Coffee is a brewed beverage made from coffee beans that have been ground. Coffee refers to both a beverage and a plant. The coffee plant is a shrub or tree that may reach a height of 10 meters.

Coffee machines are fantastic for making wonderful coffee. Coffee is enjoyed by people all around the world since it refreshes and energizes us. Coffee is enjoyed by people all over the world because of its invigorating flavor as well as the fact that it keeps us busy and makes us feel less tired by increasing our energy levels. The average American family consumes three cups of coffee each day. Everyone enjoys coffee in several ways.

If you are a coffee lover then you will need coffee every morning. Having a coffee maker with you will be a delight and therefore many people who love coffee own a coffee maker so that they can enjoy their favorite coffee any time of the day. A coffee maker helps you to prepare the hottest and most delicious coffee. When we talk about coffee makers, we cannot miss out on the Keurig coffee maker. It is one of the leading companies in the market which has provided many beautiful products that customers loved.

This article is going to revolve around Keurig coffee makers. There are chances that one fine day when you wake up and turn your Keurig on for getting a fresh cup of coffee but you find out that your Keurig isn’t working. This can be irritating because now you have no idea how to fix this issue. If your Keurig starts but doesn’t work and sounds as if it’s running then it’s not broken and there are ways in which you can fix it.

There are chances that the Keurig won’t pump water in the machine and that’s why it’s not working and we will just look at the solutions and fixes why your Keurig isn’t working and what to do. If you are facing a problem with your Keurig coffee maker then you should read this article carefully to find out the possible fixes.

What is a Keurig Coffee Maker?

Keurig was invented in the 90s and it is one of the most popular single-serve coffee makers in the market. A Massachusetts entrepreneur John Sylvan invented the Keurig coffee maker.

This coffee maker makes use of small needles that help to puncture pods of coffee. These coffee pods are sealed with nitrogen and plastic. They are then quickly brewed using hot water. Keurig has introduced several upgraded models since the introduction of the original coffee maker. These include a low-cost, single-cup device – less than $100– and a 4-cup OfficePRO release that can brew iced coffee, a water reservoir of 90 ounces, and a customizable braid temperature. Commercial systems with direct water lines are also available.

The Keurig is a standard feature of a home or office kitchen in a relatively short time.

The most common issue with the Keurig coffee maker is the water getting blocked from the water reservoir to the coffee cup. There are chances that the blockage exists in the needle that helps in puncturing the K-cup. It can also be in the hose that leads the needle. The valve that is present at the bottom of the reservoir might also have a blockage. There is a bowel deep inside the Keurig coffee maker and even there the blockage might exist. Anything is possible and you need to find out where the blockage is.

All of these issues can be fixed simply and you can fix almost any issue but not all of your Keurig coffee maker. Whenever a coffee maker malfunctions the standard thing to do is to descale it. I have also mentioned how to descale your Keurig coffee maker at the end of this article. You can directly skip to that part if you wish to.

Let’s look at the 7 possible ways in which you can fix your Keurig coffee maker.

Fix No.1: Cleaning the K-cup holder and then poking the needle using a paperclip

If your coffee maker stops working then this is the most common solution and also the easiest way in which you can fix it.

The first thing you will have to do is to take the K-cup holder out and then use dishwashing soap and clean it properly. Rinse it with water thoroughly. You should carefully see if there are any obstructions. You should also check the K-cup pod assembly housing that is in your coffee maker and you will also have to clean it properly. The K-cup pod assembly housing is the place where the coffee pours into your coffee cup. You should always keep it clean unless you like it dirty anyway.

After you are done with the cleaning of these two things you will have to move ahead and now you need to clean the Entrance Needle. You are going to need a paper clip or anything that is enough thin. Take a flashlight as it will come in handy too. Below mentioned things are needed to be followed now.

1. First, you need to unplug your Keurig and then remove the water reservoir.
2. Press the handle so that the lid gets opened. You will see that there is an Entrance Needle inside the lid. It will have three holes in it. It is the place where coffee comes out.
3. Now take the paper clip or anything thin and stick it into each hole. Check if anything is blocking the water and remove it using the paperclip.

This trick works for many people and it’s the easiest one here, if this doesn’t work out for you then don’t worry and move forward to other fixes.

Fix No. 2: Use your finger to plug the external overflow drain

This is an easier fix compared to the first one but it’s not commonly used. If your Keurig stops working then you can consider this fix.

This fix isn’t much common because not every Keurig has an overflow drain. If you have got a coffee maker that has an overflow drain then you will find it just above the water reservoir. Here are some of the things you can try.

1. Take water and fill the water reservoir in your Keurig with it, make sure you do not use any coffee.
2. Start the brewing cycle, I know that the water isn’t coming out or just a little water coming out.
3. Now use your finger to plug the overflow drain and just hold your finger over the opening.

I’m not very sure whether this works or not or how this works but we can assume that when we plug up the overflow drain, it helps in forcing the pressure from the water pump, and then this pressure moves forward to the hoses. This forced pressure might unclog the things that are blocking the water flow.

Fix No.3: Use a Turkey Blaster to force water in the reservoir drainage valve

Do you have a turkey blaster at home? If yes then it’s going to be useful here. So now you know that turkey blaster can also be used other than Thanksgiving.

This fix is for the issue, we can consider as if the drainage valve that is present on the base of the water reservoir is clogged. If you do not take care of this and if you let water sit in the water reservoir 24/7 then this type of problem is common, let’s have a look at how to fix it using a turkey blaster.

1. You need to fill your water reservoir with water and fill it in one-third.
2. Take the turkey blaster and try to suck some of the water in the turkey blaster. You can also make use of sans needle if you have one of those.
3. Now you need to slowly press the turkey blaster down in the valve. This is done where the water drains out.
4. Now squeeze it, let the water go inside the valve, force it if needed. You will have to keep repeating this until the water inside the reservoir gets filthy.
5. After doing this, discard the dirty water completely and make sure that there’s no more dirt inside. Use clean water and let it run inside the machine.

Fix No. 4: Use your Hand to Clean the Reservoir Drainage

This is the same thing that you just did with your turkey blaster. The cleaning takes place in the valve where the water is present in the water reservoir and then goes inside the Keurig machine.

Even if the turkey blaster method works out, I would still recommend using this method of cleaning with hand even after that. Water pressure can clean the valve but it won’t make sure it’s completely clean therefore using a hand will be a better option to unclog the dirt.

1. You will have to remove the water reservoir from the machine and then turn it upside down.
2. Now make use of a small brush and dishwashing soap to remove the dirt that is present inside the valve.
3. While doing this, try getting and cleaning the other side of the valve too which is inside the reservoir if you can.
4. Now, rinse the machine thoroughly and then add some clean water and run the brew cycle to remove all the dirt completely.

Fix No. 5: Massaging the Internal Water Hose

Now things are about to get a bit complicated. This is the least complicated fix of all the complicated fixes in our post.

You will have to get a screwdriver and it would be best if you have a Philips Screwdriver. I have mentioned the link below where you can find a Philips Screwdriver if you don’t have one. If none of the above-mentioned fixes worked in your case then you should try this one out too. In simple words, you just need to remove the lid of your Keurig.

You need to find the dark spot that is present inside the white house, after you locate it, you will have to pinch or massage the dark spot until it gets dislodged. This dark spot is nothing but dirt or grime, it can be a clump of coffee ground. This can be stuck in the Entrance Needle.

1. Take the Screwdriver and try removing the two screws that are under the front end of the Keurig lid.
2. Now take the handle and lift it, open the lid and then remove it.
3. Press the handle down like you are trying to make a cup of coffee, after start a brew cycle.
4. The water will start flowing through the tube and at that time you will have to find out if there are any obstructions and you need to start massaging the hose where dark spots are visible.

This method will form a combination of flowing water and the hose massage that you will do. This will help to remove anything that is plugged into the hose.

Click here to buy a Philips Screwdriver

https://www.amazon.com/Screwdriver-Ergonomic-Comfortable-Permanent-Resistant/dp/B07KGMHH8Y/

Fix No. 6: Cleaning the Check Valve

So now the complicated work starts. In this fix, you are going to require a Philips Screwdriver, a wire cutter, or a nail clipper. You will also need a small zip to replace the one you are about to cut.

If you have a syringe then it will be an added benefit however it’s not much required. This is a similar thing that we did in the hose massage fix. The only different thing here is, we are going to clean the check valve by removing it. This is all you need to do.

1. The first step is of removing the two screws that are present under the front end of the lid.
2. Now you need to open the lid by lifting the handle and then remove the lid off. This is going to require some effort.
3. You will have to cut off the zip tie that connects the rare hose to the check valve.
4. You have to detach or disconnect the hoses from the check valve from both ends.
5. Now clean the check valve using any method. Just make sure it’s perfectly clean.

Further, it wouldn’t negatively affect if you had the machine opened anyway to stick the syringe into the open tube (the Keurig front) and blow up some water there. In this way, you will also achieve the above objective of Fix #5: to clear the grime out of the front of the shaft.

While doing this and if you thinking of doing this then you need to be careful about the syringe nozzle, it should seal the hose opening completely. If you don’t do this then you will end up with water everywhere. A small syringe won’t work. You need to get a big one. I have mentioned the link below where you can find it. However, if you don’t feel like buying a syringe then you can directly try blasting air inside the hose.

Fix No. 7: Open up the Keurig and then Unclog the Main Hose

If none of the above fixes worked for you then you might be either frustrated or desperate. You need to be patient because this fix here is going to take time and you will have to carefully follow it.

Most of the time and effort will be required for the outer casing of the Keurig. You need to remove it and after everything is done you need to put it back together. One thing to keep in mind is that this will void your warranty even if it’s still in effect. However, nothing else is working out then you can go for this fix. You are going to require a Philips Screwdriver and a wide-gauge syringe.

A catheter tip syringe would work out because a catheter tip syringe is constructed of catheter hoses. If you do not have one you can find it here.

Click to buy a catheter tip syringe

https://www.amazon.com/Catheter-Disposable-Syringe-Care-Touch/dp/B01DMKQKQC

Before doing this you should make sure that you unplug your Keurig. This is very important, however, removing the outer casing without unplug is impossible.

Here’s what you should follow

1. The first thing is to remove or detach the outer casing of the Keurig, this will take time but be patient and do it properly.
2. Now you will see the hose, you need to disconnect it from the steel heating tank.
3. Now take the wide gauge syringe and stick it in the hose and then blast water through the syringe. You should remember that you need to put a cup in place for catching the water. You need to keep repeating this step unless clean water comes out.
4. After you are done with this, you need to put everything back together.

How to descale a Keurig?

To keep a coffee maker running for a longer amount of time, regardless of the brand you choose, it must be well maintained. If you haven’t descaled your coffee maker in a while, this might be the cause of your Keurig not working.

Descaling is a required and beneficial preventative maintenance procedure that must be performed regularly. It aids in the removal of all wastes and pollutants left behind by the water. Keurig advises that you descale your coffee maker every three to six months, depending on how much coffee you produce.

You will need the following items

• This is a large ceramic container, not a plastic cup.
• Water that is free of contaminants
• Keurig’s descaling solution
• Having access to the sink

The descaling operation may take 45 minutes. Make sure the machine doesn’t have any pods in it. Clean and drain the reservoir of all its contents. Remove and set away your Keurig water filter if you have one.

STEP 1

Press the power button to turn off your Keurig. Pour the entire bottle of Keurig descaling solution into the empty reservoir. Pour the water from the empty bottle into the reservoir as well. Start the brewer, set your cup on the drip tray, and wait a few minutes until it brews. Select the largest brew capacity as well as hot water.

STEP 2

Keep brewing until the add water indicator illuminates. Don’t use any more pods! Disable the "Auto Off" functionality if your Keurig has it. After turning on your Keurig, let it on for at least 30 minutes. Then drain and thoroughly rinse whatever’s left in the reservoir.

STEP 3

Fill the reservoir with clean water up to and including the MAX fill line. Place your cup on the drip tray and brew with the largest brew size available (no pods!). Remove all of the contents of the container and repeat the rinse process with the largest brew size at least twelve times. While you’re doing this, you’ll need to refill the reservoir.

Most of the time when your coffee maker stops working or faces some problems this is because it is dirty and now it needs cleaning. Let’s find out some of how you can clean your Keurig.

Using vinegar

Vinegar is one of the most powerful cleaning agents available for any type of equipment. Vinegar may be used not only to clean coffee makers but also to clean several other goods. It has a lot of advantages and is quite effective.

First, get a bottle of white vinegar. Get a big bottle because you’ll need to clean your coffee machine in the future. The amount of vinegar you dilute with water varies depending on who you’re serving, but I recommend never using a dilution of less than 1:1. If you had a 12 cup coffee machine, you would mix 6 cups of vinegar with 6 cups of water.

Vinegar is cheap and convenient, and you won’t have any problems if you leave it in your coffee maker after cleaning it; you’ll just get sour coffee. As a consequence, it is far better than bleach because it is also safe to drink. I’ve laid down the procedures for cleaning your coffee maker with vinegar.

1. Half of the reservoir should be filled with white vinegar and the other half with water.
2. Now start on your coffee maker and let the solution brew for as long as your machine allows.
3. After that, in the coffee machine, start another brew cycle with just water.
4. You’ll have to keep running the coffee machine until the vinegar smell has vanished completely.

You may use apple cider vinegar for white vinegar if you like.

Click here to buy vinegar for cleaning

https://www.amazon.com/Heinz-Cleaning-Vinegar-1-gal/dp/B00NPPCJ2O/

https://www.amazon.com/Heinz-White-Vinegar-Distilled-128/dp/B000RO08L0/

Using Baking soda

Baking soda can be found in almost every house, and if you have a package, now is the time to utilize it. Baking soda is a multipurpose cleaning agent that may be used on a wide range of surfaces.

Bacteria and mold can be eliminated. Baking soda is a low-cost, simple-to-use ingredient that may be used both inside and outside the coffee maker. Follow this approach to clean the coffee maker using baking soda.

1. Pour one cup of water into the reservoir with a quarter cup of baking soda.
2. To assist break down mineral build-up as well as any germs or mold that may be present, turn on the coffee maker and let it run through a full brewing cycle.
3. After that, continue the brewing process until the baking soda smell is gone.

Click here to buy baking soda for cleaning

https://www.amazon.com/Arm-Hammer-Baking-Soda-64/dp/B00LO1XXQW/

Conclusion

These were some of the ways you can try out to fix your Keurig when it stops working. Keeping your coffee maker clean is very important and therefore i have also mentioned how to clean a coffee maker.

I hope this article was useful and relevant.