Most coffee makers today are programmable to automatically shut off after a predetermined amount of time. It can be beneficial for several reasons, but some people would prefer their brewer didn’t have this function.
All Keurigs come with an auto-off feature that shuts the machine off after varying amounts of time, depending on which model you have. Not all Keurig coffee maker’s auto-off features can be disabled, but luckily most can.
I’ll walk you through the benefits of the auto-off feature and how to turn it off based on which model you have.
Benefits of the auto-off feature
Before you decide to turn this feature off, consider the reasons Keurigs, and pretty much all modern coffee makers, come with auto-off as the default setting.
Peace of mind
The first, and most important, reason most coffee makers come with an auto-off feature is to mitigate the risk of fires, accidents, and injuries. Mornings tend to be busy and it’s easy to forget that you’ve left the coffee maker on. With auto-off enabled, you don’t have to wonder whether or not your appliance is overheating and putting your home at risk.
Energy savings
Keurigs don’t use up a whole lot of electricity, but when every dollar counts, it’s helpful to know that your machine won’t be using up unnecessary energy when not in use. By having an automatic shut-off feature, you can rest assured that it isn’t driving up your energy bill all day long.
Better for your brewer
It’s not really beneficial for any appliance to be constantly left on, especially ones that heat up. When coffee makers are left on longer than the auto-off function would allow, it can cause more wear and tear to your machine, and heating elements and wiring can burn out faster.
With all that extra usage, you may end up needing to replace your machine sooner than you would if the auto-off function remained on. Bear in mind, Keurigs only come with a one-year limited warranty, so you won’t be able to bank on replacing it for free for very long.
No burnt taste
If your Keurig has a carafe that sits on a heating element, the coffee sitting in the pot can become stale or taste burnt if left for too long. If you would just end up dumping the pot out anyway, there’s no sense in leaving it on for hours only to become undrinkable.
How to disable the auto-off feature
As with many other functions on Keurigs, disabling the auto-off feature isn’t the same for every machine. Even the amount of time before the brewer automatically turns off varies widely from model to model, anywhere from 90 seconds to 2 hours.
If you don’t still have the instruction manual for your Keurig, this guide breaks down how to disable the auto-off feature for each product that has the option. The instructions usually involve some unusual button combinations, almost like a cheat code for a video game.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
K-Cafe and K-Select
Turn the machine off, then press and hold the “Strong” button and “10oz” button at the same time for 3 seconds. The same combination will enable the auto-off feature as well.
K-Elite
In your K-Elite’s settings, navigate to the moon icon, which represents auto-off, and use the arrows until you get to the option to turn it off. The same process will allow you to turn it back on.
Keurig 2.0
It’s not quite the same as disabling the auto-off function altogether, but with Keurig 2.0 K400 and K500 Series machines you can customize the auto-off or energy saver options, which you will find under the settings menu. Auto-off allows you to choose a time of day you want the machine to turn off, while the energy saver option allows you to have the machine shut off after a certain amount of time after being powered on.
Older Keurig models
It is possible to disable the auto-off feature on models that have been around for a while like the B-77, K-Classic, and K-75. This handy chart breaks down how to turn off the auto-off function for these machines.
Models that can’t disable auto-off
Some Keurig brewers don’t allow you to turn off the auto-off feature at all. These include:
- K15
- K-Duo
- K-Duo Plus
- K-Mini
- K-Supreme
- K-Supreme Plus
For these brewers, you’ll have to rely on the power button to turn it back on again.
Auto-off error message
If you have an older machine, you may see an error message on the display screen that reads, “Not Ready Auto Off Set.” Usually, it’s just a glitch after the machine has suddenly lost power, like after being unplugged or following a power outage. Thankfully, it is possible to reset this and get rid of the error message.
First, try flipping the power switch on the back of the machine off and on again. With the machine on, navigate through the menu until you see the auto-off option. From here, you’ll have to keep pressing through the hours until you get to the off option. By selecting this option, the error message should be resolved.
Should you disable auto-off on your Keurig?
Whether or not it is safe to leave a Keurig–or any appliance for that matter–on all day is up for debate. Some sources highly advise against it while others claim that it doesn’t pose a risk for any major problems.
So who do you trust to help you make this decision? In this situation, you have to trust yourself. Arm yourself with all the available information and then choose whatever you’re most comfortable with.
If you really need to leave your Keurig on all day and are aware of the potential consequences, then that’s your choice! If you prefer to leave the auto-off function on and manually power up your machine if you need it again, then more power to you.
Luckily, this isn’t a permanent decision and you can switch the setting at any time. Either way, just make sure you have all the facts for your specific machine and you can’t go wrong!
