Fetco Brewer Troubleshooting
Fetco has been manufacturing some of the best coffee equipment for years. Their line of commercial coffee machines are used everywhere from cafes to restaurants, ensuring a delicious brew each and every time. If this machine is experiencing some unforeseen hiccups, it can put a damper on any business. Don’t worry! We’ve found helpful Fetco coffee brewer troubleshooting tips to get any establishment back to brewing delicious coffee in no time.
Brew Handle Won’t Stay Down
- Power switch is off – Make sure the power switch is in the on position.
- No power to brewer – The brewer lights won’t turn on if there is no power. See if the machine is plugged in. If it is, you might need to reset the circuit breaker in the facility or in the brewer. The brewer’s internal breaker can be reset by turning the switch off and back on.
- Bad dispense latch assembly – If you have a faulty dispense latch assembly, you will notice either the brew light comes on and the handle won’t stay down or the brewer will buzz during a brew cycle. In both cases, the assembly will need to be replaced by an authorized technician.
- Bad timer – The brew light won’t come on and the handle will stay down. Have an authorized technician check if the voltage is reaching the timer from the dispense latch assembly. The technician will need to replace either the timer or latch assembly.
Short Brew Levels
The following is a breakdown of short brew levels for all types of brewing cycles as well as a few special cases.
Every Brew
- Flow discs are upside down – See if the flow discs in the sprayheads are upside down. Reassemble them so the bumps on the spray cutter face down with the flange on the flow disc facing down.
- Sprayhead clogged – If the sprayhead is clogged, clean or replace it.
- Water filter clogged – If the water filter is clogged, replace it.
- Timers are set low – Make sure the brewer’s timers are set at the proper level.
- Low voltage – The incoming voltage could be too low for the timers to run effectively. You might need to reset the wall circuit breaker or contact an electrician to find loose connections in your facility.
Some Brews
- Water filter clogged – If the water filter is clogged, especially during simultaneous brew cycles, replace the filter.
- Poor dispense latch assembly – If you hear buzzing during a brew cycle, the brewer likely has a poor latch assembly. It will need to be replaced by an authorized technician.
- Low/fluctuating water pressure or flow rate – If the water pressure or flow rate is too low or fluctuating, especially during simultaneous brews, make sure the brewer has a dedicated water line and that the shutoff valve is fully opened. If both are okay, consider increasing the diameter of the water line.
High Brew Levels
- Timers set too high – If this occurs on every brew, you might need to adjust the timers to the correct level.
- Dispenser isn’t empty – If this occurs occasionally, make sure the dispenser is completely empty to prevent high brew levels.
Won’t Stop Brewing
- High water pressure – Check if the water pressure is over 75 psi. If so, you’ll need to have a water pressure regulator placed in the line to reduce it between 20-75 psi.
- Water level probe is broken or dirty – When this probe is broken or covered in lime, the brewer’s hot water tank continues to fill and overflows into the brew baskets. Clean the lime off the probe tip and tank wall. You might need to have it replaced by an authorized technician if broken.
- Liquid level control board is broken – Have an authorized technician check and replace the board.
- Fill valve is broken or stuck – Have an authorized technician rebuild or replace the fill valve.
- Drive screw on the dispense tube is off – The screw connects to the handle of the dispense tube might be off or incorrectly fastened. Make sure it’s straight.
- Dispense tube has cracks – If there is a crack, replace both dispense tubes even if the other side isn’t dripping.
- Mechanical binding – Be sure the brew handle, sprayhead tower and dispense tube are in a straight line. Realign them by moving the brass tower.
Sprayhead or Brew Basket Dripping
- Condensation around sprayhead – Wipe down the sprayhead and surrounding area after the brewing cycle. Then place an empty container under the brew cone when the brewer isn’t running.
- Condensation from the water tank – You’ll notice condensation dripping from the water tank and through the dispense tube. Add an empty brew basket and server under the brew heads when the machine isn’t running.
- Dispense tube has cracks – If there is a crack, whether it’s both dispense tubes or just one, replace both of them.
- Fill valve not sealing – Have an authorized technician rebuild or replace the fill valve.
Grounds Won’t Saturate
- Sprayhead is missing – Replace the brewer’s sprayhead.
- Half batch isn’t used properly – Use a smaller brew basket for the half batch or do not use half batches for brewing beverages.
- Water softener being used – The water softener could be preventing the grounds from saturating. Move the brewer to a water line that isn’t softened.
- Degassing – If coffee is degassing to the point where it’s extremely fresh, contact an authorized service company for assistance.
Coffee Tastes Too Strong
- Doses are incorrect – Make sure your measurements are correct and confirm the right amount of coffee is being brewed.
- Brew levels are short – If the brew levels are consistently too short, refer to the possible causes in the “Short Brew Levels” section.
Weak Coffee
- Sprayhead is missing – Make sure to replace or reattach the sprayhead assembly to the machine.
- Doses are incorrect – Measure and double-check that the right amount of coffee is being brewed.
- Using multiple filters – Only one piece of Fetco coffee filter paper should be used. Using more than one can affect the taste.
- Dispense tube has cracks – If there is a crack, whether it’s both dispense tubes or just one, replace both of them.
- Low brewing temperature – The water tank should be set to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. Adjust the thermostat to keep the water system measured at the bottom of the brew basket.
Brew Water is Cool
Below is a breakdown of Fetco coffee machine troubleshooting tips based on whether the ready light is off or on.
Ready Light “OFF”
- No power – If there is no power to the machine, check that the power switch is turned “ON” or the machine is plugged into the wall outlet. If neither is the case, the circuit breaker in the machine or building needs to be reset.
- Broken liquid level control board – This prevents power from reaching the thermostat. Have a certified technician check that the liquid level control board is working. If not, it will need to be replaced.
- Faulty connection on solid state relay – This prevents power to the heaters. Have an authorized technician look for burned or loose connections on the relay. They might have to be replaced with high-temperature connectors.
- Broken solid state relay – This also prevents power to the heaters. Have an authorized technician check the input and output voltages on the relay and replace it if necessary.
- Faulty heating elements – Have an authorized technician check the heating wire and repair.
Ready Light “ON”
- Broken thermostat – The thermostat will show it’s at the correct temperature but still brews cool water. The thermostat or thermal probe will need to be replaced.
- Low-temperature setting – The brew temperature setting on the thermostat might be set too low. The water tank should be set to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. Adjust the thermostat to keep the water system measured at the bottom of the brew basket.
Boiling & Steaming
- Thermostat is too high for altitude – If you’re in an area with a higher altitude, such as Denver, CO, lower the temperature setting to three degrees below boiling. If you don’t know how to do that already, check out our Fetco Coffee Brewer Programming article.
- Broken thermostat – The thermostat or thermal probe will need to be replaced.
Coffee Not Hot Enough
- Holding coffee too long – Make sure the coffee is being discarded at the proper times. Holding it for too long after brewing can reduce temperature.
- Using half batches frequently – If you use half batches too frequently, it can affect temperature. Try using a full batch or consider downsizing to a smaller brewer.
- LUXUS not preheated before first brew – Always preheat the LUXUS half full with hot water. Let it stand for about 15 minutes so it’s hot enough.
If none of these fixes work, perhaps your coffee maker is throwing an error code 201 or 202. Check out our article on Fetco Brewer Error Codes for more solutions.
Slow Recovery Temperature
- Limed-up hot water tank – Take off the hot water tank’s access cover to check for significant lime buildup. Remove the brewer for deliming.
Faucet Dripping
If your Fetco coffee brewer faucet is dripping, you most likely be able to handle the fix by yourself with a little coffee machine cleaning, unclogging or replacing.
- Blockage – Remove the faucet bonnet and see what is causing the obstruction. Make sure to clean the faucet body and seat cup regularly to remove clogs.
- Broken seat cup – Replace the seat cup if it’s brittle or broken. A stained seat cup is okay.
Need additional help troubleshooting your Fetco brewer? Check out our collection of Fetco coffee brewer manuals for more parts, maintenance and cleaning assistance.