Den Appliances Coffee Machine Not Working? Common Faults and Fixes
Whether it's a bean-to-cup machine at home or an espresso machine in a café, most faults come down to a few causes, and many start with scale.
Many coffee machine problems can be sorted out at home with cleaning and descaling. Use the table to narrow down the likely cause.
| Symptom | Likely causes | What to try first |
|---|---|---|
| No water coming through | Empty or badly seated tank; air in the pump; scale blockage; failed pump | Reseat the tank, then run hot water through the steam wand to prime the pump |
| Pump noisy but little water | Air lock or scale blockage | Prime the pump, then descale |
| Not heating or coffee lukewarm | Thermostat, heating element or thermal fuse; heavy scale | Descale. If it's still cold, it needs a technician |
| Leaking under the machine | Worn seals or O-rings; cracked tank; drip tray full | Check the drip tray and tank for cracks |
| Leaking around the group head | Worn group head gasket | Replace the gasket (a routine service part) |
| Weak, slow or watery coffee | Scale build-up; grind too coarse or too fine; dirty brew unit | Clean the brew unit and descale |
| Error or descale warning won't clear | Descale cycle not completed; sensor fault | Run the full descale program as per the manual |
Why Descaling Matters
Minerals in water build up as scale inside the boiler or thermoblock, the pipes and the valves. Scale slows water flow, stops the machine heating properly and eventually blocks it completely.
How often to descale depends on your water and how much you use the machine. Follow the machine's descale alert, or as a rough guide, every one to three months for home use. Use the manufacturer's descaler or a product made for coffee machines, not vinegar, which can damage seals.
Bean-to-Cup Machine Tips
- Clean the brew unit weekly. On machines where it's removable, rinse it under running water and let it dry.
- Empty the grounds container and drip tray daily. Mould builds up quickly.
- Use a water filter if your machine takes one, and replace it as recommended.
- Avoid oily, dark-roast beans in bean-to-cup grinders if the manual advises against them. They can clog the grinder.
Commercial Espresso Machines
For cafés, restaurants and offices, a machine that's down costs money. Common commercial faults are worn group head gaskets and shower screens, boiler pressure or heating problems, blocked solenoid valves, and pump faults. Regular servicing, water filtration and daily backflushing prevent most breakdowns.
When to call a technician
- It's still not pumping after you've primed the pump and descaled
- It isn't heating at all
- Water is leaking from inside the machine
- It trips the power or smells of burning
- A commercial machine is down during trading hours
Call or WhatsApp 064 067 4863 with the make and model, the symptoms, any error code and your suburb. More than 10 years' experience across Cape Town and Gqeberha.
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FAQs
Why is my coffee machine not pumping water?
Usually the water tank isn't seated properly, there's air in the pump, or scale is blocking the water path. Reseat the tank, prime the pump by running hot water through the steam wand, and descale. If it still doesn't pump, the pump may have failed.
How often should I descale my coffee machine?
Follow the machine's descale alert. As a rough guide, every one to three months for home use, and more often for heavy use.
Can I descale with vinegar?
It's not recommended. Vinegar can damage the seals and leave a taste. Use a descaler made for coffee machines.
Do you repair commercial coffee machines?
Yes. We repair coffee machines for homes and businesses, including cafés, restaurants and offices.
Book a repair or request a quote
Call or WhatsApp with your appliance type, make and model, the fault or error code, and your suburb. More than 10 years' experience across Cape Town and Gqeberha.