My Coffee Maker Won't Percolate

Your coffee maker is an important appliance, and its reliability is key if you need your morning cup to jump-start your day. If your coffee machine won't percolate, you won't be able to enjoy the delicious hot beverage you crave each day. Depending on the brand and model of the appliance you have, you may be able to troubleshoot this sort of issue. In other situations, you may need to contact the manufacturer or purchase a new coffee maker.

Never attempt to troubleshoot your coffee maker while it is hot. If you have recently brewed coffee, allow the hot plate to sit for at least an hour before you try to touch the appliance.

You should always move the carafe off the hot plate before troubleshooting, since it could slip and fall as you move the coffee maker around.

In addition, it's best to troubleshoot with the machine unplugged to as great an extent as possible. This can work for checking the fill line in the water reservoir and ensuring that your outlet is functioning by using another appliance to test it. However, for much of the process, you will need your coffee maker plugged in, since you'll be checking its settings.

Percolation is the act of allowing a liquid to pass through a permeable substance. In the case of coffee, the water is passed over and through coffee grounds and then through the filter. This is what drips into the carafe and what you drink. As such, if your coffee maker is not percolating, the problem could be due to the appliance or due to the setup of the necessary elements.

It's also possible that you have a true percolator, which is a slightly different type of appliance. However, you can follow similar troubleshooting techniques for a percolator, since heating elements, cords and water levels are still relevant areas for concern.

First, check to be sure that the coffee filter basket is set straight in its channel and that the lid can close all the way. Verify that there is water in the reservoir and that the switch on the appliance is set to "on." Test the outlet by plugging in an appliance that you know works well. This will also let you know if your circuit breaker has tripped.

If you are still not able to get the coffee maker to percolate, check the cord on the unit to be sure it is not fraying. If there is any damage to the cord, you should immediately dispose of the coffee maker. Also check the hot plate once the machine has been turned on for several minutes by dropping 1 tablespoon of water onto it, as the water should sizzle if the hot plate is hot. While the hot plate is responsible for warming the coffee, its heating elements may be shared with those that warm the water during the percolation stage, too.

If your Braun coffee maker is not brewing, you may be able to repair it. Many manufacturers sell replacement parts that can fix such a problem. For instance, if the filter basket for your appliance became warped in the dishwasher and will no longer fit in the proper channel, the machine may not percolate. Replacement filter baskets and hot plates are usually available for purchase.

Any problem larger than this, however, may need replacement. Fix It Club explains that most percolators and other coffee makers cost very little and that the cost of replacement parts may be as much as half that of an entirely new unit.