Troubleshooting procedure for a coffee machine.
1. The machine pours shots very slowly or not at all.
• Check hose has not loosened from plumbing
• Check your grinder setting. It may be the same as yesterday, but do you have different beans in there that require a coarser grind setting?
• Keep your basket clean, lack of basket maintenance, equals blockages
• Listen for the click when trying to extract. If you can’t hear it then it could be a blocked or faulty coil
• Try to back flush with cleaner and using the blind basket in the group handle
• Take the handle out to see how the water flows without the handle in. If so, the shower screen could be blocked. (If you have an espresso machine, you should also invest in a stubby screwdriver, so you can easily remove the shower screen and clean it regularly).
2. None or only a small amount of steam.
• Check the steam gauge. If it’s anywhere from 1 to 1.7 bars and stable (depending on where it’s set) that means the machine is doing its job and you can start looking at other possible causes.
• Check the steam tip. Use a paper clip to clear out any blockages
• Always remember to purge the steam wand before and directly after use to remove any milk which may be in the wand.
3. Water leaks around group handle.
• Insert group handle harder.
• Shower screen not screwed back in properly after cleaning.
• Seals may need replacing.
4. Shots are inconsistent.
• Check if the grind is very coarse or inconsistent.
• Blades may need replacing
5. Water temperature seems too hot/ burning the coffee.
• Take notes of exactly what machine is doing and when it appears to be doing it, i.e., when machine is being used to its fullest extent.
• Is the machine doing this on regular basis and does the machine turn off/ or lights flash.