Keurig coffee is supposed to be one of the most popular and convenient ways to make coffee. But sometimes, things can go wrong. And when your Keurig coffee is not strong enough, or your brand new Keurig makes watery coffee, it ruins a good start to your day.
In many cases, the Keurig watery coffee problem is due to a clogged needle, mineral or coffee bean oil buildups, or improper usage with reusable filters. Cleaning and descaling your Keurig is a great start to fixing your watery coffee.
So what can you do about your weak or watery coffee, and can you prevent it from happening again?
In this guide, I’ll show you 5 reasons why your Keurig might be making weak, watery coffee, solutions on how to fix each one, and one final solution before you consider getting rid of your machine. Let’s get started!
Use the Strong Button Most Keurig® coffee brewers come with a “strong” option. Choose this setting, and your brewer will extract an extra level of depth from your K-Cup® pod.
Why Your Keurig Is Suddenly Brewing Weak Coffee
If you’re using your favorite K-CUPS, double-check the date on them. While K-CUPS can last indefinitely when stored under the most ideal conditions, they usually have a best-before date to let you know when they will brew the freshest cup of coffee. So it’s possible that that time has come and gone.
You might also check the K-CUPS themselves to make sure they aren’t damaged. If there is some damage to the cups or the seal on the top is broken, air may have gotten inside, and the coffee is now stale.
Stale coffee can result in a weaker brew. You can try brewing with a bolder setting, but it still may have an old taste to it.
The needle may be clogged if it’s been a while since you last descaled your Keurig.
The needle punctures the K-CUP and allows hot water to flow through it from top to bottom to brew your coffee.
If it’s clogged, it can restrict the amount of water flowing through the entire K-CUP and allow water to flow over the top of it and into your cup, resulting in a weaker cup of coffee.
So it’s important that the needle is clean and makes a good puncture and seal so that the hot water can flow through the entire K-CUP to brew your coffee at the proper strength.
After conducting all recommended cleaning procedures i still had a very slow drip rate, I found a small piece of plastic in the bottom K-Cup needle punch shaft, ( it was plasic from a K-Cup). It was very difficult to see, I had to remove the K- Cup holder and using a flash light to enhance visability of the punch shaft hole and needle area. I seen a small white piece of plastic in the shaft. I took a sewing needle and carfully removed the piece of plastic K-Cup from the punch shaft. I have had coffee grounds in the upper punch shaft that interfered with proper flow. This was the first time the bottom punch was the guilty party. After removing the debris from the shaft, my 3 year old Keurig 2.0 ran like i just pulled it out of the box. Reading Keurig issues on this site has helped me resolve my problem. I wanted to pass this experience on, in the event it may help others. Coffee grounds and calcium build up are not the only flow obstructions you may come across.
You can purchase a Keurig needle cleaner. Its a simple process of turning off the Keurig, filling the little pod-sized cleaner with water, inserting it, and then opening and closing the lid at least 5 times to clean the needle. You can also remove the entire pod holder unit, being careful to not touch the needle, and the shovel tray under that. Then just rinse both with water, dry, and replace. There are YouTube videos that show how. It solved the drip I was having after a brew and sped up the brew too.
The problem started at the same time we purchased an order of Donut House K-cups online. Same brand that we have used for a couple of years. I believe the paper filter in their K-cups is now more restrictive as there is a large amount of liquid left in the used K-cup. So now we use the same K-cup for two passes on the Keurig. Usually two identical medium size settings work best. Still have to use up over 200 of the faulty Donut House K-cups and when gone no more.
Lyn F, clean both the upper and lower needle valve. See if this guide helps you out
It’s better to call toll free number on the Keurig US website or keurig canada for further assistance because if the motor or any part is removed from the coffee maker then 1 year warranty will be up. If your coffee maker warranty expires you will get a percentage discount depending on how old is your keurig coffee maker. 1 year warranty on your keurig coffee maker can be replaced free of charge.
The #1 Reason Why Your Keurig Is Making Weak Watery Coffee
FAQ
Why is my coffee coming out watery in my Keurig?
Can you adjust the water level on a Keurig?
Why is my Keurig brewing too much water?
How do you brew a weak Keurig coffee?
The easiest way to combat weak Keurig coffee is by using two pods on the lowest ounce setting your machine offers. Though these settings can vary, it’s advised to avoid brewing with the eight-ounce option whenever you can. You’re essentially just watering down your coffee since it’s the same amount of grounds regardless of how much liquid you use.
Should you use filtered water when brewing Keurig coffee?
To avoid these issues, it is highly recommended to use filtered water when brewing your Keurig coffee. If you rely on tap water for your Keurig machine, it is essential to ensure that it is drinkable and of good quality. To achieve this, consider installing a water filter in the reservoir.
Can you use unfiltered water in a Keurig?
Using unfiltered water in your Keurig machine can lead to scale buildup over time, affecting the performance and longevity of your device. Scale buildup not only impacts the taste of your coffee but also necessitates regular maintenance and potential repairs.
Why is my Keurig leaking water?
A clogged machine or needles, as well as a loose upper gasket, can cause water to escape where it’s not supposed to. Check the water reservoir: If it appears that water is leaking from the bottom of the Keurig coffee maker even when the machine isn’t being used, it’s likely the issue is with the water reservoir.