Do you have a Cuisinart coffee maker that brews that delicious fresh coffee for you? If you have had your machine for a while you may face some Cuisinart coffee maker problems and are looking to fix some common issues. Even though they are made from high-quality materials and are an extremely reputable and trustworthy company, like any other machine or home appliance, Cuisinart coffee makers are susceptible to errors and may occasionally require minor repairs.
Instead of wasting your time sending your favorite coffee machine back to the manufacturer, we have compiled some of the most common problems your coffee maker can run into, and how to fix them yourself.
Cleaning your Cuisinart Coffee Maker
First things first, make sure that your Cuisinart coffee maker is plugged-in in a working power outlet, and check if the coffee pot or basket are all in place, then inspect if all parts are in place, before attempting any fixes. Sometimes the simplest fix is to simply clean your coffee maker properly. You can find a lot of information on cleaning cuisinart coffee makers.
If a good clean does not fix your problems, read on. Remember that before getting technical and opening your machine up to take a look into the inside, always make sure you have powered your machine down, and unplugged it.
Lack of Power
A common cuisinart coffee maker problem that you may run into is a lack of power reaching the machine. This could be caused by many reasons, but the most common and easiest place to start is to examine the power cord. The power cord might be tangled or not in place, so you should try straightening it out and making sure it’s connected properly. If you think your power cable is faulty then you could try changing the power cord if it’s replaceable for your model. If a cuisinart replacement power chord is not available for your model, you may have to send your machine back to the manufacturer.
If your power chord is fine, or if a replacement part does not solve the issue, there may be another problem internally. While coffee makers are not too complicatedly wired, you are best off not to fiddle around with the internal parts too much. Send your machine back to the manufacturer, or another specialist.
When it comes to power problems with appliances, prevention is always the best way forward. Take good care of your coffee maker by making sure you never twist or fold any chords, and roll them up loosely instead.
Metallic or bitter tasting coffee
Inevitably, your coffee might start having a metallic or weird taste to it, the reason for this is the metal coffee pot getting dirty. This is an easy fix, all you need is to pour some diluted vinegar into the pot, maybe a de-calcium product, and afterwards, run clean water after using the solution several times to get rid of any that might be left behind.
If you are a new user to coffee making machines, you might run into this problem. All you need is to check your beans and use a paper coffee filter. You must try different methods and different amounts of beans to water ratios.
Brewing does not start/does not finish completely
If your machine powers on normally, but does not start brewing, or finish brewing an entire pot of coffee, with water remaining in the bin, but the machine reporting that it has finished brewing, then you might have to resort to vinegar again. This Cuisinart coffee maker problem is often caused by a calcium build up causing a blockage. So with a diluted vinegar solution, flush out the machine by pouring it with where you would pour your water, and that should help clear the blockage and get your machine running again!
Water boiling off to steam instead of hot water
One of the more annoying Cuisinart coffee maker problems is that occasionally your water may boil off to steam instead of hot water for your coffee. This issue is caused by overflowing the grounds basket, and the grounded beans getting down in the water reservoir. Those grounds then get trapped at a certain valve that doesn’t allow the water to be heated properly into hot water. This is a difficult fix and requires some tools and time to fix it. First, you may need either a torx-10 security
This is a difficult fix and requires some tools and time to solve. First, you may need either a torx-10 security screwdriver, or a drill. By using the screwdriver, remove the screws holding the bottom on, or use the drill to reverse them back out. After doing so, remove the right hand hose at the bottom of the reservoir, and rinse it. If you find that hose stuck to the metal, cut the hose as close to the metal as possible, then sand off the rubber residue. This will save you from having to buy a new rubber hose.
Afterwards, Use a screwdriver to push out the check valve out of the hose, and be careful, there is a small ball attached to the hosed made out of plastic. Next, get out all the coffee grounds stuck inside the valve, rinse it out, and put the whole bottom back together.
Leaky lid or coffee spilling over the counter
This is another common problem that happens due to either the lid being broken, or it being clogged. If it is broken, you need to buy a new thermal lid for your model. If it is clogged, which it most probably is because of the dust and coffee oil that gets in it after a while of use, then just soak it in hot soapy water during the day. Then rinse it with hot water in every whole and in all directions with full pressure.
Cuisinart is a great coffee maker brand, and luckily it does not often have faults. If you do have a Cuisinart coffee maker problem and need a fix, hopefully this article will help you. If you have another issue, please post below, so we can add your problem to our list!