Why Is My Keurig Producing Less Coffee? (ALL Solutions!)

When I first got my Keurig, it was great. It would produce full cups of coffee and I didn’t have to worry about anything.

Now, however, it doesn’t fill up my cup anymore.

What’s wrong with my Keurig? Why is my Keurig producing less coffee than it used to?

If you’re in the same boat as me, there might be a solution for both of us.

Why is my Keurig producing less coffee?

Your water filters may be blocked

Some Keurigs have water filters and if these water filters become blocked or are not properly maintained over time, then debris and limescale can end up blocking your water’s passage into the Keurig and throughout the tubing system.

Your water pump may be faulty

If the pump isn’t working properly, it can cause your machine to stop brewing altogether.

First, try holding the brew button for five seconds to see if your Keurig can start brewing again. This is a common fix for water pump issues.

If this doesn’t work, try switching it off and on again. This is often all you need to get things running smoothly again.

If none of these steps solve the problem, you may have an obstruction in your pump or there may be something wrong with it that needs to be replaced.

To fix this issue, you’ll need to replace the water pump in your machine.

Your Keurig may be leaking water

If your Keurig is leaking water, then chances are this may be an issue with the gasket or the water tank not being securely latched onto the valve.

Without a secure fit, water will continue to leak out of the tank or out of the Keurig itself.

You may ultimately receive less coffee from your brew because of this.

The water reservoir tank may be empty

The first thing to do is check if there’s any water left in your reservoir tank by looking at it.

Most water tank reservoirs are clear and transparent. If your Keurig isn’t, then most likely you’ll see a little window inside where you can tell how much water is left in there.

Just look through and see if there’s still some space left at the bottom. If there is, great! Fill it up with more water and try again. But if there isn’t big water left, then you’ll need to fill up the tank.

You may have noticed a magnet sensor on top of your reservoir tank. This magnet helps your Keurig measure whether or not you are out of the water and stops brewing automatically when needed.

This sensor works by detecting changes in magnetic fields created by electricity flowing through wires inside the machine.

When no more water flows through these wires and causes them to generate less electricity (which creates weaker magnetic fields), the sensor knows something’s wrong and shuts down brewing accordingly.

Your Keurig might be turning off pre-maturely

If your Keurig is shutting off prematurely, it might be due to an auto ON/OFF option.

This feature is helpful if you want your Keurig to turn off after a certain time, but it can also cause problems when your machine turns itself off while brewing.

Resetting the machine fixes some issues but not always.

You might also be experiencing a “short circuit” in the machine and need to reset it.

Try turning it on and off again one more time before calling for service.

Your Keurig has no power

Make sure that your machine is plugged in! Check to make sure that your Keurig has power and is ready to brew. If it isn’t plugged in, it won’t work.

If that doesn’t fix the problem, check to see if the outlet is working properly by plugging in something else. Press and hold the power button until your Keurig lights up.

Some display screens may include the word “welcome” on the display screen.

If these fail, unplug the machine from the wall socket and plug the coffee machine back in again.

Check if it’s secured properly into the independent outlet by using an extension cord or power strip with surge protection built into it if possible.

This will help reduce electrical noise from other devices in your home interfering with your Keurig’s ability to make coffee properly!

If none of these solutions work, it may be time to replace it.

Your Keurig has built up a lot of scale and debris

If you believe there’s calcium scaling in the machine, try cleaning it with a solution of vinegar drops and water or blowing air into the dispensing line using a straw.

To clean the machine thoroughly, unplug it, run the cycle a few times without using the K-cup and then flush out any leftover coffee grounds with fresh water.

You can also purchase a descaling solution or take a mixture of water and vinegar and cycle it through the unit multiple times.

Flush out the vinegar mixture and clean it again with fresh water.

These steps will remove the calcium scale to build up nicely.

There are air bubbles in your Keurig tube system

If you’re having trouble with your Keurig, there’s a good chance that air bubbles are to blame.

To get rid of them, first, turn off and unplug the coffee brewer. Then remove the water reservoir gently and hold the brewer upside down.

Firmly hit the side of the machine to dislodge any air bubbles. You can use a straw and try to blow into any tubes to dislodge any bubbles if you’re anxious about hitting your Keurig.

You can fill the water reservoir to its highest level and gently shake the machine to eliminate any trapped air within its dispensing line.

Afterward, complete a brew cycle with water just to check if there are any remaining bubbles in the water line

Your Keurig says it needs more water even though it’s full

We know that it can be frustrating when your Keurig needs more water, even though you’ve filled it up.

If you’re sure there’s enough water in the reservoir and it’s properly placed, but you still have “add water” issues, try cleaning the reservoir.

Remove the water reservoir and discard its contents. Check and clean the valve at the bottom of the tank and on the machine where the tank goes.

The valve can sometimes get clogged and this can cause problems. Fill the tank again to the maximum fill line, then attach it back to the unit.

Your water reservoir has a magnet found on its side. If this magnet isn’t aligned properly, your machine won’t get a correct reading on how much water is actually in there!

How to fix a Keurig that’s not dispensing enough coffee

Your Keurig needs descaling

You might be wondering how often you should descale your brewer. We’re here to tell you that it’s every 3-6 months.

Scale can build up in your brewer and make a mess of things and it can also change the taste of your coffee.

First things first: before you start descaling your machine, make sure to tip out any existing water and add an entire bottle of descaling solution or 1:1 solution of white vinegar and water into the reservoir tank.

Run the machine on a brew cycle without a K-Cup inserted until the reservoir is empty (it might take multiple cycles). Repeat this process until there is no more scale in the machine.

Let the machine sit with power on for 30 minutes (4 hours after vinegar) before switching it off and removing and rinsing the water tank.

You need to unclog your water reservoir tank

The connection between your water tank Reservoir and the Keurig valve itself may become clogged over time.

It’s important to make sure that there are no obstructions between these two connections because that’s where the water will travel through into your Keurig.

If it cannot travel into your Keurig, then chances are the heating elements will not fire up and that will ultimately shut off your Keurig.

You need to clean the needle

If you’re having trouble getting your Keurig to brew, there’s a good chance that the needle is clogged.

You can clean the needle with a paper clip tool and unclog any remains that might be inside.

First, you’ll need to remove the plastic K-cup holder from your Keurig. The needle is located on top of it and should be easy to spot.

Use your paper clip tool to slowly unclog this needle, then check for any clogs with your finger.

Once you’ve cleared out all of the clogs and debris from inside the needle, replace your K-cup holder and run a couple of brew cycles without placing any K-cups in your machine.

This will help clear out any remaining residue before it has a chance to build up again.

Cleaning the removable parts

You must clean the water reservoir, lid, K-Cup holder, and drip tray.

To do this, you should use a soft cloth or paper towel soaked in warm water. You can also use dishwashing liquid or vinegar to clean any stubborn stains.

If needed, you can use a toothbrush to scrub out hard-to-reach areas.

You should also wash the needles and waterline as often as required. Look on the underside of the brew head, and you will be able to see two holes.

These can be cleaned in the same way as the exit needle. Just be careful during this process as the needle is very sharp.

Locating and cleaning the spout that passes water from the reservoir into the machine is not difficult but it can be messy if done incorrectly.

We recommend you place an absorbent cloth under your machine so that any spills are contained before they reach your flooring or carpeting!

Don’t forget to clean water lines using a plastic straw.

And make sure you flush out remaining grounds or waste with a brew cycle with clean water.

Check the water pump

If your coffee maker is not working, you need to check the water pump. If it is off, the entire pump will need to be replaced.

Check to make sure it’s not clogged by coffee grounds or mineral buildup.

Unplug the unit completely and allow it to sit idle for a short period of time, then plug it in again to reset the circuit boards in the coffee maker.

Run multiple cycles without inserting any coffee pod and check whether the water is running.

You need to descale the coffee maker and make sure the water pumping tubes are unclogged and cleaned.

Run the brewing cycle again to see if the machine has started working.

Clean up any blockage of the water filters

Over time, people neglect to change or clean water filters. These filters help keep debris out of your Keurig but at the same time, they can get dirty.

The longer you used your Keurig the dirtier it will likely get if it is not maintained regularly.

Readjust any valves to prevent leaking

If you’ve got a leaking water reservoir, the first thing you want to do is remove it from the device.

Next, you’ll want to turn it upside down and give it a gentle up and down shake. This will cause any excess water to come out of the reservoir and back into its home inside the machine.

If you’re having trouble getting enough coffee out of your Keurig, try tapping the bottom several times with your fingers or a spoon.

This will clear out any residue and help ensure that you get a full cup of coffee every time!

Once you’ve made any necessary adjustments, put everything back together again (including replacing any parts that were removed) and turn on your Keurig for one last test run!

Make sure your power outlet is working properly

The power outlet in our house often fails or the circuit breaker trips.

You need to make sure that it’s working in order to send power into your Keurig.

If it’s not sending enough power into your Keurig, then your Keurig will shut off in between brewing sessions and likely result in your coffee cup being a lot smaller and less than usual.

Your water reservoir magnet needs readjustment

Your issue could be that the magnet on your water reservoir is out of alignment.

Here’s how to fix it:

Detach the water reservoir and put it back again to ensure the reservoir’s magnet is also placed properly.
Check whether the brewer is properly seated in its place and if its magnet is connected to the machine.
Sometimes, the magnet of the water reservoir may get dislodged in the middle of the action which will cause your Keurig to halt midway through brewing.
This can be fixed by simply readjusting the magnet so that it is properly aligned with its corresponding part in the brewer.
Once the magnet is properly situated, try running it again.
If that does not work, contact Keurig customer support.

Try to restart your Keurig

Open and close the K-Cup lid
Power off the Keurig and unplug it
Remove and then reattach the water reservoir
Plug the Keurig back in and turn it on

Other interesting articles