- Slow Water Flow
Coffee requires a steady water flow in order to be properly made. Sometimes, however, the flow of water is restricted to a small trickle, usually due to blockage or water clogging. In many instances, this can be quickly solved by checking the tube for any possible obstructions and then carefully taking them out. However, in certain cases, the coffee maker’s timer or pump valve may be at fault, in which case it’ll probably require a professional repair job to regain its functionality.
- Milk Not Heating up Properly
Milk is another essential ingredient for any coffee lover who doesn’t want his cup of Joe to be served straight black. But being an organic compound, milk differs quite a bit from brand to brand as far as fat and protein levels are concerned. So if your milk isn’t coming out very creamy or heating up correctly and you’ve recently switched brands, this could be the cause. Otherwise, the coffee maker in itself might be at fault, requiring a good clean and recalibration to ensure that milk comes out nice and frothy and at perfect temperature levels. Be sure to do some adequate troubleshooting in order to determine the cause of your milk-related problems and, if all else fails, take your coffee maker to a dedicated professional.
- The Brewed Coffee Doesn’t Stay Warm for Long
When you’re serving coffee in large quantities or for a number of people, keeping it warm for prolonged periods of time is a must. Unfortunately, many coffee makers run into difficulties with this aspect, primarily due to defects in their heating elements. If this occurs, you may find your coffee going stale rather quickly. A good way to counteract this is to use an electrical tester that can check the correct functioning of the device from start to finish. But sometimes it can be as simple as checking that the ’Keep Warm’ switch is in the right position and ensuring that no one at the office messes with it.
- Leakage and Dripping
A big hassle with some coffee makers lies in their inability to contain their water properly. This can result in unwanted dripping, leaks and may sometimes lead to mild burning if the person manipulating the machine isn’t careful. The problem typically originates in the appliance’s tubing system, and can either result in water leakage or excessive steam build-up that then turns into moisture. In both cases, start by checking the tubing and see if any of the tubes shown signs of damage or are excessively loose.
- Weird Noises Coming from the Machine
Last but not least, who among us hasn’t had the privilege of hearing our coffee makers produce sounds that seem to be emanating from the bowels of hell? While the actual cause of such issues depends on the sound itself, a harsh metallic sound is typically the result of dirt or mineral build-up, while a clicking noise may mean that the machine is glitching in some way. A good clean is the first line of defence in all such cases, but if the problems persist, it might be time to call in an expert.
In addition to the problems we’ve detailed so far, it’s also worth mentioning that the differences between coffee maker types usually result in different problems occurring. For example, espresso machines tend to have difficulties with proper grinding, whereas capsule coffee machines are prone to clogging due to use of improper cup sizes. Needless to say, becoming knowledgeable about the pros and cons of your own coffee maker is a must if you want to avoid these issues and maximize your return on it.
That concludes our quick overview of the top issues affecting most coffee maker models. As you can see, many of these issues are relatively easy to address as long as you know what to do. Of course, if you feel like the problem exceeds your capabilities, do not hesitate to enlist the services of a professional who has both the tools and the know-how to bring your machine up to speed. You’ll be thanking yourself later.