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Support & Maintenance

Coffee Machine Troubleshooting Guide

Before calling an engineer, work through this guide. Most common coffee machine problems have simple fixes you can do yourself in minutes.

Problem: Coffee Tastes Weak or Watery

• Grind is too coarse — adjust to a finer setting
• Not enough coffee being dosed — increase the dose in machine settings
• Beans are stale — check roast date, replace if over 4 weeks old
• Water temperature too low — run a cleaning cycle and check settings
• Machine needs descaling — limescale reduces water temperature and pressure

Problem: Coffee Tastes Bitter or Harsh

• Grind is too fine — adjust to a coarser setting
• Machine is dirty — run a full cleaning cycle immediately
• Over-extraction — reduce brew time or dose
• Water temperature too high — check machine settings
• Dark roast beans — try a medium roast for a smoother result

Problem: No Coffee Coming Out

• Water tank is empty — refill and restart
• Grind is too fine — the puck is blocking water flow; adjust coarser
• Brew group is blocked — remove and rinse under warm water
• Machine needs descaling — severe limescale can block internal pipes
• Pump failure — if none of the above, contact us for an engineer visit

Problem: Machine Is Leaking

• Drip tray is full — empty and refit correctly
• Water tank not seated properly — remove, check seal, and refit
• Group head seal is worn — this is a service part; contact us to replace
• Internal pipe connection loose — switch off and contact us immediately

Problem: Machine Won't Turn On

• Check the power cable is fully plugged in at both ends
• Check the socket is working (test with another device)
• Check the machine's power switch — some have a rear switch as well as a front button
• Allow the machine to cool if it has overheated — some machines have a thermal cutout
• If still no power, contact us — do not attempt to open the machine

Problem: Error Code on Display

Error codes vary by manufacturer and model. Common ones include:

• "Fill Water" / water icon — Refill the water tank
• "Empty Grounds" / grounds icon — Empty the grounds container
• "Descale" / descale icon — Run a descale cycle immediately
• "Clean" / brush icon — Run a cleaning cycle
• "Service" / spanner icon — Professional service required; contact us

For model-specific error codes, refer to your machine manual or contact our support team.

Problem: Milk Not Frothing Properly

• Steam wand is blocked — soak tip in hot water and clean with a pin
• Milk is too warm — always start with cold milk straight from the fridge
• Wrong milk type — full-fat milk froths best; some plant milks don't froth well
• Milk circuit needs cleaning — run a milk cleaning cycle
• Steam pressure low — machine may need descaling or a service

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