If you own a Keurig coffee machine, you will definitely be amused by its highly innovative technology, user-friendly interface, Unique features, convenience, and Simplicity.
But unfortunately, some Keurig machine owners won’t have a pleasant experience with the machine sooner or later. One of the most prominent issues that have been discussed globally on social media and coffee-related forums is Keurig not brewing a full cup.
The frustration is real when the Keurig fails and leaves you with an intensely bitter few sips of coffee.
This problem can be caused by many different reasons, but fortunately, most of the problems aren’t complicated at all and you can solve them all by yourself.
why is my Keurig not brewing a full cup?
If your Keurig is not brewing a full cup then scale buildup, clogged needles, or dirty water valves might be the reason. If your machine is properly cleaned then maybe some software issue or an electrical component failure causing this.
Before going into details first you must make sure that you didn’t set up the auto shut-off feature, as it might turn the machine off while brewing. And also check whether the water reservoir is correctly installed or not!
These are six of the most common reasons for Keurig not making a full cup of coffee, so you should check them first.
- Clogged needles (exit needles may be clogged by coffee grounds, tea, or cocoa mix).
- Keurig machine need to be descale.
- Buildup around the water tank valve
- Electrical fault
- Faulty brew Basket
3 tips to fix Keurig not making a full cup
Now, let’s look at troubleshooting solutions for a Keurig that is not making a full cup of coffee.
1. Unclogg the Needles
The needle of your machine may be clogged by old coffee grounds, tea, or cocoa mix, and that’s why your Keurig only brewing small amounts of coffee or only a half cup of coffee.
The coffee residue starts building up around the needle, resulting in blockage, and that eventually leads to Keurig not brewing a full cup of coffee. This is more likely to happen when you don’t discard your pods right after brewing coffee.
This Clogging also causes the Keurig machine to shut off while brewing.
Please follow these simple steps to clean the clogged needles of your Keurig machine.
- Turn the machine off, and remove the water reservoir
- Tightly grab the edges of the pod holder and take it away from the machine.
- Now, remove the funnel from the pod holder
- Take a paper clip or sewing needle and move it around in a circle a few times inside the hole of the pod holder.
- Rinse the pod holder and funnel with water and let them dry
- Now for the top entrance needles, open the head and look beneath. You will observe two holes for the needles that need to be cleaned
- Insert the paper clip or sewing needle in the hole and gently move it around to remove any clogged particles.
2. Keurig machine need to be descaled
Scaling inside the Keurig machine might also be the reason why Keurig is not filling a full cup of coffee
If you won’t descale your machine, this buildup eventually results in a blockage that potentially does not let the machine brew a full cup. This can also cause Keurig to dispense slowly.
As per Keurig reccomendations, you should descale your machine once in 3-6 months or after 300 cups of coffee, whatever will come first.
Once you have a descaling solution, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to descale your Keurig machine. Or watch the video below.
If you don’t have a Keurig descaling solution you can buy it from here. Or you can also use white vinegar for descaling.
If you haven’t descaled your Keurig for more than six months or you are using hard water, then you might be needing two descaling cycles.
3. Buildup around the water tank valve
If there’s some problem or blockage at the valve, then the machine cannot pull the required amount of water for a k-cup, eventually resulting in Keurig not being able to pump water or brew a full cup.
Descaling often solves this problem but if you have already descaled the machine and still facing this problem then follow these steps to clean the exit valve of the tank.
- Remove the water tank and empty it. Also, clean the area where the water tank connects to a machine with a towel or soft cloth.
- You can find the valve at the bottom of the water tank. This valve is held by three screws. Take a screwdriver and unscrew the valve.
- There is a screen inside the valve which might be clogged by water minerals.
- Now take a cup of vinegar and place the valve in it for 1 to 2 hours. Vinegar will remove all the buildup material
- Rinse the valve with water properly before putting it back into the machine.
- Hopefully, it will solve your problem.
Additional Tip: If you have a turkey baster. Use it to suck air from piping and water reservoirs. Sometimes stuck air bubbles inside the machine can cause this problem.
A Weird but working Solution
Remove the water reservoir and turn the Keurig upside down. Shake the machine and Hit the bottom two to three times gently. And you will be amazed because it works!
It works because it helps to remove trapped air bubbles inside the machine.
Keurig not brewing full cup after descaling or cleaning
If all the above-mentioned hacks didn’t work and the problem is still there, then the only solution before calling a professional technician is to reset your machine.
Reset the machine
Most of the Keurig model doesn’t have a proper reset button available, so in order to reset them, you need to follow these steps.
- Turn off and unplug the machine and wait for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Empty and remove the water reservoir.
- Keep it disconnected for one to two hours.
- Reconnect the machine and place the water tank back. Open and close the head of the machine.
- Now your machine is restored to factory settings.
Here’s a detailed guide on Resetting Keurig machines
Contact Keurig support
If your Keurig is clean and nothing is stuck inside the machine, and you have already restored the machine to factory settings. Then there might be a technical electrical fault that is not letting the Keurig fill a full cup of coffee.
In that case, you can call a technician to seek help. Or if your machine is still in the warranty period then call Keurig customer support. They will repair or replace the machine free of any cost if the warranty is valid.
Keurig Model reviews
Final Thoughts
I hope the tips mentioned in the article will answer the question of why is Keurig not brewing a full cup of coffee and how you can solve it
If you don’t want to face this issue again in the future then you should take properly maintain your machine.
Regular cleaning and descaling (at least once in 3-6 months), and usage of filtered water will definitely help you to avoid these issues in the future, and your beloved Keurig will serve you for a longer time.
FAQs
Is it worth repairing a Keurig?
The typical lifespan of a Keurig machine is 3 to 5 years. If your machine is under that period then I think it will be more feasible to repair your Keurig instead of purchasing a new one.
OTHER KEURIG TROUBLESHOOTING ISSUES AND SOLUTION
