How to calibrate the grinder of a Krups coffee maker

Many Krups super-automatic coffee maker users often wonder how to make their coffee grinder work faster. Typically, the grinder should take around 6 to 8 seconds to do its job, but some Krups machines may take longer, around 9 to 11 seconds. This extended grind time can lead to excess ground coffee in the piston, resulting in an incorrect extraction.

If your coffee maker is still under warranty, the easiest solution is to contact customer service and let them handle the calibration. However, if your warranty has already expired, I’ll explain what steps you can take to fix this issue.

Note: Entering the service menu can lead to more serious problems, so it is at your own risk if you do so. In case of failure, you can try to reset the machine.

How to calibrate the grinder of the Krups coffee makers with the “prog” button

Programming or calibrating the grind time on this Krups coffee maker is straightforward. It’s made easy by the “prog” button, which will lead you directly to the desired menu when you follow the steps outlined below.

Step by step for the calibration of the Krups coffee grinder with the “prog” button:

• Unplug the coffee maker from the mains.
• Remove the water container, the grounds container, and the tray over the grounds container.
• Press the “prog” button while plugging the Krups back into the mains.
• A grinding time selection menu appears on display.
• Turn the central knob and select the time you want.
• Once you have selected the type you prefer, press ok on the central knob.
• Unplug the coffee maker.
• Place the water tank and the tray over the grounds container and the grounds container itself.
• Plug in the coffee maker, and everything is ready.

How to calibrate the Krups 8160 coffee grinder

This problem usually appears after a blockage of the grinder, which in most cases is caused by incorrect coffee beans or lack of cleaning of the Krups. Never use coffee beans that have not been roasted naturally, without sugar or other additives.

Step by step for the calibration of the grinder of the Krups 8160:

• Unplug the coffee maker from the mains.
• Remove the water container, the grounds container, and the tray over the grounds container.
• Press the arrow button while plugging the brewer back into the mains.
• Press the START button once, and brackets [ ] will appear on the right side.
• Press the START button once, and 3 zeros will appear inside the brackets [000] on the left side.
• Place both the water reservoir and the tray over the grounds container and the grounds container.
• Now press the START button.
• P2 appears.
• Press the steam button once to start the diagnostics.
• Water starts to flow from the steam nozzle.
• Press the steam button once.
• The piston goes down but not all the way down (twice).
• The piston goes all the way down, water flows through the piston, and the disk is ejected.
• P4 appears.
• Disconnect the coffee maker from the mains.
• Reconnect to the mains, switch on the coffee maker, and it will be calibrated.

Note: If your brewer does not have a tray over the grounds container, but the software is upgraded to that of brewers with a tray, it will not work, as you will not be able to complete the step of inserting the tray over the grounds container, nor the necessary microswitch.

How to calibrate the Krups EA81 series

Before you begin, please note that the Krups EA81 coffee machine has only three grind settings, making it less flexible than other Krups models. These instructions will help you calibrate the grinder and address common issues such as grinding problems, jams, or coffee residue in the burrs.

Basic grinder calibration:

• Disassemble the top part of the coffee machine without removing the front or back.
• Rotate the grinder until you see a mark through a gap in the plastic protector that aligns with the internal arc of the grinder. Remember, there are only three rotation positions if the selector knob is still attached.
• Mark this position visibly with a marker. Draw a line connecting the outer protector with the internal arc:

• Remove the plastic protector by leveraging it at the two openings around its perimeter.

• Turn the internal arc of the grinder counterclockwise until it reaches the end of its travel. This will allow you to remove the outer burr.
• Extract the outer burr by pulling it upwards.

• Thoroughly clean the inside of the grinder with a brush or a thin wooden stick to remove any coffee residue.

• Reinstall the outer burr and push it down.
• Turn the internal arc clockwise to secure the outer burr.

When placing the external protector back, ensure the lines you drew match to maintain the original grind setting.

Adjusting the grind level:

If you wish to modify the fineness or coarseness of the grind:

• Turn the internal arc one or two notches clockwise to the external protector (misalignment) to make it finer.
• Turn the internal arc counterclockwise to the external protector (misalignment) to make it coarser.

Following these steps, you will have calibrated your grinder to achieve the desired grind size. Ensure the plastic protector is in place, and the lines match if you want to keep the original setting. Now, you can enjoy perfectly ground coffee according to your preferences.