Black+Decker Coffee Maker Not Working? 5 Fixes by Model

What Usually Stops a Black+Decker Coffee Maker

Black+Decker's manuals give only a few causes for a Black+Decker (Black and Decker) coffee maker that is not working: no power at the outlet, a clock and Brew Later timer that lost their settings in a power cut, too little water for the cups selected, and scale. They blame scale for slow brewing and for water left in the tank, and the cure is a vinegar clean.

None of the ten use and care manuals behind this page prints an error code, and none describes a reset button, whatever the "E" code lists on some websites say. What the 12-cup books do give is a short troubleshooting table, much the same from model to model, plus a few signals: a flashing 12:00, BREW LATER, CLEAN or CL and, on one model, CHECK WATER.

The steps cover the 12-cup CM1160, CM1060, CM1110, CM1231 and CM1331, the thermal CM2046, the Select-A-Size CM4200, the 5-cup CM0700 and DCM600, and the single-serve CM618. On other models, buttons and amounts may differ.

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Try This First

• Test the outlet with something else. A dead outlet is the only cause the manuals list for "does not turn on". Go to Fix 1.
• Look at the clock. A flashing 12:00 means the clock isn't set, which is what you see after a power cut. Go to Fix 2.
• Look for BREW LATER or the AUTO dot. If it's showing, the machine is waiting for its set time.
• Compare the water with the cups you asked for. On the CM4200, a flashing CHECK WATER can mean there's less water in the tank than the dial is set to. Go to Fix 3.
• Seat the carafe with its lid on. A carafe left off the plate too long mid-brew, or a lid that isn't in place, can make the basket overflow. Go to Fix 5.
• Notice how it brews. Slow brewing, or a pot that ends with water still in the tank, points to scale. Go to Fix 4.

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Fix 1: Restore Power and Check the Light (Works About 30% of the Time)

Black+Decker's troubleshooting tables give one cause for a coffeemaker that does not turn on: it isn't plugged into a working outlet. A dead outlet looks exactly like a dead machine, so rule it out first.

Signs it's this one: no clock, and no light when you press the button.

1. Plug a lamp or phone charger into the same outlet. If that's dead too, the problem is the outlet or its breaker, not the coffee maker.
2. Push the plug fully in. The manuals describe a polarized plug with one wide blade. If it doesn't fit fully, they say to reverse it, and if it still doesn't fit, to call an electrician. Don't modify the plug.
3. Press the power control and watch for its light:
   • CM1160, CM1060: an indicator light to the left of the HOUR button.
   • CM1110, CM1231, CM1331, CM2046: the power button itself lights.
   • CM4200: a light ring around the Brew Now button.
   • CM0700: a blue light on the I/O switch. DCM600: a red light.
4. If the clock is flashing 12:00, the machine has power. Go on to Fix 2.

Time: 3 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 30%
Difficulty: Easy

Model note: on the single-serve CM618, a red light after plugging in means what the manual calls "the reset process" is still running. Wait for it to go off, then press START. Once started, the CM618 can't be switched off. It turns off by itself when the brew ends.

If the outlet is live and the machine shows no light at all, skip to When DIY Won't Work.

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Fix 2: Reset the Clock and the Brew Later Timer (Works About 25% of the Time)

A power cut clears the clock, and a timed brew depends on the clock. The CM1160 manual says that if the unit is unplugged or power is interrupted "even momentarily", the time will need to be reset. The CM2046 book adds that the Brew Later start time needs resetting too, and on the CM1110 and CM1231 the stored Brew Later time drops back to 12:00 after unplugging. So a flashing clock and no coffee isn't a fault.

Signs it's this one: the display flashes 12:00, or the pot didn't start by itself but brews normally when you press the button.

1. Set the clock with HOUR (HR) and MIN. Check the PM indicator: a small dot at the top left of the display on the CM1160 and CM1060, a PM light or symbol on the others.
2. Fill the reservoir, add the filter and coffee, and put the empty carafe in place.
3. Program the start time for your model:
   • CM1160, CM1060: press PROG (the AUTO dot at the bottom left flashes and the clock shows 12:00), press HOUR, then MIN, then hold AUTO until the dot stops flashing. Make sure the PM dot is off for a morning brew.
   • CM1110: press BREW LATER, set the time with HOUR and MIN while it blinks, then press BREW LATER again or wait 4 seconds.
   • CM1231, CM1331, CM2046: press BREW LATER, set the time, and wait 3 seconds with no button pressed.
   • CM4200: turn the dial to the number of cups, press BREW LATER, set the time, and wait 4 seconds until BREW LATER SET shows.
4. Confirm it's armed: BREW LATER steady on the CM2046, BREW LATER SET on the CM4200, a lit BREW LATER button on the CM1331, a lit AUTO dot on the CM1160.

Time: 5 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 25%
Difficulty: Easy

Want coffee now while the timer is set? On the CM1231, CM1331, CM2046 and CM4200, pressing the power (or Brew Now) button cancels Brew Later and the unit starts brewing immediately. On the CM1110, hold BREW LATER for 3 seconds to cancel it. On the CM1160 the AUTO button cancels the timer, and on the CM1060 the ON/OFF button does.

Common mistake: setting the timer and then unplugging the machine overnight. Unplugged, it loses the clock.

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Fix 3: Match the Water to the Cups Selected (Works About 15% of the Time)

The Select-A-Size CM4200 is the one model here with a cup dial, and its manual warns that "the coffeemaker will brew without the right amount of water." Its troubleshooting table lists too little water in the tank as a cause of both a short pot and a flashing CHECK WATER warning.

Signs it's this one: CHECK WATER flashes on a CM4200, or the carafe holds less than the cups you selected.

1. Add cold water until the level is equal to or greater than the number of cups on the dial. Don't fill past the MAX line.
2. Check the dial points at the number of cups you want.
3. Use less ground coffee if the pot still comes up short. The CM4200 table lists an "excessive amount of coffee" as a cause of low volume.
4. Press Brew Now.

Time: 2 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 15%
Difficulty: Easy

If CHECK WATER still flashes with plenty of water in the tank, the same table gives a second cause: the coffeemaker needs cleaning. That's the next fix.

Other models: the other manuals show no dial and no water warning. The 12-cup books count a "cup" as about 5 oz, so a full pot is smaller than twelve mugs.

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Fix 4: Clean Out the Scale (Works About 15% of the Time)

Scale is the one cause Black+Decker's tables give for a machine that brews slowly or leaves water in the reservoir. The thermal CM2046's table says a coffee maker that "does not complete brewing (water left in tank)" is "heavily calcified". The CM1110 and CM1231 tables give "needs cleaning" as the cause when a machine doesn't brew all the water, and the CM1110's adds that more than one cleaning cycle is probably needed.

Signs it's this one: brewing takes longer than it used to, the pot ends with water still in the tank, or a CLEAN or CL message has appeared.

1. Work out which kind of machine you have. The CM1110, CM1231, CM1331, CM2046 and CM4200 run an Auto Clean cycle. The CM1160, CM1060, CM0700, DCM600 and CM618 are cleaned with vinegar by hand.
2. Mix white vinegar and cold water in the amounts your manual gives. They differ by model.
3. Run the cycle with the empty carafe in place. Auto Clean takes 45-60 minutes, including a hold of about 30 minutes in the middle. The hand method on the carafe models brews half the mix, soaks for at least 15 minutes with the machine off, then brews the rest.
4. Brew a full reservoir of plain water afterward to flush the vinegar.
5. Repeat if it's still slow. The CM1110, CM1231 and CM2046 tables say more than one cycle may be needed on a heavily calcified machine.

Time: 1 to 1.5 hours, mostly waiting
Cost: A few dollars of white vinegar
Success Rate: About 15%
Difficulty: Easy

The exact buttons and amounts for each model are in our Black+Decker CLEAN and CL message guide. For how this compares with other brands, see the coffee maker descaling guide.

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Fix 5: Stop the Basket Overflowing or Leaking (Works About 10% of the Time)

Black+Decker's tables list three causes of a leak (an overfilled reservoir, the carafe cover and the carafe's position on the plate) and a few more for a basket that overflows. Start with the carafe. Sneak-A-Cup pauses the flow when you lift the carafe away, and the manuals give a time limit for putting it back.

Signs it's this one: grounds in the pot or on the counter, coffee running down the front, or water behind the machine right after filling.

1. Put the carafe back fast. The 12-cup glass-carafe manuals and the CM0700's allow 30 seconds with the carafe out mid-brew. The thermal CM2046 allows only 20 seconds.
2. Fit the carafe lid properly. The 12-cup manuals warn that coffee may overflow if the lid isn't correctly in place. On the CM1160 and CM1060, the brew-thru lid has to be in the down position.
3. Seat the carafe squarely on the plate.
4. Use less coffee. An excessive amount of coffee is a listed cause of basket overflow in every table. The CM1160 book suggests 1 heaping tablespoon per cup. The CM2046 book suggests 1 tablespoon, and the 5-cup books 1 level tablespoon.
5. Seat the filter and basket. Use a basket-style paper filter and push the basket fully into its holder. On the CM1331, the word "Back" on the basket faces the back of the unit. On the CM1231, a tab on the basket fits a slot on the right so the lid can close.
6. Don't brew with softened water on the CM1110, CM1231 or CM1331. Their tables list softened water as an overflow cause and say to use cold, filtered water.
7. Don't overfill. The CM1160 manual says that if too much water is added, "it will leak from the back of the coffeemaker." Stay at or under the 12 / MAX line.

Time: 5 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 10%
Difficulty: Easy

⚠️ Safety: coffee in an overflowing basket is scalding. Turn the machine off, unplug it and let it cool before you lift the basket out or wipe the plate.

The manuals offer no fix for water on the counter that matches none of these. Stop using the machine and call customer service.

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Where the Models Differ

Coffee not hot enough? On the CM1331 and CM4200, press KEEP WARM and check that it isn't set to OFF or a short time. On the thermal CM2046, the manual's table blames "low brew volumes (under four cups of coffee) and/or the carafe is cold". Its fix is to pre-heat the carafe with hot tap water and empty it just before brewing. The manuals publish no brew temperature to measure against.

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When DIY Won't Work

Stop using the coffee maker and unplug it if:

• The cord or plug is damaged, or the machine has malfunctioned or been damaged in any way. Black+Decker's safeguards say not to operate it.
• You smell burning, see smoke or sparks, or the breaker trips when it's switched on.
• Water collects under the base with the tank filled below the line and the carafe in place.
• It shows no light on an outlet you've proved is live.

Don't open the housing. Every manual carries the same warning: a tamper-resistant screw holds the outer cover, there are no user-serviceable parts inside, and repair is for authorized service personnel only. If you've read that a dead drip maker can be "reset", our thermal fuse guide explains why a blown thermal fuse in any brand can't be reset. Black+Decker's manuals don't mention a fuse at all.

Warranty: the manuals give a two-year limited warranty in the United States and Canada, from the date of original purchase with proof of purchase. The remedy is a replacement product, new or factory refurbished. Glass parts and accessory items packed with the unit are excluded, and so are shipping and handling costs for the replacement. The books ask you not to return the machine to the store or mail it to the manufacturer. Start at prodprotect.com/blackanddecker or call the customer service line printed in the current manuals, 1-800-465-6070. Parts and accessories have their own line, 1-800-738-0245.

Repair or replace? The manuals give owners no internal repair. Inside two years, claim the replacement. After that, ask customer service what they can offer.

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Prevention

• Clean with vinegar on schedule. Monthly on models with no clean reminder. On Auto Clean models, when CLEAN or CL appears, or sooner with hard water.
• Use cold filtered or spring water. The CM1110, CM1231, CM1331 and CM2046 books recommend it over distilled water.
• Leave it plugged in if you use the timer, and reset the clock after any power cut.
• Put the carafe back within 30 seconds mid-brew (20 on the CM2046).
• Fill to the line, never past 12 / MAX.
• Never set a hot glass carafe on a wet or cold surface. The safeguards warn against it, and glass parts aren't covered by the warranty.

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FAQ

Is there a reset button on a Black+Decker coffee maker?

No. None of the ten Black+Decker manuals read for this page describes a reset button or a reset sequence. The nearest thing is on the single-serve CM618: after plugging it in, you wait for the red light to go off before pressing START. On the programmable models, unplugging clears the clock, and on the CM1331 it also zeroes the counter behind the cleaning reminder.

What do Black+Decker coffee maker error codes mean?

Black+Decker's manuals for these models don't list any error codes. The display messages they document are a flashing 12:00 (clock not set), BREW LATER, STRONG, CLEAN or CL (time to descale) and, on the CM4200, CHECK WATER. If your display shows something else, call 1-800-465-6070 and don't rely on a code list from a third-party site.

Why did my Black+Decker stop brewing halfway and then start again?

It may be running Auto Clean instead of a normal brew. On the CM1231, holding the On/Off button for 3 seconds starts the cleaning cycle (4 seconds on the CM1110, 5 on the CM2046's POWER button). The cycle brews about 5 cups, holds the rest for about 30 minutes, then finishes. A blinking CL on the CM1231, or CLEAN scrolling on the CM1110, confirms it.

Does Black+Decker repair coffee makers under warranty?

The warranty in the manuals offers a replacement, not a repair: "a reasonably similar replacement product that is either new or factory refurbished." Keep your receipt, because the two years run from the purchase date and proof of purchase is required.

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Related Guides

• Black+Decker CLEAN or CL message: Auto Clean and vinegar amounts for each model
• How to descale any coffee maker: what each brand's manual allows
• Coffee maker thermal fuse guide: why a blown thermal fuse can't be reset
• Descaling tablets vs vinegar vs citric acid: Black+Decker's books name white vinegar only

Sources: Black+Decker use and care manuals for the CM1160, CM1060, CM1110 Series, CM1231, CM1331, CM2046 (thermal), CM4200 Series, CM0700, DCM600 and CM618.