Mr. Coffee Frappe Maker Not Working? 5 Fixes (Blender, Flashing Light)

A Blinking Light Is Usually Not a Fault

A blinking light on a Mr. Coffee Frappe maker usually isn't a fault. After you press the power button, it blinks slowly to show the machine is ready to brew or blend. If HOT BREW or OVER ICE flashes when you press it straight after a brew, the heater thermostat is still cooling, so wait a few seconds and press again. A blender that won't run or a frappe that won't blend smooth is usually a jar that isn't locked, or the wrong mix of ice, liquid and sugar.

The Frappe is three machines in one base, unlike Mr. Coffee's single-purpose Iced Coffee Maker. It brews hot coffee, brews concentrated coffee over ice, and its blender turns that iced coffee into a frozen drink. The blender jar doubles as the measuring jug for frappes, with its own WATER, milk and ICE lines. Get those measures right and lock the jar, and most problems go away.

Everything here comes from Mr. Coffee's own manual for the Single-Serve Frappe, Iced and Hot Coffee Maker and Blender, which Mr. Coffee's site lists as the FCM series (BVMC-FCM). Your model number is on the bottom of the machine.

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Try This First

• Press the power button first. Each of the manual's recipes starts with it. The button then blinks slowly in standby, ready for BREW or BLEND.
• Twist the blender jar to the left on its mount until it locks. Mr. Coffee's mount has a locking system to hold the blender secure.
• Check the reservoir has water. The manual says not to run the machine with an empty tank. Never fill above the 16 oz max line either, or it overflows.
• Look at what's in the jar. Ice above the ICE line, or no syrup or sugar, is the manual's first explanation for a frappe that won't blend smooth.
• Empty the drip tray. Mr. Coffee says to clean it after a few uses to stop it overflowing.

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Which Fix You Need

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Fix 1: Read the Lights Correctly (Works About 30% of the Time)

The Frappe uses its lights to tell you when to wait, not to report errors. Pressing the power button puts it in standby, and the button blinks slowly until you choose a brew or blend. Right after a brew, the manual explains that "the heater thermostat needs to cool down to be ready for the next brew". Until it has, the HOT BREW or OVER ICE light may flash when you press it.

Signs it's this one: the light flashes only when you go straight from one drink to the next, or it blinks slowly but nothing has started yet.

1. If nothing is lit, check the plug and press the power button. It should start blinking slowly.
2. Press OVER ICE, HOT BREW or BLEND, depending on what you're making.
3. Check that the button's light is lit. Mr. Coffee says the unit is on when the LED is lit.
4. If HOT BREW or OVER ICE flashes after you press it, wait a few more seconds and press it again.
5. Making two drinks? Brew them one after the other with that short pause in between, rather than pressing the button repeatedly.

Time: Under a minute
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 30%
Difficulty: Easy

If a button keeps flashing long after the last brew, and nothing will start, the manual has no further explanation. That's one for Mr. Coffee's support line (see "When DIY Won't Work").

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Fix 2: Lock the Blender Jar on Its Mount (Works About 25% of the Time)

The blender sits on its own mount on the base. Mr. Coffee's mount has a locking system "to ensure blender is secure". The recipe's last step is to put the lid on, set the jar on the mount and twist the handle to the left to lock it into place. Mr. Coffee's safety instructions add that if the container turns when the motor starts, you should switch off at once and tighten the container on its threaded bottom.

Signs it's this one: BLEND doesn't start, or the jar rocks or turns when the motor starts.

1. Switch off and wait for the blades to stop completely.
2. Lift the jar off the mount. Check that the blender base (the black bottom with the blades) is fitted tightly to the jar.
3. Put the blender lid on. Mr. Coffee says to always blend with the cover on.
4. Set the jar on the mount and twist the handle to the left until it locks.
5. Press BLEND. Mr. Coffee says it blends the frappe automatically, to the right consistency.

Time: 2 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 25%
Difficulty: Easy

⚠️ Safety: the blades are sharp. Mr. Coffee says to handle them carefully when emptying and cleaning, to keep hands and utensils out of the jar while it's running, and to use a scraper only with the blender stopped. Never blend hot coffee. The manual says not to blend hot liquids, so for a frappe, brew over ice as the recipe does.

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Fix 3: Fix the Frappe Mix (Works About 20% of the Time)

A frappe that comes out chunky or half-blended is usually the recipe, not the blender. Mr. Coffee's FAQ gives three causes: too much ice, not enough liquid, and no sugar. It says syrup or sugar "greatly helps blending texture and consistency". Every measure for a frappe is marked on the blender jar itself.

Signs it's this one: ice chunks left at the top, a drink that's too thick to pour, or a blend that stops before it's smooth.

1. Fill the blender jar to its WATER marking and pour that into the reservoir.
2. Add 2 scoops using the ICED side of the scoop to the filter, and close the lid.
3. Pour milk into the jar to the milk line, about 2 oz.
4. Add ice cubes only to the ICE marking. With smaller cubes, use slightly less, as the manual advises.
5. Stand the jar under the spout and press OVER ICE. Wait 3-4 minutes, until the dripping stops.
6. Add syrup, sugar or flavoring. The measuring cap in the blender lid helps you dose it.
7. Lock the jar on the mount (Fix 2) and press BLEND.
8. Still not smooth? Press PULSE a few times. It pulses for as long as you hold it down. If it's still too thick, add a little more milk.

Time: 10 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 20%
Difficulty: Easy

Mr. Coffee's recipe book, which comes in the box, has its tested sweet-to-ice ratios. The manual recommends starting from one of those.

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Fix 4: Measure Hot and Iced Coffee the Mr. Coffee Way (Works About 15% of the Time)

Each drink has its own measure, and the scoop has two ends. Weak hot coffee, watery iced coffee and water spilling from the base usually come from getting the measures wrong. Mr. Coffee warns that the reservoir overflows if you pour above its 16 oz max fill line.

Signs it's this one: water around the base after filling, coffee that tastes thin, or no ice left in the tumbler.

1. Measure the water in the cup you'll drink from, and check the amount on the reservoir's water ladder.
2. Stop at 16 oz. If water has already spilled, unplug the machine and wipe it dry before you carry on.
3. For iced coffee, fill the tumbler to the ICE marking with large cubes. The manual says bigger cubes melt more slowly, so ice is left in the drink.
4. For stronger coffee, add ½ to 1 scoop, as Mr. Coffee's FAQ suggests.
5. Empty and wash the drip tray every few brews. Wash its cover by hand.

Time: 5 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 15%
Difficulty: Easy

"Why does my iced coffee brew hot?" It's meant to. The Frappe brews hot, concentrated coffee straight onto the ice, and Mr. Coffee's measures allow for the ice melting.

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Fix 5: Keep Grounds Out of the Drink and the Reservoir (Works About 10% of the Time)

Mr. Coffee's FAQ blames grounds in the cup on an overfilled reusable filter, where grounds spill over the top. The hot-coffee steps add a second warning: don't let grounds fall into the water reservoir when you fill the filter. The easy way to prevent both is to fill the filter away from the machine.

Signs it's this one: grit at the bottom of the cup or the blender jar, or grounds visible in the reservoir.

1. Lift the reusable filter out of the brew basket before adding coffee, as the manual suggests.
2. Use level scoops, and use a little less if grounds keep getting over the top.
3. Put the filter back in the brew basket and close the lid.
4. If grounds have got into the reservoir, unplug the machine and rinse the reservoir out before brewing again.
5. Paper filters are allowed: the manual names a standard 5-cup basket-style paper filter as the alternative to the reusable one.

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

The reusable filter, brew basket and blender jar can all go on the dishwasher's top rack.

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When DIY Won't Work

Stop using it and unplug it if:

• The blender jar keeps turning even when it's tightened and locked.
• The blender stops working with the jar locked and the power button blinking. An owner reported exactly this after about four weeks, and the manual gives no owner repair for the motor.
• Nothing lights up in an outlet that powers a lamp.
• A button keeps flashing long after the last brew.
• The cord or plug is damaged. The manual says the cord set isn't replaceable, and a damaged one means replacing the appliance.

Warranty: Mr. Coffee gives a 1-year limited warranty from the date of purchase, with proof of purchase. Don't return it to the store for repair. Call 1-800-MR COFFEE (1-800-672-6333) with the model number from the bottom of the machine and the purchase date. Mr. Coffee says there are no user-serviceable parts inside, and the warranty doesn't cover disassembly or repair by anyone other than Sunbeam or its authorized service centers.

Repair or replace: out of warranty, a failed blender motor or heater on a machine at this price is usually a replacement. Mr. Coffee's line can tell you whether a service center near you handles it.

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Prevention

• Fill the reservoir before you brew, and stop at 16 oz.
• Pause a few seconds between brews, so the heater thermostat can cool down.
• Lock the blender jar and fit the lid every time before pressing BLEND.
• Blend only iced or cold drinks. Never put hot coffee in the blender.
• Stick to the jar's WATER, milk and ICE lines for frappes, and add sugar or syrup.
• Wash by hand the tumbler, its lid and straw, and the drip tray cover. The blender jar, filter and brew basket can go on the dishwasher's top rack.
• Keep the space above the machine clear, because steam escapes from the top during brewing.

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FAQ

How do I descale a Mr. Coffee Frappe maker?

Mr. Coffee's Frappe manual doesn't include a descaling or decalcifying method. Its methods for other machines use different amounts of vinegar (compare them in our Mr. Coffee descaling guide), so don't assume one fits. Call Mr. Coffee at 1-800-672-6333 before putting vinegar or descaler through the Frappe.

Can I blend hot coffee in it?

No. Mr. Coffee's safety instructions say not to blend hot liquids. A frappe is made by brewing coffee with the OVER ICE button straight onto the milk and ice in the blender jar, and only then blending it.

What does the PULSE button do?

PULSE gives you extra blending after the automatic BLEND cycle. It runs only while you hold it down. Mr. Coffee suggests a few presses when a frappe isn't blended all the way.

Can I use the blender on its own?

The manual only describes BLEND as the last step of a frappe. It doesn't give recipes for using the blender by itself. Whatever you blend, the safety rules still apply: lid on, jar locked, nothing hot, and nothing above the jar's MAX line.

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Related Mr. Coffee Guides

• Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Maker Not Working?: the single-purpose iced brewer with a drip-stop
• Mr. Coffee 4-in-1 Latte Not Working?: the single-serve brewer with a milk frother
• Mr. Coffee Descaling Guide: the methods Mr. Coffee gives for its other machines
• Mr. Coffee Won't Turn On: power and outlet checks

Sources: Mr. Coffee Single Serve Frozen, Iced and Hot Coffeemaker (Frappe) User Manual (P.N. 202160, SPR-150221-037P, ©2020); Mr. Coffee FCM series product page (mrcoffee.com).