While I still think that Hamilton Beach FlexBrew coffee maker is an incredible way to get the best of both worlds – it acts as a drip coffee maker, and a single serve coffee maker at the same time – there are undoubtedly some issues that need to be taken care off regarding functionality.
In most cases, these are just minor errors, and they can be easily fixed, so there’s no need to worry – with a little help from this troubleshooting guide, you’ll be able to solve these Hamilton Beach FlexBrew K-cup problems on your own.
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Hamilton Beach FlexBrew K-Cup Problems: Common Issues
You know that panicky feeling you get when a brand new appliance you just bought suddenly starts to act up or stops working altogether? I know that feeling, I’ve experienced it before, and all I can say is: it’s the worst.
And that’s precisely the reason why I’ve decided to write this article – so that you can have a place to turn to for advice in case you notice something’s not quite right with your Hamilton Beach FlexBrew coffee maker.
Let’s see what the most common problems are and what you can do to fix them.
Coffee Is Watered Down When Using The K-Cup Side
One of the issues you may experience when using the K-cup side of the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew coffee maker is that the coffee it makes turns out watery and not-so-great taste-wise. The carafe side works great, so what seems to be the issue, then?
Assuming that you’re using the right coffee pods, and the unit itself isn’t faulty, the reason behind your coffee being watered down could be the fact that you’re not using it correctly. Next time you want to brew a cup of coffee, pay close attention to two things. First off, make sure you inserted the coffee pod (K-cup) correctly; if you don’t, it won’t get punctured at the bottom.
Another thing to keep an eye on is the lever – you need to push it all the way down, so it punches the top of the K-cup; otherwise, you’ll be left with a cup full of nothing more than hot water.
The Piercing Nozzle Gets Clogged And Now It Won’t Dispense Water
Another common issue you may experience with the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew K-cup side is that the unit stops dispensing water entirely. Everything’s in place, the appliance is turned on and seems to be running, but not a single drop is coming out – what now?
You can find the solution to this problem in the Use and Care Guide for your Hamilton Beach appliance. Since I already figured this one out, I’m going to tell you what to do and how to fix it – don’t worry, it doesn’t take more than a paperclip to do so. Of course, you can always check out the user manual yourself – here’s the link.
If this has happened to you, turn off your coffee maker, unplug it, and wait for it to cool down enough for you to be able to get in there. Once it does, remove the K-cup holder entirely and, using the straightened out paper clip, clean out any coffee build-up by inserting it directly into the piercing nozzle. Of course, you can always use a flashlight if you’re not quite sure what you’re doing.
Brewing A K-Cup Leaves A Coffee Sediment In Your Mug
When you brew coffee using the carafe side, everything seems fine, but when you opt for brewing a cup using the K-cup side, you notice some coffee sediment at the bottom of your mug. If you’re wondering why this keeps happening and what to do about it, keep on reading.
The first thing you should check is the coffee ground you’re using – maybe you’ll need to switch to a more coarsely ground and see if that fixes the issue. Also, another thing to keep an eye on is the hinged lid on the brew basket; you have to make sure you’re closing it properly.
If none of these methods seem to give results, don’t worry, I have another trick up my sleeve. Buy regular, cone-shaped coffee filters and place one inside the brew basket whenever you’re using the K-cup side of the unit. That should fix your problem.
If the reason behind the coffee sediment is the K-cup bursting, keep on reading – it’s the next Hamilton Beach FlexBrew K-cup problem I’m addressing.
Single-Serve Packs (K-Cups) Burst Every Time
I think we can all agree that this isn’t something you should deal with as a single-serve coffee maker owner; after all, you did get a coffee maker for its convenience. This issue is somewhat related to the previous one – if a K-cup bursts, you’re probably going to be left with a lot of unwanted coffee grounds in your mug.
So, what are you supposed to do when it does, in fact, happen? Is it something that can easily be fixed? Stick around to find out.
To solve this problem, you have to understand why it occurs in the first place. As in most cases, the first thing you should check is the brew basket or, to be precise, the way you’re placing the K-cup into the holder. Here’s why:
When it’s not appropriately positioned, the pressure will cause the entire coffee pod to burst.
However, if you don’t think you’re the one causing that, it might just be the single-serve packs you’re using. With so many options available on the market, you can’t expect that they all share the same level of quality. The solution is rather simple – all you need to do is give a different brand a try.
The Single-Serve Side Keeps Overflowing
The solution here depends on where the overflowing occurs, so I’m going to divide this into two sections. Take a look:
● Overflowing From The Cup – Maybe there’s some leftover water in the reservoir from the previous time you used the coffee maker; even a tiny amount is more than enough to cause an overflow. If you think that might be the case, just remove the K-cup holder, and press the Brew Now button. That should do the job.
Another proven way to prevent overflowing is using the same cup you used to fill the water tank, in the first place.
● Overflowing From The Brew Basket – While Hamilton Beach FlexBrew’s single-serve side does support the use of ground coffee, you have to make sure you’re using the right ground – finely ground coffee will usually cause an overflow.
Another possible cause would be using too much coffee for a single brew, so, as you can guess, the solution is pretty straightforward: use less coffee. The maximum amount of coffee you should use on the single-serve side of the unit is around three tablespoons. Add more, and you’re in for an overflow.
Conclusion
I think it’s time to wrap things up – I’ve covered the most common issues you could face as a Hamilton Beach FlexBrew coffee maker.
Don’t get discouraged by the number of problems listed in the article, though. As you can see, all of these issues can easily be solved, and, more often than not, all you’ll need will be a simple paper clip.
What are some Hamilton Beach FlexBrew K-cup problems you came across? Leave a comment below, and maybe we can work out some solutions together.
