Curtis Coffee Maker Troubleshooting
Curtis manufactures a wide range of coffee and cappuccino makers that can whip up a tasty brew in a matter of minutes. While these machines are built for reliability, occasional issues can still occur. If you need to get your machine back on track, our Curtis coffee maker troubleshooting guide will help you get your brewer in working order quickly.
These tips apply to Café Primo Cappuccino™ machines like the CAFE PC1 and coffee makers like the CGC unit, as well as ThermoPro®, Airpot and CAFE series brewers, such as the TP2T, D500GT and CAFE1DB10A000.
Water Not Hot Enough
- Incorrect temperature setting – Check the control panel to see if the temperature setting is too low. If so, you'll need to reprogram it.
- Broken temperature sensor – If the temperature of the water doesn't match the temperature displayed on the control panel, the temperature sensor is broken, so reach out to a licensed technician to remedy the issue.
Water Won't Heat at All
- Water level not contacting probe – If the water in the tank doesn't fill to the proper level, it won't come in contact with the water probe. Please see the “Water Tank Won't Fill” section for more information.
- Heating element or electrical issues – If you notice "Ready to Brew," "Ready" or "Heating" on the display but the water is still cool, there could be a variety of causes. The coffee maker could have an open heating element, bad wiring or other electrical issues. These should be checked and repaired by an authorized technician.
Water Heats Slowly
- Heating element is defective - If there’s no power to the element or the resistance is high, schedule a service appointment with a licensed technician to address the issue with the heating element.
- Wiring and/or connections are faulty - If there’s incorrect voltage or corroded connections within the unit’s wiring, seek help from a licensed technician.
Water is Too Hot
If the machine is located at an elevation above 2,000FT (600M), make sure that the control panel is set to the factory setting, which is 200°F (93.3°C) for most units. For cappuccino machines, it’s normally 190°F (88°C) and 100°F (38°C) for iced versions.
- Temperature too high for elevation – The temperature on the control panel should be adjusted by reducing the factory setting by two degrees Fahrenheit (1.1°C) for every 1,000FT (305M) of elevation above 4,000FT (1,219.2M).
- Faulty temperature sensor – If the display shows "Heating" constantly, contact a licensed technician to correct the problem.
- Faulty UPM, HMC or shorted triac – A faulty universal power module (UPM), HMC micro-controller or shorted triac can lead to extremely hot temperatures. These issues should be reviewed and addressed by an authorized technician.
- "Over Temp Sensor" or "Ready to Brew" error – Reach out to a licensed technician for assistance. For more information on what these messages mean, see our Curtis coffee maker error codes article.
No Power/Display Won't Light
- Power switch is off – See if the main power toggle switch on the back panel is OFF; if so, turn it to the ON position so that the unit has power.
- Unplugged – Make sure the power cord is plugged into the electrical outlet.
- Empty water tank – When the water tank is empty, it may trip the hi-limit switch. Refill the tank and push the hi-limit reset button.
- Faulty hi-limit switch – If there’s water in the tank but still no power, push the hi-limit reset button to restore power. If power isn't restored, the hi-limit switch will need to be replaced by a licensed technician. If power is restored, make sure that the switch isn't opening at normal water temperatures. If it is, get in touch with an authorized technician for assistance.
- Wiring is faulty – The wiring from the power cord could be overheated or burned. If there are issues with the wiring, contact a licensed technician to remedy the issue.
- Electrical issues – The machine could be experiencing other electrical problems associated with the control board or universal control module, so call a licensed technician for assistance.
Water Tank Won't Fill
- Water supply off or clogged – See if the water supply is turned on. If so, there could be a blockage in the supply line, water filter or inlet valve, so remove the obstruction if one is present.
- Electrical issues – The machine could be experiencing other electrical problems associated with the inlet valve terminals or universal control module, so schedule a service appointment with a licensed technician to correct the issue.
Water Tank Overfills
- Broken water inlet valve – Turn the switch from ON to OFF. If water is flowing in both the ON and OFF positions, the water inlet valve will need to be replaced by an authorized technician.
- Electrical issues – The coffee maker could have problems with the water probe or universal control module, so seek help from a licensed technician to address the problem.
Dispenser Won't Fill to Normal Level
- Sprayhead dirty or out of alignment – Clean the sprayhead if there’s a buildup of lime or debris. If the sprayhead isn't properly aligned or installed, adjust it accordingly.
- Obstructions in tubing – See if there are any blockages in the tubing throughout the machine. In cases where cleaning the tubing isn’t possible, contact an authorized technician for help.
- Clogged or broken valves – Check if there are any obstructions in the dump, bypass and dilution valves. If any of those valves are broken, get in touch with a licensed technician to address the issue.
- Low water pressure or flow rate – Make sure the water supply line meets the minimum specifications for the water pressure or flow rate. Check the owner's manual for proper specs.
- Electrical issues – The coffee maker could have problems with the terminals or universal control module. Both issues should be checked and repaired by an authorized technician.
No Water or Tea Flows from Brewer
- Water supply is off – Turn the water supply back on.
- Water tank probe not level – If the water tank probe isn't level with the water in the tank, check for the possible issues laid out in the “Water Tank Won't Fill” section.
- Faulty UCM, UPM or HCM – The machine's universal control module (UCM), universal power module (UPM) or HCM micro-controller could be broken, so seek the assistance of a licensed technician to correct the problem.
Unit Only Dispenses Water
- Canister is empty - Add mix to the canister.
- Canister is faulty - Seek help from a licensed technician to solve the issue.
- Powder is damp - If your model uses powder, know that wet powder won’t flow through the machine properly, so discard it and refill the unit with dry powder.
- Powder percent ratio is too low - Make sure that the powder percent ratio isn’t set too low; if it is, refer to the owner’s manual for more information on the correct setting.
Drink Is Too Strong/Too Weak
- Brew, bypass and dilution levels aren’t set properly - Adjust the settings, referring to the owner’s manual for guidance if needed.
- Brew, bypass or dilution valves are faulty - Run a brew cycle, checking for flow through the brew, bypass and dilution valves. If they’re defective, arrange a service call with an authorized technician.
- Flow rate and/or water pressure in the water supply line are inadequate - Contact a licensed plumber to address the issues.
- Sprayhead dirty, out of alignment or blocked - Clean the sprayhead to remove debris. If it’s out of alignment, position it properly; if the tubing is kinked, adjust the position so that there are no blockages.
- Valve wiring is defective - If power isn’t being supplied to one or more valves, contact a licensed technician to solve the issue.
Beverage Is Too Weak
- Canister is empty - Add mix to the canister.
- Canister is faulty - Reach out to an authorized technician for assistance.
- Powder is wet - For models that use a powder mix, make sure that the mix is dry so that it can flow through the unit properly. If it’s damp, empty the canister and replace the powder.
- Powder percent ratio is improper - Set the correct powder percent ratio. See the owner’s manual for more information on what the correct ratio should be.
Dispenser Overflows
- Product still in the machine – The dispenser should be empty before the brewing cycle; if it isn’t, empty it.
- Missing or broken sprayhead – If the sprayhead is missing or broken, have an authorized technician replace it immediately.
- Incorrect brew volume – Make sure the brew volume is at the correct setting. Check the "Program Guide" in the owner's manual for proper volume settings.
- Open valve – If water still flows from the sprayhead, bypass outlet spout and dilution spout when the machine is turned off, one of the machine's valves is open, so reach out to a licensed technician to remedy the issue.
- Faulty UCM, UPM or HCM – The machine's universal control module (UCM), universal power module (UPM) or HCM micro-controller could be broken. This issue should be checked and repaired by an authorized technician.
Whipper Motor Doesn’t Run During Dispensing (Cappuccino Machines Only)
- No power to the whipper motor - See if the whipper moves when the dispense button is pressed; if it doesn’t, contact a licensed technician to service the unit.
- Wiring is faulty - The wiring from the HMC micro-controller to the motor may be defective, so schedule an appointment with an authorized technician to remedy the issue.
- HMC is defective - Call a licensed technician to address the problem.
Looking for more troubleshooting tips? Our collection of Curtis manuals and diagrams has all the information you need.