Fix Your Melitta Coffee Grinder

Intro: Fix Your Melitta Coffee Grinder

If you've got a Melitta brand burr coffee grinder like model MEBG8B but it won't grind anything, maybe you've got a stuck button. Here's how to fix it.

With our grinder, the buttons for 4,8,10,12 cups seemed to simply do nothing. It turns out that the shut-off button (top center) had jammed. Although I managed to get the button out of its cockeyed position, the grinder still didn't work.

STEP 1: Remove the Beans

First, take off the lid from the bean reservoir and empty the beans into a bowl. We don't need those little buggers bouncing all over our floor!

STEP 2: Remove the Controls

The five buttons (4,8,10,12 cup and shut-off) are all located on a single plastic-chrome piece on the front of the grinder. Using your fingernail, a very small screwdriver or other implement, insert it at the top in the seam between the chrome piece and the black plastic. Pry gently, and the entire control panel will probably pop out easily. It's attached with a few inches of insulated wire, so it won't entirely fall off, and there's no reason to worry about losing any pieces.

STEP 3: Inspect the Buttons

A flashlight will help you get a better look at the buttons. Each "outer" button in turn pushes on a plastic post connected to a button on a circuit board, not too unlike the buttons in your computer's mouse. In my case, the posts are colored blue, and are sort of hidden inside a spring-like housing that keeps the outer button aligned with the post and provides the recoil on the button.

I looked at each of the four buttons at the bottom, and there was very little gap between the outer button and the inside posts. I could see the "grind" buttons working correctly as I pushed each of them. However, the shut-off button was indeed stuck! The post was sort of stuck in the down position.

STEP 4: Gently Pop Up

Use your very small screwdriver to lift the head of the post. It may have a bit of a lip on it like mine did, in which case I was able to sort of lift the post out of its "stuck" position. If you think you've got it, compare it to the grind buttons again. Try out the action of the stop button. Does the post now depress AND rise again? Good!

Now, just like the cardinal rule of working on the internals of your computer: don't be overconfident; test your changes now, and don't be cocky, putting everything back together before you know for sure.

Plug the grinder in and push the "4-cup" grind button. It should buzz to life. Hit the shut-off button now, gently, so it doesn't jam.

STEP 5: Replacing the Controls

It works! Now we just have to put things back together. Be sure that the circuit board portion of the controls fits inside the housing, and guide the controls straight in. There should be three little teeth that gently snap into place when you press on the panel.

Get back on that horse and brew some heaven!

Comments

[kathkins]

Hi...I have a CG-1 Melitta coffee grinder that I love and it's not broken, but I would really like to find another one as a backup, just in case this one does break. And it will of course cuz I use it almost every day, and nothing can last every day forever. If you know where I can find one (new please...ebay has used ones) please let me know. Thankz! This is an awesome site...glad I found it!
If this isn't the place to post an "I want," then sorry.  -)

[holtcindy]

the cap of my C G-1 grind cracked in half. Can you tell me i can replace it?

[Kozz]

The grinder you're showing there appears to be a coffee / spice grinder, and not a burr grinder.  That type (although not the exact make/model) are quite common in stores at reasonable prices.

It looks like Melitta wisely stopped trying to make their own grinders:
https://shop.melitta.com/search.asp?SKW=ACCS
They're now promoting Hamilton Beach grinders instead.

In the meantime, my own Melitta continues to be flaky.  The buttons have never stuck again, but I've had issues where the grinder won't stop grinding when it's supposed to, so I have to babysit it.

[16Karen]

I have a Kenmore Burr coffee grinder that stopped grinding? What do I do?

[sandyatthebeach]

Great instructions and photos - thanks Kozz! It's a powerful feeling to fix something yourself and save money!

[Kozz]

Thanks for your comment! Especially with the cost of some grinders AND none of us want to drop money on buying new stuff if we don't have to, I agree that fixing is better than buying. Thanks again for commenting!

[Kaiven]

How do you fix a grinder where the blade assembly complete does not turn with the motor assembly? Haha... I broke mine after putting steel ball bearings in it to grind some stuff (not food). I don't know what brand it is, but i can't seem to get the dang thing apart.

[shureshot]

I have the reverse problem with my Melitta grinder. It fails to stop; pushing 4 results with the reservoir filling half way up, and pressing 12 results with the reservoir coming off and the coffee grinds shooting out onto the counter. help

[Kozz]

The best I can suggest is to follow the steps provided, and possibly one of the button "posts" is indeed stuck.

[iman]

Wow amazing timing our Melitta coffee grinder just broke too :) thanks

[Kozz]

You're welcome. I'd be very interested in knowing whether this works for you. Do give some feedback on your success!

[iman]

It worked great! :) my coffee grinder also was starting to get stuck when grinding so I took it apart and cleaned out the motor (it had six or seven coffee beans in it :P ) now it works as good as new. ~Matt

[Kozz]

Excellent! The other problem I have with my grinder is that the lid doesn't properly fit on top of the basin because it (the basin) seemed to get squeezed a bit while in the package. So the opening is slightly oval, not matching the lid. Unfortunately the basin is the kind of plastic that would very likely shatter if I tried to "squeeze" it back to the right shape. If you've got an idea on this, would love to hear it. Or if yours does this also, it's time we rattle Melitta's cage!

[iman]

lol my grinders lid fits fairly well, so yours is more than likely a factory defect. I have found if you heat brittle plastics up they bend a lot better so try heating it up with a blow drier then try bending it. ~Matt

[Da_Fudge]

awesome. remember, GET THOSE LED's! :)