PUMP IS ON, BUT NO ESPRESSO APPEARS

• There is no water in the boiler or in the reservoir (prime the pump).
• Confirm water pressure; valves are turned on (plumbed-in machines).
• Coffee is too finely ground, or tamped too firmly or too much coffee in basket.
• Pump or other inner workings may be clogged with calcium deposits (descale).
• Shower screen may be plugged with coffee deposits.
• Machine has been turned off and has not had time to reach proper temperature or pressure. (lever machines only).

PUMP MAKES LOUD NOISE

• No water in reservoir.
• Pump not primed.
• Coffee ground to coarsely.

STEAM POWER DIMINISHED

• Wand is clogged with milk. (Soak the wand nozzle, bleed the wand, clear steam jet holes).
• Machine not completely pre-heated in steam mode.
• Boiler and element scaled up.

ESPRESSO GUSHES OUT; TOO WATERY, LITTLE OR NO CREMA

• Coffee ground too coarse; should form a loose "cake" when pinched between fingers. "Cake" should break, when dropped an inch onto countertop.
• Coffee has not been evenly distributed and tamped firmly in filter.
• Not enough coffee in the portafilter (fill to recommended level, usually 6.5 to 7 grams for single).
• Old coffee beans (more than 14 days); old ground coffee (more than 7 days).

ESPRESSO OOZES OUT SLOWLY, DRIPS; TASTES BURNED OR BAKED

• Coffee has been ground too finely (cakes too easily - does not break when dropped an inch onto counter) and/or tamped too firmly.
• Use a coarser grind, ease up on tamping, use less coffee.
• Group screen plugged (clean or replace).
• Poor pump pressure or pump worn out.

PORTAFILTER POPS OUT OF THE GROUP WHEN EXTRACTING

• Too much coffee in the portafilter. Keep coffee amount a couple of millimeters below the basket rim after packing
• Portafilter handle has not been properly secured in the group.
• Coffee has been ground too fine.

WATER LEAKS FROM THE PORTAFILTER OR GROUP

• The rubber group gasket is worn and needs to be replaced.
• Coffee grounds are causing a poor seal around the portafilter gasket. (Clean portafilter rim clean).
• Coffee has been ground too fine