If your coffee is running slow or not at all then you probably have a problem with a clogged Keurig needle. If not maintained properly and often, your machine will misfunction at some point. The main reason for that is coffee grounds that build up in your Keurig needle. It can also be a minerals build up from tap water. Cleaning a clogged needle doesn’t have to be a hard process so we are gonna show you how to do it simple and fast. The plugged needle shouldn’t give you much of a headache if you clean it properly and often.
Before we get to a solution for clogged needles let’s see how making a coffee with you Keurig works.
In your Keurig, there are two needles that work at the same time. They both puncture, one from the bottom and one from the top. The top needle punctures the top wrapper and the bottom one punctures the bottom when the pod is inserted and closed. When your coffee is not pouring well, it’s because of one of the needles not puncturing well. So the coffee that you add to your pot won’t get enough extraction. It can either be a bent or plugged needle that sends coffee beans to the top needle getting it clogged. Since water doesn’t have where to go, it goes back bringing unwanted things back to the needle.
How to diagnose the problem?
As previously mentioned, there should be holes on the top and the bottom of your pod. Check if holes are there. If the bottom hole is missing you need to fix the bottom needle. If the bottom needle is bent you need to straighten it out. But be careful since it could easily snap. Also, when you force a removable cup into it, the bottom needle can get broken. You can always replace a holder at a very affordable price.
Sometimes it’s not the clogged needle that makes a problem. It can also be a faulty cup. Chech if maybe the filter is plugged. You can check if it’s a needle or a cup by removing the cup and running one water cycle. If nothing pours it’s the needle problem.
Cleaning the needle
What you need for cleaning a needle depends on the type of Keuring you have. You need a paper clip to do it on and if you have Keuring 2.0 use this cleaning tool.
First, turn off the power for safety reasons before cleaning your needle. Fill the cleaning tool with water. Then, replace K-cup with a cleaning accessorize and open the (and close) lid on your Keurig. Water will go through the exit needle and clean it. Remove the cleaning tool cup and turn on the machine. Run the brew several times without the pod in the machine. Make sure that lit is closed. You will know that needle is clean when the cup is filled up to its normal level. If it’s still not working properly repeat the process.
Another way to unclog your Keuring needle is using a paper clip. Straighten up the paper clip so you can use its tip point. Again, you need to turn off the power and remove the K-cup from the holder. You will see little holes on the needle so use your paper clip to clean each of them. When those holes are plugged water is not coming through them. When you dislodge the stuff stuck in the needle, hot water may run through. Be careful not to burn yourself since water is under pressure.
Then, close the lid and run a few brew cycles again without a pod in the machine. You will need to put a cup underneath for the water to run to. Check if the water is running properly and if you see any coffee grounds, dirt, or anything else unclogged from the needle.
How to maintain a Keurig needle?
It’s always better to prevent the problem from happening than to resolve it. So in case you were wondering how to prevent needle clogging here are a few simple steps. This will also help your machine to last longer and work properly.
Water contains small particles that can build up in your machine and potentially clog it. To ensure this doesn’t happen you can protect your water reservoir with a water filter.
Another thing you should do from time to time is descaling your machine. You will know that it’s time to descale when you notice white flakes in your coffee. This means that there is a scale build-up that needs to be removed from your machine. Doing this process periodically will prevent clogging and extend the life of your coffee maker.
Running rinse water cycles will clean coffee grounds in time before they build up and plug your Keurig needle. This is one of the easy and great steps to maintain your machine and have it work properly in the long run.
Use fresh, cold water to clean the water tank often to avoid build-up of any kind. Softened water is much better to use than tap water since it can be very hard.
Conclusion
Whether you do this with the Keurig Maintainance tool or you chose to use a paper clip, it’s good to know how to clean your coffee maker. Maintain Keurig machine every month to avoid clogging and unwanted misfunctions.
If you want to replace your old coffee maker or get your first one, here you can find a list of Keurig coffee makers. When looking for a good coffee maker, make sure that it fits your space, has a reservoir big enough for your needs, and can produce your daily coffee demands. Also, check if your electrical outlet is close to a place where you want to put a coffee maker. Do a little search to see what coffee makers are the best for the type of coffee that you drink so that you can get the perfect taste you like.
Enjoying your morning coffee should not be interrupted by the machine problems so we hope this article helps with preventing and solving these issues.
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