features, including brewing more coffee at one time. K-cup pods need to be compatible with the 2.0 system to work with it.
Why was the Keurig 2.0 discontinued?
Keurig’s 2.0 models had various production issues, but the biggest one was implementing a DRM system to prevent third-party cups from being used. That meant that, unlike the older models, the 2.0 system forced you to rely on single-use cups directly from Keurig.
However, while they no longer make the 2.0 directly, Keurig does offer some newer models with similar features and more acceptance of third-party pods. These include carafe-size coffee makers, which were one of the main draws of the original 2.0 system.
How long does a Keurig last?
Keurig machines last for different lengths of time depending on how well you take care of them. If you clean them regularly, avoid problematic chemicals, and generally take care of them, they’ll last much longer. If you don’t take care of them, they’ll wear out much faster.
A regular Keurig should last you anywhere from 3-5 years. You can probably extend its lifespan with professional maintenance, but it’s usually cheaper to replace the entire machine. Don’t forget to check for compatibility with your existing coffee cups when you’re looking at new machines.
General Problems
Here are some of the basic Keurig troubleshooting issues people have.
What causes a Keurig coffee maker to stop working?
The single most common cause of failure in Keurig brewers is a clog somewhere in the system. This could be in the needle, the pipes, or anywhere else that the coffee grounds or water pass through.
If you’re not using distilled water (and some Keurigs can’t use distilled water), you’ll get mineral buildup in the pipes over time. Regular cleaning with Keurig’s descaling solution, as we’ll discuss more below, prevents this.
Coffee grounds themselves can also get stuck in various places, stopping any coffee maker from working appropriately.
Regardless, cleaning your Keurig is the key to maximizing its lifespan. Remember that all pumps and electronics will fail eventually, though. You can get quite a few years of use from a good Keurig, but if it’s been more than five years and you’re experiencing a lot of problems, it’s probably time to replace your machine.
What should I do if my Keurig stops working?
The first thing you should do is try to figure out why it’s not working. Modern models can usually throw up error codes or other indicators to tell you what’s wrong, which gives you a starting point for fixing the problem. Sometimes, fixing this is as easy as adding more water. Otherwise, look through the rest of the answers on this list or contact Keurig customer service.
Why is my Keurig coffee so weak?
First, make sure your machine is spotless, inside and out. Clogs on the inside can prevent your drinks from reaching their full strength.
Otherwise, the culprit is probably your K-cup. Some brews are weaker than others, and this is especially true for lighter roasts. Unlike some other coffee brewing methods, Keurig machines don’t leave the water in the coffee grounds for very long.
This means that specific K-cups will come across as fundamentally weaker-tasting. The only solution for this is picking different K-cups. Look for a bolder or darker brew, or make a smaller cup so you can concentrate the flavors better. Some people even use two K-cup pods for a single cup of coffee.
Why does my coffee taste wrong?
If your coffee tastes wrong or bad, chances are your machine is dirty or you’re using the wrong type of water. Make sure you’re using filtered water (or distilled water on compatible machines) to minimize the effect of minerals on the taste of your coffee.
Problems like bacterial deposits can also affect the taste of water. This is one of the many reasons that it’s essential to clean your Keurig regularly. Remember to clean it before you store it for an extended period.
Resetting A Keurig
Here are my Keurig troubleshooting tips for resetting the thing. Resetting is a great technique to know because it solves most electronic errors. When you combine that with cleaning your Keurig regularly to prevent physical errors, you can maximize your product’s lifespan and get the best return on your investment.
If you need to reset your Keurig regularly, it’s probably getting old, and it’s time to buy a new one.
How do I hard reset my Keurig?
Fully resetting your Keurig is a multi-step process, but it fixes most common problems and errors.
First, turn off the brewer, then unplug it. Leave it unplugged for about five minutes. This gives the system time to clear its information and reset back to its default state. I know it’s tempting to rush this if you want coffee as fast as possible, but it does need the extra time.
Next, remove the water reservoir. Your machine will detect that the reservoir isn’t there when it turns on, and that’s intentional. It will configure itself to check the reservoir once you put it back in.
After removing the reservoir, plug in your Keurig and turn it on again. Give it another few moments to complete its startup process. You may see lights or other indicators when it’s done, depending on the model you’re using.
Once it’s ready, put the water reservoir back. Your Keurig should promptly notice the return of this component.
Finally, open and close the K-cup holder. This completes the resetting process.
If your machine doesn’t fully reset after this process, contact Keurig customer support. Failure to reset properly usually means there’s a bigger problem with your machine, but if it’s still under warranty, you can usually get a replacement without much hassle. Otherwise, it may be time to get a new machine.
Where is the reset button on my Keurig?
Keurig machines typically don’t have a separate reset button on them, so you’ll have to do a hard reset as described above.
On models with digital displays, you may have another option. Follow the steps below. If you can’t follow any of these steps, check your owner’s manual to see if there’s an alternative.
For a button-based reset, start by pressing the small and medium mug buttons. Press them in simultaneously, and release them simultaneously.
Immediately after, press the menu button three times. If you did these steps correctly, the timer will read 6:09.
Next, press and hold the menu button. It should change to read “brew 0:00”. This is another sign that you’re on the right track for a reset.
When you see that notification, press the medium mug button, then let go of the menu button. Be sure you keep pressing down on the medium mug button.
While still holding the medium mug button, press the small mug button. After that, release both of the buttons.
Once you’re finally through with all of these steps, unplug your machine, wait a few minutes, and then plug it back in. When done correctly, this process fully resets the computer inside your Keurig and should resolve any electronic systems problems.
If you’re still experiencing problems after this, you may be facing a hardware or cleaning issue. Check the interior and all other components to be sure they’re not clogged. Do not attempt any advanced cleaning processes without contacting Keurig first. Doing that could void your warranty.
Lights On A Keurig
Here’s what you should know about all the lights.
What does it mean when all the lights on my Keurig are on?
The meaning of indicator lights may vary by model, so you’ll need to check your owner’s manual to be sure. That said, all lights being on usually means that your system is clogged. Open it up and use a paperclip or a similar cleaning tool to clean out the needle where the water comes through it.
Your machine should detect when the needle is clear and return to normal functionality. If the lights stay on after you clean it, try resetting it as described above. If that doesn’t work, contact customer service.
What does a red flashing light on a Keurig mean?
Like our previous answer, this can vary somewhat depending on the model of your brewer. Normally, you should see the Brew Button flashing red when it’s heating up and preparing to make your coffee. Keurig machines need time to start working, so they can’t make hot coffee the moment you turn them on.
In other words, this probably isn’t a real issue. The red flashing light should turn solid within 3 minutes, after which point your machine will start brewing.
I thought this was a problem the first time I saw it, but while red is usually associated with problems, it’s just an indicator for normal operations here.
Water Problems
These are surprisingly common issues, so learning how to deal with them early can save you a lot of time in the future.
Why is my Keurig telling me to add water?
If your water reservoir is full, there are a few things that might be causing your machine to think it’s empty. Here are the things to try.
First, take the reservoir out and then put it back on the base. If it’s not seated correctly, the sensors may detect far less water than you actually have and throw up the error message. This doesn’t indicate any major issues with your machine, just that the reservoir got jostled out of alignment at some point.
If that doesn’t work, remove, empty, and clean the reservoir. Then refill it using fresh water and put it back on the base. Buildups of chemicals inside the reservoir can cause issues, especially if any chemicals are blocking the water from getting out. This resolves most other issues.
If cleaning the reservoir isn’t enough, clean your entire machine. In particular, make sure you descale the unit using an appropriate cleaning mixture. Scale buildup can occur as minerals attach to the inside of your system, and most Keurigs need descaling every 3-6 months to remain in good condition.
Finally, double-check the water you’re using. Some Keurig brewers do not like distilled water, which is free of trace minerals that help conduct electricity and let the machine check the water level. For these units, you’ll need to use filtered water instead, even though distilled water is better because it doesn’t leave any minerals behind.
Why did my Keurig stop pumping water?
There are several potential causes if your Keurig stops pumping water.
First, take out the reservoir, fill it one-quarter of the way, and replace it. Then lift the reservoir up and down, quickly and repeatedly, and look for small air bubbles. If you see any, keep moving the reservoir up and down until the air bubbles stop appearing.
If this works, the problem was that you had air trapped in the water line. Moving and replacing the reservoir helps force the air out, allowing your machine to resume functioning normally.
For other cases, clean out your machine. Mineral scaling can stop your machine from pumping water correctly, so cleaning out all the pipes with an appropriate descaling solution usually fixes the problem.
Remember to follow Keurig’s instructions for this. While some third-party companies sell descaling mixes, these aren’t as trustworthy as the official cleaner, and I don’t recommend buying them even if they’re cheaper. They could end up damaging your machine and forcing you to buy a replacement.
If checking for air pockets and descaling wasn’t enough, you might have a problem with the pump itself. Search for some videos or consult your owner’s manual. Remember that trying to repair the pump yourself could void the warranty, so keep that in mind if you want to try repairs.
Sometimes repairing the pump is as easy as clearing out some debris and coffee grounds that managed to get in, and that’s always nice. You may need to repair or replace some hoses inside the pump, though.
Cleaning Problems
Similarly, errors in cleaning can cause problems for a Keurig. Staying on top of these is the best way to prevent future problems.
How do I clean the needle on my Keurig without the tool?
It’s best to use the official cleaning tool if possible, but if it breaks or you lose it, you may need to clean your needle another way until you can get a replacement. Here’s how you can do that.
First. unplug the machine and remove all components. Do not try to clean the machine while it’s still plugged in, and do not try to clean the needle without removing the components first.
This is a good time to clean the rest of your machine, so consider cleaning everything at once. Doublecheck to be sure the valves on your machine are as clean as possible.
Next, clean the K-cup holder and the diffuser. This should be quick and easy, and they rarely require more than a little water, a sponge, and some mild detergent. Some models may have extra buttons or clasps you’ll need to press to get these components out of the machine.
After cleaning those, get a paper clip. Use this to remove all debris from the inside of your exit needle, then use water to rinse the needle. This is a straightforward process, but consider keeping some paper clips in your kitchen specifically to clean the needle with.
Once you’re done cleaning the needle, wipe out the inside of your Keurig unit. This helps prevent excessive buildup and ensures your machine will last much longer. You can use a toothbrush, a wet paper towel, or any similar tool.
After cleaning, drying, and replacing all of the parts, add water to the reservoir and run two rinse cycles. This should ensure your machine is completely clean, and lingering bits of coffee won’t end up changing the flavor of your drink.
While you can clean the needle alone, it’s always better to clean the entire machine. Otherwise, lingering coffee grounds might just clog the needle up again.
Does vinegar ruin Keurigs?
Yes. While you can use vinegar as a cleaner, it typically damages Keurigs unless you dilute it down far enough. Unfortunately, diluting cleaner that way also stops it from working well as a cleaner. It’s much better to use the official descaling solution, which will not harm your Keurig as long as you use it as directed.
How do you unclog a Keurig needle?
There are several ways to unclog a Keurig needle, but the best way is to use the official cleaning tool or a paperclip and gently poke through the needle to remove any lingering debris. Most coffee grounds are easy to see in a needle when you look closely, so basic tools are enough to scrape off anything that’s stuck inside.
Where is the filter in a Keurig?
Most Keurig models don’t use paper filters the same way most coffee makers do. However, they do use water filters to purify the water before it goes through the rest of the system. This helps reduce problems like mineral buildup, although it doesn’t totally eliminate them.
On most models, the water filter is either inside or close to the water reservoir. It might be hidden behind a panel, so look or feel around for that. Alternatively, check your owner’s manual. That should note the exact location of the water filter on your Keurig.
Remember that the filters don’t work by time but by brew cycles. A normal household should replace the filter roughly every two or three months, but if you don’t use your Keurig very often, you can wait longer.
More Information About Keurig
As a company, Keurig has more than enough history – this helpful infographic tells you what you need to know:
Infographic via Qofia
Final Notes
Troubleshooting a Keurig mostly comes down to cleaning it and doing the occasional reset for electronic hiccups. These will solve almost any problem you’re likely to experience, short of faulty components, for the overall lifespan of the product.
If you’re not sure how to clean it properly, look for some videos that match your specific model. If you’re still unsure about what to do, contact Keurig’s customer support directly. They can help you resolve practically any issue or let you know if your machine is dead and it’s time to get a replacement.
