Stop Keurig From Making Nasty Weak Coffee! 

Keurig filling coffee mug
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Being a coffee lover, having a delicious cup first thing in the morning seems like a daily ritual. Unfortunately, sometimes your Keurig can ruin your day by brewing bland and weak coffee. If you are facing a similar issue, you need not worry!

Keurig producing weak coffee can result from the machine wearing out or a maintenance issue.

Another common cause might be reusable coffee pods making the machine produce low-quality Keurig coffee.

But wait, before you think of replacing your Keurig or trashing it down the lane, you need to try a few quick fixes to bring your brewer back to normal functioning.

In this article, I’ll discuss some tips and tricks to bring your classic Keurig coffee back into your life, so without further adieu, scroll down. 

Related Read: How Does A Keurig Work? (A Practical Guide)

Key Takeaways
  • Clogged Needles, a dirty machine, cold temperature Keurig, and K-cups can lead Keurig to produce watery coffee.
  • You can temporarily fix your machine by changing the K-cup and trying different brands.
  • You can pre-heat your Keurig to reach the optimum temperature of 120C to heat the water and extract the coffee.
  • Avoid filling the cup of coffee till the last drop; it mainly includes watery coffee.
  • Using the “Strong” setting on your Keurig can add less water during coffee extraction, thus making a rich coffee.
  • Double brewing the coffee or using dark roasted beans in reusable K-cups can help you get rid of watery coffee, preparing more intense espresso.
  • Permanent fixes include cleaning the needle using a safety pin and running a cleaning and descaling cycle to remove the dirt. .

Nasty Coffee machine

Keurig Watery Coffee [Reasons & Solutions]

The most common cause of Keurig brewing watery and weak coffee is clogging and buildup. If you don’t descale and clean your Keurig brewer regularly, you must do it right away for it to produce high-quality coffee.

A dirty Keurig coffee maker means there is a high chance of it having clogged needles. The clogged puncturing needles will not properly pierce the K-cups, resulting in improper extraction and watery coffee.

Another factor affecting the taste and quality of your coffee is the water’s temperature. The optimal temperature in a Keurig lies between 195 °F – 205 °F, if the water brews the coffee at a lower temperature, the coffee will be bland and weak.

Additionally, if you are using a low-intensity flavored pod twice or double brewing the pod, it can lead your Keurig coffee to taste watery.

Quick Fixes For Watery Coffee

Here are some quick fixes to help to resolve issues of your Keurig making weak and watery coffee: 

Donut and PEEts brand coffee

Fix 1: Switch to a Different Brand of K-Cups

If you are sure the company you buy K-cups from is not much intense and flavored you can switch to a more reliable one. The most popular coffee brand is The Original Donut Shop Keurig, offering low to medium-roast coffee. 

Or, if you want a darker roast flavor you can try Peet’s Coffee.

Fix 2: Pre-Heat Your Keurig 

Running a brew cycle with only water before brewing your coffee is a valuable tip for pre-heating the coffee maker. It will prime the heating element and pre-heat your coffee mug to help you enjoy a hotter coffee.

Fix 3: Use the “Strong” setting on your Keurig

Another common yet vital point to consider is to change your coffee settings. This way, the brewer will use less water for extraction, increasing the strength and making a bolder cup of coffee.

Fix 4: Double Brew Coffee 

The double brew technique may seem intimidating, but it can improve the coffee quality and taste.

To double-brew your coffee, you first need to insert a 12 oz coffee pod and then double-brew the coffee pod, each time with a 6 oz cup setting. As a result, you will get a more robust cup of coffee.

Fix 6: Select Your Own Coffee Using K-cup Reusable Pod

You can use K-cup Reusable Pod and fill it with the coffee grounds of your choice. You can use dark-roasted coffee beans for a more flavorful and robust coffee cup.

Ensure you fill the K-cup to the max line and seal it properly for the coffee machine to brew it correctly.

coffee mugs made from different coffee pods

Permanent Fixes for Watery Coffee

If you have done everything you can to fix your Keurig, but it is still brewing weak coffee, the problem lies in Keurig coffee machine.

The following solutions will help you solve all your Keurig coffee-related issues.

Fix 1: Clean the Keurig Needles

The puncturing needles are essential in making perfectly brewed coffee, so you must consider their cleanliness. All you need is a paper clip or a safety pin. Now follow the steps, and you’ll be good to go.

First, check the user manual of your Keurig to see if you can remove the needle and then clean it.

If that doesn’t work, get a toothpick or a safety pin and smoothly run through it to grab the coffee residue. Remember that needles have sharp edges, so you must do it slowly.

If you feel it’s still clogged, you can change the needle and replace it with a new one or run a cleaning cycle.

Fix 2: Run a Cleaning Cycle 

You can use a Keurig cleaning pod to remove the dirt to run a cleaning cycle. 

  1. Plug the machine.
  2. Place a 150ml container under your machine brew head.
  3. Fill the water reservoir and place it back correctly.
  4. Insert the pod.
  5. Press the button and wait for the machine to dispense the dirty water.
  6. Rinse the machine by running a cleansing cycle.
  7. Leave the device for 10 mins to cool down. 

Fix 3: Run a Descaling Cycle 

Running a deep cleaning process or Descaling Cycle every 3-4 months or once a week helps the machine to get rid of the dirty residue or the calcium deposits stacked up and most of the problems you face with your Keurig machine.

What you will need

Method
  1. Eject the used K-cup from the coffee maker.
  2. Add the Keurig Descaling Solution into the water tank. 
  3. Add fresh water till the max line.
  4. Place a 150 ml of container on the drip tray.
  5. Switch the descaling mode on by checking the user manual of your Keurig model.
  6. Press the brew button to start the descaling process. The light blinking will indicate that the process has begun.
  7. Repeat the descaling process while holding the brew button until the “add water” indicator turns on.
  8. Once the brewer runs out of water, refill the water reservoir.
  9. Run several brew cycles to get rid of any lingering descaling solution.
  10. Let the coffee machine sit for 30 minutes.
  11. Your Keurig is ready to Brew!

Tip: If you need a descaling solution at home, make one yourself. Mix equal parts water and white vinegar and descale your Keurig with it. 

If the problem persists, call Keurig customer support to solve the issue. They will either repair your Keurig or replace it with a new one free of cost if the warranty is still valid. 

water dripping from keurig in mug

Bottom Line 

Keurig machines surpass the ease of use for brewing coffee at home, but occasionally you’ll still need to look inside and give them some TLC.

Clogged water tubing and dirty needles are commonly the reasons behind Keurig making weak coffee. Fortunately, cleaning the needle and running a brew cycle typically solves most of the Keurig customers’ issues.

If your coffee maker still makes watery coffee after trying every possible solution, it is better to contact Keurig customer service for further assistance. 

FAQS

How long do Keurig lasts?

A Keurig machine can last 2 to 5 years, depending on how well you look after it. Proper maintenance and cleaning increase the lifeline of Keurig brewers, and they keep working efficiently. 

Should you leave water in your Keurig?

You risk getting sick if you leave the water in your Keurig’s reservoir full for a few days without turning it on. Regularly refilling your Keurig with clean, filtered water is the safest way to prevent bacteria growth.

Can you use the same K-cup twice?

A K-cup is for one-time use only. When you brew a coffee pod, the coffee machine extracts all its flavors to make you the perfect cup of coffee. If you use the pod twice, you will get bland and water coffee, so I recommend doing something other than doing so. 

How often should you change a Keurig coffee filter?

According to Keurig, you must replace the filter every two months. However, changing the filter after every 60 tank refills is ideal. Alternatively, establish a routine of descaling the Keurig after every other filter replacement.

What happens if you don’t use a filter in your Keurig?

Using a filter in your Keurig brewer ensures the water is free of bacteria and minerals. It provides superior coffee quality by emitting unpleasant tastes and substances from the water. 

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