Is Your Keurig Dripping Slowly? 7 Common Reasons With Simple Solutions!

What is the first thought that you have in your mind when you get up in the morning? Mine is having a good and quick coffee that can keep me going for all the day long. But what if my Keurig does not work or it drips my coffee very slowly? My mood and vibe will be killed and I will feel annoyed and irritated. But I will share all the possible reasons and their solutions of why your coffee is coming out very slowly from your Keurig with my personal experience. So let’s just not waste more time and dig into it.

7 Reasons why is your Keurig dripping slowly?

There can be multiple reasons that might be causing blockage in the waterline of your Keurig that will be resulting in slow dripping of your coffee. We will discuss a few of the main reasons here to give you a better idea on how to deal with those issues.

Problem 1: Clogged puncturing needle

Keurig has two puncturing needles; the upper and the bottom one. Water reaches your cup when these needles make a hole inside the pod. But if they get clogged with coffee grounds then they will not be able to make proper holes which will ultimately result in slow dripping of Keurig. So, the puncture needle will not allow your coffee to drip at the speed that it usually does. Or there might be a coffee clot clogged in the needle.

Solution: Clean the needle

You just need to clean the puncturing needle with the help of a paperclip, a toothpick or a sewing needle. Use these pointed objects to clean any clogged coffee or debris from the needles and your machine will start working again properly.

Problem 2: Water Line Blockage

Another reason behind the slow dripping of your coffee can be the lime or scale build up in the passage from where water reaches your cup. Because there is a possibility that the machine is brewing coffee at the normal speed but it is not reaching your cup at the same speed.

Solution: Clean the water line

Clean the waterline of your machine to get rid of any lime or scale build up or coffee particles to get your coffee within minutes.

Problem 3: Keurig faulty parts or connection

Some parts of the Keurig may get damaged and there might be faulty connections inside it that are not letting you get the coffee of your choice. Or you may have turned the auto-shut mode on that is not letting your machine turn on and function properly.

Solution: Check for broken parts and connections

You simply need to check that all the connections are connected properly and there are no broken parts in your Keurig. If you find any broken part or connection then buy a replacement or call for experts.

Problem 4: Trapped coffee grounds

Trapped coffee grounds in the needle, water pump, or tubes can also be one of the reasons why your Keurig is dripping slowly.

Solution: Use burping or spanking techniques to clean your machine.

You need to place your machine upside down and hit it with your hands i.e., use the burping or spanking technique to remove any coffee grounds trapped in it.

Problem 5: Electrical fault

The wires of the Keurig may not be connected properly or your machine will not be getting enough power to drain the coffee at its normal speed.

Solution: Checking the power plug

Check the plug that you are using for your Keurig and see whether your machine is getting enough power supply or not. Plugging in and out can also solve your problem.

Problem 6: Clogged water reservoir

The water reservoir can also get clogged due to the lime or scale build up that will affect the flow of water and eventually your Keurig will drip slowly.

Solution: Cleaning the water reservoir or descaling

Detach the water reservoir and clean it thoroughly to remove any lime or scale build up. Place it under running water and then clean thoroughly with a damp cloth. Wait till it tries and reattach it. Your problem may have gone. But if it still persists then you need to descale your Keurig. There are a lot of descaling solutions available in the market you can use them or if you don’t have them you can simply use equal ratios of water and vinegar to descale your machine. Add mixture of water and vinegar in your machine and start brewing until the machine says add water. Add more water and run 10-12 cycles. Rinse and clean and your descaling is completed.  

Problem 7: Overfilling or using wrong pods

If you have tried all the above techniques but still did not get satisfying results then there may be a problem with your water and pods. You may not be using the right pods as per Keurig’s recommendations or if this is not the case then you may be not using the right water. Yeah you heard me right! Keurig recommends using hard water or a balanced one. Using too soft water can hinder the performance of your machine. Besides this, if you have filled the water reservoir more than the recommended level then you can also face the issue of spilling or slow dripping.

Solution:  Use the right pods and water and don’t overfill

Use the right pods and don’t use water that is too soft. Besides this, always fill the water reservoir up to the mentioned mark.

Also read: Keurig Troubleshooting: How to fix 30+ common problems

Why is my Keurig still dripping slowly?

If you have followed all the above given solutions but still did not get any satisfactory results regarding your Keurig dripping then I would suggest you call the Keurig officials to get their services to check out the problem in your machine. Though Keurig is a very good brand, if something goes wrong in it, the fix is not that easy. So, experts can find out the problem and solve it in a better way. And once the problem is identified you may need to buy a replacement part or a whole new machine depending on the problem.

But if you think that you can still give it a shot and disassemble and reassemble your Keurig head on your own then just open the four screws present on the Keurig head. You will get access to the water pipe and if there are still some scale or lime build up left then you can clean it and reassemble your Keurig to see if it works without getting the help of experts.

Why is my Keurig so loud?

Keurig coffee makers normally make some noise while brewing your coffee but if you hear a very loud noise coming out of your machine then it is not normal. Few reasons behind the loud noise coming out of your Keurig are as follows:

1. Uneven surface of placement

If your Keurig is not placed on a smooth or even surface then you may hear the rattling sound coming out of it. Besides this, if it is placed on a hard surface like a tile or graphite then the hitting of a machine on that surface will also create a sound. You can solve this issue by placing your machine on a mouse pad or styrofoam or can attach sticky rubber circles under your machine to create a gap between the surface and your machine. This will also eliminate unnecessary sound.

2. Mineral Deposits clogged in Keurig

Calcium and minerals are present in all sorts of water whether you are using tap or bottled water. The only difference is that the tap water will have more calcium and minerals in it as compared to the bottled water. These minerals build up in the reservoir of your machine and block it. You can get rid of this issue by descaling or cleaning your machine properly.

3. You are using older model of Keurig

Another reason behind the loud noise from your Keurig is that it may not have the updated “noise free brew technology” introduced in the advanced models of Keurig by the company. So, if the problem persists after descaling and transferring your machine on a smooth surface then you may need to replace your machine.

4. Broken pump

A broken pump may also result in loud noise coming from your Keurig machine and you can solve this issue by getting a replacement for your machine. If your pump has broken within one year of your Keurig purchase then you can get the replacement for free. Otherwise, you have to buy the pump.

Do Keurig’s have a reset button and how to reset it?

Usually people think of resetting their Keurig once they find any issue in it because resetting seems to be the most easy option to eliminate issues. But Keurig does not have any visible resetting button that you can press to reset your Keurig. But you can reset your Keurig by these methods:

1. If you unplug your Keurig for 5 minutes then it will automatically be resetted.
2. Your brewing cycle will be reset if you open and close the K-cup holder.

Why is my Keurig giving only half a cup of coffee?

Suppose you have selected a cup size of 12 oz but your Keurig is only giving you half of its size then your water pump needs to be descaled or it must be clogged. You can unclog your Keurig by the methods given above but the step by step instructions to descale your Keurig are as follows:

1. Empty the water reservoir and remove the pod.
2. Turn off the brewer and auto-off mode.
3. Put one bottle of descaling solution in the water reservoir.
4. Add an equal amount of water in the water reservoir.
5. Place a mug under the dispensing point.
6. Brew and discard the water until the water reservoir gets empty.
7. Now let the Keurig sit for half an hour.
8. Add fresh water upto the mentioned limit and run 12 cycles.
9. Rinse and clean.
10. Your Keurig is ready to use again.

Also read: A Complete Guide for Keurig Cup Size

What to do if my Keurig coffee does not taste good?

Keurig has changed the whole game of coffee making by introducing the easiest way by which you can get your coffee within minutes. But sometimes, you may not get the taste of your desire from your Keurig and there are multiple reasons behind it. I will try to discuss each reason behind the bad taste of your Keurig coffee and will also try to give you the solution to each problem.

1. The lime, scale or oil build up in your Keurig can be one of the main reasons behind the bad taste of your coffee. You can simply clean your Keurig coffee maker and get the good taste back.
2. Bad coffee beans can also result in bad taste of your coffee so always make sure to use good quality K-cups from good companies.
3. Brewing the single K-cup multiple times can reduce the taste of your coffee so try to brew the K-cup once.
4. Quality of water can also affect the taste of your coffee so always try to use filtered water for your coffee. But if you are using tap water then filters in the Keurig can filter your water so you need to change those filters every 2 months to retain the quality of your coffee.
5. Another reason why you are not liking the taste of your coffee is that you haven’t chosen the pods as per your taste. So try to buy the pods that you like. 

Also read: How to use a Keurig to get the perfectly brewed cup of coffee

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Keurig trickling?

The Keurig truckling is the cause of many reasons like clogged coffee beans, water filter not attached properly or you may not have filled the water reservoir enough.

Also read: How to Make Espresso With Keurig (Here’s what you need to know)

How to find out if the Keurig is clogged?

If your Keurig stops dripping or starts dripping very slowly then this is an indication that it is clogged and needs to be cleaned or descaled.

Will using vinegar unclog my Keurig?

Yes, vinegar can unclog your Keurig by adding equal amounts of water and vinegar in the reservoir and brewing it. But if you have a descaling solution then this solution can be a better option.

How to find out if Keurig needs descaling?

It is recommended to descale your Keurig every 3-6 months but if you do not do so you will see a descaling light on your Keurig that will turn on to tell you that descaling is needed.

How many cycles does it take to clean vinegar from Keurig?

You should run at least 3 cycles with fresh water after brewing and cleaning all the vinegar to remove any remains of vinegar left in your machine. 

How do you clean the valve on a Keurig?

The valve plays a very vital role in making yout coffee as it maintains the temperature of your Keurig by rekeasing the steam. You can clean the valve by opening the machine head and removing the 45° elbow. Pull the valve and clean it to remove any dust particles trapped in the valve and place it back.

Can you reuse vinegar after descaling?

The vinegar used for descaling can only be reused for the same purpose but you cannot use it for cooking purposes.

Does baking soda clean a Keurig?

Yes, you can use baking soda to clean your Keurig and you simply need to add ⅓ cup of baking soda in the reservoir and fill the remaining space with water and run the cycles.

Can I descale my Keurig with just water?

Yes, you can descale your Keurig by adding fresh water in the water reservoir and then pressing the brew button. Keep on changing the drip tray and brewing until the reservoir is empty. You will get rid of scale or lime build up by this technique.

How often should I change the Keurig filter?

You should change the Keurig filter after every 60 tank refills or after every 2 months.

Can I leave my Keurig on for the whole night?

Yes, you can do it if you want but by doing so your coffee may wear out. So try to keep your Keurig on only when you are using it.