How Do You Fix A Keurig That Won’t Brew A Full Cup?

Keurig has become an irreplaceable machine in both homes and offices. They are frequently used; therefore, it is common to see faults in the Keurig. If your Keurig is not brewing the full cup, and you want to know the reason, you are at the right place.

Leakage issues are the primary cause of your Keurig not brewing full cup. Inspect the machine and find the part that is leaking and replace it. If the control panel glitches are causing the issues, reset your Keurig. Check the needles of the Keurig. If they are clogged, unclog them to fix the issue.

In this article, I will help you understand the 5 common causes and steps to fix your Keurig not brewing a full cup. So, keep reading.

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5 reasons why your Keurig won’t brew a full cup (+Fix) 

A cup of fresh coffee is essential to give a refreshing start to a day.

And a Keurig is the best option for making instant coffee. 

If a Keurig has issues brewing a full cup of coffee, it will ruin your morning routine. 

But you don’t want to keep struggling with the faulty Keurig when you can find the exact issue and address it. 

I have shared the common causes and how you can fix the issue in your Keurig.

1. Leakage issues

If your Keurig is not brewing a full cup, it may be due to leakage.

Your Keurig machine may leak at the bottom or top of the machine. 

If there are leakage issues in your Keurig, it won’t brew a full cup and also cause other issues, making brewing coffee in the Keurig less efficient. 

There are several reasons for the leakage in the Keurig.

Let’s understand how to figure out the cause and fix the issue. 

Here are some of the common causes of the leakage in your Keurig: 

  • Worn-out water reservoir seal
  • Faulty O ring
  • Damaged water tank
  • Damaged upper gasket
  • Damaged capsules
  • Heating elements issues 
  • Faulty filters

Let’s start by understanding each issue and possible fixes for the issues. 

Worn-out water reservoir seal

You can find a water reservoir seal around the valve at the base of the reservoir.

This valve opens and closes to allow and store the water in the reservoir. 

The water reservoir seal acts as a connection between the water reservoir and Keurig to facilitate the brewing of coffee and other drinks. 

In the long run, a seal can become loose or worn out, causing the machine to leak.

Keurig won’t get enough water to brew a full cup of coffee in such a case.

And a water leakage will damage the other electrical components of the Keurig. 

To fix this issue, you must replace the water reservoir seal. 

Faulty O-ring

You can find the O ring at the bottom of the water reservoir.

It helps to facilitate the water flow in the water reservoir. 

If the O-ring is damaged, there will be a leakage in the Keurig. 

You can fix this issue by replacing the O-ring.

You can call customer support Keurig to buy the replacement part. 

Damaged water tank

If the water reservoir tank is cracked, water leakage will occur at the bottom of the Keurig.

When the water tank has a small hole causing the leakage, you can use hot glue to seal the hole. 

However, if the entire water reservoir is cracked, you must replace it with a new one.

Damaged upper gasket

The gasket on the Keurig’s upper side is made of silicone and performs an important role in sealing the water hose and k-cup tight. 

If the upper gasket is damaged, it will cause water leakage in Keurig’s upper side.

In such cases, you must replace the upper gasket.

Faulty capsules

If your Keurig is not brewing the full cup, it may be due to the wrong pods you are using to brew the coffee. 

If you are using third-party pods, they may have a hardcover.

It will be difficult for Keurig to puncture the pods. 

Sometimes, the cups are fragile, causing a large puncture in the pods leading to the overflowing of coffee. 

In such cases, you must avoid using third-party pods in your Keurig.

Faulty filters

Filters are located near the water reservoir.

They leak the coffee content into your mug if broken or damaged. 

If they are faulty, they will also brew the not-so-tasty coffee. 

In such a case, you must replace the filters. 

If your Keurig is leaking, go through the causes and possible fixes to stop your Keurig from leaking.

You can also seek help from professionals to fix the issue. 

If your Keurig is still in the warranty period, you must not open the internal components of it, as it will terminate your warranty. 

2. Keurig needs a reset

If your Keurig is not brewing a full cup, it may be due to glitches in its electrical components.

If there are glitches in the control panel, your Keurig will not work as efficiently as it should. 

In such a case, you must reset the Keurig.

Resetting will help Keurig reboot and clear the minor glitches. 

Follow the steps to reset your Keurig:

The steps to reset Keurig varies depending on its model.

Let’s learn how you can reset the different models of Keurig. 

Now, we are going to learn how to reset:

  • Keurig k duo
  • Keurig 2.0
  • Keurig compact 
  • Keurig mini
  • Keurig k-supreme plus
  • Methods to reset Keurig without the display

Here is how you can reset the Keurig K duo: 

  • Plug the Keurig into the electric outlet. 
  • Turn on the Keurig by pressing the power button. 
  • Locate the 8 and 10-oz cups in the Keurig. Press and hold those two buttons for 3 seconds and release them simultaneously. 

Doing this will reset your Keurig K duo. 

Here is how you can reset Keurig 2.0:

  • Unplug the Keurig from the electric outlet. 
  • Detach the water reservoir from the Keurig. 
  • Let the Keurig detach from the electric outlet for 5 minutes. 
  • Now, turn on the power button of the Keurig after plugging in the Keurig for 5 minutes. 
  • Reattach the water reservoir, and as a final step, flip and close the k-cup holder or handle to complete the reset. 

Here is how you can reset the Keurig compact: 

  • Plug the Keurig into the electric outlet. 
  • Press the power button to turn on your Keurig. 
  • Next, access the lid of Keurig to open and close it immediately. 
  • Now, long press the power option. While long pressing the power option, press the small, medium, and large cup buttons in the same order. 
  • Now the priming function will automatically begin in the Keurig. 
  • Next, operate the Keurig accordingly to carry the desired function in your Keurig. 

Here is how you can reset the Keurig mini:

  • Plug the Keurig into an electric outlet. 
  • Flip the coffee pod lever to open and close immediately. 
  • Now, press and hold the power button to turn off the Keurig. 
  • Next, detach the Keurig power cord from the electric outlet. 
  • Plug your Keurig back into the electric outlet and turn it on. 

The reset is complete, and check if the issue is solved. 

Here is how you can reset the Keurig k supreme plus:

  • Plug the Keurig into the electric outlet. 
  • Press the power option to turn on your Keurig. 
  • Locate the arrow buttons in the control panel of the Keurig. Press and hold them for 3 seconds. 
  • Now, the next option will appear on the control panel. Press it to proceed. 
  • Select the advance option until your Keurig is factory reset.ย 
  • Press and hold the K button in the Keurig to initiate the reset. 
  • Now, your supreme plus will start the resetting procedure. 
  • After some time, there will be an indication in your Keurig to unplug it from the electric outlet. 
  • Unplug it and plug it back after 10 seconds. 

The reset is complete in your Keurig supreme plus. 

Let’s learn about different methods to reset the Keurig without a control display. 

There are two methods to reset the Keurig that doesn’t have a controlled display. 

Here is the first method to reset:

  • Unplug the Keurig from the electric outlet. 
  • Detach the water reservoir from the Keurig. 
  • Let it stay disconnected for 5 minutes. 
  • Reconnect the Keurig back to the electric outlet. 
  • Press the power on button in the Keurig to turn it on. 
  • Reattach the water reservoir to the Keurig. 

Here is the second method to reset: 

  • Unplug the Keurig from the Electric outlet. 
  • Locate the on/off button in the Keurig. Press and hold it for 3 seconds. 
  • While pressing the on/off button, plug in the Keurig to the electric outlet. 
  • Press the power button to switch on the Keurig. 

The reset is complete.

You can follow the reset method based on the model of your Keurig. 

3. The water reservoir of the Keurig is clogged

As the name suggests, the water reserve helps store the water and refill it to brew the coffee.

What if the water reservoir is clogged? 

The Keurig won’t have a smooth water flow to brew the full cup of coffee.

If that’s the case in your Keurig, you must unclog the water reservoir. 

Follow the steps below to unclog the water reservoir to facilitate the smooth flow of water. 

You will learn how to clean the water reservoir through these steps manually.

  • Unplug the Keurig from the electric outlet and keep it in a comfortable place to clean the reservoir. It is important to unplug the Keurig as you will use water around it to clean it. After unplugging it, wait until the lights on your Keurig are switched off.
  • Detach the water reservoir from the Keurig and unload it to the sink. You must empty the previous day’s water of the Keurig every day to keep it in good working condition.
  • Keep a cotton towel handy to wipe out all the excess water and dirt from the base of the Keurig. Also, clean the tray area with the towel and brush those where dirt is stubborn.
  • Take the water reservoir and fill it with vinegar or a cleaning solution. Let the water soak for 2 to 3 hours.
  • After 2 to 3 hours, clean the inside of the water reservoir with a cotton cloth. Remove the dirt and debris accumulation completely.
  • If you cannot remove the entire dirt with the cotton cloth, you can use a brush to clean the interior area of the reservoir.
  • Unload the soapy water from the reservoir and wipe out the excess moisture.
  • Let the reservoir be undisturbed for 2 hours and reattach it with the Keurig. 

Doing this will remove all the clogs in the interior and the valve. 

Plug in the Keurig and check if the issue is solved.

Or else, try the other fixes below. 

4. The magnet in the water reservoir is misaligned

The role of the magnet in the water reservoir is to sense the loading status of the water.

If the magnet in the water reservoir is misaligned, a Keurig can’t sense the amount of water in the reservoir and will start to brew the coffee or other drinks slowly. 

It will result in the Keurig not brewing the full cup. 

In such a case, you can align the magnet but don’t want to replace it.

The good news is that aligning the magnet in the water reservoir is easy. 

Follow the steps below to align the magnet in the reservoir: 

  • Unplug the Keurig from the electric outlet.
  • Detach the water reservoir from the Keurig by pulling it with your hands.
  • Now, open the lid of the water reservoir and keep it aside.
  • Insert your hands inside the reservoir and move the misaligned magnet to its original position. Fix it, thereby locking the magnet to its retaining clips.
  • Close the lid and fix the reservoir to the Keurig.
  • Plug in the Keurig. Brew your cup of coffee, and check if the issue is solved. 

5. Needles in the Keurig are clogged

If your Keurig is not brewing a full cup of coffee, it may be due to the clogged needles in the K-cup holder.

If the needles are clogged, they won’t be able to puncture the K-cup’s top and bottom to brew the coffee. 

Thus, resulting in the issue of Keurig not being able to brew the full cup of coffee. 

Follow the steps below to unclog the needles in the Keurig:

  • Unplug your Keurig from the electric outlet to avoid electrical hazards.
  • Open the lid of the Keurig to access the K-cup holder.
  • You can find a funnel attached to the K-cup holder.
  • Twist the holder to separate the two parts of the K-cup holder.
  • The bottom of the K-cups is placed on the funnel to puncture it. Detach it from the holder.
  • Now, take the K-cup holder and turn it upside down. Keep the paper clip handy to insert it inside the hole to unclog the needle and another area of the hole. 
  • Next, run the soapy water or the vinegar solution to clean the entire holder and the funnel.
  • Next, there will be a needle below the Keurig lid. Unclog it using the paper clip.
  • Reattach the holder and the funnel. Reposition it to the keurig.
  • Plug it into the electric outlet. Brew the coffee and check if the issues are solved. 

Final thoughts

If Keurig is not brewing the full cup, it may be due to several reasons. One of the important reasons would be not taking proper care of it. It is necessary to descale your Keurig once a month. If you do not clean the Keurig, it may unclog and brew bad coffee. 

There are 5 common reasons your Keurig is not brewing the full cup of coffee. One of the important issues would be leakage issues. Other common reasons are not resetting your Keurig, a Clogged reservoir, and a clogged needle. 

If this is not the case in your Keurig, it may also occur due to electrical issues. Check the electrical connection and fix the issues. Before trying out the other fixes, consider resetting your Keurig to see if the issue is just the glitches in the electric components of the Keurig.

Related articles:

Why does my Keurig stop brewing after a few seconds?

If your Keurig stops brewing after a few seconds, the water tank may not be positioned correctly. Turn the machine off, position the water tank correctly, and then use the Keurig.

Why did my Keurig suddenly stop working?

Your Keurig can suddenly stop working if you use the wrong pods. Check the pods and use the right ones. Another reason may be that your Keurig is clogged. You will need to clean the machine before using it.


Reference: Keurig Official Manual.

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Jeniffer Smith

Hi, I am Jeniffer Smith, a housemaker and blogger, and I grew up in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. I have been researching and fixing appliances and other things around the home and kitchen from a young age to help my single mother. Every time something went wrong, I couldn't rest until I fixed it. And ever since, I have enjoyed fixing things around my home, and I am always ready to help my friends and family with advice and hands-on help. Since we were always looking for affordable ways of fixing things, we rarely hired experts and tried to fix most things ourselves. That interest brought me to write for this blog, as I realized my knowledge could help many people trying to fix things around their homes on their own without spending hundreds of dollars.

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