Coffee Maker Not Turning On? 5 Possible Causes & Fixes

Coffee Maker Not Turning On

Is your coffee maker not turning on? Don’t lose hope yet! Here are 5 possible causes and fixes.

You wake up ready to start your morning and surprise, surprise, your coffee maker is not turning on. You alternate the power switch in disbelief, only to confirm that it is, in fact, not starting. Could there be anything more catastrophic?

If this situation sounds all too familiar to you, don’t give up on your coffee maker just yet. The cause behind this problem is likely not that complicated and easily fixed. Relax. Worst case scenario, all you have to do is test a couple of components and replace them if need be.

This is where the list below comes in. On it, you’ll find all the contributing factors to your current situation and the ways to address them.

Let’s not waste any more time, and get to it!

Your Coffee Maker Might Not Be Turning on Due To…

  • A damaged power cord
  • A broken knob
  • A broken fuse
  • A bad thermostat
  • A fried circuit board

Hopefully, your coffee maker’s problem can be fixed from the outside. But even if that’s not the case, you will only need a couple of tools to get the job done:

  • A screwdriver (cross or flat, depending on your model)
  • Pliers (optional)
  • A multimeter

The multimeter is especially useful, as it will help you determine whether a part needs replacing. It’s all about testing for conductivity.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

#1 Your Power Cord Is Damaged

Test your power cord first

Does your coffee maker turn on sometimes and then shuts off unexpectedly with the slightest movement? If the answer is yes, then your power cord is probably to blame.

While common sense would dictate that these cords would be nearly indestructible, in reality, they are not. As a matter of fact, they’re not even that sturdy to begin with. Common bad habits, such as keeping your cord tangled or strongly pressed against a wall, could have caused damage over time.

The worst part is, the damage doesn’t even have to be visible. Your coffee maker’s power cord might look fine from the outside, but the inner wiring is probably broken.

Black power cord damaged
Sometimes we overlook the most obvious solution, so make sure that the power cord before trying any other repair tip!

Solution: Buy a replacement.

Coffee maker power cords are not hard to come by. All you have to do is write down your make and model and look it up on Google.

If you happen to have a spare power cord lying around somewhere, you can use it to test if this is the issue, which could save you some money.

It’s also a very distant possibility that the problem is in your wall outlet. If you suspect this to be the issue, try connecting your appliance to a different one, preferably in another section of the house.

#2 A Broken Knob

Your coffee maker could be operational

This is the home appliance equivalent to buying a brand-new car and having the key snap off as soon as you’re about to turn it on. Everything works, but you can’t use it.

A broken coffee maker knob is a nightmare, as it could trick you into thinking that the problem lies elsewhere. Don’t fall for it!

Unfortunately, as opposed to the power cord situation, there’s no way that you can confirm this as the issue from the outside. It’s time to bring out your tools and get to work.

Solution: Unplug your coffee maker and remove the top lid, this is usually where the screws are. If you can’t find them there, try the bottom of the appliance.

Undo the screws to expose the coffee maker’s guts, and then identify the switch behind the knob. Finally, test the part for conductivity with your multimeter.

If there is none, it’s time to replace it.

#3 One of Your Fuses Is Blown

Check your fuse when in doubt

If your beloved coffee maker stopped turning on right after a big blackout, one of your fuses might have blown, and that’s partially a good thing. After all, that’s the fuses job, right? Prevention.

When a fuse blows after a big power surge, it basically stops the energy spike from getting to your circuit board and affecting or frying it. And while preventing damage to your circuit board is great, you are still stranded with a coffee maker that won’t turn on.

You can’t win them all.

Photo of functional fuses
A fuse consists of a piece of metal in an encased wire that melts in case of overheating. This stops the power surge or fault and destroys the fuse, that’s why you will need to replace it if it is blown.

Solution: If you followed the steps from the previous point, your coffee maker’s guts are already exposed. Locate your fuse and test it with your multimeter to determine if the part is in fact at fault and in need of replacement.

#4 A Faulty Thermostat

At this point, you’re probably asking yourself, how can a thermostat prevent my coffee maker from turning on if it’s just supposed to regulate its internal temperature?

The answer is simple. Safety. If your coffee maker is sophisticated enough, it will be able to tell when its thermostat is not working properly or broken altogether, at which point, it will try to do anything in its power to keep you from using it in those conditions.

Now, I understand how that can be infuriating, but that little component is literally responsible for making sure that your appliance does not catch on fire.

Solution: This is also a very simple fix. Just identify the component, and follow the steps from the previous two points.

All done!

#5 Your Circuit Board is Fried

Power surges can kill your coffee maker

Remember a couple paragraphs ago when we were praising the wonderful function of fuses? Well, they’re not perfect. Sometimes, even when they do their job, a power surge can be so drastic, that it will still damage the circuit board on a coffee maker.

If this is the reason behind your coffee maker’s malfunction. It might be time to make some tough decisions.

Solution: Some would say a coffee maker’s circuit board is its central component, which means that when it gets damaged, the appliance overall is severely affected.

Depending on your warranty status, you can either try to fix this on your own with the help of a technician, send it over to your manufacturer, or get a new one. Factors such as the age of your appliance, and the cost of the repair, should be your main priorities.

Conclusion

Having a coffee maker not turn on, is any caffeine lover’s nightmare. It can be a little intimidating to try and fix your own, but you’ll come to realize it’s not that complicated, and the individual parts are simple to identify and test.

Whenever you try to fix any of your household appliances, it’s very important not to focus solely on the most complicated aspects of it, as the simplest answer is usually the right one. Don’t overthink it!

It’s advisable to rule out all possible external aspects such as your power cord before going in and actually tempering with the guts of your coffee maker. Otherwise, you might do some extra work that was not necessary.

Always plan for the possibility of having to replace some components or even the entire appliance. Check your warranty before attempting to do any repairs on your own, as this could void it.

And above all else, please remember to unplug your coffee maker before opening it. Safety first.

Thank you so much for reading this article. If you feel like you learned something new today, you should go ahead and check out all the other great resources below!

Happy fixing.

I've been helping homeowners with appliance repair since 2016. Starting out as an enthusiastic amateur, I've since worked with many Appliance, HVAC, and DIY experts over the last 7+ years. My mission is to help fix your appliances and prevent future issues - saving you stress, time, and money. Visit my author page to learn more! Read more
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