Keurig Coffee Maker Problems

by Philip on June 22, 2011

Keurig machines overall have a stellar reputation as working for a long time (personally I’ve been using the same machine for over 2 years with no apparent decline in quality). However, there are some potential Keurig coffee maker problems that you may want to be aware of ahead of time. Like any piece of machinery, over time there are common issues that have arisen over and over.

The biggest problems with Keurig coffee makers seems to be with the water pump system, which is also the hardest working part of the machine. The pump that pulls the water from the water source through the coffee works extremely hard, meaning that it can go, and go hard. If the pump stops working, the water may never go through the coffee. If it springs a leak, you may see a little water go through, or in some models the water can actually flow back into the storage tank, turning it into a coffee/water mix. You also may see excess water buildup if the pump is pulling too much water through, which occasionally happens. These are especially true with the B60 model, which has a tank of water on the left side of the machine. Many Keurig B60 coffee maker problems stem from pump issues.

Keurig Coffee Maker Not Working

If the machine just completely shuts down on you, then you may be better off just replacing the machine. There are quite a few parts to this machine, and when it just dies, it could easily be a wiring issue, or some other power issue. Either way, it’s much easier to get it replaced. To Keurig’s credit, they are very good about replacing broken machines. Many companies today try to get around their service warranties as much as they can, but Keurig seems to be focused on customer service, which is great. It can be frustrating if you are replacing multiple machines though.

Keurig Coffee Maker Troubleshooting

The instructions come with a few tips on what to do if the machine seems to stop responding to anything. The display simply says ‘Not Ready’ and won’t change whatever you do, leading to the dread ‘Not Ready’ error that you may read about online. There are a couple parts of the machine, notably the area around the needle that pierces the cups and the holder for the cups themselves, that can get dirty and can benefit from a thorough cleaning which may solve your problems. But often that alone won’t fix it.

So what to do if you have a Keurig coffee maker not working? Follow the hints in the book, but quite often it requires a replacement from the company. The machine itself is in an odd spot. It costs $200, meaning it’s not cheap to repurchase, but it’s also cost prohibitive to try and repair it. As a result, Keurig’s choice in the past has often been to just send people a coupon for an amount of money off the purchase price of a new machine. Some people love that option, and some don’t, but it’s the best they seem to be doing at this time.

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How to Make Espresso

by Philip on June 22, 2011

Even moreso than coffee, espresso is the kind of drink that has an entire art and culture built up around it. Baristas and enthusiasts alike can often talk about the little tips and tricks that they’ve learned about brewing espresso for a very long time. The actual technique of brewing espresso is simple, but it’s playing with that art that makes it a lesson to learn over a long period of time. Let’s look at how to make espresso, and see if we can pull the technique out of the art, so you have a solid foundation of how to make it.

How to Make Espresso At Home

The best way to start is to get scientific. You’re going to want a solid baseline to begin experimenting with, and only once you’ve nailed that down should you experiment. A good place to begin is to say that a double shot of espresso should equal somewhere between 2 and 2.5 ounces, and should take about 20 to 25 seconds to extract. This is not a magic number – you may hear other people start at different places. But for our purposes, start here. Master pulling an espresso shot within these guidelines, and once you know by heart how to do it, and what it tastes like, you can begin testing other variations.

Home espresso machines are fairly simple to use, usually coming with clear instructions and simple machinery. There are a few tricks to keep aware of. Ideally, the machine should heat the espresso to about 190-195 degrees, the ideal temperature for coffee brewing of any kind. Cheaper machines may not quite get there, which will leave you with a somewhat weakened cup, but that can be managed if necessary. The best drinking temperature is about 160-165 degrees. To help it maintain that temperature, many professional baristas will heat the cup beforehand so it doesn’t suck too much heat from the espresso as it pours in. This is a good habit to get into.

How to Make Espresso Drinks

Your machine will probably have a steamer to steam milk, unless it’s a very basic machine. The addition of milk, steamed and otherwise, will allow you to make lattes, cappuccinos, and variations thereof. Depending on the drink it may ask for anywhere from 2.5-5 ounces of milk. The machine likely has a recipe book to help guide you.

How to Make Espresso without a Machine

If you don’t have an espresso machine, then you could also use a moka pot, which is a special stovetop device that will brew the coffee by forcing boiling water through a compact pack of coffee. It takes longer than a full machine, but it has a long history and can actually brew some pretty potent espresso. It’s much cheaper and easier to clean than a full machine, and so could be an excellent alternative.

There are many different plans to follow when learning how to make espresso coffee. By following any of them, you’ll be on your way to brewing a mean shot.

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Caffeine in Coffee

June 15, 2011

TweetCoffee is best known as a powerful source of caffeine to help wake you up in the morning. But how much caffeine is there in an average cup of coffee? And how much caffeine in coffee is too much? Is it something that should worry the average coffee drinker? Thankfully, the overall answer is no, [...]

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Health Benefits of Coffee

June 15, 2011

TweetCoffee is one of those foods that seems to get conflicting health reports every year or so. Scientists and doctors report that coffee is not something you should drink, and then a few months later a separate report concludes that it is extremely healthy. This is somewhat subjective, as there are benefits and problems with [...]

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Keurig Coffee Maker Reviews

June 15, 2011

TweetThe Keurig coffee maker is a single cup brewer that has made waves in offices and homes around the country over the past several years. It is admitted simple to use: you choose the pod of coffee you want, put your cup in the machine, and press start. You have a cup of coffee in [...]

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Are There Many Calories In Cream?

June 7, 2011

TweetAs discussed in the article that broke down the calories in coffee and coffee based drinks, cream and sugar the two prime sources of calories, and not the coffee itself. But how many calories are there in cream exactly? Are there fewer calories in half and half? Are they healthy or nutritional calories? Cream itself [...]

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Kopi Luwak

May 18, 2011

TweetKopi Luwak coffee is currently the most expensive coffee produced in the world, selling for between $100-600 US dollars. It’s known as being some of the most flavorful and least bitter coffees on the market, and is highly desirable as such. It’s not widely available though, even considering it’s high price. This is probably because [...]

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Viking Coffee Maker

May 10, 2011

TweetIf you’re not entirely familiar with the Viking coffee maker, don’t be surprised. Viking has only made a few models of drip coffee machines as a part of their overall kitchen collection. Viking is known for sleek, stainless steel designs to their kitchenware, and their coffee maker is no exception. The models they’ve released are [...]

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Today in Coffee News: 5/10/2011

May 10, 2011

TweetI like to start these news reports off slowly, gently folding you into the gentle caress of the daily beat like a baby in her warm little blanket. But there’s little times for comforts or formalities today. USA Today is reporting that if you have a brain aneurysm, coffee and sex are two factors that [...]

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Today in Coffee News: 5/4/2011

May 4, 2011

TweetToday’s coffee update is brought to you by Cuba, and if it seems a little more bitter than usual, it’s not just your imagination. The Cuban government has announced that it has begun adding roasted peas to its coffee that is being handed out for domestic drinking. The blend is a cost saving move that [...]

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