Most of your troubleshooting can be avoided through proper barista training. First and foremost, your espresso coffee machine is a valuable piece of equipment … so, don’t let anyone near it until he or she is correctly trained.
Having a problem with your coffee machine can have a significant effect on your profits … particularly if you own a coffee shop, relying on coffee to draw coffee lovers to your establishment.
Sometimes a coffee machine technician can’t get to you immediately … so try taking matters into your own hands and check out the following …
Technical Problems and Solutions …
| PROBLEM | ACTION | CAUSE | SOLUTION |
| No water flows into the machine, pump is noisy |
Switch off the machine and check for the cause |
Water supply to machine interrupted |
Check all supply taps are open |
| Water mains failure |
Check other water supply points / faucet are working |
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| Damaged water feed pipe |
Check for damaged / kinked pipe | ||
| Pressure differs from normal operating range (ie 9 Bar) | Listen for noise from pump | Pump by-pass incorrectly adjusted |
With a filter holder locked onto the group and the coffee residue inside, operate the pump and adjust the pressure by - slowly screwing the by-pass screw in or out to obtain 9 bars of pressure whilst watching the pressure gauge. |
| Check static pressure of water supply is within normal range (2 to4 bars) |
Pump failure | Replace with new pump | |
| Listen to determine if electric motor for pump is running normally or if it seems to be laboring | Blocked in line filter sieve | Remove and clean out or replace blocked filter sieve | |
| Auto level supplies no water to boiler – water level below minimum on sight glass | Turn off machine or power to heating element | The probe can’t detect level | Clean or replace with new probe |
| Solenoid valve intake manifold doesn’t open | Replace solenoid valve | ||
| Auto level control defective |
Replace level control unit | ||
| Electric connection defective |
Check and make good | ||
| Wiring broken | Repair wiring | ||
| Inlet water filter sieve blocked | Remove and clean or replace sieve |
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| Auto level continuously supplies water to boiler | Switch off power to machine | Probe not detecting water level | Clean or replace with new probe |
| Shut off water supply to machine | Solenoid valve intake manifold doesn’t close |
Replace solenoid valve | |
| Auto level control defective |
Replace level control unit | ||
| Probe in sight glass | Check that it doesn’t touch the glass |
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| Probe disconnected | Reconnect probe | ||
| No pressure in the boiler |
Heating element defective / burned out | Replace with new element | |
| No power supply to heating element |
Check wiring
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| Defective main switch | Replace | ||
| Pressure switch defective |
Replace | ||
| Safety thermostat tripped |
Reset safety switch | ||
| Water boiler pressure correct, groups cold |
Heating circuit for group head partially defective | Clean out blocked pipes | |
| Flow rate reducer clogged |
Clean out blockage
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| No water flows from brewing group |
Shower clogged | Clean or replace | |
| Solenoid valve blocked / not working | Clean or replace valve | ||
| No power to solenoid valve | Check connection | ||
| Solenoid valve with faulty coil | Replace solenoid coil | ||
| Spray filters clogged | Clean or replace | ||
| Solenoid valve open for discharge | Replace solenoid valve | ||
|
Filter holder / Porta-filter too far to the right and not sealing to group head |
Hooks worn | Replace filter holder | |
| Gaskets worn / broken | Replace rubber seal / gasket | ||
| Coffee residue too wet | Solenoid valve not discharging |
Replace solenoid valve | |
| Coffee beans too finely ground | Adjust grinder to coarser grind | ||
| Coffee residues in cup | Coffee too finely ground | Adjust grinder to coarser setting | |
| Pressure >9 Bar | Adjust to correct pressure | ||
| Filter holes dilated | Replace filter holder cup | ||
| Crema too light | Pressure <9 Bar | Adjust delivery pressure to 9 bar | |
| Temperature <88oC | Adjust element to cut out at 1,1 bar | ||
| Spray holes clogged | Clean with blind filter or replace | ||
| Filter holes dilated | Replace filter cup | ||
| Coffee bean grind too coarse | Adjust grinder to finer setting | ||
| Crema too dark | Pressure >9 Bar | Adjust pressure to 9 bar | |
| Temperature >95oC | Adjust element to cut out at 1,1 bar | ||
| Filter holes clogged | Clean with blind filter or replace | ||
| Effervescent crema | Sprays clogged | Replace | |
| Temperature >95oC | Adjust | ||
| Filters clogged | Replace | ||
| Grinder not grinding The motor runs. Grinding burrs in good repair. |
Lift off hopper and check direction of rotation of grinder shaft | Wrong direction of rotation of drive shaft | Invert power supply cables |
| Very fine coffee powder, no adjustment for coarser grind | Grinder blades worn | Replace | |
| Coffee drips from filter holder | Filter holes clogged | Clean | |
| Filter holder gasket worn or holder not secured tightly | Replace gasket / tighten securely | ||
| Coffee residue surface in filter holder is pitted / not flat | Spray holes are partially clogged | Clean with blind filter or replace | |
| Tamping not uniformly distributed | Tamp uniformly | ||
| Coffee-dosing grinder noisy and overheated | Stop grinder | Worn grinders | Replace with new burrs |
