When your Keurig isn’t making the full 6-8 oz cup that you expect, it can be frustrating. But there’s no reason to get mad at your Keurig because there are possible reasons why your Keurig might not be making the correct amount of coffee. All of which are much easier to fix!
This article will take you through some steps to resolve this common problem with your Keurig brewer.
Why Keurig Not Brewing Correct Amount
The most common reason a Keurig isn’t making a full cup is that the water reservoir is not being filled with enough water. This can happen if you forget to refill the reservoir, or when the tank is empty. Make sure that your reservoir has enough water and try brewing again. If it doesn’t work, there’s probably a blockage somewhere in the brewer that causes a problem. There are a few reasons why this might have happened:
- If Keurig has been sitting unused for some time, sediment may have built up inside the system.
- Over time mineral deposits from hard water build up on the heating element inside the brewer which blocks it.
- Users may also be using tap water instead of filtered water. Tap water contains calcium and magnesium which eventually solidify and clog the exit needle.
4 Solutions To Fix Keurig Not Brewing Full Cup
There are a few potential solutions to fix this issue. All of these fixes are easy to do and only take minutes. Let’s get started with the possible one first.
Let’s take a look!
Hit The Keurig Bottom
It seems kind of silly to say, but you’ll need to turn Keurig upside down and hit the bottom gently. This trick may help release any stuck grounds that are preventing a full cup from being made. If this doesn’t work, take your brewer on both hands, and shake it up and down vigorously up to five times. I know it sounds weird, but rapid movement should prevent air bubbles inside the waterline.
This step worked for many users who were experiencing their Keurig not making a full cup. If it does not work for you, move to the next step.
Inspect Water Reservoir Valve
The most common reason for Keurig not making enough coffee is that something interferes with the valve. If this happens, the brewer will not be able to perform the necessary functions properly. Take a look at the valve that connects the water tank to the machine. Make sure it’s clear of debris. If you notice any buildup on the tip of the valve or see anything blocking the flow of water, clean it off.
Open the reservoir lid, and take something like a turkey baster. Suck out some water and gently blow it into the top side of the black nozzle under the water reservoir. Do this a few times, this should remove any blockage in the valve. Close the lid and wait about 5 minutes before trying again.
Run Descaling Cycle
If you find mineral deposits on your Keurig water reservoir valve, it is possible these minerals also built up inside your brewer. As a result, your brewer may not be able to brew full-cup coffee. Slow dispense can also be caused by this.
To remove these mineral deposits, you must descale your machine. I recommend you should descale it every 3 to 6 months. If you use Hard Water (high minerals water), then you should descale it more frequently. A low-cost water testing kit can help you determine whether your water is hard.
Keurig has manufactured its own descaling solution that works with all models or other coffee makers. You can buy the solution individually or as a package that comes with rinse pods and filters to make it easy to keep your Keurig clean. Follow the instructions on the package.
If you have not descaled for more than 6 months or have very hard water, you need to descale twice.
Clean Obstructions From Exit Needle
The exit needle is the piece of your machine that punctures the k-cup. When this needle becomes clogged or dirty, it will cause your coffee to come out half full.
If you own a Keurig 2.0 model you can use the Orange Needle Maintainance Tool to unclog the needle. If you have a different Keurig model, use a paper clip to remove debris from the needle.
Here’s how to do it:
- Turn off the power (unplug) and remove the water reservoir from your Keurig.
- Eject the pod holder and take out the funnel from the pod holder.
- Straighten one end of a paper clip and insert it into the bottom hole of the pod holder. Move it for a few seconds to remove any clogs.
- Rinse the pod holder and funnel with fresh water.
- Then take a look at the entrance needle inside the brewer’s head. If you see any coffee grounds or calcium deposits, use a small brush or paper clip to clean them off gently.
- Reattach all the parts back.
- Turn Keurig ON and let it run only water brew on the 6 oz. or 8 oz. size into a measuring cup. Make sure there is no K-Cup in the cup holder. If the size you chose is the same as the amount of dispensing water in the measuring cup, this means your brewer is fixed.
Final Words
It turns out that there are several potential reasons why your Keurig might not be making a full cup of coffee. In all cases mentioned above, you’ll have a better idea if you have one of these problems, or if something else is going on with your machine. If none of the solutions in this blog post are helpful, then time to contact customer service at 1-866-901-2739.
FAQs
What To Do If Keurig Does Not Brew Full Cup After Descale?
If your Keurig is not brewing a full cup even after descaling, there may be obstructions in the needle. Cleaning out these obstructions will ensure that your water flow is clear and that you are getting the best quality possible.
How To Adjust Keurig Cup Size
Sometimes your Keurig just won’t make a full cup of coffee. There are a few reasons why this could happen, and it can be fixed easily by adjusting the settings on your machine.
If you are using the wrong size cups, try switching them out for larger or smaller cups and see if that fixes the problem.
- Select settings.
- Select preferred brew settings.
- Select the number that fits with the lid on your pod.
- Select your preferred brew size.
